This document discusses changes occurring within a congregation and how leadership is guiding the congregation through that change. It outlines five congregational goals adopted by session to aim resources toward healthy ends, including deepening relationships through shared practices, clarifying governance and organizational structures, growing community impact, and improving fiscal health. The pastor expresses encouragement that leadership is navigating change purposefully rather than resisting it, and hopes congregation members will contribute their gifts through ministry and mission.

1. “The only people who like change are cashiers and babies” goes the saying.
I heard one of our gubernatorial candidates say recently, “Everybody wants to be
transformed, but nobody wants to be changed.” Change is hard. Routines are
disrupted and with it our sense of security. The ground beneath
our feet shifts and we’re not always sure we like the directions in
which it moves. We are in the midst of some of that change right
now. That change can be described in a number of ways:
• the numeric growth of the congregation
• the addition or expansion of the staff
• the shift from a “pastoral centered” congregation
to a “program centered” one
• our modest, yet significant racial/ethnic diversification
• the increase in children
These kinds of changes have far reaching effects. An education program
changes in ways that change expectations for many participants or their families.
The expansion of staff challenges assumptions about roles and responsibilities.
Leaders are pushed and stretched to adapt to new realities they had not
anticipated when they agreed to serve in specific roles. All of these kinds of
changes introduce anxiety into our congregational system. Like a pebble in a
pond, that anxiety can ripple through the entire body, affecting more than just
one group or a few individuals.
The natural way to respond to this kind of heightened anxiety is to resist the
change that produced it by “fight” or “flight.” Rarely do these kinds of coping
strategies produce positive results, at least not in a community. A better
alternative for all of us is to harness and direct change (inevitable as it may be)
toward ends that serve our common purposes and common goals.
Accordingly, the Session has adopted congregational goals that seek to aim our
resources toward healthy ends. These goals are the end result of several years of
conversations, some formal, others more casual held in multiple places, listening
to a great many of your ideas, hopes and dreams for the church. These goals are
not meant to capture every ministry or every mission that we undertake. It is the
hope among the leadership that as we begin planning for a new year, these goals
might help to shape and guide us – our resources, our energy, and our ideas.
Each goal is fleshed out with concrete ways to achieve it, but for brevity’s sake
I have included only the broad goals.
Pastor’s Reflections
The
TidingsNovember 2010
Good news from
Pastor’s Reflections...1
Ask the Pastor............2
Recent Teen Suicides... 3
Brown Memorial to
be Featured on
SacredClassics.com.....4
Global Mission
Silent Auction............. 4
Casseroles Needed for
Our Daily Bread......... 4
A Special Invitation...4
Portrait of an Artist..5
November Responsibility
Schedule...................... 6
November Birthdays...6
In Memoriam..............7
November 2010
at BMPA......................8
In this Issue
continued on page 3
By Rev. Andrew Foster Connors
andrew@browndowntown.org

2. Page 2 The Tidings November 2010
Ask the Pastor
Q: “Some churches celebrate Communion more frequently
than once a month. Why does Brown celebrate Communion
only on the first Sunday of each month”
A: Based on the writings of Justin Martyr (150 C.E.),
we know that early Christians celebrated Communion at
every gathering for worship on the Lord’s Day. But with
the development of the doctrine of original
sin and purgatory by Augustine in the 4th
century, Communion came to be viewed
more narrowly as a reenactment of Christ’s
sacrifice on the cross that could cancel out actual sin
(individual acts of disobedience), just as baptism was
believed to cancel out original sin. Thus having a priest
offer a Mass in the name of a Christian in purgatory was
believed to hasten that person’s entry into heaven. Many
masses were endowed by wealthy Christians and said in
rapid succession (all but one of them “dry”) and nearly
inaudibly in Latin each day by multiple priests, sometimes
with people looking on, but usually as spectators came to
engage in their own private devotions and prayers and
witness “the miracle” of transubstantiation. At the same
time, for the living, Communion became an increasingly
mysterious and somber affair with personal confession
as a pre-requisite. By 1215, so many Christians, whether
out of awe or fear, were declining the Eucharist that the
Fourth Lateran Council found it necessary to require
Christians to take Communion at least once a year
at Easter.
During the Reformation of the 16th century, new
Eucharistic theologies and practices challenged those of
medieval Roman Catholicism. While Martin Luther and
later John Calvin both advocated celebrating
Communion every Sunday, albeit NOT as a
propitiatory sacrifice for souls in purgatory or as a
private mass, Zwingli saw Communion as a memorial
meal only and advocated celebrating it but four times a
year. But neither Luther nor Calvin was able to implement
their desire for weekly communion. According to Stookey,
people simply would not do willingly every week what they
had previously done only once a year, and even then under
compulsion of law. Calvin was able to arrange for monthly
Communion services in Geneva, but at a different church
each month. Changes in the way Western Europeans were
coming to view the world (especially nominalism and
rationalism) meant that Zwingli’s views on Communion
often held a far greater appeal, especially among
Protestants. Many Presbyterian and other protestant
churches began to follow Zwinglian patterns of celebrating
the Eucharist quarterly. Furthermore, many descendents of
Calvin placed increasing emphasis on the doctrine of
election, leading again to reluctance to take communion out
of a sense of unworthiness.
In recent decades in the Presbyterian Church and
others, there has been a renewed interest in the
sacraments. This can be attributed to a number of
factors, including liturgical movements within the Church
of England and the Catholic Church; improved
relationships among Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox
Christians as well as between mainline Protestant
denominations; renewed theological interest in the work of
the Holy Spirit; and a renewed post-modern appreciation
for mystery and the power of ritual, even as reason and
empiricism have been shown to have their limits.
According to our current Presbyterian Book of Order
(W-2.4009), “it is appropriate to celebrate the Lord’s
Supper as often as each Lord’s Day. It is to be celebrated
regularly and frequently enough to be recognized as
integral to the Service for the Lord’s Day.” As recently
as 2006, the Presbyterian General Assembly approved a
study called Invitation to Christ: A Guide to
Sacramental Practices that encouraged congregations
to embark on a two-year exploration of the sacraments
(baptism and Communion) and as part of that study to
increase the number of Sundays in which they celebrated
Communion. Whenever I review our theology of
Communion in our Book of Order (W-2.4), I can’t help
but wonder what is keeping us from returning to the
early church’s practice (and Calvin’s wish) of
celebrating the Lord’s Supper every Sunday. So perhaps
I should redirect this question to the Session.
This account of the history of Eucharistic theology and
practice through the Reformation is derived from Laurence
Hull Stookey’s book “Eucharist: Christ’s Feast with the
Church (Abingdon Press, 1993).” Post-reformation analysis
is a combination of Stookey’s analysis and my own.
* “Ask the Pastor” is a new feature of The Tidings.
You may submit a liturgical or scriptural question to be
answered by one of the Pastors to Ellen Carter Cooper
at edccooper58@hotmail.com. The deadline for
questions is the 15th of every month.
?
By Rev. Emily Rose Proctor
emily@browndowntown.org

3. November 2010 The Tidings Page 3
While I know that these goals might not fully
capture the hopes and dreams of every individual in
the church, I am encouraged that our leadership is
looking for concrete ways to guide and navigate us
through the unsettling waters of change. Those waters
have already overtaken more than a few churches,
unable or unwilling to accept that ministry in our
time must change if we are to share good news in a
globalized world that calls for flexible and organic
responses to emerging needs. I am grateful that,
rather than fight those waters, or try to avoid them,
we are charting a course with purpose, energy,
imagination, intelligence, and vision. Hopefully, you
will consider your own gifts and how you might
share them through our ministry, mission, and
fellowship together.
Congregational Goals – Fall 2010 – Spring 2012
• Enhance Opportunities to Deepen our
Relationship with God and Each Other Through
Practices of Playing, Sharing, Praying, and
Studying Together
• Clarify Our Governance Structure with the
Goal of Strengthening Lay Leadership and
Congregational Involvement
• Clarify Organizational Structure and Empower
Staff to Exercise More Leadership/Autonomy
within Their Clarified Roles
• Grow the capacity of the church to share our
message and increase our impact within the
broader community
• Improve the Fiscal Health and Oversight of
the Church
Pastor’s Reflections
continued from page 1
Recently, there have been several suicides of teens
who were defeated by the anti-gay attitudes of society.
What can the church do to help LGBTQ young people
to love themselves? Indeed, what can the church do to
combat bullying in all areas of society?
To be part of the solution, use the resources that are
available to address this problem. Some of them are
listed below. You can contact me for others.
The Trevor Project; 866 4U Trevor,
thetrevorproject.org: a national helpline for LGBTQ
teens focusing on crisis and suicide prevention
AngelsandDoves.com: a nationwide anti-bullying
organization offering materials to help prevent
bullying
National Center for Bullying Prevention;
Pacer.org/bullying: promotes awareness of and
effective ways to counter bullying
Matthew Shepherd Foundation; Matthewsplace.com:
an online community and resource for LGBTQ youth
STOMP OUT Bullying; stompoutbullying.org:
dedicated to eliminating bullying
GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education
Network); glsen.org: works to eliminate bullying and
bias in schools
Southern Poverty Law Center; splcenter.org: offers
itsexcellent “Teaching Tolerance” Curriculum free
of charge to schools and teachers; just released new
movie, Bullied: A Student, a School, and a Case that
Made History (Study guide accompanies the movie.)
Recent Teen Suicides
By Rev. Donald Stroud
Donestro@aol.com or donestro2@verizon.net
§

4. Page 4 The Tidings November 2010
The Chancel Choir and the organ of Brown Memorial
Presbyterian Church will be featured on the
November 13 – 14 online radio broadcast of Sacred
Classics (Jim Howes, host).
Performances by the choir and John
Walker at the church’s historic Skinner
organ were recorded exclusively for this
program on May 20, 2010. Broadcast to a local
audience in St. Petersburg, Florida, this weekly
program is streamed online worldwide at
www.SacredClassics.com three times each weekend.
You can listen on your home computer to this broadcast
at the following times:
Saturday, November 13 at 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday, November 14 at 10 a.m. – 12 noon
Sunday, November 14 at 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
This two-hour broadcast highlights Brown Memorial
Church, featuring the full Chancel Choir, soloists, and
organ. Both Joseph Kneer and John Walker conduct the
choir in this program of eight anthems and eight hymns.
John Walker is the organist in several works connected
to Brown Memorial Church and the city of Baltimore.
The broadcast also includes an interview with
John Walker.
Jim Howes, host of this radio program, a native of
Lutherville, sings frequently with the Chancel Choir
when he returns here to visit his mother. Sacred
Classics, now in its 28th consecutive year of weekly
broadcasting, boasts an international audience around
the globe.
Brown Memorial Church to be Featured
on SacredClassics.com
Global Mission Silent Auction Is Scheduled
For Nov. 7 and Nov. 14th!!!! Time to support a
great cause – AND buy unique gifts (for
yourself or someone special). On
these two Sundays, there will be
a silent auction of treasured items
donated by the Taylor family –
from around the world – as well as hand carved
work from Court Robinson (Sr.) and artwork from
Jonathan Barnes. Among the prize items –
selected Lakota jewelry from the Dakotas. Items
will be available for bidding after church
November 7th, with final bids closing on
November 14th after church. Proceeds from the
auction will support Global Mission projects,
including Doug and Chrystie’s work with the
Baltimore Dakota Learning Camps. The 5th
and 6th graders will be selling baked goods and
refreshments on Nov. 14th, so come hungry!
PLEASE JOIN US AFTER CHURCH FOR
THESE TWO SUNDAYS AND BID FOR YOUR
FAVORITE ITEMS!! For more information,
please contact Christy Macy at c.macy@iyfnet.
org or 410-664-4864.
Global Mission
Silent Auction
Casseroles Needed for
Our Daily Bread
Casseroles: People are going hungry in Baltimore.
Please help feed some of them by making a casserole
for the Our Daily Bread soup kitchen, to supplement
the choir donations. The November recipes are ‘Zippy
Beef’ or ‘Macaroni and Cheese’. Printed recipes,
baking pans, and the sign-up sheet will be available in
the Assembly Hall. Casseroles should be delivered to
the freezer off the Assembly Hall on or before Sunday
morning, November 14th. If you have questions,
contact Karen Nelson: 410-466-6106,
karenlbn@comcast.net.
The Presbytery of Baltimore and Brown Memorial
Park Avenue Presbyterian Church cordially invite you
to the ordination of Jennifer Cauldwell Williams to the
Ministry of the Word and Sacrament on Sunday,
December 5, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. at Brown Memorial
Park Avenue Presbyterian Church. There will be a
reception in the Assembly Room immediately
following the service.
A Special Invitation

5. At the age of six months, Jonathan Barnes was
brought from his birthplace in Oxford, England, to New
York. One could say he was born to be an artist, but
he waited until he was three years old to let the world
know.
During this pivotal year, he toured the Louvre Museum
in Paris and on a cruise of the Caribbean his drawing of
a palm tree garnered his first art prize.
An aunt in Long Island, New York, recognized
Jonathan’s talent and allowed him to paint at her studio.
By the time he was 11, he was enrolled in college art
classes. His specialty was water colors. When he was 14,
this young man taught himself to paint with oils. In high
school Jonathan could be depended upon to paint
posters, displays, and fliers.
New York City was an oasis for Jonathan. He would
visit all of the art museums in the city in one day. His
thirst for art led him to become a docent at the Whitney
Museum. At the New School for Social Research
(affiliated with the Parson’s School of Design) this
talented young man developed an interest in architecture
and sculpture. Completion of an undergraduate art
program in New York did not satisfy this artist’s
appetite. He landed here in Baltimore in Bolton Hill
where he completed the graduate program at M.I.C.A.
In 2005, Jonathan visited Brown Memorial for the
Easter Sunday Worship Service. “I thought the service
was incredible. I noticed the sincerity of the members
and the truth of Andrew’s sermon,” he recalled. In 2008,
the artist was baptized and joined the church. Sally and
Court Robinson were his sponsors and he is grateful for
their nurturing and friendship.
Brown Downtown is a second home for Jonathan. He
is a member of the Bible study group which evolved
from the spirituality group and later morphed into the
WN@B program. Tours of the Tiffany Windows in the
sanctuary are conducted by this artist, also. Last year, he
donated an oil painting of the church to the
congregation. The painting graces the wall of the church
office. Ever looking at life through the artist’s eyes,
Jonathan recently sketched the Chancel Choir at its
weekly rehearsal.
Jonathan describes Brown Memorial as “a haven for
all.” He believes that the church lives its mission and that
Andrew has great talent for focusing BMPA on justice,
families, children, youth, and service. Furthermore, this
New York native considers Andrew and Emily to be
igniters of the great enthusiasm of the members.
During his “spare” time, Jonathan is active with the
Democratic Party and the Flag House. At the Flag
House, he works with children. He works with Art with
a Heart, a program that uses art to help people recover
from drug addiction. Playing classical music on the
piano gives him tremendous joy as does being the
President of the Redwood Toastmasters and a member
of the Walters Art Museum.
Last month, a viewing of his art (mostly abstracts) was
held at his residence. It is not a surprise that this
“chronicler of life” will continue to sketch, paint, and
make collages, for to him, “Anything in life can be
inspirational.” Not too long ago, Jonathan missed a
service because he stayed up painting until 3 a.m. He
explained the situation by saying, “That’s how
artists are.”
Portrait of an Artist
Jonathan Barnes (center) about 10 years ago with
Elisif (l) and Sophia Bruun.
November 2010 The Tidings Page 5
By Ellen Carter Cooper
Go GREEN with your copy of THE TIDINGS!
Now that our new website is complete and we have a direct
link to the most recent Tidings publication help us go
GREEN by receiving your copy online. Receiving email
notification of when the latest Tidings is available for
reading will help us cut down on the environmental and
financial costs of printing and mailing paper copies. If you
would like to receive e-mail notification of when the latest
Tidings is available, please send Sharon Holley an email at
sharon@browndowntown.org. She will need your name
and email address. Also, check our website
directly for updates at www.browndowntown.org/index.
php?s=newsletter to download the latest Tidings. Thanks
for helping us to be better stewards of God’s
magnificent creation.
Take Note

6. If you have a conflict with this schedule – please call others on
the list to make a swap. Then inform the church office of these
changes at 410-523-1542 or sharon@browndowntown.org.
Acolytes
7th Katie Egan & Julia Luljak
14th Carter Kniple & Joseph Reichelt
21st Kenna Emerick & Adam McNabney
28th No Acolytes
Audio Engineer
7th Don Peeples
14th Brantley Davis
21st Adrienne Williams
28th Bud Graves
Children’s Church Volunteer
7th Brantley Davis & Kate Foster Connors
14th Linnea Cheseldine & Nicole Mitchell
21st Kerry & Andy Johnston
28th Marya Howell & Jeff Kniple
Coffee Hour Hosts
7th Daryl & Rachel Smith
14th The Bishai Family
21st Carol & Bud Graves
28th Karen Nelson
Communion Preparation
7th T.B.D.
Communion Servers
7th Andy Imparato
Andy Johnston
Carol Graves
Carol Newill
Greeters
7th Court & Ang Robinson
14th Anne Heuisler & Jonathan Barnes
21st Andy & Michelle Zabel
28th Grace Peng & Mehran Armand
Liturgist
7th Mari Satterlee
14th Anne Heuisler
21st Brantley Davis
28th Youth
Offertory Acolytes
7th James Cavallon & Eva McNabney
14th Aaron McNabney & Grace Todd
21st Trevor Bishai & Jake Schindler
28th Will Coulson & Josephine Finney
Offertory Counters
Page Campbell & Bill McConnell
Ushers
T.B.D.
11/01 Anne Heuisler
11/02 Jack Davis
11/02 Andrew Hughes
11/02 Sebastian McMillan
11/04 Keiffer J. Mitchell, Sr.
11/05 David Mock
11/05 Alex Reichelt
11/07 Barbara Cook
11/09 Miranda Hall
11/10 Lily Shields
11/11 Marijke McMillan
11/12 Kate Foster Connors
11/13 Warner Brockman
11/14 David Luljak
11/16 Betsy Nix
11/17 Jamie Cunningham
11/18 Shirley Parry
11/18 Bert Schmickel
11/19 Luther A. Clark
11/19 Willard Graves
11/19 John Walker
11/20 Bonnie Schneider
11/21 Michael Bell
11/20 Jennifer Rakowski
11/24 Patrick Riorda
11/29 Eva McNabney
11/29 Carolina Mills
11/29 Amanda Slagle
Note: If you wish to have your birthday listed in The
Tidings, please contact Sharon Holley, church secretary, at
410-523-1542, or via e-mail at Sharon@browndowntown.org.
Page 6 The Tidings November 2010
November Responsibility Schedule
11 a.m. Worship Service
November Birthdays

7. Carl E. Wagner, Jr.
August 16, 1919 – September 11, 2010
Emma Belle Wagner
August 1, 1920 – August 8, 2008
Carl and Emma Belle served terms as Elders of
Brown Memorial Park Avenue and were faithful
volunteers of the Brown Memorial Park Avenue
Meals-on-Wheels program. They were loyal friends
who supported the budget yearly even after they
transferred to Maryland Presbyterian. Carl and Emma
Belle died in residence at Blakehurst.
Member and Elder
Christopher D. Saudek
October 8, 1941 – October 6, 2010
Dr. Christopher (Chris) Dyer Saudek, Brown
Memorial Park Avenue member was serving as a
current elder He was the founder and director of the
Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Diabetes Center and a
pioneer in the development of the implantable
insulin pump. Chris died Wednesday, October 6, 2010,
of metastatic melanoma at his Lutherville home.
“He always tried to make things better for patients.
I so enjoyed referring patients to him because I knew
that he would not only give them great medical care
but that his compassion and understanding of the
human condition was unsurpassed. Chris was the best
Hopkins had to offer,” said Dr. Edward D. Miller.
In 2007, Chris’ passion for patients took him to the
South Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and
Tobago, where he was the driving force behind a
Johns Hopkins initiative designed to teach medical
professionals in that country – where an estimated 20
percent of the population has diabetes – how to
improve care for diabetes patients and better spot
potential complications early enough to do something
about them. “It’s a small nation, a nation that’s very
burdened by diabetes. Their problem is huge, their
expenses are huge in taking care of people with
diabetes, and we think we can help,” he said.
The success of that program led Johns Hopkins
officials to explore expanding it to other nations.
One of Chris’ hobbies was collecting street
remedies, gathered during his international travels and
prominently displayed in his Hopkins office for the
amusement and edification of visitors.
“One typically dubious bottle of brown herbs and oil
that he placed in the front promised to ‘cure diabetes,
cholesterol, and children who urinate in their beds,’”
said his son, Mark Saudek.
Chris will be forever missed by his wife, Susan and
children, Mark, Deborah, Christina, and Tony and his
nine grandchildren. He will also be greatly missed by
his Brown Memorial Park Avenue family. A memorial
service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Saturday,
November 6, 2010 at Brown Memorial Park Avenue.
November 2010 The Tidings Page 7
Published monthly for members and friends of Brown
Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church by the
Membership Committee. Andrew Foster Connors, Pastor.
Emily Rose Martin, Associate Pastor. 1316 Park Avenue,
Baltimore, MD 21217. 410.523.1542.
www.browndowntown.org. Send contributions by
the 15th of each month to Ellen Carter Cooper, editor
(edccooper58@hotmail.com) or to Sharon Holley,
church secrectary (sharon@browndowntown.org).
Good news from
The
Tidings
In Memoriam
§

8. Page 8 The Tidings November 2010
November2010atBMPA
MidweekBibleStudy
10:30a.m-11:30a.m.
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10:30a.m-11:30a.m.
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10:30a.m-11:30a.m.
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GeneralElectionPollingPlace
forCong.Dist.7Council,Dist.
11,Leg.Dist.405:30a.m.-8p.m.
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10:30a.m-11:30a.m.
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SundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
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712
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SessionMeeting
6:30p.m.
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WN@B
5:30p.m-7:30p.m.
WN@B
5:30p.m-7:30p.m.
November
ServiceofWorship11a.m.
ServiceofWorship11a.m.
WN@B
5:30p.m-7:30p.m.
ServiceofWorship11a.m.
HandbellChoirRehersal
6:30p.m-7:30p.m.
HandbellChoirRehersal
6:30p.m-7:30p.m.
MidweekBibleStudy
10:30a.m-11:30a.m.
HandbellChoirRehersal
6:30p.m-7:30p.m.
ChancelChoirRehearsal
7p.m.-8:45p.m.
ChancelChoirRehearsal
7p.m.-8:45p.m.
ChancelChoirRehearsal
7p.m.-8:45p.m.
ThanksgivingDay
ChancelChoirRehearsal
7p.m.-8:45p.m.
ServiceofWorship11a.m.
OfficerTraining
12:30p.m.-2:30p.m.
EducationHour,
ChoirWarm-Up
9:45a.m.-10:45a.m.
YouthNightOutontheTown
SetClocksbackonehour
beforebed
FallCommunityDinners
911
MemorialServicefor
Dr.ChristopherD.Saudek
11a.m.
December
EducationHour,
ChoirWarm-Up
9:45a.m.-10:45a.m.
ServiceofWorship11a.m.
OfficerTraining
12:30p.m.-2:30p.m.
YouthMissionSunday
EducationHour,
ChoirWarm-Up
9:45a.m.-10:45a.m.
EducationHour,
ChoirWarm-Up
9:45a.m.-10:45a.m.
EducationHour,
ChoirWarm-Up
9:45a.m.-10:45a.m.
Kim-TurnerWedding
3:30p.m.-5p.m.
MiddleSchoolYouth
MissionProject
5
ServiceofWorship11a.m.
EducationHour,
ChoirWarm-Up
9:45a.m.-10:45a.m.
OrdinationServicefor
JenniferCauldwellWilliams
4p.m.