In Our Words

Words of Jeff Podraza, Erdenheim
"We first visited PCCH after having heard about Cindy Jarvis from a family friend. We were looking for an established church, with a strong preacher, good educational programs for adults and children, great music, and opportunities for fellowship and service - and where we could get involved at our own pace. This sounds like a tall order, but we have found all of our needs met and exceeded at PCCH.

"Cindy is a truly outstanding preacher whose messages are energizing, consistently challenging the members of the congregation to examine their faith, life, and role in the community. There is a great deal of energy and direction in church school and youth groups, under Brigid's leadership, and variety and depth of adult education programs. The choir is exceptional, as is Mark Anderson's direction, and participating in it is greatly fulfilling. With Events of the Month, adult fellowship group, and musical events, there are plenty of opportunities just to get together and have fun!

It has been rewarding to become part of the PCCH community, worshipping, working, learning, and playing together while gaining a greater realization and appreciation of the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives."

Words of Laura Robinson Pritchard, Erdenheim
"I joined this church years ago when my babies really were babies. They were our little miracles and it was time for me to find a church for them, suited to them. I loved the way children were accepted, cared for, and taught here. My crew and I were never shushed in the sanctuary. My children's comments and questions were always treated with respect and patience. This church was, and is, a haven which encourages tolerance and understanding of individuals and individuality. Over the years, this has become a place where I too have grown. This church family has provided me opportunities to share my talents, to grow spiritually and intellectually. The leadership in this church has unfailingly put the world in perspective. For that, I am grateful. The trivial burdens I carried with me to worship gave way to a peace of mind each Sunday. After September 11, of course, our burdens are far from trivial. I still come away strengthened and with an optimism so necessary these days. I remember so many 'pearls' from Cindy and Brigid's sermons. (I sometimes write them in my sketchbook. No one has ever scolded me for drawing during the service either!) After Columbine, Cindy explained it was 'a sin to be overwhelmed.' These days, she and the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill help us all to avoid the pitfall. And to understand, to go on living, loving, and know we are loved. My whole family is thankful for this place."

Words of Rebecca McKillip Thornburgh, Philadelphia
"When David and I decided to join this church three and a half years ago, we really had no clue what we were getting into. We didn't really think about it all that much. We had both grown up in Presbyterian churches. And by now, we were grownups, more or less. We were parents of young children. Finding a nice church for our kids to grow up in was what nice, well-trained Presbyterian parents should do. So we joined this church, thinking, "This is a nice church, the people are friendly, they have nice programs...so -- what else is there to think about?" It was going to be a nice, safe, predictable experience, not particularly interesting or unusual, but hey, what do you expect? It's church.

But we were wrong. Because we didn't expect much.

"It's not boring, or predictable, or even easy, to be member of this church community. You can't sleepwalk through it. The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill asks something -- asks a lot, in fact - of its people. What I'm grateful for, in this church, is the expectation of excellence. There is an expectation that what happens here, what we do together, in every aspect of the church, will be excellent quality.

"I'm grateful that my intellect is stimulated and challenged by the sermons each Sunday; the Cindy and Brigid refuse to give us sermons that we can listen to, politely, with half a mind drifting away to this afternoon's errands or tomorrow's meeting. I'm grateful that they craft thoughtful, complex messages that are provocative, maybe even uncomfortable to hear, but always relevant, and resonant. What a gift, to have preachers who respect our ability to understand and reflect, and who consistently expect the best of us in the way they teach us and lead us.

"I'm grateful for the expectation that the music in this church will be excellent. That the quality will be as high as any music performed in any other venue -- that in the worship service and other special events, we as a congregation and a community will experience and support the art of musicians of the highest caliber. I'm grateful for Mark's incredible gifts as musician, a teacher, and a leader. I'm often terrified to be singing in this wonderful choir, but oh, I'm grateful for Mark's expectation that this choir - and I as a part of it - can be excellent. What a privilege, to be challenged by excellence, both as audience and as musicians.

"I'm grateful for the expectation that the children's ministry in this church can teach, and still be interesting, engaging and fun. It's not an easy task. Sunday School has a lot of competition in a kid's life - soccer games, sleepovers and just the need not to be scheduled one day out of the week. And yet Brigid and her gang of inspired, creative teachers have created a program that is so interesting, so dynamic, so much fun, that my kids can't wait to go to Sunday School. Imagine that. When her friend was reluctantly considering an invitation for a Saturday night sleepover at our house, because she learned it would include a visit to our Sunday School the next morning, my daughter said, "No wait! It's not what you think - it's fantastic! You'll love it!" Imagine how grateful I am that my nine year old feels this way about her Sunday School, and now about church in general. This is what we really wanted, almost without knowing it, for our kids, growing up in the church.

"I'm grateful for the people of this church who expect excellence of themselves, and of each other. How exciting it is to see working committees with so many people who won't settle for things the way they've always been done - who are always willing to ask if there's something more or something different, that can be done to get it right. This church is so rich in the energy and creativity of its individuals, with the exception that truly wonderful things can be done, both within the church's walls and beyond, in this urban community which is our responsibility.

"What we expected when we joined PCCH was just a nice church. And it is nice, for sure. A lot of churches are willing to settle for that. But if that were all PCCH was -- well, you probably wouldn't have seen us around all that much. What has engaged us, enlightened us, energized us, made us want to be part of this exciting community, is the expectation that together we can be -- and will be -- excellent. And David and I, and our kids are really grateful for that opportunity."

Words of Stephen and Laurie Menyo, Lafayette Hill
"It is truly touching to recall all the truly caring gestures this church bestowed on me and on my family while I was hospitalized and during my ongoing rehabilitation. What comes to mind are countless personal hospital visits by church members, the bedside and pulpit prayers of devoted pastors, a stream of encouraging words by phone, cards, e-mails, and knowing that we were being prayed for not just every Sunday, but every single day. Our Church ministered not just to me, but also to the whole family by providing meals, rides to church and youth group, and financial support. We were particularly blessed to have an enthusiastic turn-out of church members eager to raise hammer and saw for our "Raise the Ramp" project!

The compassion of the congregation goes way beyond ordinary. There is a sense of real caring. It shows in the genuine smiles, warm handshakes, and words of encouragement that I receive. It continues to touch us when members say 'they have witnessed a miracle.' Yes, indeed, we have been blessed. Praise be to God."

Words of Elise Loeb, Chestnut Hill
"October 28, 2000 - almost two years since that fateful day of November 28. "Advent Sunday"--when I first entered the main doors of the church and as I stood there, looking in at this (to me) mysterious place, the usher handed me the sermon for that day. I took this home with me to read later. Was this "providence?"--to send someone like me--with defective ears--my almost total ignorance of what is (I suppose) called "Christianity"--my liberal, if not 'radical' beliefs--was this indeed, "Providence" to send someone --no not someone--me--Elise--into a place where many are "born and raised Presbyterians?" I, who did not know I was searching for anything of the sort--who had no intentions, no plan--who would never have believed that what happened to me could happen. In acting there is an expression of vital importance: each time "the illusion of the first time"--as though the scene played has never been done before--fresh, original, spontaneous. Each Sunday, I am there expectant, enthralled--in a way, I can scarcely breathe--this great joy, this enormous privilege."

Words of Karen H. Boyd, Ambler
"On Sunday mornings you will find the Boyd family worshipping at The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill. It is our choice and I believe one that influences our family's life. At our church you can find people who practice what they are preached. We gather together in prayer and in fellowship whether it be on Sunday mornings or at Friday night progressive dinners.

The congregation runs the church and members of all ages have the opportunity to attend a selection of diverse activities. Our family is the type that likes to be involved whether as a past elder, member of the Presbyterian Women's Association, or teaching Vacation Bible School or Sunday School. Our children are involved in church school, choir and youth group.

For me, it is a great beginning (or end) to a busy work week to sit in a pew and glance down the row and see my three children, my husband and his parents all beside me. The sermons by senior pastor Cindy Jarvis and associate pastor Brigid Boyle give me important messages to carry along my pathway of life. The music is magic to my ears. I feel inner peace as I thank God for my life.

Words of Mary E. Zell, Philadelphia
"For me, our church offers a chance to know wonderful people and to have opportunities to work for God. I really feel blessed to know people like Cindy and Brigid, our ministers, and James, Keri, and Chris, the seminarians that have led youth group over the years. The church has given me opportunities for service through NPIHN, Habitat for Humanity, the Gateway Shelter, and volunteering at the Germantown YMCA. I am also one of the Sunday School teachers for kindergarten and first grade this year, which I feel really lucky to be able to do because I'm only 16. Spending a few hours a week working with these children is very rewarding. I'm most in debt to our church for introducing me to Kirkwood Camp when I was younger. Kirkwood is a Christian camp in the Poconos that is my favorite place in the world - most of my close friends are from there and it is the place where I feel God's presence the most. In the past few years, more and more younger children from our church have gone to Kirkwood for a week during the summer, which allows me to relate to them better; we can tell each other stories of our crazy times there! My Kirkwood experiences also help me relate better to my younger brother.

I feel comfortable at our church the same way as I do at camp - everybody knows me because they also know my mother, and even if we don't know some people very well we all have a common bond - spending Sunday mornings together in our Lord's name.