This past week, a nice man named Jon Gibson drove down from the small town of Washington, New Hampshire, with a special delivery. Jon is the son of a United Church of Christ pastor who was also a pewtersmith. Jon learned the trade from his father and made beautiful things from pewter.
It is very special to be in the presence of a master craftsperson – someone who can create beauty out of common things through skill, art, and practice. I like to think that this process of creativity is a human example – just a glimpse – of what God has done and is doing.
As part of our 275th Anniversary celebration, the Worship and Music Committee has commissioned a new set of communion ware for future generations. The new pewter chalices, paten plates, and flagon are made in a style historically accurate to the time of our congregation’s founding. They are beautiful and will enhance BPC’s worship experience for many years to come.
On Tuesday, when Jon Gibson brought the boxes of new pewterware into the sanctuary, he immediately spotted the old pewterware in the locked glass case in the back of the room. He was so excited to see the historic set of pewter, some of which could be dated to the mid-1700s from England. There are traces of lead in the old communion ware, which is one reason why we do not use it. The new pewter does not have lead in it.
The new communion ware was purchased with a generous donation and funds from our church’s Memorial Fund—an account that grows through occasional donations received, usually after a church member dies and money is given in their memory. Because you offer your gifts at Bedford Presbyterian Church, God is able to do so much through the ministry and mission of this congregation. Thanks be to God!
This Sunday, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper with our new communion ware, and we are so thankful.
Also, this Sunday, we will celebrate worship in an “Old Style,” including singing hymns with an upright bass viol and using an order of worship from the 1930’s (which was also based on an old style). We look forward to digging into some of the history of worship and music at BPC, returning to the very beginning.
See you in church!
Grace and Peace,
John
Prepare for Worship
This Week: “All Songs Considered (Singing With Grace)”
- Read Psalm 81
- Read Deuteronomy 5:12-15
- Read Mark 2:23-3:6