Signs

Friends in Christ,

The church has a new sign out in front - and it's wonderful! That, at least, is my "official" assessment. I certainly hope that you like the sign too. It clearly identifies us as a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) with the prominent PCUSA symbol in its center. But that's not the primary thing. The primary thing is that it announces the presence of a very special church of Jesus Christ in this particular and unique place. It's a special design - and thanks to Glenn Simmons and to a contact of his who specializes in this sort of work - we now have it gracing the entrance approach to the church property. What you may not know is that the metal frame to which it's attached is painted black on purpose, and the black wrought iron connectors were all specially designed to evoke the presence of the old Ashland Iron Works, around which the community developed in the nineteenth century, while at the same time drawing attention to the church as well. Glenn also worked with the Session and Deacons to come up with the design - and so if you want to thank anyone in particular and express your appreciation (which I hope we all will), Glenn's "the man." Our thanks also go to the crew who set it in place (no easy task, I understand), and who worked on the electricity for its lighting - including at least Glenn, Noble Pribble, Cal Starr, Art Berg, and Kim Aspden. God continues to bless us, "as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be" with creativity, sharing, caring, the will, the means and the commitment.

On another subject, for those of you who might be interested and who might be able to make the time available, Baltimore Presbytery is sponsoring an event that promises to be quite interesting as well as timely on Tuesday afternoon, May 10th, from noon to 4:00 p.m., at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park. Cost for the afternoon is $12 per person (payable in advance - checks made out to "Presbytery of Baltimore") and includes lunch and a presentation/ workshop with Brian McLaren, the founding pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church in Spencerville (Kent Island), an independent congregation that is nationally known for its innovative, and mission-oriented ministry. In this day when old labels are wearing very thin, or are misused and thereby contribute to creating a social blockade against both communities that are marked by civility and creative solutions to persistent problems in church and society, the title is intriguing: "How to be a Post-Liberal or a Post-Conservative or Something Else Altogether." I plan to go, and would be delighted to have company from Ashland. You may R.S.V.P. directly to the Presbytery Office, 410-433-2012, and no later than Thursday, May 5th. The mailing address is 5400 Loch Raven Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21239 - and if you do plan to go, please let me know so we can consider things like carpooling and the like. Lastly, for this month - to all mothers I wish a "Happy Mother's Day"! - and to all, a "Joyous Pentecost"!

Peace,
Brett P. Morgan