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BROWN MEMORIAL WOODBROOK
WHO WE ARE
Vision | Worship |
Education
| Missions
| Fellowship
| Music |
Presbyterians
| Our
History | Sermons | Staff Congregational Discernment: Tesserae Project
 We Journey
Join us as we journey
together in faith, giving glory to God, extending hospitality, fellowship
and spiritual support to each other. Brown Memorial Woodbrook has thrived
on North Charles Street since 1960 through an attitude of open doors and
open hearts.
Vision
We seek to be a vibrant and
inviting congregation striving for the spiritual growth of its congregants
through quality worship experiences, nurturing Christian fellowship,
and dedication to ministry, service, and outreach in the community
and the world.
Worship
Worship is at the very heart
of the church's life. All that the church is and does is rooted in
worship. The community of faith, gathered in response to God's call, is
formed in and through worship. Worship is the principal influence that
shapes our faith and is one of the most visible ways we express faith.
In worship, the church is
sustained by the presence of Christ through Word and Sacrament. In
worship, the church is joined to the One who is its source of life and is
empowered to serve God in the world.
The order of worship here at
Brown Memorial Woodbrook Presbyterian Church is born out of our
understanding from the Reformed Tradition, which places a strong emphasis
upon scripture, creative and relevant proclamation, and the sacraments,
Baptism and Communion. All children are welcome in worship.
Everything in worship moves
us from hearing to doing. Hence, worship is where we ascribe praise and
honor to God through music, prayers, and offerings and where we
acknowledge God's presence in our lives and in our world through corporate
affirmations of faith, participation in the sacraments, and sharing
opportunities for service in the church, our local community, and the
world at large.
...Becoming Disciples, Becoming the Body of Christ -
Christian Education
Recognizing that a "church
does not have a program in Christian education, it is a program in
Christian education", we see everything we do as an opportunity grow in
faith and as the Body of Christ. We learn as we worship together; when we
care for one another; in the way we welcome those who God sends to our
door; in our response to God's love through the faithful stewardship of
all our resources; in our reaching out to those beyond our walls in the
community and in the world; and in the experiences of joyful fellowship
with one another. Therefore, we know that our specific programs for
teaching and learning are only one important facet of our growth as
disciples. Christian education is a lifelong process in becoming
apprentices of Jesus Christ.
Seeking God's will for our
lives in the mission of our Christian
Education program at all levels.
Missions and Service
We support six missionary
families working in medicine, evangelism and education throughout the
world. Brown Memorial Woodbrook volunteers support missions and regular
service to Baltimorešs hungry, homeless and young with funds and lots of
hand-on front-line work.
We welcome new volunteers and
will assist you in finding an area of service and level of commitment that
works for you. We help feed the needy through the Maryland Food Committee,
Towson-area food pantries and the South Baltimore Station.
We support women and children
in transition through the South Baltimore Women's and Children's Shelter,
and men at the Joppa House Shelter in Towson. A major focus of our local
mission efforts is directed toward enriching education for students in the
Baltimore City schools through in-school programs and tutoring.
Kidsake is a homegrown
mission that counsels and encourages area children of divorcing parents.
Brown Memorial Woodbrook volunteers bring compassion and perspective to
these fragile situations.
 Fellowship
Coming together to share
meals is a time-honored means of building community. Periodic
intergenerational gatherings and celebrations occur on the first Sundays
of the month, special holidays, or occasions immediately following worship
in Fellowship Hall.
The whole congregation, young
and old, meets in the Narthex for refreshments and a time of fellowship
following the worship service.
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Music - Making a Joyful
Noise
Music is a vital part
of every service. Our Holtkamp pipe organ supports our
congregational singing with gusto. We have enthusiastic and talented
volunteer choirs that lead the congregation in singing and provide
music through the services. You may want to consider our adult
Chancel Choir, Cherub Choir for preschool children; Carol Choir for
young school age children; Covenant Choir for middle and high school
youth and adults. Choirs rehearse weekly from September through May
with professional section leaders and a dedicated staff music
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Presbyterians - Our History,
Beliefs, and Practices
History
The
Presbyterian church, like most Christian churches traces its roots to the
early church of the New Testament. The Presbyterian path of history and
heritage leads through the Protestant Reformation of the 16th Century
started by Martin Luther in Germany. However, John Calvin in Geneva,
Switzerland, a fellow reformer, is considered to be the father of modern
Presbyterianism.
Calvin's ideas spread
throughout Europe. A Scottish Protestant, John Knox, went to study under
Calvin and then returned to establish the Presbyterian Church in Scotland.
Roughly a century later in England, a gathering of Presbyterians called
the "Westminster Assembly" voiced their current understanding of the Bible
and the Church. This document, "The Westminster Catechism," along with
subsequent statements of faith, remain a part of our constitution to this
day.
When Europeans began settling
in the Americas, Presbyterians were quite prevalent and influential. At
least 14 Presbyterians signed the Declaration of Independence, including
one clergyman, John Witherspoon. Once established in the United States,
Presbyterians have had several major disagreements among themselves.
During the 1800's we split over the issues of slavery and Evangelism. Two
separate denominations resulted, northern and southern churches. Each of
those denominations had subsequent splits over other issues. However, in
1983 those two major branches of the Presbyterian Church celebrated their
reunion into what is today called the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.).
Governance
The English word "Presbyterian" comes from the Greek word "presbuteros"
which means "elder" and refers to the practice of choosing leaders from
among the wisest members of the church. This representative form of
government was adapted by our nation's founders in forming our United
States form of government. The Session, which is the governing body
of Brown Memorial Woodbrook Presbyterian Church consists of three classes
of 5 Elders. Additionally, the Board of Deacons consists of 12 Deacons
who provide care for those in need.
Our congregation is a member
of Presbytery of Baltimore. Presbytery is a gathering of ministers
and elder representatives from each congregation who oversee the
Presbyterian Churches in Maryland. Subsequently, the Presbytery of
Baltimore is a member of the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic. Synod
oversees all the presbyteries in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and the
Carolinas. Finally, the national governing body of the church is the
General Assembly. This gathering is made up of equal numbers of
clergy and elders elected by their respective presbyteries.
Beliefs
Presbyterians
share much in common with Christians of other denominations as to basic
beliefs. With all Christians we share belief in, "the mystery of the
triune God and of the incarnation of the eternal Word of God in Jesus
Christ." With other Protestant churches we affirm, "the Protestant
watchwords - grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone." With all Reformed
Christians we further affirm, "God's sovereignty, the election of the
people of God for service as well as for salvation; covenant life marked
by disciplined concern for order in the Church according to the Word of
God; a faithful stewardship that shuns ostentation and seeks the proper
use of the gifts of God's creation; the recognition of the human tendency
to idolatry and tyranny, which calls the people of God to work for the
transformation of society by seeking justice and living in obedience to
the Word of God."
We are a Confessional church,
which means that we are guided in faith and practice by our "Book of
Confessions." Because we believe that we are "reformed and always
reforming," our Book of Confessions contains essentially 9 statements
dating from the early church to the 1990's. Each statement is unique and
addresses issues relevant to the Christian life and Church in particular
times and places. As a member, you are not required to subscribe to them
unless you are elected an officer in the church, but they serve as an
excellent guide for the maturing of faith.
History of Brown Memorial Woodbrook Church
Brown Memorial Woodbrook Presbyterian
Church's history began in 1870 with the founding of Brown Memorial Church
on Park Avenue in the Bolton Hill section of Baltimore City. After 90
years, many members were living in the northern suburbs of the city,
so the congregation decided to establish a base closer to their homes
while maintaining a commitment downtown. In 1960, ground was broken
for the first buildings at the Woodbrook location on Charles Street:
an education building which houses an accredited pre-school on weekdays,
a chapel, a fellowship hall with adjacent commercial-sized kitchen,
and a music wing. When the new facilities were completed in 1961, Sunday
morning services were offered in the fellowship hall at Woodbrook, the
minister preached at both locations, and the Session served both groups.
The church had become "One Church in Two Locations." As time went on,
however, this arrangement became unwieldy and exhausting for the officers
and staff, so in December 1980, with heavy hearts, the congregation
voted to divide and to form two churches: Brown Memorial Park Avenue
and Brown Memorial Woodbrook.
At the Woodbrook location, a
full program was developed with an emphasis on youth: youth choirs, youth
handbells, youth activities in the youth center beneath the fellowship
hall. Further construction added a Columbarium near the music wing. Then,
after more than 30 years of holding worship services in the fellowship
hall, the congregation conducted a successful capita campaign to raise the
funds to build a sanctuary and to substantially increase mission giving.
The architects Ziger/Snead Incorporated designed the award-winning new
sanctuary, and the congregation joyfully dedicated it on Palm Sunday,
1995.
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