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BPC
Glossary
Advent
Advent, which literally means "coming," refers to the four-week
period preceding Christmas when we prepare ourselves spiritually
for the coming of Christ's birth.
BPC
Acronym for Brentwood Presbyterian Church
Caregiving
Shorthand for the Deacon Caregiving Board, which provides support
to BPC members through the Chain of Prayer, meals, transportation,
flower delivery, home Communion, and assistance with memorial services.
Members serve as deacons for these different ministry areas, carrying
out the work of the Caregiving Board. Also see Caregiving
for Members.
Chancel
Choir
The main BPC choir, comprised of volunteers, that provides music
for worship on most Sundays throughout the year, at the 9:30 and
11:00 a.m. services. Also see Adult
Music Ministry.
Church
Mice
The Church Mice Choir is for children ages 4 through 1st grade.
They perform twice a year in worship service, during Advent (December)
and Lent (March), and rehearse for six weeks prior to each performance.
Also see Children and Youth
Music Ministry.
Congregational
Life
Shorthand for the Deacon Congregational Life Board, which provides
opportunities for fellowship and community building for the BPC
family of faith. In addition to the activities of its ministries
- Men's, Women's, Young Spiritual Adventurers, Singles, Mothers
& More, and Seniors - Congregational Life also oversees such annual
all-church fellowship events as the Ski Trip, Picnic, and Retreat,
and the Reunion Brunch and Congregational Dinner. Also see Fellowship
Ministries.
Connecting
and Equipping
One of the three ministries under the Empowerment Ministries umbrella,
the Connecting & Equipping Ministry nurtures new and long-term members
of BPC by helping them to identify their gifts and interests and
connecting them with opportunities for service, spiritual growth,
and training through BPC's various ministries.
Deacon
An elected, lay leadership role at BPC. Deacons are responsible
for the care of the church community. Each deacon holds specific
responsibility for a ministry within either the Caregiving or Congregational
Life Boards, which meet monthly. There are 21 deacons (12 on Congregational
Life Board, 9 on Caregiving Board) who serve terms of 3 years each.
Elder
An elected, lay leadership role at BPC. Elders make up the Session,
the key governing body of the church, which meets monthly. Each
elder also holds specific responsibility for a ministry of BPC.
It is the duty of elders, individually and jointly, to strengthen
and nurture the faith and life of the congregation committed to
their charge. There are 21 elders who serve terms of 3 years each.
Empowerment
Ministries
Empowerment Ministries comprises several teams whose purpose is
to empower the people of BPC to live into their faith, discover
their spiritual gifts, and actively respond to God's call through
service to the church and the greater community. The teams facilitate
the welcoming of people to BPC, the new member process, spiritual
gifts discovery, leadership training and connecting people to ways
they can be nurtured and be of service.
God
Squad
Youth Ministry's name for junior high Sunday School. This group
of 6th through 8th graders meets in the Youth Lounge during the
9:30 a.m. worship service.
Lay
Ministries
"Lay" or laity is a common term for members of the church
who are not ordained ministers. Our Reformed theology informs us
that we are all "ministers" - that is, God calls us all
to serve by using our gifts and abilities. So at BPC, we are all
ministers! "Lay Ministries" was used in the past to refer
to the ministries that now comprise Empowerment Ministries (see
above).
Lent
The forty weekdays preceding Easter. During Lent, some Christians
"give something up" to honor the memory of the ultimate sacrifice
that Jesus made for us.
Living
Proof
BPC's youth choir, open to young people from 6th through 12th grade.
Also see Children's
and Youth Music Ministry.
Ministry
One of the various "departments" of activity at BPC. Examples: Children's
Ministry, Youth Ministry, Connecting and Equipping Ministry, etc.
Mission
The ministry which works to inspire, educate and support members
in helping to provide services and assistance to the local and global
communities. Also see Mission.
Mustard
Seed Groups
Small groups of BPC members who meet weekly to discuss spiritual,
personal and Biblical issues, and to offer mutual care, encouragement
and fellowship. Groups vary in their membership and focus - there
are men's groups, women's groups, mixed gender groups, working mother
groups, artist groups, professional groups, etc. Signups for groups
occur in September of each year, and there are some opportunities
to join in the spring. Also see Small
Groups.
Passages
The Passages Program is a special program offered by Children's
Ministry and designed to mark milestones, or "passages," in children's
faith journeys. These include: Baptism Passage for preschoolers,
Stewardship Passage for kindergartners, Bible Passage
for 1st graders (in which they receive an Early Reader Bible), Communion
Passage for 2nd graders, Mission Passage for 3rd graders,
Bible Passage for 4th graders (in which they receive the
New Adventure Bible), and Graduation Passage for 5th graders.
Pentecost
A celebration on the seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating
the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. The outpouring
of the Spirit renders the church articulate in preaching the Gospel.
SALT
Acronym for Summer Action Leadership Training, the nine-week, summer
internship program offered by Youth Ministry.
Session
The formal governing body of the church, comprised of the pastors
and elected elders. Meets monthly. Also attending Session meetings,
but not voting, are the church operations executive, the church
office manager (acting as Recorder) and a representative from each
of the two deacon boards.
Sharing
BPC's monthly newsletter, distributed by mail. Sharing features
a regular column written by our pastoral staff, articles about events,
programs and individuals; information about upcoming events and
other church news; and inspirational messages. Get this month's
issue of Sharing by downloading a PDF file from our Publications
index page.
Spiritual
Gifts
The God-given, personal gifts bestowed upon each of us, which in
turn can also become gifts to others as we use them to serve God.
The School of Christian Learning periodically offers a "Spiritual
Gifts Discovery Class." More
information on the class.
Stewardship
Broadly defined, stewardship is the acceptance of responsibility
for resources. Each year, BPC's Stewardship Committee undertakes
a Stewardship campaign to obtain the financial and other resources
required for BPC to operate and continue to serve our members as
well as the local community and the world. At BPC, good stewardship
means sharing time and talents as well as money. The keynote event
in the annual Stewardship campaign takes place in November, when
members are asked to pledge a portion of what God has given them
to BPC. Also see Stewardship.
Sunday
Bulletin
The weekly BPC publication distributed on Sundays. Includes that
Sunday's Order of Worship as well as announcements and upcoming
events
and programs.
TOPS
Acronym for "Terrific Outstanding Presbyterian Servants," a group
within the Seniors Ministry. TOPS holds luncheons, with entertainment,
four times a year. Also see Seniors
Ministry.
Worship
+ 2
Shorthand for the recommended level of involvement for BPC members.
Members are encouraged to attend a weekly worship service, plus
to participate in a program or activity that feeds their own spirit,
plus to serve in some way that uses their spiritual gifts.
Young
at Heart
A group within the Seniors Ministry that meets on the third Tuesday
of each month for luncheons with speakers (including a special Thanksgiving
luncheon in the month of November), cultural excursions to such
destinations as the Getty Museum and Huntington Library, and other
activities. Also see Seniors
Ministry.
Young
Spiritual Adventurers
One of BPC's Fellowship Ministries, Young Spiritual Adventurers
(YSA) is comprised of members ages "twentysomething" through "fortysomething"
who are seeking fellowship and friendship within the BPC family.
YSA holds regular annual events, such as a Wine Tasting, a Progressive
Potluck Dinner, a weekend trip to Joshua Tree National Park, and
a summer excursion to the Hollywood Bowl. YSA was formerly known
as "Common Threads." Also see Young
Spiritual Adventurers.
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