Two churches in Vestal change their names in 2013

Sometimes changing a church name means something, and other times not so much

In 2013, two churches in Vestal changed their names.  There's Bridgewater Church where the South Vestal Baptist Church used to be and there is Grace Point Church where Twin Orchards Baptist Church used to be.  One change appears cosmetic, the other, momentous.

In the case of Grace Point, the change happened in July, but while the name perhaps clarifies the mission, the change has not been accompanied by other dramatic changes. No new leadership.  No new worship style. Not really a different way of doing ministry. They likely lost a few members over the name change and will likely pick up some members in time, perhaps as a payoff for the name change, but no major changes are evident looking in from the outside.

Grace Point is about marketing, specifically rebranding.  The change hasn't fully been implemented - on their website is still a dropdown menu titled "About TOBC."

Bridgewater, on the other hand, is a name change that signifies big change.  South Vestal Baptist Church had aged and dwindled to a very small, elderly congregation.  It was a change or die moment for the twenty or so in the South Vestal church when Bridgewater Baptist Church of Montrose, Pennsylvania agreed to adopt them.  South Vestal became the third site for Bridgewater, which also has a congregation in Hallstead.

Bridgewater South Vestal launched in September.  51 members of Bridgewater Montrose committed to become part of Bridgewater in Vestal, so the church more than tripled before they launched.  Today, the church packs the parking lot every Sunday for a building that can hold 80 in worship.  The building and grounds need work, but Bridgewater in Vestal has made a great start.

In both places in Vestal, the Baptist identification was removed from the name.  In South Vestal, there has been growth.  Grace Point was a strong church when they changed their name.  For Grace Point, the results will likely take time to discover.

Buses, Trains, and Automobiles

Growing up, trains were something special.  Trains took you to special places like New York City.  Buses, on the other hand, were commonplace.  We learned this early on with the school bus.  Our family lived in a new community and the school district seemed not to know what to do with us.

For two years, we were bused to Schirra Elementary School.  At the time, NASA was cool, and honoring astronauts was in vogue.  I found out later in life that Wally Schirra was from New Jersey, a little over an hour from home.  After Schirra, it was a year of bus travel to Madison Park School.  There was nothing too cool about Madison Park.  Most of the people were great, but I had my Little League team catcher’s mitt stolen at that school.  My mother had to buy the team a new one.

The next year, we were all in a brand new Middle School, and yes, we took the bus there too.  Then on to high school and another bus.  College was another time for buses – around campus, to town, and another bus home on breaks.  Buses were basic transportation to summer jobs.

The train was a commuter line.  In South Amboy or some place around there, the train would stop to switch locomotives.  The switch from diesel to electric could take minutes, but sometimes more time.  My dad said that the liquor store near the tracks did an incredible amount of business from the trains.

The auto was everyday travel and mom was the pilot.  There was nothing exotic about the car, but it sure beat any bus I had ever been on.

How many hours do we spend getting from one place to another?  I don’t think any of us could add up the hours, but one thing I do know – I’d rather take a train.  How about you?