The Builder
April 2023
Happy Easter!
It’s a cool 35° as I sit at my desk on a sunny morning at the end of March while writing this article. It will soon be April. It will soon be Palm Sunday (tomorrow, in fact). It will soon be Easter Sunday. It will soon feel like spring is here to stay for the season. And soon Eastertide will be among us.
Eastertide, also known as Eastertime or Easter season, is a season in Christianity that focuses on celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ—a whole season! Did you know the Eastertide season spans Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday (April 9–May 28 this year)? During Eastertide at Broad Street, the Christ Candle will burn brightly each Sunday; and the paraments on the altar, pulpit, and lectern, as well as our clergy vestments, will all be some combination of white, gold, and the colors of the rainbow symbolizing the joy of purity, forgiveness, new life, and fresh starts.
Easter likely means different things to different people or brings different experiences in different ways. But the one thing we hold in common with every other person who celebrates Easter and Eastertide is that Easter never comes without a Good Friday—an experience commemorating the betrayal, crucifixion, and death of Jesus. Some in our Broad Street community are, or will be, in the midst of a Good Friday experience. Others are, or will be, ready for an Easter resurrection experience during the season of Eastertide.
No matter where you are in the Good Friday to Easter Sunday continuum, the words found in the Hymn of Promise (UM Hymnal #707) are for you:
In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
There’s a song in every silence, seeing word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
Thank you, dear Broad Street United Methodist Church community, for all the ways you live out, and give witness to, this message of hope and promise. From the ways you care for the neighborhood and community by sharing our space, to the ways you provide nourishment and shelter for neighbors seeking a sense of home—even if only temporary, to the ways you care for one another with compassion and joy, you continuously live out the Hymn of Promise right here on the corner of Broad Street and Washington Ave., you really do make Broad Street UMC “a building, a people, and a place of inclusive welcome, for those seeking justice and relationships for all people.” Please consider helping us further the reach and impact of Broad Street Church’s mission and ministry by celebrating the message of Easter, in part, with an Easter offering by clicking here, or by using an Easter offering envelope in the pews on Easter Sunday morning.
May God’s promise to you, in the Easter resurrection, brighten your day, lift your spirit, and move you to wish someone else a Happy Easter, in word or deed, during Eastertide.
Happy Easter, Broad Street!
Pastor John
Holy Week Worship Opportunities
Maundy Thursday Service, April 6th, 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, with Chancel Choir.
“Traveling Companions: Journey to the Water”
Good Friday Service, April 7th, 12:00 p.m. at First Congregational UCC Church, 444 E. Broad St, (next to the Columbus Museum of Art). Broad Street UMC is invited to join First Congregational UCC for a combined service remembering The Seven Last Words of Christ.
Easter Sunday Service, April 9th, 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary with Chancel Choir, brass, and organ! Invite friends and neighbors to join you as we celebrate all that Easter means to us yesterday, today, and tomorrow! Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia!!
AIDS Walk Ohio is Almost Here!
Time is running out… Have you registered for the AIDS Walk Ohio 2023 yet? We are looking for walkers to join our team. If you are unable to walk we will gladly accept any donation, of any size! Broad Street UMC has already surpassed our initial goal of $1,000 and I would like to challenge everyone to help us reach $5,000!
The walk is on Saturday, April 8 at 9:00 a.m. at Genoa Park. This is such a worthwhile event and we would love for you to join us and support Broad Street UMC while we are able to raise funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.
You may register or make a donation at aidswalkohio.com under our team name “Broad Street UMC”. Contact Sue Hughes at (614) 578-7696 or shughesp@aol.com with questions. Thank you very much!
Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event
Probably most, if not all, of us have never been in an active shooter event in our lives. And probably most, if not all, of us never will. However, if we have never thought about these kinds of situations, and by some chance, we find ourselves there, it is important to have thought in advance about how we would react, and what is the smartest thing to do.
The “Safety Leaders” of Broad Street (Staff, ushers, balcony tech crew, and Leadership Board) attended the first of two presentations by Officer Frank Hall, Broad Street’s liaison with the Columbus Police Department, on what to do and how to act. Officer Hall will be giving the same presentation to all of us in the congregation at large, on Sunday, April 16, after worship at 12:30 p.m. The presentation is called Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event, or CRASE, and lasts about an hour or so.
Safety Leaders who attended described the talk as pleasant, non-threatening, informative, and empowering; a good general training on how to think, react, plan, and survive. In the future, Leadership Board would like to put together a specific plan for Broad Street, so that all of us know where the exits are, and what is the smartest thing to do in our particular space. For now, we can help ourselves and all those with whom we worship and work by thinking ahead and having the right background attitude and memory, in the rare possibility of such an event.
We invite you to plan for the time on Sunday, April 16, after worship. Bring a snack with you if needed in the half-hour beforehand. If you have questions, we are available to answer as best we can.
Submitted by Nancy Taggart and Nancy Roberts
4-Week Book Study: Enough
Throughout Lent, we’ve been collecting donations of clothing, toys, and household items as reminders that we already have enough. And when we’re willing and able to share what we have, others can know the security of having enough, too. I’ve been overwhelmed by your response to our collections. Already, the Chancel area of the Sanctuary feels overflowing with your generosity. I can’t wait to see what we have to share with others by Easter Sunday morning—the last day of the collection. Simply put, dear Broad Street, you are quite generous!
In response to your generosity, you’re invited to a 4-week book study beginning April 16th!
Join us for a 4-week study on Adam Hamilton’s book Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity. We’ll meet immediately following worship on April 16th, and each Sunday thereafter for four weeks to discuss what Hamilton calls the “joy and contentment that are found in simplicity and generosity, in faith and in pursuing your purpose in life.”
Register to join the group and reserve a book by clicking the button below.
New Member Class
Interested in taking the next step in your faith journey and becoming a member of Broad Street? Plan to join us for a one-hour new member class on May 28th. Keep watching for more details in the May edition of The Builder.
Broad Street to Host Artist and Performer Kimayo on May 24th
We were recently approached by the manager of folk-pop artist and performer Kimayo, asking if we would be interested in hosting the artist for a one-night event. Kimayo, who is based in New England, found Broad Street through our website and immediately wanted to make a connection with the people of Broad Street!
“Kimayo is a singer, a songwriter, and a motivator. Her uplifting music is built on a foundation of life experience. Her passionate voice both softly serenades and belts out powerfully, making for a full listening experience.” Coming out as “queer” in 2021, Kimayo’s mission is to inspire hope, restoration, and unity between LGBTQIA+ folks and faith communities.
Her music [and story-ministry] is powerful and has the ability to inspire and heal. Her ministry is open and affirming in every way—she meets you wherever you are and helps you and your community grow.”
Mark your calendars now, and invite friends and neighbors to join you for an evening of music, story, and fellowship at Broad Street. Why not make a whole evening of it—plan dinner or drinks out on the town before or after the show!
Keep watching for more details and tickets!
When a child comes out to their family, it often raises many questions for both the child and for the family.
For example:
What does it mean for the family when a child comes out to their parents?
What does it mean for the parents’ relationship to their church?
What does it mean for the parents’ own faith?
How do parents navigate their own “coming out” after their children have come out to them?
What is the impact on you and your family and especially your LGBTQ+ child with the disaffiliation process taking place currently in some UM congregations?
The sessions are designed to provide a safe space where questions and concerns can be dealt with openly and honestly.
Wednesdays, April 19, 26, May 3, and May 10
This session of the class will be held on Zoom. The meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. and conclude by 8:30 p.m.
If you want to participate in the class, please email Jim at jwaugh3@mac.com. Put “Kids Class” in the Subject line. A few days prior to the class session, you will receive a Zoom invitation from Jim for the sessions.
The Rev. Jim Waugh, retired pastor in the West Ohio Conference, will lead the group. Jim and his wife, Carol, have an adult daughter, Lisa, who came out to them over twenty years ago. Jim served a four-year term as the chair of the Parents Reconciling Network Board (a group related to the Reconciling Ministries Network). If you have questions or need more information, please feel free to email Jim at jwaugh3@mac.com.
Broad Street to Host Mission Trip Travelers in July
Thank you in advance, Broad Street UMC, for your upcoming hospitality in July! We are a group of 20 who are traveling from Concord Trinity UMC in St Louis, MO, to Trucksville, PA to serve a rural community in a variety of ways. Fifteen of us are youth, grades 6–9, and the others of us are adults—some of which have been serving in youth ministry for 30+ years! We will be helping the community by doing what is needed, from basic home repairs to serving social service agencies like family services and nursing homes. We are joining together with five additional churches in the Northeast region to do as much work as we can from July 8–15th. We were looking for a place to stay somewhere in Ohio and we found your affirming congregation to be a safe place for us to land at the beginning of our trip and as we conclude our journey at the end of that week. We’re so grateful for your willingness to share your space. Thank you!
Supporting Broad Street’s Ministries
Your continuing faithfulness in giving to the mission and ministries of Broad Street is deeply appreciated. We are especially grateful to those who have switched to online giving, as we do not have to process checks to receive those gifts. To give via check or cash, you are welcome to give in-person on Sunday mornings or mail your offerings directly to the church. To give online, we encourage you to use one of the options below.
Go to broadstreetumc.net and click on “Giving” or click on the button directly below.
Text the dollar amount to (614) 665-0525.
Recurring Events:
Sunday: 11:00 a.m. — Livestream & in-person Worship | Sanctuary
Sunday: 12:15 p.m. — Ringers on Broad Rehearsal | Sanctuary
Monday–Thursday: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. — Church Office Open
Monday–Saturday: 12:00 p.m. — 501 AA Group | Room 306
Monday: 6:30 p.m. — Volleyball League | Gymnasium
Wednesday: 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. — Manna Café | Kitchen, Jim Thomas Hall
Thursday: 7:00 p.m. — Heart-to-Heart NA Group | Room 306
Thursday: 7:30 p.m. — Chancel Choir Rehearsal | Choir Room, Sanctuary
Events and Meetings:
April 3: 6:45 p.m. — Packing Sack Lunches with the Paulist Community | JT Hall
April 4: 6:00 p.m. — Heart of the City Foundation Board Meeting
April 6: 7:00 p.m. — Maundy Thursday Worship | Sanctuary
April 7: 12:00 p.m. — Good Friday Worship | First Congregational UCC (444 E. Broad St.)
April 7: 5:00 p.m. — Fishy Friday | The Butcher & Grocer at the East Market (212 Kelton Ave.)
April 8: 9:00 a.m. — AIDS Walk Ohio | Genoa Park
April 8: 9:30 a.m. — Choir Rehearsal | Choir Room, Sanctuary
April 11: 1:00 p.m. — History and Archives Team | Room 305
April 12: 7:00 p.m. — Finance Subcommittee
April 16: 12:15 p.m. — Enough Book Study
April 16: 12:15 p.m. — Cancer Patient & Caregiver Support Group | Parlor
April 17: 6:45 p.m. — Packing Sack Lunches with the Paulist Community | JT Hall
April 17: 7:00 p.m. — Leadership Board | Zoom
April 23: 12:15 p.m. — Enough Book Study
April 26: 7:45 p.m. — Personnel Subcommittee | Zoom
April 30: 12:15 p.m. — Come to the Water Healing Ministers available after Worship
April 30: 12:15–12:45 p.m. — Coffee/Fellowship Gathering | Narthex
April 30: 12:15 p.m. — Enough Book Study
