The Builder
February 2023
February is Black History Month
February is designated as Black History Month, honoring both the triumphs and struggles of African Americans throughout U.S. history, including the Civil Rights Movement, as well as the many artistic, cultural, and political contributions and achievements of our siblings.
What we know as Black History Month today began in 1915, nearly half a century after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. It started as a week-long event intended to inspire schools and communities nationwide to organize local celebrations, establish history clubs, and host performances and lectures.
By the 1960s, “Negro History Week” had evolved into “Black History Month” on many college campuses. And in 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized “Black History Month,” calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
As we were recently discussing worship plans for the months ahead, we kept coming back to February and “Black History Month.” We wanted to honor the history and sentiment of the observance. But we kept getting stuck. “Black History Month.” “Month.”
We began asking ourselves, “How can we live into our mission if we only allot the shortest month of the year to recognize the history and stories of our siblings of African American and African descent?”
In February 2022 an idea was hatched. What if we spent the month of February listening to the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other people of color who have studied theology? What if we didn’t spend the month of February writing sermons about what we think Black History Month means to us individually or collectively as a church, and instead we used the words of Dr. King and others to remind us that we have work to do?
Each Sunday of February, we will preach sermons from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Howard Thurman, James Cone, and others, aiming to expand the confines of a month-long observance, and inviting us to find new ways to bring our observances into Broad Street’s new mission statement:
“We are a building, a place, and a people of inclusive welcome
for those seeking justice and relationships for all people.”
Submitted by
Pastors John & Angie
Board of Ministry Update from Pastor Angie
Dear Ones,
As many, if not most of you, know, Monday, January 3o, was my interview with the West Ohio Board of Ordained Ministry—again. This was my fifth time requesting Provisional Elder’s orders, and once again, my request has been denied. And again, the request has been denied solely because of the unjust language in our Book of Discipline. I cannot adequately express the swirl of difficult emotions that comes from my call, my gifts, and my effectiveness continually being affirmed in words and not yet by deed. I also cannot begin to express how deeply I appreciate your prayers and your love throughout these last five years that we’ve navigated this arduous process together. You all, and the work that we do together, are the love and grace of God poured out, and which sustain me in so many ways. Thanks, Broad Street, for letting me be one of your pastors and for loving me through all of the seasons of life.
With love,
Pastor Angie
Columbus Coalition for the Homeless Update
It is with sadness that we share with you all an update on the Warming Center / Overnight Shelter that is currently being housed here at Broad Street Church. Unfortunately, there have been some damages to the Broad Street United Methodist Church building since the overnight program went into effect several weeks ago. And while those damages, the costs of which are being reimbursed by the Coalition, are not the sole reason for what follows, we share with you that the Board of Trustees, and the Leadership Board of the church, voted this weekend, prayerfully yet overwhelmingly, to end the Warming Center / Overnight Shelter relationship with the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless.
Please know that we, your Church leadership, have not come to this decision lightly. We have sought to be faithful in our offerings of space and resources, seeking to partner with the Coalition in caring for our neighbors. However, the cost of this–both physical and emotional–has far exceeded any sense of “reasonable.”
As distressing as all the matters of property have been, our greatest concern through all of our discernment has been, and still is, for the safety of the Warming Center guests. Vulnerable individuals were repeatedly left unattended, thereby making them targets of other guests who could do them harm. Our repeated requests of the Coalition for remedies to issues of safety and concern continued to go unmet. Because of this, we made the difficult decision that Broad Street Church would longer make our facility, nor our organization, vulnerable to the liability that comes from the negligence of Coalition staff and contractors who are not dutifully attending to leased spaces, and who demonstrate such disregard for our physical structure and presence in the surrounding neighborhood.
In the coming days, as the Warming Center closes down and repairs are made, please know that it remains the primary concern of your pastors that we all remain engaged in ministry with our neighbors in ways that make a difference. We will take some time for the dust to settle, so to speak, but we are already looking forward to seeing what God is ready to do through Broad Street Church next!
Roll Down, Justice!
Our Lenten theme this year is Roll Down, Justice! We’ll begin the journey into Lent with a call to repent, which means to “turn around.” This year, we will turn from our apathy, turn from simply “going through the motions” of our life and worship. Instead, we will pray to be active instruments of peace, agents of change in the world. We begin the journey toward renewing our baptismal identity as the hands and feet of Christ by “re-cognizing”—tuning our minds and hearts toward the world and its peoples.
Join us for the journey this year. Join us in turning around. Join us in becoming active instruments of peace, and agents of change in the world! Join us in turning our collective mind and heart toward the world.
We’ll begin the Lenten journey with the Ash Wednesday service on Wednesday, February 22, at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Join us in the journey of Roll Down, Justice!
Cancer Support Meeting
Do you have cancer and are looking for a faith-based support system? Are you a caregiver who is struggling and would like to share your concerns with others who would understand?
Some in our congregation are already dealing with cancer, while others have the responsibilities of being a caregiver. Can you relate? If so, join us on Sunday, February 12th at 12:15 p.m. in the church parlor for a one-hour informal brain-storming session to develop a plan on how we can support each other on this journey and to discuss if a cancer support group is wanted and/or needed at Broad Street. As we’ll be meeting during the lunch hour, feel free to bring your lunch or snacks to the meeting.
For further information, contact either Joan Wilson or April Lee.
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
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:
February 7: 6:00 p.m. — Heart of the City Foundation Board Meeting | Zoom
February 11: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — Leadership Board Retreat, Broad Street Church
February 12: 12:15 p.m. — Cancer/Grief Support Brainstorming | Parlor
February 13: 6:45 p.m. — Packing Sack Lunches with the Paulist Community | JT Hall
February 14: 1:00 p.m. — History and Archives Team | Room 305
February 15: 7:45 p.m. — Finance Subcommittee
February 20: 7:00 p.m. — Leadership Board | Zoom
February 22: 7:45 p.m. — Personnel Subcommittee | Zoom
February 27: all-day — Broad Street’s 17-Year Anniversary as a Reconciling Congregation
February 27: 6:45 p.m. — Packing Sack Lunches with the Paulist Community | JT Hall
