The Builder
March 2023
Let Justice Roll Down This Lenten Season—and Beyond
Lent is a time of reminding ourselves who we are called to be in this world. Our Lenten series this year, Roll Down, Justice! is inspired by Amos, a prophet whose message is that God calls us to let “justice roll down like waters.”
Throughout the season of Lent—the six weeks leading to Easter—our worship services will offer reflection and renewed inspiration to let our voices be turned to the heart of the Gospel, proclaiming God’s love for all people. We’ll take time to consider and ask ourselves what prejudices we are challenged to “give up” as a Lent practice of abstinence, and further if and how we are willing to “give” of ourselves for the sake of the world.
Lent begins 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 and agents of change in the world.
We began Lent with our Ash Wednesday service, where a small gathering of folks came together in the Sanctuary and online to mark themselves with ashes, in the sign of a cross, on their foreheads or the backs of their hands, and recalled the words, “From dust you came, and to dust you will return.”
The choir offered a beautiful song based on the prayer of St. Francis, “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace.” Jason provided stunning voicing and music on the organ. And Karen helped us with the beginnings of what will become a waterfall of justice at the Altar.
Each week we’ll build on that waterfall. Every Sunday you will receive a strip of cloth in the sanctuary, or if you’re joining us online you’re invited to find pieces of blue materials where you are. And together we’ll tie our fabric pieces to the previous weeks’ pieces and watch as one by one, we let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Every Sunday, you’ll be invited to hold your piece of cloth with a tight fist, contemplating what you need to give up in order to let justice roll down, to let justice prevail in our collective lives, in our church, and in our world. While you’re holding your cloth you’ll be invited to think about those who you find difficult to love as children of God—perhaps even yourself. Maybe it’s a prejudice you grew up with that you’re ready to let go of. Or maybe it’s a particular grain in others that rubs you the wrong way, causing compassion to be difficult for you to offer. Or maybe it’s someone who has wronged you.
After considering who or what it is you want to give up, in order for justice to flow down, you’ll be invited to slowly open your hand, letting go of the tension and imaging cool waters flowing into and over your hand, as well as that thing you’re giving up.
Throughout Lent, we’ll also feature the Children’s Moment, where each week we’ll be building a Church of justice with our Lenten toolbox. Each week we’ll add a new “tool” to the toolbox and talk about how that tool can help us build a church of justice—or as we said on the first Sunday of Lent, a church that’s fair to all people.
Join us for the Wednesday evening Lenten Bible Study, Psalms for Black Lives: Reflections for the Work of Liberation Wednesday evenings, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Join us for worship in the Sanctuary or online. And join us in prayer as together, we commit to working for justice in the church and in the world. May your Lenten journey be blessed by giving up something that holds you back, and by the giving of yourselves to move us forward.
Lenten blessings to you,
Pastor John Girard
Fishy Fridays
Have you been searching for some way to mark the Lenten season, while eating delicious fried food with your friends from Broad Street? Look no further! This will be a weekly event starting this Friday. On March 3rd, we’ll meet at—and try out—the fish fry from 5-6 p.m. at The Butcher & Grocer—a Columbus favorite that just opened its second location at the East Market (212 Kelton Avenue, Columbus 43205). Future Fishy Friday time & location may vary depending on what tastes good and what works best for people, so please share your recommendations and availability.
Submitted by Jenni Cahill
Lenten Bible Study
To go along with our Lenten season theme of "Roll Down, Justice," we will be studying and reflecting on the Psalms using a book titled Psalms for Black Lives: Reflections for the Work of Liberation by Reverends Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes and Andrew Wilkes.
This study will be jointly offered to both the Broad Street and Livingston congregations and led by Pastor Angie. Six study sessions will be held, each at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings via Zoom. Dates are March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and April 5. Sign up at tinyurl.com/lent2023study.
Save the Date - AIDS Walk Ohio
Broad Street has once again accepted the challenge to participate in AIDS Walk Ohio 2023!
The walk is on April 8, 2023, starting at Genoa Park with a choice of a 5K or one-mile stroll.
Please join us for this worthwhile event and support the Broad Street UMC team.
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.
Staying Safe at Broad Street
In 2017, a dedicated group of folks put together an Emergency Action Plan for Broad Street Church, covering all kinds of situations, from fire and tornado to active shooter. You may have seen the handbook produced, which was placed around the building. We are updating that plan with the latest information, and have had an initial discussion with Officer Frank Hall, Broad Street’s liaison officer with the Columbus Police.
Officer Hall presents a special talk about what to do if an active shooter enters your space, with all the new and latest information, called CRASE (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event). He has given this one-hour talk to The Columbus Museum of Art across the street and to local businesses and churches.
Your “Safety Leaders” at Broad Street (the Staff, Leadership Board, ushers, and balcony tech crew,) will be attending Officer Hall’s first presentation this month. We will be inviting the congregation to attend a second presentation some Sunday after the service, we hope in April. This will include a PowerPoint, discussion, and—no doubt—time for questions.
Please be watching for an announcement on the congregation-wide presentation; we may even be able to do a fire drill if it’s good weather!
Thanks for your attention to this matter; if we are all prepared, even if nothing ever happens, as we sincerely hope, then we are all safer. Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Submitted by Nancy Taggart and Nancy Roberts
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:
March 1: 7:00 p.m. — Facilities Subcommittee
March 6: 6:45 p.m. — Packing Sack Lunches with the Paulist Community | JT Hall
March 14: 1:00 p.m. — History and Archives Team | Room 305
March 15: 7:45 p.m. — Finance Subcommittee
March 20: 6:45 p.m. — Packing Sack Lunches with the Paulist Community | JT Hall
March 20: 7:00 p.m. — Leadership Board | Zoom
March 22: 7:45 p.m. — Personnel Subcommittee | Zoom
March 26: 12:15 p.m. — Come to the Water Healing Ministers available after Worship
March 26: 12:15–12:45 p.m. — Coffee/Fellowship Gathering | Narthex
