The Builder
May 2022
Join Us for Worship In-Person or Online
Year of the People Report
It’s Eastertide (also known as the Easter Season)! Eastertide begins at sunset on Easter Eve and continues through the Day of Pentecost (June 5, 2022). It is considered the most joyous and celebratory season of the entire Christian year. And we have much to celebrate!
On Easter Sunday morning, we entered the Sanctuary to find yellow and white cloth donning the Sanctuary as if rays of sunshine and new life had entered into the space to greet us. The Altar and Chancel areas were decked in gorgeous springtime flowers, colors, and smells. And the sight and sound of fresh running water spilling over the edge of a simple fountain among the flowers around the Altar reminded us that one of Easter’s gifts is new life and new possibilities all the time, no matter what.
But this wasn’t the best part of the Easter morning scene at Broad Street. Do you know what the best part was? The best part was seeing so many faces in the Sanctuary and online! Dear friends, we had more than 100 people in the sanctuary on Easter morning, and it was glorious. If you were not able to be in the Sanctuary but were able to join us online, your presence made us all the richer—thank you! What a way to celebrate Easter—together.
Have you done anything in the days since Easter Sunday to make someone say, “Wait a minute, did I just see the Lord?!” If you haven’t yet, there’s good news—opportunities abound! And I’ll share two up-and-coming opportunities here.
First, is the New Member Class on Sunday, May 22, immediately following Worship. We’ll gather to discuss what it means to be a member of the best church in town, and what it means to be United Methodist in the 21st century. You’ll find more details, and the registration link later in this newsletter.
Second, is the Every Member in Ministry program, coming this summer. It’s a simple and easy way to get involved, or more involved, in the life of Broad Street UMC. Want to find your place, explore your ministry passions, or just get to know others better? Keep watching for more information as we get ready to launch Every Member in Ministry this summer!
Well, dear ones, we have much to celebrate at Broad Street Church this Eastertide. I am blessed beyond measure to stand in the pulpit each Sunday, looking out at your faces in the pews, and hearing your choir voices from the loft behind me, and think to myself, “Wait a minute, did I just see or hear the Lord?” And indeed, I believe I have…
Happy Eastertide!
John
Warming Center Program Ends
Broad Street United Methodist Church hosted the Warming Center program for the second year in partnership with the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless. This year, the program served over 700 unique individuals at the Warming Center from November through April and provided over 9,000 visits. The program also provided 1,750 showers and 550 loads of laundry for guests.
The Warming Center program served mostly people who are homeless and unsheltered. These individuals have very few options or resources in the community. The program’s goal is hospitality—the simple act of welcoming people in from the cold to a warm, safe space with hot coffee and social interaction. Other benefits include linkage to services, clothing, supplies, and snacks. Many meals were served from donations and leftover meals from the Manna Café.
The Warming Center program concluded on Friday, April 29th, as the weather continues to get better. After taking a week off, staff members will continue to offer shower and laundry services three days per week during the warm weather months.
Thank you to all of the church members who made donations, volunteered, and supported the Warming Center program this year. We are so grateful for your kindness in welcoming people to the Broad Street United Methodist Church. Hope to see you next fall when it gets cold again!
Keith McCormish
Director, Columbus Coalition for the Homeless
New Membership & Membership Transfer Class
Sunday, May 22, 2022, at 12:00 p.m.
Make Broad Street Church your home church! Register today for the new membership and/or membership transfer class. This fast-paced, two-hour class will cover what it means to be a United Methodist in the 21st century, and what it means to be a member of the best church in downtown Columbus. We’ll discuss ways to get involved in the life of the church, ways to meet others in the church, and what it means to participate in the ministries of the church “by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness.” (United Methodist Membership Vows)
Call the church office at (614) 221-4571 or email office@broadstreetumc.net for questions or to register.
Assisting a Refugee Family
Last Sunday a small group from Broad Street met with a representative from Columbus Refugee and Immigration Services, or CRIS. We are forming a Welcome Team to assist a refugee family who is being resettled in Columbus. Some of the tasks we might be asked to help with include:
Helping to set up an apartment for the family (items to assist in furnishing the apartment)
Stocking the pantry – purchasing culturally appropriate groceries for the family
Airport welcome – greeting the family at the airport and welcoming them
Welcome meal – preparing a culturally appropriate meal for the family to enjoy when they arrive at their new home
Rental assistance – financial assistance to help cover a deposit and one month’s rent
Seasonal clothing – clothing and footwear for work, school, and everyday use for each family member
Transportation – driving the family to necessary appointments
Currently, Columbus is receiving families from the following countries:
Rwanda
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Myanmar
Honduras
We will receive training from CRIS in mid-May.
If you are interested in joining the Welcome Team, please contact Pastor John, Pastor Angie, Deborah Gavlik, or Craig Vander Veen.
In Memoriam
Save the Dates
Celebration of Life service for Tom DeBolt will be held Saturday, May 21st, on the West Lawn of the church.
12:00 p.m. Potluck Picnic
1:00 p.m. Service
Leashed pets are welcome and encouraged.
If you wish to contribute to the potluck, we invite you to use the guide below.
Last names beginning:
A-G: Sides/salads
H-L: Water/Soda
M-Q: Hot dog or hamburger buns/chips
R-Z: Desserts
Celebration of Life service for Carolyn Towers will be held Saturday, May 28th. Carolyn’s family will receive friends and guests at 1:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, where a memorial service will immediately follow at 2:00 p.m.
Updates from Your Reconciling Ministries Team
This year’s AIDS Walk donations for the Broad Street Team totaled $2,846. Thank you for your support! Grand total for the AIDS Walk Ohio 2022 is $196,000!
We are getting ready for Pride month by participating in the Central Ohio Reconciling Ministries Pride Festival. It will be held on June 11th from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at Bethel International UMC, 1220 Bethel Rd. Columbus OH. Our pastors are designing and leading the day’s closing Worship, and we are looking for volunteers to help with activities and pass out swag at Broad Street’s tent. There will be children's activities, vendors, food trucks, music, and more! Please come and represent Broad Street in addition to checking out all Central Ohio RMN churches’ activities.
Broad Street will be marching in the Columbus Pride Parade once again! The parade is on June 18th, and step-off is at 10:30 am. Those wanting to walk can take a shuttle from the Broad Street parking lot to the line-up area. Plan on joining us for a fun-filled day while supporting your LGBTQ+ Broad Street friends and community.
Thank you, and please contact Nancy Taggart with any questions regarding the Pride Festival and Pride Parade.
Share Your Passion!
Dennis Fuhr recently shared with us that Connie Hoelscher has collected teapots for many, many years. This is only a part of her collection on display in her room at Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber.
Do you have a collection that would be fun to share, or an interest that would catch someone’s attention? Let me know in an email! Maybe there are others at Broad Street church with similar interests or curiosities.
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.
Download the free Vanco Mobile app on your device and search for Broad Street.
Text the dollar amount to (614) 528-4075.
Recurring Events:
Sunday: 11:00 a.m. — Livestream & in-person Worship
Monday–Thursday: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. — Church Office Open
Tuesday–Thursday: 1:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. — Columbus Coalition for the Homeless Drop-In Center (beginning the week of May 8)
Monday–Saturday: 12:00 p.m. — 501 AA Group
Tuesday: 7:30 p.m. — Bell Choir Rehearsal
Wednesday: 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. — Manna Café
Thursday: 7:30 p.m. — Choir Rehearsal
Thursday: 7:00 p.m. — Heart-to-Heart NA Group
Meetings:
May 2: 7:00 p.m. — Shepherding Team (off-site)
May 3: all-day — Election Day! Broad Street’s Polling Location is Open
May 10: 1:00 p.m. — History and Archives
May 11: 7:00 p.m. — Finance Sub-Committee—Zoom
May 16: 7:00 p.m. — Leadership Board—Zoom
May 21: 12:00 p.m. — Tom DeBolt Potluck Picnic & Celebration of Life
May 28: 1:00 p.m. — Carolyn Towers Visitation & Celebration of Life
