The Builder
September 2022
Join Us for Worship In-Person or Online
Year of the People Report
As I sit here in my office writing this month’s Year of the People Report, I’m looking back over the past three months and giving thanks for all the ways Broad Street church has lived into our current mission statement:
“We are a building, a people, and a place of inclusive welcome
for those seeking justice and relationships for all people.”
The mission statement tells us who we are and what we’re about. And this summer we’ve lived fully into these words in amazing ways, providing space, shelter, belonging, hospitality, welcome, nutrition, spiritual care, mental health resource connections, and safety—on a nearly daily basis. Your recurring gifts and offerings make much of this possible. Thank you!
But the mission statement isn’t just about who we are and what we do throughout the week. It also says a lot about who we are and what we’re about on Sunday mornings!
This summer, dear Broad Street, you have simply been amazing. As I think about our summer worship services, I’m astounded by the number of people who have given of themselves to make Sunday morning worship services so rich and meaningful.
Thank you to the following groups of Broad Street friends and members (in no particular order):
Summer Special Music
Hector Garcia
Oliva Sharlow
JJ Crumpler
Nancy Roberts
Ringers on Broad bell choir
Dan Igo
Jon Sadler
HL Wright
Michael Lester
Chris Clough
Lydia Keller
Pat White
Ken Zimmerman
Gary Everts – a special thanks for singing AND coordinating all the summer musicians!
Summer Altar Flowers Sponsors
Jeff & Kylie Smith
Shirley Chavis
Marge Galloway
Myra Talbot, Julie Novel, Angie Tucker
Sue Hughes & Nancy Taggart
Dan Igo & family
Sherri Higgins
Summer Liturgists
April Lee
Molly Powers
Nancy Roberts
Karen White
Shawn Redman
Marge Galloway
Gary Stevens
Sherri Higgins
In addition to these summer worship volunteers, others of you serve year-round in other roles including Communion servers, Communion Steward, Ushers, Greeters, Audio-Visual and Livestreaming Team, Come to the Water Christian Healing Ministry, the Sanctuary prep volunteer, the office prep volunteer, Manna Café volunteers, Columbus Coalition for the Homeless (anchored at Broad Street UMC) donors and supporters, and all of you who worship in-person and online each week.
All of you help make us not just the church in the heart of the city with the city in our hearts, but also a building, a people, and a place of inclusive welcome for those seeking justice and relationships for all people.
The danger in listing individuals by name is that I will have very inadvertently omitted someone from one or more of the groups. If I have done so, please forgive me. It was not intentional. I know that few, if any, of you do what you do at Broad Street for public recognition, but if I have left you out, please drop me a note gently reminding me of your faithfulness as well.
As our Fall programming begins, keep watching for details about the new “Make A Difference” program. Like its name says, it’s designed to equip every single person to do just one thing to make a difference in the life of Broad Street UMC and our community.
Keep watching also for information on a forthcoming Stewardship kick-off this fall, and kitchen renovation updates.
Well, Broad Street Church, you truly are a building, a people, and a place of inclusive welcome for those seeking justice and relationships for all. This past summer has been rich and warm beyond words, and I can’t wait to see what we pull off this fall.
Well done, good and faithful servants!
Pastor John Girard
An Interview with Pastor John
On a sunny day in August 2022, Pastor John agreed to share his life story with us, and what a story it is. John came to us as our senior minister in July 2021, and we have been melding with him ever since.
Born March 18, 1971, at Riverside Methodist Hospital here in Columbus, John was born to John Steven Girard II (deceased) and Sarah Sue Latimer Girard. He was named John Steven Girard III, after his father and grandfather. John has one younger sister, Julianna (Jim) Holibaugh, who lives in Gahanna.
John attended kindergarten and first grade at Indian Springs Elementary School in Columbus, at the corner of Henderson and High Street. At the end of first grade, his family moved East, to the sleepy village of Granville. With his family settled, he continued his education in the Granville Village School system through his graduation from high school. John spent his high school years staying busy in the music and drama departments in high school and even managed to work a part-time job bussing tables at the now extinct Evergreens Restaurant, which was famous for its pies.
While in high school, John participated in his church youth group at First Presbyterian Church of Granville, where he sang in the children’s choir, participated in drama productions, and helped lead the annual Youth Sunday Worship Services.
In the fall of 1989, John left Granville to go away to college. He attended Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana, for the next 4 years pursuing a Business Administration degree. John came home during summer breaks to work for his father’s home-building business in the office. John also studied the pipe organ as an elective during college just for fun. He graduated with a BA in Business from Hanover College in 1993.
In the fall of 1993, John entered the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. This was a result of a series of occupational aptitude tests throughout high school and college. Every time he took one of the tests, it always pointed him in the direction of the funeral home business. John graduated From CCMS in 1994 and has been licensed in the State of Ohio since 1995.
John worked for a funeral home in Loveland, Ohio, while he was in mortuary school, and then moved to Grove City to work at Miller Funeral Home after graduation.
While working at Miller Funeral Home, John transferred his church membership to Broad Street and soon thereafter began to feel a call to ordained ministry. Many of the members of Broad Street encouraged and supported him in this new vocational calling, and he credits his pursuit of ordination credentials to Broad Street’s affirmation and encouragement.
John started seminary at “Methesco” the Methodist Theological School in Ohio in 2001. After one semester his spirit was restless, and he began feeling a call to change schools—to move from the familiar setting of central Ohio to a more urban setting in Chicago. He transferred to Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He would spend the next three years in Chicago, graduating with a Master of Divinity degree, commonly known as the M.Div.
After graduation, John moved back to Columbus and continued in the ordination process. His first pastoral appointment was to Peace UMC in the Northland / North Linden area of Columbus as a licensed local pastor.
He was at Peace UMC from 2005–2008. In 2008, John was appointed to serve at Lewis Center UMC, in Lewis Center (between Columbus and Delaware), as their first-ever associate pastor. John was commissioned as a provisional elder while at Lewis Center in 2009 and ordained an Elder in Full Connection in 2011. At that time, he had been appointed to launch a new church start at Liberty UMC in Delaware for one year. In 2012, he was appointed to Worthington UMC, where he would serve from 2012–2021 as Associate Pastor.
In June 2021, John was appointed home to Broad Street, where he had been a member since the late 1990s until leaving for seminary. When asked if he is happy serving here and content here, he responded YES, with a very happy heart.
John currently serves on the Advisory Board at Ohio Living Westminster Thurber Community as the President-Elect. And in our West Ohio Conference of the UMC, he serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry (“BOOM”) and chairs the Capitol Area North Superintendency Committee. He is also a West Ohio Conference Certified Cultural Coach, and the Dean of the Local Pastor Licensing School. Way to go John! Broad Street is so proud!
When asked, “If a young minister asked you how to start a new pastorate, what would you say?” John replied: “Love the people, and let the people love you.” John finds happiness with laughter.
Some more interesting findings are:
In his free time, John loves to play the piano. ...Classical is his music of choice... His favorite hymn is “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”... Romans 5:1–5 is his favorite scripture. It grounds him and reminds him to always have hope... In his infrequent spare time, John loves to read. Kristin Hannah is a favorite author for her fiction, and stories of hope... John and Scott have a yellow lab, “Bailey”... Disorganization really gets under his skin... (We will leave that one right there). When asked, “Are you interesting?” the response was “YES”... (and I agree.) He finds meetings more of a chore and prefers them to be short and on Zoom.
A people person, John likes to socialize. He prefers others host the gathering so that he is free to mill about and chat with folks. An introvert by nature, he appreciates quiet time to recharge and nurture his spirit.
John’s hope for BSUMC is that we will continue to grow as a source of inspiration for all people. A place for all to know they are welcome and as a center of resources for people in need.
While Pastor John would love to see the sanctuary full every Sunday, he realizes it will take time. He believes we need to get to know our neighbors, and he hopes—once it’s fully safe—to host community events in the church. Until then, we’ll continue to be a building, a people, and a place of inclusive welcome for anyone seeking justice and relationships.
John is not only our spiritual advisor but our beloved friend, too.
This interview was approved by Rev. John S. Girard. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Kitchen Renovation Project Update
Kitchen renovation planning has continued behind the scenes since the last project update. Construction permits have been granted by the City of Columbus and Columbus Public Health. One contractor has provided a renovation bid and another contractor is expected to provide a second bid soon. After the second bid has been received and reviewed by the architect, the Renovation Implementation Team will meet to compare the bids and determine next steps.
The project is progressing slower than originally predicted. The construction industry has been challenged recently by the availability of subcontractors. More time is needed by general contractors to finalize construction bids. It is also not surprising that construction and equipment costs have risen since the preliminary plans were completed last year. However, because of the generosity of your donations, funds are already available for the project. This gives the Renovation Team the freedom to know what is budgeted and manage the project costs to successfully complete the project. The project timelines, acquisition of equipment, and construction process can be adapted to meet the budget. For example, several appliances/ fixtures have been donated, and volunteer labor for some demolition will allow more of the donated funds to go toward the construction costs. The Renovation Team and church staff will continue to work diligently to keep the project on task and to reduce impact on the use of the kitchen facilities.
If you have questions about the project, you can contact the co-chairs, Keith Holten at kholten213@gmail.com or (740) 497-5778 or Nathan Sims at nsims55@hotmail.com or (240) 271-7242. The other team members are Pastor John Girard, Nancy Taggart, and Marge Galloway (Broad Street UMC); Jim Shively (Manna Café and Downtown Kiwanis); Rebekah Mynster (HOTCF and Manna Café); and Tim Reik (Manna Café and State Auto).
Submitted by Keith Holten
Broad Street’s Field Trip to the Columbus Museum of Art
Join us on Sunday, October 2nd, at 12:30 as we take a “field trip” right across the street to the Columbus Museum of Art for a time-limited exhibition centered on the art of Raphael and its scriptural inspirations such as St. Paul Preaching at Athens (Acts 17:16–34), Christ’s Charge to Peter (Matthew 16:16–19), The Sacrifice at Lystra (Acts 14:8), The Healing of the Lame Man (Acts 3:1–8), and The Conversion of the Proconsul (Acts 13:6–12).
The exhibition is centered around six tapestries, woven in the 17th century, on loan from the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery of Dresden), Germany, one of Europe’s most renowned museums.
Working in partnership with the Old Masters Picture Gallery (part of the Dresden State Art Collections) located in Columbus’s sister-city of Dresden, CMA presents for the first time to American audiences these monumental and historically significant works, woven directly from cartoons (painted compositions) by the Renaissance master Raphael. The Dresden tapestries underwent extensive restoration in the 1990s but had not been on display since 2008. Following their début in an exhibition for European audiences at the Dresden Picture Gallery last year, this will be the tapestries’ first ever trip to the United States. The exhibition focuses on the creation of the Dresden tapestries and introduces their various patrons and owners through the centuries—in particular, Charles I, King of England, and Augustus II, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland—while also highlighting Raphael’s broad impact and influence on later artists.
CMA is the only location in the United States where these tapestries are on display, so this is an incredibly unique opportunity to visualize and explore scripture with your church family! The cost of admission is $10 per person and can be paid ahead of time at the registration link below or in person at the Museum.
Want to join in the fun? Sign up here: bsumc501.breezechms.com/form/cmoavisit.
There is also a CMA lecture program that is open to the public starting at 2:00 that afternoon, should you wish to stay. Separate registration and payment are required. More details can be found here: https://www.columbusmuseum.org/?post_type=cma_event&p=38395&date=2022-10.
Submitted by Pastors John and Angie
Newman Center Community Follow-Up
As you read in the previous edition of The Builder, Broad Street has reached out to support the displaced Paulist Community from the St. Thomas More Newman Center at The Ohio State University. In our previous article, we included a link to the letter that was sent to that community, expressing our support, solidarity, and sympathies. The members of their community are still discerning a path forward at this time, but we are always ready to welcome those who might come through the doors of Broad Street.
Not only have we already joined together with some members of the Paulist Community by coming together to package sack lunches here at Broad Street, but we have also received tremendous gratitude from members of that community for the support Broad Street has offered. Below are just a few of the many words of gratitude offered after our letter from the Broad Street Leadership Board was shared with the Paulist Community.
“So kind of them, thank you for sharing. Even if we don’t end up utilizing their space in any way or joining their Community it is so lovely to see the love of God shared in such a way and know that they are thinking of us.”
“Another example that ‘being the Church’ is about community—not orthodoxy.”
“I am deeply touched by this outpouring of Christlike love and compassion! Thank you dear friends in Christ!”
“How beautiful!! This helps restore my faith in the world!”
“We really needed to hear an empathetic message on a day like today.”
“I am so moved by the love and beauty of this letter from our Christian family. Thank you for sharing this! Planning to join with them for our Manna in the Morning sack lunches for the homeless.”
Thank you, Broad Street, for supporting your Leadership Board and continuing to live out the open and loving hearts that the hurting in this world need.
Submitted by Jon Sadler and Pastor Angie
Annual Walk
Heart of the City Foundation
Saturday October 15, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.
Dear Friends of the Heart of the City Foundation:
It has been quite a year! Because of your generous support, the Heart of the City Foundation has secured funding to renovate the Manna Café/Broad Street United Methodist Church Kitchen. This important project is well underway. The renovation planning team has partnered with an architect and renovation bids are expected soon.
Now that the long-anticipated structural updates to the kitchen are closer to reality, the Heart of the City Foundation is committed to raising funds to replace many items used to prepare food for our downtown neighbors. Some of the cookware/ bakeware items in the kitchen have been in use for six decades and are worn out.
We are planning the 2022 Heart of the City Foundation Walk. Funds raised this year are being earmarked to purchase food preparation and service items for the renovated kitchen.
The Walk will take place on Saturday, October 15th at 10:00 a.m. at Broad Street United Church, 501 East Broad Street, Columbus. We are taking a more informal approach to the Walk this year. There is no registration required. Instead, we are encouraging our supporters to make a donation prior to the Walk using our website: heartofthecitycolumbus.org, Choose “donate” at the top of the home page.
The tradition of the Annual Heart of the City Walk began in 2009 to stress the importance of walking for health and well-being. Between now and the Walk, we encourage everyone to walk daily, set goals, and track your progress. Many of us plan to celebrate our progress at the Walk.
We hope you will attend the Walk and consider donating to the Heart of the City Foundation prior to the event. It promises to be an opportunity to interact with friends, admire our beautiful downtown, and enjoy the health benefits of a good walk!
Submitted by Keith Holten
“Manna in the Morning” Sack Lunch Ministry
Members of the Paulist and Broad Street communities build and pack sack lunches in Broad Street’s kitchen in August 2022.
Several members of the Broad Street community joined with the Paulist Community from the Newman Center on Monday, August 22nd, to package twenty sack lunches for Friends of the Homeless on East Main Street. We had a great time and new relationships are already being built! If you would like to join the fun, the “Manna in the Morning” ministry plans to meet twice monthly, on Monday evenings at 6:45. In September, those dates are Sept. 12 and 26th, and our goal is to pack forty complete lunches (no food purchases are necessary). For questions, feel free to reach out to Brett Johnson at brett4.johnson@gmail.com.
Submitted by Pastor Angie
Bethlehem on Broad Street Planning Team
If you would like to participate in the initial planning of this year’s Bethlehem on Broad Street event and haven’t participated on the planning team previously, please contact Pastor Angie at angie@broadstreetumc.net. We will plan to meet via Zoom on Wednesday, September 7, at 7:00 p.m. to set our date and begin discussing the logistics of the December event.
Submitted by Pastor Angie
Sound Board and Livestream Volunteers Wanted
Hi Broad Street Friends! We, who are the Sound and AV technicians at Church on Sunday, would like to introduce ourselves and ask for your help.
Eric Laus, Stephanie Laus, and Kirk Keller team up every Sunday in the balcony. We try to provide you with the best sound quality in our Sanctuary as well as the best sound and video quality for members who are with us through our Livestream.
We would love your help in two important ways:
If you have experience in audio/video production or technology, we can always use your advice on how to improve what we do. Feel free to offer suggestions and ideas to our Pastors or Kirk Keller at kirkkeller@yahoo.com.
Whether you have AV experience or not, we could also use more volunteers who would like to join our team! It is a fun and rewarding way to participate in our service.
Submitted by Kirk Keller
Sign Up for the 2022 CROP Hunger Walk!
Hello, Central Ohio Hunger Fighters! Please note the dates and info for the 2022 CROP Walk. Once again, we have the choice to walk together with other CROP Walk teams from Scioto Audubon Metro Park, or we can do our own hybrid walk as Team Broad Street and choose our own route.
2022 Central Ohio CROP Hunger Walk Dates
Downtown: Sunday, October 9 at Scioto Audubon Metro Park
Hybrid: Time & Place of your choosing
Friends, get a head start on ending hunger this fall and sign yourself up on Team Broad Street's CROP Walk page at https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2022/team/broad-street-umc. As of August 31, Central Ohio teams have already raised over $7,700 which could provide several cows in Haiti, hundreds of chickens to help assist Moldovan families hosting Ukrainian refugees, and over 5,000 meals provided by local partners here in the U.S.! Team Broad Street’s fundraising goal is $1,500, which we, of course, hope to exceed once again! The more we raise, the more we can help our vulnerable neighbors around the block and around the world through the global work of Church World Service and local work of Mid-Ohio Food Collective; Neighborhood Services Food Pantry, Inc; WARM (Westerville Area Resource Ministry); Westland Ecumenical Community Food Pantry; and Worthington Resource Pantry!
Stay tuned for more updates on the CROP Walk, and please reach out to me with any questions or for help signing up.
Submitted by Shelley Hobson, Team Captain Broad Street UMC
Volunteers Needed for Exterior Grounds Cleanup!
To keep our Church in the Heart of the City looking its best, we want to present a beautiful, welcoming space. An important part of that is our “curb appeal.” Throughout the year, a small band of volunteers regularly tend to the plants, bushes, sidewalks, flowerpots, and entryways to keep them clean, tidy, fresh, and appealing. Most of the work involves only a few hours at a time, pulling/spraying weeds, trimming bushes, sweeping sidewalks and stairs, and seasonally, raking leaves and possibly shoveling snow. However, we’ve also discussed some bigger jobs like power washing the entryways and steps. We would like to do this on a regular rotation, at least monthly or as needed. Most volunteers bring their own tools, but we have been gifted with an electric blower and 100-foot extension cord, and possibly some other basic outdoor tools.
There is currently no set schedule, so if you have an hour or two to spare and are able to help, anytime, please contact Shelley Hobson at (614) 580-0081 or shelleyhobson999@gmail.com. Many hands make light work. Thank you!
Submitted by Shelley Hobson
The Amen Corner
There’s a lovely lady in the congregation who knows how to make Martha Washington (George’s wife) dust bonnets to perfection! Her initials are W.J.W. We told her we would not give her name. Please notice the bonnets and the beauty of them.
Submitted by Shirley Chavis
Sign Ups for Ushers, Greeters, Liturgists, and Flowers
As a reminder, for anyone (and we really mean anyone) who would like to assist with Worship by serving as a liturgist, an usher or greeter, or by providing flowers to decorate the Altar, we’d love to help you participate! If you would like to serve as an Usher, please contact Shelley Hobson. Sign-ups for liturgists, greeters, and providing Altar flowers are available in the Narthex every Sunday morning. Sign up for Altar flowers is also available online at bsumc501.breezechms.com/form/altarflowers.
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
Monday–Thursday: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. — Church Office Open
Monday–Saturday: 12:00 p.m. — 501 AA Group
Tuesday–Thursday: 1:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. — CCH Drop-In Center
Tuesdays: 7:30 p.m. — Ringers on Broad Rehearsals
Thursdays: 7:30 p.m. — Choir Rehearsals
Wednesday: 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. — Manna Café
Thursday: 7:00 p.m. — Heart-to-Heart NA Group
Events and Meetings:
September 11, 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. — Church of Solid Faith in Jim Thomas Hall
September 12, 6:45 p.m. — Sack Lunches with Paulists, Kitchen/J.T. Hall
September 13, 1:00 p.m. — History & Archives Meeting
September 14, 7:00 p.m. — Finance Subcommittee
September 19, 7:00 p.m. — Leadership Board, via Zoom
September 26, 6:45 p.m. — Sack Lunches with Paulists, Kitchen/J.T. Hall
