Email header
Article Headline

 Keeping you in touch with news and events at  

Broad Street United Methodist Church 




Greetings!

 

As we remember those lost 10 years ago this weekend, may we be reminded of God's continued presence with us. ✝  Here are the readings for this week:   

 

Psalm 139: 13-16  

  • 7 Where could I go to get away from your spirit?
  • Where could I go to escape your presence?
  • 8 If I went up to heaven, you would be there.
  • If I went down to the grave,c you would be there too!
  • 9 If I could fly on the wings of dawn, stopping to rest only
  • on the far side of the ocean- 10 even there your hand would guide me;
  • even there your strong hand would hold me tight!
  • 11 If I said, " The darkness will definitely hide me;
  • the light will become night around me, "12 even then the darkness
  • isn't too dark for you! Nighttime would shine bright as day
  • because darkness is the same as light to you!

 _________________________________________________

c  Heb Sheol

Genesis 4:8-16

8 Cain said to his brother Abel, " Let's go out to the field. " r When they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

9 The LORD said to Cain, " Where is your brother Abel? "

Cain said, " I don't know. Am I my brother's guardian? "

10 The LORD said, " What did you do? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 You are now cursed from the ground that opened its mouth to take your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you farm the fertile land, it will no longer grow anything for you, and you will become a roving nomad on the earth. "

13 Cain said to the LORD , " My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Now that you've driven me away from the fertile land and I am hidden from your presence, I'm about to become a roving nomad on the earth, and anyone who finds me will kill me. "

15 The LORD said to him, " It won't happen;s anyone who kills Cain will be paid back seven times. The LORD put a sign on Cain so that no one who found him would assault him. 16 Cain left the LORD 's presence, and he settled down in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

_________________________________________________

r  LXX, Syr, Vulg, Sam; MT lacks Let's go out to the field.

s  LXX, Syr, Vulg; MT therefore


______________________________________________________

[The translation of the Bible used above is the new Common English Bible. 
You can read more about it here.] 

Matters of the Heart and City

9-11 UMC Billboard 

Timing matters in the heart and in the city.

 

A billboard was hanging in Times Square on September 11, 2001.  It was paid for by the apportioned dollars of the people of the United Methodist Church like Broad St. UMC.  It was part of an advertising campaign linked with the "Open hearts, Open minds, Open doors," media marketing of the denomination.

 

That a huge billboard was hanging over Times Square while New Yorkers watched the towers fall is coincidence to some and providence to many. 

 

Timing matters.

 

The banner said, "Fear is not the only force at work in the world today." It showed a picture of two hands praying.

 

The television ad that also aired throughout the day of the attack and for the month following went on to say, "Fear is not the only force at work in the world today. And yet the comfort we seek, and even faith itself, is also driven by a force we cannot see.  So no matter how you pray, or where, remember, the people of the United Methodist Church are praying with you." As the words were spoken the images that crossed the television screen included people praying in many ways through many faiths in many homes and places of worship.

 

Timing matters.

 

On this tenth anniversary of that day, the people of Broad St. United Methodists Church will gather in worship to remember what happened.  We will also confess our fears, stunned silence, rage, and revengeful violence. We will also trust God who is present to us, with us, and with the world that God so dearly loves.  And most of all, we will pray for an end to the wars begun that day. We will pray for a continual awakening to embrace the stranger in our midst and those we don't understand, especially our neighbors of other faiths. We will pray for the renewal of our own faith and message of gracious love.

 

Yes, it is a matter of timing.  All the time, praying. Praying with the others, of all faiths, in all times and places, who are praying, too.

 

Join us this Sunday as we remember, confess, trust and pray together in worship at 10:45 am on Sunday, September 11, 2011.

 

Timing matters in the heart and in the city.  

 

 

-- Pastor David

 
 

This Year in Our History 

 

10 Years Ago

 

Actually, I need to back up a few years to provide context. In 1991, twenty years ago, the Administrative Board (now called the Church Council) adopted the following mission statement:

 

"As followers of Jesus Christ responding to God's love, our mission is to be an all-inclusive Christian community in the heart of the city, and in our ministry seek to improve the spiritual, social and physical well-being of our church and community." 

 

Central Ohio School of Servant Leadership

 

To live out this mission, one of the ideas of Rev. Robert Alexander, pastor 1989-1997, was to develop a school of discipleship, where members of the congregation would study what it means to actually live as Christian disciples. This did not happen during his pastorate; but the seed had been planted. In 1998, under the leadership of Pastor David Meredith, Broad Street United Methodist Church started the Central Ohio School of Servant Leadership.

 

The school brought together leaders and instructors drawn from other churches in the Columbus North (now Capital Area North) District and from the staff of the West Ohio Conference. The aspiring servant leaders were from Broad Street United Methodist Church, other UM churches in Central Ohio, and a few persons from other denominations. The format was a series of eight weekly meetings - three or four series each year - with an appropriate selection of course offerings. The courses were geared toward learning what it means to be a "servant leader" by studying the scriptures and looking at the needs of the community around the church. The school continues today, primarily as a Broad Street United Methodist Church endeavor.

 

Manna Caf�

 

Just as the idea of the school took time to "hatch," the fruits of the school also took a few years to develop. In 1991, ten years ago, several ministries were birthed that were a direct outgrowth of the School of Servant Leadership. This month's article will focus on one of these, the Manna Caf�.

 

In responding to the call to become "servant leaders" and recognizing that there were persons in the downtown community that did not have adequate food to eat, some participants in the school were called to begin a dining program which would provide free meals once a week to those persons. Thus the concept for Manna Caf� was born - provide a welcoming community, a nutritious meal, fellowship and the opportunity to worship for servers and served alike.

 

Manna Caf� operates every Wednesday evening, year round, serving meals in Jim Thomas Hall to anyone in the Heart of the City who comes in. From a humble beginning of 20 or 30 persons served, it now serves as many as 180 persons each week in Jim Thomas Hall. At the outset, persons from Broad Street, Northwest, North Broadway, Parkview and Maple Grove United Methodist churches and the Lamb of God Anglican Church were involved as providers. A steam table, a refrigerator/freezerand a dish washer were in-kind gifts from members of the Grove City UMC.

 

It is an example of Broad Street United Methodist Church partnering with other churches, businesses, organizations and individuals; who provide, prepare and serve the food on "their night." In 2011, in addition to individuals and groups from Broad Street, there are eight other churches or religious organizations and eight business/education/social related organizations involved. Some of them serve as many as five different times during the year. It takes 25-30 persons to prepare and serve the meals each Wednesday evening, something Broad Street United Methodist Church could not begin to do just on its own.

 

To me, the great part of ministries like Manna Caf� is that the idea came from the grassroots; from persons looking for a way to live out their call to discipleship, looking at the community around the church, identifying a need, and doing something about it.

 

Thanks be to God for all those from Broad Street United Methodist Church and from our partners who minister weekly at Manna Caf�.

 

On Wednesday September 21, in Kellogg Hall (the Broad Street United Methodist Church gym), there will be a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the beginning of the Manna Caf�. All are invited to this celebration.

 

Jim Barbee, Historian

 

Sources:

The Builder, monthly newsletter of the Broad Street United Methodist Church, various issues

Nicki King, Editor.  Built On A Rock. Columbus: Broad Street United Methodist Church, 2000. p89

 

 

Inn At Broad 

 

Inn with Light OnUnlike homes you might see on TV shows, the Inn, though home to two families, is not plagued with crazy neighbors that drop in at inconvenient times and make themselves at home. There are no joking buddies that leave everyone in stitches before they finally leave. BUT, they do have meals that are working their way toward the Cooking Channel, and gardens that rival those on the best ads for fertilizer. 

 

There is laundry to do, kids to play with before it is time for a bath and bed, and chores as in any home.

 

The fact that there is no excitement only means that life is moving forward step-by-step and day-by-day. That's what we hope for!

 

Marcia Miller, President, Inn at Broad

 
In This Issue
Pastor's Notes
History
Inn at Broad
BSUMC Social Media

Find us on Facebook

 

View our photos on flickr 

 

View our videos on YouTube 

 

Ministry Quick Links

Worship With Us

 

  

Sep 9-16

 

8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily -- Sanctuary open for prayer

 

A brother's keeper?- Sep 11

Interfaith Awareness & Reconciliation

Remember the global Interfaith Awakening of 9/11/2001

Psalm 139.7-12; Gen.4.8-16

 

Becoming the Beloved - Sep 18

Matthew 3.13-4.2

Heart of the City Street Fair

Meet your neighbors, music, magic, meals & more! For all ages!!

 

Sep 21

6:30 p.m. - Celebrate 10 years of hot meals at Manna Caf�.

To volunteer, call 614-221-4571, ext. 220

 

The First Companion Animals - Sep 25

Genesis 8-9 (Noah's story)

8:30 a.m. - Blessing of pets

10:45 a.m. -- Blessing of service animals

 

God's Loving Wisdom - Oct 2

DREAM Sabbaths: Immigration and World Communion

Exodus 20.1-4

Communion

 

God Matters - Oct 9

Exodus 32.1-14

Laura Spurlock, Preaching

Chancel Choir

Reception of New Members

 

Sunday Evening - Oct 9

Building Faith Anew Financial Campaign (Capital & Operating) Kick-Off Rally

 

Willing Relationships - Oct 16

Exodus 33.12-23

 

God's Story, Our Stories - Oct 23

Laity Sunday

Deuteronomy 34.1-12

Harvest Party - details coming!

 

God with Us - Oct 30

Joshua 3.7-17

 

 View a list of Coming Events on our website.

 

Contact Information


BSUMC Communications Committee
Email:  [email protected]
Church office:  614-221-4571