April 22, 2008
The Broadway
Spire
Volume 66 - Number 30 Phone 322-7741 April 22, 2008
The Broadway Spire (USPS 875-600) published weekly except every other week during June, July and August, by Broadway United Methodist Church, 11 S. 1st Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-4315. Phone 712-322-7741. Prayer Chain: 712-322-7705. Fax 712-322-2162. Periodical rate paid at Council Bluffs, IA, 51503. Postmaster: Address changes to: The Broadway Spire, 11 S. 1st Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-4315 Web Site: www.broadwayunitedmethodist.com
Our mission: Ever seeking, serving and growing as the family of God with unconditional love and acceptance!
FROM MARVIN ARNPRIESTER . . .
Years ago a railroad proposed to abandon a money losing spur from Northeastern Colorado into Nebraska. One of the witnesses testifying in opposition was farmer who pleaded the line was of vital necessity to the area.
The railroad lawyer asked, “How long has it been since you shipped anything on the railroad?” “Well, I don’t know as I ever have,” replied the farmer. “How long has it been since you’ve ridden on the railroad?”
asked the lawyer. “About 20 years,” replied the farmer. “Then what difference does it make to you whether the line is abandoned or not?” asked the lawyer. “Well, hang it all,” answered the farmer, “Almost every night I walk down to the crossing to see the train go through.”
Because this farmer and others like him never really supported the railroad, there was a decline in revenue and it became unprofitable to operate that line of track.
This story reminds me of some people and the church. There are some who say, “I think every community should have a church, but...!”
Some feel that way because they have gotten hurt in the church for some reason or the other and so they quit. They fail to realize that when one quits or gives up we have stopped the possibility of solving the problem, healing the hurt and bringing about reconciliation.
Others feel that way because they know someone who goes to that church and if they are an example of what a Christian is, then count them out. They fail to realize that Christians are not perfect, just forgiven. We all make mistakes because we are human. We don’t stop driving because someone else is a bad driver or stop using money because someone else fails to use it to pay their bills.
There are those who are comforted by the existence of the church because they know if they ever need the church, it will be there for them to call on it. Like the farmer they fail to understand it must be supported in order to provide services. Many things in life may have emotional value to us but without our participation and commitment they really mean very little and have only intangible value in our lives.
Thank God for those people who know the value of the church. For them the church is a fellowship with God and others. It is a safe place to come with all their hopes and dreams, their sins and their failures.
(Continued on page 4)
THIS WEEK AT BROADWAY . . .
Moms of preschool children will begin meeting Tuesdays mornings, 9:30-10:30 a.m. April 22, or Wednesday evenings, 6:30-7:45 p.m., April 23. Children will play and moms will visit. Frequency of meetings and location will be discussed by each group. Bring a friend or two!
UMW Annual Day Apart Sharing the Joy of Jesus will be April 24, at Salem UMC. Coffee at 8:30 a.m. Day’s activities begin at 9:00. Salad luncheon provided by District officers. No reservations needed.
Elizabeth von Trapp will be in concert at Broadway Thursday, April 24 at 7:00 p.m. A freewill offering will be taken.
Daytime Diners will join the Aged to Perfection Group the first Wednesday of each month and stay to play dominos after. More on the May 7 meeting later. Contact Vi Grote at 322-8402 with any questions.
Sign up in the Centrex or call the office to join our Broadway Golf League which begins May 6 at Fox Run Course.
Preparatory member by Baptism: Savanah Lynn & Katelyn Ann, daughters of Alissa Schroeder & Harvey Taylor
There are now 329 Preparatory Members.
Professing members received by:
Baptism & Profession: Ruby Greiner,
Erin Keller, Transfer: Mary Howard
Profession: Alissa Schroeder, Harvey Taylor, Jr., Angelo & Moncia Trujillo
There are now 1,003 Professing members.
Find out what’s happening at General Conference at www.iaumc.org and follow the links to the various pages and blogs.
Remember to pray for General Conference.
WE WILL BE LOYAL TO BROADWAY . . .
With our Presence: April 20, 2008
Worship: 8:00 a.m. -114; 9:30 a.m. - 116; 11:00 a.m. - 134; 6:30 p.m. - 109 = 473
Sunday School: 8:00 a.m -7; 9:30 a.m.-107; 11:00 a.m.-34 = 147
With our Gifts 2008: Received
Current Expenses, Need Weekly $11,209.13
Received April 20 $5,305.25
Total received to date $148,373.54
Growing through Grace 2008 $20,351.00
Guatemala Children’s Orphanage $362.07
Nothing But Nets $3,627.03
Native American Awareness $602.00
Vacation Bible School $370.00
Summer Camp Fund $400.00
Beads for Life $506.00
With Our Prayers: Hospitalized at Jennie: Kris Lippke, Sharon Priebe. Children’s: Jayden Law, Others: Marge Bean, Lesley Blom, Roger Coffey, Shirley DeHoogh, Brad & Holly Freeman, Max Hall, Sharon Jasnowski, Jan Messer, London McSorley, John Metz, Betty Milford, Molly Pengra, Steve Roberson, Elizabeth Rollings, Conrad Schlemmer, Maxine Tait, Jeanne Tjaden, Kathy Whitson, homebound & nursing home members, missionaries, military personnel, victims of war & natural disasters, District Superintendent Brian Milford, Field Staff Ed Kail, Bishop Palmer, pastors and staff. Call 322-7705 to hear additional requests.
LECTIONARY BIBLE READINGS . . .
April 27 Acts 17:22-31
Psalm 66:8-20
1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21
Concerned about climate change and protecting the environment? Here's something you can do about it. Add a new dimension to your stewardship commitments: Pledge energy efficiency. Prevent climate change pollution. Save money. How? Become a Cool Congregant: Calculate your carbon footprint, find ways to Reduce it, Pledge your reduction. Invite your friends to a meeting in Fellowship Hall, 8:30 a.m. to noon, May 10, 2008.
FROM DANA SCOPATZ . . .
When I moved to Ames in 1990 to attend Iowa State University I didn't have any definite plans about church attendance. I'd grown up going to church, but had always gone with my family. I honestly don't know if I'd have had the motivation to get up on Sunday morning and get there on my own. But on Thursday afternoon after I moved into the dorm I got a phone call from someone at the Wesley Foundation, the United Methodist campus ministry. "You filled out a card that said you were United Methodist and interested in drama. Our drama group is having a planning meeting for our fall musical tomorrow. Would you be interested?" So I went. And met some people, at least one of whom invited me to the ice cream social after church that Sunday. And I met more people. And pretty soon I couldn't walk into the building without seeing someone I knew and having someone to sit with me. And I attended that church regularly for 8 years, until I moved away to go to seminary.
Knowing people, having someone with whom to sit, and being invited to events are absolutely crucial to getting new people involved in the church. It would be nice if that could just happen in an unplanned and informal way, since we're such a friendly group of people, but in a church the size of Broadway it's too easy for someone to get lost. We don't always recognize all the long-time members, so we don't introduce ourselves to someone new because we're afraid they're not new but just someone we haven't noticed before. We might assume that someone else will greet them, or someone else must have invited them, or someone else will make sure they find their way around. So it's important that each new member or repeat visitor have at least one friend that makes a point of introducing them to other people, inviting them to events, and helping them find their own "niche."
If you would like to be that kind of intentional friend, come to the Fellowship Friends training on Saturday May 3 at 10:00 a.m. We'll talk about the responsibilities of Fellowship Friends, how to be a good friend to a newcomer, and have a fun and friendly time. Contact Bob Folkers or Dana Scopatz for more information.
SAVE THE DATE - Sunday, September 7, 2008, we will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Education Building at Broadway. In honor of the anniversary, we will finally give the building a proper name!! We need your help. Please be thinking of what you think the building should be named. Sunday, April 27, there will be a ballot in the Church Bulletin. Jot down your ideas for naming the building and place them in the offering plate or email suggestions to the church office muilenburg-bumc@qwest.net. On May 4 and 11 you will have an opportunity to vote on your choice of a name for our Education Building. The new name will be announced later.
BROADWAY BOUQUETS TO. . .
• Thank the congregation for prayers and kind words while London adjusted to his seizure medication. He seems to be doing great and has reached his maximum dosage. Thank you - Mike & Tricia McSorley
• Heidie Grove & Shu Tosaka united in marriage on April 19 by Rev. Arnpriester.
• Hugh Pricket, Laura Hartley, Eugene Montang for helping serve meals at Mohm's Place this month.
• Stacie & Craig Jensen on the April 18 birth of Taylor Elizabeth.
• Bill Jones, Jean & John Bohnker, Mary Atilano, Susan & Rick Durlin, Becky Bracker, Jason & Denise Ruiz and all youth who worked at pancake breakfast and all who supported the youth!
BIRTHDAYS . . .
April 24 - Patrick Bicket, Harry Drake, Chad Fent, Gabriella Hernandez, Tyler Johnson, Wil Prine, Elizabeth Smith, Scott Williams
April 25 - Elmer Barritt, Frank Perry, Dick Reeves
April 26 - Curt Betts, Keely Kurcz, London McSorley, Roger Olsen
April 27 - Erin Bockert, Denver Holeton, Carolyn Lippke, Jacob Meade-Dunn, Zachary Mortvedt, Linda Muilenburg, Kathy Willms, Sharon Wood
April 28 - Joshua Achenbach, Marty Heitman
April 29 - Pricilla Gearhart, Crystal Larson, Judy Smits
April 30 - Hunter Dunn
April 30 - Alex McGee
May 1 - Jerry Birdsall, Sherrie Fulfs, Donna Gries, Amy Griswold, Aeon Long, Bertha Salgado
ANNIVERSARIES . . .
April 27 - Patrick & Connie Scoles - 34
April 28 - Kim & Cindy Richter - 35
April 30 - Tom & Mary Atilano - 25
ANNOUNCING . . .
Summer Sunday School for children begins May 25. Teachers are needed for 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. for 1-2 weeks. With changes in our schedule, more adults and youth are needed. Sign up in the Centrex to help!
Skeeter Barnes at the Mall of the Bluffs will donate 10% of cost of all Sunday meals bought by Broadway members to Broadway youth! Eat between 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. on Sundays. Tell them you are from Broadway and youth will receive a check!
Wednesday evening Seeker activities for children and youth end until fall with a catered picnic May 7, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., at Big Lake Park.
Persons interested in being part of the Vacation Bible School staff, teaching, preparing snacks or afternoon field trips, June 4-July 2, are asked to call the office!
Needed: Cardboard toilet tissue rolls and ice cream buckets for Vacation Bible School.
May 4 will be Confirmation Sunday at Broadway!
Parents of Confirmands, sign up your family for the potluck meal following the 11:00 a.m. service that day. Parents of infants are invited to call the office to arrange for baptism on this important day at Broadway!
The Council Bluffs parish nurse network offers Tai Chi starting May 5 for 6 weeks, 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays, at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 2444 North Broadway. It will also be offered the same days at Community of Christ Church,116 W. Kanesville Blvd., 6:30 - 7:15 p.m. There is no charge.
Parish nurses will soon have a recipe box in the Centrex. Each month copies of a healthy recipe will be put in the box for you to take. The first month will be “Healthy Flax Seed Muffins.” Delicious!
Beach Party Christian Day Camp at Broadway begins each Wednesday, June 4-July 2, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. for children attending school this fall through current 6th Grade, and 7:30-11:30 a.m. for children below school age. Register today!
Sign up on the “Fellowship Friends” sheet in the Centrex for training as a Fellowship Friend on Saturday, May 3, 10:00 a.m. - noon.
A Purpose Driven Life is discussed Sunday mornings at the Mall of the Bluffs 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Lunch in the food court follows. Call Sue Jungman, 323-0750, or Rick Perkins, 256-8930, for more information.
Saturday, April 26, is A Day of Caring. Anyone needing help with something is asked to sign up in the Centrex or call the church office. Any member of the congregation wishing to volunteer with the care team on this day, are asked to sign up in the Centrex or call Betty Milford, Lea Kuper, Sue Jungman, Susan Durlin.
The County Prevent Child Abuse Council & Boys & Girls Town hold a Family Health and Safety Fun Fair at Broadway, Saturday, April 26, 10:00 a.m - 1:00 p.m. It includes: clowns, face painting, fire trucks, health screenings, family activities and information on keeping your family healthy and safe. Youth will be offering nachos, apples and water during the Fair.
Continued from page 1
It is a place where they are accepted and loved. They have discovered forgiveness and hope, comfort and courage, faith and challenge for living life to the fullest. Without their support the church would not be in existence for anyone.
As the lawyer asked the farmer, I ask you, What difference does it make, to you, your family and this community? What difference would it make in Council Bluffs if Broadway wasn’t here? What do we need to do to ensure that it remains a strong and stable force for good in our city?
FROM SUE JUNGMAN . . .
Who God Uses
God grant me the Serenity to accept the people I cannot change, The Courage to change the one I can, and the Wisdom to know it’s me. The next time you feel like God can’t use you, just remember….
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rehab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced,
more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer…AND
Lazarus was dead!!
No more excuses now! God can use you to your full potential. Besides you aren’t the message, you are just the messenger. JESUS IS ALL IN ALL.
Mark these dates for our new Church pictorial directory. Photos taken August 12-16 and August 19-20. You’ll get a free 8x10 of your choice when you have your photos taken!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS . . .
Wednesday, April 23 Time for Prayer - 6:30 am
Staff Meeting - 1:00 am
Prayer Shawl Ministry - 1:30 pm
Confirmation - 5:00 pm
ESL Childcare - 5:45 pm
Meal for Donation - 6:00 pm
Wednesday Children, Children's Activities - 6:30 pm
Allstars, Christian Cadets, Jr. & Sr. UMYF - 6:30 pm
Introductory Bible Class with Pastor Dana - 6:30 pm
Moms’ Group, Disciple I & II - 6:30 pm
Thursday, April 24 Men's Ensemble - 5:45 pm
Elizabeth von Trapp Concert - 7:00 pm
Friday, April 15 Kiwannis Spaghetti Feed - 11:30 am
Bible Study in Spanish - 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 26 Day of Caring - 7:30 am
Family Health and Safety Fun Fair - 10:00 am
Sunday, April 27 Choir Rehearsal - 7:19 am
Sunday Worship - 8:00 - 9:30 - 11:00 am
Children’s Sunday School - 8:00 am
Jr. and Sr. High Sunday School - 9:00 am
Sunday School - children & adults - 9:30 am
The Bible From Scratch - 11:00 am
Sunday School for elementary & younger - 11:00 am
Worship Service in Spanish - 6:00 pm
NA Group - 7:00 pm
Monday, April 28 ESL Childcare - 5:45 pm
Cub Scouts Den Meeting - 6:30 pm
Tuesday, April 29 Moms’ Group - 9:30 am
Girl Scouts - 6:30 pm
Bible Study in Spanish - 7:00 pm
Wednesday, April 30 Time for Prayer - 6:30 am
Confirmation - 5:00 pm
PACT - 5:00 pm
ESL Childcare - 5:45 pm
Meal for Donation - 6:00 pm
Bell Choir - 6:15 pm
Wednesday Children, Children's Activities - 6:30 pm
Allstars, Christian Cadets, Jr. & Sr. UMYF - 6:30 pm
Introductory Bible Class with Pastor Dana - 6:30 pm
Mom’s Group, Disciple I & II - 6:30 pm
Choir Rehearsal - 7:15 pm
The Trustees are holding an auction Saturday, May 31, 10:00 a.m. Lunch available 11:30-1:30 p.m. Clean, useable donations will be accepted at the church May 19-30, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. each day.
You are asked to sign up in the Centrex to help in one of the following committees:
Publicity, Donations, Set -up, Pick up donations, Drop off Nights at the Church, Clean up, Silent Auction, Kitchen/food crew.
There will be a flier in the bulletin Sunday listing the responsibilities for each committee. Contact Carrie Johnson, dcjohnson5@cox.net or 256-3469 for more information.