February 26, 2008
The Broadway
Spire
Volume 66 - Number 22 Phone 322-7741 February 26, 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!
PASTORAL REFLECTIONS BY MARVIN ARNPRIESTER . . .
Wilbur Wilberforce became a member of the English Parliament in 1784 at the age of 23. He had been greatly influenced by a Methodist school teacher as a young man and then by an aunt who was a strong supporter of George Whitefield the great preacher of the day. He was concerned about the social issues of his day including slavery. He was constantly in the forefront of human rights issues and constantly introduced bills to abolish the British slave trade calling it barbaric, inhumane and not in keeping with the Christian faith. He was a Methodist layman who took his faith seriously and sought to live it out in all his life and actions. I recently read the following he wrote:
I suspect I have been allotting habitually too little time to religious exercises as private devotion, religious meditation, scripture reading, etc. Hence I am lean and cold and hard. God would perhaps prosper me more in spiritual things if I were to be more diligent in using the means of grace. I had better allot more time, say two hours or an hour and a half, to religious exercises daily, and try, whether by so doing, I cannot preserve a frame of spirit more habitually devotional, a more lively sense of unseen things, a warmer love to God and a greater degree of hunger and thirst after righteousness, so I no longer have a heartless prone to be soiled with worldly areas, designs, passions and apprehension, but a real undissembled longing for heaven, its pleasures and its purity.
What a statement of self-awareness and intention! Imagine this man of a deep faith such as he had, writing in this vein. I believe that the more one is aware of God’s love and grace, the more deeply aware they are of sin and separation from God’s intention in their life.
Lent invites in-depth spiritual introspection. During Lent we are called to remember and reflect on the life and ministry of Jesus. This sets the stage for Holy Week prior to Easter. Athletics has the expression, “No pain - no gain.” May I be so bold as to suggest that for Lent 2008 we ponder, “No prayer - no joy, no worship - no vitality of faith.”
The means of grace to which Wilberforce referred include: 1) reading your Bible and praying each day, 2) joining in worship each week and 3) seeking the mind of Christ for your life and relationships as you engage in intentional acts of service in living out your faith. These are the training table for the Christian life. They nurture and sustain us in faithful living. May they not be seen as a burden, but as an opportunity for us to grow in our relationship with God and others. They are how Jesus lived out his life and ministry.
THIS WEEK AT BROADWAY . . .
“Sweet 16" Prom! The annual adult Prom sponsored by the youth will be Saturday, March 1, 7:00-10:30 p.m., in Fellowship Hall. Food, fellowship, dancing and fun are all on the agenda. DJ Derek Troester will again host the event. Cost is $15/single, $25/couple, $5 youth. Thrift shops currently have a great supply of Prom dresses! Tickets are available in the office or at the door. Load up a carload of friends and be prepared to join us!
Israel/Palestine UMW Lenten Bible Study is Tuesdays, through March 18, at 1:30 p.m. Rev. Dana Scopatz is the leader.
The Bible From Scratch is Sunday mornings, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Learn to find references, use footnotes and concordances and other study tools as we work through an overview of the New Testament. No question too big or small. Everybody is welcome to participate.
Sign up to deliver door hangers! We’re organizing this a little differently this time – we need eight team captains who will take responsibility for a route and see that it is covered anytime between Saturday, March 8, and Saturday, March 15. Sign up in the Centrex to captain a route. If you’d like to help with a route, sign up in the Centrex so the team captains can contact you.
The March-April issues of The Upper Room and Alive Now daily devotional guides are now available for your purchase.
Child/Adult Prayer Partner Assignments will be coming shortly. Children are still needed. If your child would like a special prayer relationship with an adult, please sign up in the Centrex.
WE WILL BE LOYAL TO BROADWAY . . .
With our Presence: February 24, 2008
Worship: 8:00 a.m. - 107; 9:30 a.m. - 162; 11:00 a.m. - 121; 6:30 p.m. - 97 = 487
Sunday School: 8:00 a.m -7; 9:30 a.m.-120; 11:00 a.m.-25 = 152
With our Gifts 2008: Received
Current Expenses, Need Weekly $11,209.13
Received February 24 $8,923.40
Total received to date $71,383.79
Growing through Grace 2008 $6,675.00
Guatemala Children’s Orphanage $318.73
One Great Hour of Sharing $2,707.00
With Our Prayers: Hospitalized at Jennie: Kris Lippke, Mercy: Veda Clark. Methodist: Carol, Marcus & Audrey Linaez. Others: Faye, Alysa & Allen Arthur, Marge Bean, Lesley Blom, Anne Brunko, Roger Coffey, Shirley DeHoogh, Connie Folkers, Carey Garafalo-Moore, Virgil Graves, Max Hall, Shirley Heinrich, Sharon Jasnowski, Denise LeBaugh, Janet McKern, Irma Miller, Steve Roberson, Elizabeth Rollings, Conrad Schlemmer, Jean Talbert, Suzy VanBibber, Al Voss, Kathy Whitson, homebound & nursing home members, missionaries, military personnel, victims of war and natural disasters, District Staff Brian Milford & Ed Kail, Bishop Palmer, pastors and staff. Call 322-7705 to hear additional prayer requests.
LECTIONARY BIBLE READINGS . . .
March 2 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm 23
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-41
In the event of inclement weather church activities are canceled if school is released early or closed. Call the office if in doubt.
Cool Congregations has more carbon saving tips . . . This week: Visit MidAmerican Energy online (www.midamericanenergy.com/homeaudit) and complete a home energy audit.FROM District Superintendent BRIAN MILFORD
Dear Pastor Marvin:
We United Methodist join hands across our connected congregations to help all of God's children...whenever and wherever we can. Just as Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes when the crowd grew hungry, you - and your congregation, are the heart and spirit of this outreaching ministry of love. As you know, Connectional Giving is part of the “DNA” of what makes us United Methodists. Your commitment to paying your apportionments in full is a powerful testimony to the strength of the relationship we all share as United Methodist followers of Jesus.
I am personally moved by your congregation's commitment to the ministry of the wider church during these challenging times. It may be tempting to “hunker down” and leave your connectional giving for whatever was leftover at the end of the year...in other words, failing to support our connectional giving...failing to support those who are called to ministry or our global missions or interdenominational relationships or the general administration of the wider church. I don’t know the particular details of your congregation's financial situation, but I deeply appreciate the efforts and sacrifices you and they have made to fully support and strengthen the United Methodist connection through your full and timely payment of apportionments in 2007. Please extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who have made it possible for you to meet this important goal.
May God continue to strengthen us all as we grow in making disciples, developing leaders and transforming the world in the name of the One who gave us his all.
BUY A NET – SAVE A LIFE
Every 30 seconds, somewhere in the world a child dies of malaria. Sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net doubles an African child’s chances of surviving to adulthood. The United Methodist church has partnered with the National Basketball Association, Sports Illustrated and other organizations in the Nothing But Nets campaign, to provide mosquito nets to families in Africa. $10 buys and ships a net and trains a family in its use. Bishop Palmer has challenged Iowa United Methodists to give $100,000 for the purchase and deployment of 10,000 nets. Broadway’s Global Outreach Committee will be emphasizing nets during “March Madness” month. Let’s see how many lives we can save.
BROADWAY BOUQUETS TO. . .
• Thank Bill Phillips and Larry White for installing the counter top and sink in Fellowship Hall.
• The Heffernan family for providing donuts, milk and juice for the 11:00 a.m. Sunday School on February 17.
• Carol & Art Linarez on the February 23 birth of Marcus Arturo and Audrey Rachel.
• Thank you for the lovely prayer shawl prayers, concern and love sent my way in response to my recent diagnosis and surgery. - Sharon Jasnowski
BIRTHDAYS . . .
February 28 - Emily Carter, Joan Harrison
February 29 - Carolyn Arnpriester
March 1 - Larry Adkins, Cindy Long, Marilyn White, Barbara Yearian
March 2 - Luke Alter, Jasmine Freeman, Bernard Moore, Ruth Welbourn
March 3 - Brandon Jones, Dan Kometscher, Phyllis Rajcevich, Carrie Sollazzo
March 4 - Kim Bergantzel, Tammy Curtis, Dave Huggins, Aidan Johnson, Cody Lewis, Evander Long
March 5 - Norma Byers, Shirley Heinrich, Catherine Hewett, Gavin Johnson, Brett McGee, Rachel Stotts
March 6 - Margery Bean, Larry Fent, Lois McElderry
ANNIVERSARIES . . .
February 28 - Tom & Sandy Howard - 32
March 1 - John & Susan Peters - 11
March 3 - Kelly & Susan Larsen - 24
March 6 - Douglas & Linda Primmer - 38
OUR NEWEST MEMBERS . . .
By transfer of membership:
-Jennifer Connelly, St. Paul Lutheran, Council Bluffs
-Ryan & Andrea Goy, Malvern UMC
Professing Membership is currently 996.
By transfer of Preparatory membership:
-Nathaniel and William Connelly
Ashley & Grant Goy are already preparatory members
Preparatory Membership is currently 322.
Check out and sign up online resources for United Methodist laity to nurture and enrich their leadership at
www.institutefordiscipleship.org. Courses include: Disciple Making 101, Applying the Rules of Christ; Introduction to Lyric Writing and Maximizing Disciple in your Church.
ANNOUNCING . . .
A Microwave is needed for in the Fellowship Hall kitchen. If you have one you are not using, call the office. We will pick it up!
Persons interested in learning more about the United Methodist Church and its beliefs are invited to join Rev. Arnpriester in an Inquirers Class, Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m., March 5, 12 and 19, in the Senior Pastor’s Office.
Single Diners meet March 7 at Old River Pizza, 5:30 p.m. Call Carol Ratashak, 322-7360, for reservations.
An Iowa United Methodist Men Event will be held,
Saturday, March 15, 2008, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
General Secretary of United Methodist Men, Reverend David Adams, will keynote the event. Presentations on Youth Ministries, Self Help International, Hunger Relief, Upper Room Prayer Ministry, Legacy Program, EMS Program, Heifer International and P.E.T. Altoona UMC
602 5th Avenue SW - Altoona, IA 50009. Phone 515-967-2991. Registration by March 10, 2008 is $20.
Registration at the door, $25.
Pages Are Needed for Annual Conference, June 5-8, 2008, in Ames. Pages are on duty from 7:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. and stay in a dorm at Iowa State. Pages must have completed 9th Grade. Applications are due April 15. Call Judy if you are interested in applying!
Youth Summer Work Trip Participants deposits are due immediately. We are finalizing transportation and looking at work experiences. If you have NOT yet paid your deposit, we will not confirm your place.
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR WORLD PEACE . . .
Lord, we pray for the power to be gentle; the strength to be forgiving; the patience to be understanding; and the endurance to accept the consequences of holding to what we believe to be right.
May we put our trust in the power of good to overcome evil and the power of love to overcome hatred. We pray for the vision to see and faith to believe in a world
emancipated from violence, a new world where fear shall no longer lead men and women to commit injustice, nor selfishness make them bring suffering to others.
Help us devote our whole life and thought and energy to the task of making peace, praying always for the inspiration and the power to fulfill the destiny for which we and all [men and women] were created.
--Dick Salmonson, retired UM clergy, Mitchell, SD.
WOW! The number of people hurting and hungry is really growing in Council Bluffs. Philip's Cupboard had more than 40 visitors last Friday. Last month our emergency food pantry had 35 visitors. This month we have already had 21 and our busiest week is this week. Our food pantry reserve is getting low. Some items we are able to get from the Omaha Food Bank. Other items you can help with are: tuna, tuna helper, chicken noodle soup, pork & beans, Ramen noodles, mac & cheese, and fruit. Sunday, March 2, is Pantry Sunday. Please continue your generosity to our Emergency Food Pantry, the Pastor's Fund or Philip's Cupboard. It is greatly appreciated.
Midwest Child Care Association is offering courses to train persons interested in opening a quality child care business. Ten different training modules will be offered. Upon completion of each module, providers will receive $100 incentive payment. Each applicant will undergo an extensive interview process, register their home with the Iowa Department of Human Services, pass a First Aid/CPR class and receive a Pre-Approval visit evaluating the business location, structure, health and safety issues before training. More information is available at 659-3411 or 551-2379 or online www.denise@midwestchildcare.org.
Learn more about immigration at an Iowa Chapter MFSA Spring Regional Gathering, Sunday, March 9, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., at the Creston United Methodist Church. Immigration continues to be a hot topic in our country. There are strong feelings on the matter. Too often, we give in to the fearmongers among us rather than learn all we can about this important issue confronting us as a society and people of faith. Contact the office for more information.
WHAT TO GIVE UP FOR LENT . . .
Give up complaining – focus on gratitude.
Give up harsh judgements – think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry – trust Divine providence.
Give up discouragement – be full of hope.
Give up bitterness – turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred – return good for evil.
Give up negativism – be positive.
Give up anger – be more patient.
Give up pettiness – become more mature.
Give up gloom – enjoy the beauty around you.
Give up jealousy – pray for trust.
Give up gossiping – control your tongue.
Give up sin – turn to virtue.
Give up giving up – hang in there. Author unknown
CALENDAR OF EVENTS . . .
Wednesday, February 27 Time for Prayer - 6:30 am
Staff Meeting - 9:00 am
Prayer Shawl Ministry - 1:30 pm
Confirmation - 5:00 pm
PACT - 5:00 pm
ESL Childcare - 5:45 pm
Meal for Donation - 6:00 pm
Chime Choir - 5:55 pm
Bell Choir - 6:15 pm
Wednesday Children, Children's Activities - 6:30 pm
Allstars, Christian Cadets, Jr. & Sr. UMYF - 6:30 pm
Disciple I & II, Bible from Scratch - 6:30 pm
Choir Rehearsal - 7:15 pm
Thursday, February 28 Men's Ensemble - 5:45 pm
Trustees - 6:30 pm
Congregational Development - 7:00 pm
Friday, February 29 Dance Class - 7:00 pm
Bible Study in Spanish - 7:00 pm
Saturday, March 1 Adult Prom - 7:00 pm
Sunday, March 2 Choir Rehearsal - 7:19 am
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, March 3 ESL Childcare - 5:45 pm
Cub Scouts Den Meeting - 7:00 pm
Tuesday, March 4 Book Review - 9:30 am
Israel Palestine Study - 1:30 pm
Girl Scouts - 6:30 pm
Bible Study in Spanish - 7:00 pm
PEO Meeting - 7:00 pm
Wednesday, March 5 Time for Prayer - 6:30 am
Care Team Leaders - 8:00 am
Staff Meeting - 9:00 am
Aged to Perfection Luncheon - 12:15 pm
Confirmation - 5:00 pm
ESL Childcare - 5:45 pm
Meal for Donation - 6:00 pm
Chime Choir - 5:55 pm
Bell Choir - 6:15 pm
Wednesday Children, Children's Activities - 6:30 pm
Allstars, Christian Cadets, Jr. & Sr. UMYF - 6:30 pm
Disciple I & II, Bible from Scratch - 6:30 pm
Inquirers Class with Marvin Arnpriester - 6:30 pm
Choir Rehearsal - 7:15 pm
The Phoenix House needs volunteers to help answer their 24 hour hotline from time to time. Training will be offered March 1. All volunteers must complete 29 hours of training. Call 256-2059 x 2 or mschultz@dmdiocese.org.