March 18, 2008
The Broadway
Spire
Volume 66 - Number 25 Phone 322-7741 March 18, 2008
Invite Your Family & Friends ...
Join us in celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Sunday, March 23
Worship Times: 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:00
Our mission: Ever seeking, serving and growing as the family of God with unconditional love and acceptance!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 . . .
Lent invites us to ponder again at the humanity of Jesus before we celebrate his divinity and resurrection on Easter Sunday.
One of the saddest statements made by Jesus is found in Mark 14:37. The setting is the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is there with his disciples following their Passover Meal in the Upper Room where he had instituted the Lord’s Supper. After they had sung a hymn, he took them to the Garden for support during his long night of struggle before he was betrayed and crucified. He asked the disciples to sit there with him. He told Peter, James and John that he was deeply grieved and asked them to stay awake while he went a bit father to pray. He prayed for the cup to pass, if it were possible, but it was not what he wanted but what God wanted.
Following his struggle of the soul and prayer, he came back to Peter, James and John where he found them asleep. He sadly says to Peter, “Are you asleep? Could you not stay awake with me one hour?” When Jesus most needed the support of his disciples, they let him down. There are two things to ponder here:
One is the humanity of Jesus, who in his time of struggle needed the support of his disciples, but it wasn’t there and it hurt him. There have been times in life when I needed the support of others and it was not there. I felt let down, disappointed and hurt. So, knowing Jesus had that experience in his life, gives me comfort and reminds me that he knows what I go through at times.
Second, is knowing there have been times when I was not there for someone who needed my support and I let them down. My schedule, my need, my insensitivity got in the way. We are not told how the disciples felt, but I suspect they felt ashamed and disappointed in themselves for taking care of themselves first and letting Jesus fend for himself in his dark night of the soul.
Lent invites us to reflect on our behaviors in our relationship with Jesus and others as we confess our sins, make things right and are forgiven .
THIS WEEK AT BROADWAY . . .
Persons interested in learning more about the United Methodist Church, its beliefs and what it means to be a member of Broadway are invited to join an Inquirers Class, Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m., March 19, in the Senior Pastor’s Office.
Holy Week Ecumenical Services are held at Downtown churches at 12:05 each day.
A Maundy Thursday Communion Service of prayer, reflection, scripture, meditation and silence will be held at Broadway at 6:30 p.m. on March 20.
UMW Good Friday Sacrificial Breakfast will be March 21 at 9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. This is a special time for meditation, reflection, prayer and sharing together around the table in the shape of a cross.
Single Diners meet at Valentino's Friday, March 21, at 5:30 p.m. Contact Yvonne Stucker, 328-0994, for reservations.
Easter Sunday morning, Margarite is making homemade Hotcross buns which will be served in DeLong Lounge between services, 9:00 - 9:30 and 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. for a free will donation.
Sign up in the Centrex to deliver Meals on Wheels on Thursdays in April. Contact Ken Milford or Gene Thomson for information.
WE WILL BE LOYAL TO BROADWAY . . .
With our Presence: March 16, 2008
Worship: 8:00 a.m. - 124; 9:30 a.m. - 130 11:00 a.m. - 171; 6:30 p.m. - 92 = 517
Sunday School: 8:00 a.m -7; 9:30 a.m.-116; 11:00 a.m.-32 = 155
With our Gifts 2008: Received
Current Expenses, Need Weekly $11,209.13
Received March 16 $6,949.65
Total received to date $102,704.29
Growing through Grace 2008 $10,648.00
Guatemala Children’s Orphanage $342.87
Nothing But Nets $1,323.63
One Great Hour of Sharing $4,082.00
With Our Prayers: Hospitalized at Jennie: Kris Lippke. UNMC: Kathy Whitson. Others: Jack Bauman, Marge Bean, Lesley Blom, Anne Brunko, Roger Coffey, Shirley DeHoogh, Connie Folkers, Carey Garafalo-Moore, Virgil Graves, Vi Grote, Max Hall, Shirley Heinrich, Sharon Jasnowski, Denise LeBaugh, Irma Miller, Steve Roberson, Elizabeth Rollings, Conrad Schlemmer, Clarence Smelser, Jean Talbert, Al Voss, 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 prayer requests.
LECTIONARY BIBLE READINGS . . .
March 23, Easter Sunday Acts 10:34-43
Psalm 118:1-2,14-24
Colossians 3:1-4
John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10
Members Received, March 16, 2008:
As Preparatory Members,
By Baptism - Kaley Sue & Aidan Michael and by Transfer - Hannah Marie, children of Shane & Rachelle Burress
There are 325 Preparatory Members.
Received as Professing Members:
Baptism & Profession of Faith - Rachelle
Burress, Transfer - Shane Burress, St. Patrick’s Catholic, Missouri Valley
There are 996 Professing Members
Cool Congregations carbon saving tips . . . This week: Make sure your home has adequate insulation in the attic, walls, floors, basements and crawlspaces. Insulate furnace ducts or boiler pipes in unheated areas.FROM PASTOR RUBEN MENDOZA
Our Fights Are One Humberto Casanova
Reverend Kelvin Sauls was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. He came to the United States in 1990 to study at Hiwasee College in Madisonville, TN. Today, Sauls is a presbytery in the California-Nevada Annual Conference. He has served in many diverse positions: youth pastor, associate pastor, university chaplain, and director of a community center. In 2006, he was named Director of Congregational Development of the Board of General Discipleship.
He understands the importance of his role to fight against racism. He was one of the founders of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), an organization dedicated to mobilizing African-Americans to dialogue in order to unmask racist forces and economic inequality that pushes the immigration situation in the country.
In the fall of 2007, Rev. Sauls participated in a forum organized by students at the School of Divinity in Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. The goal was to demonstrate that the fight that the African-American community has maintained against racism in the United States is part of the same fight that has developed in respect to the civil rights of immigrants without documents.
The event, “African-Americans and Immigration: Collaboration or Conflict?,” consisted of two presentations. The first presenter was Catalina Nieto, Coordinator of Public Education of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC). Nieto made parallels between the fights for justice in which African-Americans and Hispanics have been involved. In the same period of the civil rights movements, Hispanics and Asians were involved in field worker rights movements. In this context, Martin Luther King, Jr. said to Cesar Chavez, “Our fights are one.”
Furthermore, 150 years ago, the American government was hunting down slaves that escaped captivity so many Africans fled to Mexico. In 1857, the Mexican congress passed a law declaring all slaves free upon crossing into Mexican territory. “This is the type of history that we need to learn in our schools,” commented Nieto. “As part of the fight, we need to make sure our children are learning this perspective of history. Instead of dividing us, our history unifies us indefinitely. This unity is especially urgent today when so many forces are working to divide us.” Nieto finished her exposition by quoting the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “The injustice in any place is a threat to the justice in all places.”
Rev. Sauls affirmed, “For me, it is clear that today, in respect to immigration; the fight for just immigration is an integral part of the fight that remains from the agenda that has not yet been finalized in the civil rights movement.” According to Sauls, the laws of immigration in the United States, the racism, and economic inequality are all elements of one reality. What must not be lost from our focus, says Sauls, is that the same forces that, in their times, impeded Martin and Malcolm by assassinating them, are the same forces that today, want to impede the collaboration of Latinos and African-Americans. (continued on page 3)
BROADWAY BOUQUETS TO. . .
• Margarite Goodenow for preparing the March 17 Ecumenical Service luncheon and Ray Miller and Harold Brown for doing dishes.
• Allan Smith & Jaime Davis who were married February 29 at Sapphire Park in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
• Jessica Tekippe on receiving the President’s Volunteer Service Award at A.L. High School.
• Thank the congregation and staff at Broadway for your support, cards and prayers at the time of the loss of our daughter, Debbie. You are truly a caring and loving congregation! We are grateful.
--Bob & Connie Folkers
BIRTHDAYS . . .
March 20 - Janet Bell, Jim Heuer, Bradley Millage, Claudia Page, Derek Simmons, Taylor Underwood
March 21 - Kris Landolt, Al Voss, Lori Witt
March 22 - Reese Bach, Julie Burton, Sondra Garton, Tyler Graham, Ann Ledbetter, Dianne Richardson
March 23 - Virgil Graves, Margaret Hall, Shari Jones
March 24 - Bob Dodder, Magali Gonzalez, Carter Kunze, John Mitchell, Courtney Perlberg, Nathan Sell
March 25 - Bonnie Anderson, Amanda Scott
March 27 - Carlen Devereaux, Nadine Dreager, Kurtis Hayes, Roger McEvoy, Kurt Miller, Austin Sullivan, Lisa Wilkins
ANNIVERSARIES . . .
March 20 - Ralph & Betty Mains - 59
March 21 - Michael & Terri Holeton - 8
March 22 - Ted & Kim Harris - 22, Carla & Michael Schoenbohm - 5
March 24 - Ryan & Andrea Goy - 7
March 25 - David & Cheryl Deiter - 20
HOME MAINTENANCE NEEDED?
A group is forming to provide assistance to those needing minor home repairs. Duane Duncan is looking for persons with skills in home repairs and willing to assist those who need some type of minor repair. If you have talents in this area, sign up in the Centrex or call the office with your name, phone number and abilities! Those needing assistance may also call the office. Duane will see that someone is in touch with you to complete the necessary items. There will be no cost to the consumer except for any repair items purchased.
ANNOUNCING . . .
Daytime Diners will meet Friday, March 28, 11:45 a.m. at Valentionos. Contact Verla Keim with reservations, 388-9453.
Officer Alba will meet with 5th and 6th Grade youth Wednesday, March 26, 6:30-7:45 p.m. to discuss Internet Safety. Parents and interested adults are invited to join the group.
Pizza/Bingo Night for everyone! April 12, 5-7:00 p.m. Place on your calendar and watch for more details! Children invited!
Needed: Cardboard toilet tissue rolls and ice cream buckets for Vacation Bible School.
Child/Adult Prayer Partner Assignments will be coming shortly. Children are still needed. Please sign your child up in the Centrex.
The Bible From Scratch meets Sunday mornings, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon to work through an overview of the New Testament. Everybody is welcome.
Jr. High Parents are invited to preview the video, “Sex, Love and Relationships” with Melba Bently and Kim Perkins on April 2. This video talks openly with teens about issues in relationships that will be confronting them either directly or indirectly during the coming years. This video shares Biblical information and Christian values in a direct discussion. Melba and Kim invite parents to view this video the week before youth will see it with Melba and Kim on April 9. If after viewing this video you choose not to have your youth involved, please call Judy.
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!
(Mendoza article continued from page 2)
Sauls affirmed: “I serve a God that tells me to welcome foreigners. I serve a God that has created us in His image. Thus, no one is illegal. In this we are together. Should it be Mychal Bell in the city of Jena or Hispanics in orange uniforms, it is the same fight. It has to do with education and collaboration. We have distinct histories but one future. The question becomes: how do we educate one another to promote justice? As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ‘we have to decide if we will live together as brothers or perish together as fools.’”
FROM CHRIS ST. CLAIR . . .
My family and I are very excited to be continuing our ministry together at Broadway United Methodist Church. We have been kidding each other about where we would be appointed. There is quite a bit of stress on a family not knowing where they will be moving so we invented an imaginary community called Hoopa Chupa, IA, which helped us put a name on the place we were waiting to be appointed. We even went so far as to imagine the High School mascot was the Hoopa Chupa Hermit Crab in a small community on a river where the poor HC Hermit Crabs never qualified for the state tournament, but always did their best. We were right about one thing: we’re near the river.
We’ll be moving from one river town to another! I have been serving the East Dubuque, IL, Wesley United Methodist Church the last 2½ years as their pastor. I accepted the position when my family and I moved from Carlisle, IA, to Dubuque, where I have attended Dubuque Theological Seminary the past four years. Before that I served as Director of Youth programming and Worship Leader at Jordan Creek United Methodist Church in West Des Moines. I led worship at Carlisle United Methodist Church, was Minister of Youth at Ankeny First United Methodist Church (a very long time ago), started the contemporary worship service for Nevada United Methodist Church, and can trace my call and service back to high school in Newton, IA, where I first felt “my heart strangely warmed.”
There are five of us, total. Our children are excited about being a part of a larger worshiping community. My wife April, will be teaching in the Council Bluffs School District next year and is currently teaching in Dubuque. We have three children, 2 girls and a boy, Jesse, Seamus and Maddy Jo, who are involved and interested in many things: music (including orchestra, band and choir), theater and sports to name a few. They are looking forward to putting their gifts to good service. We are all looking forward to getting to know you, the church, and those in the community—those things which bring you joy and excite you about serving God together, and how you sense God at work through his Son in the Holy Spirit to Council Bluffs community.
Please be in prayer with me as I finish my final semester at UD, as we say our goodbyes to fellow students and colleagues, as we bid farewell to the communities we’ve come to know and love these few years at Wesley, East Dubuque and Dubuque. We know we will be saying farewell to many whom we will not see again this side of glory, just as we know, without a doubt, that many more will be added to the number of those touched by God’s saving grace.
To say I'm excited to be in ministry with you is an understatement—but to say it comes without cost, or without a sense of leaving something else behind would not be true. We hold what we have with open hands—giving up all to God, receiving all from God and remaining faithful to His work in and through us.
We participate in the moving of God through the Son, in the Holy Spirit, calling even this family of five to a new place and a new people. And so I say with Wesley, “Put me to what Thou wilt” and look forward to sharing with you the many opportunities we will have in ministry together to the glory of God.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS . . .
Wednesday, March 19 Time for Prayer - 6:30 am
Staff Meeting - 9:00 am
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
Choir Rehearsal - 7:15 pm
Care Team - 7:30 pm
Thursday, March 20
Maundy Thursday Communion Service - 6:30 pm
Friday, March 21 UMW Sacrificial Breakfast - 9:30 am
Single Diners - 5:30 pm
Bible Study in Spanish - 7:00 pm
Sunday, March 23 Choir Rehearsal - 7:19 am
Easter 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, March 24 ESL Childcare - 5:45 pm
Cub Scouts Den Meeting - 7:00 pm
Tuesday, March 25 Girl Scouts - 6:30 pm
Bible Study in Spanish - 7:00 pm
Wednesday, March 26 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