February 9, 2010
The Broadway Spire
Volume 68-Number 19 February 9, 2010
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. Fax 712-322-2162. Periodical rate paid at Council Bluffs, IA 51503. Postmaster: Address change to The Broadway Spire, 11 S. 1st Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51503-4315.
Web: www.broadwayunitedmethodist.com
Our mission: Ever seeking, serving and growing as the family of God with unconditional love and acceptance!
FROM CHRIS ST. CLAIR . . .
Lent is nearly upon us. I hope many of you take advantage of opportunities to join small groups and endeavor to become Five-Star Disciples, engaging in classes to help us love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. I reflect on the efforts of a class of about 10 people and their exploration of the spiritual disciplines laid out in Richard Foster’s classic book, Celebration of Discipline. We have been amazed at how our experiments have led us closer to each other, closer to Christ and deeper into our faith.
We experimented with the disciplines of meditation, prayer, fasting and study. Fasting, by far, generated the most discussion and response from everyone. In reflecting on why that might be the case, I came up with three reasons why I believe fasting so caught our attention and demanded our response.
First, fasting was foreign to our sensibilities in that it was conscious self-denial, something our culture just does not do. We do a lot of things, but we don’t often go without - at least not on purpose. We are upset if we’re denied our favorite flavor of ice cream or arrive at the end of the serving line and find out there’s no ham - only turkey left to eat. We question what is wrong with the world when we our favorite soda is gone from the shelf at the local grocery. So by its foreignness, fasting got our attention.
Second, it was real. Fasting put flesh and bones on our prayers. The act of praying can, out of our fallen-ness, become a laundry list of mere wants, needs, wishes and not the life transforming exercise it is meant to be. Prayer changes the world. Add fasting, the deliberate by-passing of our self-indulgence, and our prayers aren't forced to navigate the waters of our excess. Fasting helps reveal what distracts us and enchants us. Unencumbered, our prayers start to change us by changing our desires first. John Wesley knew that for a person to truly change, their desires must first change. He called them passions. Fasting helps us get a handle on our personal desires or passions. When our bodies are shaken out of the stupor of their over indulged, sated state, they get to be a part of the prayer. Like God, putting on flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, our prayers take on flesh when coupled with fasting.
The New Testament writers referred to splanknon (that’s as close to a transliteration I can come). It’s Greek for “guts, bowels, entrails.” It’s also the word for “heart, the seat of love; compassion, the true invested feeling for, empathy for, and sympathy to another person.” When our splanknon are allowed to join in the process of our praying, when by fasting we get our gut’s attention, it has the effect of changing our compassion, our tender mercies and our hearts, to focus on what really matters. Fasting helps us put ourselves aside so we might desire the good with more clarity.
Third, fasting got our attention. Flannery O‘Connor, an American writer of southern fiction, once said in defense of her writing about grotesque characters, “When you can assume that your audience holds the same beliefs you do, you can relax a little and use more normal ways of talking to it; when you have to assume that it does not, then you have to make your vision apparent by shock - to the hard of hearing you shout and for the almost blind you draw large and startling figures.” I think fasting operates on us the same way. It’s a shock. Like a parable to the mind, fasting startles the body. It puts one’s desires on notice. If the body could respond, it might do so by saying, “Uh-oh. She/He means business.” To the hard of hearing, you shout. To the blind, you draw startling figures. To those sedated by over-indulgence, you deny them the “drugs” that have so long held them.
I pray our Lent will be made holy, not by irrational and purposeless self-denial, but by a refocusing of our desires on the things that are holy, true, right, good, that if and when we fast, our purpose is to draw closer to God by changing what we desire to that which God desires. Through the power and grace of Jesus Christ, Amen!
LENTEN OPPORTUNITIES . . .
Beginning Ash Wednesday, February 17, Broadway’s Lenten offerings will include these opportunities for our spiritual growth:
· Imposition of Ashes during worship at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
· The Way of Discernment exploring the process of change and seeking God’s will in our lives - a very faithful process to go through during Lent,
· Celebrate the Risen Christ, a study based on the weekly lectionary passages used in worship,
· First Persons where each lesson evolves out of eye-witness accounts of events in Jesus’ life,
· Bread for the Wilderness, Wine for the Journey, an in-depth study of prayer,
· The Last Seven Days, a good look at the last 7 days of Jesus’ earthly life.
· For the Love of God: John’s Letters the annual UMW Lenten Bible Study will begin Tuesday February 23 at 1:30 p.m., and continues through March 23. Leader will be Pastor Chris St. Clair. Study books may be ordered by calling June Mitchell, 322-0638. Everyone is welcome to participate.
Sign up in the Centrex for any or all of these classes. Information on class times will be available before February 17.
THIS WEEK AT BROADWAY . . .
Single Moms, meet Wednesday nights. Invite other single moms to join and meet for support and fellowship. Upcoming topics:
February 11 - interviewing a child care provider.
February 24 - Positive Parenting
UMW meets Thursday, February 11 at 2:00 p.m. Call Fran Hansen, 323-3794, for reservations. Board meets at 12:45 p.m.
Single Diners meet Friday, February 12, at Applebees 5:30 p.m. Contact Sharon Clatterbuck, 322-4827, for reservations.
Mardi Gras Worship featuring a Dixieland
Band will be held at all three services on Sunday, February 14.
Bring the following items to the church by Friday noon to be taken to the UMCOR Depot in Baldwin LA on Saturday by the Mitchells and Devereauxs:
· hand towels, wash cloths, nail clippers or files, combs, toothbrushes, band aids, bar soap (no Ivory). $1 will buy a tube of toothpaste and $2 pays the shipping cost from Baldwin to Haiti,
· for Phillips Cupboard, bar soap, tooth paste, deodorant, feminine products, and toilet paper,
· for Broadway’s Emergency Food Panty: peanut butter, jelly, chicken noodle and vegetable soup, spaghetti sauce, cereal, beef stew, spaghettio’s, cereals, Ramen noodles and crackers.
· Thank you for your continued support of these outreach efforts!!!
All Wednesday Seeker participants will attend Ash Wednesday services, February 17, 6:30 p.m.
WE WILL BE LOYAL TO BROADWAY . . .
With our Presence: February 7, 2010:
Worship: 8:00 am - 82; 9:30 am - 125; 11:00 am - 81; 6:00 pm - 119 = 407
Sunday School: 9:30 am - 85; 11:00 am - 36 = 121
With our Gifts 2009: Received
Current Expenses needed weekly $12,928.86
Received February 7 $7,209.79
Current Expenses received to date $78,959.29
Budgeted to date $77,573.16
Haiti Relief $6,267.89
160th Anniversary $1,220.00
P.E.T. Project $187.00
Ingathering $44.00
Vacation Bible School $226.00
With Our Prayers . . .
Hospitalized: Jennie: Kris Lippke. Others: John Barber, Sarah Bauman, Patti Bruner, Roger Coffey, Barbara Condecon, Richard Devereaux, Roxine Devereaux, Aeon Long (service), Pat Mahlberg, Claudia McEvoy, Peggy McKee, Kelsey McSorley, Virginia Moore (shut-in), Bob Nielson, Phyllis Rajcevich, Kerri Randolph, Steve Roberson, Jesse St. Clair, Jean Talbert, Tangee Towers, Vaneda Yochum, persons needing jobs, missionaries, victims of war and natural disasters, Bishop Trimble, District Superintendent Brian Milford & Field Staff Ed Kail, pastors and staff. Call the office, 322-7741 ext 15, for additional prayer requests.
Lectionary Bible Readings . . .
February 14 Exodus 34:29-35
Psalm 99
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Luke 9:28-36 (37-43)
Reminder: When school is called off or dismissed early for inclement weather, all activities at the church are canceled as well.
Persons desiring to be baptized and/or received as members of Broadway are asked to make arrangements with Rev. Arnpriester. Dates include February 14 and 21.
The next Red Cross Blood Drive will be at Broadway on February 27, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sign up in the Centrex.
BROADWAY BOUQUETS TO . . .
· Thank you for your continued support of the ministry of Philip’s Cupboard.
- Judy Hovinga
· Chris & Jim Heuer on the February 2 birth of a granddaughter, Olivia Christine, daughter of Susie & Sean Rensch.
BIRTHDAYS . . .
February 11 - Pat Clark, Laurie Kammrad, Carol Linarez
February 12 - Jacob Charleson, Brittni Craven, Jesley Hanke, Brittany Hutchens, Sally
Myers, Jan Sutherland
February 13 - Rita Cano, Rosemary Deremer, Jessica Devine, Claudia Hauser,
Zachary Mitchell, Renee Persinger, Dayton Wickman, Trudy Zellmer
February 14 - Kylie Boyle, Paige Bracker, Drew Hamilton, Clifton Hinman, Joseph
Kuchcinski, Gabby Larson, Chase Razo
February 15 - Barbara Condecon, Stacey Holeton, Ellen Meyer, Chad Primmer
February 16 - Randy Stubblefield, James Sutherland
February 17 - Midge Austin, Nathan Charleson, Ethan Dickerson, Lea Kuper, Kenneth
Lane, Paul Lane
February 18 - Shaelen Arrick, Marcia Leighty, Tasha Mahrt
ANNIVERSARIES . . .
February 12 - Miranda & David Forsythe - 12
February 14 - Jon & Julie Burton - 14, Bill & Judy Hancock - 23, Jim & Marianna Hilz –
23, Clifford & Linda Johnson - 31, Jason & Kathryn Witt - 6
February 18 - Milo & Sharon Borden - 56, Jon & Sandra Cutler - 15
NEW MEMBERS RECEIVED . . .
By Transfer as a Preparatory Member:
Allison & Ashley, daughters of Andrew & Amy Gaut.
By Transfer of Membership:
-Andrew & Amy Gaut, Evangelical Free, Mason City
-Calvin Jackson, Morning Star Baptist, Omaha
-Barbara Jones, Fifth Avenue UMC, Council Bluffs
There are 363 Preparatory Members.
There are 1,089 Professing Members.
OUR THANKS to Chuck Devereaux for picking up and sharing the PET (Personal Energy Transportation) wheel chair that goes where wheelchairs can’t go, last Sunday. You are invited to give the gift of mobility for those who have lost the use of their legs due to amputation, land mines, injury, etc. The cost is $250 each (includes shipping). Make your donation to the church.
-The Global Outreach Committee
CHURCH HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS . . .
Henry DeLong continued working with and preaching to the impoverished in the area. Then, in 1901 he suffered a severe case of small pox. As he began to recover, a telephone was put in his room. He called friends to inquire about the many poor people his mission helped.
In 1904 Henry was appointed Probation Officer with the Juvenile Court in Council Bluffs. For sometime prior to this and long after, he maintained a “Marrying Parlor” (Chapel) in the courthouse by the city clerk’s office. He performed many weddings and became known as the “marrying Parson.” He later moved the “parlor” across the street where it remained until after his death. He used the funds he received for his mission work. He even performed a wedding on an airplane at age 90. Surprisingly, he made several airplane trips at age 90.
Each Christmas, Henry would have a “Christmas Tree” which was really a huge party for the children of his mission. They were fed a delicious dinner and each child received a gift. The last one was held in 1926, and was attended by 200 children from poor families.
It is easy to understand why Henry DeLong was known as “Uncle Henry.” He spent most of his adult life helping those in need. A newspaper story from the 1900's told that in a single year, Uncle Henry made 1,831 visits to families; attended 175 gospel meetings; visited 54 Sunday schools; secured employment for 375 people; furnished clothing to 1,435 individuals; and fed countless children.
Henry continued to preach and gave radio talks. His wife, Sophronia, died January 1, 1925, at age 90. In late April, 1927, Henry went to Mercy Hospital and rented a room. He told his doctor, “I am going to get in bed and never get up again. I want you to keep me alive as long as possible.” Henry DeLong died of pneumonia on May 12, 1927 shortly before his 93rd birthday. Before he died, he made his funeral arrangements and recited the first stanza of his favorite hymn “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.’” Henry had suffered from kidney and bladder ailments.
Henry DeLong’s funeral was held at Broadway Methodist Church. Twelve hundred friends, children and admirers attended. Burial was in Fairview Cemetery beside his wife, Sophronia.
Henry lived in Council Bluffs for 81 years. After his conversion, he spent the rest of his life preaching the gospel and practicing acts of charity.
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Rev. Arnpriester has one copy of the 2010 Upper Room Disciplines for sale.
YOUTH NEWS . . .
Parents of youth planning to go to St. Louis on the 2010 work trip are asked to attend a meeting in Fellowship Hall Wednesday, February 10, 6:30 p.m. if they did not attend last Sunday. Points, deposit and other information will be shared.
http://www.iumf.orgYouth will be taking orders February 14 and 21 in the Centrex for those delicious Puffin pastries. Get enough to keep you supplied for the year. Flavors are cinnamon, cream cheese, strawberry cream cheese, blueberry cream cheese, apple, caramel and a new flavor, mozzarella. Each package contains 12 Puffins; one package $11, three packages $30. Free samples will be available February 14!
OTHER NEWS . . .
The Council Bluffs Evening Musical Concert will be held at Broadway United Methodist Church at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 14. The pubic is invited to hear the combined area church choirs, violin, piano and organ performances.
It’s time to sew! Final calculations revealed that the amazing sewers from Broadway made 622 school bags in 2009. Help us top that in 2010? Bags ready to sew are available in the Centrex.
FROM OUR PARISH NURSE . . .
5-4-3-2-1 -How is your healthy lifestyle going? Remember, healthy people make healthy families and healthy families make healthy churches. Have you kept your New Year’s resolutions? If not, you can start again. 5-fruits & veggies a day; 4 glasses of water a day; 3 non-fat dairy products a day; 2 hours only on the screen; and 1 hour of exercise a day. You can do it. Believe in your self and just do it!! - Sue Jungman, Parish Nurse
CHURCH STAFF . . . Ministers - All Baptized Christians, Administrative Secretary/Volunteer Coordinator - Linda Muilenburg, muilenburg-bumc@qwest.net, Band Coordinator - April Wichman, alwichman@yahoo.com, Building & Grounds - Dora Olivo & Greg Foster, Children & Youth Ministries Coordinator - Judy Smits, smits-bumc@qwest.net, Congregational Development Coordinator - Bob Folkers, mailto:rcfolkers@cox.net, Financial Secretary - Virginia Paap, Music Coordinators - Ann Carpenter & Gary Richardson, Nursery Attendants - Mary Atilano, Whitney Kurcz, Kay McDonald, Sarah Opal, Kourtney Krause; Organists - Ann Carpenter & Clarence Smelser, Parish Nurse Coordinator - Sue Jungman, Associate Pastor for Discipleship - Chris St. Clair, cstclair-bumc@qwest.net, Associate Pastor for Hispanic Ministries - Ruben Mendoza, Rubyoli@hotmail.com, Senior Pastor - Marvin Arnpriester, arnpriester-bumc@qwest.net, Treasurer - Terry Muilenburg
CALENDAR OF EVENTS . . .
Wednesday, February 10 Staff Meeting - 9:30 am
Confirmation - 5:00 pm
Senior High Youth Synago - 5:30 pm
Seekers Meal for donation - 6:00 pm
Bell Choir Practice - 6:25 pm
Single Moms, Midweek Moms - 6:30 pm
Wednesday’s Children, Children’s Activities - 6:30 pm
Jesus’ Allstars, Christian Cadets - 6:30 pm
Youth & Parent Summer Mission Trip Meeting - 6:30 am
Choir Practice - 7:30 pm
Thursday, Feb 11 Centro Latino Class - 9:00 am
Men’s Ensemble - 5:45 pm
Disciple - 6:30 pm
Daisies & Girl Scouts - 6:00 pm
Friday, February 12 Single Diners - 5:30 pm
AA Group - 8:30 pm
Sunday, February 14 - Mardi Gras Sunday
Worship - 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 am
Jr. and Sr. High Sunday School - 9:00 am
Sunday School for all ages - 9:30 & 11:00 am
Drama - 11:00 am
Evening Musicale Concert - 4:00 pm
Worship in Spanish - 6:00 pm
NA Group - 7:00 pm
Monday, February 15 Centro Latino Class - 9:00 am
160th Anniversary Committee Meeting - 6:30 pm
Global Outreach - 7:00 pm
Cub Scouts - 7:00 pm
Tuesday, February 16 Administrative Council - 6:30 pm
Master Leadership Committee Training - 7:00 pm
Bible Study in Spanish - 7:00 pm
MS Support Group - 7:00 pm
Wednesday, February 17 Staff Meeting - 9:30 am
Twilighters - 2:30 pm
Confirmation - 5:00 pm
Promotion Planning Committee - 5:30 pm
Senior High Youth Synago - 5:30 pm
Seekers Meal for donation - 6:00 pm
Bell Choir Practice - 6:25 pm
Ash Wednesday Worship - 6:30 pm
Master Leadership Committee Training 7:30 pm
Choir Practice - 7:30 pm
Were you married at Broadway United Methodist Church? Your Mom? Your Grandparents? We are looking for pictures from weddings performed at Broadway UMC in the last 160 years. We will be honoring “Brides at Broadway” in June as we continue to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the church. Bring the picture to the church and it will be displayed in the showcase in the Narthex during the month. Be sure to label the picture with date, name and current phone number of the person bringing the picture so we can return it to you. On June 26 we will have a tea and style show with wedding dresses past and present. Watch for more details later.