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Saints Remembered

Each year, the Sunday following Halloween is known as All Saints Sunday in many churches. Last Sunday, during worship we took time to remember the people who have passed away in the past 12 months. We shared communion around the table feeling the presence of the loved ones we have said goodbye to. We read their names as a bell rang. We dedicated leaves to the memorial tree in the DeLong Lounge. 

Worship Recognition

Names of Broadway UMC members who have passed away this past year:

  • Jeffrey G. Borden
  • Mary Charles
  • June Mitchell
  • Jean Pentico
  • Caitlyn Colter
  • Camerson Colter
  • Larry White

Tree Blessing

“I began to know my story then. Like everybody's, it was going to be the story of living in the absence of the dead. What is the thread that holds it all together? Grief, I thought for a while. And grief is there sure enough, just about all the way through. From the time I was a girl I have never been far from it. But grief is not a force that has not power to hold. You only bear it. Love is what carries you, for it is always there, even in the dark, or most in the dark, but shining out at times like gold stitches in a piece of embroidery.”

~Wendell Berry, Hannah Coulter Wendell Barry - from Jaber Crow

Leaves Dedicated to the Memorial Tree:

  • Janis and Thomas Schutt - faithful newsletter preparer and baker extraordinaire
  • Susie (Heuer) Rensch - grew up at Broadway, daughter of Jim & Chris Heuer
  • Larry White - 1st service Usher, community garden caretaker, handyman who used skills at Broadway, lifelong educator, lifeguard
  • Nathan B. Gearheart - grew up at Broadway, son of Priscilla and Dwylan, brother, father, and friend
  • Connie (Rev. Bob) Folkers - faithful pastor’s wife
  • Caitlyn E. Colter - raised and confirmed at Broadway, promising future as a school counselor
  • Cameron X. Colter - Raised and confirmed at Broadway, loved gaming and the Green Bay Packers
  • June Mitchell - dedicated member of United Methodist Women, dedicated reader, sewed many school bags for Ingathering kits, original member of Prayer Shawl ministry, treasurer for many years, secretary to the District Superintendent
  • Mel & Ardis Scheffel - Longtime pediatrician in Council Bluffs and Malvern (Mel); Active in United Methodist Women, sewed school bags until she was in her 90s, loved nature and feeding the birds (Ardis)
  • And scholarship donors: Maynard and Emma Ridlen, Doris Toland, and Dean and Mona Daniels

The United Women in Faith are the Stewards of the Memorial Tree and maintain the addition of memory leaves. 

After the names were read, those present extended a hand as Pastor Brian gave the following blessing.

God, we know that you have already received our loved ones into your arms.  The saints who have gone before us have contributed and helped make us who we are today.May these leaves be an outward and visible sign of an inner commitment to remember those who have come before us. In love, in grief, in love and life everlasting.  Amen