Daily Scripture Sept. 2, 2010

Acts 2:46

The Plan

⁴⁶Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

Daily Scripture May 10, 2010

Ecclesiastes 4:4-12

You Are God's Friend

4 And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

5 The fool folds his hands
and ruins himself.

6 Better one handful with tranquillity
than two handfuls with toil
and chasing after the wind.

7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

8 There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
"For whom am I toiling," he asked,
"and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?"
This too is meaningless—
a miserable business!

9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:

10 If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

24-Hour Youth Retreat

Just a few weeks ago a group of 13 teens embarked on a crazy adventure of learning, discussing and fasting. Our yearly 24-Hour Retreat was a tradition started last spring and was carried on this spring as well. This year our focus was on the issue of poverty. We participated in a 24-hour fast in solidarity with those in the world who go hungry for extended periods of time, not by choice, but because that is their current situation. We were able to change our focus from ourselves and focus on those who are less fortunate than we are. Some of the biggest realizations that we made were that poverty is not just what we see on tv in foreign countries or on the streets in downtown Denver. But that poverty is something that these teens may come into contact with on a daily basis. In Broomfield or at their high schools. Poverty is something that is real and pertinent in each of our lives now.

We talked about the phenomenon called “The Cycle of Poverty”, which is the fact that poverty begets poverty. There are many issues that people in poverty face and these things are ones that are hard to break. Such as education, working at an early age to support the family and a few other issues. These are things that can be addressed, but are essential issues to address. We also looked at what the Bible has to say about poverty. We read about the early church in Acts and how they took care of the people in need. And how God called His followers to support those in need through various things such as the Year of Jubilee and that farmers need to let their fields “rest” every seven years for those in poverty to pick from. God has a heart for all people and asks us to help those in need.

We also went around the city of Broomfield on a scavenger hunt, trying to gather various items for Nelson Ministries. Nelson Ministries is a ministry based in Broomfield that collects various items for homeless men and women in Denver. They then go down two times a month to hand out these items to those in need. As a group, we were able to collect many great items for those in need in Denver.

The weekend was a great one and ended with a morning of church and a great breakfast at Village Inn. We had a couple of big tables with hungry teens and they sure ate their worth in eggs and bacon. It was a great success and I am already looking forward to next year’s retreat!

--pete

Congregational Care Team - Volunteers Needed

The recently formed Congregational Care Team (the umbrella team that directs needs within the congregation to the group that best meets those concerns) is looking for volunteers to help with the following:

MEAL PREPARATION

This involves providing a meal on a rotating basis to members of the congregation who are dealing with an illness, celebrating the birth of a child, or struggling in some other way.

TRANSPORTATION

This involves a willingness on a rotating basis to drive someone to a doctor’s appointment, cancer treatment, etc. Please indicate the days that work best for you to provide transportation when contacting the Congregational Care Team.

If you are able and willing to help with any of these needs, or are in need of assistance yourself, please contact the Congregational Care Team at 720-880-5201.

Thank you for helping us to fulfill our mission and cause: “To Be the Compelling Way of Jesus Christ in Today’s World.”

Daily Scripture March 10, 2010

Acts 2:42-47

The Prodigal God: The Sequel
The Feast of the Father

42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Pete Smith Takes Holy Smokes Title

Congrats to Pete Smith for his "win" at last Saturday's Holy Smokes fundraiser for Flatirons Habitat for Humanity! Of course, the real winners are those whose dreams of homeownership will be assisted by the over $3,500 raised at the event. But Pete and his team* get bragging rights for having gotten the most tips for their "Vote for Me, I Cry Easily Meatballs."

* We think the cowboy hat deserves some of the credit, too.


Kudos also go to Pastor Thomas for his stuffing, and the Sunrise and Chancel Choirs (led by Riikka Caffrey) who helped with preparation and provided support on the big day!




Click here to read the Broomfield Enterprise's coverage of Holy Smokes.

(All photos: David R. Jennings for the Broomfield Enterprise)

Way-FM and Wally

While Jason and I lived in Colorado, we often found ourselves listening to Way-FM pretty much whenever we were in the car (which was a lot because we were always heading to Boulder or the mountains!). And we not only enjoyed the music, but we particularly enjoyed one of their radio hosts by the name of Wally. I'm guessing many of you have heard him but for some reason we just really found this guy to be entertaining. Whether he was opening up about his own testimony, goofing off with a Christian artist in the studio, or heatedly debating philosophy, we could relate to his words. When we moved away from Colorado, I was quite sad that my favorite radio personality wasn't going with me...until I realized that Way-FM (and Wally!) have a station in Indiana! So in honor of Way-FM and Wally - I'm posting this video. A little background information on it: Wally and Britt Nichole wrote a song about Francesca Battistelli being married. That led to misunderstanding, which had to be taken care of. See the video below of what happened when Francesca worked it out with Wally and wrote her own song about him.




Way-FM's mission is to encourage youth and adults in their Christian lives and to introduce non-believers to Christ.

Processing the Message

When I was a student at CU-Boulder back in the early 1980’s, I attended Bethany Baptist Church. I heard on the radio that the congregation dissolved recently, but in those days, Bethany was a vital community of faith. Jim Cessna was the pastor at the time and I learned a great deal from his expository sermons. Volunteering with the youth group there was actually one of my first steps into ministry. The youth group, I’m pleased to report, is still meeting. It became community-based and is now a separate non-profit that engages many Boulder students.

One aspect of Bethany’s ministry that I greatly enjoyed was a sermon discussion group. Bethany had three services each Sunday, and during the last service, a large group of us met to discuss the morning message. Generally, the pastor that wasn’t preaching led the conversation. It was extremely helpful to me to have that opportunity to process and personalize the message each week. The group also helped me get acquainted with other members of the congregation in a meaningful way. I will never forget it!

During our Small Groups “Blue Sky Day” planning retreat last month, a similar idea arose from our coaching team, and it was greeted with much enthusiasm. As a result, the Sermon Chat was born. Three fine leaders have stepped forward to facilitate the discussions – and they are excited by the possibilities. The informal Sermon Chat will take place each Sunday at 11 a.m. in room 203 starting November 22. It’s open to anybody who wants to join the conversation. No preparation is required; just come and share your insights and reflections upon the morning Scriptures and message. I believe this will be a valuable way to make the message your own – and to get to know your brothers and sisters in Christ!

-- Thomas

Linking Communities through ESL

We have one more ministry blog we want to let everyone know about. For the past few months, BUMC has offered English as a Second Language classes to the community. When this outreach was first being discussed, many of us on staff thought it would appeal primarily to native Spanish speakers. When we started taking registrations for the class, though, we saw that not only was it attracting Latinos, but people from China, India, Eritrea, Korea, Albania... neighbors who we may not see on a regular basis as we traverse our familiar routes from home to work, to church, to the grocery store, to school, to soccer practice. All it took was for someone with the know-how and a heart for helping people learn a basic skill for success in America for these neighbors to seek us out.

That "someone" is Shereen Fink, who has been a faithful member of BUMC for years, serving in various capacities. She brought the idea of offering ESL classes to us, and the program has blossomed into a beautiful expression of how we can work to meet the needs of God's family wherever they may be. Shereen maintains a blog called Linking Communities through ESL, on which she shares updates and stories about the program, teachers, volunteers, and the students who attend faithfully, even during blizzards! We invite you to check Shereen's blog frequently, especially if you get inspired hearing about how BUMC is working in our own backyard.

Consecration Sunday is this weekend!

Have you made your reservation yet for the Consecration Sunday brunch this weekend? November 15 is the culmination of our annual community-wide conversation that allows us to imagine how we can resource God's future at BUMC with our service, prayers, attendance, financial gifts, and commitment to our shared vision—to never forget that God sent His son to help us attain the lives we all imagine, and to know that God's abundance in life will be enough to sustain us. You know this vision as, "Worship God. Grow with God. Share God with others."

Consecration Sunday offers us the chance to make a financial commitment to the church as an act of worship, followed immediately by a free, catered brunch open to everyone that day regardless of your commitment status. Our attendance at Sunday worship and the brunch is significant to our faithfulness in this season of stewardship.

Please call the church office at 303-466-1719 or send your RSVP to info@broomfieldumc.org, telling us how many adults, youth, and children are in your group and if you plan to attend the brunch at 9:00, 9:30, 10:45, or 12:05.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

Daily Scripture Nov. 9, 2009

Acts 4:32-35

Eagerness Is Enough

32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

Trick or Trunk

On Sunday night, October 25th, trick or treating overtook the BUMC Parking Lot once again. For the fourth year in a row we have had our annual Trick or Trunk outing and this was the biggest year to date. It all started four years ago with an event for the youth group and it has now grown into something that had people from all walks of life braving the cold to participate.

Despite the cold temperatures and the hinting of snow in the air, more than 200 people showed up, some in costumes and most in big coats, to trick or treat and socialize. We had 10-12 cars that were decorated and all that attended had a blast! I would like to send out a huge thank you to all that helped make this such a fun time on such a cold night!

Here are some more photos of the event for your enjoyment.

-- Pete

The Rewards of the Supporting Player

Recently my daughters, 5- & 7-years-old, had the opportunity to be a part of the children’s musical here at BUMC. My oldest daughter was thrilled with the idea of being in the musical and knew right away she wanted to be one of the angels in the production. I wanted to encourage her, but also felt the need to prepare her for the possibility that she might not attain her coveted part. As I suspected might happen, the cast list came out and she was not awarded a role as an angel. She was to be a member of the chorus. She was very disappointed and I feared that she would not want to be a part of the production if she could not have a named part. We had a discussion about the importance of the choir and that everyone needed to work together to make a good musical and all of those things we say as parents at moments like these. And fortunately, without much resistance, she embraced the opportunity to be part of the choir.

As we left the post-performance cast party the night of the production she made this comment to me: “Those are really some wonderful people, I hope I get to work with them again.” Originally I snickered at the diva tone of this comment, but as I thought about it, that statement showed me that we don’t always need to be the lead on a project to feel reward and that there is reward in being a part of something, being in community with others. I hope that we all can find something to be a part of that will bring you as much joy as my daughter found in being a part of the musical.

I think of the joy I receive being a part of the many activities that support the inner workings of BUMC and those things we support to help our community and world around us. If you would like to experience these joyous feelings of community and desire to find ways to get connected, let us know. We are here to help. Here at BUMC, fall kicks off all kinds of opportunities to be involved in small group studies, social activities, and many outreach opportunities also.

Do any of you have stories of disappointment relating to not receiving something you really wanted (like the role of an angel in the church play), but it turned out to be okay and rewarding in the end?

-- Nancy

"Journey Home," the Summer Musical – a Thank You from Charlotte

Charlotte Sass wrote the following letter of thanks to the folks who were involved in the children's summer musical production of "Journey Home," which was performed August 9 in the Family Life Center. We want to share it with the entire BUMC community as a testament to how God continues to move in people's lives, no matter their stage of life!

***********************************************

Dear all:

I don’t really know where to begin with my words of love and gratitude to all of you – as parents, as children, as volunteers… as COMMUNITY! I have had many folks write to me or talk to me to tell me that this evening, this children’s production, this special experience… touched them or healed them in deeply personal ways. Most of these people did not have children in the show, which just goes to speak to the ministry God has these children doing. I personally understand what these folks are talking about, because I am one of them.

Most of you know that I lost my husband a little over a year ago, and I lost my heart for a long while to total brokenness. I acutely understand that brokenness, in this world, is very real and always present. But, I am also witness to the extraordinary reality that God’s love, the love of community, and the pure joy of children – heals. I have not laughed like I have with these children over the past week for a VERY long time… in fact, I am still laughing at new stories from backstage, or from remembering something priceless that happened on stage – and my stomach hurts from it! What an extraordinary GIFT! I also continue to be touched by the incredible ways these children modeled what it is to be a community of support, encouragement, and humility with each other.

Someone wrote me and eloquently iterated that the minor “hiccups” during the show didn’t at all detract from the message, that in fact, they enhanced God’s message. He said, “though all is not perfect, the spirit and His love are constant and nothing will lessen it.” I felt the same way (which is rare for me – I tend to be one of those worldly perfectionists, but God really spoke to me in the mistakes!) as I watched the kids show me pure joy in their candid unscripted moments. Of course, there were also moments of artistic beauty as well… These kids are capable of so much!

So, THANK YOU. Thank you to the parents first and foremost for the not so small chore of getting your kids to and from rehearsals! Thank you for your patience when we ran over! Thank you for all the other ways each of you supported this ministry, parents and volunteers … there were SO MANY who helped so significantly, the list is huge: choreography, set, lights, spots, sound, band, costumes, make-up, snacks, tickets, programs, gifts, cakes, backstage support, costume changes, concessions, chairs, set up, tear down… the list goes on and on. I am downright honored to be a part of true Christian community – one which is not perfect, but one which is genuine.

Most importantly, I want to thank the kids. They were perfect in their love and joy, inspirational in their hard work and character, and I am grateful and honored to have worked with them.

God’s peace to each and every one of you.

Charlotte

The day is alive and that's why I cry...

There is a lot of Kingdom work happening at BUMC! Recently one of our members sent the following testimonial to Charlotte about the life change he's experienced since he started attending; we thank him for allowing us to share it with you!

When Jenn and I first started to visit BUMC (over 3 years ago) I was starting to climb out of a very low point of my spiritual journey.

After being very active at my "home" Lutheran church in Minnesota, I had not found a church home during my college years, and other than some extended visits back with my parents, I had spiritually "dried up" and it was not an easy thing to get back on track with.

Every Sunday morning I pretty much looked for a reason or excuse not to go to church, even though Jenn and I had agreed that it was time to find a Colorado church home. We tried three different Lutheran churches but none of them felt right to us, either they were too Catholic, too unfriendly, or something else. Now growing up I was always into traditional worship. I couldn't imagine becoming a regular attendee of a contemporary service. However, the first time we came to a 9:45am service at BUMC and heard the music—I was like, "Wow, this is really cool!" I think that Sunday the third song of opening music was David Crowder's "You Alone" and I just remember feeling torn down to the core and thinking how grateful I am just to be alive...and how good it feels just to be alive. I consider Carbon Leaf's "Let your troubles roll by" (track 9 on the album) to be a very spiritual song for me, especially when in the last verse he sings "So pay no mind, my sorrow is fine, the day is alive and that's why I cry."

Getting the chance to work so closely with the music program at BUMC has been a true blessing for me. The people that I've met are like family. I feel we can share anything that's on our mind, be it a prayer concern or just a funny joke. I wanted to say thanks for giving me the opportunities that I've had the chance to share in. Even a bad day working with the music worship team is better than most people's good days in my book.

Now, rather than looking for an excuse not to go to church, it's exciting for me every Sunday to be at BUMC. Even if we're tired and had a long Saturday night of fellowship with friends, I'm thrilled to get to church and see my Colorado "family" at BUMC.

Kyle

Being and Singing in Community

On June 28 I had the pleasure of singing at the two traditional services along with the women's chorale I belong to, Safonia. We sang to thank the church for allowing us to use the Chapel to record our recent CD. (I've included the texts of the two pieces we sang, "The Gate of the Year" and "Benedizione," at the bottom of this post.)

In his sermon that day, Pastor Ken talked about the idea of community and what it would look like if the BUMC community truly reflected our larger community. He challenged the congregation to meditate on how BUMC can, without an agenda, open our hearts and doors so that perhaps the English Language Learners currently using our classrooms during the week would feel comfortable coming to worship on Sunday, or so that maybe the working poor of Broomfield would not feel disenfranchised by the sight of nice cars in our parking lots and would know that there is a place at the table for them here.

Due in part to the fact that I got to hear the sermon twice, I was thinking about the idea of community in the context of BUMC as well as in the context of the group of women I was sitting with. I feel truly blessed to have found such a wonderful small community in Safonia, a group of women with whom I love singing and spending time. They threw me a great baby shower that included the typical "what's in the diaper" games and ended with a few rounds of Wii. While as a group we may look rather homogenous (read: white women), we come to Safonia from different backgrounds and experiences: some of us are Christian, some of us are non-practicing, and some of us are of different religions; some of us are gay, and some of us are straight; some of us have partners and families of our own, and some of us are single. We all have strong opinions on the music we sing, with each piece having its defenders and detractors. But how we function as a community is never in doubt, most recently put into practice when we sang at the funeral services of a beloved member, Diane, who, before she died after a lengthy battle with cancer, specified which pieces she wanted us to sing.

And on that Sunday, I thought about how we were already putting into play the vision of community that Ken was describing. Without an agenda, the BUMC family welcomed a diverse group into its community through the vehicle of music. And without an agenda, Safonia came to a church to offer songs that would be meaningful to the congregation. For that morning, without any of us even specifically asking, I felt like the Holy Spirit came along side us all (as Ken described it) as we stood with each other in the true spirit of giving and community.

The Gate of the Year (music by Eleanor Daley, text by Minnie Louise Haskins)
I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year,
"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown."
And he replied, "Go out into the darkness
And put your hand into the hand of God,
That shall be to you better than light
And safer than a known way."
So I went forth, and finding the hand of God
Trod gladly into the night.

Click here to listen to a recording of "The Gate of the Year" conducted by the composer

Benedizione (music by Joan Szymko, text from the Blessing of St. Francis of Assisi to Brother Leo)
Il Signore ti benedica e ti custodisca
Mostri a te il suo volto e abbia misericordia di te
Rivolga verso di te il suo sguardo e ti dia pace
Il Signore benedica te

[translation]
May the Lord bless you and keep you
May He show His face to you and show you mercy
May He turn His countenance to you and give you peace
The Lord bless you