The Spire
April 3, 2025
OUR MISSION
Seeking, Growing, and Serving with Unconditional Love and Acceptance.Â
Inside this issue...
- Our Bridges Out Of Poverty Connection
- Trying A New Thing
- Spiritual Practice Group Will Make Prayer Beads
- Scholarship Applications Now Accepted
- 175 Anniversary
- Holy Week and Easter Schedule
- Announcements
Worship Times
Sundays 8:30 & 10:30 AM
Worship Series: Â Looking Back, Moving Forward
This Week
Scripture: Â Revelation 21:1-6
Message: Â Visioning the Next Leg of the Journey
Rev. Brian Kemp-Schlemmer, Pastor
Broadway and Bridges Out of Poverty
Lori Andersen, Broadway UMC Administrator
In 2021 I began as a certified facilitator for Omaha-Council Bluffs Bridges Out of Poverty (OBOP for short).
Our mission is “Empowering under-resourced families to change their lives by discovering and overcoming barriers to success.”
Through OBOP, I facilitate a quarterly class called “Getting Ahead”.Â
This is a FREE 8 week course that explores the different causes of poverty. We help individuals build financial stability, gain valuable skills and create a better future for themselves and their family by helping them gain control over their future and break the cycle of poverty. Upon completion of the course participants receive a $400 stipend.Â
This is a round table discussion, as if you are sitting at the table sharing coffee or a meal and ideas with each other. The most incredible conversations happen this way, you see trust being built among the participants with each other and they begin to form their own community and support for one another.
This is how I give back to our community. By empowering those who didn’t think they could make a difference into being confident voices for themselves and others and helping them build a better financial future with the resources we discuss.
A recent graduate of the program shared this" story.
"Bridges out of Poverty gave me awareness that there is more to life than meets my eyes. It gave me hope that I cannot only find it but achieve it...You do not come ot of Bridges feeling alone or unsupported. You come out feeling part of a group of people that care about you personally and collectively into improving our local community. Bridges Out of Poverty seeks to provide people with support for the unique and individual needs of LIFE, not just their finances."
Another said, "Omaha Bridges Out of Poverty doesn't just help defeat poverty - they empower individuals to overcome their challenges and build brighter futures for themselves and their families. Facing my past gave me the strength to shape my future. I am proud of how far I've come!"
If you or someone you know would benefit from the program, please talk with me or visit the Omaha Bridges Out of Poverty website.
Spiritual Practices Group to Make Prayer Beads
Aliyah Richling, BUMC Spiritual Director
In our spiritual practices group on Sunday evening, we’ll be making our own prayer beads! These are items we can carry with us to use during prayer and meditation time or even to keep in our bags while on the go! Each bead has its own significance in our prayer time - join us to learn more!
If you’d like to join us, please bring the following materials:
5 large (10mm - 12mm) beads
29 medium (8mm-10mm) beads
36 seed (spacer) beads
1 cross or other pendantÂ
Wire or string (at least 20-24 inches)
Feel free to choose any colors you would like! Perhaps pay attention to which beads seem to “call” or “sparkle” to you. We will have a limited amount of extra beads if you are unable to find any! If you have extra beads you’re willing to offer, please bring them as well.
We continue to have folks who are new to the group each week, so know that we would be glad to have you join us!Â
See you on Sunday at 5pm in the DeLong Lounge!
Trying a New Thing
Teresa Fletcher, Communications and Media Ministries
Esther 4:10-16
10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that, if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law: to be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to someone may that person live. I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days.” 12 When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, 13 Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” 15 Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
On March 23 the focus of worship was Esther's story of taking a risk to liberate the Israelites from certain annihilation at the hands of an advisor to the king. Our reflection asked the question, “What unique things does Broadway have to give to our communities' current needs?” The word cloud below show how we resonded.
I don’t know why but, the Scripture, Pastor Brian’s message, and our reflection had me thinking about the Dead Sea. I once heard someone preach that the Dead Sea is only dead because it has no outflow. Thanks to Aliyah, I have learned that the Dead Sea has high salt content because the Jordan River carries the minerals and salts from the rocks and soil as it flows into the Dead Sea. The sea has nowhere to flow to so as the water evaporates, the salt and minerals begin forming layers on the lakebed. Then the salt and minerals float to the top and are collected and sent around the world to be used for its healing properties in lotions and other soothing balms. Once used, they are gone. Yet they still bore fruit at the time.Â
In January, I took time to go through my closets and storage spaces and looked at everything. Deeper and deeper into dark closets I reached, finding some things I had forgotten were there. As I pulled things out of the dark, I had to take time to reflect on my attachment to things that are tucked away and pushed to the back. Though I remained nostalgic for some of those things, I admit I do feel lighter since I have taken them to the neighborhood thrift store and recycle bins for their next chapter.Â
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Because it is now Lent, I am am reflecting on the things in my soul that need attention and evaluation. Last week’s message was titled “Repacking Our Bags.”  I don’t know about you but, I usually need to unpack my emotional luggage to make room for the things that are needed for the next season. I wouldn’t want to show up on a warm sunny beach with my parka and boots because there was no room to pack shorts and sunscreen.Â
To save her people Esther had to risk her life and approach the king without being summoned, which in that season was not the way things were done. For us, the risk may not be that great, but it may definitely shake our comfort level. And, let’s face it, when change gets hard it’s so easy to fall back on old comfortable patterns that fill our luggage and hold us back from what is needed right here and right now.
This Lent, I have asked to have some space to participate in some of the spiritual growth opportunities at Broadway. With Aliyah’s guidance, I am learning to spend chunks of time in meditation and centering prayer - learning to listen and feel God’s spirit speak. But, I had to let go of what was a normal Wednesday for me. Thanks to some dedicated volunteers, I am freed of the distractions of answering doors and phones for a few hours. This allows me to spend the morning more focused and productive and gives me the ability to be at the church later to participate in evening groups. Â
I hope I am developing a new pattern of spiritual practice that will continue long past Easter morning. I am committed to working on it and welcome those around me to hold me accountable. There are still a couple of weeks of Lent remaining and it’s not too late to join us on Wednesdays at 5 PM in the Sanctuary.
175th Anniversary History Story
Submitted by Linda Muilenburg
ENTERING A NEW CENTURY
1892 to 1965
The new church building was dedicated in 1892 after a year's delay because of rebuilding the foundation. With heavy indebtedness at the time of an economic unrest in the country, the church struggled for twenty years financially, but finally on January 1, 1913 the mortgage
was burned. Membership had grown from 550 to 700 over this time.Â
Various church groups provided for the furnishings of the new church. TheÂ
Ladies Aid Society paid for the carpet and walnut pulpit furniture. The Sabbath school contributed to the large north window and the Epworth League to the south window. The new church had its first pipe organ installed. Annual conferences were held at Broadway in 1907, 1930 and 1952. The chancel area was remodeled in 1950 and the sanctuary was repaired and redecorated several times over the years. A long-awaited educational building (named the Wesley Wing in 2008) was completed in 1958 and dedicated in 1965. Exterior work on the towers and the building itself was on-going. After both wooden towers were removed because of deterioration, a celebration occurred when an aluminum spire was installed in 1965.
March Trivia Winner...
Congratulations Suemarie Pridemore. Sue’s name was chosen from the correct answers to March’s Trivia Question: What was the original name of the Ladies’ Aid Society at Broadway? There were two correct answers.  One from our 160th year celebration book was The MITE Society. Others have added the group was called the Women’s Society of Christian Service.Â
April Trivia Question
Who designed and made the stained glass windows at the first street entrance?Â
(Keep in mind that we are asking about the window on the east or first street side of the building.)
There are forms to answer and place in the basket at the Opportunities Desk in the Welcome Center. Â Or you are welcome to leave a comment to the Spire and we will fill one out for you. Deadline: April 27, 2025.
Fall Scholarship Applications are Now Available
Nancy File, Scholarship Team Chair
Broadway is pleased to announce the opportunity to apply for fall scholarships and grants. The Scholarship Team is accepting applications from now until April 30, 2025. If you are a spring high school graduate and are considering some higher education, please take the time to read the qualifications for scholarships and grants. All the information and application forms are available on the BUMC web site (broadwayunitedmethodist.com) or a paper copy may be picked up at the church office.Â
There are applications for current undergraduate college students, and even opportunities for someone returning to college as a full-time student after several years away from school. Grants are also available and have a different set of criteria than scholarships, so make sure you check out all the possibilities! You can  apply for either the scholarship or the grant, but not both. Â
Follow the link on broadwayunitedmethodist.com to get the correct application. You will see four different choices:
- High school senior - May graduate starting some type of post-HS education as a full-time student this upcoming fall and next spring. (12 hours or more per semester) this fall and next spring.
- Current college student & previous scholarship from BUMC - plan to attend classes as a full-time student (12 hours or more per semester) this upcoming fall and next spring.
- Current or new college student and has never applied for or received a scholarship from BUMC - plan to attend classes as a full-time student (12 hours or more per semester) this upcoming fall and next spring. Â Â
- Walker Grant - plan to attend classes as a full-time student (12 hours or more per semester) this upcoming fall & next spring.Â
When you get to the applications, you will see the criteria for both scholarships and grants. Please note: If you received a scholarship from BUMC in the fall of 2024, you may re-apply this spring (2025). Scholarship criteria must still be met. Scholarships will be announced at both church services on Sunday, May 25, 2025 - Senior/Scholarship Sunday.
All applications are due on or before Wednesday, April 30. Â If you have questions, please contact scholarship chair, Nancy File (filen@cox.net). Â
Mini Bowling Scheduled for Palm Sunday
Join us for an afternoon of fun and mini-bowling. We will meet at The Patio at The Hub on Sunday, April 13th after worship at 1:00 PM. The cost of bowling is covered and there will be some pizza and pop available.
If you have not tried mini-bowling or duckpin bowling, it is a scaled down version of traditional bowling. Â It features shorter lanes, smaller pins, and lighter balls making it an enjoyable and accessible game for all ages.
We hope to see you there. Â Be sure to RSVP so we know to expect you.Â
Mini Bowling - April 13
Announcements and Deadlines
The Upper Room is Broadway's 2nd Quarter Ministry PartnerÂ
Gabby Dowdy, Executive Director of The Upper Room will be at both worship services on Sunday, April 6th to tell us about their ministry and the stories of changed lives.
The Upper Room strives to offer a haven for individuals to find the mental health and life skills training and the support needed to gain independence. Ms. Dowdy will share with us way we can support their work in Coundil Bluffs.
The Upper Room strives to offer a haven for individuals to find the mental health and life skills training and the support needed to gain independence. Ms. Dowdy will share with us way we can support their work in Coundil Bluffs.
Next Week at Broadway
Sunday 4-6
5th Sunday in Lent
8:30 Traditional Worship
9:30 Coffee Hour
10:30 AM Contemporary Praise Worship
12 PM Outreach Team (Block Party Planning Team)
5 PM Spiritual Practices (Main Level Lounge)
6 Â PM Student Life Youth - Breakthrough (203)
6:45 PM New Life Recovery Group
Monday 4-7
12-2 PM Philip’s Cupboard Open
6 PM Pack 40
6:30 PM Bible @ Barleys -Â a small group for those over 21 in the Tap Room at Barley's Bar across the street in the 100 Block
Tuesday 4-8
12 PM Caring Congregation Team
Wednesday 4-9
4 - 6 PM Philip’s Cupboard Open
Foundations Night Ministries
- 5:00 PM Women’s Study - Current study: Pursued by Jennifer CowartÂ
- 5:00 PM Intro to Meditation and Centering Prayer
- 6:00 Community Meal
- 6:30 - 7:30 PM Small Group and Ministries for all ages
- 6:30 PM Bells Rehearsal | 7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal (B02)
Thursday 4-10
12 PM Men’s Lunch Hour Study -pack your lunch or grab drive through and join the men in the DeLong Lounge
5:30 PM Praise Band Rehearsal
Friday 4-11
Office Closed
12-2 PM Philip’s Cupboard Open
Sunday 4-12
Palm Sunday
- 8:30 AM Traditional Style
- 10:30 AM Contemporary Praise
- 9:30 AM Coffee and Conversation
1 PM Mini Bowling (The Patio/The Hub)
5 PM Spiritual Practices (Lounge)
6 PM Student Life Youth Breakthrough  (2nd Floor)
6:45 PM New Way Recovery Group (210)
Broadway United Methodist Church
11 S First Street | Council Bluffs Iowa 51503
712-322-7741