Call for the Annual Meeting of the Congregation and Corporation of the Broadway Presbyterian Church in the City of New York

By order of the Session of the Broadway Presbyterian Church in the City of New York, the Annual Meetings of the Congregation and Corporation are called on Sunday, May 4, 2008, immediately following worship at 601 W. 114th Street for the purposes of electing Elder/Trustees to succeed John Bradley, Patrick Mahaney, Ann Miller, and Amey Stone; Deacons to succeed Barbara Brandt, L.J. Ganser, and Brian Reed; to hear reports of the state of the church; and to transact other such business that may come before the meeting.

It is time to celebrate our life and work and worship together in the annual meeting of the congregation.  We have much to be grateful for at Broadway Church – amazing worship experiences, a committed community, our mission of Broadway Community Inc., and a great softball team! — just to mention a few of the ways we are together in community.

On May 4, we officially come together for the Annual Meetings of the Congregation and Corporation. Immediately following Worship, lunch will be served in the Parish Hall and we will begin our meeting – thanking the officers who have served, electing new elders and deacons and anything else that needs to come before the congregation, including questions and directions for the Mission Review and the upcoming search for a new pastor.

Please come to worship that morning as we break bread in the Lord’s Supper and then to the lunch and meeting as we continue to break bread with one another.

More questions? You may call the church office at (212) 864-6100, ext. 112.

Ordination and Installation of New Officers

The service of ordination and installation of the new officers will be during worship on Sunday, May 18. Those who are elected to serve the congregation will take the vows of service as outlined in the Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church pledging to faithfully serve. During the service of ordination, all elders in the church, currently serving or not, will be asked to come forward for the laying on of hands – this “tradition” or practice is centuries old. We pass along the gift of ordination as we do not stand alone but knowing we are one with brothers and sisters now and throughout time. Come and celebrate with those committing to be your officers as they are ordained and installed.

What’s Next?

One of the gifts of our Presbyterian heritage is our connectional nature – we are not a congregation alone in the world but connected to the broader church – with the Presbytery of NYC, the national Presbyterian Church (USA) and then the Church Universal.  We recognize that God is not ours to pocket but a God who is wider, deeper, broader than any one of can imagine. This God loves us, guides us and supports us no matter where we find ourselves on the journey we call life. As a church in transition, there is a process that connects us, a process we go through in the search for a permanent pastor.

The first step is that of the Mission Review – a committee has been selected by the All-Church Nominating Committee and approved by Session – John Bradley, Barbara Brandt, Eleanor Donaldson, Jeanne Felker, Stuart Gill, Gillian Kalson, and Matt Ledger.

They will begin the work of looking at Broadway Church, our defined mission, where we have been and where we are going. Part of this process to interview you, the members of the church (and of course, our active non-members too!) in whatever manner they chose so you can offer your hopes, dreams and vision for Broadway in the years to come.

Once they have completed their work, a written document including all this information, the Session will need to approve it and then forward it to the Committee on Ministry for their approval. When COM approves the Mission Review they will also give permission for the Church to nominate a Pastor Nominating Committee which will be the body to search for a pastor.

As your interim I ask that you pray for the Mission Review Committee and their work, for the Session during this time of transition, and for Broadway Church as you, its congregation, seek to determine its future path. I ask too, for prayers, in wisdom and insight as I work with you during this process. May God continue to bless this church and congregation in all that we do in God’s name and even so if who we are as God’s children. See you in Church!

- Krystin Granberg

Worship

Sunday April 27, Orthodox Easter – Churches in the Orthodox tradition – Eastern, Greek, Russian, Serbian, Byzantine among others —celebrate Easter according to the Julian Calendar, where we in the Catholic (universal) or western tradition use the Gregorian calendar. Which means, there are years where Easter diverges and is celebrated at different times; 2008 is one of those years. In honor of our Orthodox brothers and sisters and led by our very own Djordje  Nesic, who is Serbian Orthodox, our worship on April 27 will celebrate Orthodox Easter with music and liturgy.

Mother’s Day Flowers – If youwish to donate flowers in honor or memory of a mother, grandmother, aunt, or other woman on Mother’s Day, May 11, please complete the insert form found in the worship service bulletins on April 27 and May 4.  You may also e-mail the Church Administrator with the information at sharonchasebpc@aol.com   Suggested donation is $10.  Deadline to include names in the May 11 worship service bulletin is Thursday, May 8. 

Pentecost Sunday – May 11 is a Church celebratory day as this year Pentecost Sunday – aka The Birthday of the Church – is the time, in the book of Acts, when the Holy Spirit was given to all people. The symbol of the day is that of flames and fire for the Holy Spirit – so wearing red or bright colors is not only welcome but encouraged!  The children will participate in worship leadership as well. This day is also Mother’s Day, and we will continue our tradition in recognizing all women in the church. 

Congregational Life

Stewardship News – Have you considered giving your tax rebate to the church?  There are many ways in which your extra generosity would have a positive impact on programs and congregational life at Broadway.  By donating all or part of your 2007 tax refund or tax rebate check to Broadway, you would help our faith community continue to grow as we work to make ends meet, fund music programs and post-service events, support the Fighting Lambs, and as we reflect upon and plan for our long-term mission as a church body.  Just one $600 tax rebate check will push us over the 2008 Stewardship goal of $75,000! 

            - Chris Long, Stewardship Chair

2008 Congregational Directory – Please pick up a copy of the new congregational directory (two per family, please) in the Parish Hall during the coffee hour any Sunday in April or May, or from the reception desk during the week.  If want to have one mailed to you, please call the Church Administrator, Sharon Ellman, (212) 864-6100, ext. 114 or e-mail: sharonchasebpc@aol.com

Broadway Community Inc.

Burritos Are Back!   Look for us in May!

After a winter hiatus, the Local Flavor Burrito Shop will return to 114th and Broadway  in mid-May. We were hoping to open in April but work on the kitchen continues. Once that is completed, we will be at your service.

In February 2007, the Morningside Community started to line up at a new Local Flavor Burrito Shop open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 to 3:00. Strange hours but also a strange place – the southeast entrance to Broadway Church on 114th St.  What happened? BCI started a fund-raising, training program staffed by the graduates of its regular six week Food Handler’s Course and focused on burritos (chicken, beef, vegetarian, and bean/cheese) and some beverages. This is the first real venture in combining a job training and entrepreneurial initiative.

This program enhances the basic mission of BCI and the church.  Instead of just dealing with emergency needs, this program helps people get into a position to earn money, hold permanent employment, and ultimately accrue savings and obtain housing. It is a positive, proactive approach that creates healing and does not simply put a band-aid on deep-seated problems. It also provides public exposure to the existing programs.

Local Flavor members receive a modest stipend ($100/week). They get trained into all the functions of the business and are responsible for handling all aspects of the delivery business.  Members are involved in all aspects of the business from cooking or serving burritos to marketing plans.

Since opening in 2007, three people have cycled out of Local Flavor and into permanent jobs in the food service industry. Also, the program creates a sense of purpose, involvement and structure in the lives of our members.  The program has been able to pay for start-up expenses and has raised moderate funds for the general program.

Healthy Family Food Time

Picking up food from a food pantry is a big job for a family with kids. Why?: Who will carry two bags full of groceries when the kids are in school? Who will be with the kids when they come home from school if mother goes to the pantry? There are many fresh vegetables and fruit at the pantry. How will the family learn to cook or eat some unfamiliar but healthy foods?

BCI faced these questions and thanks to a check from the Amerigroup Foundation came up with a new program, The Healthy Family Food Pantry, where the parent or parents bring all the kids, and there are workers who do art/music and exercise with the children while the parents taste healthy snacks, get introduced to cooking a healthy dinner with some familiar and some unfamiliar healthy foods.

The parents cook with Chef Michael and then the families, including the children, eat. This is active nutrition education and, when leaving, the families get several bags of vegetables and groceries to take home and produce more healthy meals.

The group meets weekly for 14 weeks at BCI from 4:30-6:30 on Thursdays. The reward for regular attendance is a membership in BCI’s CSA which provides fruits and vegetables fresh weekly from a farm in Upper New York State from May to September.

Jews, Muslims and Us

On May 7, members of the Jewish Theological Seminary and members of the Mosque on 96th Street are together coming to BCI to see how a soup kitchen works and find out what it takes. They are both interested in using this information to see how their communities can start such programs here in the U.S. but also back in their Middle Eastern countries. BCI is excited to host the visit!

 Niche - Campus Ministry and Young Adults

Niche, BPC’s student and young adult ministry, meets regularly throughout the spring. If you identify as a young adult, please join us for food, fellowship, and faith exploration. We meet in the Third Floor Meeting Room from 7 to 9 p.m. on the following Wednesdays: April 30; May 14 and 28. 

If you are interested in any of these activities, please contact Clay Dockery by e-mail at clay.dockery@gmail.com or by phone (646) 593-6920

Parent’s Night Out

“Parent’s Night Out”“Parent’s Night Out” is a time to shop, have dinner, take in a movie, or just hang out at home while your children have a great time at church.  Just come and drop off your children on the first Saturday night of the month in the BPC Nursery School starting at 5:30 p.m. and picking them up by 9 p.m. 

If you will be taking advantage of this activity, please e-mail Sylvia Stuard at sylvianycny@aol.com.

Women's Group

“What would happen if one woman told the story of her life?  The world would split open.”  Muriel Rukeyser

The next meeting of the Women's Group will be Wednesday, April 23, at 6:15 p.m. in the Third Floor Sunday School room. Poems and excerpts that artist Tallu Scott Schuyler used in her exhibit "Enough Self to Speak" will be read and discussed with Tallu. Copies of the readings are available on the bulletin board near the first floor restroom. Future meetings are planned for May 7 & 21. 

For more information, please call Meagan Manas at (440) 465-0470 or e-mail: mm2869@columbia.edu.