The Broad View, 2025-02 February

A note from the Pastor

In October 1915 "Scientific American" magazine published a piece which told about an employee at the Patent Office in Washington DC who wrote the following in a letter. The year was 1833... “Dear Sir, Because everything that can be invented has already been invented, it is inevitable that this office should go out of business. In as much as I shall soon lose my position, I hereby resign to look for work elsewhere. Sincerely,”
​
At that time there was no telephone or telegraph; no automobile or bicycle, or airplane or wireless, and people walked miles and miles to get sight of a railroad. Today there are millions of patents. Whoever wrote that letter clearly lacked vision.

Vision is more than a buzzword; it has become a necessary tool of every church. Vision is not what we dream about during a Sunday afternoon nap or after eating spicy chili after 10 PM. It is rarely a "burning bush" experience like Moses'. Vision, as modeled in scripture and throughout church history, came as God's people saw the needs around them and sought God for God’s guidance for what he wanted them to do. Moses leading the people of Israel out of Egypt, David's fighting Goliath, Nehemiah's rebuilding the temple wall, Jesus' calling His disciples, Paul's writing to the church in Corinth— these and other stories in scripture indicate the vision of these leaders. They saw in their mind a future that was preferred more than the present. And their vision propelled them forward to do courageous things.

We are in a new season at Broad Street and to help us cast a vision, the staff and I chose a theme for us to guide us this year: “G.R.O.W. Forward Together.” “G.R.O.W.” stands for: God- our Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer who is first in our lives and brings us together; Relationships- with God, each other, and the community; Opportunities- there are plenty of ways to use our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness in the community and church; and Worship- we humbly give ourselves in praise and thanksgiving. These 4 words, I believe are essential to who we are at Broad Street while we look to the future together. Yes, we are in a new year and new season at Broad Street, but I firmly believe that God is actively using us to build His Kingdom here! So let us G.R.O.W. Forward Together! Love you all!
​
Rev. Justin Ritter

---

From the Trustees Committee:
1- At this time, Broad Street UMC will not host any same gender weddings on church grounds.
2- There shall be no food or drink taken into the Sanctuary except for water and communion supplies.