This fall I’m taking a class in Church History. This course studies the history of Christianity from the Early Church through the Reformation period of the 1700s. When I registered, I was pretty sure I was going to hate it. As an undergraduate music student in the 1980s I was required to take a class in Early Music, where I remember listening to one scratchy record after another of monks chanting in languages I couldn’t understand. For a 19-year-old, that class was a painful experience. Fast forward to this afternoon, and on my desk is a very interesting copy of a centuries-old document about St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. This Sunday, October the 4th, is his birthday, a day when he is widely celebrated for his contributions to the formation of the Church.
Born in 1181 to a wealthy silk merchant, Francis spent his youth being the life of the party. He had everything he wanted, friends, food, and fun. But in his twenties, Francis begins to feel empty and restless, and one day he is led by the Holy Spirit into an old church where he soon finds himself lying on the floor looking up at a crucifix bearing the image of Christ. In that moment, the image speaks to him, saying, “Rebuild the church.” After two years literally rebuilding that old church building, Francis further discerns that Christ’s directive was probably also meant to be spiritual, and so he gives away all of his possessions, dresses in a simple tunic, and begins to move through the countryside preaching the Word of Christ.
One day, Francis appears in a place to preach and there is a flock of sparrows noisily doing what sparrows do. Francis invites them to hush and listen to the Word of God. Witnesses later recalled that immediately the birds fell into silence and did not move until he has finished. "My sweet little sisters, birds of the sky," Francis began, "you are bound to heaven, to God, your Creator. In every beat of your wings and every note of your songs, praise him. He has given you the greatest of gifts, the freedom of the air.…”
The monks who recorded Francis' sermon to the birds that day wrote that the birds listened intently to everything Francis had to say, and as they did, they would open their beaks, stretch out their necks, spread their wings, and bend their heads reverently toward the earth. Later, they would rest upon his shoulders, arms and hands as he prayed or walked about. To this day, very often images of St. Francis picture him with birds upon his shoulders. Francis believed that his way with birds was a sign to continue preaching Christ’s message, as the freeing nature of the birds was the same as the freeing nature of the gospel.
At this same time, Francis discovers that he has the gift of healing. People would cut swatches off his tunic and were healed. People brought him bread to bless knowing that the bread would then cure various illnesses. Interestingly, as Francis moves through life his number of gifts increase and grow in intensity as to what it is his ministry requires.
Now, if you’re still reading, here’s where I’m going with this. Through this reading of Francis’s story, I realize what a poor attendant I have been with my gifts…how I didn’t grow my gifts when they were presented to me. St. Francis, on the other hand, lived a life wholly on faith. When I was much younger, I envisioned myself at my current age being a seasoned music professor teaching in a small college. But life changed me, God changed me. Instead, I realize now that I am not seasoned at all, but rather I’m a humble student still in class, still studying, still learning-- still reading God’s holy scripture from as many different perspectives as I can. But how blessed I am that as I have moved through these last many years, my life has unfolded with new and very different gifts than I expected. So many of us get to a certain point in our life, in our career, and wonder what’s next. If that’s you, I challenge you to pray and ask, “Lord, what would you have me to do?” And then be quiet and listen. The answer will come, but don’t be surprised if it’s not what you expect. And, be prepared: the answer may be better than anything you could have imagined.
Not a sermon, just what I’m learning in class.
Peace and blessings, Pastor Jeanie

Friends,
This summer I’ve been spending my devotional time in the Psalms, and this week as I studied Psalm 50, I heard something particularly meaningful: a message about thanksgiving.

Sunday morning worship is a very personal experience. The Holy Spirit speaks to each of us in different voices and with different intent. Some come to church devoted to prayer. Others come to study scripture and hear the message. Still others are moved by music and fellowship. All of us are drawn together by the love of God. As I think about this, I pause over Psalm 50’s last verse, “Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God.” This verse reminds me of how thanksgiving to God is so very important, and how church is where many of us have that opportunity to express to God our gratitude. We sing praises, we pray, we study, we fellowship, we work together, all with the intent of pleasing God as we commit to the “right way.” Jesus.

Many of the Psalms, including Psalm 50, reflect that God has promised to be present in the worship of a congregation. This is reassuring given that Christians come from many different traditions and experiences.

The church that has had the most influence on my faith journey is a one-room rural Methodist church in Gilmer County, WV. My grandparents are among its saints. It has no frills and no formality; the sanctuary has one red and yellow stained -glass window over the altar. But no matter how simple, God is present there, as it is a church that never fails to worship with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving for God, and thanksgiving for one another.

Although I have only been with Broad Street United Methodist Church a handful of weeks, I am filled with joy as I take in that same sense of devotion as we worship on Sunday mornings. From our youngest to our eldest, dedication and love and enthusiasm fill our church. Our ministries and leadership in the community reflect God’s calling upon us. And for that, we give thanks to God for directing our hearts and efforts. No doubt, we, as a whole, are our greatest blessing, be it building ramps, praying for our neighbors, or supporting local missions. Thanks be to God for bringing us all together -- for using us to the good of the Kingdom. May we continue to honor God with our thanksgiving.

​Thank you all for doing the work of the Church. I am grateful to God for each of you.

Pastor Jeanie 

Bible Study will begin on Wednesday, September 2, at 6 PM.
We will start a study of the Book called The Acts of the Apostles.
We'll meet in Hodges Hall. Bring your favorite Bible of any translation! To read ahead, look at Luke 24:36-53 and the first two chapters of Acts. The Book of Acts is a great place to start a new study group, as we'll quickly be introduced to many of the influential characters of the New Testament. It begins with the ascension of Jesus, closes with the story of Paul's shipwreck and later arrival in Rome, and has a lot of action in between.
Bring a friend, all are welcome!

“Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.”
I’ve thought a lot about this old Appalachian saying lately as Dan and I walk through the parsonage assessing, and then dismissing, the boxes of our “stuff” still waiting to be put away. Moving is not for the faint of heart; it is hard work! But, there are rewards. This has been a time when we have been forced to look at what we really need. Do we really need to save our son’s high school graduation cap and gown? He graduated in 2011, after all. Do I need three sets of china? Is this the time to pass the family pocket watch collection off to the next generation? Not knowing the answers to these questions, we boxed and moved it all. And now it rests in the parsonage’s dining room, one box piled atop the other, like a stump.
In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus warns against storing up earthly treasures, reminding believers that owning too many things can distract the heart from what is truly important. I suspect this is true in our case. We have too many things. And yet each thing we’ve saved over the years hasn’t necessarily been saved for its value. It was saved because it has a story -- and those stories are hard to let go. 
And yet, in this move, a new story is being written. A story of an outpouring of love and hospitality. A story of what it means to be neighborly, and what it means to be a church family. From our first day in Clinton, we have been overwhelmed with the love of our church. From homemade cookies and gift cards to a window unit air conditioner to personal cards and letters of welcome, Broad Street United Methodist Church has been a vision of how we are to care for one another. Dan and I are honored to be among you all; and, please know we are so grateful for your love and generosity.
No doubt, Dan and I will be plowing around our stumps of boxes for a little longer, but that seems of little matter. What is truly important is that we have a new story to share, one that says we have recently joined a wonderful church of caring friends and loving neighbors; a church whose mission and ongoing story is being written into our lives and into the life of the Clinton community! This is an exciting time to be at Broad Street!
Blessings to you all, Pastor Jeanie

Seeing as this is my last newsletter to y’all, I wanted to end with a farewell from one of Paul’s letters. This is also the lectionary reading for Trinity Sunday! Now before talking about this scripture let me offer some reassurance: no, you do not need to do the holy kiss part. The awkward Christian side hug is a tried and true classic. This scripture does, however, ask us to do difficult things. We all know by experience that agreeing and living in peace is much easier said than done. How could Paul expect the Corinthians to do this? It is only by the grace of Jesus, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit that they, and we, can do such a thing. To agree with one another is not to agree on every single thing with no difference or variety. Rather, we agree that the God of love and peace has called us together, in the midst of difference, to be a people together. We are called to agree that to worship, serve, celebrate, grieve, live, and be together is worth pursuing even in the midst of difference. To live in peace is to live as Martin Luther King Jr. described it in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail: “a positive peace which is the presence of justice.” In the Old Testament, justice is most often described as right relationship. In other words, we are once again called to relationship! So, my hope for you and for me, wherever our paths lead and wherever they may cross in the future, is that we would be a relational people. The relationships that have formed over the last year have shaped me, built me up, and have been a blessing for me. I know Rev. Jeannie will be a blessing to y’all as well as she forms relationships with y’all. Your relationships with one another have enabled Broad Street to continue serving and blessing the community around it. May you continue to hold onto those relationships, and may the Spirit continually nourish that communion as y’all have nourished me. Thank you for this year of serving alongside one another. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you! 
​Pastor Morgan

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” – Acts 2:1-4
Having celebrated Easter, we now look forward to Pentecost! As we prepare for this particular celebration, that of the Church’s birthday, I invite us to consider the miracle that accompanies the disciples’ reception of the Holy Spirit. We will see that they go out to Jerusalem to speak to the crowds, and the crowds understand them despite being from all over the world. Yet, the miracle is not that they suddenly understand Aramaic. The disciples speak, and each person understands them in their own language. The crowds are not conformed to one particular language, but exist as they are in all their variety. This shows us what the Church is supposed to be. We are united in Christ, but our differences and gifts are not flattened out to fit into the same mold. I am especially thankful for this as a minister. Whether it’s Pastor Kitty, Steve, Justin, Morgan, or Jeanie, God does not erase our differences but uses them. In the same way, each of the gifts and differences in this congregation may be used for God’s glory and the good of creation. To be Church is to be a place where all, regardless of difference, may find a place at the table. As we look forward to Pentecost, may we set such a table for one another and for this community.
​Pastor Morgan

​It’s hard to believe that Easter is already upon us! It feels like just last week everyone was sitting in different pews for the first time, ready to enter the Lenten journey together. Even as we have gone through a lot of different stories and events over these nearly 40 days, we will also encounter the highs and lows of Holy Week. As we do so, I encourage you to read the Passion accounts according to the various gospels. Notice what is similar and what is different. When do the various events occur? What color is the robe that the soldiers put on Jesus? What did Jesus say during the Last Supper with his disciples? Doing this can help us see the stories with new eyes. Noticing their differences and details can help to make the story new to us once again. Seeing this event with new eyes can help us to appreciate the intensity of the events and, therefore, the depth of love behind them. I grew up with an idea of an angry and wrathful God when it comes to the cross, as I know many have, yet this missed the point. To focus on the cross is ultimately to focus on love. Peter Abelard, a 12th -century theologian, is credited with an idea called moral influence, the idea that Jesus’ demonstration of love in his life, death, and resurrection is so powerful that it transforms our very selves. Because God loved us so deeply, we too are equipped to love more deeply. May we have fresh eyes to see the love of Jesus, and may we have fresh courage to live into that love together. Pastor Morgan 

​Please join us as we come together for Communion on ABC Sunday, the 1st Sunday of each month. You are an important part of this church family and attendance matters.

​It is hard to believe that we are 1 month into this year already! This new year represents myriad possibilities. We are quickly approaching the Lenten season and the good news of Jesus’ resurrection, the promise of new life and new possibility. The beginning of the year and the calendar of the Church invite us to consider what new things God is doing and inviting us into. As we ponder what we are invited into during this year, let us consider the kinds of invitations Jesus gave. “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” I particularly like one of Jesus’ more mundane invitations to the disciples after his resurrection. We read in John 21:12: Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Jesus’ invitations are ones of rest, renewal, and restoration, of spiritual and literal feeding. Jesus offers to us nothing less than a seat at the table and a place to belong. So, as we enter this new year together, who in your life needs that invitation? Who do you know who needs a place to belong, to know that they are loved and valuable? Perhaps it’s a family member, friend, or coworker. Maybe it’s you. Whoever it is, let us all invite those around us into this beloved community, a place where we may know and receive the good news that is the love of God.

Pastor Morgan

​From the Minister of Music: It has been fulfilling, joy-filled and delightful to serve Broad Street United Methodist Church. It has been a grace from God that has brought me to this place. Perhaps many of you do not know that I am also a serious poet, having my first chapbook published in 2018, followed by five others over the years. I am widely published in various literary journals and magazines and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2019 and Best of the Net in 2023. My first full collection of poetry, Countries Yet to Come, is with publishers now, with hope that some kind editor will accept it!
I have just begun a blog in which I share my poems and other reflections. It is called “HearthSong: Reflections in Poetry and Song”. There are only a few poems currently recorded, but more are soon to come! The poems are often an inextricable weaving of the spiritual, biblical, nature, love and things sensual. None really exists without the other. Feel welcome to visit anytime! I will be posting as regularly as time permits!
God’s grace, evergreen for you this season! Melissa A. Chappell nativenoise1970.com

​VIMs will meet on February 16 @12 noon in Hodges Hall. We are delighted to have our own caterer, Anthony Henderson, as our special guest speaker. He will talk about his life and journey into his love of cooking and catering. To make a reservation, please call the church office, 864-833-0177. VIMS (Very Important Methodists ) is open to seniors 55+ and retirees who want to have fun and fellowship with other members of our congregation and our community. Please come join us!

​Happy Advent! This is my favorite time of year. I love the traditions, the celebrations, and the opportunities to gather with friends and family and loved ones. I love the opportunity to gather for beautiful services and all sorts of church events. It feels like this time of year more than any other promotes fellowship, and I am so thankful that it is here again. At the root of all of these wonderful things is that first Christmas story. As the verse above shows us, the reason for this celebratory season is that God gives us a message of peace and goodwill. God was giving that message to people in desperate need, living during the time when peace and goodwill seemed to be lacking. For them, and for us, the message of Christmas is that even in the midst of all things - the good, the bad, everything in between - God arrives in our midst with a message of peace and goodwill. May we receive that peace and good will, and may we be equipped to give it to one another.
​Rev. Morgan Byars

The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is concerned for the whole person. When people were hungry, Jesus didn’t say, “Now is that political or social?” He said, “I feed you.” Because the good news to a hungry person is bread. – Bishop Desmond Tutu

As we enter the holiday season in full swing, I find myself reminded of this quote. I’ve had quite a few opportunities to enjoy the foods of Clinton and those at Broad Street. I’ve seen dutiful preparers of meals and refreshments for grieving families, intense chili cook offs, and youth veggie soup, just to name a few! All of these things have been good news to fellow members and to others in the community. To nourish and care for one another in any way, be it spiritual, physical, emotional, etc., is to live into the gospel. The gospel truly is holistic. When given an option to clarify or even reduce the scope of the gospel, Bishop Desmond Tutu refuses to. Instead, he rightly noted that the God is concerned and cares for the whole person. Indeed, God’s love touches and transforms all aspects of our life. We are also called to embody this holistic gospel, and I believe we have an opportunity to do so with Broad Street’s Community Thanksgiving Meal. SNAP benefits are set to run out Nov. 1, a resource that hundreds of thousands in South Carolina rely on for sustenance. As we prepare for Broad Street UMC’s Community Thanksgiving Meal, I invite all of us to consider how we may be good news to the whole person, body and soul. Speaking of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for all the ways in which Broad Street has already been caring for its members and those in the community. Y’all are doing amazing work, and I am so thankful to see it continue. May we always strive to be a blessing to the whole person!
Rev. Morgan Byars

November 2, 2025, we will gather on this day to honor the saints who have gone on to God’s heavenly kingdom. We will give thanks for their lives of faith and devotion which continue to inspire us.
A luncheon will follow the worship service. Please sign up in the Connector or call the church office. (Adults $8; children under 12 $5)