Window Newsletter 12.6.23

Broadway seeks to be a beacon of God’s joy and justice, Christ’s hope and reconciliation, and the Holy Spirit’s courage and healing love.

We are working to create a church and world where all people are welcome and belong in the beloved community of God. Through the ministries of worship, education, compassion and advocacy, Broadway provides a place of grace, beauty, sanctuary, inclusivity, and brave faith.

New Members
This past Sunday, December 3, Robert, Emily, and Sera Stephenson made the decision to become members at Broadway. We give thanks for the unique gifts and experience each new member brings to our growing church family. Please join us in welcoming Rob, Emily, and Sera to Broadway! 
 

Advent 2023  
Broadway’s Advent season began with three joyful events that ushered in the Christmas spirit! 

Wednesday, November 29 our youth and children led the annual Hanging of the Green tradition in our sanctuary. This beautiful service included hanging garlands, decorating the tree with Chrismons, singing, and sharing stories about our Christmas traditions.

Saturday, December 2 our annual Gingerbread party was a festive celebration for all ages!

Sunday, December 3, our annual Messiah Sing had over 900 attendees! Featured soloists were Julie Liston Johnson, Nicholas Garza, Andrew Campbell & David Grogan as well as The Fort Worth Kantori, Broadway’s Chancel and Chapel Choir members, and University Singers from Southwest Adventist University. Conducting was Broadway’s Music Director, Dr. Michael Cox. 

Moravian Love Feast
Tonight at 6:00 p.m. in Fleming Chapel 
Join us for this intimate Advent service in Fleming Chapel as we explore the wonder and joy of the season. The service is marked by singing Christmas carols, sharing a simple meal together of sweet rolls and coffee, and the lighting of beeswax candles.

Childcare available for children 3 and under; contact Mary Jesse with questions. 

Agape Meal
Thursday, December 7 at 6:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall
Broadway’s weekly Agape Meal is an opportunity to serve in fellowship with our neighbors. This week’s menu features Salisbury steak, macaroni and cheese, peas and carrots, cornbread, tea, and assorted desserts. 

Orientation and training for new volunteers is provided prior to the Agape Meal between 5:30 and 5:45 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Meal service begins at 6:00 p.m. with a worship service from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. There are several ways to volunteer: set up tables, serve meals, host tables, and clean up. Email Peter Nelson with questions. 

Coffee Fellowship
Sundays at 9:00 a.m. in Room 302
Coffee fellowship will be offered in room 302 this Sunday starting at 9:00 a.m. for fellowship. Enjoy fresh locally made pastries as well as hot tea and coffee from Cherry Coffee Shop of Fort Worth.  

Perennial Tickets to Jubilee Theater Available
Saturday, December 9 at 3:00 p.m.
The Perennial’s fellowship group has planned a fun outing this Saturday, December 9 to attend the performance of “A Gospel Black Nativity” at the Jubilee Theater.  9 tickets ($32.00 each) remain for the 3:00 p.m. matinee. The group will meet and eat in groups at local restaurants before the performance.  Clock HERE to grab your ticket(s) now. Contact Tracey McKee with questions. 
 

Peace Sunday, December 10 at 10:50 a.m.
The second Sunday in Advent is Peace Sunday. We will light the second candle of the Advent wreath. Jennifer Davis will lead the Children’s Sermon. Our Concord Choir and Chapel Bells I will present some of their pieces from the afternoon Family Ministries Christmas Program. The Chancel Choir will sing “Salvation Is Created.” Ryon Price will preach “Comforting the Afflicted, Afflicting the Comfortable,” based on Mark 1:1-18.
 

2023-24 Budget Deficit
We want to give you an update on the church’s financial position. For the 2023-24 fiscal year, we are running about $80,000 behind on our budget contributions. Additionally, we have a large December budget goal of $295,160.
 
To compensate for this budget shortfall, we have had to draw $55,000 on our Line of Credit loan.
 
As we approach the end of the calendar year, please consider making a year-end contribution to help us reach our December giving goal and help us make up the $80,000 budget shortfall. It’s essential that we do this to avoid having to draw further on our line of credit.
 
If you have fallen behind on your pledge gift, now’s a great time to catch up. If you have been blessed financially this past year, consider making an extra contribution to the operating budget in support of the mission and ministries of Broadway Baptist Church.
 
Thanks for your generosity and faithfulness. 

Support Broadway’s Ministries with a Year-End Gift 
As 2023 draws to a close, there is still an opportunity for you to give your tax-deductible gift to support the ministries and mission of Broadway Baptist Church.

Appreciated stock gifts allow your gift to Broadway to be up to 20% larger because you avoid the taxes you would incur from selling the stock and then donating the cash. You can also gift appreciated securities (i.e., stocks, bonds, mutual funds). If you have held on to these for more than one year, you avoid capital gains taxes and claim an income tax deduction for the full market value of the security.

Many Broadway members and friends take advantage of an IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). A 2015 federal law passed allowing donors over age 72 the opportunity to make gifts to their church directly from their IRA. This provides two donor benefits:

Excludes the amount of their gift from their taxable personal gross income
Counts toward their IRA’s required minimum distribution

Transfers are limited to $100,000 per taxpayer per year and the transfer must be transmitted directly from your IRA administrator to the church. Some additional limitations may apply.

IMPORTANT: Broadway Baptist Church does not give tax advice. You should contact your tax advisor to obtain information about the effect any of these gifts would have on your taxes.

If you want to make any of these gifts to Broadway Baptist Church, you will need to contact your financial advisor to complete the needed paperwork. You will need this mailing information:

Rachael Moffett, Accounting Associate
Broadway Baptist Church
305 W. Broadway Avenue
Fort Worth, TX  76104

If you need additional assistance or information, contact Rachael Moffett, Accounting Associate.

Pledge Update
Thank you to everyone who has already submitted their pledge card in support of the 2024-25 budget. A pledge is your commitment in support of the mission and ministries of Broadway. Pledges help our Finance Committee create a responsible and faithful budget for the upcoming year.
 
To date, we have received pledges in the amount of $1,198,676.52 This represents 71% of our pledge goal of $1.7 million.
 
If you have not yet submitted your pledge card, please prayerfully consider your support for next year’s budget. You can mail your completed pledge card to the church, place in the offering plate on Sunday, or complete your pledge card online through the church website’s GIVE page or the church mobile app.
 
Thank you for your faithful and generous support of Broadway, a place where Everybody Belongs!  

The Jake Whisenant Chapel Choir Scholarship Fund

Jake Whisenant, son of long-time members of Broadway, Pat and Dale Whisenant, and brother of Caitlin Whisenant-Thomas, tragically lost his life in August of 1993. He was 15 years old and a Sophomore at Richland High School. Chapel Choir was a big part of Jake’s life as he was very involved in the youth group at Broadway. He was out-going, a strong leader, and beloved by all of his friends. The loss of his life was heartbreaking for all who knew him. Pat, his mother, says they would not have survived without the love, care, and support from Broadway members that surrounded them during this time and in the years that followed.  

Jake loved being a part of the youth group at Broadway, and he especially loved going on choir tours in the summer. The choir went to Minnesota that last summer before Jake died, and many on that tour remember it with fondness. Jake especially loved the children’s Bible school he helped lead on that trip. As the family, teenagers, and adults who loved Jake grieved together after his death, generous donations were given in Jake’s honor. The family requested these be designated as scholarships for future teenagers to attend choir tour. Later, Tom Stoker, close to Jake and the family, suggested they create a permanent fund in Jake’s honor. This was the beginning of the Jake Whisenant Chapel Choir Scholarship Fund.

For the last 30 years, generous donors have given to this fund and provided the means for many teens to attend choir tour, teens who would not otherwise have been able to afford to go. When asked what this means to his mother, Pat said, “These tours are very important. They are all-encompassing as they include seeing the country, enjoying music, learning to work together, and giving these youth opportunities to care for others. They get to have fun serving with their friends and learning from the adults spending time with them. Parents need help from other adults teaching these lessons to their teenagers.” Pat continued, “The kids need to go on these trips. They experience benefits that last a lifetime.”

We give thanks to the Whisenant family for beginning this scholarship fund that has greatly benefited teenagers these last 30 years. These Chapel Choir Tour experiences have helped keep Jake’s memory alive through the youth who have come after him and experienced the life-changing benefits of these trips together.

Please consider giving generously to the Jake Whisenant Chapel Choir Scholarship Fund during this season. You can find the information in the Alternative Gift Giving Catalog. This gift will make a difference in the lives of teenagers for years to come.

Blessings of Christmas Bags for Homebound Members
Help brighten the Advent season for members of our Broadway family who are unable to participate in worship, Bible study and other ministries of the church. You can share the joy of this ministry by bringing items for gift bags which will be delivered by our homebound ministers. Please bring your items by Thursday, December 14. Collection baskets will be in the Centrum.
 
Here is a list of suggested items:

• Pudding Cups
• Fruit Cups
• Chapstick
• Individual Kleenex
• Granola Bars
• Candy Canes
• Individual packets of nuts
• Hand sanitizer
• Hershey Kisses

 Thank you for supporting our homebound ministry.

Broadway’s Alternative Gift Catalog: Holiday Shopping with a Purpose
Each year, Broadway publishes an Alternative Gift Catalog for those wanting to make their holiday shopping have a meaningful, lasting impact in our community. Shopping through the Alternative Gift Catalog is a great way to avoid long lines at the stores, non-stop online ads, and no concerns about returns and exchanges.
 
The gifts in the catalog support the mission and ministries of Broadway while recognizing family and friends with a gift in their honor. For each gift you purchase, the person you’re honoring will receive a personalized card letting them know about the gift and who it is from. The card will not mention the amount of the gift but will inform them which ministry the gift supports. While suggested amounts for each item are listed in the catalog, please choose the amount that’s right for you.
 
Click here to view this year’s Alternative Gift Catalog and discover the many ways you can support Broadway ministries! The catalog will be available online through January 1.
 

November by the Numbers
November was a very busy month at our Community Center.
 
Here’s a brief report of services provided in November:

• Sack Lunches: 1605 lunches distributed
• Groceries: 364 households served (1,261 persons)
• Agape Meal: 540 meals served (over four dates)
• Adult Clothing Ministry: 89 people served
• Winter Coats: 152 coats, hats, and gloves distributed
• Children’s Clothing: 23 children served
• School Uniforms: 22 students served
• Rental and Utilities Assistance: $450 in financial assistance provided
• Diaper Bank: 73 children and adults served
• Volunteer Hours: 168 hours from 72 volunteers

To give you a sense of how much our services have increased, in November 2022 we served 175 families through our May Street Market. This November, that number increased to 364 families: a more than 100% increase since last year. The demand for our services continues to grow. We are looking for additional volunteers to serve in our May Street Market and Adult Clothing Room. To volunteer or for more information, contact Holly Alexander.
 
Thanks to our wonderful staff and volunteers who make these services possible and those who contribute financially to support the ministries and mission of Broadway. 

Winter Coat and Blanket Donations Needed
In November, Broadway distributed 200 coats, hats, and gloves to our neighbors experiencing homelessness. As the temperatures continue to drop, our Community Center continues to receive requests for coats and blankets. Your donations of new or gently used coats and blankets will be a great gift to our Community Center guests over the winter months. Donations can be dropped off in the blue bin near the Centrum office or at the Community Center anytime the Center is open. Contact Holly Alexander for more information about donations.
 

Food Drive for May Street Market 
In November, Broadway members donated over 1,000 pounds of canned meats and vegetables. Thank you for your generous donations!
 
This month, we are again collecting donated food items for our May Street Market. When you’re doing your grocery shopping this week, pick up a few extra items for our neighbors.
 
Here are the primary items we need, which are currently in short supply at the Tarrant Area Food Bank:

• Canned and packaged tuna
• 1-pound jars of peanut butter
• Cans of soup
• Canned vegetables and fruits

Place your donated items in the blue bin outside the Centrum office on Sunday or bring them by the Community Center any time it is open.

All Church Christmas Luncheon & Quarterly Business Meeting Sunday, December 10 at 12:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall
Immediately following worship on Sunday, December 10, join us in Fellowship Hall for a churchwide Christmas luncheon. Enjoy time with church friends and family and celebrate the Christmas season together. Suggested donation to cover the cost of the meal is $10 per person with a maximum of $25 per family. You can pay with cash, check (made out to Broadway), or via QR code at the meal. Our Quarterly Business meeting will begin at 12:30; all members are encouraged to attend as we need a quorum of 100 to conduct the business of the church.

Following the luncheon and meeting please stay for the Children and Youth Christmas Program “What Can I Give Him?” which begins at 1:30 in the Sanctuary. 

Children & Youth Christmas Program: “What Can I Give Him?” 
Sunday, December 10 at 1:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Join us for a special time of music with Broadway’s children and youth choirs, chimes, bells, and BBC Chamber Orchestra. The program will be on Sunday, December 10 at 1:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Childcare is available for babies and toddlers with reservation. Contact Mary Jesse to reserve. 

Advent Festival
Joy Sunday, December 17 at 10:50 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Broadway’s Advent Festival celebrates the joy of Dr. Michael Cox’s contributions to choral music. This year the Chancel Choir will sing Deo Gratias, a five-movement work composed by Dr. Cox. The service will also feature soloists Julie Liston Johnson, Erin Roth Thomas, Scot Cameron, and David Grogan and The Orchestra at Broadway. Senior Pastor Ryon Price will preach.
 

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
Sunday, December 24 
5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary 
11:00 p.m. in Fleming Chapel
Through music and scripture readings, the 5:00 pm service in the Sanctuary features the Chancel Choir, Chapel Choir, harp, and the Rildia Bee O’Bryan Cliburn Organ. 

The more intimate evening candlelight service will feature piano and guitar in Fleming Chapel at 11:00 p.m.
 

January Sunday School Class with Pastor Ryon Price and Dr. Dan Stiver: 
“Not Sacrifice?: Other Understandings of Atonement”
Sundays in January at 9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall 
Why did Jesus die? Was he a sacrifice to God for our sins? What does that say about God? Are there other ways of understanding the meaning of his life and death? Is there a better understanding of Atonement than the one we grew up with? What does this mean for righteousness and justice?
 
Join Pastor Ryon Price and special guest Dr. Dan Stiver as they explore these questions and more in a 4-week Sunday series January 7, 14, 21, and 28. Sessions will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.

Prayer Requests

               Prayer Requests

Your requests will be prayed over by the Broadway Ministry team and Intercessory Prayer Group.