Voice of the Spire - Arch Street United Methodist Church

Voice of the Spire
The Newsletter of Arch Street United Methodist Church
A Reconciling Congregation
Winter 2014
Arch Street United
Methodist Church
55 North Broad Street
(Broad & Arch Streets)
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Tel: 215-568-6250
Fax: 215-568-2256
www.archstreetumc.org
Senior Pastor
Robin Hynicka
Visitation Pastor
Reinhard Kruse
Deacon
David W. Brown
Music Director, 11:00 AM
Andrew Monath
Music Director, 8:30 AM
Dolores Farinre-Carey
Secretaries
Anne McCormick
Cathy Minecci
Voice of the Spire
Editor
Nancy Megley
Photographer
Ken Dorsey
Contributors
Zoey Bonfante
David W. Brown
Robin Hynicka
Reinhard Kruse
Anne McCormick
Nancy Megley
Cathy Minecci
Andrew Monath
Dale Shillito
Herb Snyder
A Beautiful Union
Rev. David W. Brown
On an autumn afternoon, history was made as
long-time Arch Street members Rick Taylor and
Bill Gatewood were joined in holy matrimony,
affirmed by an assembly of more than thirty
United Methodist and other clergy. In a statement released on behalf of the participating
clergy, this ceremony—like any wedding
ceremony in the United Methodist Church—
was “…a worship service during which a loving
and committed couple invites God and the
congregation gathered to bless their union.”
The ceremony was held on Saturday, November 9th, in advance and in support of Rev.
Frank Shaefer who, later that month, faced a
church trial for performing the same gender
wedding of his son. At that trial, Rev. Shaefer
was found guilty of violating the Discipline and
was suspended for 30 days, after which he may
be asked to surrender his orders if he doesn’t
comply with the Discipline “in its entirety.”
But church trials and protests aside, nothing
could detract from the beauty of this gathering
and the spirit of the day.
Rick and Bill, who have been committed
partners for some 25 years, both share active
membership within the Arch Street community. Rick’s voice is regularly featured among
the angelic voices of our choir. Bill is a fixture
every Sunday leading our ushers. Both have
held other leadership positions throughout
their tenure here. When Bill suffered a serious
health condition about a year ago, he shared
with Pastor Robin that his lifelong dream was
to be married in his church, to his partner, with
the community of witnesses that comprise the
Arch Street family. His dream was realized on
that fine fall day.
The sanctuary was adorned with harvest colors and a symbolic red ribbon draped around
the balcony, matching the red accents worn by
th
L-R: Rev. Robin Hynicka, Rick Taylor and Bill
Gatewood (Photo by April Saul, Philadelphia Inquirer)
the two grooms. Color was as much a character
in the ceremony as the celebrants themselves
with the participating clergy wearing an array of
stoles in honor of the couple. Pastor Robin led
the ceremony and delivered an inspiring homily built upon two key Scriptural foundations: 1
Corinthians 13:12–13 and 1 John 4:16–18. Following the homily, the participating pastors
joined the couple at the altar, laid hands on
their shoulders, and pronounced them married.
Then, Rick and Bill led the pastors as they
recessed to the front steps of the church and
posed for a photograph with the couple, singing
verses of “They Will Know We Are Christians by
Our Love.”
One of the congregants commented that
what made this extraordinary moment so
memorable was how “ordinary” the events of
the day were. No outlandish demonstrations.
No strident protests. No clashes of opinions.
Simply two people…proclaiming their love…
affirmed by a community of people who love
them for who they are.
That’s simply beautiful!
Page 2
News & People
News & People
Same Gender Wedding
Statement by the clergy and lay leadership of the Arch Street United Methodist Church
on behalf of the Reconciling United Methodists of Eastern Pennsylvania:
On Saturday, November 9, 2013 at three
o'clock in the afternoon, 36 United Methodist Clergy and 9 clergy from other faith
traditions presided over the marriage
ceremony of a same gender couple. In
addition, 17 United Methodist Clergy and
8 clergy from other faith traditions, from
all over the United States, had their
names added to the marriage certificate
by proxy. During the wedding ceremony,
the loving and committed couple invited
God and the congregation gathered to
bless their union. The couple became
members of Arch Street United Methodist Church over 20 years ago. Now they
are rejoicing and praising God that their
25-year love for each other has been
blessed by God in the church they love.
In contrast to the Discipline of the
United Methodist Church, which prohibits
United Methodist clergy from performing
same gender weddings, we pronounced
that the couple is married in the eyes of
God. By this pronouncement, a loving
couple is affirmed spiritually and welcomed fully into the community of faith.
In addition to celebrating and confirming a couple's love, we—the couple, the
clergy, and the congregation—demonstrated our solidarity with the Reverend
Frank Schaefer, United Methodist clergy,
who was tried in a church court for
performing the same gender wedding of
his son. The jury returned a verdict of
guilty and issued a penalty of 30 days’
suspension from pastoral duties with the
instruction to consider whether he could
agree to uphold the entire Discipline of
the United Methodist Church.
Voice of the Spire
The United Methodist Church in its
current Discipline states in one breath
that every person is a person of sacred
worth and yet, in another breath, singles
out homosexuality as being incompatible
with Christian teaching. We challenged
this contradiction, the hypocrisy it signals,
its denial of scripture, and the threat it
poses to the integrity of our call by God
to provide pastoral care to all.
We acted as a matter of ecclesiastical
conscience in the center of a compelling
community context. We believe that this
act of pastoral care reflects the love of
God and honors and abides by the Bible
as well as the Discipline of the United
Methodist Church as a whole, if not in
part.
We are sad that our actions may cause
some discomfort, pain, and conflict
within our circles of peers, friends, family
members, and neighbors. We hope and
pray that the Holy Spirit will provide a
pathway to prayer-filled and positive
interactions that will make a way out of
what appears to be no way. Yet, we will
not let this circumstantial sadness stand
in the way of the great day of rejoicing
this is for the married couple, their
church family, the participating clergy,
and the people of God gathered.
We are not anything special, really. So
many other people of faith, for many
years before today, have made profound
contributions to the movement of gay
rights in the church. For their witness and
example we say thank you—well done,
good and faithful servants. It is our honor
and privilege to have been called by God
to take our turn in contributing to a
growing tradition and movement within
the United Methodist Church that seeks
to free the church from heterosexism,
homophobia, and hypocrisy and fill it with
the all-inclusive, transforming love of
God.
United Methodist congregations and
allies of full inclusion are asked to pray
for the Reverend Frank Schaefer, his
family, and his congregation. Please join
the growing number of United Methodists and their community partners in
proclaiming the all-inclusive love of God.
"Have the courage to light a candle for
clergy and congregations and communities that live by the code of love."
"For now we see in a mirror dimly but then
face to face. Now I know in part; then I will
know fully, even as I have been fully known.
And now faith, hope and love abide, these
three; and the greatest of these is love."
I Corinthians 13:12–13
"God is love, and those who abide in love
abide in God, and God abides in them. Love
has been perfected among us in this: that
we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this
world. There is no fear in love, but perfect
love casts out fear; for fear has to do with
punishment, and whoever fears has not
reached perfection in love."
I John 4:16–18
Winter 2014
News & People
Page 3
The Trial of the Rev. Frank Schaefer
Rev. Dr. Herb Snyder
At the conclusion of the two-day trial of
Rev. Frank Schaefer on the evening of
November 19th, 2013, when the jury pronounced his penalty, almost all the observers in the courtroom rose and sang
“Were You There When They Crucified My
Lord?” as they made their way to the
front of the room in protest. Attendants
tried to hold back the mob, but it was not
possible. Truly our United Methodist
Church is crucifying this “Man of God.”
Reconciling United Methodists carried the
chalice and the bread to a makeshift altar,
where Rev. Schaefer consecrated the
elements and they became for us the
body and blood of our Christ, who is
always with His suffering children. What
an honor to receive the Sacrament from
this revered clergy person!
The trial came about after a former
organist of the Iona United Methodist
Church, where Rev. Schaefer pastors, got
her Son to bring a complaint against the
Pastor for marrying his own Son, Tim, to
another man six years ago. Tim Schaefer
had come to his Dad and his Mom when
he was 17, depressed and frustrated,
explaining that he was gay, didn't think he
could go on living, and feared that he
would bring nothing but disgrace to his
Father and Mother. Tim had prayed hard
for God to change his sexual orientation,
but apparently that was not God’s will!
The Schaefer parents promised they
would stand by Tim and defend him no
matter what, so when Tim asked Rev.
Schaefer to marry him to the man he
loved, the Pastor obliged. Bishop Alfred
Gwinn, Jr., a conservative from the South
secured by Bishop Peggy Johnson to preside over the trial, ruled this entire line of
defense out of order; and so, in only two
hours, the jury of clergy peers found Rev.
Schaefer guilty of breaking the Discipline
of the United Methodist Church.
At the penalty phase of the trial, Rev.
Schaefer was finally able to speak in his
own defense and some of the above
came out. The presiding Bishop reprimanded the courtroom for applauding
when Rev. Schaefer put on a rainbow
stole and told the court that God was
speaking to him, and that he would never
stop ministering with and for homosexual
persons. Rev. Schaefer has two other gay
children.
One of the most startling parts of the
trial happened when his District Superintendent was asked if he knew six years
ago that Rev. Schaefer was going to marry
his son to another man. The D.S. replied
in the negative, so the defense counsel
presented him with the dated annual
pastor’s report of six years ago and asked
him to read the part explaining that Rev.
Schaefer was going to perform his son's
same sex wedding. The only response the
D.S. could make at this embarrassing
moment was that he had not read the
annual report.
The jury sentenced Rev. Schaefer to a
30-day suspension for the purpose of
discerning the shape of his ministry with
homosexual persons. He is to report to
the Board of Ordained Ministry at the end
of that period, and if he is not able to
promise to uphold the Discipline in its
entirety, he is to “surrender his credentials of ordination.” This was scheduled to
take place on December 19th.
The faithful have been praying that a
“miracle of love” would take place this
Christmas!
could not make it to Philadelphia. They
have graciously agreed to come back on
Sunday January 5th and the full program
will be repeated then.
On Sunday January 26th, Arch Street
will take part in a multi-choir fund-raising
concert sponsored by POWER (Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower
and Rebuild). The concert will feature a
range of music reflecting the diverse traditions of the Protestant, Catholic, Jewish,
and Muslim congregations that make up
this interfaith organization working to
bring about positive change in Philadelphia. See the What’s Happening bulletin
for information and tickets.
Ash Wednesday on March 5th will mark
the start of the Lenten season. Once
again, we will have noontime worship
every Wednesday through April 16th with
an organ recital preceding the service.
The recital will begin at 11:30 AM and will
serve as the prelude for the service.
There will be additional special music
during Holy Week, culminating with our
Easter celebration on Sunday April 20th.
Music News
Andrew Monath
Easter is quite late this spring so we have
some time to reflect on Advent and
Christmas before jumping into the Lenten
Season.
On December 8th, the Sanctuary choir
together with members of the Freedom
Band and Stockton Strings presented a
beautiful Christmas cantata, “The Winter
Rose.” A large audience was there to
enjoy it even though the first big snowfall
of the season occurred that day. The
weather was so bad that our guest choir
from First Baptist Church of Bordentown
Winter 2014
Voice of the Spire
Page 4
Columns
Columns
Minister’s Message
Rev. Robin Hynicka
Senior Pastor
The 2014 Lenten Series
Even as I continue to reflect on the
meaning of Christmas and the opportunities of a new year, I am inspired to
share with you my vision for the 2014
Lenten Series. Utilizing the book entitled
A Clearing Season, Reflections on Lent, by
Sarah Parsons, I will prepare a series of
experiences beginning with Ash Wednesday, March 5, and continuing each
Wednesday through Holy Week. Following a 30-minute organ recital starting at
11:30 AM, all of the Wednesday services
will begin with a musical prelude at 12:00
noon followed by silence, sharing, and
surprises that will stir the soul.
Ms. Parsons describes the Lenten
Season as a time of “spring cleaning for
the soul.” Often, there is sadness and a
sense of foreboding in the approach to
a task as time consuming and energy
expending as “spring cleaning.” Yet, in
the process of washing windows and
uncluttering the cabinets of our spiritual
lives, more light appears to animate the
grace of God and more space is made to
receive the love of God. Those who vow
to observe the 40 days of Lent will be
encouraged and supported by this series
of midweek reflections on the journey
Jesus took from “the wilderness to holy
ground.”
In addition to the services on the
Wednesdays of Lent, including Holy
Week, a Service of Tenebrae will be held
on Holy Thursday at 7:00 PM and the
“Seven Last Words of Jesus” will be
spoken on Good Friday from 12:00 noon
to 2:00 PM. Please be in prayer for this
“gradual work of opening our hearts to
grace.”
Capital Campaign Update
ASUMC’s Be Lifted Up! Capital Campaign
will support four things that “Lift us Up”!
1. Design and install an elevator
The monumental agreement with
Realen, Inc., the developer of the
parking garage to the east of the
church, has given ASUMC space
adjacent to the chapel to install an
elevator. Three very generous gifts
totaling $300,000 have been received
for this purpose and an additional
$271,000 is needed.
2. Support/participate in building the
Serenity House ministry and shortterm mission projects
Serenity House, located at 1209 W.
Lehigh Avenue in the former parsonage of the Cookman United Methodist Church, is a community-oriented
ministry of ASUMC. This ministry is
dedicated to interrupting violence and
poverty. It is a tangible reminder that
ASUMC is committed to mission and
Voice of the Spire
ministry beyond our four walls and
will serve to initiate and increase our
participation in short-term mission
projects. Already $75,000 has been
raised to support mission and ministry
like Serenity House, but we need
$7,000 more.
3. Give in thanksgiving for the restoration of the Arch Street window
The Arch Street stained glass window
is so beautiful that it lifts our spirits
every time we enter the sanctuary.
What a major accomplishment it is to
have completely restored that architectural feature of the church! An
additional $200,000 is required to
complete the restoration project.
4. Provide a “love gift” to the Annual
Conference in support of the campaign
to cover the gap in the pastors pre1982 pension fund
About 2%, or $22,600, of the total
goal of the Be Lifted Up! campaign will
be shared with the Annual Conference
for this purpose.
Pastor Robin is conducting a series of
“one-on-one” conversations with members and friends of the congregation to
ask each person to support the capital
campaign with a three-year financial
commitment. In addition, he will introduce the concept of “Planned Giving.” A
Planned Gift is one that takes effect as a
provision in a person’s Last Will and Testament or some other legal document.
Typically, individuals who want the
congregation and its mission to carry
forth well into the future will bequeath a
percentage of their estate to the congregation. Gifts of property and stock are
also common as legacy gifts.
Please contact Pastor Robin at 215498-3718 or [email protected]
for more information on the Be Lifted Up!
Capital Campaign.
Winter 2014
Columns
Page 5
Giving Martha the Credit Due
Rev. Reinhard Kruse
There are different ways to pray. An
example is in the story about Mary and
Martha (Luke 10:38–40). Mary sits at the
feet of Jesus; Martha is busy in the
kitchen. Jesus reprimands Martha saying
Mary has chosen the better part. Personally, I think Martha gets a bad rap.
John, Chapter 11, is about tese two
sisters and their brother Lazarus. After
Lazarus died, Martha (not Mary) runs out
to meet Jesus saying that if Jesus had
been there, Lazarus would not have died.
Jesus replies that Lazarus will rise again.
Martha states, “he will rise in the
resurrection in the last day” and Jesus
says, “I am the resurrection and the life…
do you believe this?” Martha profoundly
expresses her faith by affirming “…you
are the Christ, the Son of God.” Peter is
the only other person who made that
confession when he said “you are the
Christ, the son of the living God” (Mark
16:16); and Jesus says to him, “I tell you,
you are Peter, and on this rock I will build
my church.” Please note that Martha’s
and Peter’s faith are identical. Should not
Martha own half of that rock on which we
have built our church? Can’t a female get
any credit? After this confession of faith,
Martha goes to get Mary, who is still
weeping and praying at home. Is Mary a
slow learner? Martha may not have sat at
Jesus’s feet, but she knows who Jesus is.
It’s Martha who then brings Mary to
Jesus, whereupon Lazarus is raised from
the dead.
The people of God need both Marys
and Marthas to pray for the church. In
the words from Godspell: “Day by day,
day by day; Oh dear Lord, three things I
pray; To see thee more clearly, love thee
more dearly, follow thee more nearly,
day by day.”
Mary closes her eyes in prayer,
focusing on the Lord. Martha prays with
eyes open, looking for concerns, needs,
sorrows, and joys in others. Mary
lovingly folds her hands in prayer;
Martha prays by using her hands to
assist, caress, and help lift the burdens of
others. Mary is on her knees apart from
the hectic world; Martha is on her feet in
the world to bring hope and support to
those living and struggling in life. Ideally,
we should all have some of Mary and
some of Martha in us; but personally,
put me down for Martha.
Our History: Henrietta Burnham, Betty Smith, and Friendly Hour
Dale Shillito, Arch Street Historian
In 1928, Henrietta Burnham was a young
college graduate who worked for the
Philadelphia Playground Association. Sunday evening services at Arch Street
Methodist-Episcopal Church at this time
were extremely popular, often with standing room only. Henrietta noticed large
numbers of young people on Sunday
evenings. The service did not lend itself
for them to casually meet. She suggested
to Dr. Nichols that the church take advantage of their participation and create
a way for them to get together in a
Christian atmosphere. Friendly Hour was
instituted and hosted after Sunday
evening services by Henrietta. Her father,
George W. Burnham, who had a food
distributorship, supplied food for the
festivities.
Friendly Hour was often graced with
citizens of other countries. Dr. Nichols
would take his place on the stage with a
large map of the world. He would ask
Winter 2014
visitors in the crowd to tell him the state
or foreign country they were from,
marking the location on the map. Many
regulars at Friendly Hour were from the
International Club at the University of
Pennsylvania. Members of the club would
often put on a half-hour program telling
the audience about their country. One
doctor who had served on an Indian
reservation told of his experiences with
Native Americans. Students from foreign
lands were often not Caucasian. Those
from India, the Philippines, China, Africa,
or Latin America broke the “color barrier”
long before the Methodist Church as a
whole allowed integration of membership.
After running the program for about
two years, Henrietta Burnham was
suddenly taken ill and died of septic
poisoning on December 10, 1930, while
still a young woman. Taking her place as
Directress of Friendly Hour was 24-year-
old Elizabeth Davison. After she assumed
the job, George Burnham took her under
his wing to ensure the program would
remain successful. Elizabeth Davison had
grown up in the church, having joined at
age 12. She enjoyed preparing for and
running the weekly gathering and
improvising new ways to bring young
people together for fun in God’s house.
Many couples who met through Friendly
Hour married at Arch Street and raised
families in the church. Elizabeth herself
did not marry until she was in her 40’s,
but she believed it was worth the wait.
She married the widowed Dr. Alexander
K. Smith, formerly pastor of Arch Street,
in 1951. Elizabeth was thereafter proudly
known as Betty Smith, wife of the District
Superintendent.
Betty lived a long, useful life centered
on the church. She died only recently at
the age of 107.
Voice of the Spire
Page 6
Events
Events
Weekly Activities
Regular Sunday Activities
8:00 AM - Nursery, 1st floor (open till 12:30 PM)
8:30 AM - Worship, Chapel
9:45 AM - Adult Sunday School, Chapel
9:45 AM - Youth Bible Study, 2nd fl. Office
9:45 AM - Children’s Sunday School, Nichols Hall
9:45 AM - Choir Rehearsal, Choir Loft
11:00 AM - Worship, Sanctuary
12:30 PM - Get Acquainted Time, Chapel
2:00 PM - Unity Fellowship Church Service, Chapel
4:30 PM - Grace Chorale Rehearsal, Nichols Hall
5:30 PM - Grace Café, Sanctuary and Nichols Hall
Monday
1:00 PM - Bible Study with Rev. Cederholm, Office
1:00 PM - Tea and Talk, Chapel
4:00 PM - Community Music Program, Chapel
5:30 PM - AA Meeting, Nichols Hall
7:00 PM - Freedom Band Rehearsal, Chapel
Tuesday
12:00 PM - Bible Study with Rev. Waller, Sanctuary
3:30 PM - Community Music Program, Chapel
Wednesday 3:00 PM - Community Music Program, Chapel
5:30 PM - AA Meeting, Nichols Hall
Thursday
3:00 PM - Community Music Program, Chapel
5:30 PM - AA Meeting, Nichols Hall
7:00 PM - Diversity Group, Chapel
Committee Meetings, Special Events and Activities
United Methodist Men meet the first Saturday of the month at 10:00 AM; United Methodist Women meet the second Sunday of the
month immediately after the 11:00 AM service; the Native American Indian Awareness Group meets the second Wednesday of the
month at 6:30 PM. Refer to the weekly “What’s Happening” bulletin for exceptions to these dates.
January 2014
February 2014
March 2014
Wed Jan 1: New Year’s Day
Office closed
Sun Jan 5: ASUMC Choir Concert,
“The Winter Rose”
Mon Jan 20: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Day of Service – Office closed
Sun Jan 26: POWER Multi-Choir
Concert at Rodeph Shalom
Mon Feb 17: Presidents Day
Wed Mar 5: Ash Wednesday – Lenten Series
begins (every Wednesday through Apr 16)
Fri Mar 7: World Day of Prayer
Sun Mar 9: Daylight Savings Time begins
Sun Mar 30: One Great Hour of Sharing
Submit calendar events to Nancy
Megley ([email protected]).
Listings for Spring 2014 issue due
March 1.
Birthdays
January
February
March
1 - Nikole Daniel, David Fante
2 - Elizabeth Garcia
4 - Stacy Powers
8 - Nathan Jefferson
10 - Dolores Farinre-Carey
11 - Shirlee Chambers
14 - Aaliyah Halliday
18 - Jazzmen McIlwaine Cuevas,
Sam Starnes
19 - Jennifer Olree Collazo
22 - Mark McNeill
26 - Emory Champ
27 - Albert Crawford
29 - Bart Everts
30 - Opal Ripley, Seni Tienabeso
2 - Nancy Cheng
4 - Bill Gatewood,
Sabrina McLaughlin
6 - Thomas Brislin, Carl Dargan
7 - Kate Buckley,
Frederick Farmer Jr.
9 - Lily Menaldi
11 - Kristen Johnson, Angela Scott
13 - Laura Long
18 - Cashor Farmer, Cathy Simpson
21 - Katie Hoch Mount
23 - Lori Timmerman
25 - Russ Alexander
25 - Danielle DiLeo Kim,
Andrew Monath
27 - Alice Farmer, Sarah McNeill
28 - Jack McGrath
7 - Mary Allen, Megan Oxenford
8 - Phil Dellinger, Denise McGiboney
9 - Frank Lexa
10 - Emma Falcon Wing Walton
12 - Elizabeth Donnelly,
Gbarbea-Nuwoo Dunlap
14 - Rhonda Moore
15 - Arthur Pershing
17 - Nancy Hahn
18 - Diannajean Giganti
23 - Betsy Connor, Nancy Megley
25 - Martin Williams
26 - Judy Claude, Evelyn Estrada
27 - Anthony Mastrando
29 - Grace Regino
30 - John Gatter
31 - Thomas Fithian, Steven Whaley
Voice of the Spire
Winter 2014
Events
Page 7
POWER’s 2014 Agenda
New Members
Nancy Megley
Arch Street UMC was blessed to receive nine new members in 2013:
Phillip Dellinger
Thomas Freeman, Jr.
Elaine Jenson
Cathy Johnson
Joseph Kalil
Dustin and Laura Long
Jay Newlin
Nelson Servano
It is a great joy to welcome them into our church family!
Serenity House News
Zoey Bonfante
There are so many exciting new developments to be on the lookout for when it
comes to Arch Street’s “second home” at
Serenity House. This community ministry
has been growing and blossoming since
its establishment about a year ago thanks
to the incredibly dedicated team in
charge of the community programming
and of the restoring of the house proper.
I myself am one of the changes this
ministry is experiencing. This past September I took over as coordinator from
Pavi Jaisankar, who had been spearheading the organizational aspect of the
ministry since its inception.
The improvements made to the house
in just a year are almost unbelievable,
and the programming being offered to
the community is thoughtful and aimed
at both diminishing and discussing the
challenges found in the neighborhood.
Some of the changes to be implemented
are meant to increase the number of
individuals attending the programming.
Serenity House will have a permanent
booklet outlining all of the services
provided, the mission of the ministry, and
its goals. Additionally, we are in the
process of creating a form of publicity
Winter 2014
that people can take with them into their
homes. By trying new ways to market
Serenity House, we are hoping to both increase the number of community participants and boost interest from people
outside the community. We began this
process with the “Sereni-tea” open house
event in October, which was attended by
many community members and leaders
in addition to some city authorities.
One of the most exciting changes involves the tenants at Serenity House.
Beginning in January, two new people will
be moving into the house. We hope their
arrival will add to the programming and
outreach effort, and that their contribution to the renovations will speed up the
remaining restorations needed.
The most remarkable thing about this
ministry is the passion with which
everyone involved takes to a project. In
the short time I have been a part of this
team, I have witnessed both the house
renovations and the outreach efforts
improve week by week thanks to the
spirit and drive of the individuals involved. I am more than positive that the
changes to come will be another step
forward towards the establishment of
Serenity House as a place of hope and
support for the community at large.
Just over two years have passed since
POWER (Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild) held its
founding convention at Tindley Temple in
September 2011. In that short time, this
interfaith organization has established itself as an informed, responsible, and
passionate voice for justice in our city.
When POWER and its allies went to City
Council last fall to testify about labor
conditions at Philadelphia International
Airport, it became clear we were educating Council about a loophole in the city’s
Living Wage Ordinance that exempted
subcontractors from paying the $10.88/hr
minimum wage for city contracts. The
issue is much broader than just the
airport, of course! Since then, City Hall
and the media are paying attention to
what POWER has to say, both city and
suburban churches are asking to join
POWER, and membership has grown to
43 congregations with more on the way.
With that momentum and strength,
POWER will pursue three main goals in
2014:
• A state-wide Fair Funding Formula
for school districts across
Pennsylvania
• An amendment to Philadelphia’s
Living Wage Ordinance to cover
subcontractors
• A national pathway to citizenship for
our undocumented neighbors
These are ambitious goals, but people
of faith know that ours is a mighty God
through whom all things are possible!
Please watch for announcements in the
What’s Happening bulletin and come to
the monthly meetings of Arch Street’s
POWER Local Organizing Committee to
learn how you can be part of this important work. For more information, contact
Nancy Megley ([email protected], 215574-8320) or Wilhelmina Young (the
[email protected], 215-783-0416).
Voice of the Spire
Future Dates
Palm Sunday
April 13
Arch Street
United Methodist Church
Easter
April 20
UMW Assembly
April 25–27
Pentecost Sunday
June 8
Fathers Day
June 15
Winter Issue
Jan – Mar 2014
Voice of the Spire (USPS
856-580) is published 4
times a year by Arch
Street United Methodist
Church, 55 North Broad
Street, Philadelphia, PA
19107. Periodicals postage paid at Philadelphia,
PA 19104. Voice of the
Spire is distributed free
of charge.
POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to
Arch Street United Methodist Church, 55 North
Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
A Beautiful Wedding
Page 1
ASUMC Statement
Page 2
A Church Trial
Page 3
Music News
Page 3
Minister’s Message
Page 4
Capital Campaign Update
Page 4
Martha and Mary
Page 5
Our History: Friendly Hour
Page 5
Events
Church Picnic
June 22
See page 6 for full
calendar of events
News & People
Columns
Mothers Day
May 11
Follow events at the
“What’s Happening”
page on our website:
www.archstreetumc.org
In this issue
Pastor Robin led Arch Street’s
celebration for Jordan Harris (right), who
graduated from Eastern University on
December 14.
Voice of the Spire
Arch Street United Methodist Church
55 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Calendar, Birthdays
Page 6
New Members
Page 7
Serenity House News
Page 7
POWER’s 2014 Agenda
Page 7
Periodicals
Postage Paid at
Philadelphia, PA
19104