By its very name, the congregation is the largest choir we have at Broadway! Every Sunday we are compelled by the awe-inspiring Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ to lift our voices in praise to our Creator as a corporate act of worship. At Broadway Baptist Church, we intentionally select a hymn that expresses our worship theme, enhances a specific element within the service, or guides us along the church year calendar. It is our hope that the combination of the text and tune inspires us to live out our faith along our spiritual pilgrimage.

To this date, we have sung 111 different hymn texts within our worship services. The vast majority of them have been very familiar, some not so much, and a few totally new to our hymnody at Broadway.   

In his book entitled, The Singing Thing, John Bell asks the question, “Why do we sing?” Then, he discusses the following possibilities in narrative form:  To Tell Stories, To Exercise our Creativity, To Revisit the Past, To Express Emotion, To Create Identity, To Give of Ourselves, To Shape the Future.  

Therefore, how we go about selecting hymns for worship really matters! In addition, how we engage in the singing of hymns is important to how we worship. The next time you reach for your hymnal in worship, we hope you will choose to sing robustly or at least read the text. If it’s not your favorite hymn tune, focus more on the text and melody. Most importantly, make the effort to actively participate in the worship of God through engaging your heart, mind, and voice in the gift of music.

“Music is a fair and glorious gift from God.”  Martin Luther

“He who sings prays twice.” St. Augustine

I come from a strong Georgetown College family, and had the joy of graduating there as an Organ Major in 1985, followed by a Master’s Degree in Organ Performance from U of L in 1987. I am a middle school music and chorus teacher in Georgetown and have exciting but tiring days with 275 kids who are involved in the choral program there. In addition to my teaching, I
had the great joy and privilege of serving as the part-time Minister of Music and Worship at Faith Baptist Church for the past 20 years. Leaving this very creative, musical congregation was undoubtedly the hardest thing I have ever done, but I felt I needed a slower rhythm to
my daily routine.

I am a Baptist preacher’s kid, and even at my present age, that is still a large part of my identity and one that I carry proudly and lovingly. I grew up in Beaver Dam Baptist Church where my father served as a pastor for 40 years. When I was in the 6th grade, I walked into our church sanctuary for evening worship, and the organist was sitting near the door. I stopped to talk to him for a moment and made the casual remark that I would enjoy learning to play the organ sometime. He took it as a challenge that very day to give of himself, and that began a Sunday afternoon routine of organ lessons, chocolate chip ice cream, and a visit with he and
his wife. As I progressed, this loving church organist began taking me to nearby cities for organ lessons, which were all funded by these dear people--not because they had to or felt they needed to, but because they wanted to. That was their gift to me--a gift that has forever changed and impacted my life. Now, that gift has led me to you, the people of Broadway Baptist Church, and I look forward to getting to know you and worshiping with you. 

My husband, Robert, works at Toyota Manufacturing and has been there for 21 years. He is so talented, whether it be cooking, woodworking, landscaping.and the list goes on and on. We have 3 daughters who have blessed our lives immensely. Elizabeth just recently received her Master’s Degree in Art History from School of the Art Institute in Chicago; she loves Chicago, is very city savvy, and has chosen to live there. Emily is a Junior at Georgetown College majoring in Sociology and is looking forward to studying abroad this Spring at Oxford University in England; she loves to play ukelele and the guitar, and sing. Erin is a Senior in high school and is a captain for the Lady Cards Lacrosse team and is highly involved in band and chorus; she keeps us laughing. We have a Golden Retriever puppy named Scout who is cute, but very high maintenance!

Through my years, God has sent people, places, and opportunities into my life, and now, you are a part of my story. I thank God for you.

Our first concert of the spring was educational, musical, and inspiring. Some of our own members shared their musical expertise with the inter-generational gathering around the tables. 

We were blessed by the many lay people who shared their artistic talents with us during our Lenten journey:  Matt Thompson for his creative photographs on the front of each worship folder, Don Irvan and Ryan Goff for their wood working creations, and the decoration committee for their overall leadership.  Certainly, their creativity awakened our senses along our Lenten journey.  In addition, thank you to all the musicians who gave of their time and energy during the preparation process:  Children’s Choir, Youth Choir, Chancel Choir, Men’s Quartet, String Quintet, Chancel Bells, Youth Bells, Soloists, Directors, and Accompanists.  Truly, their musical offerings enhanced our worship experiences and we are grateful.  Thanks be to God for the gift of sacred music and for the blessing of those in our midst who lead us to a more profound sense of worship.  Alleluia!

The first courtyard concert is scheduled for April 19 immediately following worship.  We are very excited about the creative twist for this concert.  We have enlisted some of our members here at Broadway, who are music educators within our city, to share their creative knowledge with our children and youth.  This is intended to be a child and youth friendly event.  So, we encourage families to attend.  In addition, please feel free to invite friends within our community who might be students of our music educators.  This will be a great treat for us and a good outreach opportunity as well.  Cost of the child friendly meal is $5.00 per person.  Make sure to make your reservations early! 

Palm Sunday Processional

Sunday, March 29, at 10:50 a.m.
Just before worship, we will gather outside the front steps of the sanctuary and listen to the story of Jesus’ processional through Jerusalem. Then, we will follow the cross, waving our own palm branches, as we enter the sanctuary for worship.  We encourage all who are able to participate.

Maundy Thursday Service

Thursday, April 2, at 7:00 p.m.

Please join us April 2nd for a special Maundy Thursday service, led by the Chancel Choir and Bells, with communion in the Sanctuary. Nursery/childcare will be available.

The Chancel Choir will be singing some of their favorite anthems on Wednesday, May 27, at 6:15 p.m. in the Sanctuary. This is the last Wednesday night program of the semester.  So, make plans to be present and enjoy the music offered by the BBC Chancel Choir.

This Lenten season is for us a time of discernment as a congregation.  Where is God leading us?  Who is God calling us to be?  As you prepare for worship, and as we prepare to follow God, meditate on this prayer, written by Ken Cox, a member of our Discernment Team, a group of volunteers helping to guide our church through this process: Lord, grant us the confidence to be who we are, and the courage to be who we are not.
 

Lenten Music Schedule for March: