In October 1993, taking a cue from Elizabeth Barrett Browning, English poet (1806-1861) whose fame rests largely on a group of love poems titled "Sonnets From The Portuguese", a Broadway member wrote a poem to explain his love for his church. Here is how the poem goes:
Dear Broadway Baptist Church, how do I love thee?
Let me list for you some of the many, many ways.
First, I love the beauty of your stately buildings,
Your arches, vaults, your impressive rose windows,
Your beckoning spire that pierces the vast Texas sky.
I love the beauty of the flowers on your communion table,
The refined elegance of your Centrum and office complex,
The majestic power and tones of your organ and choirs
The beauty of your Chapel, the convenience of parking.
Too, I love the good odor of food cooking in your kitchen.
I love your Library, so beautiful, and overflowing with
Wisdom books, and art, that stretch my very soul.
I love the kindness and the competence of your staff;
I love the brilliance and humor of our young Pastor;
And I love his great vision for Broadway's future.
I love the Sunday School, the meetings, the seminars;
And most of all the worship services in the Sanctuary,
Where, with friends and fellow pilgrims, I have the joy
Of coming into the presence of my God and Savior,
Jesus Christ, for you are truly a Christ-centered church.
I love your philosophy that we all are equals before God,
Rich or poor, black or white, male or female, young or old.
That we are a church in which we are moving together
To do the Lord's work here in our city and around he world.
And, with God's help, we are getting better at it each day."
The above-quoted piece is offered only as an illustrative statement of the attractiveness of Broadway Baptist Church as a church home as seen by this member. Ask any other member why he or she loves Broadway and you would get a slightly different listing. Our purpose here is to fill in the details about Broadway so that you can have a factual basis for making up your own mind whether to visit us and then perhaps to join us.>
As narrated elsewhere on this Website Broadway Baptist Church has a long and colorful history. It was founded in 1882 in a near-downtown neighborhood and has remained there, ministering to people from all walks of life and all corners of Fort Worth and its suburbs.While it carries the name Baptist and is affiliated with several Baptist organizations, Broadway is not subservient to any state or national convention or organization.
It is governed by a Board of Deacons consisting of both men and women democratically elected by members of the church, with advice and assistance from the Church Leadership Council and various standing committees whose members are also elected by the church membership. The church operates under written by-laws which are amendable only by vote of the members. Anyone wishing to become a member may do so either by transferring their membership from another church or by public profession of faith in Jesus Christ, followed by baptism.
Our church's mission statement says that our mission is to be about God's work in Christ of reconciling the world. And we do this work in four areas of ministry:
Worship, being a house of prayer for all people;
Education, being a school of Christian formation;
Fellowship, being a community of grace and peace; and
Mission, being a mission outpost.
The Broadway Pulpit is a series of sermons in which the Pastor explains the scriptural basis and intent behind each of these four areas of ministry. We commend these to your reading. There are also many other pages here which can increase your store of knowledge about Broadway - - read about our history, look at the pictures of our pastors through the years, read about our great new Casavant organ, about our youth choir mission tours to Europe, Hawaii and other exciting places, linger on the pages of "Sermon Kernels" which encapsulate key thoughts from nearly 200 of our Pastor's recent sermons, check out our calendar of events and our Sunday School. We think you will find much of interest on this Website. Thank you for spending time with us.
Before you leave, let us imagine that you have just walked through the entrance doors to Broadway on a typical Sunday morning to attend our 10:50 a.m. worship service. You are in the Narthex, a large and beautiful rectangular room partititioned from the Sanctuary by a series of stained glass windows. Each window is a story within itself. You are immediately welcomed by one or more of our member greeters who will provide you with a printed Order of Worship with an enclosed sheet of news and facts about the life of the church. You then enter the Sanctuary on your own or in company with an usher and take your theater-type seat.
The choir files into the choir loft and you hear chimes as the Pastor approaches a position in the center aisle to greet the congregation with "THE LORD BE WITH YOU!" The congregation answers back "AND WITH YOU, ALSO! Then follows a brief period, perhaps a minute, during which each person turns to those on either side and in front and back and exchanges the same greetings. The Pastor shakes hands with those seated near where he is standing and then he relates any late news such as deaths or major illnesses of members. As the Pastor takes his seat behind the pulpit the great organ begins to play and the worship service is under way.
At the close of each Sunday morning service the Pastor invites anyone wishing to do so to come down the aisle to make his or her desire known publicly and to receive the church's greetings. Each Order of Worship contains an explanation of how one may join Broadway. Also at the close of each Sunday morning service, all visitors are invited to meet the Pastor and other members of the church staff, and to ask any question about the morning service or the church in general.
If you are a visitor to this Website and looked at the page "Visitors' Profile of Broadway Baptist Church", you already have had a preliminary introduction to a typical 10:50 a.m. Sunday morning service. The purpose of this page is to complete the introduction to let you see exactly how Broadway "does church" on a typical Sunday morning. Please keep in mind from the outset, however, that the services from Sunday to Sunday vary somewhat depending upon the season of the year, time of the month, and special events and circumstances.
For example, for a number of Sundays preceding Christmas, the service is more elaborate with the lighting of Advent candles, parade of banners, and similar additions. On Palm Sunday, children spread palm leaves along the center aisle as they enter in processional. Communion is served once each month. Very young children are dedicated when the new parents are ready. (A typical dedication litany is given at the end of this Guide.) These are variations that you will find in most protestant churches. But in the main, the basic elements of all Broadway Sunday morning worship services are the same. These elements will be detailed and explained below:
The period from 10:30 to 10:50 when members and visitors are taking their seats is considered to be the gathering. Broadway is a "gathered church" in the sense that it stresses the need for each member to identify personally the character of of his religious commitment. The gathering at church is evidence of that personal commitment. During this period lighting is kept at a low level in the Sanctuary and conversation, while not prohibited, is discouraged so that a contemplative and expectant atmosphere may be engendered.
The Chimining of the Hour
At precisely 10:50 chimes sound, all conversation ceases, and those in attendance ready themselves for the standard greeting from the Pastor. Meanwhile, the choir has filed into the choir loft and taken their seats.
Greetings
The Pastor approaches a position in the center aisle to greet the congregation with "THE LORD BE WITH YOU!" The congregation answers back "AND WITH YOU, ALSO! Then follows a brief period, perhaps a minute, during which each person turns to those on either side and in front and back and exchanges the same greetings. The Pastor shakes hands with those seated near where he is standing and then he relates any late news such as deaths or major illnesses of members. Pausing, the Pastor surveys the congregation and tells all to "LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS !" and the congregation answers: "WE LIFT THEM UP TO THE LORD!" As the Pastor takes his seat behind the pulpit the great organ begins to play.
Organ Voluntary
Typically the first music heard after lifting hearts to the Lord is an Organ Voluntary., a short to medium-length piece of English organ music designed to set an appropriate musical stage for what is to follow. Quite often the Voluntary is improvised on the selected theme of the morning. Broadway's organist is noted world-wide as one of the most accomplished organ improvisationists. of our time. To all music lovers these are inspiring moments as the great organ speaks in tones of many colors, softness, and power.
Opening Sentences
The Pastor begins the vocal service by reading a short passage of scripture relating to the theme of the morning and/or his sermon to follow later.
Choirs and Congregational Singing of a Hymn:
Next comes the singing by the combined choirs and the congregation, under the direction of the, Minister of Music, of a hymn. There are ample numbers of hymn books in the pew racks and everyone is invited to sing. A hymn is a non-scriptural song of praise or adoration of God. It was not until 1700 that hymns "because they were man-made" were admitted in English-speaking countries. American Methodists, under the leadership of John Wesley, printed the first hymnal in Georgia in 1737. Broadway's great Casavant organ always has a major role in this section of the program, often producing a powerful interlude between two or more of the verses.
Reading of Scriptures
Readings of Scriptures from both the Old Testament and the New Testament are done usually by lay men and women members of the church. There are Bibles in the pew racks for those who wish to follow the readings. Each reading is designed to undergird or provide a scriptural foundation for the Pastor's sermon. As each reader concludes, he are she says, :"These are the words of the Lord" and the congregation responds: "Thanks be to God!"
Invocation
The purpose of the Invocation is to petition the presence of God at the worship service and to call upon God to assist and support the church in what it is doing at the moment and in its mission to be a part of Christ's work in reconciling the world. The Invocation is usually delivered by a lay member but it also is frequently spoken by a member of the church staff.
Time of Silence, Followed by Prayers
The Sanctuary lights are dimmed and a period of silence lasting about two minutes ensues as each attendee mentally and spiritually approaches God in his or her own way in prayer and preparation to listen to the prayers uttered by the Pastor on behalf of all. During the next several months Broadway is placing a special emphasis on being "a house of prayer for all people" as Christ commanded when he cleansed the temple in Jerusalem. There are at least four types of prayers that are heard at Broadway during prayer periods: thanksgiving, intercession, petition, and penance. A prayer of thanksgiving expresses gratitude for divine blessings and mercies. Prayers of intercession are prayers for other people. A petition in prayer is an earnest request for fulfillment or satisfaction of a specific felt need. A prayer of penance is an expression of sorrow for sin.
More Music
Then follows more singing by the choirs and the congregation, either hymns or anthems. Anthems are somewhat different from hymns in that anthems are choral compositions, usually accompanied by the organ, written to English words from scripture. It is also during this period that any special instrumental solos or voice solos that enhance the worship service are performed.
Sermon
Next comes the Pastor's sermon. On this Website are many illustrative examples of our Pastor's sermons from which you can gain an idea of the length (15 - 20 minutes), the structure, and the content. It is believed that no further explanation on sermons is necessary in this guide..
Invitation
Following the Sermon the Pastor speaks an invitation to non-member attendees to join the church or bring other appropriate messages to come down the aisle to him.. The choirs and congregation rise and sing, to organ accompaniment, a "Hymn of Response". This provides ample time for those wishing to come forward to do so. Each person who comes forward is greeted personally by the Pastor and he listens to whatever the person has to say. A lay person is always available to assist in getting the names and addresses of those coming forward. They are asked to take seats on the front row while the worship service continues.
Offering
A prayer of thanksgiving is offered (usually by a lay member) and the ushers enter the aisles with matching oak offering plates and pass them along the rows of seats. While this is going on music is playing, usually the organ. At the conclusion of the passing of the offering plates and the offertory music, the ushers come forward with their plates and the congregation rises and sings the Doxology: "Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heav'nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen."
Introduction of Respondents
All who came forward are introduced to the congregation and asked to stand at the front for a few minutes after the service so that members can come and greet them personally.
Benediction
Following the introductions, the Pastor pronounces the benediction. A benediction is a prayer of blessing said at the close of a religious service. The Pastor often (but not always) recites one of the oldest and loveliest of benedictions which is found in the sixth chapter of Numbers where God instructed Moses to say to Aaron and his sons as follows: "The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."
Then the final music of the service is played, and the worship service is over. The Pastor stands at the center aisle entrance to the Sanctuary and shakes hands and has a word of greeting with each parting member and guest.
Often during the early part of the Sunday morning worship service, usually following the Invocation and an organ interlude, there is inserted in the service a dedication of a young child. This is called "Dedication of Life". It is a dedication by the parents and involves commitments from them and from the church to nurture the child in the ways of Christ. But it is not tantamount to baptism. Broadway holds to "believers' baptism" which means that baptism can come only on the personal decision by the individual to accept Christ as his or her own Lord and Savior and not on the basis of a decision by a parent or other entity.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Pastor
Minister: Mighty God, by your love we are given children through the miracle of birth. We give you thanks. May we greet each new son and daughter with joy, and surround them, all with faith, so they may know who you are and want to be your disciple. Never let us neglect children, but help us to delight in them, showing them the welcome you have shown us all through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
LITANY OF Dedication
Pastor
Minister: In presenting __________ to the Lord, do you promise in dependence upon God's grace and with the help of the church to teach your _______the gifts and claims of the Christian faith, and by prayer, word and example to bring _____up in the nurture, discipline and instruction of the Lord?
Parents: We do.
Minister: Brothers and Sisters of the household of faith, I commend to you this family. Your love, care and example are as necessary to this covenant as their faithfulness in keeping their promise. Will you do all in your power to make this church a true spiritual home for them, lending them the support of our prayers and your example?
All: With God's help we will so seek to follow Christ ourselves that_____ and _____ will he strengthened and confirmed in their resolve, and that their _______ surrounded by steadfast love, may be nurtured in the faith and strengthened in the way that leads to life.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Pastor
Minister: God of grace, Perfect Parent of us all, we pray for these parents and all parents, and all who parent in the Lord. Help _____ and _____ to know you, to love with your love, to teach with your truth, and to tell the story of Jesus to their son so that your word may be heard. Bless _____ Guard ____ safely through injury and illness so that he may live the promises you give. And keep us with this child and with all children ready to listen and to love, even as in Jesus Christ you have loved us, your grown up children. In Whose Name we pray. Amen.
PRESENTATION TO PARENTS AND CHILD
Broadway Baptist Church, 305 West Broadway, Fort Worth, Texas 76104