The early church had a problem.  The widows were being neglected. So they called a meeting and created a committee of good people to do the work and free the rest of the community for the fun stuff of prayer and sharing the word.  The spirit was so strong in Stephen that in addition to serving the widows, he was “full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.”  Stephen did both–ministry within the community and outreach to the others.  It was not an either/or proposition. And people were transformed.

All of us are invited into the work of prayer and sharing the story–the story of how we see God at work in the world—whether at the booth in the parking garage, a chance encounter while waiting for a friend, or a new friendship with someone who needed a ride.

Talk to anyone who has grieved or known trauma or cared for sick family members.  They have stories of people filled with a spirit who’ve made all the difference.  A phone call. A hug. A gift. A listening ear.  Talk to people who have glimpse God in music or the outdoors or a book or even a sermon.

Who are the people in our midst/your midst who are filled with a spirit that touches you?  Where are they?  How do we share that?  How do we nurture that in one another?

The Broad Bay Church covenant and vision statement is about partnering with the wider community.

Discernment/Questions to take to God

“Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.”  Acts 6:8

Faith Communities always are listening for God—always discerning what it means to be faithful to the beckoning of the Spirit.  Broad Bay’s covenant and vision statement include the wider community.

Questions for prayer and reflection

“How can the Broad Bay Church effectively share God’s love and justice, deepen connections to others, and better serve as a sanctuary to the people of the congregation and the Waldoboro community?”

Who are the “Stephens” in our midst who are:  “full of the Spirit and of wisdom” &“full of faith and the Holy Spirit”?

Where is God beckoning to you/us?

In 1984, Broad Bay established this covenant:

We covenant with each other to worship together, to educate ourselves and our children in Christian experience and freely and responsibly to accept God’s continuing revelation. We further covenant to serve our neighbors in the Broad Bay region and around the world both directly and through our affiliation with the Midcoast Association of the United Church of Christ. We therefore join in fellowship as the Broad Bay Congregational UCC.

Vision Statement (Approved 2008)

Broad Bay seeks to serve God and follow Christ as a progressive church in the greater Waldoboro area. Broad Bay’s ministry is to the community at large. We welcome people in times of crisis and celebration; seek partnerships with other community organizations, and work to share God’s love and acceptance. We welcome and celebrate people of every age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, economic circumstance, mental, and physical ability to the spiritual life of the church as we join in sharing the life, leadership, & ministry of Broad Bay.