Sunday, May 19th Church Service
On Pentecost Sunday, we're honored to welcome Bishop Dan Schwerin to preach and lead us in a very special worship service commemorating 100 years of ministry in south Rockford.
Service is at 10am at 1404 Brooke Road, Rockford, IL 61109.
Service is at 10am at 1404 Brooke Road, Rockford, IL 61109.
Click here for the Centennial bulletin
Reflections from Clergy who Served Brooke Road and Broadway UMC
Dear Brooke Road Friends,
Greetings in the name of Christ who brings hope and joy! I wish you a joyous 100 Year Celebration as you give thanks for the profound witness of Brooke Road for over a century. You have impacted Rockford, the region, and the nation with your commitment to mission, ministry and justice. I get so excited every time I read about what you are doing now with the Brooke Road Community Center, and I rejoice with God in the many lives changed by your deep faith in Jesus and your endless love for others. I personally owe endless gratitude for your nurture of me as a young pastor. All of my ministry and leadership rests on the foundation of your teaching, love, and care. You also bring me great joy as I remember the Saint Lucia Festival, the pet blessings, mission trips to South Dakota, Good Friday services, Smorgasbords, community outreaches, and of course, incense on Christmas Eve. Your patience and humor as well as your grace made me a better Christian and a more effective pastor in The United Methodist Church. I am sorry I cannot be with you but I thank you, Brooke Road family, for all you do! May Jesus continue to guide and bless you in the next 100 years as you share Christ and change the world.
God’s Peace,
James Preston
Dear BRUMC friends,
First of all, I want to say congratulations for the celebration of BRUMC. May God bless you and BRUMC at this joyful time. It is a great joy to me, too. I miss you so much. I will pray for you and the BRUMC. I am so sorry that I can not be in your centennial celebration worship because I should lead worship at Woori Naperville Korean UMC as interim. I ask your understanding for my situation. But I will pray for you for your happy moment.
With love,
Pastor Chungnam Kwak
Serving Broadway UMC in Rockford, Illinois is one of the highlights of my 46 plus years of ministry. A busy congregation, all my gifts and graces for ministry were needed and wanted. Meeting new people, leading Sunday worship, Adult Bible Study in homes and at church, singing with the choir, playing the organ occasionally, visiting the sick and shut in, spending time with the youth, ministry in the community, chaplain duty at the hospital, enjoying the church bowling league and teaching School of Christian Mission marked some of my pastoral involvements. Our third and last child was born at Rockford Hospital and baptized at Broadway. Two of our children attended school there. My wife Beverly loved the parsonage, the people and loved participating in the ministry especially fundraisers like A Night on Broadway!! Then, like other appointments, we were gone too soon. Ever grateful am I for the church I served on Broadway. Precious Memories given new life in the 2010 merger of Brooke Road and Broadway UMC; praise God. Add my congratulations to the people of God at Brooke Road United Methodist Church on your Centennial Celebration. I am certain that Bishop Dan Schwerin will preach a wonderful sermon. Preach Bishop preach!!! Regrettably I cannot attend. You are in my prayers.
Sincerely,
Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton
"This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I can do what it says I can do. Today, I will be taught the Word of God. I boldly confess, my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be the same. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever living seed of the Word of God. I will never be the same; never, never, never. I will never be the same In Jesus's name. Amen."
Oh, how my heart leaps for joy when I think of you my dear friends at The Brooke. God has surely blessed you with a rich history and journey of touching lives across the nation and making a positive impact in our world. I am deeply grateful to God for our paths crossing and our journeying together in ministry. Truly, you have come this far by faith and I marvel what God is doing even now in your ministry. Keep being ever so faithful, allowing God to be a lamp unto your feet and light onto your path. May the Power, Providence, and Presence of God be with you as you set sail for another 100 years in ministry. And together, all of God's Children said, "AMEN!"
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Chris Druce Jones
In 1974 Sally, Liz, Pete, and I moved from Apple River, a town of 431, to Rockford, an urban center of about 200,000, that had stop lights, a McDonald’s, a Maid Rite, a Japanese Garden, Toad Hall, and the Crooks Brothers used car lot across the street from the church. We lived in the parsonage at 3202 Jackson Street, and the kids started school nearby. Sally oversaw the nursery school at Broadway UMC, and I did everything I could to build on Ross Calame’s ministry, helping the congregation to worship faithfully, to serve the community during a financial recession, and to be an “extended family” for each other. “Family” was the primary image for the folks at Broadway, most faithfully exemplified by Mary Calame, Julie, Jennifer, and Elizabeth Boess. And there was Jerry Garcia’s “Ave Maria” on Christmas Eve, Daniel Hintzsche’s drama in the sanctuary, Roberta Gambrel’s preludes, doughnuts downstairs on Sunday morning, the trip to Pachuca, picnics in Alpine Park, and the youth outing to the Upper Peninsula. Eventually, we moved on to campus ministry at the U. of C., Trinity UMC in Wilmette, the NIC staff, and the Chicago Temple, but we never moved completely away from Broadway. We carried it with us every step of the way, including in retirement up to our lake cottage in Wisconsin and now to our senior center in St. Louis, a city where both Liz and Pete and their families live. Now we celebrate with Brooke Road UMC our common history that goes back to the founding of Brooke Road in 1924 and eventually to the merger in 2010. And we are confident that, under the leadership of Centennial UMC, the church at 1503 Broadway will grow into becoming a multicultural center for a changing neighborhood. -Phil Blackwell
I was appointed to the Brooke Road Church in July of 1969. My wife Sharon and I, along with our young family of Tal and Carolyn, moved into the old parsonage on 10th Street. In 1973, we added our third child, Troy. We were delighted to move into the wonderful new parsonage on Radnor drive a few years into my ministry. Upon my arrival, I was supported by a wonderful staff of Idella Peterson, church secretary ; Dorothy Carpenter, pre-school director; Troy Gorum, choir director; and Orpha Cowan, church organist. When my dad, Norm Robey, retired, he and I did a comprehensive community study, and developed a long range plan for the Brooke Road Church. As a result of that study, the congregation entered into service to the community through the pre-school, charm school for 3rd and 4th grade girls of the community, Saturday night dances in the “Pit”, Ken-Rock Community Center, Protestant Community Services, SaBrooke Community Organization, and the Rockford Urban Ministries. During my 14 year ministry, we confirmed many young people, had an active Sunday school, and United Methodist Women and Men’s groups, Couple’s Club, Boy Scout Troop, plus a strong MYF. The congregation allowed me time to support the Outdoor Camping program of the Conference through annual canoe trips to the boundary waters and camps at Wesley Woods and Reynoldswood. In addition, the congregation supported my continued education through the San Francisco Theological Seminary where I attained my Doctor of Ministry degree in 1974. It was my honor and privilege to serve this church for 14 years until July of 1983. - Rev Dr. M. Gerald Robey
Dearest Brooke Road UMC: Although the Vidads’ time with you was (too) short, your love and hospitality has remained with us for all these years! I am so proud to have served with you for a brief moment in this life journey and swelling with joy to know that your impact to the local community (and beyond) continues to grow. Your contributions, commitment and conviction to your neighbors are making a difference, even if you don’t know it yet or can’t see it yet! I know… because I have seen you in action! I pray that God continues to guide you in your current and future endeavors. Much love to you all! -Nancy L. Vidad
Greetings in the name of Christ who brings hope and joy! I wish you a joyous 100 Year Celebration as you give thanks for the profound witness of Brooke Road for over a century. You have impacted Rockford, the region, and the nation with your commitment to mission, ministry and justice. I get so excited every time I read about what you are doing now with the Brooke Road Community Center, and I rejoice with God in the many lives changed by your deep faith in Jesus and your endless love for others. I personally owe endless gratitude for your nurture of me as a young pastor. All of my ministry and leadership rests on the foundation of your teaching, love, and care. You also bring me great joy as I remember the Saint Lucia Festival, the pet blessings, mission trips to South Dakota, Good Friday services, Smorgasbords, community outreaches, and of course, incense on Christmas Eve. Your patience and humor as well as your grace made me a better Christian and a more effective pastor in The United Methodist Church. I am sorry I cannot be with you but I thank you, Brooke Road family, for all you do! May Jesus continue to guide and bless you in the next 100 years as you share Christ and change the world.
God’s Peace,
James Preston
Dear BRUMC friends,
First of all, I want to say congratulations for the celebration of BRUMC. May God bless you and BRUMC at this joyful time. It is a great joy to me, too. I miss you so much. I will pray for you and the BRUMC. I am so sorry that I can not be in your centennial celebration worship because I should lead worship at Woori Naperville Korean UMC as interim. I ask your understanding for my situation. But I will pray for you for your happy moment.
With love,
Pastor Chungnam Kwak
Serving Broadway UMC in Rockford, Illinois is one of the highlights of my 46 plus years of ministry. A busy congregation, all my gifts and graces for ministry were needed and wanted. Meeting new people, leading Sunday worship, Adult Bible Study in homes and at church, singing with the choir, playing the organ occasionally, visiting the sick and shut in, spending time with the youth, ministry in the community, chaplain duty at the hospital, enjoying the church bowling league and teaching School of Christian Mission marked some of my pastoral involvements. Our third and last child was born at Rockford Hospital and baptized at Broadway. Two of our children attended school there. My wife Beverly loved the parsonage, the people and loved participating in the ministry especially fundraisers like A Night on Broadway!! Then, like other appointments, we were gone too soon. Ever grateful am I for the church I served on Broadway. Precious Memories given new life in the 2010 merger of Brooke Road and Broadway UMC; praise God. Add my congratulations to the people of God at Brooke Road United Methodist Church on your Centennial Celebration. I am certain that Bishop Dan Schwerin will preach a wonderful sermon. Preach Bishop preach!!! Regrettably I cannot attend. You are in my prayers.
Sincerely,
Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton
"This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I can do what it says I can do. Today, I will be taught the Word of God. I boldly confess, my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be the same. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever living seed of the Word of God. I will never be the same; never, never, never. I will never be the same In Jesus's name. Amen."
Oh, how my heart leaps for joy when I think of you my dear friends at The Brooke. God has surely blessed you with a rich history and journey of touching lives across the nation and making a positive impact in our world. I am deeply grateful to God for our paths crossing and our journeying together in ministry. Truly, you have come this far by faith and I marvel what God is doing even now in your ministry. Keep being ever so faithful, allowing God to be a lamp unto your feet and light onto your path. May the Power, Providence, and Presence of God be with you as you set sail for another 100 years in ministry. And together, all of God's Children said, "AMEN!"
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Chris Druce Jones
In 1974 Sally, Liz, Pete, and I moved from Apple River, a town of 431, to Rockford, an urban center of about 200,000, that had stop lights, a McDonald’s, a Maid Rite, a Japanese Garden, Toad Hall, and the Crooks Brothers used car lot across the street from the church. We lived in the parsonage at 3202 Jackson Street, and the kids started school nearby. Sally oversaw the nursery school at Broadway UMC, and I did everything I could to build on Ross Calame’s ministry, helping the congregation to worship faithfully, to serve the community during a financial recession, and to be an “extended family” for each other. “Family” was the primary image for the folks at Broadway, most faithfully exemplified by Mary Calame, Julie, Jennifer, and Elizabeth Boess. And there was Jerry Garcia’s “Ave Maria” on Christmas Eve, Daniel Hintzsche’s drama in the sanctuary, Roberta Gambrel’s preludes, doughnuts downstairs on Sunday morning, the trip to Pachuca, picnics in Alpine Park, and the youth outing to the Upper Peninsula. Eventually, we moved on to campus ministry at the U. of C., Trinity UMC in Wilmette, the NIC staff, and the Chicago Temple, but we never moved completely away from Broadway. We carried it with us every step of the way, including in retirement up to our lake cottage in Wisconsin and now to our senior center in St. Louis, a city where both Liz and Pete and their families live. Now we celebrate with Brooke Road UMC our common history that goes back to the founding of Brooke Road in 1924 and eventually to the merger in 2010. And we are confident that, under the leadership of Centennial UMC, the church at 1503 Broadway will grow into becoming a multicultural center for a changing neighborhood. -Phil Blackwell
I was appointed to the Brooke Road Church in July of 1969. My wife Sharon and I, along with our young family of Tal and Carolyn, moved into the old parsonage on 10th Street. In 1973, we added our third child, Troy. We were delighted to move into the wonderful new parsonage on Radnor drive a few years into my ministry. Upon my arrival, I was supported by a wonderful staff of Idella Peterson, church secretary ; Dorothy Carpenter, pre-school director; Troy Gorum, choir director; and Orpha Cowan, church organist. When my dad, Norm Robey, retired, he and I did a comprehensive community study, and developed a long range plan for the Brooke Road Church. As a result of that study, the congregation entered into service to the community through the pre-school, charm school for 3rd and 4th grade girls of the community, Saturday night dances in the “Pit”, Ken-Rock Community Center, Protestant Community Services, SaBrooke Community Organization, and the Rockford Urban Ministries. During my 14 year ministry, we confirmed many young people, had an active Sunday school, and United Methodist Women and Men’s groups, Couple’s Club, Boy Scout Troop, plus a strong MYF. The congregation allowed me time to support the Outdoor Camping program of the Conference through annual canoe trips to the boundary waters and camps at Wesley Woods and Reynoldswood. In addition, the congregation supported my continued education through the San Francisco Theological Seminary where I attained my Doctor of Ministry degree in 1974. It was my honor and privilege to serve this church for 14 years until July of 1983. - Rev Dr. M. Gerald Robey
Dearest Brooke Road UMC: Although the Vidads’ time with you was (too) short, your love and hospitality has remained with us for all these years! I am so proud to have served with you for a brief moment in this life journey and swelling with joy to know that your impact to the local community (and beyond) continues to grow. Your contributions, commitment and conviction to your neighbors are making a difference, even if you don’t know it yet or can’t see it yet! I know… because I have seen you in action! I pray that God continues to guide you in your current and future endeavors. Much love to you all! -Nancy L. Vidad