TheVisitor
Asbury First United Methodist Church Newsletter April 2013 • Vol. XLVII No. 4 • www.asburyfirst.org
IN THIS ISSUE AFUMC News, 3 On Holy Ground, 4 Easter Review, 6 Youth Missioners, 7 RAIHN, 8 ArkSparks, 10
The Visitor
MISSION STATEMENT
Vol. XLVII No. 4
Through worship, education, outreach, and care, we develop dis-
(USPS 558-470) is published 10 times a year, monthly with combined issues for December/January and July/August, by Asbury First United Methodist Church.
ciples of Jesus Christ who live and proclaim the Gospel and thereby work to transform our culture.
EASTERTIDE!
Periodical postage paid at Rochester, N.Y. POSTMASTER: Send addresses changes to
There is a span of time between our beginning celebration of Christ’s Resurrection and Pentecost and we call it Eastertide! Thanks and Praise to God that Easter is not just one day! I think oftentimes we walk the forty days of Lent and then the journey of Eastertide falls off our radar. O! Let’s take the opportunity to journey through the celebration of Eastertide! Rev. Phillip Phaneuf Our Scriptures tell us the Risen Christ appeared to His disciples during this time (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20 & 21). The Scriptures tell us He taught them how all the prophecies were fulfilled in His death and resurrection (Luke 24). He broke bread with them (Luke 24). He made breakfast for them ( John 21). But most of all, this year, I remember that in the first Eastertide, Jesus Christ stood among His disciples and said, “Peace.” “Peace be with you.” ( John 20). Christ’s Resurrection is the symbol of our peace. The Scriptures say we no longer need to fear death because Christ conquered death with His Resurrection. (Romans 8) “Christ is our Peace.” (Ephesians 2:14) Peace is something we should celebrate! We can live in peace knowing that God has ended our fear of death. Nothing will ever separate us from the Love of God through Jesus Christ. (Romans 8) That kind of knowledge, that kind of love, that kind of peace warrants a celebration that lasts beyond one day of Easter, don’t you think? I do too!
Asbury First UMC Visitor 1050 East Ave. Rochester, N.Y. 14607-2239 (585) 271-1050
Staff
Rev. Susan S. Shafer Rev. Stephen Cady
Rev. Phillip W. Phaneuf Rev. Lawrence Hargrave
Kathy Thiel David T. Strong Dr. William J. Weinert Paula Dugan Melissa Bohrer Richard Moncrief Melody Guadagnino Michele Cooley Jason Franklin Mary Van Keuren Duane A. Prill David T. Strong Bozena Granat Elizabeth Church Brian Bohrer Larry Dugan Rev. Linda Clemow
Senior Minister Minister for Faith Formation – Hospitality & Membership Care Minister for Youth & Education Minister for Outreach and Community Connection Ministries Ministry Intern Administrative Director of Music and the Arts Artistic Director of Music and the Arts Co-director of Children’s Ministry Co-director of Children’s Ministry Financial Administrator Administrative Assistant Dining & Caring Center Director Property Care Manager Communications Director & Editor Organist Assistant Organist Director, Children’s Music Director, Bell Choir Director, Youth Music Director, Youth Theater Artist in Residence
Then, Let’s walk, full, this Easter Path Hand in Hand, with joyful hearts! Christ’s Life conquered death’s dark wrath, Peace for all, Christ’s love imparts!
Cover: Asbury First’s magnificant Sanctuary Choir, under the direction of Dr. William Weinert, sing on Easter Sunday. Photo by Greg Francis. Please send all submissions, questions, comments, or concerns to Mary Van Keuren at mvankeuren@asburyfirst.org or (585) 2711050 x109.
In the Peace of Eastertide!
Phil
Deadline for next issue: Friday, May 3 Read The Visitor online: www.asburyfirst.org
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AFUMC news Roudebush Circle of the U.M.W.
Resource Library News
The May meeting for Roudebush Circle of the United Methodist Women will be held on Tuesday, May 28, at 6:00 p.m. at 1010 East Ave. A catered dinner will be available for $8.50. (Please bring your own table service). The program will feature Asbury First’s ministry intern, Kathy Thiel, speaking about”Education at Hampshire College.” Donation of items for Asbury First’s Dining and Caring Center will be collected. Please make your dinner reservations by Friday, May 24 with Joan Closson at 671-5534. For information regarding the Circle, please call Ginn Fitch at 381-6464.
Need a good book? Our spring shipment has arrived, including a complete set of Harry Potter books. Also, if you ordered copies of Margie Mayson’s book, they have arrived and are available in the church office during regular business hours. Search for our Youth Director As we celebrate the ministry of Phil Phaneuf and prepare to wish him well in his new appointment in Queensbury, we have begun the process to hire a full-time youth director. A search team has been assembled from members of the youth ministry Renovation Team, the SPRC, and pastoral staff in order to conduct a national search for our new youth director.
Blanket Appeal
Although in recent years we have always had a member of the pastoral staff who has had as one of his or her responsibilities the oversight of the youth ministry, we have never had someone focused solely on that task. Our new youth director will oversee the youth ministry (grades 6-12) of Asbury First United Methodist Church and direct the implementation of its mission to welcome all youth to celebrate a growing relationship with God and each other, while joyfully serving in the example of Christ. This will include equipping adult volunteers and ministering to the parents of youth as well as assisting in the current renovation plan for our youth ministry. Finally, the director will work to spiritually prepare youth for the challenges ahead in young adulthood and to nurture in those youth a sense of clear Christian identity as a beloved child of God through an understanding of God-given gifts and talents.
Once again this year Asbury First will raise funds in support of Blankets+, a program of Church World Service that supplies warm blankets, tents, food, tools, Warm blankets from Church World Service distributed to people in the Dominican Republic after Hurricane seeds, and other Sandy. materials to those across the world in need of them. You’ll find an envelope for this purpose in your May 5 bulletin. Our church efforts are coordinated by Roudebush Circle of the United Methodist Women. We ask you to please give generously to help our brothers and sisters across the globe.
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• Five Ways to Worship at Asbury First •
Traditional Worship in our Sanctuary 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday mornings
Informal Worship with Holy Communion in our Sanctuary 10:00 a.m. Sunday mornings
Listen live onWYSL 1040 AM or 92.1 FM
11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon Sunday mornings
Please Join Us! 3
Watch live at www.asburyfirst.org 11:00 a.m. Sunday mornings
Watch past services in our video archive at www.asburyfirst.org any time!
on holy ground On Holy Ground, created by the Center for Spiritual Life committee, is a regular feature in The Visitor that highlights opportunities and thoughts for spiritual growth and renewal.
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n March, Asbury First held a retreat called Listening with the Ear of the Heart: Reflections from Benedictine Spirituality. We asked some of the participants to share their throughts with us after the event. “The retreat was fun and educational. I learned about chanting in your true voice as that is what pleases God: each voice has its own spark. It was interesting to hear about Lectino Divina, or sacred reading. This disciplined art emphasizes reading in silence, reflecting and hearing with your heart, responding to God’s invita-
tion, relating it to your situation, and, finally, resting in stillness. It is in the stillness one knows God.” – Christine Shah “The quote ‘Listen with the ear of your heart’ and listening and participating in the chanting of the scripture really got my attention. For me, the light went on upon seeing how reading slower lets the words just flow in and helps me digest the meaning. I enjoyed seeing how committed those ladies are [Benedictine nuns] and dedicated to Benedictine teaching. I need to take more time for quiet – for the four R’s: Read, Reflect,
Respond, Rest – and to listen for what God has planned for me.” – Ida Hickman “Some thoughts on the retreat: 1. Thoughts make us feel; we can catch the thought and center ourselves back. 2. Rough people can be handled by listening and responding in a soft voice, which brings a softer response from them. 3. The lens is the way you look at an object; the object doesn’t change. 4. Community helps, versus one person doing too much; people need to do their own work. Depriving others of doing/helping isn’t good; the system corrects itself. 5. If you cut corners, you miss something. I learned to listen more to the silence and to others’ perspectives.” –Janda Hemming
Recommended Reading The Monastery of the Heart, by Joan Chittister. The search for God is an eternal one. It plagues every generation. It stalks every soul. It is the insistent, eternal cry for meaning, for answers to the questions, Why? And what? And for what purpose? It is the unending awareness that I am not alone in the universe, despite the fact that I do not know where I have come from or to what I’m going. It is the soulful pursuit launched to understand the Beginning of Life and to find the answer to its End. The search for God is the attempt to complete the incomplete in us. And it never stops eating away at the innards of our soul. –Introduction, page viii.
“Attending the retreat (or for that matter any class offered at
Asbury First) was an opportunity for me to interrupt the mechanical routine that can often interfere with living, by taking the time to focus on God and on my spirituality; what is better than that? And it is the opportunity for healing, by increasing my self-awareness/heightening my spirituality through the process of listening to others and allowing myself to be vulnerable enough to share my experiences/reflections. Being open to God’s presence allows life to change.” –Tammi Vinci Spontaneous Communion “We attended a retreat yesterday at Asbury First focused on Benedictine spirituality. The core of the retreat happened for Robert and me spontaneously in the kitchen. It was deeply spiritual, dare I say even supernatural. Here is how it unfolded: “I had volunteered to bake and bring the bread and dessert which would accompany a simple lunch Continued on next page
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AFUMC news
WORSHIP
11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship
worship schedule
SUNDAY APRIL 28 Fifth Sunday of Easter Rev. Dr. Timothy J. Johnson, preacher John 13:31-35 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship
10:00 a.m. Informal Worship with Holy Communion 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship SUNDAY MAY 5 Sixth Sunday of Easter Rev. Stephen M. Cady, preacher Acts 16:9-15
SUNDAY MAY 19 Pentecost Sunday/Confirmation Rev. Phillip W. Phaneuf, preacher Romans 8:14-17
8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship
10:00 a.m. Informal Worship with Holy Communion
8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship 10:00 a.m. Informal Worship with Holy Communion
11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship SUNDAY MAY 12 Mother’s Day Dr. Gail Ricciuti, preacher John 17:20-26
11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship SUNDAY MAY 26 Memorial Sunday Rev. Susan S. Shafer, preacher John 16:12-15
8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship 10:00 a.m. Informal Worship with Holy Communion
10:00 a.m. Informal Worship with Holy Communion 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship SUNDAY JUNE 2 Youth Sunday AFUMC Youth, preachers Luke 7:1-10 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship 10:00 a.m. Informal Worship with Holy Communion 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship
8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship
Continued from previous page
of soup. On Friday we baked two loaves of bread, white and wheat. These were our special Sabbath Rest Breads. We’ve spent years in perfecting the recipes and this was the first time ever for sharing this bread outside of our home with others. The two loaves were on a baking sheet covered with a yellow kitchen towel. They were placed on the kitchen work table: two large protrusions under the towel which caused some curiosity. This led to at least one person to peek under the towel to satisfy her curiosity. “During the morning work break, I suggested that our Benedictine task could take place in the kitchen where the bread needed cutting and butter needed plating. The first aspect of the supernatural was the aesthetic experience
for us in the kitchen as the bread was uncovered. The two loaves side by side, huge and perfectly shaped, caught everyone’s attention with oh’s and ah’s. It reminded me that Robert and I do not merely cook: what we do is culinary art. “The second aspect of the experience was related to bread as the staff of life! Everyone understands bread. It is the universal food from antiquity and is the core staple on which humans have subsisted, and by which our lives are blessed with victual abundance. Bread, the “staff of life,” is understood universally in every frame of mind and reference, and it instantly galvanized the small group of us into something that was larger than the sum of the parts. We became, as it were, one in spirit –the threshold of
transcendence. “The third aspect of this experience occurred with the unwrapping of the bread itself. When the plastic wrap was removed I was quite unprepared for what occurred. The bread became incense. The fragrance was beyond belief. It was as if I had just baked the bread. The wafting incense of the bread lifted each of us up to another level. This olfactory experience transported each us back in time to our individual experiences of “Bread.” And as such the air was purified and there was nothing that existed in those seconds in time except the bread, its fragrance and the individual journeys upon which each had been led. The forth aspect was bread as Eucharist. As I began slicing the billowy, fragrant loaves, each 5
person present was riveted as the slices floated from the knife onto the bread board, slice after slice. I invited the onlookers to partake of the bread then and there although it was for lunch. As Eucharist the bread shared offered moments of communion for us. It reminds us that Eucharist is the Body of Christ given, infinitely available for all to partake. The bread taken is the sharing of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. It was he who chose bread as the symbol of his Eucharist. It is the “we” who boldly partake of this rustic and plebian symbol now made Holy and Divine. We indeed experienced the Divine as we partook of the bread in the kitchen of 1010.” – Timothy J. Johnson
Easter Celebration
Easter Sunday: a time of joy and celebration, a chance to gather together as a family and rejoice at the risen Christ. Is it any wonder that it’s also one of the most festive times of the year, replete with new outfits and wonderful meals with loved ones? At Asbury First, worship was marked with triumphant music and heartfelt word. Afterwards, people lingered long to to chat with friends and relax before heading home. Here are a few of the images we gathered that day. To see more, check out our Flickr page at www.flickr.com/photos/asburyfirstumc/sets/.
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Youth Mission Trips Lead Two Young Missioners to Start Their Own Ministry You could say that it began with their first Asbury First mission experiences. Brennon Thompson and Tyler Poquette were deeply moved by the experience of helping others on their first mission trip four years ago. Through continued mission trips with the church’s UMYF group in the following years, the two high schoolers’ love of service only deepened.
bility to do so. Also because this is what I love to do; I can’t explain to someone who hasn’t been on a mission trip before ‘why,’ but those that have know exactly what I’m talking about.” Now that Sandra’s floor is finished, The Floor Project has already lined up their next task: partnering with Project Chacocente, a non-profit organization that aims to help families living in the city dump in Managua, Nicaragua.
This year, they decided to do something about it, and thus was born The Floor Project Tyler Poquette, left, and Brennon Thompson at the local church n Jamaica where they stayed on their most recent visit. Photo courtesy of The Floor Project. (www.thefloorproject.org). As they work to create a Why that name? Because better life for those in need, the first task they charged their new non-profit organization Brennon and Tyler also have a few other irons in the fire. Both with was raising money for supplies and using them to build will be heading for college in the fall, Tyler to Baldwin Wallace a floor for the home of Sandra Johnson, a single mom they University in Ohio to major in French and Sustainability with met during the 2012 youth mission trip to Catadupa, Jamaica. a minor in International Studies and Brennon to American While building an outhouse for Sandra last year, they noticed University in Washington D.C. It seems certain, however, that that the shack the family lived in was without a floor. both of these young Methodist men will continue to serve Soon, the dynamic duo had built a website and begun fundtheir communities and beyond to the best of their abilities. raising. A goal of $2,000 was soon met through the support of Watch for our next issue of The Visitor, when we’ll recap the most generous donors – including a number of Asbury First friends recent youth mission trip to Red Bird Mission, Kentucky! and family members as well as the AFUMC Men’s Prayer Group. Early April saw Brennon and Tyler heading down to Jamaica again to manage the construction of the floor as well as a door to the house and some other finishing details. According to Brennon, the son of AFUMC members Cheryl and Bruce Thompson, they were also able to purchase and deliver a laptop computer for Sandra’s 16-year-old daughter, and Brennon donated an old smart phone to another young man they met while in Jamaica. “I had my old HTC Rezound smart phone lying around, so I gave it to him. It will enable him to excel in programing.”
Our Living
What motivates two young men with full and active lives at home and school to focus on the needs of others? For Tyler, the son of Rev. Phil and Megan Phaneuf, the answer is simple: “I’ve continued this project because it pains me on a personal level to see others in the world surviving without basic necessities we don’t even think about [here in the U.S.]. I do this for people who need me, and for the lives I can change.
We offer our prayers and sympathy to the family and friends of Betty Powell who died on March 15, 2013.
We offer our prayers and sympathy to the family and friends of Marion Hitchings who died on March 29, 2013.
We offer our prayers and sympathy to the family and friends of Curt Langenhan who died on March 22, 2013.
We offer our prayers and sympathy to Gary and Kay Layton on the death of Gary’s mother Ruth Layton on March 25, 2013.
We offer our prayers and sympathy to the family and friends of Douglas Whitney who died on March 20, 2013.
Brennon echoes Tyler’s commitment. “If we don’t do anything, who will? If we have the means to help then it is our responsi7
in Community
OUTREACH news RAIHN: What Is It and What Does It Mean for Asbury First?
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n early February, 1010 East Avenue on the Asbury First campus became home for a week to two families who were without homes of their own. The families were comprised of two moms and 4 children, ages 4-15. In this February week at Asbury, some 60 volunteers arranged bedrooms, made beds, welcomed families, provided meals, cleaned up, assisted with recreation and activities, and supervised a home on a 24-7 basis for the families assigned to the program. This happens at Asbury First every 13 weeks. Rochester is part of the national non-profit Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) for the purpose of assisting homeless families. In Rochester, 13 area churches provide temporary housing facilities — and Asbury First is one of these 13 host churches. In addition, 22 other Rochester area churches provide support services — meal preparation and supervisory and hospitality staffing. This February at 1010 East Avenue was an unusually light week, as the groups housed in the RAIHN program normally consist of 4-5 families with a total of 14-15 adults and children. The next week coming up for hosting by Asbury First is the week of May 19-26. In a typical "Day in the Life" of a family in the RAIHN program, the family moves weekly from one host faith community to the next. They typically spend four to six weeks in the RAIHN program while they seek new housing through professional counseling provided by RAIHN and other agencies.
Each day starts with breakfast at the host facility, provided by the volunteers from each hosting or support organization. The guests are then transported by a 14-passenger RAIHN bus to the RAIHN Day Center where they can receive their mail, meet the school buses, do their laundry, bathe/shower, go to work, and most importantly, receive counseling on jobs and housing. At the end of their busy day, the families return to the host faith community (a different hosting congregation each week), where they are provided with dinner and support from the host volunteers. The evening hours are relaxation times and the day ends with a private place for sleeping as a family, under one roof. Families are referred to RAIHN from a number of social service agencies in the Monroe County area. A family coming into the RAIHN program is pre-screened by the referring agency and then again by the Director of the RAIHN organization. There are strict policies for accepting families, and they sign a pledge to abide by the rules before they are accepted into the program.
The goal of IHN locally and nationally is “to achieve sustainable independence for families by supporting them with shelter, food, personalized case management, and a diverse network of caring volunteers.” We at Asbury First are an important part of this effort. It is accomplished only through the hard work of the volunteers who assist in caring for these families while they make their home on our church campus. If you want to be a part of this important effort, please contact Chris and Doug Lee at (585) 451-7692 or c_s_lee29@ msn.com or Melody Guadagnino, ext. 103, at the church office (271-1050). The ways in which volunteers can help are many. They welcome families when they arrive each evening, provide a meal, and extend an evening of hospitality (chatting, playing games, helping with homework, and doing crafts with the children). Each night two volunteers spend the night and see that the guests are up and ready for the RAIHN bus to take them to the Day Center the following morning. The guests are here for one week. There is always a need for more volunteers. – Peggy Lyons
Helping the homeless through RAIHN at Asbury Homeless families come to live at Asbury First’s 1010 East Avenue (the red brick building next to the church) every 13 weeks. The next visit is the week of May 19-26. Volunteers are needed for the following tasks: • To welcome families when they arrive each evening; • To provide dinner for the families each night; • To provide hospitality (visiting, playing games, doing crafts, helping with homework); • To spend the night at 1010 serving as supervisors for the families during their weekly stay; • To help out on weekends with supervision, meals and recreation. Would you like to help out with this important volunteer effort? Please contact Chris and Doug Lee at (585) 451-7692 or c_s_lee29@msn.com or Melody Guadagnino, ext. 103, at the church office (271-1050) or mguadagnino@asburyfirst.org. 8
AFUMC news Continued from page 3
The search is currently open and applications are rolling in. We will continue to keep you informed on our progress as we move closer to hiring the best candidate possible. In the meantime, we appreciate both your prayers and support.
As a result of the disaster, UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief ) set up a relief center in Endicott. The relief center is where groups come and stay overnight while people work on rebuilding homes in the area. There is a coordinator at the center in Endicott who works with group leaders to decide what relief project best fits the skills of the volunteer groups. UMCOR has designated 120 homes that need to be rebuilt. After almost two years 60 have been completed.
Church Library Rooms Use The Asbury Resource Library, in the education wing, is such an inviting spot that we sometimes find competing interests make it unavailable as an actual library during the time it’s most in demand—between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sundays. Kindly be aware that between those hours, the library should be available to all as a library, not as a meeting room. The one exception remains the brief gatherings of families prior to baptisms. The library is available for meetings throughout the rest of the week, and can be reserved by contacting Melody Guadagnino at mguadagnino@asburyfirst.org. Thank you for your assistance. – Church Resource Library Committee.
Asbury First sent two teams of volunteers to the southern tier to help rebuild homes. The teams included Bob Castle, Ed Austin, Len & Nancy Davidow, Sandra Holloway, “Van” Van Voorst, Rick Kuempel, David Kay, Joe Cygan, Hal Carter, and John Smalt. They worked alongside volunteers from other churches in the area. Some of the jobs completed included cutting and nailing wood trim and molding, installing doors, putting up drywall and metal edges, fixing floors, painting and placing 2 x 4 studs.
Asbury First Helps with the Southern Tier Disaster Relief
“When disaster strikes it is hard for any of us to accept.,” said AFUMC member John Smalt. “We just hope for the best. But for some people caught in the Southern Tier flooding of 2011 the disaster continues. Their lives and homes have been changed forever. To be able to aid them in putting their homes back in order is a privilege. In working with them you feel a great sense of Christian fellowship and joy.”
The Southern Tier flood began on September 6, 2011 when Tropical Storm Lee poured 11 inches of rain on the region in two days. Rivers and streams washed onto roadways and into neighborhoods, creating a once-in-a-generation flood. The counties – Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga and Schenectady – were declared disaster areas by President Obama. The state estimated the cost of the flood to residents, businesses and governments to be more than $297 million.
There will be more volunteer opportunities in the Southern Tier in the coming months. You don’t need to be experienced in home repair work. Everyone, regardless of their skills, can make a meaningful contribution to those in need. If you are interested in helping please contact Bob Castle at 244-3022 or rcastle166@frontiernet.net. – John Smalt.
The scope of the disaster was enormous. Just in the town of Owego, the flood affected 1200 of the 1600 homes. More than 550 had major damage and eight were destroyed. Even the town’s churches were flooded although they worked together afterwards to share space for worship.
flooding in Upstate New York, August 2011. Photo courtesy Doug Kerr, Creative Commons.
The Asbury First team takes a quick break from interior renovation work in the Southern Tier. Photo courtesy John Smalt.
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Many of the damaged buildings need complete replacement of floors, drywall and ceilings due to water damage. Photo courtesy John Smalt.
by Linda Clemow
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Deles vitatiate et faces iduntotas In 2 Chronicles 3 we odis find Solomon build- ut imagni as untem vitia volupta ing a temple as directed by God to hisvolecusda father quidempore pra nonse peliquo is et as David. Again there is the use of fine craftsvendam et moluptati tem vendestrum vepersons, decorations and fine cloths, and riam volorio et porrovidunt et ad es eniae sculpture. The temple was to be filled with et eveliquos alissim porest, seque pro velart work. was to bequam covered with precious labo Itratiatquo qui digent, occum stones beauty.soluptae. There is no rea- ut etfor hitiam, Ropragmatic ommollent posprecious ipsapidstones. et dolupti eum et ut dit son for Godadis simply wanted laborrum et vidit everovid quos alit beauty in the temple. God is interested in vitio. Nam recuptis aut que plabore mporem beauty. haria doluptate doles que dolupta eper-
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ventuscienis doluptatibus et ut intioratis so that the viewer will be moved by the subet qui ditatur, quiam inctius nimagnis et ject matter beyond the admiration of beauty essequam qui te quo tem exces mollabo into contemplation of res spiritual rehenda de con eium si am questions. voluptam qui ressumque vel evendebita alitiantis sit It is possible to have a spiritual experience aut maximodi dolorror solum The qui berchit without ever going to church. danger is exceatqui occat que ium alibus, niminctes that we can deceive ourselves into thinknes et eaqui sum accum sitia net ad moing we are having something we are not. luptatur sinuste natiasit et illiqui beatibea Without the church community, the setting sim dolesciusdae et ulluptis ea autendam of the churchnobitatius. and its programs, we may quiatectium
faildolupiet to ask and seek answers the ipsaper spiritual Ra liquodi scipsus to repel spiciet invelit faceribus. questions of meaning, value and purpose. A Delissi tem hit, quis dis modisciume ea caring church community promotes spiripa eicatus, core volupta sitiatium, coreptual growth and health in a way that is more ero expliquos qui volorem cum faccupta fulfilling than a simple moment. The “Joy dolupta ssitaqui doluptat quamend eliqui Mode” Iea wrote about last month comes with acipsam dolut voluption reptam fuga. recognition the holy inmo yourmaionsediti life and the Pidellu ptioraofconsequod illabor evelisitiur a poratia lives ofeperspiendis others. We need community for this pro vid qui optate endeniatur autatem and the community needs different voices venimenditia doloresequas everfer for the experience of the holy,eicil and to take ibusam, erum necae. Epuda nobis necesti us deeper into understanding. We need the onsequi ditibus re veliat porectorro bevoices of the artists, musicians, and poets in rum excest, cupta volori ut ommolorem. the church community. Namet landita pelis nonsecus, od mi, sit et illabor emposam, omnimporiore ve-
We're delighted to welcome the following new members, who joined on March 24. We're glad you're here.
Linda and Richard Butler Dick is a retired SUNY professor and mentor and Linda is retired from a career as an interior decorator. They live in Irondequoit and have two grown children. Dick enjoys reading and photography and Linda lists fabric arts and her four grandkids as her favorite leisure time activities.
Mary Berk Mary is a clinical social worker who lives in Rochester. Some of her favorite activities include sports (tennis, rowing and running) and gardening. She has already joined Asbury First’s Garden Committee!
Adrienne Dahl Adrienne lives in Penfield and is retired. She enjoys playing the flute, going to concerts and plays, reading, and foreign and local travel.
Amanda Joyce Amanda and her husband Michael, who is currently deployed as a medic in the Army, have six children aged 5 to 13 who are homeschooled by Amanda. She also runs a non-profit support organization for mothers, is a Girl Scout leader, and former therapeutic foster parent.
A Report On: Facing Race, Embracing Equity We had a presentation on the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade by Neil Frankel, Ph.D.; Dean Brenda Lee gave a presentation on the Life and Legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.; we had an “All Church Read” of Michelle Alexander’s book The New Jim Crow with two sessions of discussions; and, finally, a presentation by Ann M. Johnson, Director of ACT Rochester, describing inequities of health, education and economics that are statistically aligned with racial inequities.
”For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.” – 1 Corinthians 13:12 Most of us spend some time daily looking into the mirror as we prepare to face the world each day. The image that we see reflected in the mirror is consistent with the images of most of the other people in our lives. According to the most recent demographic research, most of us spend time with people who look like us.
The exhibit “Race: Are We So Different?” was designed to address some of the many questions about race and offer points of entry for conversations. We continue to look in the mirror and question how we might work to overcome these issues that have life and death consequences for so many. Our hope in God is that with God’s help and our initiative we will more fully know how to address these issues.
A year ago, a multiracial group started work on planning conversations of race around the exhibit on race, called “Race: Are We So Different?” that has been at the Rochester Museum and Science Center. The intent was to create space for conversations about race between persons of different racial groups. In addition to hosting the launch of Facing Race Embracing Equity in January, Asbury First has had a number of events to inform and initiate conversations.
Peace, Blessings and Good Journey, Lawrence Hargrave 11
The Children of Asbury First Present:
ets k c i T sale on ow! n
Save t Date!he
A Musical for Kids by Sharon and Don Turney Saturday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, May 5 at 12:30 p.m. Fellowship Hall Tickets available Sundays after services in the Welcoming Hall.
Set during dress rehearsal for a church talent show, a misunderstanding leads the kids to think there's an "Ultimate Superstar" coming to see the show. They proceed with the rehearsal, thinking that a celebrity will see them perform. During their acts, the children have to deal with issues of pride and being "good enough for a superstar." In the end they discover that Jesus is the one and only "Ultimate Superstar!"
Hungry for good food and fellowship?
Want to connect with others?
SAVE THE DATE Saturday, September 28, 2013 for The Eighth Annual
Join us for the next Asbury First Night!
Dinner Among Friends
May 5 • June 2
5:30-7:00 p.m. If you’ve ever longed to feel more connected to the Asbury First
A Dining and Care Center Fund Raiser
community, then ASBURY FIRST NIGHTS are for you! These
Mark your calendars now!
monthly fellowship events are on Sunday evenings in the Gathering Center, 1050 East Ave. All ages are invited; we’ll have
DINNER AMONG
enrichment activities and nursery care for the children. Please bring an appetizer to share.
FRIENDS
12
children’s ministry news SAVE THE DATE Announcing Vacation Bible School 2013:
ALL CREATURES GREAT and SMALL! August 5-8 For children aged four through entering sixth grade.
• Annual Family Carnival • June 9 10:00 a.m.-noon Granger Street Lawn Come and celebrate the beginning of summer with a carnival games, activities and lunch.
Children are invited to join us as we learn about the animals from the Bible. On Thursday night,August 8 we’ll celebrate with the whole family at the Seneca Park Zoo! Registration forms will be available in May.
Thinking about your child’s future?
T
he Nursery School at Asbury First provides a nurturing, hands-on, differentiated learning environment where three and four year olds can learn, grow and make a difference. We’re
now enrolling children in next year’s program (September 2013-June 2014). Please note that the Nursery School, a ministry of Asbury First, is different from the Asbury Day Care Center, which is also housed on our church campus. The Nursery School is open Tuesdays through Thursdays, 9:00-11:30 a.m. Contact Melissa Bohrer at (585) 271-1050 x111 or mbohrer@asburyfirst.org for more information.
13
Library news
B
ooks for all ages and on all topics can be found in the church resource library and the library is ALWAYS open. Take a look at the following unique books. They have been selected as featured books for May and are available in the library’s collection of books for children, young adults and adults. The library is located just off the Gathering Space near the elevators. Everyone is welcome! Children: Charley’s First Night, by Amy Hest and Helen Oxenbury (Illustrator). This new addition to the church library is a story, complete with watercolor illustrations, for ages three-six. It tells the tale of Henry’s new puppy, Charley, and how. Charley adjusts to his new home and Henry to his new puppy.
Adult: Sources of Solace and Strength, by Dr. Charles F. Christiansen. These ten inspiring volumes of favorite stories, poems, quotations, and devotions were collected by Asbury First’s Dr. Charles Christiansen. This collection is available at both the Spiritual Life Library in 1010 East Ave. and the Church Resource Library. My Song: A Memoir, by Harry Belafonte. Entertainer/activist Belafonte chronicles his life from early childhood in what is termed “a brave and spellbinding memoir.” My Song is considered “a serious account of a life of service—to race, to country, to the cause of equality.
St. Francis, by Brian Wildsmith. This beautifully illustrated story is of the life of St. Francis of Assisi, who rejects his wealthy background to lead a life of poverty, good works, and kindness to animals. It is especially appropriate for ages 5-10.
Parenting Section: Have a New Kid by Friday: How to Change Your Child’s Attitude, Behavior & Character in 5 Days, by Dr. Kevin Leman. The author is an internationally known psychologist, radio and television personality. If you believe that you, as a parent, are to be in healthy authority over your child, this book is for you. The book promises that your relationship with your child can change in just one week if you follow the simple strategies in this book.
Youth: Dear Bully, by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones. Today’s top authors for teens come together to share their stories about bullying. Their experiences with bullying will be especially relevant to teens ages 14-17. The Lost Songs, by Caroline B. Cooney. This is a compelling story of family loyalty and stereotypes. High school readers will be challenged by the issues of drugs, teenage pregnancy and the drive to achieve. April
26 John 16:1-15
28
Psalm 148:1-14
27 1 Kings 8:14-36
29
Acts 15:36-16:15
28 1 Kings 8:37-53
30
Revelation 21:22-22:5
29 1 Kings 18:1-19
May
30 1 Kings 18:20-46
1 John 14:1-14
31 Luke 1:39-56
2 John 14:15-31
10 Acts 16:16-40
18 Genesis 11:1-9
June
3 Psalm 67:1-7
11 John 17:1-26
19 Acts 2:1-21
1 Psalm 96:1-13
4 Psalm 47:1-9
12 Proverbs 23:17-25
20 Proverbs 8:1-19
2 Luke 7:1-10
5 Psalm 2:1-12
13 Revelation 22:6-21
21 Proverbs 8:20-36
3 Galatians 1:1-24
6 Psalm 97:1-12
14 Luke 6:1-16
22 Psalm 8:1-9
4 Psalm 146:1-10
7 Luke 24:36-53
15 Acts 1:12-26
23 Romans 4:1-15
5 1 Kings 17:1-24
8 Ephesians 1:1-23
16 Psalm 104:1-18
24 Romans 4:16-5.5
6 Luke 7:11-23
9 Acts 1:1-11
17 Psalm 104:19-35
25 Romans 5:6-21
7 Luke 7:24-35
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the last word by Michele Cooley
When a new guest appears at
who was instrumental in facili-
the Asbury Dining and Car-
tating mental health counseling.
ing Center, they receive a warm
A grant for housing became
welcome and are genuinely
available and I referred him to
surprised at the quantity and
several landlords. Life was be-
quality of food served and the
ginning to take a positive turn.
friendly atmosphere here at the
As Mark was attempting to
lower lever of 1010 East Av-
straighten out his life, Maria
enue. They feel they have found
was too. She came here each
a safe and accepting community.
morning and found a kindred
We try to get to know each and every one of our guests personally
spirit in Mark. They sat at the same table and laughed and quietly
by name and nurture their talents and aspirations for the future
talked and assisted each other with plans for the day. Mark had a
with encouragement and love. In many cases our guests become
laptop that he brought with him and showed Maria his brother’s
very loyal followers of our ministry and are dedicated volunteers.
Christian camp in Idaho. He was making plans to visit his brother
Some are so overwhelmed with the caring here on campus that
this summer. Both seemed to connect on a deep spiritual level.
they choose to embrace Asbury First as their church. To say that
Maria has been trying to regain custody of her son, who has leu-
we are a family is not an exaggeration. In many instances we are
kemia. His medical condition was too much for her to bear and it
the only constant in an otherwise tumultuous existence.
was best for family members to take care of him. She has enrolled
We see people blossom in different and sublimely sweet ways.
in college and hopes to become a social worker to help people like
Mark and Maria are two examples. Mark was sleeping this winter
herself who have been struggling.
in the public safety garage. He is a carpenter by trade but after
Both Mark and Maria expressed their Christian beliefs to me
a difficult separation and divorce seven years ago, he became
and the fact that they always had faith that God was with them
depressed and unable to work. His mental health status eventu-
and would not desert them. So it was no surprise when on Easter
ally led him to homelessness, sleeping in the garage in the public
Sunday, as I walked down an aisle at Asbury First, I passed a pew
safety building where the floor is hard and the atmosphere can be
and saw Mark and Maria dressed in their finest outifts quietly
cold. He rode his bicycle here each morning and greeted me with
holding hands. Afterwards they approched me at the Dining Cen-
a robust “good morning! Is there anything I can help you with?”
ter and told me that they are planning on getting married some
And yes, he would assist in helping take food out of my trunk
time next year. Their relationship had developed slowly here at the
for the day’s breakfast. Always very polite with our volunteers,
ADCC. The expression of caring and nurturing brought them to
his presence is very positive in the Dining Center. We connected
a place of trust and hope. Thank you to all at Asbury First who
Mark with an outreach worker from Rochester General Hospital
have connected with Mark and Maria. They will never forget you. 15
PERIODICAL 1050 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607-2293 Address Service Requested
The Asbury First
Bowling League Ten Sundays, May 19-July 24 7:00-9:00 p.m. Clover Lanes, 2750 Monroe Ave., 14618 $10/person/per week to play (pizza and soda will be available free of charge). Sign up as a team of four or individually.
All are welcome, ages 16-above – no experience needed! To sign up, contact RJ Pollard at rjpollard14@gmail.com. Registration closes May 15.