The Visitor | February/March 2018 by Asbury First United Methodist Church

TheVisitor Capital Campaign News Asbury First United Methodist Church Newsletter April/May 2018 • Vol. M No. 10 • www.asburyfirst.org

IN THIS ISSUE A Pastoral Reflection 3 Community News 4 Better Together Campaign 12 Children's Ministry 14

Youth Ministry 15 Library & Reading News 17 Outreach News 18 The Last Word 19

MISSION STATEMENT

The Visitor Vol. M No. 10

Love God and neighbor. Live fully. Serve all. Repeat.

(USPS 558-470) is published 5 times a year, February/March, April/May, Summer, September, and November/December by Asbury First United Methodist Church. Periodical postage paid at Rochester, N.Y. POSTMASTER: Send addresses changes to Asbury First UMC Visitor 1050 East Ave. Rochester, N.Y. 14607-2239 (585) 271-1050

FOUR WAYS TO WORSHIP AT ASBURY FIRST Traditional Worship in our Sanctuary 8:30 & 11 am Sunday mornings

Staff

The Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady II The Rev. Kathy Thiel The Rev. Jacqueline Nelson The Rev. Mike Mullin David Strong Dr. William Weinert Paula Dugan Holly Temming Richard Moncrief Morgan Dornsife Melody Guadagnino Deb Bullock-Smith Ken Carr Michele Cooley Jamie Least Duane Prill Carol Lamica Elizabeth Church Brian Bohrer Larry Dugan Ian C. Urriola

Senior Minister Minister for Pastoral Care Minister for Outreach Minister for Discipleship & Youth Church Administrator; Assistant Organist Director of Music Director, Children’s Ministry Children’s Ministry Assistant; Director, Children’s Music Financial Administrator Director, Development & Communications Administrative Assistant Administraitive Assistant to the Senior Pastor Property Care Manager Director, Dining & Caring Center Communications Coordinator Organist Director, Youth Music Director, Bell Choir Director, Asbury Singers Director, Youth Theater Ministry Intern

Emeriti Staff Rev. Dr. Theodore Weeden, Sr., Pastor Emeritus Dr. Roger Wilhelm, Director of Music Emeritus Marian R. Craighead*, Organist Emerita *deceased Cover Photo Credit: Jamie Least, Souper Bowl Preparations 2018; Logo: Brian D'Angelo,

Please send all submissions, questions, comments, or concerns to communications@asburyfirst.org or 585-271-1050, x109. Deadline for submitting content for the Summer issue: May 7

Chancel Worship with Holy Communion 10 am Sunday Mornings Watch live at www.asburyfirst.org 11 am Sunday mornings Listen on WYSL 1040 AM or 92.1 FM 11 am-noon Sunday mornings

Watch past services in our video archive at asburyfirst.org any time!

INCLUSIVITY STATEMENT Asbury First United Methodist Church prayerfully strives to live in its community with open hearts, open minds, and open doors. Affirming that each person is of sacred worth, we seek to be a fully inclusive church, believing that all people are God’s children, created in God’s image, loved and blessed equally by God. It is our purpose to be a Reconciling Congregation. This means extending hospitality and encouraging full participation of all, regardless of age, race, national origin, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status or family structure, education or economic background, and physical or mental ability. We recognize that we hold a variety of opinions. We do not seek to erase our differences, but to journey together in faith toward greater understanding and mutual respect. We believe that reconciliation to God and to one another is central to our mission and ministry.

SIGN UP FOR OUR E-NEWSLETTER To receive our email newsletters, with news of upcoming services, classes, and other events at Asbury First, go to asburyfirst.org and scroll to the bottom of the home page, where you’ll see a sign-up window. 2

A Pastoral Reflection On Thoughts and Prayers The Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady II

The #beyondthoughtsandprayers people are right. The cavalier use of “thoughts and prayers” to dismiss the realities of life has the dual effect of sanitizing the real pain of human tragedy and trivializing prayer. We should resist that impulse. Instead, let us use our prayers as the beginning of a new commitment and the first step towards new life together. Every tragedy is different, but there is always something we can do to respond—both to the immediate human needs as well as the prevailing social sins that have allowed that failure of humanity. It means balancing mercy with justice. It means hard conversations with people we love. It means stepping into the darkness and shining a little light.

Part of being human is facing inhumanity—what we as a people of faith call evil. When we see tragedy strike, as has too often been the case in the last few years, our hearts are quick to break and tears are quick to flow. Different from natural disasters (which have also quickened in the last few years), an alert of yet another shooting or bombing or some other public act of violence brings with it a sense of outrage that we often struggle to channel. In those moments, the thoughts and prayers we have traditionally relied upon to find our way do not always seem like enough.

Fortunately, for us, we are in the season of light. Easter offers the promise of a kind of life that not even death can destroy—a light which no darkness can overcome. In short, it means hope for us all. When the next tragedy strikes, as it inevitably will, may we pause to offer our thoughts and prayers, and then step bravely into the darkness to be beacons of light—meeting despair with hope, death with life, and inhumanity with gracious humanity.

To be clear, thoughts and prayers matter. At their best, they help us connect to God and one another. When we do not know where else to turn, the ability to pause and honestly connect with God in our pain is not only a means of comfort, but of discernment and illumination as well. As Howard Thurman put it, “When we go deep enough inside ourselves, we come up inside all other people.” Prayer connects us with God, which connects us with ourselves, which connects us to each other. What begins inside ourselves can move us outside ourselves, but it takes an effort.

Grace and Peace, Stephen

worship schedule Worship SUNDAY SERVICE TIMES 8:30 am – Traditional Worship 10 am – Chancel Worship with Holy Communion 11 am – Traditional Worship with Sanctuary Choir SUMMER SERVICE TIMES Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekends (Inclusive) 8:30 am – Outside Worship with Holy Communion 10 am – Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary

SUNDAY APRIL 1 Easter John 10:1-8 Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, Preacher

SUNDAY APRIL 22 Matthew 22:36-40; Luke 10:2528; 1 John 3:16-24 Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, Preacher

SUNDAY APRIL 8 John 20:19-31 Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, Preacher

SUNDAY APRIL 29 John 10:7-18 Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, Preacher

SUNDAY APRIL 15 1 John 4:7-12 Rev. Kathy Thiel, Preacher

SUNDAY MAY 6 Children's Musical Children's Sunday Luke 2:41-52

SUNDAY MAY 13 John 17:6-19 Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, Preacher SUNDAY MAY 20 Acts 2:1-21 Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, Preacher SUNDAY MAY 27 John 3:1-17 Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, Preacher

Community News Our Living Deaths – We offer our prayers and sympathy to … Carol Kramer and Ron Stallworth and family on the death of Carol’s father, James Kramer, Sr. who died on December 22, 2017 in Newfane, NY. Elise and Hal Carter on the death of Elise’s father Kenneth Walker who died on January 9, 2018 in Concord, NH. Roy and Julie Melton on the death of Roy’s mother Martha Melton on January 22, 2018.

in Community The family and friends of Stanley Swackhamer who died on February 3, 2018.

The family and friends of Bernie Meyer who died on February 9, 2018. The family and friends of Paul Carson who died on March 2, 2018 in Emmitsburg, MD.

Stephen and Jane Beamish and family on the death of Stephen’s father, Dr. Norman Beamish on January 25, 2018.

Donna and Hugh Cunningham on the death of Donna’s sister Barbara Nowak on March 2 in Waterloo, NY.

Baptisms – We celebrate the baptisms of … Jeffrey Paul Camardello, son of Jeffrey and Emily Camardello, baptized on January 28, 2018. Harley Ann Tramonto-Stagnitto, daughter of Toni Tramonto-Stagnitto, baptized on March 11, 2018. Weston Michael Greer, son of Jon and Lauren Greer, baptized on March 18, 2017. Mia Mae Shriver, daughter of Crystal Taylor and Raynard Shriver, baptized on March 18, 2017.

Welcome The Newest Members of Asbury First!

Karen Arcara

Bob Swetman and Renee Webb

Jacob DeBuyser

Jeff Fraser

Jeffery Baldick

Patti Burns-Skomsky

Kristen, Mike, Laurie, and Drew Ricci

Marlene and Dave Steider

Matt and Kimberly Jones

Nathan Van Loon

Sean and Brenda McQuillan

Patti Leo

Paul and Susan Dutcher

Paulette Elder

Sascha Vom Heede

Thomas Brazda

Community News summer worship times begin May 27 Our summer worship schedule will last from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend (inclusive)! Join us for both indoor and outdoor services all summer long. These summer service times are as follows: 8:30 am — Worship on the lawn (outside) with Holy Communion 10 am — Traditional worship in the sanctuary

Need a Stephen Minister? If you are going through a difficult time, our Stephen Ministers are available to help you through it. Stephen Ministers are members of our congregation who have received 50 hours of special training to minister to those who are experiencing a crisis, or the aftermath of a crisis. These include divorce, death of a loved one, hospitalization, job loss, and other traumas that make up our lives from time to time.

On Holy Ground by Colleen Schantz

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.” -Frederick Buechner

A Stephen Minister will meet with you once a week, privately and confidentially, to listen, care, encourage and provide emotional and spiritual support for you during your time of need. If you would like to benefit from the caring, Christcentered presence of a Stephen Minister, please be in touch with Rev. Kathy Thiel by emailing her at kthiel@asburyfirst.org or calling her at 271-1050 x106.

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Hope.

Buechner is an ordained Presbyterian minister who has written countless books and shared his views on finding grace in our everyday living. Spirituality is at the heart of this everyday living that leads us to become the hands and feet of Christ in the community. This deep relationship with God invites us to enter into the greater world to call forth the best in others and leave an imprint of love upon their lives. Searching for the best way to serve has been a lifelong quest for me. I never quite found the right place to share my gifts. God sent me here and there, and I made a difference where I was. Then it was time, I discerned, to move on to the next destination. Where was my gladness meeting the hunger of the world?

alin

Then one day a minister friend of mine shared her insights. “Perhaps you are meant to touch many lives, and the world is your church. After all, isn't that what others have said who have gone before us? Go out into the world and touch many lives.” So as I look back at the resume of my life thus far, I try to find those heart connections and treasure them. They are the places where God has entered into everyday living and invited others to do the same. 5

Community News Men's and Women's Retreats Return Women's Retreat: We are Better Together!

June 13 through 15

You are invited to join the women of Asbury First at the Notre Dame Retreat Center in Canandaigua, NY on June 13 through 15. Events will begin Friday evening and run through Sunday morning. You will want to be there for a refreshing, renewing, and connecting time. Please plan to join us—and look for more information coming soon! If you have questions, please contact Karen Barner at Kjb1010@hotmail.com, Bonnie Matthaidess at bjmatt2@aol.com, or Dianne Dudley, didus@aol.com or 223-1962.

Men's Retreat: Come As You Are! May 4 through May 6

This Spring’s Men’s retreat will be Friday evening, May 4 to Sunday morning, May 6, 2018. We will be in the beautiful Galilee mansion at Casowasco on Owasco Lake to relax, hike, share time and discuss issues together. We have time for singing, praying, and fellowship and will be using Marcus Borg’s book Speaking Christian to explore the meaning and derivation of the words we use to express our faith. It promises to be a rich exploration of our Christian history and will add depth to our spiritual walk with Christ. This retreat is a special way to break your everyday routine and spend time exploring your spirituality. If interested or if you have questions and would like more information, please contact Bruce Thompson at brucerthompsonmd@mac.com.

Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved New Class Begins April 8 This book, by Kate Bowler, hit shelves this February. Bowler is a professor at Duke Divinity School, and at age 35 was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. The preface of her book opens with this, “There’s a branch of Christianity that promises a cure for tragedy. It is called by many names, but most often it is nicknamed the “prosperity gospel” for its bold central claim that God will give you your heart’s desires: money in the bank, a healthy body, a thriving family, and boundless happiness.” She then goes on throughout the book to honestly and faithfully wrestle with the questions that we all face in these moments of tragedy. One reviewer put it like this, “this book will not tell you ‘everything will be okay.’ Instead, it will tell you, ‘you know, it might not be okay, but we’ll keep living anyway and I will stand there with you.”

those who are suffering, we invite you to join us for an Easter Season Sunday school to study Everything Happens for a Reason and consider the wisdom it might offer for our everyday lives. This class is open to all ages, for this is a topic that truly affects us all.

"...it might not be okay, but we’ll keep living anyway and I will stand there with you."

Sundays from 9:45-10:45 am, April 8 through May 20, all are invited to join us on the 2nd floor of 1010 to read through and wrestle with this book and the impact its meaning has on each of our lives. For more information, or if you would like us to order you a book, please contact Mike Mullin mmullin@asburyfirst.org

For anyone who has ever struggled to find the divine in the disaster (both personal and otherwise), and for those that have struggled to find the words to speak as we so desperately want to comfort 6

Community News Special Speaker: Robert Lupton to Visit on April 29 by Diana Carter the person even want to learn how to fish, or do his or her dreams and talents lie in raising chickens instead? How can we help unknot those tangled issues instead of continuing to throw fish at a problem we might be worsening?

Author Robert Lupton Robert Lupton, author of Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help and How to Reverse It, will give a talk on his book at Asbury First on Sunday, April 29, at 7 pm in the sanctuary. Lupton’s visit is part of an effort to share principles of justice —as recommended in our Outreach Task Force report, “A Way Forward.” You may recall that the report urged us to combat poverty by striving for justice instead of simple charity. Some liken that to teaching a person to fish instead of giving them a fish. It's really more complicated than that. One must also consider whether the person has a fishing pole, has a place to safely store it, and if they are likely to face discrimination when trying to access the local fishing hole. Does

SAVE THE DATEs What: Balancing Justice and Mercy, our April discipleship class When: April 4, 11, 18, and 25 at 6pm Where: Building 1040, Room 202 Special Event: Visit from Robert Lupton on April 2 for a workshop at 3 pm at AFUMC

Lupton says churches often fail to take stock of how effective their programs are and rob those we try to serve of their pride and dignity, despite our best intentions. Our speaker has walked the walk: he’s a Christian community developer in Atlanta, GA., having created two mixed-income subdivisions, organized a multiracial congregation, and started several businesses that provide dignity and jobs for people in poor urban areas. He is the creator of the Lupton Center, which specializes in teaching about helpful, effective community development. Some at AFUMC have taken the “Seeking Shalom” training offered by the Lupton Center, which is helping to reshape our outreach ministries. For those who want to learn more, Lupton will also lead a 3 pm workshop on April 29. A limited number of seats, available on a first-come, first-serve basis, will be open to people who have either completed the “Seeking Shalom” training or read one of Lupton’s books. You can get started reading now or, during the month of April, take The Rev. Jacqueline Nelson's weekly class, “Balancing Justice and Mercy,” which will use Toxic Charity as a foundational text.

To sign up for the class or the afternoon workshop, please contact Melody Guadagnino at mguadagnino@asburyfirst. org. To volunteer at this event, please leave your contact information with Melody. Questions? Ask Diana Carter, who can be reached at (585) 732-7224 or dianalouisecarter@gmail.com Reservations for the talk are not necessary, but admission by donation is likely. Details on that price, which will benefit our outreach programs, will follow. Copies of the author’s books will be available for sale and he’ll sign them at the end of the event.

Community News Christ on the Psych Ward: Meds as a Means of Grace and a Visit by David Finnegan-Hosey on May 2 by Ian C. Urriola the difference between lithium and ibuprofen, this book does a phenomenal job of bridging that gap and serving as a conversation starter.

SAVE THE DATES

At Asbury First, we will be having What: Christ on the Psych Ward: this conversation together throughout Meds as a Means of Grace, our May discipleship class the month of When: May 2, 9, and 16 at 6pm May during our Where: Building 1040, Room 202 Wednesday evening Discipleship Classes. Special Event: May is Mental Visit from David Finnegan-Hosey Health Awareness on May 2 Month here in the United States, so it’s a perfect time to come together as a community of faith to learn about how we ought to be in ministry with those who live with mental health challenges. Our discussion will kick off on May 2 with a visit from David Finnegan-Hosey to talk about his own life experiences that led to his decision to share his story in Christ on the Psych Ward; from there, we will spend the next two weeks discussing how our ministry can be a force for good for those living with mental health challenges and how our ministries and understandings of God can be positively impacted by including those who live with mental health challenges in it. After all, “There is not one Christ for those with mental illness and another for the rest of the world,” Finnegan-Hosey writes, “there is one Christ for all. There is not one church…for those with mental illness and another for the rest of the world. There is one church for all.”

I don’t cry very often. Not because I think crying is wrong or that “real men don’t cry” or anything like that. On the contrary, I absolutely think that there needs to be a space for openly expressing emotions in our understanding of masculinity, but that’s another article altogether. I say all this because as I was reading through David Finnegan-Hosey’s new book, Christ on the Psych Ward, on an airplane recently, I was brought to tears. Christ on the Psych Ward is one part theological reflection, one part personal memoir about the author’s experience with his own mental health struggles, and one part practical advice for the Church as it pertains to being in ministry with those who have mental health struggles of their own. Finnegan-Hosey does a beautiful job of weaving these three threads together into a single, compelling narrative that will simultaneously break your heart and wrap you up in a tapestry of affirmation, comfort, and conviction. All of this results in a challenge and a clarion call to action for those of us who find ourselves in the Church. We absolutely must be having conversations about mental health. We need to be willing to listen to those who are brave enough to share their stories with us, and we need to find the courage to be vulnerable ourselves to share our own stories with others. Christ on the Psych Ward is as good a place as any to start. Accessible to seasoned clergy and mental health professionals as well as the lay person who wouldn’t know

Author David Finnegan-Hosey 8

Community News Tent Week Returns!

August 5-10 Invite your friends, family, and neighbors...all are welcome!

Tent Week 2018 is just around the corner. Several new ideas are in the works, so if you have not recently joined us, get ready for a wonderful fellowship opportunity featuring activities for all ages with great food and live entertainment. In the coming months, be on the lookout for more information through our weekly bulletin, weekly email newsletter, and more. And remember—save the dates!

A Reflection on Discipleship Groups by Brennon Thompson and Ellen McGaugh

group. We were grouped together, no more then ten, by availability rather than interest or previous relationship. The theme for these eight weeks was talking across difference, and each week focused on a particular controversial topic framed in the contexts of scripture, doctrine, rational thought, and experience. These small groups have provided a place for us, as a people of faith, to practice bridging societal divides. More than that, the success of these groups is rooted in the fellowship created off campus. Members of my group opened up their homes and each week we found ourselves invited into a deeper conversation. In my particular group, there was a good mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces. Now that our time has drawn to a close, I can say confidently that I have a more meaningful relationship with everyone, especially those I thought I knew well.

From our campus to our congregation, Asbury First is exceptionally large for a United Methodist Church in our area. With a congregation of our size, it can be difficult to replicate the sense of deep community found in smaller neighborhood churches. That said, there are many ways in which members find their niche in the life of the church. Among these are our music groups, Sunday school classes, and committees, each a sub-culture within our congregation. I have been a life-long member of this congregation. Many of the milestones of my childhood were marked by the seasons of children’s ministry and later UMYF and our mission trips. Returning home after graduating from college, I found myself without a specific place. Asbury First was still my home and still warm and welcoming, but for the first time in my life I had nowhere to go on a Sunday morning. I recognized many faces in the gathering space, but there were many more I did not. At the same time, my fiancée, Ellen, started attending Asbury First regularly and faced the challenge of navigating this unfamiliar space as a new member. I think this unfamiliarity is true for many of us; once we have found our group it can be hard to branch out and make new connections within the broader congregation. Caught in this transition, Ellen and I decided to join one of the new Discipleship Groups being piloted this year.

Ellen has had a similar experience: “As a new member of Asbury First, it has been very important for me to attend Discipleship Groups. The meetings were a great way to meet new friends and discuss important challenges that we all face, and ways in which God works through each situation. On multiple occasions, I have gone away with new energy and encouragement that has allowed me to finish the week strong. In such a large congregation, it is essential to form personal relationships and find fellowship. Already I am seeing a difference in how many familiar faces I see on Sunday mornings. I am excited to continue to be a part of the small group ministry.” Looking ahead, the importance of these groups is that they restart. As more people get involved, the small group ministry will weave the congregation together deepening our connections beyond Sunday morning.

This initiative brought together members from across the congregation to commit to an eight-week facilitated discussion 9

Community News Kindness Rocks! Update by Tiffany Reinson

Last year, Asbury First embraced the Kindness Rocks Project (KRP). Its goal is to inspire others toward random acts of kindness – anywhere in the world. Some of the painted rocks have traveled farther than others. So far, some of the rocks have made their way as far north as Niagara Falls and as far as south as Cozemel, Mexico. You can search to see where the rocks are finding new homes on social media by using the #asburyrocs hashtag. Tippett Reinson, who turned 11 in March, led the effort to spread the rocks wherever he could, including Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon. “To see where the rocks travel has been very interesting,” said Tippett. “I keep expecting to see them in other far away places, but seeing them here in Rochester is great too. We all can use a little kindness."

Music at Asbury First Eight years ago, Dr. William Weinert accepted a two-year position as the Director of Music at Asbury First. We have been blessed to have him faithfully lending his gifts and graces to our music and worship for much longer than he originally anticipated. However, given his new grandchild in Kentucky and the commitments of his full-time position at The Eastman School of Music, Bill has decided to step down as the Director of Music at Asbury First effective August 5. We are deeply grateful for Bill’s faithful service and wish him well. Music has long been an important part of the life and spirit of Asbury First and we long to continue in that tradition. Following the Worship and Arts strategic plan, we intend to return to a full-time Director of Music. In order to accomplish this, we will need to overcome at least two challenges. First, we need to find the funding necessary to move from our current part-time position to a fulltime position capable of attracting the kind of talent Asbury First deserves. Second, we will need to find the right person for this position. Neither challenge will be easy, but we believe that we can successfully meet both. In consultation with the SPRC, the Worship and Arts Work Area, the Music area, and the lay and pastoral leadership, we are forming a search team to meet these challenges. However, we do not anticipate that they will complete their work in time for the fall. As such, we plan to hire an Interim Director of the Sanctuary Choir while our search for the full-time Director of Music is concluded. As we have more details about the search as well as the ways we plan to honor Bill’s faithful service, we will share them with the congregation. Together, we will continue to honor the rich musical tradition of Asbury First.

Community News New Look...Same Asbury First!

As we began exploring a refreshed look, we enlisted the help of a local graphic designer who has experience working with churches. We went through months of exploration with our Communications Team, Dream Team, ministers, and staff. We are calling this logo a “refreshed design” because it has visual ties to the past logo while still using new-to-us color shades and a design that has an open and growing feel to it.

The goals listed below are all from the Dreamscape, assigned to the Communications Team here at Asbury First, made up of our Communications Committee (led by Danyelle Hildreth) and our staff members Jamie Least (Communications Coordinator) and Morgan Dornsife (Director of Development & Communications). In light of our new mission statement, new vision for our future, newly articulated values and goals, the Communications Team believe it is time for a refreshed look and feel to our visual "branding" here at Asbury First. Our first step in achieving these goals is to ensure our look creates a tie from our past to the future ahead, and resonates with all our audiences—both internal and external.

We will slowly begin to update our materials to reflect this new design, with the guidance of the Communications Team. We hope you will enjoy seeing the updated pieces as they come and look forward to the new ways we will be able to resonate with our visitors, guests, and outside community!

DREAMSCAPE GOAL 3.1

DREAMSCAPE GOAL 3.3

DREAMSCAPE GOAL 5.2

All who desire one have a place within the Asbury First community beyond worship

Information is communicated effectively to all audiences inside and outside our community

We grow our faith through the celebration of life’s rites of passage together

We are Faithfully Expanding our Sunday Streaming Technology! Join a matching donor and give to upgrade our HD streaming technology

As we look to new ways to engage our online community, we have an exciting opportunity to upgrade to HD technology for our streaming ministry. This project costs $20,000. Thankfully, we have a matching donor who has committed $10,000 if we can raise the other half of the funds. An additional $6,000 has already been committed, which means we are $4,000 away from funding this project. Now, we need your help! Please join us and give to the HD upgrade by visiting bit.ly/AFUMC_HD and designating your gift to “HD upgrade”. Together, we will continue to faithfully grow and expand this important ministry tool.

Better Together Campaign AN UPDATE ON OUR CAMPAIGN STRATEGY We still remain overwhelmed and grateful at how quickly we were able to secure pledges for almost half of the campaignâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal in just a few short months. At this point in the campaign, the Capital Campaign Committee had estimated we would have secured $1,700,000 in pledged dollars. What an incredible time to be a part of the story of Asbury First. When the Capital Campaign Committee shared the $6,240,000 goal, that figure includes estimated costs of contingencies and financing. For 2018, we budgeted having $272,000 available in fulfilled pledges, which helped us estimate financing costs for 2018â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s construction. At the end of 2018, we will have received $1,400,000 in fulfilled pledges, of which more than half is in hand presently. This is such positive news because it represents a savings of $75,000 in financing costs. The more cash we have in hand, the less we spend on financing costs as we borrow against pledges. Additionally, the Trustees have just secured a line of credit with Canandaigua National Bank with an interest rate lower than what was previously estimated. This represents a savings to our costs of $25,000! As the Better Together campaign continues through 2018, the Capital Campaign Committee is working diligently on the following key strategies:

PLEDGES

GRANTS

There are many individuals and families who are still prayerfully considering their pledge to the capital portion of this campaign. The Capital Campaign Committee is excited for the opportunities that still exist, and we will continue to visit with those individuals and families who have yet to make a pledge.

While there is no guarantee for grant funding, our campaign is structured in a way that widens our opportunities to pursue grant funding. We have worked to research and identify potential grants and are beginning to implement our grant writing strategy for the year ahead.

MINI-CAMPAIGN

This spring, we will launch a mini-campaign centered around the Outreach Terrace Renovation, a project that fully renovates the outside entrance to the new Outreach Center for $75,000. This initiative will create new ways for people to give to the campaign, as well as invite those who might be new to making a commitment.

PROJECT PROGRESS: $3,079,278 12

Better Together Campaign WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THIS YEAR? The Building Committee, under the leadership of Chuck Hanrahan, has been working to prepare for construction of funded campaign projects. The exterior design and footprint of the 1010 addition was presented to the Preservation Board and met with conceptual approval. We will seek final approval and a "Certificate of Appropriateness" at a future meeting pending a site plan review by the Planning Department. The Building Committee has spent time with the Dining and Caring Center, Storehouse, and URWell teams to finalize plans for the 1010 renovations. John Page, from Bero Architecture, has heard each request, and has helped us understand how we can best utilize the space while protecting the architecture of the building. For example, Storehouse volunteers recommended we consider a larger donation receptacle that is able to hold all of the donations from a weekend. John designed a donation drop-off building that matches the architecture of 1010 and is large enough for a door so volunteers can do some preliminary sorting in the building. Here are the latest updates on construction projects and timelines!

Front Steps: The contract for the exterior steps of the Sanctuary (Building 1040) has been signed. Shop drawings are being made for the stone. We hope that the work will begin on the steps in April, depending on the weather.

Boiler: The boiler project has timing constraints because the work can only be done in the summer months when we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need heat. In consultation with the HVAC engineers, a timeline has been put together which allows for design completion, bid packages, and other materials to be completed in 2018 for a May 2019 construction start.

Outreach Center: We are currently in the Design and Development phase, as we work to plan all of the mechanical, HVAC, electrical, and other aspects of the project. We hope to have a bid package together in the next couple of months. We are currently on track to start construction in late Fall 2018, with completion date of estimated for June 2019.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN?

READY TO SUBMIT YOUR PLEDGE CARD? Visit our website at asburyfirst.org/bettertogether Email us at bettertogether@asburyfirst.org Stop in the Welcome Hall and pick up a brochure

PROJECT PLEDGING GOAL: $6,240,000 13 13

Children's Ministry News Children's Musical: The Lost Boy on May 6 On May 6, our children, ages PreK through 5th grade, will present the musical, The Lost Boy, a story from Luke 2:39-52 of Mary and Joseph losing track of their twelve year-old son for three long days. When they finally find him, he is sitting in his “Father’s house,” demonstrating with his questions a precocious understanding of God that confounds even the teachers of the law. Within the musical is a reassuringly human message: even parents chosen by God can lose a child; even a perfect child can give his parents anxiety. The message is sure to comfort anyone who has ever been a parent, a child, or even those who have misplaced Jesus for a while.

Children's Sunday is May 6 May 6th is a very special Sunday at Asbury First. The children will be leading us in worship in both the 8:30 and the 11am services. They will present the musical The Lost Boy. They have been working really hard during rehearsal to ensure a great performance. This is a Sunday you won’t want to miss!

Join Us at the Church Wide Carnival on June 3! Mark your calendars! Our annual church wide carnival is June 3rd following the 10 am worship service. Come one come all to a fun event on the Granger lawn. We will have a hot dog roast, inflatables, pie eating contest, and much more. This event is a great way to celebrate the beginning of Summer with each other!

Save the Dates for

VBS at Asbury First! When: August 6-9, 2018 | 9 am-12:30 pm Where: Asbury First United Methodist Church, 1050 East Ave. Who: Children ages 4-5th grade Cost: $15/child ($40 max/family) Register: asburyfirst.org Our message for kids is one of kindness, inclusion, and most importantly... FUN!

Advent Youth&Ministry Seasonal News News Sunday, June 3 is Youth Sunday Join us on the front lawn at 8:30 or in the sanctuary at 11 am to hear a message of hope and encouragement from our youth!

Souper Bowl and Pie for Pi Reflection: Thank You! The youth of Asbury First want to thank everyone for helping to make our Souper Bowl and Pie for Pi Fundraisers a wonderful success again this year. With your help, we are able to provide more affordable opportunities of mission and service for our youth. This year, our senior high youth have decided to work with Reach Beyond Mission and travel to the Houston area to help with the continued clean-up and relief efforts of Hurricane Harvey. Our junior high youth will once again be helping out with our Asbury First Vacation Bible School and volunteering with various agencies in the Rochester area, before heading out to an overnight in Toronto, Canada. In addition to these annual service trips, our youth have committed one youth group each month to missions and service. Some of the highlights from this year have been partnering with Hope Lodge, the Rochester deaf refugee population, and the Islamic Center. All of these programs are possible and continually improved upon thanks to your support. Thank you!

Youth Ministry News Celebrate the Spring 2018 Confirmands of Asbury First

On Sunday, May 20, we are excited to celebrate the confirmation of 15 of our youth. Confirmation is a rite of passage in The United Methodist Church where [traditionally] youth are able to confirm for themselves the vows that were often taken on their behalf in baptism. And while confirmation is not a sacrament, we do highly regard this faithful milestone. It is in confirmation that these youth are transitioning from simply following their familial faith, to truly embracing it as their own. In preparation for this, these confirmands spent a year in fellowship and conversation with each other, with the Asbury First community, and with the other religious communities across our Rochester neighborhood. In learning about and experiencing worship and prayer in Episcopal churches, in Buddhist temples, and in the Islamic Center, we are better able to understand some of the nuances and practices of our own United Methodist traditions. We are excited that the following youth have elected to confirm their faith and become full members of Asbury First United Methodist Church—we invite you to meet them through their bios—and their favorite memories—below, and greet them when you see them in church!

Georgia Ross Twelve Corners Middle School "Participating in Vacation Bible School. I liked VBS as a kid because I loved singing the songs, doing the crafts, playing the games and learning about God. Now, I like it because I get to have fun chaperoning and helping out with the kids."

Mackenzie Coleman Victor Junior High School "The Confirmation Retreat to the Adirondacks! The feeling I had when after hiking for several miles and feeling tired, reaching the top of Cat Mountain. The view was so beautiful."

Katie Schirrmacher Twelve Corners Middle School "Helping and serving refugees and Learning other ways of communicating and finding ways of reaching out to other people"

Kieran Palit-Lawton Calkins Road Middle School "Sitting next to my Dad in church at the age of 4 feeling that everything was so big but at the same time warm and comfortable. I look forward to growing in the Asbury First community in the years ahead."

Hailey Giordano Barker Road Middle School "It is special for me to spend my Birthday with my church family on Christmas Eve each year. I am looking forward to my first high school mission trip in July to Houston."

Scott Karpovich Calkins Road Middle SchoolPittsford "The retreat—I look forward to more of them!"

Ella Ross Twelve Corners Middle School "Performing in and watching the Christmas Eve pageant each year. I love seeing all the kids smiling and singing together. It warms my heart each year and makes me realize how lucky I am to have such an amazing church family."

Alicia Nichols Dake Jr. High School "Definitely sitting up in the balcony pews during the service and looking at all the people in the sanctuary as a kid."

Spencer Anderson Gates Chili Middle School "Waking up at 7 am at Casawasco and walking on the lake, which was frozen over (until I got told to get off by an Administrator)."

Declan Shafer Dake Jr. High School "The friends I have made in youth group!"

Finn Mahan Twelve Corners Middle School "When the youth group went to NYC for the weekend. It was so fun to get to know everyone better while having fun at the same time!"

Caroline McGraw The Harley School "Having fun in New York City on my first middle school mission trip"

Morgan Long Victor Junior High School "Being with youth group friends on trips, especially our confirmation retreat to Sky Farm in the Adirondacks and last year's middle school trip to NYC."

Library & Reading News April/May 2018

Every season, including spring, is reading time and we have just the book for you in the Church library collection, right off the church gathering space—not only nearby, but loaned to you for free. The following books come recommended by avid readers and notable organizations. Give them a try and let us know what you think. Sensible Shoes: A Story about the Spiritual Journey by Sharon Garlough Brown. This is the first in a series of 4 novels built around a group of very different women who become friends after meeting at a spiritual retreat center. The second book is titled Two Steps Forward: A Story of Persevering in Hope and the third book is titled Barefoot: A Story of Surrendering to God. The fourth and final book, titled An Extra Mile: The Story of Embracing God’s Call, was just released in February. I loved this series and the stories of the women who, although very different in background and temperament and with different obstacles to overcome, are all searching to be the best they can be as they listen for God’s call in their lives. Recommended from the church library collection by library committee member Bonnie Kay.

Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It) by Robert D. Lupton. This groundbreaking book shows us how to start serving needy and impoverished members of our communities in a way that will lead to lasting, real-world change. Cited as essential reading for church leaders, the author Lupton has done a good job of identifying the issues and the problems of compassion as charity. This book has been selected as the church-wide read for this year and author Lupton will be at Asbury First to discuss the book on April 29. Recommended by the church outreach committee as the Asbury First church-wide read for 2018. Loaves, Fishes, and Leftovers: Sharing Faith’s Deep Questions by Ted Loder. This book comes to our library collection from the church’s Women on Wednesday group. The questions pondered in this book reflect the deep faith concerns many people experience yet find muffled by the rituals of worship, the professional roles of clergy, or the presumptions of the church. This book grew from a group discussion about questions such as: Why is there evil in the world? Does my prayer affect God's response? The story of Jesus feeding the multitude is an apt metaphor for the process the group went through: it starts with hungry people, uses the resources available, and ends with leftovers for further exploration. The book is an invitation to be honest about our deepest questions and to embrace the mysteries of faith rather than the comfort of certainties. Located in the WOW book section of the church library collection as a book read and discussed by the Women on Wednesday group.

Waking Up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving. According to the author, “As I unpack my own longheld beliefs about colorblindness, being a good person, and wanting to help people of color, I reveal how each of these well-intentioned mindsets actually perpetuated my ill-conceived ideas about race. I also explain why and how I’ve changed the way I talk about racism, work in racially mixed groups, and understand the racial justice movement as a whole. Exercises at the end of each chapter prompt readers to explore their own “racialized” ideas. Waking Up White's personal narrative is designed to work well as a rapid read, a book group book, or support reading for courses exploring racial and cultural issues.” I particularly found the exercises at the end of each chapter a great way to further my thinking of my own mindset and behavior. Recommended from the church library collection by library committee member Karen Hibbard.

I Can Make a Difference: A Treasury to Inspire Our Children by Marian Wright Edelman. The author has drawn from a variety of cultures and peoples to compile these timeless stories, poems, songs, quotations, and folktales that speak to all children to let them know that they can make a difference in today's world. The book is easily understandable by kids, and illustrated with meaningful poems, stories, and memorable art. Ways to make a difference are stated in the personal affirmative: "I can make a difference by loving myself and others as God loves us and treating others respectfully and fairly"; "I can make a difference by being courageous." Located in the children’s section of the church library collection.

Here If You Need Me: A True Story by Kate Braestrup. Kate Braestrup, her husband, Drew, and their four young children were enjoying a morning like any other. Then Drew, a Maine state trooper, left for work and everything changed. On the very roads that he patrolled each day, an oncoming driver lost control, and Kate lost her husband. "Stunned and grieving, Kate decided to pursue what had been her husband's dream and became a minister. And soon she found a most unusual calling: serving as chaplain for searchand-rescue missions in the Maine woods, giving comfort to people whose loved ones are missing and to the wardens who sometimes have to deal with dreadful outcomes. Whether with parents whose six-year-old daughter has vanished into the woods, with wardens as they search for a snowmobiler trapped under the ice, or with a man whose sister left an infant seat and a suicide note in her car by the side of the road, Braestrup provides solace, understanding, and spiritual guidance when they're needed most. Here If You Need Me recounts Kate Braestrup's journey from grief to faith to happiness. Recommended from the church library collection by library committee member Peggy Lyons.

Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen. An affectionate children's storybook tribute to that truly wonderful place: the library. Miss Merriweather, the head librarian, is very particular about rules in the library. No running allowed. And you must be quiet. But when a lion comes to the library one day, no one is sure what to do. There aren't any rules about lions in the library. And, as it turns out, this lion seems very well suited to library visiting. His big feet are quiet on the library floor. He makes a comfy backrest for the children at story hour. And he never roars in the library, at least not anymore. But when something terrible happens, the lion quickly comes to the rescue in the only way he knows how. Perfect for story time, especially for ages 4-8. 17

Advent Outreach & Seasonal NewsNews Volunteering at the Dining and Caring Center by The Rev. Jacqueline J. Nelson

Daily, our Dining Center is filled with both familiar and new faces. Whether it is a guest or a volunteer, our Dining and Caring Center has become a space where new faces are always welcomed and embraced, regardless of their connection to our church or their walk of life. You’d be surprised how many people hear about the incredible service we offer and want to get connected! Recently, I learned that there are high school students eager to get connected, too! And this February, during a Sunday meal, four high school students from Our Lady of Mercy High School, took a Sunday off from their normal routines and volunteered at the Dining Center. When I walked into the Dining room and saw them interacting with our volunteers and guests, it warmed my heart. They could have chosen to spend their Sunday in any other way, but instead they spent it with us and helped make the Dining Center a better place for the people we serve. And even better—when it was time for their shift to end, they said they wanted to come back and volunteer again soon! They connected with our Director, Michele Cooley, and joined a Sunday team so that they can become regular volunteers at our Dining and Caring Center. Isn’t that good news? I know sometimes it can feel like we aren’t making a large impact. However, when you see four high school students who are unaffiliated with our church, take time out of their day to connect with us in this way, we are reminded of our reach! To Michele Cooley and all of our Sunday volunteers, thank you for making this experience worthwhile! And a special thank you to Emily Cady, for making the initial connection! This enthusiasm, attentiveness, and support has made four bright young women excited to come back and experience this space again! Well done!

The Last Word Nicaragua Mission Reflections by The Rev. Jacqueline J. Nelson

In January and February, two teams journeyed to Nicaragua to continue building relationships with the people of Project Chacocente and the villagers living along the Bocay River. These two separate, yet connected experiences, allowed each of us an opportunity to cultivate hope and fullness of life in both Chacocente and Kayaskita. Physicians, dentists, nurses, dental and nursing students, ministers, youth, young adults and members of Asbury First worked alongside Nicaraguans to prepare Chacocente Christian School for the first week of classes, and to bring better medical care and public health, access to clean water, education, and Christian ministry to remote and scattered villages that are home to about 7,000 people. The two weeks combined included cement mixing, painting, brick assembling, medical and dental clinics, basic medical training classes, youth leadership classes, children’s ministry events, various construction jobs and fellowship with the families. At Chacocente Christian School, members and friends of Asbury First worked diligently to continue work on the School Chapel which had begun two years prior by members of our church. Working alongside Nicaraguans enabled us to learn firsthand how to effectively work together to complete the various tasks at hand. As we sifted and mixed cement, dug and carried dirt, & transported and assembled bricks, we learned what it means to literally put your hands to the plow. Beyond the physical labor and the success of painting the entire campus in preparation for the first day of school, friendships were strengthened and cultivated in ways that only an experience abroad can facilitate. Along the medical mission, Drs. Bruce Thompson and Larry Gage, and Chris Shade, Nurse Practitioner, also from the Genesee Valley Conference, continued a program of training for community health workers, known as “Brigadistas,” and midwives, or “Parteras.” The program comprised lectures, group discussions and the closely supervised practice of essential skills such as taking vital signs. As villagers commonly live 3-6 hours on foot and by boat from the nearest healthcare facility, training focuses on prevention of illness and the early recognition of developing emergencies that require prompt transport of patients to a higher level of care. During 3 clinic days held at 3 different villages along the “Rio Bocay,” Brigadistas, paired with healthcare providers, were able to develop their skills. Robyn Gage was our pharmacist, and Mackenzie Strong proved a capable pharmacy assistant as well as youth leader, children’s minister and animal right’s advocate! Throughout this experience, Robyn Gage reminded team members of the reality: “It truly takes years to build a church.” Interestingly enough, there is more to this statement than just the physical building that so many of you have invested in. We’ve also built a community, a fellowship, and a family; and we all know that beyond the structure and physical space that’s what church is truly about. Almost anyone you ask who had the opportunity to attend will tell you, “these families truly have a special place in my heart; I think about them every day.” And that is because the love of God that connects us reminds us daily that we are connected to something bigger than ourselves - There is a joy shared between all of us simply because we have friends in far places, family in our hearts, and a love that will keep us connected for years to come. 19

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SAVE THE DATE

Robert Lupton, Author of Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How To Reverse It)

Leads a Worshop on April 29