TheVisitor Capital Campaign News Asbury First United Methodist Church Newsletter February/March 2018 • Vol. M No. 9 • www.asburyfirst.org
IN THIS ISSUE A Pastoral Reflection 3 Lent & Seasonal News 4 Community News 6 Outreach News 15
Better Together Campaign 18 Get In The Loop 21 Library & Reading News 22 The Last Word 23
MISSION STATEMENT
The Visitor Vol. M No. 9
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: Glenn Peck, Christmas Eve, 2017
Please send all submissions, questions, comments, or concerns to communications@asburyfirst.org or 585-271-1050, x109. Deadline for submitting content for the April/May issue: March 5
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 The Year of the Volunteer | The Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady II One of our bolder goals from the Dreamscape deals with time. Goal 6.1 states our desire that “All members of our community volunteer in some way (either within our Asbury First community or outside of our community).” The only way for us to bring this goal to life is by each of us committing to live it. Membership at Asbury First means supporting each other with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness. Among other things, this means time. As this year begins, we ask that you consider how you might give of your time. If not here at the church, then somewhere that might make an impact.
Asbury First had a great 2017. We passed the Dreamscape (our new strategic plan) with its clarification of our mission, vision, values, and goals. We realized the dream of having a full time minister for outreach on our pastoral team. We overwhelmingly approved the Ministry and Space Task Force recommendations and, as if that were not enough, we launched a Capital Campaign. Each of those successes came only by the grace of God and through the hard work of many volunteers who built upon the work of those who came before them. This next year will be no different.
Make no mistake, we could use your help here. Every day there are places for volunteers to participate meaningfully within the mission and ministry of Asbury First. We would invite you to try one out, see if it works for you. Volunteer at the Dining and Caring Center, the Storehouse, the UR Well Clinic, School 17, or RAIHN. Work with our Altar Guild, set up the Labyrinth, complete projects with a work crew. Help us organize the library, teach a class, plan for the future, order the life of the church. The possibilities are only limited by our ability to work together to do more good. Fortunately, we have years of practice.
Although 2018 is still new and our successes have yet to be realized, we know how we will achieve them—together. The beauty of a community of faith is people working together toward common goals trusting in the grace of God and sure of our responsibility to one another. How else can we understand the growing number of people served by our outreach ministries? How else can we explain that just three months after officially launching our capital campaign, we are halfway to our goal? How else can we describe the excitement of the children and youth ministries? We have had great successes in the past and pray for them in our future, but let us not rest on our laurels.
We never know what a year is going to bring, but by the grace of God, we can make 2018 a great one together. Grace and peace, Stephen
worship schedule Worship
8:30 am Traditional Worship
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE TIMES 10 am Chancel Worship with Holy Communion
11 am Traditional Worship
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 The Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady II, Preacher
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18 1st Sunday of Lent Genesis 9:8-17 The Rev. Mike Mullin, Preacher
SUNDAY, MARCH 11 Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:14-21 The Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady II, Preacher
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Mark 9:2-9 The Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady II, Preacher
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Genesis 17:1-17 The Rev. Jackie Nelson, Preacher
SUNDAY, MARCH 18 Hebrews 5:5-10 The Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady II, Preacher
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Ash Wednesday, 7 pm
SUNDAY, MARCH 4 John 2:13-22 The Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady II, Preacher 3
SUNDAY, MARCH 25 Mark 11:1-11 The Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady II, Preacher
Lent & Seasonal News Looking Ahead to Lent and Easter Z Labyrinth Wednesdays During Lent 5-7 pm
Z Good Friday Friday, March 30 6 am-Informal Holy Communion: 6 am with the Men's Prayer Group. 12 pm-Holy Weekthemed art and music by Voices Chamber Choir. A beloved Asbury First tradition. 6-7:30 pm-A comewhen-you-wish childfriendly event with communion, a labyrinth walk, and prayer stations.
Z Contemplative Service of Worship (Formerly Known As TaizÊ) Wednesdays During Lent 6:15-7 pm Z Ash Wednesday Wednesday, February 14 7 pm-We begin the holy season of Lent with a service that reminds us of our humanity and our reliance on the gift of God’s grace. This service will include communion and the imposition of ashes.
Z Easter Sunday Sunday, April 1 6:30 am-Held at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, 1100 Goodman Street, 14620. 8:30 am-Traditional service 10 am-A brief service of communion 11 am-Traditional service
Z Maundy Thursday Thursday, March 29 6:30 pm-Sanctuary open for silent meditation. 7 pm-Living tableaus of scenes from the life of Christ will be presented in the chancel. 7:30 pm-Worship begins with communion and a candlelight re-enactment of Christ's last night, ending with the placement of the cross on the East Avenue lawn by our Christ-figure. 4
Advent Lent &&Seasonal SeasonalNews News
Please return this form to the church office, Attention: Beverly Schuman, no later than March 18. Please include your donation. Checks should be payable to Asbury First UMC Altar Guild. Thank you!
Easter Hospitality at Asbury First As we prepare for and celebrate Holy Week, there will be many visitors to our church who have never stepped through our doors before. The members of Asbury First have always extended their hands in friendship to those who are new, and we want to ask you to continue this tradition this Easter season and take an extra moment when you are on campus to greet and welcome any new faces you see. This is especially true for Easter morning itself, when hundreds of first-time visitors will attend our services. They may be nervous about being in a new, unfamiliar place, or they may have questions that you can answer for them. Please join with us in helping to turn strangers into friends, and in making our services comfortable and welcoming for all. Thank you!
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Community News Reflecting Back on Christmas Christmas Eve is a magical time of hope and wonder. Our community gathered to remember the awesome splendor of angels as they greeted Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Zechariah and the shepherds. We heard beautiful music played on organ, harp and violin; we listened to our soloists and choir sing new anthems and old favorites. We joined our voices together in hymns rejoicing in the birth of Jesus. Christmas Eve is a time when young and old, familiar and new, family and friends, walk through our clear-glass doors and our big red wooden doors. Each person was warmly greeted, each person was treated as an honored guest. We shared food together around the tables at lunchtime and at suppertime. Laughter rang out as stories were shared and friendships were formed. Christmas Eve is a time to remember the precious gift of God. God who loves us gave Jesus Christ to the world to show us a new way to love each other, and a new way to love God. Jesus arrived in the form of a baby—fragile perhaps because of his size, but grand and mighty in his Spirit! Jesus was sent to this world that we may all have life and have it abundantly. When we need the reassurance of this gift, we can picture the candlelight which illuminated our sanctuary and gives us continued hope that Christ’s Light will always shine in any darkness. Christmas Eve at Asbury First is always a time to be together as a loving people of God. We do not always know what will happen—a yoyo in Children’s Time, a donkey accompanying Mary and Joseph up the aisle - but we do always know that we are better together, whatever we do. We thank all of those who were a part of this sacred, holy day, all who volunteered their time, all staff persons, all who pitched in to help at the last minute, all who watched via live stream, listened on the radio, filled the pews. We are connected by the love of God, over the airwaves, and face-to-face. May the love of God and the peace of Christ comfort and surround you from Christmas Eve 2017 until Christmas Eve 2018. And we do hope we see you in between! -The Rev. Kathy Thiel
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Advent Community & Seasonal News News
The season of Advent for a child is a season of waiting and wondering. At Asbury First, the children were busy. They spent a Saturday decorating our beautiful church. They worked hard in rehearsals for our Christmas pageant, and then had a magical evening in their PJs, preforming around the Christmas tree. The season of waiting and wondering ended on Christmas Eve as the snow gently fell on the church and the children brought the christmas story to life. Every angel and shepherd shared the joy of this precious story. Mary and Joseph arrived to the stable with a sweet donkey named Petey. The pageant ended with all 55 elementary-aged children singing with true joy and love. It was a Merry Christmas! -Paula Dugan, Children's Ministry Director
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Community News Our Living Deaths – We offer our prayers and sympathy to … Lynn and Glenn Peck on the death of Lynn’s mother, Margaret Haltiwanger, on October 10 in Wilmington, NC. Dave and Shirley Petherbridge on the death of Dave’s brother William Petherbridge on October 20, 2017. Julie and Bob Ball on the death of Julie’s sister, Janis Barnes, on November 2, 2017. The family and friends of Virginia Cadle who died on November 5, 2017. Mike and Nadia Mullin and family on the death of Mike’s grandmother, Helen Mullin, on November 8, 2017. The family and friends of Ruth Thornton who died on November 9, 2017. The family and friends of Jim Leary who died on November 13, 2017.
in Community Kathi and Greg Johnson on the death of Kathi’s brother Brian Maxim on December 1, 2017. The family and friends of Janet LaVerne Judge who died on December 3, 2017. Katie Mawn and family on the death of her Grandmother, Joyce Mawn on November 18, 2017. Marian and Dan Gottler on the death of Marian's sister, Lois Buczek who died on December 11, 2017. Carol Kramer and Ron Stallworth and family on the death of Carol’s father, James Kramer, Sr., who died on December 22, 2017. Marriages – We celebrate the marriage of … Hannah Chute and Daniel Breslawski were married on October 22, 2017.
Baptisms – We celebrate the baptisms of … Vivienne James Grow, son of Nicholas and Jennifer Grow, baptized on Noveber 26, 2017. Gabriel Aurelius Allen, son of Justin and Kathryn Allen, baptized on November 26, 2017. Bryson Michael Codd, son of Matthew and April Codd, baptized on December 17, 2017 Births – We celebrate the births of … Fiona Adelaide McClenachan, daughter of Brendan and Laura McClenachan, born on October 4, 2017. Eileen Atwell is the proud grandmother. Emma Irene Parkes, daughter of Michael and Kristin Parkes, born on November 4, 2017. James Harold Nichol, son of John and Annie Nichol, born on December 26, 2017.
Welcome The Newest Members of Asbury First!
Wendy Kidder
Peter Owh
Lyssa LaCount
Kate Cross
Ann Vitale
Dana Abramson
Cristy and Robert Peck
Bruce Wright
Annie and John Nichol
Anna Vitale
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Community News Women on Wednesday (WOW) Winter Reading Stop by any Wednesday to join the discussion from 12-1 pm in Building 1010 The WOW book club is spending their winter reading Thank You For Being Late by Thomas Friedman. Picador Publishing summarized this interesting book: "We all sense it—something big is going on. You feel it in your workplace. You feel it when you talk to your kids. You can’t miss it when you read the newspapers or watch the news. Our lives are being transformed in so many realms all at once—and it is dizzying." In Thank You for Being Late, version 2.0, with a new afterword, Thomas L. Friedman exposes the tectonic movements that are reshaping the world today and explains how to get the most out of them and cushion their worst impacts. His thesis: to understand the twentyfirst century, you need to understand that the planet’s three largest forces—Moore’s law (technology), the Market (globalization), and Mother Nature (climate change and biodiversity loss)—are accelerating all at once. These accelerations are transforming five key realms: the workplace, politics, geopolitics, ethics, and community. With his trademark vitality, wit, and optimism, Friedman shows that we can overcome the multiple stresses of an age of accelerations—if we slow down, if we dare to be late and use the time to reimagine work, politics, and community. Thank You for Being Late is an essential guide to the present and the future.
Pie for Pi Day Sale
Kids Pretzel Sunday is March 11!
Sunday, March 11
Let’s celebrate 41 years of pretzel making and eating on this Pretzel Sunday, March 11th from 9:45-noon. All children are invited to explore faith-based stations about Lent, and make yummy pretzels. It has always been an annual highlight for the children!
The youth will be making and selling pies and pie-themed potholders before and after the services on March 11 in honor of Pi Day (Pie Day, traditionally held on March 14, celebrates the number “pi,” or 3.14). Full-sized pies will be $10 with 100% of the sales going to support our Asbury First Youth Mission trips.
Contemplative Service of Worship Formerly Known as Taizé Wednesdays During Lent 6:15-7 pm
Walk the Labyrinth Second Wednesday of Each Month, Plus All Wednesdays of Lent | 5-7 pm Walking the labyrinth is an ancient practice that offers you a space for reflection and peaceful prayer. Our beautiful labyrinth is located in Fellowship Hall. Stewards are always on duty to answer your questions.
From the very beginnings of the history of our Christian tradition, the season of Lent has been observed in order to prepare Christians for Easter and the feast of the resurrection of Christ. Here at Asbury First, one of the ways we come together as a church to observe Lent is through our weekly Contemplative Service of Worship. We invite you to join us on Wednesday evenings at 6:15 pm to experience worship through meditative hymns, Holy Communion, and stations throughout our sanctuary for guided personal reflection. In previous years, we have called this our Taizé Service. If you have any questions, please contact The Rev. Kathy Thiel at kthiel@asburyfirst.org or (585) 271-1050 x106. 9
Community News Two Asbury First Teams Volunteer in Nicaragua Please keep our mission teams in your daily prayers!
Project Chacocente Team: From January 29 through February 5, thirteen Asbury First members and two guests will join a team from San Dieguito UMC in California to work alongside the people of Chacocente in Masaya, Nicaragua. We will continue construction on the church, help prepare the Chacocente Christian School campus for the school’s opening and continue to build relationships with the people of the Project and the surrounding area. At the end of the week, we’ll save some time for a little sightseeing and much needed relaxation. To learn more about Project Chacocente, please visit www.outofthedump.org or the Friends of Project Chacocente page on Facebook. Rio Bocay: From February 9 through 17, four Asbury First members will be Chacocente Christian School part of a team of thirty North Americans and Nicaraguans traveling to serve offers computer classes for all the villagers living alongside the Bocay River in northern Nicaragua. We will grades. They rely solely on ride a bus until the road ends and then board canoes for the rest of the journey. Full time missionaries, Ronnie and Angi Hopkins, are dedicated to empowering donated used laptops. the people of this area as they improve their living conditions. Physicians, Angi Hopkins offers a hug nurses, dentists, teachers, artists, and translators will provide medical care, teach basic healthcare to local at one of the medical clinics providers, organize art and Bible classes and help with construction projects. The end of the week will find us in northern Nicaragua. tired and grateful for the time to relax. To learn more about the work being done on the Rio Bocay visit AOE Acts 1:8 on Facebook.
Afterschool Respite Program to Share Our Space
Genesee Valley District Office Returning to Our Campus
Guided by our Mission, Values, and Vision, our Church Council approved our sharing some of our spaces with Epilepsy-Pralid, Inc., whose mission is to be a successful partner to all individuals with developmental or acquired brain conditions as they strive to remove barriers to their personal fulfillments.
The Office of the District Superintendent of the Genesee Valley will be relocating to the Asbury First campus in February. Room 200 in the Education Wing, currently a class/ meeting room, is being converted to an office suite for the District Superintendent and Administrative Assistant. Room 206 in the Education Wing, currently used as a storage room by Asbury Day Care, is being converted back to a class/meeting room. As a result, there is no loss of classroom or meeting space with this move.
Their Afterschool Respite Program that supports 12-20 children on any given day, moved to Asbury First the week of January 15th. The program, funded by the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities will use our Youth Room and some of our nearby rooms weekdays 2-7 pm, Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, and weekdays 9 am-5 pm during school breaks and a few weeks in early and late summer.
We very much appreciate the creativity and hard work of Rick Kuempel, Scott Ross, Ernie Dankert, Ken Carr, Asbury Day Care staff, and others who have worked to create storage space for the Day Care in the basement level and designing and creating an office suite on the 2nd floor. Thank you, too, to the Parables of Parenting class, who have been moved to Fellowship Hall until Room 206 is ready for occupancy.
We are looking forward to working with and welcoming the staff, children and youth of this program. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact David Strong, Church Administrator.
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Community News Wednesday Evening Group Studies
Wednesdays 6-7 pm in Building 1040, Room 202
Each month, a minister will offer a new study. See topics & descriptions below! Childcare is provided for class time, and please feel free to join us at our Community Dinner at 5:30 pm in the Gathering Center. February Bridging the Gap: Exploring Injustice in Rochester and Beyond... Come join us as we learn about the history of oppression in the United States. We will unpack white privilege, systemic racism, and environmental injustice to better understand what we are called to do as Christ-followers in this deeply divided nation. Facilitators: The Rev. Jacqueline Nelson, Pamela Dayton, & Brennon Thompson
March People of Faith & The Gift of Prayer During the Wednesday evenings in the Season of Lent, please join us for an exploration of the ancient biblical and theological understandings of prayer and to explore these understandings and implications for our own prayer life. This will be an opportunity to discover new practices of prayer and deepen our own prayer life. Facilitator: Rev. Susan Shafer
April Balancing Justice & Mercy During this class, we will tackle what it means to be faithful to our mission while addressing the realities of poverty in this community. We will also look carefully at the long-term viability and effectiveness of our ministries. Following this series, Robert Lupton (author of "Toxic Charity") will be visiting Asbury First during the month of April to offer a presentation on his book. Facilitator: The Rev. Jacqueline Nelson
May Christ on the Psych Ward: Meds as a Means of Grace We invite you to come and learn how we, as people of faith, can be advocates for people living with mental illness and bring about systemic societal change in regards to mental health. We will start our study with a visit from David Finnegan-Hosey, author of "Christ on the Psych Ward." Facilitator: Ian Urriola Questions? Contact The Rev. Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org
Discipleship Groups at Asbury First Are Happening Now! Get Involved This Season
Asbury First has officially launched our new Discipleship Group ministry! We currently have five groups meeting throughout the week practicing Christian conversation and growing in love with God and with one another. These groups have been meeting all over the Rochester area throughout the week. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the divisiveness across society and are looking for a way to respond in faith and love, mark your calendars for our next kickoff on March 14 at 7 pm. Reach out to Ian Urriola, one of our ministry interns, at iurriola@asburyfirst.org or (585) 271-1050 x134 for more information. We hope to see you there!
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Community News Mini VBS Introduces Olympic Teamwork Camp! Please join us February 20, 21, and 22 for olympic size fun at Olympic Teamwork Camp. We will meet each morning from 9am till noon. During the week the children will be learning about teamwork while playing olympic themed games. We will also explore what the Bible has to say about teamwork. This camp is open to everyone ages 4 through 5th grade. There is no cost. For more information contact Paula Dugan at (585) 271-1050 x111 or pdugan@asburyfirst.org. Please return this form to the Welcome Desk, or to the church office during business hours. You may also register online at www.asburyfirst.org/get-involved/children-youth Child’s Name
Child’s Age
Allergies
Parent/Guardian Information Name: Address: Best phone # during VBS hours: Email:
Medical information Please list any special instructions or conditions VBS volunteers should be aware of: Emergency contact Phone # Relationship In the event of an emergency, I do hereby give consent to Asbury First UMC to administer the necessary medical treatment. Signature of parent/guardian: Date Please list the people who have the permission to pick up your child(ren): Would you like to be a VBS Volunteer? YES NO If yes, what is your area of interest?
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Community News Looking Forward to Summer Camp Fun! by The Rev. Mike Mullin
The Upper New York Conference of The United Methodist Church has 5 different camps across New York State. One of the favorites for Asbury First continues to be Camp Casowasco. Each summer, Casowasco offers a great myriad of summer camp opportunities for children and youth that offer something for the “glampers,” as well as those that want to have a more rustic camping experience. I even had the opportunity to take my son Caleb (4 years old) on the four day father-son campout last August (they also offer mother-daughter and family camp options at this same time). So, whether you are young in age, or young at heart (there was one grandfather at the father-son camp) there are great ways to connect with God and experience something new at camp. Below are some first hand accounts of the thriving ministries offered by Camp Casowasco. For more information, feel free to talk to any of the individuals quoted below, and/or pick up one of the summer camp brochures from the church.
Kaleigh ( new
friend), G eorgia an d Ella Ro ss
"I love Casowasco because they have great food. They also have a rock event called the chapel. You go swimming twice a day, for as long as you want. Casowasco is a great way to spend the summer!” -Charlie Cady, age 9
Off the Blob Ella Ross Flying
"When I first signed up for Casowasco Summer Camp I was, honestly, a little nervous. I had never been to a sleep-away camp, so I wasn’t sure how it would go. But, when I got there, I found out I had nothing to be nervous about. All the staff were extremely nice and there was no confusion at all. It was a smooth ride. After we said goodbye to our parents, the fun began. Within the first few hours, when we were eating and worshiping, we had already made a friend. Her name was Kaleigh and she was super nice and so much fun. It was like we were destined to meet each other. We became so close. Throughout the week, we did so many fun activities, including swimming, challenge courses and an AWESOME worship service. It was exhausting and thrilling and what made it even better was that there were no electronics to get distracted by. Everyone treated us like we had known each other our whole lives and the sense of community there was awesome. It was nice to know that this was a safe place to talk about God because when I am at school I am not sure how much to say about my faith. One of my favorite parts was when my camp counselor, Grace, would sing us a song with her guitar every night before bed. It amazed me that I could make so many friends in just one week. The final day at camp was really sad, but I stayed in touch with all of my friends and hope to see them next year" -Georgia Ross, age 13 “I love Casowasco. There are so many great things about it! But if I had to choose my top 3 favorite things about it, they would be swimming, the food, and the friends that you meet! One reason I would choose swimming is that when you are swimming, it isn't just like plain old swimming and having nothing to do in the water. There are huge floats that are bolted to the bottom of the lake and you get to go on them. Some of them are meant for lounging while others are big huge slides! The food is amazing, the cooks must have magical powers and that's the truth! On the first night we always have pizza and chicken wings and they are so good! Also, for lunch and dinner we always have dessert! The last thing is meeting new friends, you are paired up with a bunch of kids in your cabin that you will always remember! And you can get their addresses and write notes to them! No matter who you are, you will always find a new friend at camp Casowasco! This is why I love camp Casowasco very much, and I encourage you to try it out too!” -Ellie Cady, age 10
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Community News Looking Forward to Summer Camp Fun Continued... "Last summer my sister and I were fortunate enough to spend a week trip at camp Casowasco. We had never been to a summer camp for a whole week away from home before so you could definitely say we were nervous. But, as soon as we went into the check-in lodge, I felt immediately welcomed from all of the counselors' smiling faces. Throughout the week I met more and more counselors and campers. I really felt comforted when I saw all the other first time campers there too. And when I still had one little butterfly left in my stomach, it quickly disapeared after I saw everyone new and realized that I wasn’t alone. After my parents left and we were getting into our lodges, I saw a girl my age who looked so friendly and I knew I had to be friends with her. She looked so happy to be there and after all the campers and counselors in my cabin played a “get to know each other game”, I found out that this was her sixth year going to camp Casowasco. She obviously knew her way around and so during breakfast the next morning she told us everything she knew about camp. From that moment forward she, my sister and I were three peas in a pod. After that I realized that everyone was so nice and accepting and I knew none of the kids there were going to judge me like the kids in school sometimes do. Camp felt so free because I could just be myself and no Georgia and E lla Ross one would judge. I feel like the best part of going to a place where you don’t know anyone yet, is that they don’t know you either. You just have to be yourself and they can really get to know you. It was especially easy to do this at camp Casowasco because it’s a church camp. When we would talk about religion and God, everyone was talking about God and everyone knew what I was talking about. So you don’t have to feel weird when you’re talking about God there because when it comes to religion, everyone there is just like you. The experiences I had there were so fun and uplifting that at the end of the week I seriously didn’t want to go back home. After so many amazingly fun things I did there like swimming and archery, and meeting new friends, how could I want to leave? During some of our activities I felt so incredibly loved by everyone that it was almost impossible to say goodbye. I made connections with so many people that I’m still in touch with now and I can’t even wait until summer when we finally get to reunite. When I was there, even though it was a new place and new people, I felt right at home." -Ella Ross, age 13
Coming Up: J.S. Bach's Mass in B Minor J.S. Bach’s masterpiece, the Mass in B Minor, will be performed on February 11 at 3 pm in the Sanctuary by Rochester’s professional chamber chorus, Voices, soloists, and chamber orchestra under the direction of Dr. William Weinert. The rarely-performed Mass in B Minor, was written by Bach over the span of more than 25 years, and completed shortly before his death in 1750. It was last heard in Rochester when Voices performed it on Bach’s 330th birthday in 2015. Voices consists of twenty-five of Western New York’s finest ensemble singers, and celebrated its twelfth season in 2017. They have presented two complete cycles of Bach’s motets, as well as his St. John and St. Matthew Passions. Recent seasons have presented music ranging over the past thousand years. Voices Music Director, Dr. William Weinert is also Director of Music at Asbury First, as well as Professor of Conducting and Director of Choral Activities at the Eastman School of Music. Members of Asbury First choirs singing in this performance will be Bess Phillips, Marcia Weinert, Dan McInerney, Dean Ekberg, and Benjamin Johns. Annette Farrington, Director of Asbury First’s Flute Choir, will play principal flute in the chamber orchestra. A freewill offering will be taken at the door, with a suggested donation of $10.
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Outreach News Looking Back: Youth Mission Night 2017 by Finn Mahan and Maddie White Every third Sunday of each month, our youth participate in mission and outreach work in many different ways. In October, we participated by making care packages for families staying at the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge. After hearing an amazing story of an experience with this from Asbury First members Ali and Jonathan Parent, all of the youth helped to bring in supplies for the baskets and write letters of encouragement to those in need of happiness. Our next big task was that we served over 150 deaf refugees, their families, and volunteers who came in from Syracuse and Rochester a delicious Thanksgiving dinner in our fellowship hall. The majority of the people were deaf but others spoke in their native languages, like Nepali and Somali. Seeing as I take American Sign Language at Rush Henrietta, it was a very interesting experience interacting with people who didn’t necessarily know English but were able to sign. The last of the mission work we have done so far is carol around to many of the senior members of our church. We traveled all around Rochester to bring peace, love, joy and Christmas spirit to all of those who are apart of our community. We split up into many different groups so we could spread out to 23 stops over the Rochester area. The groups were fairly small, but everyone’s Christmas spirit made up for it. My group happened to be going to St. John’s Meadows. My group of 4 had a blast singing Christmas songs along the way. When we got there, we went to a few different apartments of people from our church. Seeing the faces of the people after we had caroled to them made me feel like a million bucks. One group went to Webster and sang to a crowd of 30 people! In Youth Group, we have these things called God Moments, which is when we feel a strong connection to God. I had a God Moment when I caroled, and it made me realize that Christmas isn’t all about receiving, it’s about giving. Honestly, seeing someone be happy with what you have given them is the best gift of all.
"I had a God Moment when I caroled, and it made me realize that Christmas isn’t all about receiving, it’s about giving. "
If you have any questions about how to become a part of this youth group or try it out, you can contact The Rev. Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org or (585) 271-1050 x105.
What a Relief! by The Rev. Jacqueline Nelson From August to November of 2017, reports of hurricanes and other natural disasters sent many of us into a state of worry as we looked through video and photo footage of the devastation some of our friends and family members endured. As we continued to pray for those in need, we also began to seek a call to action. We began to brainstorm about ways that we could get involved in Disaster Relief, and were delighted to hear that there were opportunities to give through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). We joined together over the course of two months hoping that we could collect enough supplies and monetary donations to make a difference. And we were successful! Because of the love, support and contributions of the amazing Asbury First family, we as a congregation were able to collect enough donations to send 48 relief buckets to those in need! Thank you, Thank you, Thank YOU! Efforts such as these involve great collaboration, time and energy, and I must especially acknowledge the team of people who worked diligently behind the scenes to make this happen! To Judy Cohen, Nancy Davidow, Deb Bullock-Smith, Ian MacDonald, our amazing property care team, and all those who stayed after church to help pack all 48 buckets, thank you! From the hours you put in to purchase additional supplies, sort all supplies, create signage for packing purposes, transport buckets to UMCOR drop-off sites, and carry materials to and from my office to Fellowship Hall, I am grateful. Asbury First, thank you for helping to positively impact the lives of our neighbors around this world! 15
Outreach News A Reflection on The Meal Ministry at Asbury First We added another piece to the pie of the Congregational Care Ministries in 2017: The Meal Ministry, a church-wide program of care through meals, for those who are in a challenging time, which makes it difficult to cook or navigate a huge grocery store. It is a complementary piece in the pie of Congregational Care Ministries. We learned a lot along the way, as we took our first steps last year. Since many of these learnings could translate to recent or future new ministries, we thought we would share what we learned: • •
• • • • • •
We learned that just as the needs of each recipient are very individual, our response to those cannot be “one size fits all”. The best care is personalized. While we provide meals to meet the needs identified by the recipient, in general we provide a variety of small frozen packages of entrees and desserts (1-2 servings), as many of us are in households of 1-2 persons and multiple packages can be combined to serve larger households. On the other hand, in the era of huge grocery stores, which are tiring to walk through when we are not feeling strong, a bag of breakfast basics can be a huge help. We learned that the visits can be as valued as the meals. Knowing that you are being thought of by your church family through meals and visits is valuable. We have learned that it is helpful to be flexible in how folks can volunteer - calling, cooking as a group, cooking alone, and delivering meals with a visit. Using the different talents and the different availabilies of each volunteer is important. We do not expect any singular volunteer to be always available. We were reminded that eating 3 healthy meals per day contributes to recovery from surgery or illness as they are one of many building blocks to recovery. We came to experience how we were part of a larger ministry, a very inter-connected part of a church-wide ministry of Congregational Care of visits, calls, prayers, prayer shawls, Stephen Ministry, flowers and communion services taken into senior living facilities. This Ministry has introduced us and connected us to members whom we didn’t know, both recipients and volunteers, despite being long-time members of Asbury First. It is another living example of “we are better together” in many ways.
In 2018, we plan to: • Increase awareness of the Meal Ministry within the congregation • Increase our sense of team among the volunteers • Become more interwoven with other Congregational Care Ministries, in particular strengthening our communication with the other care ministries • Continue to refine our processes, including the adoption of scheduling software when needed • Continue to keep meetings to a minimum. We welcome your ideas and feedback. We always welcome more volunteers. Barbara Eltinge can be reached at beltinge@icloud.com and Lani Anderson can be reached at pra@rochester.rr.com. -Co-chairs Barbara Eltinge and Lani Anderson
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Outreach News Asbury First Storehouse Founders Award by Bonnie Kay The Storehouse exists because of the dedication of our volunteers and the support of Asbury and the community. Since 2004, we have given our Founder’s Award each year to a volunteer (or volunteers) who have served in special ways.
Kay Layton being honored by Storehouse Co-chair Charlene Lajewski
At the Volunteer lunch in November, Kay Layton was awarded the Founder’s Award for 2016. In doing so she joins a list of 29 current and former volunteers who were honored for their service. Kay was chosen this year for her longtime association with the Storehouse as a regular volunteer and for her time spent arranging people’s random donations and stage them in such a way that they create beautiful and enticing displays.
We thank Kay, the other Founder’s Award winners, and our entire group of over 100 volunteers for all they do. The Storehouse is able to serve so many because of YOU!
Get Involved with the Storehouse This Lenten Season...And Beyond!
Founder’s Award Recipients Front Row: Helen Bellanca, Ann Englehardt, Jeanne Rowe, Judy Cohen Back Row: Margaret Reiners, Ginny Fitch, Phyllis Kennedy, Nancy Davidow, Betsy DiPaola Not pictured: Harriet Cross, Shirley Swackhammer, Betty Shull, Judy and Hank Dixon, Ed and Kate Crosby, Norma Andzer, Betsy Christiansen
The mission of the Asbury First Storehouse is only made possible through the help of our volunteers. We are an all-volunteer organization and currently have over 100 volunteers, but need more. We served almost 6,000 individuals in 2017 which was an increase of over 500 from the previous year. In addition, the number of agencies referring people to the Storehouse has increased to over 400.
We are currently open to clients Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. We also started a Thursday night shift from 5:30-7:30 to try to accommodate all who need our services. As little as 2-3 hours a month on Thursday evenings or Saturday mornings would help and could be possible even for those who work fulltime. MEN – if you are hesitant about helping, ask any of these current volunteers about their experience: Eugene Fisher, Richard Irvin, Dave Kennedy, Dan Matthaidess, or David Raymond. TEENS - Allie and Hannah Beamish, Parker Anderson, Andrew Kennedy, and Asha Temperley, students from the congregation, have also been involved. Helping at the Storehouse is a great way for students to earn community service hours, or do a project for Eagle Scout, Girl Scout Silver, or Gold Awards. Want more information? Call or email Bonnie Kay at 585-478-5611 or b.kay@frontiernet.net; or Charlene Lajewski at 585-943-3361 or charlene4140@yahoo.com. 17
Better Together Campaign AN UPDATE ON OUR ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET This fall, we launched our Better Together Campaign. This campaign is a dual campaign for two missioncritical areas in our church: • The Annual Operating Budget, which both funds our everyday ministries and enables us to accomplish goals outlined in our Dreamscape plan • Campus projects and updates centered around infrastructure, accessibility, and outreach While raising funds for the campus projects will continue until we have reached our final goal, the deadline for our Annual Operating Budget has been more urgent. Each year, we spend the fall asking our membership to submit a pledge for their giving in the upcoming year. Based on that pledging information, we set our budget for the new year and present it at our Annual Charge Conference (which occurred on January 21—it is available to watch on the sermon archives at www.asburyfirst.org). We received $1,046,888 in undesignated pledged dollars to our Annual Operating Budget from 422 individuals and households. While this fell short of our goal of $1,160,000 from 525 individuals and households, thanks to additional designated pledges and gifts, we were able to fully fund our budget! Our goal for 2018’s budget has been accomplished! Thank you to all who pledged, gave, and volunteered to make this possible.
2018
2019
2020
Goal: Maintain our current staff, which includes the recent addition of our Church Administrator position
Goal 3.1: All who desire a place within the Asbury First community beyond worship will have one
Goal 4.1: The Outreach Taskforce’s report “A Way Forward” has been faithfully implemented
We need to fund all current staff positions
We need to add an additional Volunteer Coordinator position
We need to add an additional Social Worker position
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Better Together Campaign INFRASTRUCTURE, ACCESSIBILITY, AND OUTREACH Because we know that we are better together, we have focused our Better Together Campaign on three areas: infrastructure, accessibility, and outreach. This campaign reflects our commitment to be a place where the warmth of our worship is synonymous with the warmth of our fellowship. It reflects our commitment to ensure all of God’s children can gather in all our spaces, regardless of physical disabilities. It reflects our commitment to Christ’s command to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and heal the sick. Here are some important updates for you to know regarding our progress on the Capital Projects portion of our Better Together Campaign!
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In just three short months, we have raised $3,031,618 in pledged dollars from 322 individuals and households! We are overwhelmed by the generosity our church has received so far. We will continue to create opportunities for the rest of our membership to make commitments of any size to our capital projects, as our hope is that every member of our church will participate in this campaign through their giving.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN?
READY TO SUBMIT YOUR PLEDGE CARD? Visit our website at asburyfirst.org/bettertogether
Now that we have raised nearly 50% of our goal from our membership alone, we will begin to apply for outside funding in terms of grant and foundation opportunities. While we do this work, it is most important that a high percentage of our membership commits to this campaign, as this makes the campaign more attractive to outside donors.
Email us at bettertogether@asburyfirst.org
Construction will begin on campus this spring! The Building Committee (a subset of the Trustees, led by Chuck Hanrahan) has prioritized the Front Steps project at the East Ave entrance to the Sanctuary (Building 1040). For more details, please see the update from The Building Committee in this Visitor edition.
Stop in the Welcome Hall and pick up a brochure
PROJECT PLEDGING GOAL: $6,240,000 19
Better Together Campaign Building Committee Updates The Building Committee has been working with Bero Architecture to select granite colors and finishes for the new steps on the front of 1040 (East Avenue side) that will replace the crumbling limestone steps to the Sanctuary. Currently, the front steps are made out of limestone and are already deteriorating after only twenty-five years. In contrast, granite is expected to last over fifty years. The group has selected Golden Brazil (which is close in color to the current steps), and a sage green to replace the bluestone. The existing pattern will be replicated in the new materials. The new granite will have a thermal coating to provide greater traction. Careful measurements will be taken of the steps, and just before the granite arrives, the old steps will be dismantled in preparation for the new materials to be installed. We expect that construction will be completed in early summer. The Rochester Preservation Board heard the details of the project on January 3 and approved it. Chuck Hanrahan, chair of the Building Committee, and John Page, Senior Architect from Bero Architecture have also been meeting with a group of staff and volunteers from the Dining and Caring Center for feedback on the current floor plans for renovations. In response to these discussions, the architects have created a brighter and more open-feeling space for the dining room. They added an additional pantry next to the kitchen for easy access, space for receiving deliveries of food and supplies near the elevator that will be installed, and additional prep space in the kitchen. There were some concerns that the proposed elevator, which will make all floors of 1010 fully accessible, would not be large enough to accommodate food and supply deliveries easily. In response, John increased the size of the elevator 33%, which will allow for easier loading of carts of supplies and donations. The Committee expects to meet with the Preservation Board again in early February to present the proposed footprint of the 1010 addition and parking area (exterior plans only). The Committee and John will also hold additional meetings with Dining and Caring Center, Storehouse and UR Well Clinic volunteers and staff to assure that the plans meet their needs. If you have questions or feedback, please contact Chuck Hanrahan at chuck.hanrahan@gmail.com.
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Get in the Loop Stay in the Loop
UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION TODAY WHY: Asbury First is a busy place, and we want to be sure YOU are in the loop with what is happening! That is why we want to be sure we have the best and most accurate contact information for you. This way, you’ll never miss what is happening each week at Asbury First.
HOW: Visit www.asburyfirst.org/updatemyinfo to get started. On this page, you will be able to submit information for all current members of your family, including email addresses, mailing addresses, preferred phone numbers, birthdays, and anniversaries. You will be able to subscribe to our weekly email list, making sure you don’t miss out on any updates at Asbury First! You will have a chance to send us an updated photo of you and/or your family! This will be used in our Church Directory (our current photos are over 10 years old!), as well as our Church Management Software for membership. If you don’t have access to our website, or are not able to complete a form online for any reason, we still want to update your information. Please call the church office during normal office hours (Monday through Friday, 9 am-4 pm) at (585) 271-1050 and someone will go through the form with you over the phone.
Questions? Need help? Please email us at info@asburyfirst.org
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Library & Reading News February/March 2018
Need a good book to see you through the winter months? We have just the book for you at the church library collection, right off the Gathering Center—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! Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs by Heather Lende. This book deepens our understanding of what links all humanity and conveys the importance of spirituality and community in life’s lessons. The author attributes discussion of the meaning of life in small town Haines, Alaska to the Alaskan landscape—so vast, dramatic, and unbelievable—it helps make life mean more. Recommended from the church library collection by library committee member Karen Hibbard
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green Author John Green explores the lives of two teens coping with cancer and manages to make this a story that rings true without being maudlin. Protagonist Hazel sounds like the smart, funny teenagers some of us know in real life instead of a smart aleck-y caricature. In the middle of stinging disappointments and grief, Hazel and her new friend Augustus actually manage to have adventures and grow as people while offering both teen and adult readers a lesson about appreciating life. Recommended from the church library collection by library committee member Diana Carter
Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Acceleration by Thomas Friedman If you're living through the 21st century but feeling like the pace of life has picked up beyond what you can handle, Thank You for Being Late will help you understand why. The book is about the accelerating pace of change in modern society --accelerations in technology, globalization, and climate change. In this book, the author gives some advice for living in such a fast-paced world where "being late" is not allowed. Recommended from the church library collection by library committee member Peggy Lyons
Wearing God: Clothing, Laughter, Fire, and Other Overlooked Ways of Meeting God by Lauren F. Winner The author delves into a few less familiar biblical images of God, She presents God as more than just Shepherd and King and far more interesting than we usually think. The book details little known— and, so, little used—biblical metaphors for God, metaphors which can open new doorways for our lives and spiritualities. The author analyzes how clothing functions culturally to shape our ideals and identify our community, and ruminates on how this new metaphor can function to create new possibilities for our lives. Recommended from the church library collection by library committee member Elizabeth Woolever
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown. Out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times— the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. (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. Recommended by the church outreach committee as the Asbury churchwide read for 2018
The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery This was one my favorite books of this year. A review in The Guardian notes the beauty of Montgomery’s “quest to try and know this misunderstood ‘alien.’ The author discovers they’re highly intelligent, capable of tenderness, playfulness, happiness, and friendship. Recommended from the church library collection by library committee member Monica Gilligan
The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande A timely topic is the subject of the “If All of Rochester Reads” book selection this year. It is the 2012 memoir by Reyna Grande of the experiences of the author’s life from her childhood in Mexico, through her illegal immigration to the United States, to her success as a student and author. Recommended by Writers and Books as the 2018 selection for the “If All of Rochester Reads” program 22
The Last Word Dear Martha Neubert, Thank You! by The Rev. Jacqueline Nelson
It is no surprise to us to hear me say how poverty stricken our communities are. The needs are great, though the resources are scarce. We can see it, have a very real sense of it, and while we do the absolute best we can, still some days it just feels like it’s not enough. For the past several months, Martha Neubert has graced our office with her smile, enthusiasm, compassion, and heart to serve. You may not know it, but Martha has helped make outreach at Asbury First possible in a very special way. Though retired, she spends countless hours a week responding to emails, returning phone calls, and meeting with individuals throughout this city who are in need—she does all of this on behalf of Asbury First. As a retired social worker, Martha has dedicated much of her life to helping our neighbors in Rochester seek and secure services with hopes of turning a really rough time, into a reason to smile. On average, we receive 4-10 calls weekly from individuals in need of assistance. Because of Martha’s time, dedication, and wealth of knowledge, we have been able to point people in the right direction. Sometimes by providing support through the Pastoral Discretionary Fund (in conversation with the pastoral staff ), and mostly through referrals to agencies and organizations who can assist, Martha has helped balance this very overwhelming need. There’s often a heaviness felt when you sit and reflect on just how great the need is in our community. This heaviness can often make us feel hopeless and anxious, but I must say Martha has helped transform this into a positive experience. I have never encountered anyone with as much enthusiasm, who genuinely wants to see everyone do well. She has made herself available to field calls, answer questions, and provide resources to the office staff for the various inquiries we receive. If it weren’t for Martha’s willingness to serve and her expertise, we would have to turn away so many more people. This is no easy task, and the reality is, there are days and weeks when we simply lack the financial resources needed to help with security deposits, rental payments, household utilities and medical bills. But the joy heard on the other end of the phone when we are able to provide a resource of some kind, makes it all worth it! Martha, we are so grateful for you! Thank you for sacrificing your time to help make a difference in this world. Our staff, congregation, and community are grateful for your service and for your smile. Your joy is truly contagious, and has helped turned many sad moments into a reason to hope! We appreciate you, love you, and just want to take this time to celebrate you by saying thank you! -The Rev. Jacqueline Nelson
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