The Visitor | March 2017 by Asbury First United Methodist Church

TheVisitor Asbury First United Methodist Church Newsletter March 2017 • Vol. M No. 2 • www.asburyfirst.org

IN THIS ISSUE A Pastoral Reflection 3 Community News 4 Lent & Easter News 5 AFUMC News 7 Library & Reading News 12 Community Outreach & Needs 14 The Last Word 15

MISSION STATEMENT

The Visitor

Through worship, education, outreach, and care, we develop disciples of Jesus Christ who live and proclaim the Gospel and thereby work to transform our culture.

Vol. M No. 2

(USPS 558-470) is published 9 times a year, monthly with combined issues for November/December, January/February, and July/August, 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 Chancel Worship with Holy Communion 10 am Sunday Mornings

Staff

The Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady II Senior Minister Kathy Thiel Minister for Pastoral Care and Outreach Katie O’Hern Minister for Discipleship and Mission David Strong Church Administrator; Assistant Organist Dr. William Weinert Director of Music Paula Dugan Children’s Ministry Director Holly Temming Children’s Ministry Assistant; Director, Children’s Music Mike Mullin Youth Minister Richard Moncrief Financial Administrator Morgan Dornsife Development Director Melody Guadagnino Administrative Assistant Ken Carr Property Care Manager Michele Cooley Dining & Caring Center Director Jamie Least Communications Coordinator Duane Prill Organist Carol Lamica Director, Youth Music Elizabeth Church Director, Bell Choir Brian Bohrer Director, Asbury Singers Larry Dugan Director, Youth Theater Eric Townell Director ad interim, Sanctuary Choir

Emeriti Staff

Rev. Dr. Theodore Weeden, Sr., Pastor Emeritus Dr. Roger Wilhelm, Director of Music Emeritus Marian R. Craighead*, Organist Emeritus *deceased Cover Photo Credit: Paula Dugan

Please send all submissions, questions, comments, or concerns to communications@asburyfirst.org or 585-271-1050, x109. Deadline for submitting content to the next issue: March 6, 2017*

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.

*Late content may be considered

A Pastoral Reflection Sundays Don't Count | Katie O'Hern

This year the beginning of March brings with it the beginning of Lent, the forty-day season of the church’s liturgical year that leads up to the great festival day of Easter. Those of you keeping score at home will recognize that there are actually more than forty days between Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, and Easter Sunday, its culmination. From March 1 to April 16 there are forty-seven days, to be exact. This mathematical peculiarity points to one of my favorite things about the season of Lent: Sundays don’t count. Now, the fact that Sundays don’t count in Lent is often celebrated as a reprieve from our selfimposed fasting. There’s one day each week to indulge in whatever tasty treat we’ve given up for the season. On Sundays, eat chocolate or drink coffee! Take a break from whatever discipline you’ve adopted for this holy season. Sundays don’t count! But the fact that Sundays don’t count also points to a deeper truth about who we are as children of God, both during Lent and throughout the year. You see, we measure Sundays in Lent, not Sundays of Lent. While this might seem like a small grammatical detail in how we talk about these days, it also reminds us of the truth that we are people who are in Lent but not of Lent. As twenty-first century Christians, we already know the end of the story of this holy season. We know that death is overcome by life, that resurrection triumphs over the grave, that Christ is risen – risen indeed! And so we celebrate each and every Sunday as a “little Easter,” a day on which we gather together to sing hymns and read scripture and rejoice together in the hope of our faith. Even in the season of Lent, a time set apart for contemplating the starker side of life, each Sunday is an opportunity to remember the end of the story: life and love win out in the end. This truth is what makes it possible for us to enter into Lent with hope, for we have already seen that nothing can ever come between us and the love of God, not even death. And so, friends, I encourage you this year to observe a holy Lent. Take on a new spiritual discipline or give up something in your life so that you can focus more on God’s work in the world. But do it always remembering that though we are in Lent we are not of Lent, for we are Easter people. Thanks be to God! Katie O'Hern

SUNDAY SERVICE TIMES 8:30 am – Traditional Worship

Worship

worship schedule

THURSDAY APRIL 13 Maundy Thursday

10 am – Chancel Worship with

SUNDAY MARCH 12

SUNDAY MARCH 26

7:30 pm

Holy Communion

John 3:1-17

Scripture TBD

FRIDAY APRIL 14

11 am – Traditional Worship

Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, Preacher

Guest Preacher

with Sanctuary Choir

Good Friday

SUNDAY MARCH 19

SUNDAY APRIL 9

6 am, Noon, 5 pm

Exodus 17:1-7

Matthew 21:1-11

SUNDAY APRIL 16

Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, Preacher

Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady,

Easter Sunday

Preacher

John 20:1-18 Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, Preacher

Community News Our Living

in Community

Deaths – We offer our prayers and sympathy to … Tracy and Lee Frederico on the death of Tracy’s father Robert Thibult in Florida on November 19, 2016. The family and friends of Dottie Cuthbert who died on January 10, 2017.

Baptisms – We celebrate the baptism of … The family and friends of Betty Smith who died on January 22, 2017. The family and friends of Dick Clement who died on February 9, 2017.

Connor Reed Dennis, son of Brett and Jennifer Dennis, baptized on January 29, 2017.

Welcome The Newest Members of Asbury First!

Erica Harper and Tim Tindall, and sons Elliot and Owen

Glen and Morgan Dornsife, and daughter Normandy

Matthew Bielewicz and Deanna Varble, and son Loren

Sarah Peters-Fisher and Michael Fisher

Lent and Easter News Looking Ahead ❆ Labyrinth Wednesdays During Lent 5-7 pm

To Lent and Easter

❆ Taizé Wednesdays During Lent 6:15-7 pm ❆ Ash Wednesday Wednesday, March 1 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. ❆ Maundy Thursday Thursday, April 13 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.

❆ Easter Sunday Sunday, April 16 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

Easter Altar Flower Donation Form Given by:___________________________________________________ (Please Print Clearly) Phone: Day_____________________ Evening_______________________ Please check one of the following and print the names clearly: I would like the gift to be: 1.____ In loving memory of ______________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ 2.____ In honor or celebration of ___________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ 3.____ A donation Please return this form to the church office, attention: Melody Guadagnino, no later

VBS is for children than from ages four through fifth grade. April 3. Please include your donation. Checks should be made payable to Asbury For more information, see page 15 or contact Paula Dugan at First UMC Altar Guild. Thank you. (585) 271-1050 x111 or pdugan@asburyfirst.org. 5

Lent and Easter News Easter Hospitality 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!

Join Us! Taize Worship During Lent Wednesdays during Lent, March 8-April 12 from 6:15-7 pm in the Sanctuary During the Lenten season, you’re invited to attend Taize services and experience a quiet, still, and reflective time to come into the presence of the Holy Spirit. Listen to the word of Scripture and soft music, and sing songs to enhance the meditative atmosphere. Share communion in the remembrance of the blood shared and body broken for our sins. Everyone is welcome to the table.

Family Prayer Night on Good Friday April 14 in the Gathering Center from 5 to 7:30 pm On Good Friday, one of the holiest days as Christians, we gather together for a meaningful and unique evening of communion, labyrinth walking, and active prayer. What does "active prayer" mean for us on Family Prayer Night? We will set up different stations that attendees can visit at their own pace, and have active prayers of healing, grace, gratitude, and remembrance. This can be done alone or with family and is a very special evening for all who attend. We hope you are able to join us!

“Be still, and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10

These words from Psalm 46 are a poetic reminder that God speaks to us in our silences. It is often from our stillness that we receive strength. We choose how we use this strength from God and how we allow God’s call to propel us to action.

AFUMC News Upcoming Educational Opportunities UNITED METHODISM 101 Wednesdays, March 15-April 5 6:45-7:45 pm Building 1040, Room 201 Do we believe in free will or predestination? Why do we use grape juice and not wine during communion? Why do our ministers move around so much? What’s up with the name “Methodist?” What does it mean to be “strangely warmed?” Whether you’ve been a United Methodist all of your life or have just stumbled upon us recently, this class is for you! This four-week discussion is about the history, structure, beliefs, and challenges of The United Methodist Church. Please contact the church office to let us know if you plan to attend so that we can order books (optional). The cost will be $12 for the optional book and assistance is available. What is

UNITED METHODISM 201: WORSHIP IN THE METHODIST TRADITION

United Methodism? Wednesdays, April 12-May 3 6:45-7:45 pm Building 1040, Room 201 Why do we have a call to worship at the start of our worship services? What is Epiphany again, and how does it relate to Christ the King Sunday? How do hymns get chosen for the hymnal and why do we sing the ones we do? How is communion supposed to be done, and why does it matter? If you’ve been wondering about these questions or any others related to worship, join us for this continuation of our Methodism series. We’ll learn about the rhythm of the liturgical calendar, the order of Sunday morning worship, the sacraments of baptism and communion, and more! Please RSVP to the church office. (Note: Attendees of United Methodism 201 do not need to have completed United Methodism 101 in order to participate.)

JESUS & POSSESSIONS: A LENTEN SMALL GROUP

TASTE AND SEE: A BIBLE STUDY ABOUT FOOD AND FAITH

Wednesdays, March 8-April 12 6:45-7:45 pm Building 1040, LL 12 (Space Room) This six-week study and conversation group will invite us to think about God’s provision for our needs and answer that tricky question: “how much is enough?” We’ll ponder our attachment to possessions and reflect on the act of giving and its impact on our lives. All are welcome! Please RSVP to the church office.

Sundays, 9:45-10:45 am March 5-April 9 Building 1010, Room 21 One piece of common ground we all share is food: all need to eat! Food is central to our faith, too. The story of scripture begins in a lush garden with a story about forbidden fruit and ends with a vision of a heavenly feast. In between are many stories involving food and eating, from manna in the wilderness to Jesus’ bread of life. And food can be part of our spiritual practices: Lent is a season in which we often give up a particular kind of food in an effort to renew our relationship with God. This sixweek study will look closely at a few of these stories and what they mean for our life of faith and spiritual practice today.

Doublers Class & 50+ Fellowship Program Changes

SUNDAY MARCH 5 The Temptation of Jesus Rev. David Lubbal, Presenter

SUNDAY MARCH 19 Memory and Aging Ted Retzlaff, Presenter

The Doublers and 50+ Fellowship will be meeting together for their Sunday morning programs this Lenten season. The groups will meet together on the first floor of Building 1010 at 9:45 am each Sunday.

SUNDAY MARCH 12 The Transfiguration of Jesus Rev. David Lubbal, Presenter

SUNDAY MARCH 26 Youth Today Mike Mullin, Presenter

AFUMC News Please Welcome David Strong to His Expanded Role at Asbury First! We are pleased to announce David Strong has taken on an expanded role at Asbury First as our new Church Administrator. This addition in staffing was made possible for 2017 by a few very recent gifts from members of our congregation, who saw the need of this position and chose unprompted to give to make it possible. To those individuals, we want to share a heartfelt thank you for your generosity!

Q&A With David on His New Role What will your position entail? The Church Administrator role is an extension of my role as Music Administrator. In addition to the administrative responsibilities for music and arts, I now have responsibilities for ensuring the strategic administrative and financial objectives of the church are attained through overseeing all non-pastoral programmatic staff and volunteers. Functional areas include human resources, budgeting and finance, facilities, communications, information technology, and operations. Do you have a vision for this position? As a long-time member of the church and, more recently, in my part-time role as music administrator, I experienced and observed a need for a position that would oversee all of

the administrative functions that comprise an organization such as ours. Many of those administrative functions rested on the shoulders of the senior and associate ministers. That is not sustainable nor appropriate for a church of our complexity and size. While I saw the need for such a position, I did not envision myself in the role. I'm honored, humbled, and excited by the opportunity. I view this as a ministry - and my role is to serve, assist, facilitate, advise, direct, coordinate, and lead in the stewardship of our resources. My hope is to take some of the administrative responsibilities off of Stephen's plate so he can focus on strategy, growth, and true pastoral duties.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;David has the administrative acumen, the first-hand knowledge, and the heart for the people of Asbury First that will make him a success in this position. Working with David frees me to focus more fully on the missional strategies that will help Asbury First continue to faithfully grow. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to those donors who made this position possible and to David for his willingness to take on this new role." -Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady II

How has it been going so far? What projects are you working on? This is an exciting time to be a part of Asbury Church. Now that I've had the opportunity to sit in 1050 full-time and being on campus 7 days a week, I've become acutely aware of how vibrant and busy we are. The level and variety of activities are remarkable and, so too, are the staff and volunteers who enable it to happen. My focus initially is to assume administrative responsibilities that have absorbed a significant amount of Stephen's time and energy. Additionally, I am working with others to put in place an infrastructure that will ensure we're complying with all regulations and guidelines and are consistent with good business practice. These foundational blocks need to be in place for us to meet our current needs and to grow our programs. An

"The Senior Minister at a church like ours fills many roles: inspirational preacher, spiritual guide, dedicated outreach leader, face to the community, and leader to all administrative tasks. Our senior ministers over the years have had a lot of excellent help fulfilling all of these duties from a very talented staff, but much of the strategic leadership has rested with them. Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role will help lift a large part of the administrative tasks from Stephens shoulders, allowing him to focus on tasks and responsibilities unique to his role in our great church. And in these challenging times, it's happening none too soon." -Anonymous Donor 8

AFUMC News Q&A With David Strong, continued from the previous page.

additional area of focus is to work with our ministers, staff, and volunteer leadership to identify how we all can work together effectively, efficiently, and in the same forward direction! What has prepared you for this job? Jeanne and I have been a part of this congregation since we were married here in 1974. I've been assistant organist since 1987 and music administrator since 2010. As a result, I bring a commitment to and understanding of the church and its people that makes this expansion in responsibilities a smooth one. I gained leadership experience in the functional areas included in this position in my roles as at the University of Rochester and Cornell University, including Vice

Chairman for Administration at UR Medicine's Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Senior Associate Dean for Administration and Finance at the Eastman School of Music, and Associate Dean for Business Affairs at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, and Associate Director for Administration at UR Medicine's Wilmot Cancer Institute. I hold undergraduate degrees from Ithaca College (BM - Music) and the University of Rochester (BS Psychology) and a master's degree from RIT in Health Systems Administration and Organizational Development.

New Appointment for Katie O'Hern It was recently announced that Katie O'Hern has been approved for commissioning as a provisional elder in the Baltimore-Washington Conference, and that conference has decided to appoint her to serve a church there. Katie has been appointed to serve as pastor of John Wesley United Methodist Church in Hagerstown, Maryland, effective July 1. She will continue to be at Asbury First until mid-June. The SPRC is working with Rev. Cady on the next steps for Asbury First and will provide further details when they have more to share.

AFUMC Begins Conversation on Global Refugee Crisis On Sunday, February 19, more than 50 individuals convened in Fellowship Hall to brainstorm and explore ways the Asbury First community can make a meaningful, positive, and lasting difference for those impacted by the global refugee crisis. As a church community, Asbury First takes seriously its responsibility to better love and support those in our global family—including the refugee and the orphan—which was seen clearly on that Sunday afternoon. During the meeting, attendees with a passion for getting invovled in this effort came up with a number of ways we could make a difference. These ideas were recorded and the list will act as a jumping-off point for conversations that the Asbury First community will have in the days and months to come. A few of the proposed ideas included: • • • • • •

Create a database of refugee needs and local companies with a surplus, which may be matched up Solidify our position on this issue with Scripture and reach out to other churches with which we can collaborate Develop connections with churches in Europe and at the heart of this crisis Invite local refugees to speak and share their testimonies in the hopes of spreading knowledge and understanding Funnel support to Canada to strengthen their work in welcoming refugees Develop ways to empower refugees to help themselves

If you're interested in being a part of this conversation moving forward, please contact Melody Guadagnino at mguadagnino@ asburyfirst.org and request that your email be added to the Refugee Crisis mailing list.

AFUMC News Stepping Up to Support Our Immigrant Family When we consider the challenges facing immigrants and refugees around the world, it’s often easy for us to feel as if these are far away issues. It can be hard to know how we should respond as people of faith and what we can do as a community. But the struggles of immigrants and refugees are closer than we might realize, and as a community Asbury First is already doing something to help meet the human needs of our brothers and sisters.

arrived with weapons that the men who had been following him left. He believes they were targeting him because of his work with the US military. After this incident, Fazel decided it was time to leave his home country of Afghanistan. He began the long process of applying for a Special Immigrant Visa to the United States.

When Fazel completed his training as an electrician, he found a temporary job. But he couldn’t become a permanent employee until he had some tools of his own. When the volunteers at The Storehouse heard about his need, many of them chipped in a few dollars apiece so that Fazel could purchase the tools, a real investment in his future.

As he waited for his visa, Fazel experienced more threats to his safety and the safety Fazel Haidari and his family are one example of his family. He made a point of leaving of the ways Asbury First, and particularly work at different times each day so that his The Storehouse, are reaching out to new schedule wouldn’t be predictable. “We had immigrants to the US. Originally from a lot of dangers out there,” he said. In 2015, Afghanistan, Fazel lived in Pakistan for a three years after beginning the application time before returning to his home country process, Fazel’s visa was granted. He and his in 2005. For a few years he worked as an wife moved to Rochester with their sixassistant in a shop, and in 2009 he took a job month-old son and only two suitcases. They with a company contracted to support US stayed with Fazel’s cousin for a time, and military operations. For six years he worked No One Left Behind, a refugee resettlement indirectly for the US, first as a car washer organization in the area, helped them to find and then as a logistics assistant, and at first a home and job training. he didn’t worry too much about his personal safety. Fazel’s connection to Asbury First and The Storehouse came when a Storehouse But after a few years he began to have volunteer met him at a mutual friend’s concerns. Several troubling incidents left him house. A special appointment was made worried about his safety and the safety of his for Fazel and his family to come to The family. One day in 2012, as he was driving Storehouse as soon as possible, and because his car through slow-moving traffic, a group of the generosity of so many donors and of men approached his vehicle, slashing a volunteers, they were able to get much of tire and following him on foot as he drove what they needed to begin to build a life here slowly away. It wasn’t until Fazel’s friends in Rochester.

Recently, Fazel’s brother moved to the US, also on a Special Immigrant Visa. He flew to JFK Airport on the day of President Trump’s executive order banning immigrants from a select list of countries. No One Left Behind was in touch with Fazel all day and made sure a lawyer was at the airport to help his brother get through. Because Afghanistan was not on the list of countries in the executive order, his brother was able to take his connecting flight to Rochester and join Fazel and his family here. As we continue to find ways to reach out to our brothers and sisters in need, especially refugees and immigrants at home or abroad, Fazel’s story reminds us that the work we do as a community does make a real difference in real people’s lives. His message for Asbury First? “Thank you very much for all this. Thanks for all this stuff. I mean, it has really helped me. Whatever I can say, I’ll just pray for you guys. Thank you for everything.”

Stephen Ministry at Asbury First

Stephen Ministry is alive and well here at Asbury First. While we have our Senior Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady II, and his ministry among us, we also have the ministry called Stephen Ministry, named after the first lay person commissioned by the Apostles to provide caring ministry to those is need (see the book of Acts, chapters 6-8). This ministry is about parishioners caring for each other, giving Christ-centered care during times of crisis. These speciallytrained parishioners are called Stephen Ministers, and they provide companionship for the particularly rough parts of life. For instance, when a person experiences the death of a loved one, a Stephen Minister can offer care by listening and providing spiritual support. If a person experiences a different kind of loss, such as divorce or the loss of a job, a Stephen Minister can provide support during this time, too.

We have several Stephen Ministers who were trained in the past (three of them are pictured for this article) and eight of them (watch future editions of The Visitor for their photos) have recently completed training and were commissioned during the 11 am service on Sunday, February 26th. If you have any questions about this ministry, please contact Kathy Thiel at 271-1050 x. 106 or kthiel@asburyfirst.org.

Kathy Thiel, Ann Francis, Carol Trout, Chris Linser-Cartwright

AFUMC News "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." ( John 13:34-35)

Spring Spiritual Retreats Spring Spiritual Retreats For the Men and Women of Asbury First

from May 5-7. Christopher Blomgren, author of SOS: Survival and Beyond for the Christian Adventurer will be sharing his book on this retreat. It takes real life survival situations and then applies Scripture to the situations and encourages us to consider how we use Scripture to enhance our faith. Watch for details on these retreats in the weekly e-newsletter, The Visitor, and the bulletin.

The Women's Retreat will be held June 9-11, Friday evening through Sunday at noon at Notre Dame Retreat Center in Canandaigua, NY. The theme for this year's retreat is "Connections." Interested in joining or want further information? Contact Dianne Dudley (diduds@aol.com) or Bonnie Matthaidess (bjmatt2@aol.com). The men of Asbury First will also have the opportunity to join in community for a weekend of prayer, fellowship, laughter, and rejuvenation. This year's men's retreat will take place at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center (Galilee Lodge)

Car City 2017

a fundraiser for RAIHN held at Asbury First | May 6-7

Car City gives the community an opportunity to learn about family homelessness in a meaningful, hands-on way. Similar to the idea of a walk-a-thon, participants in Car City raise a registration fee plus pledges. Groups, families and individuals are encouraged to register and participate in the evening’s events. While sleeping in one’s car can provide a valuable lesson in empathy, being a “virtual” participant (raising funds, but sleeping at home) is also acceptable. This year we will be joined by a panel of RAIHN graduates to talk about their experiences in RAIHN, local photojournalist Michele Ashlee who will share her photography, along with dinner, car decorating contest, photo booth, sundae bar, games, bedtime yoga and CAR-aoke, karaoke singing to your favorite songs about cars! Visit www.raihn.org to register or to donate! The event takes place on Saturday, May 6th at 5 pm at Asbury First United Methodist Church. Registration is $30 for adults and $15 for youth. At Car City, you’ll find: •

A keynote speech by photojournalist Arleen Thaler.

•

Car-aoke with Creekside Entertainment.

•

Bedtime yoga to help you relax.

See www.RAIHN.org to register or for more details.

Library & Reading News March 2017

Check out what is being read and discussed at Asbury First. These books that you won’t want to miss can be found this month in the Church Resource and Spiritual Life libraries. We’re featuring some new collection additions and the WOW group and Diversity Book Club selections for 2017. The library is located just off the gathering space near the elevators. Everyone is welcome and it’s FREE! Children Grandma’s Pride by Becky Birtha A six-year-old, her mother, and little sister travel down south to visit Grandmama in the summer of 1956. Grandmama makes every effort to shield her granddaughters from the prejudice that still plagues her town. A 32-page book especially for ages 4-8.

Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald Psychologists “explore the hidden biases we all carry from a lifetime of exposure to cultural attitudes about age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, social class, sexuality, disability status, and nationality.” Review and discussion scheduled at the church library at 12:30 pm on Sunday, February 26. The Drone Eats With Me: A Gaza Diary by Atif Abu Saif A memoir of life during wartime as the author, his wife, and two young children attempt to live their lives with a sense of normalcy, in spite of the everpresent danger and carnage that is swallowing the place they call home. The Drone Eats With Me is an essential guide to life in modern Gaza. Review and discussion on Sunday, April 9 at 6:30 pm in the church library.

NIV Adventure Bible The #1 Bible for kids! The Adventure Bible takes you on a fun, exciting journey through God's Word. Along the way you'll meet all types of people, see all sorts of places, and learn all kinds of things about the Bible. Good, Good Father by Chris Thomlinson & Pat Barrett This Christian allegory presents a little bear who asks an all-powerful lion king for his help in solving the problems of other bear cubs. Little bear Tucker concludes that the king is a “Good Good Father,” (Picture book for ages 4-8)

The Bible’s Yes to Same-Sex Marriage: An Evangelical Change of Heart by Mike Achtemeier Readers will discover how reading snippets of Scripture out of context has led to false and misleading interpretations of the Bible’s message for gay people. The author shows how a careful reading of the whole Scripture reveals God's good news about love, marriage, and sexuality for gay and straight people alike. Review and discussion session scheduled at the church library at 12:30 pm on Sunday, June 4.

Climbing Lincoln’s Steps by Suzanne Slade This picture book outlines the history of the civil rights struggle and its leaders. This is an excellent chronicle of important steps made toward equality since Abraham Lincoln.(for ages 4-8) Look below at what these church groups are reading now. Borrow the books from the church library and join the discussion.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo – Based on years of uncompromising reporting about the 21st century’s hidden worlds in an age of bewildering global change and inequality as told in the story of families striving toward a better life in Annawadi, a makeshift settlement in the shadow of luxury hotels near the Mumbai airport. Review and discussion on Sunday, August 20 at 11:30 pm in the church library.

Women on Wednesday (WOW) Meets on Wednesdays from noon to 1 pm in the dining room in 1010 East Avenue Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong Learning to live the Golden Rule “Always treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself ” or, as we know it, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is the thesis of this book. The intent, by noted religion author Karen Armstrong, is to teach this rule of compassion in the twelve steps identified in this book.

The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez – A New York Times and Washington Post Notable Book, an NPR Great Read, The Daily Beast's Novel of the Year, and a Mother Jones, Oprah.com, School Library Journal, and BookPage Best Book of the Year. A novel of tales of immigrants from throughout Latin America and of “hopes and dreams, guilt and love—a book that offers a new definition of what it means to be American.” Review and discussion on Sunday, October 15 at 6:30 pm in the church library.

Diversity Book Club Meets on the dates/times indicated below in the Church Library off the gathering space. Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin R. 12

Library & Reading News March 1 Matthew 4:1-11 2 Matthew 4:12-25 3 Matthew 6:1-18 4 Psalm 85 5 1 Samuel 1:1-28 6 1 Samuel 2:1-11 7 2 Samuel 7:1-29 8 2 Samuel 22:1-28 9 2 Samuel 22:29-51 10 Psalm 89:1-18 11 Psalm 89:19-37 12 Psalm 89:38-52 13 2 Chronicles 1:1-17

14 2 Chronicles 5:2-14 15 2 Chronicles 6:1-11 16 2 Chronicles 6:12-31 17 2 Chronicles 6:32-42 18 2 Chronicles 7:1-22 19 Ezra 8:21-36 20 Nehemiah 9:1-25 21 Nehemiah 9:26-38 22 Psalm 11 23 Psalm 16 24 Psalm 17 25 Psalm 22 26 Psalm 25 27 Psalm 26

28 Psalm 27 29 Psalm 28 30 Psalm 30 31 Psalm 31 April 1 Psalm 5 2 Psalm 33

3 Psalm 34 4 Psalm 37 5 Psalm 39 6 Psalm 40 7 Psalm 42 8 Psalm 62 9 Matthew 21:1-22 10 Matthew 21:23-46 11 Matthew 26:1-35 12 Matthew 26:36-75 13 Matthew 27:1-26 14 Matthew 27:27-56 15 Matthew 27:57-66 16 Matthew 28:1-20

17 Hebrews 1:1-14 18 Hebrews 2:1-18 19 Hebrews 3:1-19 20 Hebrews 4:1-13 21 Hebrews 4:14—5:10 22 Hebrews 5:11—6:12 23 Romans 1:1-17 24 Romans 2:1-16 25 Romans 3:19-31 26 Romans 4:1-12 27 Romans 4:13-25 28 Romans 5:1-21 29 Romans 6:1-23 30 Romans 15:1-13

Scripture reading suggestions courtesy of the American Bible Society, www.americanbible.org

Diversity Book Club 2017 Sundays | Locations and Time Vary The Asbury Resource Committee is ready to get rolling with another year of Diversity Book Club meetings. This year we chose several themes to pursue, such as diversity itself, immigration and LGBTQ issues. We’re also shaking things up a bit by meeting right after the late service on Sunday three times, but also twice during the youth meeting time Sunday nights. It’s our hope that parents of youth might find this a convenient time to join us. Remember: though we call it the Diversity Book Club, there’s no membership or ongoing obligation involved. Join us for one book that interests you or come for all! Even if you can’t read the book ahead of time, come to find out if the book is worth reading after the meeting. Two copies of each book will be available in the church library, but you may find others at our public libraries. If you have questions, contact Diana Carter at 732-7224 or DianaLouiseCarter@gmail.com

SCHEDULE •Sunday, April 9 @ 6:30 pm | The Drone Eats Me: A Gaza Diary by Atif Abu Saif •Sunday, June 4 @ 12:30 pm | The Bible’s Yes to Same-Sex Marriage: An Evangelical Change of Heart by Mike Achtemeier •Sunday, Aug. 20 @ 11:30 pm | Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo •Sunday, Oct. 15 @ 6:30 pm | The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez

Community Outreach & Needs Help Needed at the Asbury First Dining and Caring Center The Saturday Morning Laundry & Shower Ministry is in need of additional team members. The team members supervise and coordinate the laundry and shower activity at the dining center, working one Saturday morning each month from 7:30-11:30 am. If interested or if you would like additional information, please call Michele Cooley at 271-0691 or Jeff Edwards at 223-6971 or email him at jefairport@aol.com.

Wanted Pickup Drivers for Asbury First Dining & Caring Center

We Need Asbury First Welcome Desk Volunteers on Sunday Mornings!

Drivers are wanted to make weekly runs to BJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, FoodLink, etc. for pickup of donated food items. This would be a nice outing for a couple with an SUV, pickup truck, or van. Please contact Rand Warner at 425-8586 or Michele Cooley at 271-0692.

A person can volunteer at the desk 1 hour, 2 hours...or what ever time you have. We are flexible! The Welcome Desk is open between the hours of 8:15 am to 12:15 pm Sunday mornings. Volunteers will greet people as they approach, hand out name tags if they have ordered them, hand out visitor welcome bags, answer questions and guide them. It is a great way to meet people! If you have questions or are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Janda Hemming at jhemming01@earthlink. net or 381-6902.

Current Storehouse Needs The Storehouse is in need of dinner plates, glasses, and flatware for our clients. Please help us with our drive and donate, if possible. Your participation is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Love Books? Volunteer at the Library! The library continues to grow and it could use some help in keeping up with the times. If you are interested in serving on the church library committee that meets monthly to deal with library issues, your participation is needed. Please contact any library committee member to indicate your interest. Members include: Bonnie Kay, Monica Gilligan, Kathy Schwar, Peggy Lyons, Diana Carter, Carol Roote, and Beth Woolever. Please reference your Church Directory for contact information. 14

The Last Word More Than A Soup Kitchen | Gary Brown

Since the Spring of 2015, the Outreach Taskforce has worked on creating a unified strategy for Asbury First’s outreach programs. The Taskforce report challenged our outreach programs to move from a pattern of one-way giving to having a deeper relationship with our guests and working with them to address the unjust forces that leave some people in perpetual poverty. One way to accomplish this is to partner with other religious groups and existing agencies.

• • •

to mental health facilities, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, and for legal aide. A local company, Comprehensive Mold Management, sponsored 25 families for Christmas gifts and Michele identified the needy families to receive the gifts. The Rochester Small Business Council donated $500 and provided $1200 in gift cards, plus 50 boxes of food. Trillium Health has been paying security deposits for our guests. R Community Bikes stops at the Dining Center on Thursday morning from April to October. 411 bikes were repaired in 2016. Asbury First has been well represented by Dining Center personnel at the Homeless Connect program at the Blue Cross Arena. Volunteer Legal Services has visited the Dining Center to discuss their services with our guests. A tradition has been established with Temple Beth El where they team up with Mal Traub to prepare and serve a wonderful meal on Christmas Day. The Rochester Police Department stops regularly at the Dining Center to discuss guests that have warrants.

Many of our church members are aware of the success the Dining Center has had in providing wonderful meals (almost 33,000 of them last year) to our guests but most people are not aware of how our Dining Center has reached out to the community and has accepted the challenge of the Outreach Taskforce to provide justice as well as charity to our many guests.

•

The director of our Dining Center, Michele Cooley, has established relationships with close to 50 local agencies, religious groups, businesses, and schools during her time with us and I think it’s important that these connections be publicized. Listed below are just a few of these organizations.

•

The list goes on and Asbury First folks should know that the impact of the Dining Center in our community goes far beyond East Avenue. We will continue to accept the challenge posed by the Outreach Taskforce to go beyond charity and to seek justice.

• • •

Providence House and the Veterans’ Administration works with our guests in their pursuit of housing. Michele’s role is to pre-identify guests for their workers to assist. In January, Action For a Better Community sent two representatives to discuss programs available to guests. DSS has assigned addiction program volunteers to the Dining and Caring Center and all are doing well. They are being closely monitored by their counselors. In the normal course of a day, Michele will make 15 referrals

• •

•

PERIODICAL 1050 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607-2293 Address Service Requested

He Is Risen! Join us at Asbury First During Lent and Easter Week

❆ Labyrinth Wednesdays During Lent 5-7 pm ❆ Taizé Wednesdays During Lent 6:15-7 pm ❆ Ash Wednesday Wednesday, March 1 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. ❆ Maundy Thursday Thursday, April 13 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.

❆ Good Friday Friday, April 14 6 am-Informal Holy Communion: 6 am with the Men's Prayer Group. 12 pm-Holy Week-themed art and music by Voices Chamber Choir. A beloved Asbury First tradition. 5 pm- Family Prayer Night - We will set up different stations that attendees can visit at their own pace, and have active prayers of healing, grace, gratitude, and remembrance. 6-7:30 pm- A come-when-you-wish child-friendly event with communion, a labyrinth walk, and prayer stations. ❆ Easter Sunday Sunday, April 16 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