The Visitor October 2014 by Asbury First United Methodist Church

TheVisitor

Asbury First United Methodist Church Newsletter October 2014 • Vol. XLVIII No. 9 • www.asburyfirst.org

In This Issue Space Considerations, 3 The Upper Room, 4 Kid’s Cafe, 5

Making Visible the Invisible: Our Stewardship Drive for 2015 see page 7

Pledge Card, 9 Gospell, 10 In-Gathering, 13 Salon Series, 16

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. XLVIII No. 9 (USPS 558-470) is published 10 times a year, monthly with combined issues for January/February and July/August, by Asbury First United Methodist Church.

What Turned You Around? A Pastoral Reflection

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

Staff

The Rev. Susan S. Shafer The Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady II The Rev. Lawrence Hargrave David T. Strong Dr. William J. Weinert Paula Dugan Jessica Burdick-Giordano Mike Mullin Richard Moncrief Melody Guadagnino Scott Ross Michele Cooley Mary Van Keuren Duane A. Prill Bozena Granat Carol Lamica Elizabeth Church Brian Bohrer Larry Dugan Rev. Linda Clemow

Senior Minister Minister for Faith Formation – Hospitality & Membership Care Minister for Outreach and Community Connection Music Administrator; Assistant Organist Director of Music Children’s Ministry Director Children’s Ministry Assistant Director of Youth Ministries Financial Administrator Administrative Assistant Property Care Manager Dining & Caring Center Director Communications Director & Editor Organist Director, Children’s Music Director, Youth Music Director, Bell Choir Director, Asbury Singers Director, Youth Theater Artist in Residence

Unless otherwise noted, photos are by Greg Francis. Cover: The Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady makes a point during a class presentation in the Gathering Center. Please send all submissions, questions, comments, or concerns to Mary Van Keuren at mvankeuren@asburyfirst.org or (585) 271-1050 x109. Deadline for next issue: Friday, November 7 (last issue before Christmas)

Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. – Psalm 119:18, NRSV Have you ever had the feeling that you are on a fairly clear path in life and then something changes. It could be a loss, the loss of a loved one, a job, a broken relationship, an encounter with serious illness. Many times it is an event that helps one stop and examine the life that they are living. It could be an event that helps put things in perspective. Was there an episode in your life that brought things more into focus? Can you identify a moment in which you had an epiphany? The songwriting team of Lenny Gamble and Leon Huff wrote a song that captures that sentiment. It was made popular by singer Jimmy Cliff. I Can See Clearly Now I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright (bright) bright (bright) sunshinin’ day. It’s gonna be a bright (bright) bright (bright) sunshinin’ day. There are times in our lives that we may come upon a book that has a profound, I would suggest life-changing, impact on our life, focus and direction. While the Holy Bible has had that significance in my life, as it has for countless others, Howard Thurman’s autobiography With Head and Heart, has also had a profound affect on me. This story is of a boy born in poverty, who grew into an intellectual giant, often quoted by religious scholars and pastors. Thurman, who met with Mahatma Gandhi and became an advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thurman, who taught numerous doctoral students and became the Dean of Marsh Chapel at Boston University (a position currently held by former Asbury First senior pastor, the Rev. Dr. Robert Hill). Thurman, who had an extraordinary way of bridging racial, religious and other differences that we continue to struggle with today. I would recommend the autobiography of Howard Thurman. That might lead you to the treasures of inspiration that you will find in his other books. These are resources that can be life-changing. Oh yes, I can make it now the pain is gone. All of the bad feelings have disappeared. Here is the rainbow I’ve been praying for. It’s gonna be a bright (bright) bright (bright) sunshinin’ day.

Lawrence 2

AFUMC news Asbury First’s Campus Provides Home for RAIHN 2014 marks the tenth year that Asbury First has served as a host church for RAIHN (Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network). As a host church, Asbury First is home for homeless families for one week, four times a year. The most recent RAIHN week at Asbury First was September 7-14, when 66 volunteers served a total of 346.75 hours. They provided hospitality to four homeless families. The volunteers made beds, prepared and served meals, visited with the families, cleaned and helped out where needed. The next RAIHN rotation is December 7-14 – and volunteers are needed. There are currently four Asbury First church groups participating in RAIHN — the Men’s Prayer Group, Doublers Sunday School Class, TOPS weight-loss group, and Embrace. The invitation is out for any other groups (Classes, committees, Bible Study, etc.) to participate in RAIHN. No prior experience is required and groups and individuals are all welcomed. The RAIHN program has a continuing need for volunteers, especially for evening hospitality, Saturday shifts, and overnights. If you want to be a part of this important volunteer effort, please contact Chris and Doug Lee at (585) 451-7692 or c_s_lee29@msn.com or Melody Guadagnino, ext. 103, at the church office (271-1050) or mguadagnino@asburyfirst.org.

St., Rochester, 14608, and will feature a talk by Dr. Ruth Scott, the first African-American woman to lead the Rochester City Council. The registration fee is $3.00; please bring a bagged lunch – beverages and dessert will be provided. A collection of contributions for the Community Food Cupboard will also be taken. Library Winner The Asbury First Resource Library would like to congratulate Charlie Bohrer for coming closest to the correct answer in the Library’s contest to answer the question: how many items are in the Asbury First Library? Charlie’s guess of 3,198 was almost there: the actual answer is 3,167. For his effort, he received a Barnes and Noble gift card. Thanks to all those who entered the contest. With Heart and Voice: Remembering Richard Gladwell On Monday evening, November 3, the Rochester community is invited to gather at Third Presbyterian Church for a special evensong to celebrate the life of Richard Gladwell. He was the creator of the nationally syndicated radio program, With Heart and Voice, in which he shared his passion for sacred choral and organ music. Richard passed away five years ago, on October 15, 2009 (his memorial service was held at Asbury First), but his legacy still thrives on public radio stations across the country. Evensong begins at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, November 3 at Third Presbyterian Church, East Avenue at Meigs Street. More information is available at wxxi.org/events.

Church Women United News CWU will be hosting their November meeting, World Community Day, on Friday, November 7, from 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 141 Adams

How We Use Space at Asbury First The Ministry & Space Task Force was formed in August 2012 with the goal of better understanding how we use our space and recommending the best and most efficient use of our campus as we live out the mission and vision of Asbury First. We are now ready to present our findings and make our recommendations. We have presented our findings to the Board of Trustees and Church Council, and they have approved presentation to the congregation. This fall we will have three town hall style meetings where we will present our findings and recommendations and seek your input on moving forward. We expect to have a vote at the church charge conference in January. Please join us for one of these meetings which are scheduled for: •

Thursday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the Red Room of 1010 East Ave.

•

Thursday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the Gathering Center

•

Sunday, November 23 at 12:15 p.m., in Fellowship Hall

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Chuck Hanrahan, Chair of the Ministry & Space Task Force at chuck.hanrahan@gmail.com or (585) 383-8794. We hope to see you at one of the fall meetings. 3

on holy ground Created by the Center for Spiritual Life, On Holy Ground highlights opportunities for spiritual growth and renewal. In this issue, we’ll take a look at The Upper Room organization (“where the world meets to pray”), publishers of The Upper Room daily devotional guide (available for free, in both regular and large print editions, in the pamphlet racks in the Welcoming Hall), as well as many other resources for Christian learning and prayer. Here are just a few of their offerings.

Upper Room Magazines The Upper Room This guide offers the opportunity to spend a few minutes each day searching the scriptures and reflecting on God’s message for you. You’ll be encouraged and inspired by a diverse group of writers, including Asbury First member Rev. Dr. Timothy Johnson.

will? Using scripture and prayer, Steve Harper helps you discover how to know and do God’s will. He employs the metaphor of walking in the light to frame the method of prayer and practice, while using scripture to guide the steps of your ongoing walk with God. Questions for reflection and discussion are included.

Weavings: A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life Articles, poetry, and reflections in a quarterly magazine by some of the best spiritual writers of our day provide a fertile arena for lively discussions and insightful meditations.

Rhythms of Growth: 365 Meditations to Nurture the Soul, by Linda Douty We know and love the scripture from Ecclesiastes: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Join Linda Douty in a yearlong journey as she connects the changing of nature’s seasons with the transitions of everyday life. Each reading in this lovely book includes a reflection question that explores how God meets us each day.

Alive Now A bi-monthly magazine that seeks to nourish people who are hungry for a sacred way of living. Each issue focuses on a theme and is filled with scripture, prayers, meditations, inspirational stories, poetry, reflection aids, photographs and art.

And for Advent: Taste and See: Experiencing the Stories of Advent and Christmas, by Jan Johnson How might you have felt if you were Mary or Joseph, Elizabeth, or Zechariah? In a fresh approach to Advent, Jan Johnson helps us engage our senses to enter the Christmas story. By bringing imagination to scripture reading, you can experience the birth of Christ as if you were there.

Upper Room Books Interruptions: A 40-Day Journey With Jesus, by Jacob Armstrong Too busy for God? We often find ourselves forgetting God in the midst of a busy life. This 40-day devotional is designed to help you focus on God, no matter what distractions you may face. Jacob Armstrong helps you see that you can use the interruptions of life as an opportunity to fully rely on God, no matter how hectic life may be.

For more info: Website: www.upperroom.org The Upper Room also offers inexpensive eCourse opportunities and virtual retreats, on topics such as Speaking your Mind to God, Companions in Christ, and Preparing the Way: Looking Beyond America’s Current Crisis in Faith. Find out more at at elearning.upperroom.org. To order samples of materials available for devotional reading: (800) 972-0433 or bookstore.upperroom.com.

Walking in the Light: Knowing and Doing God’s Will, by Steve Harper What is God’s will for Your Life? Are you hungry to know God’s 4

• Receiving New Blessings •

Asbury First Members Find New Friendships at West Ave UMC’s Kids Cafe by Diana Carter

Lamar can’t control his impulses or his gangly limbs and always seems to be getting in trouble with the indomitable Suzette Williams, who runs West Avenue’s Oral G. Roberts Kids Café. We haven’t seen Trynisha for a while – her tough exterior often gave way to giggles.

t was a dark and chilly night. The children from West Avenue United Methodist Church and volunteers from Asbury First stood in line for what seemed like forever, waiting for the haunted hayride at a suburban farm. Rock music blasted and many groups were like ours, waiting their turns to get on the flatbed so they could be hauled into the cornfield of horror. It seemed everyone was shouting to make their conversations heard above the music. Spirits were high. I was glad the kids seem occupied with anticipating the ride ahead of them. I noticed something else not quite as pleasant. People were staring at us. Not children, who might be excused for not knowing any better, but adults. Jaws agape, openly staring. They didn’t notice me, even though I was probably glaring at them for their rudeness. I, after all, was the same color as the people who were staring, so I was invisible to them. But with the exception of one child, all the West Avenue children were African-American. Apparently in this suburban setting, a group of 30 black kids is a sight so rare it makes the local residents forget their manners. The same thing happened, but less pointedly, when we had pizza in a local restaurant after the hayride. The staff was pleasant and friendly, but some customers looked taken aback when they walked in and saw seven or eight tables filled with mostly black youngsters. Some of the kids in the group can be a handful, but I don’t remember any of them stepping out of line that night, at least not enough to deserve attention from strangers. Mayor Lovely Warren talks about the two Rochesters – one of comfort and one of affliction, one of privilege and one of poverty. Often neither of the Rochesters knows about the other. When my family and others volunteer at West Avenue’s Kids Café, we cross from one Rochester to the other.

Photos from top to bottom: Rory (left) and Lamar from West Avenue’s Kids Café; West Avenue’s Suzette Williams and Asbury First’s Caroline Hamil present a graduation cake for seniors at Kids Café; Asbury First’s Peter Carter and teens from West Avenue’s Kids Café play Uno, a favorite card game.

It is a journey we take to share some of our blessings with others, but also to remind ourselves of just how blessed we are. And in the process, we receive new blessings from the experience. We’ve come to know and love the children we break bread with and play games with once a month, and the hugs we sometimes receive tell us they feel affection for us, too. There is Shawn, the gifted politician, who graduated from high school last year. And there’s Tayjian, a younger teenage girl who has a wonderful sense of style. Young 5

There are moments with these children when we see God at work. Some of it is embodied by the care provided by Suzette. Sometimes it comes from the children. During a recent visit some of the smaller girls – maybe eight to ten years old – were pretending to be fashion models strutting down an imaginary cat walk. They were too shy to act with much conviction, so an older boy – a six-footer who graduated from high school in the spring, tried to show them how it should be done. His comical attempt immediately prompted spirited critiques from the girls, who found the necessary gumption to strut more convincingly. My heart warmed for this young man who took time to boost the girls. But it also ached a little. When he was writing a note about his post-high school plans last June, he asked for my help in describing his plan to enter culinary school. He needed help because he didn’t even know how to spell his chosen line of study. Such is the deprivation of his life that I have to wonder whether he’ll be able to achieve his goal or become yet another statistic of violence instead. Kids Café attempts to make the difference between the two. Asbury First volunteers help out at Kids Café on the second Friday evening of each month. The café provides a safe place with wholesome activities as an alternative to hanging out on unsafe streets. A couple times a year we also take the children on outings, such as the haunted hay ride. If you’d like to help out, please contact Diana and Jim Carter, Andy Dutcher, or Fred and Carol Hamil.

Our Living

in Community Births & Baptisms

God has sealed you unto love and grace divine

worship schedule WORSHIP Sunday Service Times 8:30 a.m. – Traditional Worship 10:00 a.m. – Informal Worship with Holy Communion 11:00 a.m. – Traditional Worship

Nora Rose Carroll-Nellenback daughter of Jonathan and Anna Carroll-Nellenback, baptized on September 21, 2014 Carter Thomas Yerkes son of Peter and Jennifer Yerkes, baptized on October 12, 2014.

Marriages

Sunday October 26 20th Sunday After Pentecost Matthew 22:34-46 The Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, preacher

May the blessings of God’s love go with you in your new covenant. Meaghan Malone and Michael Sternowski were married on October 4, 2014.

Deaths Merciful God, we entrust to your never-failing care and love.

Sunday November 2 All Saints Day Joshua 3:7-17 The Rev. Susan S. Shafer, preacher

We offer our prayers and sympathy to: The family and friends of Joseph Floreano who died on September 23, 2014

Sunday november 9 22nd Sunday After Pentecost Matthew 25:1-13 The Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, preacher

The family and friends of Jack Buckingham who died on September 27, 2014

Sunday November 16 23rd Sunday After Pentecost Thessalonians 5:1-11 The Rev. Susan S. Shafer, preacher

Sunday november 23 Thanksgiving Sunday Matthew 25:31-46 The Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, preacher Sunday november 30 First Sunday in Advent/ Communion Sunday Mark 13:24-37 The Rev. Lawrence Hargrave, preacher Sunday december 7 Second Sunday in Advent Mark 1:1-8 The Rev. Susan S. Shafer, preacher

Meet Danny Alexander Amador Velásquez

anny is seven years old and is in the third grade at Chacocente Christian School. His birthday is June 1, 2007. He lives near the school with his parents and three siblings. He walks to and from school each day as there is no school bus system in Nicaragua. His favorite color is yellow, and he likes to read and write and enjoys “everything” about school. At home, he does his homework, and plays hide-andseek and soccer. He thinks he is a good soccer player.

Danny for one year. Child sponsorship funds are applied to the costs of textbooks, teaching supplies, school lunches and other operating expenses at Chacocente Christian School. Offering classes unavailable in the public schools, including Christian education, English, animal husbandry, computer science and traditional dance, the school provides a full-day, tuition-free education for pre-school through grade 11, the final year of high school in Nicaragua. A healthy, free lunch is served to the students daily. For many, it is their only meal of the day. In addition, the school provides a fair, steady income for 19 teachers and staff members. If you are interested in sponsoring a child for $30 monthly or $360 yearly, please contact Robyn Gage at lgage1@rochester. rr.com or 585-752-9070. You will receive monthly updates on the school and occasional letters or cards from your child.

This year’s Bake Sale Committee designated proceeds from the sale, which occurs during the Basement Sale in August, to benefit Asbury First outreach efforts locally and globally. A portion of that has been generously donated to sponsor 6

Part two of a three-part series. Editor’s note: In this issue of The Visitor, we continue our series focused on how the programmatic ministries of Asbury First, which are supported by your annual pledges, are embodied in the work of our pastors. The four general areas in which these ministries fall are echoed by the four tenets of our mission statement: 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. Every day, our pastors live the truth of this statement, by caring for our members and those outside of our congregation; by educating those around them on issues of faith and spirituality; by reaching out to those in need in our community and beyond; and by planning and leading thoughtful, Spirit-filled worship. All of this happens only because of your generosity in our annual stewardship pledge drive. In this issue, we will focus on the Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady. In November, we’ll finish the series with a look at how the Rev. Lawrence Hargrave brings the Gospel to life through his own very special ministry. It was the third night of Tent Week, the hugely-successful week of events held at Asbury First this summer, which brought more than 1,000 people onto our campus. AFUMC member Kelly Mueller, who had been part of the planning committee, was beginning to clean up the tent after another well-attended event. Looking up, she noticed the Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady II, Asbury First’s minister for faith formation, folding chairs.

hurting – for both members and vitality – has become a familiar refrain for the media. For Stephen, that news doesn’t sit well. “My prayer would be that in ten years, Asbury First will have grown: two-fold, three-fold, ten-fold – we’re talking about the kingdom of God here! That it’s a place that is truly welcoming to all people, and that it has continued to make a difference in the community of Rochester and the world.”

“Stephen had led a memorial service that day, supported vacation bible school, preached at the Sunday service, been up all night caring for his daughter, and had just returned from a dinner meeting in a suit and tie in order to help tear down and close up the tent for the night –as he had every other night. ‘We can take care of this,’ I said. ‘Thank you for being here, but we can handle this tonight because I know you have an early morning tomorrow.’ His response was, ‘I want to be here, this is great – and I suffer from a case of FOMO (fear of missing out).’ I understood that feeling, as I have also felt that sentiment while participating and witnessing the many great things that have come to Asbury First with the arrival of the Cady family.”

Stephen is well-equipped to tackle issues related to Protestantism’s supposed decline. He became steeped in research on one aspect of that decline – the loss of young people – while working on his doctoral dissertation at Princeton Theological Seminary. Completed earlier this year, that dissertation, “Creative Encounters: Toward a Theology of Magnitude for Worship with United Methodist Youth,” was the result of a year of interviews with young people, their parents, and their pastors at three United Methodist churches. “The young people basically said that they were bored, they didn’t know why they were there, and they weren’t quite sure why worship mattered,” Stephen remembers. “I asked if there was any part of the service that they dreaded, and 100 percent of them, every one, said ‘The sermon!’ So, being someone who has to get up and preach regularly– that has been haunting to me.”

There’s not much that Stephen Cady misses out on at Asbury First. The dynamic minister is involved in almost every facet of church life, and puts in long hours on the job – writing sermons, attending countless meetings, visiting the sick, and providing strong leadership that is marked by a determination to avoid the plight of many mainline Protestant churches in America.

If you stopped right there, you might think that the youths’ comments meshed nicely with the dire news stories. But there is more to the story, Stephen says.

For many churches in our country, the last several decades have been marked by a slow but steady loss of membership. From online sources such as beliefnet.com (“Have Americans Lost Their Faith? Or Just Their Trust in the Old ‘Mainline’ Churches?”) to the venerable New York Times (“Percentage of Protestant Americans Is in Steep Decline, Study Finds’), the news that Protestantism is

“It turns out that when I asked the young people to tell me about a service that was particularly meaningful to them, almost all of them said, well, there was this sermon…there was this moment…”

A Theology of Magnitude But it’s not just about young people. “One thing that’s at the crux of my dissertation is this: what’s missing from churches is what I call a magnitude.” Magnitude, says Stephen, is moving beyond simple togetherness into a place of genuine fellowship. It’s more about significance than size. “It is about trusting that God is significant enough that we don’t have to dress up God to make our worship meaningful,” says Stephen. “My dissertation argues that the reason why young people in The United Methodist Church have not found worship meaningful is not the style of the service or the music that is played, but rather the community that has surrounded it. In short, they feel disconnected from the adults in their congregations and that translates into a feeling of alienation in worship. Because they feel disconnected, they have a hard time anticipating worship as an experience in which they might encounter God. In the end, they just wanted to be someplace where it felt like everyone else wanted to be there … and they knew that that wasn’t the case for their parents or, it seemed, for other adults in their congregation.”

The Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady speaks with an Asbury First member before a class on human sexuality in the Gathering Center.

First Impressions Something that is very high on Stephen’s priority list is making sure that the first impressions of a new visitor to Asbury First are positive. He’s been working with Ruth VanDerLinden, head of membership care work area, as well as with others who are part of the welcoming ministry of the church, such as ushers and greeters. “We’ve been talking about what it means to be a truly hospitable church, and part of what that means for me is that when people come through the door, they are greeted at least seven times.”

We may believe we are in fellowship with our youth, for example, if we support their mission trip. And that’s a great thing to do. But are we really prepared to walk with them for the journey, to share their joys and pains, challenges and triumphs? “What would it mean to really share in another’s suffering?” Stephen asks. “This is hard for youth and adults. But it’s not unheard of, and it’s not impossible.” And when it happens, he believes, people of all ages will want to be there.

That sounds like a lot, but it’s not. Stephen ticks off the possibilities: “Someone walks in and the greeter standing there with a smile points them in the right direction. Then someone at the Welcome Desk says ‘We’re glad you’re here!’ They walk into the sanctuary and the usher says ‘Thanks for coming” and hands them a bulletin. At the passing of the peace, two or three people in the pews around them say ‘Hello.’ Then, when they leave, someone from Heavenly Grounds [Asbury First’s Sunday coffee ministry] greets them. Members of the church stop and say ‘Hello,’ and then the greeter tells them, ‘Thanks for coming’.”

Three Primary Roles Ask Stephen Cady to describe a typical day at Asbury First and you probably won’t get a definitive answer. “There is no typical day,” he says. “And that’s part of the job I really like: the fact that you never know what a day is going to bring. In the same day, I can be with someone who’s sick in the hospital, and then I’ll turn around and be talking with someone who’s planning a baptism for their baby, then I’ll turn around and be doing some creative writing, and public speaking, and budgetting, and considering options for boiler repair.”

A ministry like this is clearly a task for the entire congregation, of course. And at Asbury First, Stephen believes, the congregation rises to the challenge. “I think we do a great job of this, and many people feel very welcome at Asbury First, including lots of firsttime visitors. But we can always do better, and we should do better. That’s part of what it means to be a Methodist–to keep moving onward toward perfection.”

It’s the kind of varied schedule that this hard-working minister thrives on. In fact, he views his job as having three major aspects: pastor, priest, and prophet. The pastoral aspect involves maintaining relationships: visiting the sick and shut-ins as well as establishing friendships and connections with members of the congregation and offering help to them as needed. In his priestly role, meanwhile, there are several important tasks: making sure that worship is in order, that it’s faithful and has the right flow. This role is also responsible for the organization of the church and its administration; making sure that the laity are empowered, planning and ensuring that the infrastructure of the church is set up to allow growth. And the prophetic role? “That’s being able to name the Gospel into a world that needs it,” he says.

Learning About Faith Another role Stephen has assumed since arriving at Asbury First is that of educator. His “United Methodism 101” course, offered each spring and the fall, has been immensely popular with a congregation that clearly thirsts to learn about their own faith. Other courses have allowed Stephen and the congregation to focus on a broad range of topics: “The Hunger Games and the Holy” (September 2012), “Harry Potter and the Holy Spirit” (May 2013),

It’s because of YOUR faithfulness to the mission and ministries of Asbury First that the Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady and our other pastors and staff are able to make visible the invisible love of God through worship, education, membership care and outreach. As we begin our pledge drive for 2015, we invite you to clip out this pledge card, prayerfully fill it out, and return it either via the the offering plate on Sunday or by mail to: Asbury First United Methodist Church 1050 East Ave. Rochester NY 14607 attention: Stewardship Committee You can also find an online version of the pledge card at www. asburyfirst.org.

and “Beyond the Birds and the Bees” (February 2013. His “United Methodism 303: Human Sexuality” class tackled hot button issues such as gay marriage. Stephen does not shy away from difficult topics, either in his teaching or preaching. “God bless the people of Asbury First,” he says. “People here are willing to have hard conversations. Not that they are easy – they’re not – but they are good and faithful conversations to have. They will say, ‘You know, Stephen, I’m struggling with something you said, can we chat?’ I have learned so much from people being faithful enough to share their struggles.” Leading Forward For all his many skills as a preacher and teacher, perhaps Stephen’s greatest gift to the church is his ability to bring small groups of committed individuals together, forming vibrant teams to help Asbury First grow and flourish. The vision team is one example. This committee meets monthly, for exactly one hour, to brainstorm ways in which the church can better live out its mission and vision. The free-flowing conversations of the group are no-holds-barred: their task isn’t to think of matters such as cost or practicality; it’s to give reign to their ideas, no matter how outlandish they may seem.

Asbury First United Methodist Church I/we offer this gift to the annual operating budget for 2015:

Tent Week is one example of a vision team idea that rose out of a member who wondered if Asbury First could do something fun with the tent that the church rents for the tent service and leaves up for Vacation Bible School. From dream to reality took about four months, and that initial what if... proposition saw the light of day in a series of events that included a health fair, an interfaith festival, and a community-wide sing-along.

My/our estimate of giving for 2015 is: $

per month for 12 months = $

or $

per

= $

or increase last year's gift by __________________________

“These kinds of things are life-giving for me, as well as being fun,” says Stephen. “I like to have fun, and I want church to be fun. I take my job very seriously, but I don’t want to take myself so seriously that there isn’t joy in what we do.”

In addition, I/we offer a designated gift of

$ to be used for

Stephen’s leadership style has brought results at Asbury First, and earned him the respect of those who work with him. “Stephen is the type of courageous leader that will say the things that are hard to say, open the door, and invite everyone in to figure it out,” says Kelly Mueller. “And then, just when the first rush of people come in, he pushes the doors wider and runs out to grab a few more folks to be part of the discussion. ‘What do we think people feel when they first come to Asbury?,’ Stephen asks. ‘What do our members need?’ Stephen has issued the challenge to us to truly understand our faith. He fosters a strong vision and understanding of the grace that we are offered in our efforts to grow as a church, both in our relationships with each other, and with those who we have yet to meet. His leadership has enabled us to push open our doors – even wider than they already were.”

Total estimated gift for 2015 $

If you would like envelopes, please indicate your preference. ❑ monthly ❑ weekly Are you interested in electronic funds transfer? ❑ yes (If yes, we will contact you)

Name(s): Address:

email:

The beloved musical, brought to new life by Asbury First’s Youth! Friday, November 14 ~ 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 15 ~ 7:30 p.m. Sunday, November 16 ~ 1:00 p.m. Fellowship Hall Tickets are $10, and are available at the table in the Welcoming Hall on Sunday mornings, at the church office during regular business hours, and at the door. You may also reserve a boxed lunch for the Sunday performance for $6.

End of Life Decision Making A series of three talks at Asbury First October 26, 2014 Protecting Your Future: A Guide to Advance Directives and Health Care Proxies

Learn from compassionate experts about what each of us needs to do now to insure that our wishes, or those of a loved one, are respected

Richard Demme, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Humanities and Bioethics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and chair of the Strong Health Ethics Committee

if we are in a situation where we cannot speak for ourselves. Anyone who has suffered the emotional and ethical dilemmas of end-of-life decision-mak-

November 2, 2014 Taking Control of Your Healthcare Amidst Serious Illness

ing can attest to the importance of having these discussions before there is a health crisis.

Rob Horowitz, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and Pediatrics; Physician-Consultant, Palliative Care Division

Each session will be introduced by Rev. Bill Reynolds, Associate Director, Chaplaincy Services,

November 9, 2014 Celebrating National Donor Sabbath: Having ‘The Talk’ with your loved ones

University of Rochester Medical Center. All sessions begin at 12:15 p.m. in the Red

Rob Kochik, Executive Director, Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network

Room of 1010 East Ave.

youth ministry news A Reflection on Appearing in Asbury First Youth Plays Everybody has his or her “thing:” that one thing that they are good at and love participating in time and time again. Musical theatre is my thing. It is something I have been involved in since I was three years old. I have been in more than 15 productions, which is a little bit more than one per year. From my perspective, musical theatre is freeing. The feeling that I get in the pit of my stomach when I am on the stage is one of the best that I have ever felt. I wish I could find the words to describe what it feels like to be up on the stage and to have that one spotlight follow your every move. Hearing and seeing the audience’s response to the performance is addicting. Here at Asbury First, musical productions are so different from those at school or other musical theatre programs. Our church is a place of acceptance and it doesn’t matter whether you’re black or white, gay or straight, young or old, rich or poor, broken or whole. In the youth musical programs at Asbury First everyone feels wel-

come and accepted whether they are Broadway-bound or can’t stay on pitch no matter what they try. Year after year I have found myself anticipating back-to-school season because that means that it is time for another youth musical here at my home away from home. Not only are our rehearsals a comforting place for youth to be themselves and not have to worry about judgment of their talents, they also have great religious meaning to us. I feel as if I am under “God’s spell” when I am preparing for the musical. During that short period from September to November of rehearsals every Sunday I feel God’s love and wisdom embracing me. As we learn the different songs and how to do the dances, we are also learning about God. I am so thankful that I am only a junior at times like these, so I don’t have to say my goodbyes to the youth musical productions at Asbury First. I have enjoyed the past five years of musicals here that I have been involved in and cannot wait to allow God’s love to fill me yet again this musical season. -Hannah Smith

Attention All Youth! It’s time for the Conferencewide Fall Gathering 2014! This year we are going to be exploring the theme Searching... God! At Fall Gathering, you will have the opportunity to meet youth in The United Methodist Church from all over Upper New York. On Friday after dinner, we will worship and meet everyone, and then on Saturday, breakfast will be followed by workshops, fellowship and more worship with the Barefoot Band. If you’re a youth and you’re interested, contact Mike Mullin (our youth director) at mmullin@asburyfirst. org for more information. I hope to see you all there!

Thank you to everyone who helped make our Youth Spaghetti Luncheon such a great success! It was wonderful to be able to once again host this intergenerational event, and our youth loved to be able to share the stories and photos from their summer mission trips to Chicago and Niagara Falls. Thanks, also, to all the youth and adults who helped us unload the truck that brought our pumpkins to Asbury First, and thanks to all those who are giving their time in support of this awesome fundraiser! Photo by Jim Carter. 11

An Invitation to Join the DCC Baking Team

he Asbury First Baking Team has been ongoing for the past ten years. Have you ever wondered what the team does and why? Here are the answers to some frequently-asked questions:

of the church). On a typical Saturday, we are cleaned up and ready to leave around 11:30 a.m. Baked goods are left there to be used the next day for Sunday dinner.

Q. How did the baking team get its start? A. Ten years ago two Sunday dinner helpers in the Dining and Caring Center, Judy Bristow and Deb McLean, realized there was a need for fresh desserts at the Center. They gathered friends who liked to bake and that was the beginning of a long commitment to service for our guests at the DCC.

Q. What if I can’t commit to each month? A. We have a small group of volunteer bakers who come when they are able. Some travel, some have other obligations with family or church, and some come just when we decorate cookies at Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Any or all are welcomed when they are able to come.

Q. Do you have to be a gourmet baker to help? A. Absolutely not! We simplify our baking with premade pie crusts and canned pie fillings, and boxed mixes for brownies, cupcakes, muffins and cakes which are frosted and decorated. Q. Who gets the supplies used for the baking?

DCC Baking Team members (l to r) Barb Castle, team leader Sharon Parker, team leader Diane Dudley, and former team leader Judy Bristow prepare for a morning of baking.

A. Team captains, Diane Dudley and Sharon Parker, purchase in advance all the supplies needed for baking day. The Baking Team has a supply budget which is used to supplement the occasional food donated by Foodlink. Q. How often does the Baking Team meet? A. We meet the first Saturday of each month around 9:00 a.m. at the DCC kitchen on the lower floor of 1010 East Ave. (the red brick building just west

Join Us For a Fall Retreat

Carving Holy Moments

“From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the name of the Lord shall be praised.” – Psalms 113:3 Saturday, November 8 8:30 am-4:00 pm Asbury First Campus, 1010 East Ave. (red brick building next to church) Rev. Margaret Scott and Linda Taggart, practitioners of Benedictine spirituality, will facilitate our experience.Through prayer, reflection, and creative arts, we will take a day off from our busy lives to focus on ways to carve out time each day to stop and reflect. Come with an open mind, a listening heart, and willing creativity. There is a $10 fee to attend this event; please register by contacting Melody Guadagnino in the church office at (585) 271-1050 x103 or mguadagnino@ asburyfirst.org. Space is limited.

Please join us for an orientation to the kitchen at the DCC in 1010 East Ave. on November 1 at 9:00 a.m. You will have the chance to meet some of the bakers in action, go over the simple rules, and see where the supplies are kept. If you have further questions, please contact Diane Dudley (diduds@aol.com ) or Sharon Parker (sharon.parker1219@ gmail.com). We hope you will join us.

Making the Invisible Visible

by Rev. Linda Clemow

arcel Duchamp was a French-American painter, sculptor, chess player, and writer who is regarded as one of the three artists (Picasso and Matisse are the other two) who helped to define the revolutionary developments in art in the opening decades of the twentieth century. One of his most famous quotes is “Artmaking is making the invisible, visible.” When I saw the theme chosen for the stewardship campaign of our church I knew the arts had a contribution to make.

In seeing the actual beauty in another’s face and in the beauty of God’s universe and its creatures; and in understanding, in some small way, the mystery of Creation, we come to respect that mystery. We understand our part in the on-going sustaining of this creation. We understand that we have a responsibility to do our part. And here at Asbury First we are provided with many opportunities to make a difference, of making the invisible visible through our actions.

Artists are deeply familiar with the process of making the invisible visible. This is a process of observing, feeling, translating and visualizing that artists come to understand is their gift to share. Through the arts and artists we are invited in to see that which has been invisible. The arts teach new ways of seeing – seeing out beyond that which is, and seeing that which is buried deep within. It is mystery revealed.

I’m putting a plug in here, now, for the art classes here at Asbury First. Here is a place where you can learn to see beyond that which is visible. It is a safe and non-judgmental environment to explore creation. It is a safe place to allow the spiritual to lead you into a closer relationship with your world and God’s.

There is always room for more in the art classes. We Recently in the bulletin there was a meditation are currently enjoying an acrylic painting class – for for us to read while we waited for our time at any level of experience, including those with no the communion rail. It spoke volumes to me as experience! There is also a “sewing” class where we a spiritual being and as an artist. It is too long to use stitching techniques to make art pieces. We reprint here but it begins: ”What would happen if we have two extra sewing machines available if anyone Samples of work created in the art set aside one day a week and called it Observation would like to try this out. You do not need a lot of stitching class. Day? ... What if we really looked and saw and felt, sewing experience. Please call me at 236-1184 for consciously, once a week?...” This is what the arts are all about. To more information on art classes! look and feel, to reveal the mystery, the unknown, the invisible, so that others may be taught to see, to really see what was invisible.

Thanksgiving In-Gathering Sunday, November 23

Labyrinth

Each year we gather on the Sunday before Thanksgiving to give thanks for all that God

Wednesday

has given us, and to pass on our gratitude in the form of items to support our outreach

Noember 12

ministries. This year, we ask you to bring your gifts as follows: For the Dining and Caring Center: adult hats, gloves and scarves, coffee, sugar, grits, and toilet paper. For the Storehouse: children’s gloves, and mittens. For the Grocery Bag Ministry: canned fruit and vegetables, canned soup peanut butter, jams, jellies, canned tuna. 13

5:00-7:00 p.m. Join us for this ancient, reflective practice.

library news November commences holiday season with Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations and extra reading time. So we have some November Resource Library selections that will help you choose vacation reading books. Take a look at the below book selections for children, young adults and adults. They are just a few of the many possibilities available for loan in the Church Resource Library. The library is located just off the gathering space near the elevators. When the church is open, the library is open, and everyone is welcome! Come in and browse. Children: Fiona’s Lace, by Patricia Polacco. An Irish family stays together with the help of Fiona’s talent for making one-of-a-kind lace in this heartwarming immigration story. This 48-page book will be especially appealing to children ages 4-8. It is a portrait of hardship in Ireland and describes the unjust working conditions that immigrants encountered in the U.S.

Adult: He Walks Among Us: Encounters with Christ in a Broken World, by Richard and Renee Stearns. This book is a 90-day devotional, giving readers an up-close and personal view of Christ in the lives of mothers, fathers, and children who have so little, yet are rich in God’s spirit and love. Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Pie, by Beth M. Howard. Making Piece, a very personal journal of loss, grief, and healing, is a moving account of healing and recovery. It shows how one courageous woman triumphs over tragedy and has a little something for everyone, including recipes at the back of the book.

Picture a Tree, by Barbara Reid. In this “gorgeous” picture book, ages 4-7 will explore the subject of trees — “how trees can be pictured: as a drawing on the sky, a skeleton, a tunnel, an ocean, a pirate ship, and more.” Author/illustrator Reid’s plasticine illustrations are considered remarkable in detail and intricacy and the reader will never look at trees in quite the same way again.

Far to Go: A Novel, by Allison Pick. The Man Booker Prize finalist Far to Go is cited as historical fiction “at its very best.” The book tackles the Holocaust with the story of a young Jewish family struggling to survive as the Nazis invade Czechoslovakia.

A Home for Bird, by Philip Stead. Ages 3-8, and their adult readers, will find this a classic story of kindhearted friendship and belonging as animal friends help to find a home for a small blue bird. The story is one of friendship, selflessness, and the joys of home. It is a Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Book of 2012

Parenting: God is in the Small Stuff: And it all Matters, by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz. The authors encourage readers never to disregard the minor, seemingly insignificant things of life — because God is in all things. God Is in the Small Stuff promises encouragement and challenge to readers at all levels of spiritual growth.

Youth: Hope Was Here, by Joan Bauer. A heartfelt story about life in a rural town describes this story of a teenage waitress’s search for a sense of belonging. It is especially for middle age youth readers. This novel is full of humor, packed with funny lines, and interesting and quirky characters.

If you don’t find the book you want or need in the Church Resource Library, try next door at 1010 East Ave. (the red brick building west of the church) in the meditation room that houses the Spiritual Life Library.

A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness. Especially for ages 14-17, this book is described as a “profoundly sad story”. But it’s also wise, darkly funny and brave, and a powerful story of love and grieving. October 26  Isaiah 33:10-34 27  Ezekiel 34:1-31 28  Habakkuk 1:1-17 29  Habakkuk 2:1-20 30  Habakkuk 3:1-19 31  Psalm 46 November 1 Genesis 1.1-2.4a 2 Genesis 2.4b-25 3 Psalm 104 4 Psalm 8 5 Psalm 24

Remember to return the books you have borrowed so that others might be able to enjoy them.

12 Psalm 146 13 Psalm 147 14 Psalm 148 15 Psalm 149 16 Psalm 150 17 Revelation 4:1-11

6 1 Chronicles 16.8-43 7 Nehemiah 12.27-47 8 Esther 9:20-32 9 Job 42:1-17 10 Psalm 138 11 Psalm 145

18 Revelation 5:1-14 19 Psalm 92 20 Psalm 93 21 Psalm 94 22 Psalm 95 23 Psalm 96 24 Psalm 97 25 Psalm 98 26 Psalm 99 27 Psalm 65 28 Psalm 66 29 Psalm 67 30 Psalm 100

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

the last word 1 by Michele Cooley 2

A Room Somewhere “I’m going to be very emotional when I look out of my window this winter,” Elijah said to me one day at the Dining and Caring Center. “I will be imagining myself freezing cold, living on the streets and hanging out and sleeping in the garage. Keeping my clothes in your office while trying to find a place to secure myself. “I didn’t want to accept life living in the streets anymore,” he continued. “Trying to find a place throughout my journey – that was no way to live. One day, when I was sleeping in the garage, I saw Pete and Jermaine with their own keys to their apartment and they were doing good. I thought, why can’t I have what they have too? The homeless guys said, ‘what? You don’t like us any more?’ But no, it wasn’t that. I could see that they had no future and weren’t going anywhere. And I’m not a drug user. I was stuck.” Elijah signed up to be a volunteer at the Dining and Caring Center last year but it was hard for him to follow through. Most winter days I let him sleep after breakfast in one of our waiting area chairs. He and a line of other guests would be asleep and I would wake them up before I left for the day. It was bitterly cold and

they had nowhere to go. It was sad to watch them shuffle off in the snow knowing that they would be sleeping on the hard staircase of the Civic Center Garage. The shelters were full and many did not want to go to a shelter anyway. So entrenched were they in their lifestyle, that they could not see a way out. Offers of help, rehab, mental health treatments were rejected. Some would express interest in getting help, but the restrictions that accompany treatment were not attractive: curfew, abstinence, rules, etc. And some were embarrassed about their situation and just preferred to be independent. Mental health issues coupled with substance abuse create a profoundly confused perspective. I would receive daily

reports from our guests: “You remember Fred? Well, they found him dead. He had been doing okay but then started to smoke crack again. He had a heart attack.” It was tragic. And then a housing outreach worker, John, from Monroe County, started working with Elijah. They would meet here during breakfast. Elijah could be elusive. Appointments were not always kept, but John was persistent. “I think Elijah thinks I’m stalking him. I found him in the library. He opened his eyes and there I was,” John said to me one day. I remember the day that Elijah took his clothes out of my office. They had been there for many cold winter months. “It’s so nice to have hot and cold

running water now,” he says. “I have my own apartment on the second floor and I have heat and no furniture. It was a struggle to accomplish this but I’m in ‘group’ now and doing good.” It is so good to see him doing well. He is volunteering for us and helped with an extensive cleaning of the kitchen this past Saturday. We are putting our heads together to work with our guests who are still homeless. Elijah wants to help them as he has been helped. He and I reflect on the issue of homelessness among our guests and concur that is it very sad. These are good people we really know and like. Winter is almost upon us. Once again it is going to be cold. We can ease some of the suffering with great food. Socks, sleeping bags, gloves and hats are also in demand. They will be frequently requested by those still sleeping outside. Not yet, but hopefully, prayerfully, soon they, too, will have their own window. Elijah is still in need of some assistance. Donations of household furnishings and small appliances would be greatly appreciated – contact me at mcooley@asburyfirst.org if you can help. “It’s been a long time coming I’m just blessed to be out of the cold this season.”

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

Salon Concert Series a t As b u r y F i r s t 2 01 4 -1 5 S e a so n

Featuring Rebecca Penneys, piano; Mikhail Kopelman, violin; Stefan Reuss, cello Sunday, November 2 Beethoven Trio in G Major Op 1 no 2 Arensky Trio no 1 in D Minor, Op 32

Sunday, April 12 Beethoven Trio in E-flat Major, Op 70 no 2 Tchaikovsky Trio in A minor, Op 50

Sunday, January 18 Beethoven Trio in D Major Op 70 no 1 “Ghost” Arensky Trio no 2 in F Minor, Op 73

All concerts begin at 2:00 p.m. at Asbury First United Methodist Church 1050 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607

Sunday, February 1 Debussy Trio in G Major Francaix Trio in D Major Ravel Trio in A Minor Sunday, March 22 Brahms Trio no 3 in C minor, Op 101 Mendelssohn Trio no 2 in C minor, Op 66

To reserve your tickets call the church office at (585) 271-1050 x103. Tickets are $30 in advance; $35 at the door / free for full-time students.