TheVisitor
Asbury First United Methodist Church Newsletter September 2014 • Vol. XLVIII No. 8 • www.asburyfirst.org
In This Issue Benedictine Retreat, 4 Chacocente Update, 5 A Visible Ministry, 7 Pledge Card, 9 October Events, 10 Digital Church, 12 Pumpkin Patch, 16
Making Visible the Invisible: Our Stewardship Drive for 2015
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. 8 (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.
Visibility
A Pastoral Reflection
Periodical postage paid at Rochester, N.Y. POSTMASTER: Send addresses changes to
We can never fully know what is going on in another person’s life. Sure, we often hear the basics (we have our ways), but much of what people are going through remains invisible to us. How many times have we had a person pegged only to discover that there was some aspect of her history, his struggle, their lives about which we had no clue? How many times have we faced something that we weren’t quite sure how to share?
Asbury First UMC Visitor 1050 East Ave. Rochester, N.Y. 14607-2239 (585) 271-1050
Staff
Rev. Susan S. Shafer Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady II
Rev. Lawrence Hargrave
David T. Strong Dr. William J. Weinert Paula Dugan 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 Ministries Music Administrator; Assistant Organist Director of Music Children’s Ministry CoCoordinator 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: AFUMC’s senior pastor, Rev. Susan Shafer, makes visible the invisible spirit and love of God through her work every day. 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, October 3
This is often just as true for institutions as it is for people. Sometimes we can look from the outside, through reports and financials, and think we have a clear grasp of what is going on, only to learn, for better or worse, that we really had no clue. Much of what happens in the day to day life of a church is not visible— from the prayers offered at the highs and lows of people’s journeys to the teams that write, edit, print, and fold our bulletins and newsletters. Every day at Asbury First there are people, volunteer and staff, who work on aspects of our ministry together that might never be noticed (unless they stopped for some reason) and which benefit our entire community. We are blessed with a congregation and staff that works hard every day to make the ministry of Asbury First possible. This fall, as a part of our 2015 Stewardship Campaign, we will be highlighting some of the less visible aspects of our life together in the hope that we might all recognize how our support makes ministry to all God’s children possible. Howard Thurman used to say that every person longs for the kind of relationship in which they have no reason to pretend. Whether we are going through the best moment of our life or the worst, we long for a relationship in which we can be honest about where we are. We are fortunate to be in a very healthy place as a congregation, but if we want to maintain our health and continue to provide a place where no one has to pretend, then we need to be open with one another about what it is we do and how we can continue to live out the call that God has placed before us. In short, we need to start making the invisible, visible. Grace and Peace, Stephen
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AFUMC news Together in Service 2014
generational volunteer group, ranging in age from 5 to 83, included members of at least four church organizations, couples, singles, families, several parent-child duos, a men’s group, and a weight-loss support group.
This year, Together in Service will be October 10 through October 20. We will be bringing our time and talents together with the time and talents of the members of Baber AME to be in service to the city of Rochester. The really huge project which we will be taking on this year is painting all of the Storehouse, in preparation for the celebration of their upcoming 50th anniversary.
Volunteers are needed for December 7-14! It’s an opportunity to sign up with family and friends for a good cause. There are currently four Asbury First church groups participating in RAIHN — the Men’s Prayer Group, the Doublers Sunday School Class, the 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.
Other places where we will serving throughout the week will be the Ronald McDonald House, Hope House, Genesis House, and St. Mary’s Adult Day Care. In addition, we will be putting together hygiene kits, healthy snack packs and grocery bags. We will be making lunches and baking once again, in support of many of the above activities.
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 volunteer effort, please contact Chris and Doug Lee at (585) 451-7692 or c_s_lee29@msn.com or contact Melody, ext. 103, at the church office (271-1050).
Members of the committee from Baber African Methodist Episcopal Church and Asbury First have worked hard together to create a variety of projects which use a variety of talents and will take a variety of time commitments.
New Youth Music Director Joins Asbury First Staff We would like to welcome Carol Lamica to the Asbury First music staff as director of the youth music program, which includes directing the youth bells and youth choir and working on the annual musical. Carol previously served as the director of music at Faith UMC in Henrietta. She holds a bachelor of science in education with a specialization in music from SUNY Fredonia and a master’s degree in interdisciplinary arts for children from SUNY Brockport. Carol is a vocal music teacher in the Rush Henrietta Central School district at Roth Middle School, where she conducts two choirs, teaches string lessons, keyboard classes and general music. In addition to her teaching assignments she directs the fall theatrical productions and the spring musicals. Carol and her husband, Tim, are members of Asbury First and have three children, Emily, Allie and Joe. In her spare time she enjoys card making, spending time at the beach, rooting on the New York Yankees, and cheering for Allie and Joe in their high school sporting events.
Please join us! Let’s bring our time and talents together to make a difference in Rochester! Sign-up will be the last three Sundays of September in the Welcoming Hall after services. RAIHN Outreach Helps Homeless Families Most of us don’t know what it feels like to be without a home, but there are families in Rochester who struggle with this problem. Asbury First is one of the Rochester-area churches which has stepped up to help those families—providing safe shelter and nourishing food to parents and children in need. 2014 marks the tenth year that Asbury First has served as a host church in the RAIHN (Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network) program. As a host church, Asbury First is home for homeless families for a week four times a year. The most recent RAIHN week was September 7-14 and coming up next is December 7-14. At a recent RAIHN week, some 70 volunteers working 400+ hours helping to create a home and meals. They provided hospitality to four homeless families– adults and children. The volunteers made beds, prepared and served meals, visited with the families, cleaned and helped out where needed. Our inter-
AFUMC News, continued on page 6
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on holy ground
T
Created by the Center for Spiritual Life, On Holy Ground highlights opportunities for spiritual growth and renewal.
he following is the daily
us to maintain our faith and the
–Mariella Carr (Texas)
meditation from The Upper
wellbeing of our souls. Keeping
Room for August 24, 2014, p.66:
our faith new and fresh requires
(You’ll find copies of The Upper
“Where are my socks?” was the
daily renewal. By taking the time to worship by praise and prayer
plaintive cry from my daughter. I
each morning, we are being good
hear this plea often in the rush of
housekeepers of our souls. How-
getting everyone off to work and
ever, rather than being the chore
school in the morning. Some-
that housework can become,
times, in the midst of our busy
this daily communion with our
lives, we feel that we do not have enough time to meditate and
Maker always brings us joy.
praise God. Sweeping the floor,
Prayer: Dear God, as we
making beds, washing clothes, cooking meals – these required daily tasks seem endless. Being a homemaker reminds
struggle in our busy lives, help us
me that God also expects daily
to find time for the joy of com-
tasks from us. Having a devo-
munion with you – our Lord
tional time and praying without
and our Maker. Amen.
ceasing (see Thess. 5:17) helps
Coming This Fall to Asbury First:
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. Register by contacting Melody Guadagnino in the church office at (585) 271-1050 x103 or mguadagnino@asburyfirst.org. Space is limited.
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Room devotional guide in the pamphlet rack in the Welcoming Hall. Large-print editions are also available.)
Labyrinth Wednesday October 8 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Church To Be Built at Project Chacocente “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” – Matthew 18:20
N
icaragua is a country of devout believers in the risen Christ. Although accurate data is difficult to find, most sources agree that more than 90 percent of Nicaraguans define themselves as Christian. One of the primary goals of Project Chacocente was to build a Christian community where the members lived, worked and worshiped together, lifting each other from the pit of extreme poverty. Of the eight families living on the Chacocente campus, six are Evangelical and two are Roman Catholic. The Evangelicals worship weekday evenings and Sundays, both at home churches and at a church located about 3 ½ miles away. Keep in mind: the road is often flooded during the rainy season and dusty during the dry season, making it a difficult walk. The Roman Catholics worship less frequently as there is no Catholic church in the area. For many years, the families have been asking for help to build a church for themselves and for the surrounding neighborhood. They would like it in a highly visible location so all will feel welcome for worship and fellowship. They foresee Christians of all denominations using the church building.
Thanks to God’s call within the heart of Rev. Susan Shafer, their dream is becoming a reality. In February of this year, the Outreach Work Area unanimously approved a funding request submitted by Rev. Shafer for $10,000 to build a church for the people of Project Chacocente and the surrounding community. The total cost of building a simple church is $20,000 and a nationwide fundraising campaign organized by the board of directors of Project Chacocente for the remaining $10,000 is to
Left, a student from Chacocente Christian School reads his Bible during recess; right, Manuela and her daughter, Tatiana, are eager to help with the building of a church.
begin in October. Asbury First’s gift will be used as matching funds. The families of the Project are well aware of the generosity of Asbury First members and were thrilled to hear that their prayers have been answered. They are grateful and ready to help with construction! We hope to organize a team of Asbury First members to travel to Masaya, Nicaragua in 2015 for the groundbreaking. Dates have not yet been determined but we hope to schedule it at a time convenient for our church families. The church will be located on the campus of Chacocente Christian School and will be
used for worship during the school year, for Sunday worships for varying denominations, and for weekday fellowship and worship. Visiting delegations from the United States will be able to worship with the families and Chacocente community during their stay. With God’s grace, the church may even become a community outreach area for the surrounding, poverty-stricken neighborhood. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! For questions regarding Project Chacocente, please contact Robyn Gage at 585-7529070 or lgage1@rochester.rr.com .
Help the children of Chacocente Christian School by purchasing their beautiful 2015 wall calendar Growing up in poverty-stricken Nicaragua is a struggle but the children of Chacocente Christian School still have big dreams for their future! 2015 wall calendars featuring stunning photographs of students dressed as the professionals they aspire to become are available for purchase. Titled Because of You, We Can Dream the calendars are $20 each. Your purchase supports the tuition-free, full-day school, which serves those living in dire poverty in rural Nicaragua. To order your calendar, email Robyn Gage at lgage1@rochester.rr.com or call 752-9070. 5
Asbury First News, continued from page 2
Our Living Births & Baptisms God has sealed you unto love and grace divine
Emily Wold & Jeff Camardello married on August 16, 2014.
William Robert Dinkins son of Robert and Jaclyn Lindsey, baptized on August 17, 2014.
Merciful God, we entrust to your never-failing care and love.
Jillian Alexis Smith daughter of Jeffrey and Gwen Smith, baptized on August 17, 2014.
Marriages May the blessings of God’s love go with you in your new covenant. Jeannine Boyd Edwards & Ron Corsaro married on May 25, 2014. Sarah Pollicove & Brian Costello married on June 7, 2014. Ashley Rogers & Quinn Wright married on July 19, 2014.
Golf Committee Gratitude
in Community
The Golf Committee would like to thank all those who participated in the golf tournament in August at Mill Creek Golf Club, and especially our major sponsors: Anthony Funeral Home, Canandaigua National Bank, Federated Clover Investment Services, Jines Restaurant, and Manning and Napier. The tournament raised $14,200 – a new record for the four-year-old event – which was split between the Storehouse, the Dining and Caring Center, and the youth mission trip. Next year’s tournament is already in the works: it will be held at Eagle Vail Golf Club on July 13, 2015. Mark your calendars now!
Deaths We offer our prayers and sympathy to: Family and friends of Stuart Montgomery who died on August 15, 2014 in Las Vegas, NV.
Welcome to Our New Soloist We are pleased to welcome Susan Huppe as our new mezzo soprano choir section leader and soloist. Susan, a member of AFUMC, attended Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and the Eastman School of Music. She worked in the Washington metro area singing with the Washington Opera, Washington Bach Consort, Charlottesville Oratorio Society, and others. Susan returned home to Rochester and began singing at Asbury First in the early 90s. She is thrilled to be back for the third time serving as section leader and soloist. When she’s not singing, Susan is busy teaching second grade at Village Elementary in Hilton and is the proud mom of Kate, 16, and Madeleine, 14.
Helen and Alan Codd on the death of Helen’s mother Madeline Ferrigno on August 21, 2014. Family and friends of Ellen Holmes who died on August 24, 2014. Bill and Carolyn Curran on the death of Carolyn’s mother Bettie M. Ott on Sept. 7, 2014 in Macon, GA.
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
Sunday October 12 Matthew 22:1-14 Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady II, preacher
Sunday September 28 Matthew 21:23-32 Rev. Lawrence Hargrave, preacher
Sunday October 26 Matthew 22:34-46 Rev. Susan S. Shafer, preacher
Sunday October 5 (World Communion Sunday) Philippians 3:4b-14 Rev. Susan S. Shafer, preacher
Help Out at the Welcome Desk We need you! Please join us in helping people by becoming a volunteer at the Welcome/Information Desk on Sunday mornings, welcoming people to church and answering questions as needed. Varied shifts are available in order to cover the desk from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This is a great way to meet people, learn about the church and make a difference! If interested please contact Janda Hemming at email: jhemming01@earthlink.net or phone 381-6902.
Sunday October 19 Matthew 22:15-22 Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady II, preacher
Sunday November 2 Joshua 3:7-17 Rev. Susan S. Shafer, preacher
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MAKING VISIBLE
THE INVISIBLE Editor’s note: In this issue of The Visitor, we begin a three-part 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, which begins this month. In this issue, we will focus on Rev. Susan Shafer. In October and November, we’ll take a look at how Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady and Rev. Lawrence Hargrave bring the Gospel to life through their own very special ministries.
I
t was one of the rougher moments in AFUMC member Jim Stinehour’s life. “I lay there in bed, disheveled in the hospital gown,” he remembers. “The day before I had been diagnosed with throat cancer and that evening had undergone a tracheotomy. I did not know if the cancer was treatable. I was alone, both physically and mentally.”
of an older parishioner who had just passed away, with her family. “In the midst of heartache and tears, her faithful spirit was made known to us,” she remembers. “It was invisible, but we suddenly experienced a sense of Christ’s presence among us.” That sense of Christ’s presence is something that Susan – as well as those she visits – feel and appreciate. A month after his tracheotomy, Jim Stinehour was back in Strong Memorial Hospital to undergo surgery to remove his larynx. “It was 6:30 on a single-digit snowy January morning and, yes, once again Susan was there,” he says. “We prayed. I’m not sure of the exact nature of the prayer because I had other things on my mind. But I do know, as my gurney was wheeled to the operating room, not knowing what my future held, that I was serene in the knowledge that I was not alone.”
Woozy from medications and deeply distressed, Jim drifted in and out of sleep – until he was awoken by a sudden visitor. “I was stirred back to consciousness by the presence of someone. It was Susan. Motioning me not to speak she took my hands and spoke a prayer of hope. When finished she silently stole away as she had entered.” “I think Christ’s presence is made known in relationships,” says Rev. Susan Shafer, senior minister at Asbury First. A pastor at Asbury First for more than 30 years, Susan spent 28 years as the church’s membership care pastor, and still considers this ministry her primary calling.
Preaching the Gospel For many parishioners, perhaps the most visible role of a pastor is as a liturgist and preacher during Sunday services. Week after week, Asbury First’s pastors and staff spend significant time planning the services for the coming weekend. Even if they are not preaching, the pastors who are serving as liturgists, also play a role in the service as well, writing and offering, for example, the pastoral prayer after the sermon.
“I think that’s God’s message through Jesus Christ: that there is a relationship of the holy to the human,” she says. “For us as pastors and parishioners, we’re called to help others know the holy in the midst of human activities.” Ministering to the Sick One of Susan’s most prominent roles – in which she takes great joy – is being with church members who are ill or dying. The number of visits she makes can vary widely from week to week, but there are certainly some days when she spends most of her time at local hospitals, hospices, and homes, with those in need of ministry, of compassion and guidance, of a shoulder to cry on or a hand to hold.
But the heavy lifting each Sunday is done by the preacher. A standard guideline, says Susan, is that a preacher spends an hour’s worth of time reading, studying, thinking, praying and writing the sermon for every minute in the pulpit. Difficult texts may require additional time, while other sermons may come together more easily. “But I don’t think I’ve ever spent less than 24 hours on a sermon, if we include the prayer time spent with the Scripture during the week,” she says.
“In a hospital visit, my hope and prayer is that when I leave, the presence of Christ is left behind. That visit should lift the spirits enough so that the holy – the invisible – can be experienced very concretely. Many times, I feel that I’ve been ministered to as much as the other person, so that there is a mutuality between giving and receiving.”
The effort is worth it. Susan believes that the best sermons are the ones that help the listeners to visualize how the spirit moves in our lives – how, in fact, the invisible becomes visible to each of us. She particularly likes finding stories and illustrations that help people by
She remembers, for example, being at the bedside this past summer 7
offering up examples with which they resonate. “The sermons that I hear the most feedback on are the ones that remind us that we are all gifts of God. We tend to be critical of ourselves, and sometimes we’re not great at loving ourselves. My hope is that sometimes the preached word permits us to know that we are loved. We aren’t called to be perfect. We’re called to be as faithful as we can, so if my listening ear or preached word can help another person see themselves in faithfulness, then I think I’m doing the right thing.” Counseling Those in Need For many, a natural instinct in times of personal trouble is to seek out the counsel of a member of the clergy. A damaged marriage, unemployment, depression, troubled children – these are only some of the concerns that people bring to Susan’s office every week. The warm wood walls of her cosy office in 1050 East Avenue have seen many tears and hugs, much grief, and, sometimes, welcome relief from a burden carried too long.
Left to right: Brian Eckman holding Sam, Ashley Eckman holding Eli, Rev. Susan Shafer holding Will.
their home to baptize Sam. “We wanted Eli to be at Sam’s baptism. Susan suggested that she come to our house. It was perfect. Casual, but we were all together,” says Ashley.
“The walls of my office have seen so many times when, with the help of Christ, I’ve been able to listen another into discovery and disclosure,” says Susan. “My hope and prayer is that when they leave my office, they have a renewed sense of life, and even of resurrection, in a totally different way from the way we usually look at it. I am hoping for a resurrection of spirit.”
Eli passed away in 2009, and Susan was again a rock for the grieving family. “I love how Susan honored the holiness of each moment,” remembers Ashley. “It was like the UMC affirmation of faith: in life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.”
As pastors, Susan says, it’s important to walk alongside the church’s members and friends in their own individual faith journeys. “We love to celebrate the exciting times with them,” she says, “and to be with them in the midst of anguish or sorrow.
The Eckmans now live in Chicago, where they moved for Brian’s job. But as with many of those to whom she gave care, Susan knows that Eli has never really left her. “Eli was blind, and never saw me. But he knew me. He always giggled with joy when I went to see him. The joy and love he received was the visible presence of the invisible God. That has had such an impact on my life. I’ll never forget that.”
Membership Care “Membership care” covers a great deal of ground at Asbury First. Visitation ministry and counseling are of course under the membership care umbrella. But there’s more to it than that. Ask Ashley Warren Eckman.
The Pastor as Administrator For a pastor, it’s often easy to find the Spirit of God in tasks like preaching and visiting the sick. But, there are also a myriad of other jobs, large and small, that may be harder to see as “ministry.” In some ways, a church is like any other business: there are meetings to attend, budgets to balance, plans to make for the future, and staff members to guide and supervise. How does a senior pastor of a large church like Asbury First handle these multiple responsibilities without losing a God-centered focus?
Ashley and Brian Eckman joined Asbury First in 1998. Four years later, their son, Eli, who was born in 2002, was diagnosed with osteopetrosis, a rare congenital bone disease. Requiring a great deal of dedicated care, it was a difficult time for the young family. Susan soon became a steady presence in their lives. “She was so constant,” remembers Ashley. “She’d send a text or make a phone call or ring the doorbell. I remember asking her about her own family, but she kept returning the conversation to the question of how we were all doing.”
It is a challenge, Susan admits. “But then I’ll be sitting in a meeting and there will be an amazing devotion, and it’s fascinating to see how someone else experiences faith. Sometimes I go around the room in my mind and think about the people who are there, what’s happening in their lives and how the spirit is moving in them. Even though I’m there in an administrative role, I see them with pastoral eyes.”
Through the ensuing years, as they added two more sons to their family (Will in 2006 and Sam in 2007), Susan remained a regular visitor to the Eckman household, and one of Eli’s favorite people. Although Eli’s health challenges continued, he was a happy little boy who loved to listen to Susan reading to him from the books she brought as gifts.
The Servant Leader Leadership, especially of a church the size of Asbury First, is a challenging endeavor. In an age when the number of people attending
When Eli’s suppressed immune system meant that the family couldn’t be around large groups of people, Susan offered to come to 8
mainline Protestant churches has been declining slowly but steadily, Susan leads a church that has more members than it did five years ago, as well as vibrant, healthy outreach ministries and educational programming, along with worship services that attract roughly 700 people each weekend.
It’s because of YOUR faithfulness to the mission and ministries of Asbury First that Rev. Susan Shafer 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.
Clearly, her leadership style is working. “It’s an honor and a privilege to lead Asbury First, but it can also be challenging,” she says. “I’ve prayed that my model would always be the servant-leader – one who leads by example, one who leads with faithfulness.” Susan works to empower the staff and lay leadership of the church to find their own strengths and visions and run with those, creating a rich, dynamic environment of ideas from which the best can be chosen and implemented. “I want people to be free to let the spirit move within them, and to let us all be led by the spirit in our various ministries.”
MAKING VISIBLE
Susan believes that the slow but steady growth of Asbury First will continue in the coming years. “I think this church is on the cusp of tremendous growth,” she says. “I see young adults coming to services Sunday after Sunday; I see 15-20 visitors each weekend who are new to the church. It’s a very exciting time to be here.”
THE INVISIBLE Asbury First United Methodist Church
What are the next steps for the church under Susan’s leadership? Right now, she’s been thinking a lot about accessibility, in light of the findings of an ad-hoc committee, led by AFUMC member Chuck Hanrahan, that has been studying the space needs of our growing programmatic ministries and outreach. While respecting the beautiful buildings and campus of Asbury First and the role they play in those ministries, she and the committee feel that this may be a growth edge for the church.
I/we offer this gift to the annual operating budget for 2015: My/our estimate of giving for 2015 is: $
per month for 12 months = $
or $
per
= $
or increase last year's gift by __________________________
“If you have a mobility issue, then the Storehouse and Dining Center are not accessible to you,” she says. My vision is that these ministries will come up out of the basement, somehow, somewhere finding a way to combine them in a space that is accessible for all.”
In addition, I/we offer a designated gift of
$ to be used for
She is also working to create a new group of members who would engage in visitation ministry. The suggestion of member Meredith Pixley and others, Susan is excited about encouraging the group as they plan the shape their ministry will take. “I hope I can nurture their faithfulness,” she says. “I think the church benefits most from that kind of leadership.”
Total estimated gift for 2015 $
If you would like envelopes, please indicate your preference. ❑ monthly ❑ weekly Are you interested in electronic funds transfer?
Transformative Leadership
❑ yes (If yes, we will contact you)
In the end, Susan believes, it all comes back to relationships. Our relationship with God; our relationships with each other. At Asbury First, all the many hats she wears, in some way, revolve around these vital relationships.
Name(s): Address:
“I hope I’ve never led unilaterally. I hope I’ve always led relationally, because that is the way God works, I think. It’s not top-down. It’s heart-to-heart, soul-to-soul. If I’m going to be effective as senior minister or pastoral counselor, I need to make that spirit known relationally. It’s all about the Christ in me reaching out to the Christ in you.”
email:
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Reconciling Ministries Forum
Wednesday, October 1 6:30 pm ~ Fellowship Hall Tuesday, October 14 7:00 p.m. ~ Wesley Hall You are invited to join this discussion on inclusion for all, including our LGBTQ brothers and sisters.
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.
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youth ministry news Coming Soon: The Asbury First Pumpkin Patch! That’s right, this year we are going to have a pumpkin patch on the Asbury First lawn for the last few weeks of October. The youth of Asbury First have agreed to take on this project as a fundraiser for our youth programs, but we will need support from the entire congregation to make this a success! Here is a little bit about the patch: We are working with an organization called Pumpkins USA, who partner with a Navajo reservation in New Mexico. This means that our fundraiser will not only help our youth, but it will also benefit the Navajo people –and as
an additional connection our senior high youth are looking into the possibility of going to the Southwest next year to work on a Navajo reservation for their mission trip (more to come on that in a later issue!)
We are hoping that we will not only raise funds for our youth, but will also establish a positive presence in the community, and we are working on planning a fall festival at the pumpkin patch at the end of October.
The pumpkins will be delivered by truck and we will be responsible for unloading the truck and staffing our patch each day leading up to halloween. Each day we will report our sales to Pumpkins USA and at the end of our sale, we will send them a portion of our proceeds. We are not charged for delivery or any pumpkins that we do not sell – it truly is a no-risk fundraiser!
This is where you (adults and youth!) come in. We will need volunteers to help us in each of the following areas: • setting up (placing signs, fencing in the field, and putting up lights;
like shopping carts to move through the patch; • unloading the truck on delivery day; and • working shifts to staff the pumpkin patch each day. This is quite a big endeavor, and we would love to have your help! For more information or to volunteer for a specific item, please email Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst. org.
• donating pallets for the pumpkins to sit on; • loaning well-labeled wagons for customers to use
Youth Group Kick-Off Retreat
Annual Youth Mission
We had 40 youth and 12 adults join us for our inaugural youth fall kick-off retreat to Camp Casowasco. A great time was had by all, and we were really able to build a sense of community that we look forward to carrying through the year! – Mike Mullin
Spaghetti Lunch
Sunday, October 19 12:00-1:00 p.m. Fellowship Hall During your meal you’ll hear about youth mission trips this summer to Chicago, Illinois and Niagara Falls. We’ll also have a slide show of mission photos running on the big screen throughout the meal. 11
Attending Church in a digital age by Dan Beerse and Jim Carter
W
hen I was a small boy, the only way to attend church was to physically step inside the building. At the time, there was no other way to experience the service. Years later churches started experimenting with broadcasting (or streaming) the audio portion over a radio station. While that was beneficial for many who were traveling or stuck somewhere, it fell short for anyone unable to get to church on a regular basis. For those who call Asbury First their church, that all changed in spring of 2012. With a request from Senior Pastor Susan Shafer, a small group of volunteers began looking at a technology that would take the Asbury First experience to a level not seen before. What we were studying was video streaming. Early on we met with a company that could set it all up, but after some sticker shock decided to do it ourselves. After careful research and selection of equipment, on August 1 in the wee hours of the morning, Jim Carter and I piled into
or even a smartphone. Our pool of volunteer operators has expanded and includes all ranges of folks in the congregation, from youth through our more experienced members. We are always looking for more volunteers. (If you’re interested see David Berg or Jim Carter, or send an email to asburytech@asburyfirst.org).
Phil Phaneuf’s car and headed down to the Big Apple. Our destination: B&H Photo. The knowledgeable sales people there were helpful and we left with different equipment, but were now confident that it was exactly what we needed. Probably the most difficult part of the installation was running the wires, but thanks to the agility and help of Bruce Schwendy, we managed to snake the wires around every obstacle we encountered until they ended perfectly at the two chosen camera locations, one in back of the sanctuary and one on a column to the right facing the altar. The learning curve was steep, but with the hard work of some dedicated volunteers (including Dan Hines, Dick Eastman, and Rick Church) we began streaming a live video of our service on our website on Together in Ministry Sunday in 2012.
Archived copies of our streamed services reside on the Asbury First web site, so you can watch one you missed or particularly liked any time you want. We’ve had great feedback from folks as close as Brighton and as far away as Japan. Former members who moved away are thrilled to be able to experience the Asbury First community once again, remotely. Other events (by request) can be streamed like weddings and memorial services. This has been especially nice for people who were not able to attend in person.
Now almost two years later, our streaming service is going strong. Anybody with an internet connection can watch live on a computer screen
A move to better cameras and HD (high definition) output is currently being considered and we continue to
David Berg in the Sound Room.
look at newer technologies to be able to improve the “attending church” experience for anybody interested. Who knows, with virtual reality (VR) just beginning to make waves in the gaming community, there may come a day when all you need is to don a heads-up display and you will be sitting in a virtual pew at Asbury First singing along with all the others.
The Asbury First
Bowling League The league begins their fall season at Fairview Lanes in Fairport on Sunday, October 5, 7-9 pm. $10/week includes bowling, shoes, pizza & drinks. No experience needed. Contact RJ Pollard at rjpollard14@gmail.com or 315-246-8132 for more info or to sign up.
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The Money Problem
by Rev. Linda Clemow
D
id you attend any of the arts festivals around the area this summer? Did you get exhausted walking and looking at the art? They’re overwhelming, aren’t they? Did you buy anything? I find that there is so much to choose from that I just can’t purchase anything! So many artists and artisans! As a non-exhibiting artist I find the sheer numbers of arts and artists to be daunting. How do I cope with this? I self-identify as an artist – does this mean that I have to get busy and produce, then get out there and sell? The answer is NO! That is not what my art and my ministry is about. In my own art and in my teaching what I want is to explore and learn. I want to feel the joy of creating – just for the sake of creating. I want to teach others how to share in the spiritual exuberance of learning, creating, exploring. Tom and I recently visited friends in another state. Our host had just retired from a stressful but successful career. Before retirement he had begun to explore his visually creative side. He fell in love with photography. He bought the best camera, the best computer, the best printer. He had plans to travel around his area taking photographs, digitally processing them and then selling them in local coffee shops and galleries. And he did sell some pieces locally. Then he fully retired. He now had the time and the equipment to pursue his art. But in our conversations that weekend he spoke of how he hadn’t sold any more photos. He spoke about visiting us here in Rochester and go-
ing to the Corn Hill Arts Festival. There he saw the number of photographers displaying their works, hoping for a sale, and it unnerved him. He gave up. He had all kinds of excuses for why he couldn’t just get in his car and explore the area for wonderful photos. If he couldn’t sell, he decided, he was not a bona-fide artist. I intend to pursue this further with him in the future. He got a lot of joy from photography and I will encourage him to continue to do so. What I want my students to know is that this is a spiritual journey of joy and creativity. The end goal is not to make money but to find the God-given light of creativity that sits at the very center of your being. Come along with me and the others who have taken the steps to learn, explore and create. It is never too late to join a class! Call me at 236-1184 for more information.
Classes Currently in Session • Acrylic Painting Mondays, 1:00-4:00 p.m. cost: $85 • Drawing Tuesdays, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (please bring a lunch) cost: $85 • Stitching Beyond the Ordinary Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. cost: $85
United Methodism 101
Whether you’ve been a United Methodist all of your life or have just stumbled upon us recently, this class is for you! Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m. beginning Wednesday, October 22, join us for a four-week discussion about the history, structure, beliefs, and challenges of The United Methodist Church. If you are interested in joining the class or have any questions please contact Stephen Cady at scady@asburyfirst.org or Melody Guadagnino in the church office at (585) 271-1050 or mguadagnino@asburyfirst.org. Please let us know if you plan to attend by October 15 as we will be ordering books for the class. There will be an optional book that you may purchase for $12.
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library news “The best things in life are free” and that includes the books from our Church Resource Library. Books for all ages and on all topics can be found there for loan. Take a look at the following featured books for October. 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! Children: Bright Island, by Mabel L. Robinson and Lynd Ward (Illustrator). Winner of a Newbery Honor Medal, Thankful’s story will speak to young (age 10 and up) contemporary readers. In this novel, readers will see the early tracings of the school story as it factors into books such as Harry Potter. Another constant is Thankful’s love of the land she knows and the waters she sails.
less man, and a punk-rock girl. Mike might not learn anything about engineering, but what he does learn is far more valuable. Adults: Interpreter of Maladies, by Jumpha Lahiri. This is a current selection for the church’s Diversity Book Club. The experience of being foreign and the need for connection are evident in this outstanding collection of short stories, in which intimacy is often the odd consequence of a character’s admitting how distant they have become, or always were. These nine stories stress the complexities of adjustment to new circumstances, relationships, and cultures. Read and join the book club discussion on October 19.
Suryia and Roscoe: The True Story of an Unlikely Friendship, by Bhagavan Antie, Thea Feldman. Ages 4-8 will enjoy this story about an orangutan being friends with a dog. Set on a preserve for rare animals, The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.) in South Carolina, here is a true story of a remarkable friendship between two unforgettable animals.
Learning to Walk in the Dark, by Barbara Brown Taylor. The book is a journey to understand darkness, which takes the author spelunking in unlit caves, learning to eat and cross the street as a blind person, discovering how “dark emotions” are prevented from seeing light from a psychiatrist, and rereading scripture to see all the times God shows up at night. The author encourages us to turn out the lights and embrace the spiritual darkness.
Teens: The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, by Christopher Healy, illustrated by Todd Harris. Described as “Four imperfect princes. Four improbable princesses. One hilarious adventure.” For ages 8-12, there are humorous illustrations throughout the 480 pages in a book that was selected by the New York Times as one of its best books of the year.
Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book About a (Really) Big Problem, by Kevin DeYoung. Winner of the 2014 Christian Book of the Year Award, Crazy Busy deals with a look at our jam-packed schedules and how hard it can be to strike a well-reasoned balance between doing nothing and doing it all.
The Absolute Value of Mike, by Kathryn Erskine. In this book, written especially for the age 10-14 year old audience, Mike tries so hard to please his father. But the only language his dad seems to speak is calculus and Mike has a math learning disability. Sent to distant relatives in rural Pennsylvania for the summer to work on an engineering project, Mike figures this is his big chance. However, nothing is what he thought it would be. Instead of an engineering assignment, he finds himself part of a town-wide project to adopt a boy from Romania while working alongside his wacky eighty-something-year-old aunt, a home-
September 28 Proverbs 11:1-31 29 Proverbs 12:1-28 30 Proverbs 16:1-33 October 1 Psalm 7 2 Psalm 9 3 Psalm 10 4 Psalm 11 5 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 6 Leviticus 25:1-22 7 Leviticus 25:23-38
Parenting: All the Places to Love, by Patricia McLaughlin, ill. by Michael Wimmer. This 32-page book is perfect to share with the very young. Cited as “an earnest, tender family portrait that parents will want to share with their children.” Featuring full-color paintings are by Mike Wimmer. “This loving book will be something to treasure.”
8 Leviticus 25:39-55 9 Numbers 27:1-11 10 Numbers 36:1-13 11 Deuteronomy 1:9-33 12 Deuteronomy 10:1-22 13 Deuteronomy 16:18-17:13
14 15 16 17 18 19
Psalm 72 Psalm 73 Psalm 75 Psalm 82 Psalm 85 Isaiah 2:1-22
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Isaiah 3:1-15 Isaiah 5:1-30 Isaiah 11:1-16 Isaiah 24:1-23 Isaiah 29:15-24 Isaiah 32:1-20 Isaiah 33:10-34 Ezekiel 34:1-31 Habakkuk 1:1-17 Habakkuk 2:1-20 Habakkuk 3:1-19 Psalm 46
Scripture reading suggestions courtesy of the American Bible Society, www.americanbible.org.
14
the last word 1 by Michele Cooley 2
W
e at the Asbury
particularly acute on Tuesdays,
Dining and Caring
Wednesdays, and Fridays from
Center are the caring hands
6:00-9:30 a.m., Saturdays
of Jesus. Immersing ourselves
from 8:00 a.m. to noon, and
in our ministry we encoun-
Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to
ter the every-day reality of
1:30 p.m. We are flexible. You
what it means to be poor and
can volunteer as frequently
hungry. At times our hearts
or infrequently as you wish.
may be broken by what we see,
If you would like to help in
but our eyes remain open.We
other ways, a great alterna-
celebrate the successes of our
tive is an in-kind donation
guests, and welcome them dur-
Head cook Charles McManus with volunteers Ruth Ellen Hoyle, Eric Myers and Robert Newman.
ing and after their failures. We
long term, and some new to
Asbury First at 8:00 a.m.
toothpaste, toothbrushes and
encourage, support, forgive,
our volunteer family. All leave
each Thursday morning and
other hygiene items. Monetary
and care with the uncondi-
the Dining Center tired but
leave at noon. Free laundry
donations are welcome as
tional generosity of a parent
with a sense of accomplish-
is provided on Wednesdays.
well. Your investment will be
to a child, teacher to student,
ment. They can see the fruits
Saturday brings more laundry,
rewarded with gratitude and
friend to friend.
of their labor. Each day 35
free showers, hygiene item
smiles.
The Dining Center is a safe
referrals are made to social
distribution, and continental
We are all brothers and sisters
refuge for volunteers, guests
service agencies including the
breakfast. Our hair care team
under the same stars and sky.
and staff alike. Connections
Asbury First Storehouse. This
does an average of 16 hair-
As we look to the heavens
and long term relationships
summer we have seen many
cuts each Sunday, helping to
we all have different dreams.
are formed based on trust and
of our homeless guests receive
instill pride and self-esteem.
For our guests it is as simple
consistency. Anyone can pass
keys to their own apartments,
Wednesday after lunch finds
as not freezing on a snowy
through our doors knowing
obtain housing grants, attend
Rev. Lawrence Hargrave with
night and waking up to warm
that kindness and a wonder-
school and enroll in recov-
a small group for our “Come
hearts and a delicious meal.
ful meal are guaranteed. This
ery programs. With the help
as You Are” Bible study. As we
At the Asbury First Dining
summer we have averaged
of resumé preparation and
strive to continue our ser-
and Caring Center we do not
around 2900 meals per month.
assistance with applications,
vices, it is clear that we cannot
take our own gifts for granted.
The challenges of serving up
a few have gotten employ-
do this without additional
We share them with love. For
to 190 meals on a Sunday or
ment. Fifiteen bikes per week
volunteers. We need and value
more information on how you
150 on a Wednesday morning
have been repaired with the
you and are hoping to expand
may help please contact Mi-
have been addressed by a dedi-
help of R Community Bikes,
our dedicated corps by at least
chele Cooley at 271-0692 or
cated corp of volunteers: many
whose volunteers arrive at
50 new people. Our needs are
mcooley@asburyfirst.org.
15
of back packs, sleeping bags,
PERIODICAL 1050 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607-2293 Address Service Requested
Pumpkin Patch Come to the Asbury First
October 15th through 31st Weekdays, 3:00-7:00 p.m.
Saturdays, 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Sundays, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Granger Street Lawn We’ll have pumpkins for sale in all shapes and sizes, starting at fifty cents. All proceeds benefit youth missions!