TheVisitor Capital Campaign News Asbury First United Methodist Church Newsletter September 2018 • Vol. M No. 12 • www.asburyfirst.org
IN THIS ISSUE A Pastoral Reflection 3 Community News 4 Better Together Campaign 10 A Look Back at Summer 12
Music News 17 Library & Reading News 18 The Last Word 19
MISSION STATEMENT
The Visitor Vol. M No. 12
Love God and neighbor. Live fully. Serve all. Repeat.
(USPS 558-470) is published 5 times a year, February/March, April/May, Summer, September, and November/December by Asbury First United Methodist Church. Periodical postage paid at Rochester, N.Y. POSTMASTER: Send addresses changes to Asbury First UMC Visitor 1050 East Ave. Rochester, N.Y. 14607-2239 (585) 271-1050
edule Regular Sch
FOUR WAYS TO WORSHIP AT ASBURY FIRST Traditional Worship in our Sanctuary 8:30 and 11 am Sunday mornings
Staff
The Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady II The Rev. Kathy Thiel The Rev. Jacqueline Nelson The Rev. Mike Mullin David Strong Dr. Carl Johengen Paula Dugan Holly Temming Richard Moncrief Morgan Dornsife Melody Guadagnino Deb Bullock-Smith Ken Carr Michele Cooley Jamie Curran Duane Prill Carol Lamica Elizabeth Church Brian Bohrer Larry Dugan
Senior Minister Minister for Pastoral Care Minister for Outreach Minister for Discipleship & Youth Church Administrator; Assistant Organist Interim Director, Sanctuary Choir Director, Children’s Ministry Children’s Ministry Assistant; Director, Children’s Music Financial Administrator Director, Development & Communications Administrative Assistant Administraitive Assistant to the Senior Pastor Property Care Manager Director, Dining & Caring Center Communications Coordinator Organist Director, Youth Music Director, Bell Choir Director, Asbury Singers Director, Youth Theater
Emeriti Staff Rev. Dr. Theodore Weeden, Sr., Pastor Emeritus Dr. Roger Wilhelm, Director of Music Emeritus Marian R. Craighead*, Organist Emerita *deceased Cover Photo Credit: Glenn Peck, Jamie Curran, #hoptheroc at Block Party on East 2018
Please send all submissions, questions, comments, or concerns to communications@asburyfirst.org or 585-271-1050, x109. Deadline for submitting content for the November/December issue: September 21, 2018
Chancel Worship with Holy Communion 10 am Sunday Mornings Watch live at www.asburyfirst.org 11 am Sunday mornings Listen on WYSL 1040 AM or 92.1 FM 11 am-noon Sunday mornings
Watch past services in our video archive at asburyfirst.org any time!
INCLUSIVITY STATEMENT Asbury First United Methodist Church prayerfully strives to live in its community with open hearts, open minds, and open doors. Affirming that each person is of sacred worth, we seek to be a fully inclusive church, believing that all people are God’s children, created in God’s image, loved and blessed equally by God. It is our purpose to be a Reconciling Congregation. This means extending hospitality and encouraging full participation of all, regardless of age, race, national origin, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status or family structure, education or economic background, and physical or mental ability. We recognize that we hold a variety of opinions. We do not seek to erase our differences, but to journey together in faith toward greater understanding and mutual respect. We believe that reconciliation to God and to one another is central to our mission and ministry.
SIGN UP FOR OUR E-NEWSLETTER To receive weekly email updates, with news of upcoming services, classes, and other events at Asbury First, you can now TEXT TO SUBSCRIBE! Just send a text with the message ASBURYFIRSTNEWS to 22828. You can also visit asburyfirst.org and scroll to the bottom of the home page, where you’ll see a sign-up window. 2
A Pastoral Reflection A Hop, Skip, and…the Fall The Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady II
There are certain moments that will forever be seared into my memory. My first yo-yo, my wedding day (15 years ago this summer), the birth of my three children, and the moment when over 700 people gathered in our parking lot on August 9 to break the world record for hopscotch.
The fall brings with it new opportunities. As the weather grows cooler, the leaves fall, and the school schedule returns, we are offered a chance to find a new normal. Maybe your new normal will include intentional time for others by volunteering with one of our outreach ministries. The Storehouse needs people to help sort clothes, the Dining and Caring Center needs servers, the UR Well Clinic needs stewards, RAIHN needs people to play with families (maybe you can put those hopscotch skills to use), the Grocery Bag On the surface, it sounds like a foolish, even ridiculous, thing for a Ministry needs sorters, and School 17 needs mentors. On the other church to do. But the truth is, in a world overwhelmed by division hand, maybe your new normal will include some intentional time and strife, this was a moment to remember what it means to come for yourself, time to make a new connection. The choirs could use together. People of different ages, races, and walks of life gathered your voice, but so could the new classes and discipleship groups for a moment to play together—not as adversaries, but as neighbors. we are offering. Whatever your interest, this fall is a chance to try This is what the church is meant to be. The good news is that we can something new—to see if we can push church beyond Sunday be this with or without hopscotch. morning. As a church, we gather together to praise God, to find companionship for the journey, and to rehearse the way of life Christ calls us to live in the world—tasks that are not limited to Sunday morning. To be clear, that is where we ought to begin. As we head into the fall, maybe it’s time for us to recommit to regular worship, to see how a regular pause at the start of our week can help ground us through the storms of life. We might even consider inviting a friend (or three). But maybe this fall is a chance to practice church outside of worship as well.
This has been a memorable summer, and we are just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Christmas, but the road between now and then can be as exciting, joy-filled, and promising as we let it. Let’s not be afraid to take the lessons of the hopscotch evening into this fall. Remember, we have to know our neighbor to love our neighbor, and sometimes that means pausing from our regular schedule to do something new, something everybody else sees as silly—see you in church! Grace and Peace, Stephen
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE TIMES 8:30 am – Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary 10 am – Chancel Worship with Holy Communion 11 am – Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary
worship schedule Worship
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 9 Exodus 2:1-10 Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady II, Preacher SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 16 Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 14:7-14 Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady II, Preacher SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23 Luke 24:13-35 Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady II, Preacher
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30 Judges 15:1-8 Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady II, Preacher SUNDAY OCTOBER 7 Rev. Jacqueline Nelson, Preacher SUNDAY OCTOBER 14 John 21:15-19 Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady II, Preacher
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SUNDAY OCTOBER 21 Bible Sunday Ken Dunivant, Guest Preacher SUNDAY OCTOBER 28 Matthew 13:44-50 Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady II, Preacher SUNDAY NOVEMBER 4 Revelation 21:1-6a Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady II, Preacher
Community News Our Living Deaths – We offer our prayers and sympathy to... The family and friends of Inez Sillato who died on March 21, 2018. Lori and Ken Carr and family on the death of Lori’s grandfather, Jack Miller who died on May 8, 2018. The family and friends of Ernest Du Bois who died on May 18, 2018. The family and friends of The Rev. Charles Christiansen who died on May 19, 2018. The family and friends of Bob Moore who died on May 26, 2018. Jean Peck and Glenn and Lynn Peck on the death of Jean’s grandson and Glenn’s nephew, Zachary Peck, on May 30, 2018 Deb Bullock-Smith and Jodie Schwartz on the death of their uncle, Robert Smith, on May 30, 2018 in Seal Beach, CA. Ann Fulreader on the death of her mother, Faith J. Poole, on May 18, 2018, and on the death of her husband, Tim, who died on June 5, 2018.
in Community
Karen and Warren Webster on the death of Karen’s mother Doris Guidinger, who died on June 9, 2018 in Gig Harbor, Washington.
Cali Elliott Kirivong, daughter of Rotthachack and Christina Kirivong, on July 1, 2018.
The family and friends of Jim Ford who died on July 3, 2018.
Jocelyn Justus Beckett, daughter of Jason Alan Beckett and Anne Wallace Justus, on July 22, 2018.
The family and friends of John Soule who died on July 5, 2018.
Skylar Amara Asala, daughter of Chukwuma and Mary Asala, on July 29, 2018.
The family and friends of Patricia Mavity who died on July 6, 2018.
Colin Parker Ferguson, son of Ryan and Kelly Ferguson, on July 29, 2018.
Elizabeth Quinlan-Bohn and Linda Quinlan on the death of their father William Quinlan on July 6, 2018.
Births – We celebrate the birth of...
The family and friends of Dick Eastman who died on July 17, 2018.
Declan Wyatt Crawford, son of Chad and Patti Crawford, born on May 10, 2018. Zakariah Shahid Ansari, son of Stevie and Shahid Ansari, born on July 20, 2018.
Baptisms – We celebrate the baptisms of... Weston Michael Amelia Lindsey Fisher, daughter of Michael Fisher and Sarah PetersFisher, on May 27, 2018.
Marriages – We celebrate the marriage of …
Jennifer Elizabeth Northrup, daughter of Mark and Kaylie Northrup, on June 10, 2018.
Jamie Least and Tom Curran, married on June 30, 2018.
Bentley Jack VanEpps, son of Jesse and Holly VanEpps, baptized on June 17, 2018.
Jasmine Chou and Ted Holcomb, married on May 13, 2018.
Hayley Payne and Jack Dugan, married on July 28, 2018.
A Note on the Parliament of the World’s Religions by Rev. Mike Mullin
the world and its guiding institutions in order to achieve a just, peaceful and sustainable world. To accomplish this, we invite individuals and communities who are equally invested in attaining this goal. The Parliament goes from Thursday, November 1 through Wednesday, November 7. In addition to the tickets, Asbury First has reserved a small block of rooms at a nearby hotel. This event is open to all ages. The cost of the tickets is $260, and the cost of the hotel is $1,540 for a double room for six nights (this includes breakfast). If you want to share a room, your total would be $1030. You are also welcome to make your own housing arrangements.
In 1893, Chicago, Illinois hosted the World Columbian Exposition, which led to the first formal gathering of Eastern and Western spiritual traditions, and gave birth to the Parliament of World’s Religions. Since then, the parliament has convened six times on four different continents. This November will be the seventh parliament, and it is happening in Toronto, Canada. Because of the proximity of this momentous event, Asbury First has reserved 10 tickets with the hopes of having a contingent of our community present.
More information about the parliament may be found at www. parliamentofreligions.org. If you have any questions; if you are interested in joining the Asbury First delegation; if you are a student and are interested in learning about scholarship opportunities; or if you would like to help sponsor an attendee, please contact the Rev. Mike Mullin, mmullin@asburyfirst.org or (585) 271-1050 x105.
The mission of the Parliament is as follows: The Parliament of the World's Religions was created to cultivate harmony among the world's religious and spiritual communities and foster their engagement with 4
Community News Wednesday Nights at Asbury First
In case you were wondering, Asbury First United Methodist Church isn’t only open on Sunday mornings—our campus is busy with myriad ministries every day of the week. One of those times that is seeing some great growth is our Wednesday nights. Each Wednesday, we offer programming for all ages, from birth to the most experienced among us. Opportunities to engage include music, education, fellowship, and even a community meal that is served family style at round tables where you can get to know some new friends. This year, we are excited to kick off our Wednesday nights on September 19 where we will be highlighting a new round of Discipleship Groups. The next week we will have a facilitated group discussion on Avengers, Infinity War and how we might react or relate to the character Thanos. In the months to come, we’ll look forward to hosting classes by Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, Rev. Susan Shafer, and Dr. John Tyson among others. Topics will range from prayer and spiritual disciplines, to the Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, to how we talk about sex, to getting the most out of life. Each month will welcome a new topic and a new presenter. We hope you will find something that interests you, and you will join us for some mid-week fellowship at Asbury First!
Discipleship Groups Return This Fall! Discipleship Groups are back! One of the things we continue to hear at Asbury First United Methodist Church is that we are “better together.” This is something that we truly believe and we take very seriously! But we also know that it does not mean that we all like the same things, think the same things, or even believe the same things. And often, these differences are what make us better. But we also know that there are some differences that too often divide us and make us feel ostracized from our neighbors. One of the goals of these discipleship groups is to bring individuals together to have concerted conversations about important topics in the world today. As United Methodists, we have a call towards “social holiness.” Social holiness not only highlights the importance of socializing with others, but it also emphasizes our call to social justice. The discipleship groups invite us to move past the implicit taboo of discussing religion and politics, and invite us into a small group where we can build positive relationships and foundations of trust as we grapple together about some of the challenges facing our world today. These groups likely will not come up with any great new solutions—though if you do, let us know how we can help!—but they will help us discover the importance of having the conversations.
On Holy Ground At a recent conference, our facilitator heightened my awareness of the experience of Holy Communion–she asked in so many words, “Is Holy Communion the experience of receiving and tasting the elements, the bread and grape juice?” My response, “Most assuredly, YES.” But what really struck a chord within me was her invitation to consider Holy Communion as an experience of Communing with Jesus and with those Jesus loves. What immediately came to mind was “We’re Better Together” and this, now most familiar phrase, moved me to a heart level response. It caused me to ask, when I hear “We’re Better Together,” am I considering communing with Jesus and with those Jesus loves? Communing with is definitely calling me to actively live the words, “We’re Better Together.” This feels like moving into a deeper connection with Jesus and others . . . How about you? -Bonnie Matthaidess, Spiritual Life Ministry
So, if you would like to join in the conversation, we hope you will join us for our fall kick-off event on Wednesday, September 19 at 6 pm in Room 201. For more information about Discipleship Groups at Asbury First, or to sign-up, contact Rev. Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org. 5
Community News Women on Wednesday (WOW) Invites You! Fall Book Selection Announced
The WOW book club will start back up this Fall to discuss the NY times bestseller The Book of Joy – Lasting Happiness in a Changing World, by Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams. Penguin Random House publishing gave the following summary of this important book:
We get to listen as they explore the nature of true joy and confront each of the obstacles of joy—from fear, stress, and anger to grief, illness, and death. They then offer us the Eight Pillars of Joy, which provide the foundation for lasting happiness. Throughout, they include stories, wisdom, and science. Finally, they share their daily Joy Practices that anchor their own emotional and spiritual lives.
Nobel Peace Prize Laureates His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have survived more than 50 years of exile and the soul-crushing violence of oppression. Despite their hardships— or, as they would say, because of them—they are two of the most joyful people on the planet. In April 2015, Archbishop Tutu traveled to the Dalai Lama’s home in Dharamsala, India, to celebrate His Holiness’s eightieth birthday and to create what they hoped would be a gift for others. They looked back on their long lives to answer a single burning question: How do we find joy in the face of life’s inevitable suffering?
In this unique collaboration, they offer us the reflection of real lives filled with pain and turmoil in the midst of which they have been able to discover a level of peace, of courage, and of joy to which we can all aspire in our own lives.
They traded intimate stories, teased each other continually, and shared their spiritual practices. By the end of a week filled with laughter and punctuated with tears, these two global heroes had stared into the abyss and despair of our time and revealed how to live a life brimming with joy.
Watch your weekly Sunday bulletins for updates on when WOW will start up and where meetings will be held. Each meeting takes place on Wednesdays from 12-1 pm. Happy reading!
This book offers us a rare opportunity to experience their astonishing and unprecedented week together, from the first embrace to the final good-bye.
Donations to the Library at Asbury First The Asbury Library recently received two special gifts for which we are very grateful. The first was a gift from Sarah Peters-Fisher and Michael Fisher in honor of the Baptism of their daughter Amelia Lindsey. The book they chose to donate is God’s Dream by Desmond Tutu. Stop by and check out this beautiful children’s picture book. The other recent gift was a memorial gift from Maureen Tubs in memory of George R. (Bob) Burns, father of Patti (and Ted) Burns-Skomsky. After finding out more about Mr. Burns, we were able to suggest some books that would underscore his love of family and the outdoors—especially the Adirondacks. Thanks to this generous donation, we were able to choose a number of picture books by Adirondack artist and author Sheri Amsel, as well as books by Rich and Sue Freeman that encourage family hikes, bike rides, and waterfall exploring in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region. These books are also at the church library for you to check out. If you would like to make a donation in honor of or in memory of someone, contact a member of the library committee. We will provide a bookplate for the book to indicate the gift and the occasion. For more information, please contact Bonnie Kay at (585) 478-5611 or b.kay@frontiernet.net. 6
Community News Dining In for Outreach is October 13! Dining In for Outreach
The main ministries supported by Dining In for Outreach:
“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.” Luke 14:13
Local Outreach Dining & Caring Center Asbury Storehouse UR Wellness Center Grocery Bag Ministry RAIHN School 17 & 45 Tutoring Oral G. Roberts Youth Café Habitat for Humanity
Dining In For Outreach supports our efforts to offer food, clothing, health care, and shelter to those who need it. Thanks to the passion of many, we are able to serve God’s children near and far. Through our ministries, we are following Jesus’s command to love our neighbors as ourselves.
All Are Welcome!
International Outreach Miracle Garden, India Project Chacocente, Nicaragua
All are welcome to join a Dining In For Outreach table so that we can serve more of those in need. Asbury First members host dinners in their homes. Their guests enjoy a great dinner and each other’s company and also donate money in support of our many ministries. The event benefits not only the Asbury First Dining & Caring Center, but also our many other ministries.
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, October 13 All are welcome at the table!
This is an opportunity to serve. Host a dinner. Attend a dinner. Sponsor the event. Your help is essential. For further information or to volunteer, please contact this year’s Dining In For Outreach chairpersons: Adelaide Svoboda at ajsvobod@gmail.com or Bob Castle at 166rcastle@gmail.com. Additionally, on Sundays in September, you can look for us before and after worship services to sign up or ask for details.
Honoring Terry Elkins at This Year's Dining and Caring Center Recognition Dinner
As one of our guests said to me: “Terry exudes Christian love in everything he does.” He takes pride in his work and loves to wear his hat which proclaims, “I love Jesus” in bold white letters. Terry is small in stature but big in generosity and kindness. His walk to work each morning is not easy as he lives about by Michele Cooley one mile from Asbury but in the past 9 years that I have worked with him, he has missed only 3 days for illness, walking during the worst of winter storms and rain. He has done this for 13 years. He is big on hugs and has revealed many times that he “loves to laugh” He is very particular about his dishwashing as anyone who works beside him can attest. Many have not passed the Terry test and have been dismissed as volunteer helpers if they are not up to his standards. Those that do volunteer with him get a big thumbs up each day. As Charles, one of our volunteers, told me, “Terry is our hero. He works so hard and is in charge of his dishwashing area.” We all love Terry.
I was proud to award a plaque to Terry for 13 years of dedication to the Asbury Dining and Caring Center at our Volunteer and Supporter Recognition Dinner. He is deserving of our person of the year award and is an example of the love, kindness, inspiration and welcoming spirit here at the Dining and Caring Center. 7
Community News Join Us for a Visit to Project Chacocente Asbury First has been partnered with Project Chacocente since 2007, just a few short years after its inception in 2003. Since that time, when a few individuals had a vision to help families move out of the dump, the project has been able to create a community that now includes a dozen families. Since 2003, Project Chacocente has cultivated long term relationships between rural Nicaraguans in extreme poverty and North Americans seeking to help. The ministry is based on Nicaraguans helping themselves to rebuild their lives through education, community development, and reliance on God. As an ongoing support, mission’s teams from the United States visit Project Chacocente annually to work alongside these families, and offer help with the myriad projects that they are continually working towards (improvements to housing, school, church, etc.)
What Visit to Project Chacocente Who Adults ages 18-35 When January 4-11, 2019 Estimated Cost $1,000, all-inclusive For more information Contact Rev. Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org or Rev. Jacqueline Nelson at jnelson@asburyfirst.org
In previous years, members and friends of Asbury First have visited and all attest to the ways in which this experience transforms them in positive ways. As youth and young adults have attended in the past, we have learned that there is a desire to specifically see an Asbury First young adult delegation travel to Nicaragua to aid in the development of some of the projects we’ve already started. We are excited to share that in January of 2019, we will be taking a young adult delegation to Chacocente, so that they might be able to learn first-hand the importance of this project. In addition, it is our hope that the young people will see this as a stepping stone that might begin their path of continual transformation of the world. We recognize that Nicaragua is presently in a state of civil unrest. It is our hope that most of this will be cleared up by the time of our trip in January. If it turns out we are unable to travel to Nicaragua, we will embark on an alternative trip with a similar service and cultural immersion focus. One possibility we are currently looking into would be a Border Immersion trip in El Paso, Texas and Cuidad Juárez, Mexico. Whatever the destination, this will be an incredible opportunity to gather together with other young adults to experience service on a global scale. We are encouraging all young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 who are interested in joining us to apply online. The application deadline is October 1, 2018; space is limited to ten participants. The link to apply can be found at https://goo.gl/ forms/7IFgmZS0x2Q8RiRh2.
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Community News 46 People, 4 Vans, 1 Mission (Trip) 46 people, 4 vans, 1 mission trip to help the people in the Houston area recover from Hurricane Harvey. Whether it was fence building, dry-walling, painting, trash removal, roofing, plumbing, hooking up hot water tanks or playing with cats, dogs and goats, no job was too big or too small. These 46 recruits may not have saved the day but they made a difference in the lives of the people they met and in return learned valuable lessons about how disasters affect areas differently, safe drinkable water, working together and doing what needs to be done. They all returned safely (if not tired and sleepy) to value what they have. JOB WELL DONE, RECRUITS!
Congratulations to Our Newest Graduates! Clara Rose Benham, Graduated from Honeyoye Falls-Lima Central School; Attending Morrisville State College to study Equine Science and Management specifically rehabilitation for sport horses. Honors received include being named NYS Farm Bureau District 2 Scholarship Winner, Livingston County Outstanding 4-H Member, Livingston County Teen Recognition Award, and Livingston County Horseman of the Year three years in a row.
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Andrew Hunt, who plans to stay in Pittsburgh and is now doing freelance work in lighting design.
Better Together Campaign W
ANNUAL BUDGET 2019 •
e are a year into our Dreamscape (the strategic plan for Asbury First passed in June of 2017) and already we have seen the fruits of our labor in attendance, in communications, in our outreach, and much more. In 2019, we plan to continue making progress on our goals, but some of them will take additional staff—which means additional funding. In addition to maintaining our current level of staffing (including security), next year we hope to:
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Return to a full-time Director of Music. The retirement of Dr. William Weinert and the transition of David Strong to the Church Administrator has provided us with an opportunity to return to a full-time director of music to oversee and coordinate all of the musical programs of the congregation as well as direct the Sanctuary Choir.
"All of these efforts are only possible through the generosity of our members."
All of these efforts are only possible through the generosity of our members. In order to add these positions and maintain our current staffing levels (with cost-of-living and healthcare increases), we will need to increase our budget by approximately $149,765. We would ask that you prayerfully consider increasing your pledge this year by 5% or more to help cover the cost of these shared dreams. A pledge card is below, but you may also make a pledge through our website.
Return to a part-time volunteer coordinator (called the Director of Connections), a position we used to have and which was envisioned in the Dreamscape to help connect members of our community to opportunities for service, discipleship, and care.
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Add a part-time financial assistant (a repeated recommendation from our auditors and request from Dick), in order to make sure that our financial processes continue to run smoothly and that we have much-needed division of duties in our financial protocols.
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Better Together Campaign AN UPDATE FROM THE CAMPAIGN: The Better Together Campaign launched last October and we are already over halfway to our goal—a great success. To reach our goal, however, we have more work to do together over the next year. The campaign at a glance… The road ahead… What you can do… As we shared during the congregational meeting on June 24, we have raised just under $3.4 million from over 400 pledges and are expecting to exceed our goal of 445. Additionally, we have already received approximately $1 million in cash with another $400k expected by the end of the year. This early giving allows us to save on potential financing costs down the road.
Closing the gap to our goal will take all of us working together. Fortunately, we still have several regular givers who are considering their gift. Additionally, we continue to look for a lead gift in the $500k range. Beyond giving within the congregation, we have engaged a grant writer who is helping us pursue funding from several foundations.
First, if you haven’t already given to the campaign, please consider doing so. Every gift helps us bring our dreams to life. Second, if you have already made a pledge or given a gift, perhaps you might consider making an additional gift to help us close the gap. Finally, share with others why you made the commitment to this campaign. This campaign is about infrastructure, accessibility, and outreach, but more importantly, it’s about opening our doors to all of God’s people.
Project Progress Report
Our commitment is that no project will begin before we have pledges to cover them. Thanks to your generosity, the first step is already complete…literally. And the next steps are in the works: The Front Steps
The front steps are complete! New granite has been installed, the old ramp was removed, new concrete sidewalks were poured, and the railings have been repaired and repainted. Please stop by the front of the Sanctuary, or head to the Better Together website to see more photos!
HVAC
YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS CAMPAIGN
After this summer, we can appreciate the need for our next project on the list—the HVAC system for the sanctuary. This includes new boilers, new air handlers, and ventilation and climate control for the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall. It will also include necessary electrical upgrades and new chancel lighting. Bid packages will be sent in January of 2019, and construction will begin April/May of 2019. READY TO SUBMIT YOUR PLEDGE CARD?
The Outreach Center
The next item on the list is the Outreach Center, a project that will consolidate our weekly on-campus outreach programs (Dining & Caring Center, Storehouse, and URWell Clinic) into one accessible and humanizing space, allowing us to meet the needs of our guests holistically. We need to raise an additional $1.6 million to begin that project and currently hope to break ground in the fall of 2019 for a completion in 2020 in time for our 200th anniversary!
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT ASBURYFIRST.ORG/BETTERTOGETHER EMAIL US AT BETTERTOGETHER@ASBURYFIRST.ORG STOP IN THE WELCOME HALL AND PICK UP A BROCHURE
PROJECT GIVING PROGRESS: $3,352,338 11 11
A Look Back at Summer Summer At Asbury First As fall sets in, we invite you to take a moment to look back at the incredible summer we spent together. We went to camp, we broke a world record, we made new friends, we ate incredibe BBQ, and we made lasting memories—side by side. Join us as we reflect on all that we accomplished and all that we did together this season.
Camp Casowasco
Camp Casowasco is one of our six United Methodist camps in the Upper New York Conference. This year, Asbury First sent over 20 campers, with the youngest being just 5 years old. "This summer I was given the opportunity to attend camp Casowasco. This was my second year going and I was so excited to reconnect with some old camp friends! I was in the same cabin as my friend Cayleigh and we got to enjoy more activities and make more memories together this year! Casowasco is always such a unique and amazing experience for my sister and me! We enjoyed swimming, boating, doing arts and crafts, playing sports and of course dining together and eating Casowasco amazing food. At Casowasco The Staff was so welcoming and made us feel so at home there. My counselor helped me with everything I was concerned about and made me feel so comfortable around everyone. This year I met so many new people and made so many new connections! In just one week I had so many new friends that I am still in touch with today. At the end of the week when my parents came to pick us up I was happy to see them, but I also had to say goodbye to all the new friends I had made. Throughout the week I became more and more comfortable and by the end I was so sad to have to leave this amazing experience behind. I couldn’t have asked for a more welcoming group of people! I already can’t wait until next year!" -Ella Ross
Camp Seuss...What an Experience! This year, the Children's Ministry at Asbury First welcomed so many new faces to our campus for Vacation Bible School (VBS): Camp Seuss! The church was filled with laughter as the children caught a glimpses of Thing 1 and Thing 2 running in and out. Hearts grew three times their size as we learned about being creative, everyone matters, being peacemakers, and God is with us all the places we go. Over 120 children ages almost 4 to 11 have a week filled with life long memories.
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Advent A Look & Back Seasonal at Summer News
One Busy Week! Block Party on East and #hoptheroc, Chicken BBQ Fundraiser, Storehouse Summer Sale, Bake Sale, Park Ave Fest, and Tent Sunday From August 2 through August 9, Asbury First was a bustling community hub! It began on August 2 with the opening of the annual Storehouse Summer Sale and Bake Sale—which was a huge success! Shoppers from all over Rochester made Asbury First their destination for delicious baked goods, vintage clothing, furniture, dishware, and so much more. Just two days later, on Saturday, August 4 and Sunday, August 5, we hosted a Park Ave Fest booth and gave passersby the chance to relax and breathe deeply with a mobile meditation unit provided by Into Silence. And on Sunday morning, we worshipped under the tent with a packed
house. The tent was filled with singing, joy, and love in a special way we only get to see on Tent Sunday. After worship, we stayed under the tent to support one of our ministires by purchasing a chicken barbecue dinner. All proceeds went to the Dining and Caring Center. Young and mature, new visitors and longtime members, Dining and Caring Center guests and new faces from the neighborhood all gathered together to break bread and get to know someone new. And then...Block Party on East started. Block Party on East, formerly known as Tent Week, was reimagined this year as a way to invite our neighbors under the tent with us. Because in order to love your
neighbor, you need to know your neighbor! On Tuesday, August 7, we began with live music (provided both on Tuesday and Wednesday), a 1960s/70s costume contest, food truck dinners, and goat yoga! In fact, goat yoga was so popular (the classes filled up!) that we brought it back for a second night on Wednesday. That next night, we got locked in an escape room and had to solve puzzles to get out, we were dressed in costumes from the 1980s/90s, watched a skatepark expo by Breaking Free Skatepark, ate even more food truck dinners, and of course, had more goat yoga! ...continued on next page
(Special thanks to Glenn Peck for these images)
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Advent A Look & Back Seasonal at Summer News ...continued from previous page But the biggest night of all was Thursday, with #hoptheroc, our attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people playing hopscotch at once. We needed 650 hoppers to break the record. After we were well fed by even more food truck dinners, and caught another great
show by Breaking Free Skatepark, we were ready to hop...and we did it! We had more than 700 people from all over Rochester— members, people new to our campus, friends, family, and neighbors—join us. During an era marked by division, we all came together as one community to do something simple and fun. To do something memorable.
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Thank you to all who made these amazing events possible. Your work is valued—and so are you! Take a look at the pages that follow to hear from some of the volunteers who helped these events come to life.
Advent A Look & Back Seasonal at Summer News
Roundup Of That Crazy Week!
Chicken BBQ Fundraiser for the Dining and Caring Center
On behalf of the Dining and Caring Center Board, I’d like to thank everyone who participated in the Dining and Caring Center’s first chicken barbecue fundraiser on Aug. 5. Owing to the many tickets that were purchased and some very generous donations, we brought in more than $3,000 after adjustments were made for expenses. That money will help support the 35,000 meals we provide to our guests each year.
Special thanks go to members of the chicken barbecue committee -chairwoman Cathy Bracht, Martha Neubert, Jeannette Creighton, Eileen Atwell, Caroline Hamil, Stuart Mitchell, Sylvester Norman and Michele Cooley. We also owe a debt of gratitude to the team from Temple Beth El, which served the meal to both our guests and congregants during their usual rotation at the Dining and Caring Center.
We’d like to make the barbecue go even better next time. We realized, for instance, that it would have been more convenient to have take-out dinners ready as soon as the church service was over instead of asking people to wait for their meals. If you have any other feedback, please send it to DianaLouiseCarter@gmail.com. -Diana Carter, Chair of the Dining and Caring Center
Youth Parking Fundraiser Park Ave Fest is one of the best of the numerous Rochester festivals, not only because of its scope, but because it is the biggest fundraiser for Asbury First Youth Missions. Over the course of two days, approximately 50 youth and adults helped to park cars and raise over $5000. 100% of these funds will go to support our youth missions—this includes everything from our annual mission trips, to monthly youth service opportunities. -Rev. Mike Mullin, Minister for Discipleship and Youth
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Advent A Look & Back Seasonal at Summer News
Block Party on East and #hoptheroc
Being Co-Chair of Block Party on East this year has been the hardest yet most rewarding job I've ever done. It felt amazing to stand on the steps of the Gathering Center to see all our efforts come to fruition on the last day. Earlier in the week, we hosted Goat Yoga which was a huge success. Our live music was fantastic. The Escape Room was a hit. We are better together and Block Party on East emulated that with our Guinness World Record. Thank you to all who came out to support us. -Tiffany Reinson, Co-Chair of Block Party on East
Storehouse Summer Sale The annual Storehouse Summer sale, held August 2–August 5 was a huge success, thanks to our many contributors and volunteers! We raised over $10,000 which will be used by the Storehouse to purchase blankets, winter coats and any other needed items to provide for our over 6,000 guests annually. Many hands made the process of collecting, sorting, pricing, setting up, selling and cleaning up possible. Our thanks go to the Asbury First members and others who donated thousands of items, the volunteers who put the sale in to action, and Ken Carr's staff. We owe our thanks, too, to Dick Moncrief and Jim Stinehour who helped with the logistics of money handling. It was truly a group event. And we remind ourselves, we are ALWAYS better together. -Elizabeth Church, Storehouse Summer Sale Coordinator 16
Music & Arts News Upcoming Concerts & Musical Events • •
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September 23: Voices presents Renaissance Splendor November 4 at 3 pm: The Roberts Wesleyan College and Alfred University choral groups will perform John Rutter’s “Gloria” December 7: Concentus Women’s Chorus will perform December 7: The Roberts Wesleyan Chorale will be the resident choir for the 8:30 and 11 am services November 9, 10, and 11: Our youth will present “Lion King” December 14: Rush Henrietta Bel Canto Singers and Hilton and Spencerport select choirs will present a “Seasons of Sharing” concert December 15: Amadeus Chorale will present a concert December 16: The Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus will present a holiday concert
Voices presents
Renaissance Splendor
Voices, Rochester's professional chamber chorus, will present Renaissance Splendor, featuring the Missa Pange Lingua by Josquin des Prez, and music by Josquin's contemporaries Jean Mouton, Ludwig Senfl, and Johannes Ockeghem at Asbury First on Sunday, September 23 at 3 pm. The concert will be conducted by Voices Music Director William Weinert. The Pange Lingua Mass is one of the central masterworks of the Renaissance era, known for its unique balance of intricate polyphony with lyrical and expressive vocal lines. A freewill offering will be taken at the door.
Please Welcome Carl Johengen as Interim Director of the Sanctuary Choir!
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Carl Johengen will fill the role of Interim Director of the Sanctuary Choir, effective August 1. Carl has earned a • reputation of excellence as a conductor, voice teacher, • singer, and composer. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music, • as well as Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Ithaca College • School of Music. His thirtyyear career has included an exciting array of activity in the fields of sacred music, college More complete information is teaching, choral conducting forthcoming in community, festival, and opera settings, as well as solo performances as a tenor with major orchestras, opera companies, and in recital and concert. •
Ithaca’s elite a cappella chamber chorus. He has been active as a conductor and clinician for numerous all-county and area all-state choruses throughout New York State. He served for five years on the Voice Faculty of the Berkshire Choral Festival, collaborating with such renowned conductors as Robert Page, Jane Glover, Philip Brunelle, Craig Hella Johnson, and John Rutter. His sacred and secular choral compositions have garnered him several awards, and are published by six prestigious publishing houses. His compositions have been performed by choirs around the country as well as internationally. Carl’s interest in sacred music was nurtured from childhood: his father was the volunteer organist in the small church in which Carl grew up. By the time he was ten, he routinely sang solos or substituted for his dad. Most recently, he served for 13 years as CoMinister of Music of St. Thomas' Episcopal Church in Bath. He is passionate about the role of music in worship, loves to nurture congregational singing, and particularly enjoys helping choirs achieve expressive and artistic communication. Carl’s first Sunday with us will be on September 9, Together in Ministry Sunday.
Carl is a member of the Ithaca College School of Music faculty; and also serves as Music Director of the Cayuga Vocal Ensemble,
EXPANDING OUR SEARCH FOR A FULL TIME DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
Following the Worship and Arts Strategic Plan recommendations, we intend to return to a full-time Director of Music Model, which means finding funding to create a full-time position and finding the right person for this position. A search team will be formed to address these challenges. Together, we will continue to honor Asbury First’s rich musical tradition. 17
Library & Reading News September is a time of new beginnings—school, church, life plans. Come explore the church library and it will to help you to learn, grow, and change. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson Termed a humorous, surprising and informative book, it provides 12 profound rules for living properly within the order and chaos of our lives. These simple, profound rules help us to sort ourselves out, set our houses in order and improve the world by first improving ourselves. The author is considered one of the most important and influential Canadian thinkers and explains that cleaning up our room has cosmic significance by imposing a little order upon chaos and is good for the soul and for the world. Recommended from the church library collection by library committee member Peggy Lyons Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson A New York Times best seller in 2014, and on the 100 notable books of that year, Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy is more than a memoir. Stevenson’s ethical and spiritual journey from being a Harvard Law student not sure what path to take, to doing pro bono work in Alabama prisons, to founding the Equal Justice Initiative is interesting enough. Not many memoirs keep one on the edge of one’s seat, but this one does. Find it in the church library at 353.4. Recommended from the church library collection by library committee member Monica Gilligan
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain Are you energized by being around people or being away from them? If you answered “away”, you are probably in the one-third of the population that is an introvert. This book analyzes how the “Extrovert Ideal” arose in our society and argues that this “Ideal” undervalues introverts. This book is for both introverts and the extroverts who want to understand their introverted friends and relatives better. Recommended from the church library collection by library committee member Carol Roote
New books recently added to the library collection:
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas This young adult novel has won multiple awards, including the 2017 Goodreads Choice award in two different categories. This is a timely story of Starr Carter, an African American teenager, trying to figure out how to navigate between the neighborhood where she lives and the suburban prep school she attends. If you read only one book this year, let it be this one. Recommended from the church library collection by library committee member Carol Roote
For Adults: • Born A Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah • The Secret Diary of Hendrick Groen, 83 1/4 years old by Hendrick Groen • Becoming Dr. Q: My Journey from Migrant Farm Worker to Brain Surgeon by Quinones-Hinajosa • Seeing Patients: Unconscious Bias in Health Care by Augustus White
Books of Devotions With September comes the return to many of our church activities and meetings that have taken a break during the summer. Often we are asked to provide a devotional reading before our meetings. I would like to suggest two authors that I have found to be very helpful: Joyce Rupp and Ann Weems. Both authors use poetry and prose to recognize the holy in the world in which we live. Or you might prefer to just browse the devotionals found on the shelves with the numbers 242 on the spine. Recommended from the church library collection by library committee member Bonnie Kay
For Children: • I’ve Loved You Since Forever by Hoda Kotb • Just Under the Clouds by Melissa Sarno • Hidden Figures by Margo Lee Shetterly • The Ring Bearer by Floyd Cooper • I’m a Big Brother Now by Michael Jordan • Not Norman: A Goldfish Story by Kelly Bennett • Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio • Big Hair, Don’t Care by Crystal Swain-Bates
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The Last Word
A Year in Review by Rev. Jacqueline Nelson Friends, I can’t believe it’s already been a year! This time last year I was meeting many of you for the first time, quietly attending meetings and events, and reading any and everything I could get my hands on that might teach me more about the goals and plans for Outreach at Asbury First. And here I am, one year later, reflecting on how great of a church we really are. Thank you for journeying with me during year one, for your patience with me as I learned the ropes, and for all of the advice and support you have offered as I adjusted to this new role. I’d especially like to thank all of you for continuing to make Outreach at Asbury First meaningful, impactful, and beneficial to all those we have been called to serve. I truly would not trade this experience for anything else in the world, and I cannot wait to see what this next year has in store for us!
"I’d especially like to thank all of you for continuing to make Outreach at Asbury First meaningful, impactful, and beneficial to all those we have been called to serve."
As I reflect on this past year, I celebrate the ways our outreach ministries have gone above and beyond to ensure the success and wellbeing of our neighbors all throughout Rochester. In addition to serving our community through our regular food, clothing, and wellness ministries, we helped a number of people with rental assistance, basic groceries, and utility payments. We connected many others to assistance services throughout the region. As we offered our time, talent, and treasure to meet these basic needs, we also took a step towards addressing issues of injustice as well. We began a discipleship series centered on educating each other about systemic oppression, poverty, injustice, and the need to bridge the gap between justice and mercy in all that we do. We’ve received great feedback from so many of you about these classes, and we certainly look forward to more like them! We have truly done a tremendous job tackling the goals of our strategic plan for outreach, and I’m excited to share that we are moving ahead with passion and joy to continue to live your vision for outreach at Asbury First. This next year, we can look forward to more educational opportunities, continued outreach services of varying kinds with our neighbors, additional conversations regarding the 1010 Outreach Center, an outreach assessment tool that will help us align our individual goals and plans with those of the overall strategic plan, and, of course, more summer sales, bake sales, and chicken BBQs! As we press forward, let’s do so knowing we’ve already accomplished so much! Thank you for the opportunity to do ministry together, let’s keep going!
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PERIODICAL 1050 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607-2293 Address Service Requested
SAVE THE DATE Together in Ministry Sunday September 9
Join us as we return to our regular schedule of services at: • 8:30 am - Traditional worship in the sanctuary • 10 am - Chancel worship with Holy Communion • 11 am - Traditional worship in the sanctuary
PLUS!
You'll have the chance to learn about the many volunteer opportunities at Asbury First, greet friends, and share some light refreshments. We hope to see you then!