Asbury in Mission (AIM) 2022 Impact Summary

Asbury Communications AIM (Asbury in Missions), Collections, Finances, Fundraising, Missions October 31, 2022

The following is an update from Asbury in Mission (AIM) on the impact Asbury has made in the community so far in 2022, including some upcoming events

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Wow, what an incredible celebration of the 100 years of Asbury Church!

As was apparent from the stories of the 100 years at Asbury and the audacious goals that Pastor Eric outlined for Asbury’s path forward, missions/outreach has been, continues to be, and will be a big part of Asbury for years to come.

These past few months have been an exciting time at Asbury in outreach with much more expected in the next couple of months. The following is a summary of some of the amazing things that have happened this year… and what’s still to come.

Events:

Meals on Wheels of the Lehigh Valley operates out of the Asbury Parlor for supplying meals to patrons in Lehigh County.
For the Community Bike Works the Asbury Methodist Milers were second in milage and third in funds raised! The event raised over $100,000 for this longtime ministry partner.
The Ramos Work Day (for Ramos Elementary School) was immensely successful with restoring the condition of the playground surface, weeding, and mulching.
The Annual Holiday Bazaar held by our United Women in Faith (formerly known as the UMW) is this weekend (November 5), with the money raised being for outreach.
The annual Allentown Rescue Mission “Thanks for Giving” collection is from November 6 to 20
On November 10, veterans from Asbury are invited to attend a program honoring veterans to be held at Ramos
Our Barrels of Love ministry will hold two packing events: (learn more and contact coordinator Dick McCreight)
- November 12 – packing clothing into barrels (this is the summer weight clothing from the Bazaar)
- November 19 – packing the truck with medical supplies and the barrels packed the week before
In December look for the opportunity to “adopt a family” from Ramos to help them have a celebratory Christmas (read about last year’s initiative on our website)

Monetary Support:

Through the 2^nd Mile donations to AIM, the congregation has done the following:

Monthly support to over 30 ministries comprising over $8,000 a month
$5,000 to the Parkland Cares Food Bank in September
$2,000 to CROP to support the Crop Walk (plus the proceeds from the Change for Change)
$1,000 to Heart and Hand House in WV in honor of Mike Miller’s Retirement
$5,000 to support Disaster Relief in Puerto Rico
$5,000 to support Disaster Relief in Florida
$3,000 to support Bridging the Gap
$1,000 to support Laundry on Linden
$3,000 to support the shipping of medical equipment to outfit the new Maternity/Surgical addition to the Healthy Women Healthy Liberia facility in Liberia
$3,400 to purchase a large format Laminator and film in support of the teachers and students at Ramos Elementary

This all means that through the generosity of you the Body of Christ at Asbury Church, over $50,000 has gone to support outreach efforts in the last two months (this includes the money raised by the “Asbury Methodist Milers” for Community Bike Works’ Cycle Challenge). This is an amazing witness to the community and the world about the commitment and impact that Asbury has in reaching out.

Asbury Church Celebrates 100th Anniversary

Asbury Communications General Church News October 25, 2022

Asbury Church Celebrates 100th Anniversary

A panorama of the Sanctuary during the service commemorating the 100th anniversary

Asbury United Methodist Church celebrated its 100^th anniversary on Sunday, October 23, with a special worship service and a luncheon.

Pastor Eric Yeakel

Centered around the theme “The Best is Yet to Come,” the congregation gave thanks to God for the past century of ministry, reflecting on the ministries, missions, and events that have helped to shape it, and looked forward to the impact that it can make in the years to come.

Pastor Eric Yeakel, who has served at Asbury since 2007, delivered a message reflecting on the church’s history and outlining “Vision 2026,” a plan for the congregation to “close the gap” between the way the world is and the way it should be. Initiatives to “close the spiritual gap,” “close the generational gap,” “close the justice and kindness gap,” and “close the opportunity gap” were introduced as a charge to congregants to consider how they can deepen their own relationship with Jesus Christ as well as how they can facilitate opportunities for others to connect with the hope that God offers and to show the love of Jesus in their community.

North District Superintendent Rev. Hun Ju Lee

“I am strengthened by your witness, encouraged that you continue to hold high the name of Jesus Christ and celebrate this day with you as you look forward to the next 100 years of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ,” said North District Superintendent Rev. Hun Ju Lee, who was in attendance delivering words of encouragement and a prayer to the congregation. “Those who laid the foundation of this ministry would be proud.”

In a message delivered by video, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Bishop John Schol highlighted ways Asbury has been active in its community, saying “you are a light on a hill and you are what God is calling our church to be and to become.”

The Jubilation Ringers and the Chancel Choir perform

Pastor Eric built on Bishop Schol’s remarks, saying “we’ve had so many people in this community that have literally been the church; and we’re going to continue to do that. You see, Bishop Schol’s right, we can’t just say ‘let’s just celebrate 100 years and let’s forget it… we have to keep moving forward.’ You know, we are so grateful to those that made sacrifices in this Asbury community so we could have this ministry; but to be faithful to them and to be faithful to God’s mission, we have to move forward and set the tone for the next one hundred years.”

A church that prides itself for its music program, three of Asbury’s adult musical ensembles delivered anthems and led the congregation in song. The Jubilation Ringers, a handbell choir featuring one of the world’s largest church-owned collection of bells and related instruments, performed an arrangement of “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” with Asbury’s Chancel Choir as the congregation extolled God’s goodness.

Following Pastor Eric’s message, the church’s Praise Band sang a song by North Point Worship, “The Best is Yet to Come,” which highlights the future God promises.

At a luncheon after the service, members delivered reflections on the impact the church has made on their lives and offered words of hope as the church looks forward to the next century of ministry.

The luncheon

Asbury Church was incorporated in 1921, erecting a building at the corner of Hamilton Street and Jefferson Street (the current site of the Allentown Public Library). The church’s leadership chose to name the new church in honor of Francis Asbury, the first Methodist Bishop in the United States.

In 1972, a devastating fire destroyed the church building and the congregation rebuilt at the corners of Springhouse Road and Walbert Avenue in South Whitehall Township in 1974, where it continues to meet today.

The congregation traces its roots to the first Methodist Society in the Lehigh Valley, founded by a pair of sisters, Elizabeth and Sarah Muffley. The Muffley Sisters opened a small house behind their home on Walnut Street, west of Ninth Street, for the society to gather.