| Christmas 2021 |
|---|
Missed tonight’s “Quiet Christmas” worship service? Watch it now at asburylv.org/QuietChristmas!
The replay of today’s Church Council update meeting is available to watch below.
Slides from the meeting:
| Christmas 2021 |
|---|
Missed tonight’s “Quiet Christmas” worship service? Watch it now at asburylv.org/QuietChristmas!
Get yourself in the holiday spirit with six newly-recorded handbell anthems recorded by the Jubilation Ringers! Watch the full playlist now on Asbury’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF30ytvU0PirPFdzvinRIYghXTYnfG0CA
a message from Asbury’s UMW (United Methodist Women)
Asbury’s UMW would like to thank everyone at Asbury and in the community for their support of this year’s Almost Virtual UMW Bazaar. It was disappointing that it couldn’t have been a single, in-person event, but we greatly appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s hope it will be better for the 2022 Bazaar. Thank you for your patience when problems arose and for all your smiles and fellowship when picking up your sales. Profits are not known at this time, but will be announced once they are determined.
One-hundred percent of the offering collected at Asbury on Christmas Eve will be donated to help Afghan refugees resettle in the United States. Learn more at asburylv.org/christmas-eve-2021-offering/.
FEBRUARY 1, 2022 UPDATE: Bags are no longer being collected at this time. Thank you for your contributions!
The Sleeping Mat Ministry is collecting plastic grocery bags again to be used to create sleeping mats out of “PLARN” for the homeless. Bags can be dropped off in the marked receptacle outside of the upper entrance of Asbury. Learn more at asburylv.org/PLARN.
Asbury’s Stamp Ministry is continuing to collect and in need of used stamps to help raise money for missions.
Did you know cancelled stamps are a vital mission use? They are prepared and sold to stamp dealers, and every penny earned is used to prepare lessons and send to South American Sunday Schools to teach about our Lord, Jesus Christ. When removing stamps from envelopes, please leave at least 1/4″ – 1/3″ paper around the stamp so the stamp is not damaged, otherwise stamp dealers will not purchase these stamps. Machine-cancelled stamps are not useable, but computer generated stamps are.
Stamps are collected year-round.
The stamps may be placed in the marked drawer in the collections area across the hall from the church office (on the lower level). Do not use paper clips or anything else that might damage the stamps to keep them together, but they may be placed in plastic bags or envelopes.
As of April, 2021, more than $1,099,000 has been raised for this mission since its inception in 1972 – all from what we usually used to think of as trash.
A message from Asbury’s Trustees on Scouting
As you probably know, Asbury has a long history supporting Boy Scouts and have Chartered Boy Scout Troop 12 and Cub Pack 12 for many years (dating back until 1958). We, at Asbury, have been privileged to see the best of Scouting. Our support for scouting and the development of youth has not changed.
Due to claims of sexual abuse and pending litigation that have occurred over the last many decades, the National Boy Scouts of America Organization had entered into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020 while they put together a plan to settle with those abused. We want to make it clear that this is a national issue with no incidents occurring within our Troop or Pack.
But in July of this year our conference (the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church) instructed us to not sign any charter renewal beyond December 2021. We communicated this with the Troop and Pack at the time and it made sense that they started looking for other potential chartering organizations, since without a charter organization they would cease existing, leaving their current youth without a home unit.
In October we were informed by our conference that the UMC and BSA were in active mediation to resolve matters related to BSA’s financial restructuring and have agreed, in the best interest of the young people who participate in Scouting, to strongly recommend to United Methodist chartering organizations and Boy Scout Councils to extend existing charter agreements and facility use agreements in force at this time through March 31, 2022. This extension was communicated with our Troop and Pack, but due to the continued uncertainty, they continued their search for a new charter organization.
At the end of November, the leadership of the Troop and Pack informed us that they found a new charter organization (First Presbyterian Allentown) and requested that we release them from our charter as of the end of the year.
While we are regretful for the end of our long relationship with the Troop and Pack, we are happy that they have a clear path forward so that the youth can continue with their activities and development.
The sleeping mat ministry is continuing to create and provide plastic sleeping mats for the homeless. Learn more about this ministry, the materials needed, the creation process, and how you can help at at asburylv.org/sleepingmatministry.
This Advent, be part of a church-wide book study examining how we can not almost experience Christmas, but altogether experience Christmas.
“Almost Christmas: A Wesleyan Advent Experience” by Magrey deVega, Ingrid McIntyre, April Casperson, and Matt Rawle explores the commitment we can make to Christ during this Advent season: not being satisfied with “almost,” but striving for “altogether.” This book was inspired by a sermon given by John Wesley in 1741, titled “The Almost Christian,” in which Wesley encouraged people to follow Christ wholeheartedly, centering around the idea that we should not be satisfied with being almost Christian but rather strive towards being altogether a Christian.
At Asbury, we believe in the power of connection to each other as week seek to deepen our connection with God; and we hope you’ll connect with a small group this Advent season as we seek to be altogether love, hope, joy, and peace.
Groups meet weekly at a variety of days and times, and both in-person and virtual options are available.
This book will also serve as the basis for the Advent sermon series of the same name.
Visit asburylv.org/AlmostChristmasStudy to sign up now!
Thank you for your donations to the Asbury cyclists who participated in the Community Bike Works Spin-a-Thon! The team raised the 4th-highest team total of the event ($4515) and biked 1536.4 miles (5th top team). Thank you for your donations and to Asbury’s team:
Learn more about Community Bike Works at communitybikeworks.org.
AIM (Asbury in Mission) is organizing an event to prepare at least 60 Relief Buckets for UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief). Your participation – though through donating supplies, donating money, and/or donating time to assemble the buckets – will help to provide relief where it is most needed, including areas recovering from Hurricane Ida, the flooding in Tennessee, and the Dixie Fire in northern California.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Donating Supplies
Supplies will be collected on Sunday mornings at the upper and lower entry doors over the next three weeks (October 10, 17, and 24). UMCOR has developed specific requirements for the supplies that can all fit neatly into a 5 gallon bucket. These items are:
Get a PDF version of this list to print and take along as you shop.
Monetary Donations
Monetary donations can be made through Asbury’s online giving portal (under the “Fund” drop-down menu, select “Relief Buckets”). Donations can also be made with checks payable to “Asbury Church” with “Relief Buckets” in the memo line. Checks can be dropped in the offering plates on Sunday morning or mailed into the church office.
Helping With Bucket Assembly
Buckets will be assembled on Saturday, October 30. If you are interested in helping to assemble the Relief Buckets, please use the form below to register. We will need about 20 people to help starting at 9 AM.
Thank you for making a difference through your contributions!
About UMCOR
For more information about UMCOR, visit https://UMCOR.org
For information about UMCOR’s 2021 responses in the US, visit https://umcmission.org/umcor/umcor-responses-in-2021-continue-to-climb
Dr. Chris Hena’s father, Dominic is celebrating his 100th birthday on September 18th. In honor of him and all he has done for the people of Liberia, a well is being built in a Liberian community that currently does not have a source of clean drinking water. Please help us reach our goal of $2,500 with your donation. Donations are being received until October 31. Give at asburylv.org/give.
Dr. Chris writes about her father: “It was in 2003 [during the war years], after a young girl was hit by a car while crossing the street on her way to school. My Dad knew the girl’s mother. He decided to bring the community dwellers together so they could put their resources together and build a community school, so their children would not have to go across the main street again. People were happy and embraced his idea. However, when it came time to bring their resources together, they backed off. He decided to go alone. He purchased the land, and started building. Today, there are more than 1000 kids attending. It is now a high school with many employees. What a blessing. I am very proud of him.”
 |
 |
| Mr. Hena in 2010 at the Dominic K. Hena School | A previously completed Asbury well |
Join us for a reception to celebrate the merger of Asbury and Salem and take an opportunity to fellowship together as one congregation. The reception is on Kickoff Day (September 12) and will begin following the 11 AM worship service. Light refreshments will be served. The reception will be held outside, rain-or-shine; in the event of rain we’ll gather under the overhang at the upper entrance.
Susanna Circle is collecting used cell phones for Turning Point of the LV. Over the last 19 years recycling cell phones, through this program, has helped raise over $59,000.00
Turning Point’s mission is to:
*Work toward the elimination of domestic violence
*Increase community awareness of the problem
*Empower victims of domestic violence by providing shelter and support services.
You can help by dropping your used cell phones off in the “Donation Bin Closet,” located on the lower level of the church across from the church office.
If you have any questions please contact Elouise Schreffler, coordinator, using the form below.
We are praising God that construction has begun on the new Asbury Sewing School in Paynesville, Liberia. Thanks to all who contributed to funding the building of this new facility which will accommodate 100 students in two sessions per day. With the sewing skills acquired at the Asbury Sewing School, our Liberian friends will be able to generate income for basic needs for their families. Your generosity is changing lives in Liberia. The school staff has asked that we pass their sincere thanks to the Asbury congregation.
The replay of today’s Church Council update meeting is available to watch below.
Slides from the meeting:
Due to Lehigh County moving into the “substantial” transmission category, following the guidance of the CDC and the Eastern PA Conference of the United Methodist Church, Asbury’s leadership announces the following updates to coronavirus-related policies at Asbury effective immediately:
• masks are REQUIRED for ALL indoor gatherings/activities, regardless of vaccination status
• singing in worship is still allowed, but with masks remaining on
Asbury’s leadership will continue to monitor the situation and update policies as needed. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to keep Asbury a safe place to gather and grow as we seek Jesus together.
Asbury’s leadership announces the following updates/changes to coronavirus policies in worship at Asbury as well as updates to our worship offerings:
9 AM indoor worship is moving outdoors beginning Sunday, May 30. For this service:
10:30 AM worship is opening to have in-person attendance in addition to being streamed beginning Sunday, June 6. For this service:
Asbury is moving worship outside beginning on Sunday, May 30, at 9 AM! Here’s a brief rundown everything you’ll need to know:
The service will feature…
What You Need to Do
The service will be held on the parking lot on the lower level outside of the Worship Center area.
A restroom will be available if needed.
Each worshiper will be required to abide by the Asbury Code of Conduct, developed as part of the Trustee Resolution Addressing COVID-19.
Streaming-only worship will continue to be broadcast live at 10:30 AM on Sunday mornings at live.asburylv.org.
Asbury’s leadership is currently reviewing policies and protocol in place for COVID-19 after the recent announcement from the CDC regarding easing mask usage among those who have been vaccinated. The following was shared by Pastor Eric during streaming worship this morning:
“Now, as I think all of you know, this past Thursday the CDC updated their recommendations on wearing masks… so the Trustees and the leadership here at Asbury are looking at these new recommendations and we’re going to be looking at our policies and procedures for worship and other things here at Asbury. [We appreciate your grace as you] give us some time to [discern] what it means for us, [particularly as we] balance [sensitive issues such as] kids hav[ing] not been vaccinated for the most part and… people [having varying levels of comfort when it comes to wearing a] mask. So we’re trying to balance all that, [we just ask that you] be patient and we will have an update on our new policy very shortly and will communicate that with the congregation.”
