Asbury’s Church Council invites you to a “Congregational Chat” update on Sunday, March 17 following the conclusion of the 11 AM worship service.
This chat is a follow-up from the February 25 chat. Please click here to find a video replay, copy of the handout, and slides from that session.
Asbury’s Church Council hosted a “Congregational Chat” on February 25. Watch the replay and view their slide deck below.
The following announcement was delivered by Sarah Kinzel, chair of Asbury’s Staff-Parish Relations Committee, in our 9:30 AM worship service this morning:
“It is my joy to share with you today that the Bishop John R. Schol has appointed the Reverend Richard (Rick) Brown as the new Associate Pastor of our congregation. Reverend Rick will begin his new responsibilities on July 1 of this year. As a United Methodist Church, we are part of an appointment system. Our congregation’s Staff-Parish Relations Committee has identified our congregation’s needs and the needed skills in a pastor. We have also met with Pastor Rick to better get to know him and to ask questions.
“Richard (Rick) Brown, III was ordained as an elder in 2017. Prior to entering ministry he worked as support staff in an adult outpatient drug and alcohol unit as well as a child and adolescent mental health unit. Rick received his call to ministry in high school while taking part in worship at Prospect UMC and received a Master of Divinity degree from Palmer Theological Seminary in 2012. His appointments included Hellertown St. Paul’s for nine years and Quakertown United Methodist Church, where he is presently serving. Rick enjoys preaching and finding practical ways to live out our faith. His hobbies include running and various games. He is married to his wife, Kim, and has two young daughters. Our new Associate Pastor will work with us and the conference so that we continue to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Bishop Schol and the leaders of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference will work with us to continue to grow as a vital congregation. I know you will join the Bishop, our new pastor, and me in helping to make new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
“Transition can be exciting but also a daunting time. I ask that you be in prayer with Rev. Rick Brown as he prepares for a new chapter in his ministry; and please also keep in prayer our church, Pastor Eric, and Pastor Evelyn as we begin this transition.
“We do want to make sure that everybody knows that nobody’s roles are changing. Pastor Evelyn will continue to be our Pastor of Bereavement and Care Ministries, and Pastor Eric will continue to be our Senior Pastor; we are just now adding a new associate pastor – a new member of the team – to help us grow into the future and really focus on family and young ministries.
“SPRC is a tough committee. We do a lot of work in confidentiality. While we welcome all of your questions, please note that there are some things that we are not going to be able to share.
“We ask for your prayers as we move forward.”
You can reach Asbury’s Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) via email at SPRC@asburylv.org
Pastor Eric delivered the following remarks:
“I’m excited to bring Rick onto the team and to mentor him and to learn from him as well [as we work to] reach out to a younger generation of people.”
Asbury’s Church Council invites you to a “Congregational Chat” update on Sunday, February 25 following the conclusion of the 11 AM worship service. Updates given will include the 2024 budget, financial results for 2023, and updates on ministry areas such as worship and small groups. All are welcome.
Register now for the Asbury Women’s Retreat! This special weekend – April 6-7 at Gretna Glen – aims to bring Asbury women together to grow in faith and fellowship with each other.
Registration is open now for a 6-week study during the Lenten season, exploring the experiences of the people who experienced the despair of Jesus’ death and the joy of his resurrection. Learn more and register now: asburylv.org/TheThirdDay.
The final gift from Asbury’s 2023 Christmas Eve offering to Mobility Worldwide was $16,426, an amount that covers the cost of 38 handcarts. Gary Moreau, Executive Director of Mobility Worldwide, says “Asbury is lifting 38 persons off the ground.” Thank you for your generosity and for providing the gift of mobility and dignity through this offering!
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.
The following is an update on the Alliance Stamp Ministry from Jan Kuhns, coordinator
January 2024
Two boxes of stamps from Asbury were just delivered to the Shell Point Community, where they are prepared for sale to stamp dealers, and the funds are then totally used for the Mission Outreach to South America Sunday Schools.
In 2023 $35,000.00 was raised and sent to the mission, bringing the total raised since inception in 1972 to $1,191,300.00.
Asbury has played a vital part in this ministry with the large number of stamps we have sent to it. It is greatly appreciated and send their deepest thanks.
Please see guidelines (at asburylv.org/stamps), and please keep them coming.
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Learn more about Asbury’s Stamp Ministry – and how you can help – at asburylv.org/stamps.
The Men’s Social Group will tour the Mack Truck Museum on February 2 at 10:30 AM. The group will carpool from the Asbury rear parking lot leaving at 9:30 AM. The museum is located near the Queen City Airport off Vultee Street. The Mack Store will be open to purchase various clothing items. Donation is $5. Tour group limited to 10. Register by notifying group leader Dave Torrey using the form below if you would like to be part of this outing.
Click to contact the group and get connected!Group contact: David Torrey
Save the date: the Asbury Women’s Retreat is taking place April 6-7. Watch for more information for this fantastic opportunity to enjoy fellowship with other Asbury women while growing in Christ.
A project began in September to refresh our Youth Lounge and we’re excited that after 4 months, our students resumed their gatherings in that space yesterday. Thank you to all who supported the project and were instrumental in its completion and for your support of our Children’s and Youth Ministries programs as we work to help them start their faith journey well.
February 9, Northampton Banquet and Events Center
Multiple churches in the Lehigh Valley are teaming up for the 8th annual Tim Tebow Foundation Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom night experience for people with special needs, ages 14 and older. Your volunteer help is needed to make this an amazing night for the guests and their families. Learn more and volunteer.
An upcoming UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) project will be taking place in Philadelphia on January 13 and January 27. For more information, please contact Jerry Schuler, Volunteer in Mission Coordinator, using the form below.
About Project Restoration
An initiative of the Eastern PA Conference of the United Methodist Church (EPAUMC), Project Restoration is working to help residents recover from the severe damages – physical, financial and emotional – wreaked by floods caused by recent severe weather events in our region. People of all skill levels needed for them to be successful in their initiatives – a project manager will equip you with the tools and skills needed to help! Learn more on the EPAUMC website | Submit your volunteer information | (after submitting your information). After you’ve submitted your information, a representative from Project Restoration will reach out to you.
While a final official total is still being compiled, we are so grateful to be able to report that as of last week, $14,436 has been collected for the Christmas Eve offering, 100% of which will be donated to Mobility Worldwide (learn more) Thank you for your generosity!
Due to winter weather, our schedule for tomorrow has changed:
The following is a summary of 2023 at Asbury Church. Thank you for another great year!
This year we celebrated as we welcomed 45 new members, 7 confirmands, held 11 baptisms, and celebrated 11 third graders who were presented with Bibles.
In November, Pastor Eric challenged every member in the congregation to serve for one hour at some point during the month – either in the community or at Asbury – with a goal of collectively serving 800 hours. The congregation rose to the challenge, serving a total of 2582 hours!
In January 2023, we welcomed Mark Mangum as the Director of Finance and Operations. Israel Olivieri took on a new role as Director of Discipleship and Worship Production. Additionally, the staffing of Asbury’s maintenance department underwent numerous changes throughout the year and we welcomed some great additions.
Included the Annual Holiday Bazaar, clinics via our Health Ministry Team, spring and fall sessions for Rise Against Hunger meal packing, the AIM Yard Sale, a Work Day for Ramos Elementary School, an Asbury-hosted water stop at the St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest, Lenten Small Groups (“Luke”), Fall Small Groups (“Stewards of Eden”), Advent Small Groups (“An Unlikely Advent”), Pastor Eric’s “Brewology” sessions, Children’s Ministries’ Easter Family Celebration and Egg Hunt, a park cleanup for Earth Day coordinated by the Environmental Justice Team, a Women’s Retreat, Grief Groups, a Trustees cleanup day, Vacation Bible School, the CROP Walk, packing “Barrels of Love” for Liberia, and two handbell concerts by the Jubilation Ringers.
In August, Pastor Eric challenged the congregation to lead new social-based small groups. In response, 7 leaders stepped up and 4 new small groups were formed (Walk and Talk, Cards, Games, and the Family Fun Dinner Meetup). Learn about all small group opportunities at asburylv.org/SmallGroups.
Our preschool continues to serve our community, providing students with the building blocks for their educational journey while instilling Christian values. The preschool and Bright Beginnings programs have over 200 students for the 2023-2024 school year.
Your generosity helped drive a large number of collections for those in need, including a toilet paper drive for the Conference of Churches, a collection of school supplies for Ramos Elementary School via our Children’s Ministries VBS program, needed items for the Ripple Community Center, a collection for the Allentown Ecumenical Food Bank in conjunction with the CROP Walk, the “Thanks for Giving” food drive for the Allentown Rescue Mission, and Christmas gifts for families at Ramos Elementary. These are in addition to ongoing collections at Asbury for used stamps (sold to help provide South American Sunday Schools with lesson curriculum), toiletries (for the Lehigh County Conference of Churches “Daybreak” program), and used cell phones (for Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley).
Please note the following schedule changes over the next few weeks at Asbury:
Sunday, December 24
Sunday, December 31
The church office will be closed for the holidays from December 25 – January 1.
The following report comes from Linda McCreight, one of the volunteers instrumental in coordinating the “Gifts for Ramos” collection:
December 18, 2023
“Once again, this December, the Asbury congregation has welcomed 16 Ramos Elementary School families into the warmth and joy of Christmas giving. In this Allentown school where 90% live below the poverty level, your generous outreach has encompassed 61 family members with donations of clothing, toys, gift cards and needed household goods. The abounding care shown by so many in our faith community is heartwarming and truly appreciated in this season of love.”
Thank you for generosity this Christmas season!
About “Gifts for Ramos”
Each Christmas, Asbury helps to spread Christmas cheer to families at Ramos Elementary, our partner school, by helping families in need with Christmas gifts. Over 90% of families of attendees of Ramos Elementary School live below the poverty level; and teachers and counselors at Ramos identify a few families in especially great need. That list is then shared with the Asbury congregation so you can prayerfully decide what individuals or families you may be able to support at Christmas.
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Thursday, December 21, 7 PM, in the Sanctuary
Led by Rev. Evelyn Stupp, Asbury’s Pastor of Bereavement and Care Ministries, we’ll gather to experience God’s hope and healing in the midst of grief, relationship/job loss or other life transitions/events that weigh us down. The service will include hymns and special music, scripture and reflection, prayers and candle lighting. All are welcome.
In early November, Pastor Eric challenged every Asbury attendee to serve for one hour at some point during the month – either in the community or at Asbury – with a goal of collectively serving 800 hours. On December 10, Pastor Eric announced that goal was more than doubled, with a total of of 2582 hours served! Thank you for your heart for service! The video below is a brief celebration sharing some the ways people served.
