Asbury’s Church Council hosted a “Congregational Chat” on May 1. Watch the replay and view their slide deck below.
The replay of today’s Church Council update meeting is available to watch below.
Slides from the meeting:
Church Leadership
Asbury’s Church Council hosted a “Congregational Chat” on May 1. Watch the replay and view their slide deck below.
Based on the latest recommendation from the CDC, and Lehigh County’s status as “medium risk” based on CDC metrics, Asbury’s Church Council has approved the church to move to a mask-optional phase effective Sunday, March 6.
This mask-optional phase puts the following changes info effect:
*PLEASE NOTE: because masking in non-worship settings is at the discretion of group/meeting leaders, you may still be required to wear a mask to participate in particular groups/meetings. Please check with your group leader to see what your group’s policy is.
Church Council’s next meeting is on Wednesday, March 9, and will discuss additional updates to the COVID policy.
Thank you for your continued patience as we navigate the ongoing pandemic.
Dear Asbury friends,
With very mixed emotions, I share with you that I have been appointed as pastor of Green Pond United Methodist Church in Easton.
Although I had not requested a reassignment, I received a call with the news that Bishop Schol and our Cabinet of District Superintendents had prayerfully discerned that my ministry gifts are needed at Green Pond at this time as their current pastor is retiring. After discussion with my family and prayer, I agreed.
I am very thankful for my time in ministry at Asbury. I am especially grateful for the staff and leadership, and so many individuals who passionately seek to shape disciples for Jesus Christ and provide remarkable care and service to this part of the Lehigh Valley. I have enjoyed being a part of a ministry team with Pastor Eric and feel I have grown through the experience.
I ask for your prayers as I transition to a new ministry, prayers for the people at Green Pond and their retiring pastor, and I ask for your prayers for Pastor Eric and the leadership team at Asbury as they plan for the future.
Meanwhile, we have a lot of ministry to do between now and the end of June when I transition to the new position, and I hope to continue in productive and joyful service in these months ahead.
With much love and peace,
Pastor Barbara Lee
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 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’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.”
Asbury’s leadership held a webinar on Sunday, March 7, to share information on the upcoming merger with Salem UMC (Allentown). The replay of this webinar can be viewed below; and a link to the slide presentation as a PDF follows.
Asbury’s leadership announces a merger with Salem UMC of Allentown, officially approved by Asbury’s Church Council on May 5, 2021. The merger is set to go into effect June 1, 2021.
“Salem UMC has done amazing things to be the hands and feet of Christ in Center City Allentown,” says Pastor Eric, and notes that some of their financial resources will be set aside for use for ministry in Center City Allentown.
Salem UMC previously met on Linden Street in Allentown. Their first service was held in 1817 but the Salem Church was officially established in 1838.
The replay of today’s Church Council update meeting is available to watch below.
Slides from the meeting:
Church Council is announcing an extension to the suspension of in-person worship services based upon the elevated level of cases of COVID-19 in Lehigh County. The decision included consultation with leadership at Lehigh Valley Health Network. Church Council will continue to evaluate this decision on a two-week basis.
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!…
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.”
– Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
The words of the ancient prophet echo to us in these challenging days, as the whole world waited in darkness for the birth of our Savior. Today, more than ever, we cling to the promise that God has, is, and will do a “new thing” as Jesus comes onto the scene. Though we may be feeling broken and weary of the pandemic, we continue to trust that God is at work bringing peace, light, and hope!
As we hang on to that amazing hope, we communicate the following difficult decisions, which were made after much deliberation at the December 2 Church Council meeting:
• All in-person worship services are suspended effective December 6 and continuing through January 31. This suspension includes in-person Christmas Eve worship.
• Asbury’s preschool will begin an early Christmas break on December 18.
• The building will still be available for streaming worship preparation and recording. The online-only service will continue to be streamed at 10:30 AM.
• The scheduled final Bazaar pickup on December 12 remains on as planned.
• Our commitment to provide a meeting spot for Alcoholics Anonymous remains, and they will continue to meet on-site with additional precautions.
These decisions were not made lightly and included consultation with a leader in a local healthcare system. Additionally, our Bishop, Rev. Peggy Johnson, has encouraged all churches in the Conference to hold online services rather than in-person services.
Please be encouraged that these are temporary measures, taken for everyone’s safety and physical well-being. During this suspension period, Church Council has committed to regularly review the COVID-19 infection trends and will reevaluate when to safely resume in-person worship.
We still have some great events coming up as we prepare to celebrate the coming of our Savior and King! Watch for more information to be announced about:
• A no-contact outdoor “Drive-thru Nativity” being planned for Saturday, December 19.
• A streaming Christmas Eve service, which will be announced this Sunday in worship and in communications to follow.
The Asbury leadership asks for your continued prayers for wisdom and for suggestions for how we can continue to stay connected and support one another through this difficult time. We are all looking forward with great hope to the time when we can gather in person again.
Dear Asbury Friends,
If you are gathering with family and friends OR traveling to visit family and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday, church leadership is requesting that you please refrain from attending in-person worship services for two weeks (14 days). In light of the increased COVID-19 infection rates locally and around the country, the church leadership recently met to consider how to move forward. At this time, we would like to continue to offer in-person worship services, but we are depending on our members to cooperate strictly with instructions and protocols to prevent infection. To that end, in keeping with recent PA state recommendations, we are asking that anyone traveling or visiting with family or friends outside of their immediate household, would refrain from attending in-person worship for two weeks. Also, please listen carefully and comply with the ushers’ instructions while at the service. Your safety and well-being is our top priority, and together we hope to be able to continue with our in-person worship experience. If you have any concerns for your health and safety, please consider worshiping with us online from home. Leadership will continue to monitor the risks the in-person gatherings pose in our effort to keep all our members safe and well.
Asbury’s Leadership
As part of his journey to becoming an Eagle Scout, Asbury member Matt Barraco has completed a bridge between the parking lot and playground.
View the letter of thanks from Asbury’s Trustees to Matt.
Asbury’s Church Council held a webinar on Sunday, August 30, to share updates on Asbury, including information on an in-person worship service beginning on Sunday, September 13 (registration details TBA), preschool reopening, and direction for small groups going into the fall. The replay of this webinar can be viewed below; and a link to the slide presentation as a PDF follows.
A project is underway to replace the bridge connecting the parking lot to the playground. Matt Barraco, an Asbury member, will be completing the project as he works towards the rank of Eagle Scout. If you would like to learn more about the project, including how you can provide financial support, view Matt’s video at asburylv.org/footbridge. For specific project details, the project plan is available at asburylv.org/footbridgeplan.
A note from Pastor Eric
As many of you know, Stephanie Cramer accepted a position as co-pastor, along with her husband, at Grace-St. Paul United Methodist Church in Jim Thorpe, PA. Therefore, Stephanie resigned her position as part-time Director of Youth Ministry at Asbury. I hope you join me in praying for Stephanie and her family during this transition.
Although we will miss Stephanie’s leadership with our youth, I am excited to announce that Pam Unrath will now take on a new role as the Director of Children/Youth ministry at Asbury. Pam has done a tremendous job in leading Asbury’s children’s ministry over the past 7 years and she is excited for this new opportunity to lead Asbury’s youth as well.
Since Pam will be the director of both children and youth ministry she will need more volunteers to work with our youth and children. In the coming weeks, Pam and Pastor Barbara will be evaluating both the youth and children’s programs and determining where help will be needed. If you are the parent of Asbury youth, please pray where you could assist.
Asbury’s Church Council held a webinar on Sunday, June 7, to share updates on Asbury, including the steps Asbury will take as Lehigh County moves into the “yellow” phase of reopening. The replay of this webinar can be viewed below; and a link to the slide presentation as a PDF follows.
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Church Council will be hosting a meeting via Zoom on Sunday, June 7, at 11:30 AM to share updates on Asbury. Registration for this meeting is REQUIRED. Register below to receive meeting access details via email.
UPDATED June 7, 2020 – Registration for this event is now closed.
