Trustees
Help get Asbury’s grounds tidied for the coming months at Service Day on Tuesday, August 5 beginning at 8:30 AM with an expected end time around 12 PM.
Work will include general clean-up, weeding and trimming around the church property. Please come and help make our Asbury church home more attractive!
No sign-up needed – just show up!
We’re watching the weather for this event. Registrants will be notified by email of any change in the plan.
Help get Asbury’s grounds and building ready for the coming months at Spring Service Day on May 18 beginning at 8 AM with an expected end time at or before 12:30 PM.
Work areas will be selected to allow groups or individuals to work together safely with all skill levels.
Most of the work will include trimming trees and bushes, cleaning up flower beds, and remulching.
The church has some tools, but we would appreciate if you can bring rakes and trimming tools. Also we could use a few additional wheelbarrows.
Your help to maintain our grounds and building are appreciated!
Questions? Contact Asbury’s Trustees.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The following is a letter from Tim Lebrecht, Chair of Asbury’s Church Council:
Several weeks ago we had a Congregational Chat to get feedback on the facility closure and door locking policy that was started in September. I thank everyone for sharing their thoughts and stories – both positive and negative. The door locking and facility closing time were rolled out as part of the safety and security process within the church. The feedback was clear that we had enhanced security, but at times was at the expense of accessibility of the facility. To better address the balance of security, accessibility, and hospitality, a joint meeting of the Trustees, Church Council and the Spiritual Focus Team (a new group focused on the health of small groups within the church) was held.
I am glad to report that we have come to a compromise and believe this will better allow us to further the mission of the church while maintaining the safety and security of those using our facility. Effective January 1, 2020, we are making the following changes:
· The building closing time will be 9 PM, moved back a half-hour from the prior 8:30 PM. A request is made that all groups attempt to be finished by 9 PM.
· For groups with Asbury members that have a need to stay past the 9 PM closing time, we have created a way to allow that exception: those groups can identify key people within their groups to be trained on how to close the area of the building their group is using. These people will be trained on the closing procedure, which is currently being drafted by a joint team of the group that met on November 26 and will be administrated by Asbury’s Business Manager.
· Doors will remain unlocked until 8:30 PM. Upon the locking of the doors, the custodians will start the facility closure procedure.
· The lights in the parking lot are on a timer and will remain lit until a time that will be between 9:30 PM and 10 PM.
We believe this will allow the mission of Asbury to be furthered and allow us to be a better host to those using the church facility. Further communication will come about this change. Thank you again for your feedback to this point, and please continue to provide insights and feedback by contacting myself and other members of Church Council at churchcouncil@asburylv.org.
Tim Lebrecht, Chair of Asbury’s Church Council
