General Church News
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.
At a special Charge Conference held on Friday, April 10, Asbury’s Church Council voted to approve a motion to apply for a loan via the CARES Act. If secured, this loan will provide payroll protection for Asbury’s over the coming months.
Time: Apr 10, 2020 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
A PASSWORD IS REQUIRED FOR THIS MEETING. To get a password, email us. Make sure to give us your name – we may not know you by your email address.
Out of an abundance of caution – and with a heart to protect the congregation – Church Council has decided to close Asbury’s building and is cancelling all on-site gatherings, including worship services, for the next 2 weeks, effective Saturday, March 14 and continuing through March 28, with a goal to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Further evaluation will take place based on how the situation develops during that time period. An online-only worship service will be streamed at 10 AM on Sundays for these 2 weeks. Please visit asburylv.org/coronavirus for more information and for ongoing updates.
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Shellie Fritchman Hired as Administrative Secretary
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Shellie Fritchman
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Asbury’s Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Shellie Fritchman for the role of Administrative Secretary, the position long-filled by Sara Brown, who is retiring after 26 years of service at and ministry to Asbury Church. Shellie begins her full-time role on Monday, January 27. She comes to Asbury after most recently serving as the Office Manager for the JCC Early Childhood Program. Shellie is a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Allentown, where she also works as part-time staff in the Family Ministries area. Please stop by the office to both thank Sara for her faithful, loyal service to Asbury and to welcome Shellie! |
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
Join us on Sunday, December 22, as we celebrate the retirement of Sara Brown, Asbury’s Administrative Secretary of 26 years. Sara will be recognized in each of the worship services and honored with a cake reception between the morning services in the Community Room. Please stop by the celebration in the Community Room and thank Sara for her work, share a piece of cake, and fellowship!
