Asbury in Mission (AIM) is leading a new collection for Ukraine. This collection is in conjunction with Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church in West Easton. Learn more at asburylv.org/ukraine.
Missions
Asbury in Mission (AIM) is leading a new collection for Ukraine. This collection is in conjunction with Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church in West Easton. Learn more at asburylv.org/ukraine.
A typical collection drive for Community Bike Works ends up being about 12 bikes. At the bike drive held at Asbury on Saturday (April 23), thanks to your generosity, 80 bikes were collected. Thank you!
About Community Bike Works
Community Bike Works teaches life lessons through bicycles to the young people of the Lehigh Valley who could benefit most. Learn more about Community Bike Works at communitybikeworks.org.
Your hands and your heart can help provide a full stomach for those in need in developing nations! The Rise Against Hunger Experience, a meal-packing event where we will team up with Rise Against Hunger to package 20,000 meals, is taking place on Saturday, May 14, roughly from 8;30 AM – 12 PM in the Wesley Center. This is the fifth time Asbury has participated in this event, sponsored by Asbury in Mission. We hope you’ll consider being a part of this Church-wide opportunity to take part in sharing Christ’s love and compassion!
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Follow this link to register now (leads to an external website).
There is no cost to be involved, but for reference, each meal costs $0.33 – a small price to make a big difference!
More about Rise Against Hunger
Rise Against Hunger is driven by the vision of a world without hunger. Their mission is to end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable and by creating a global commitment to mobilize the critical resources. They are committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #2 of ending hunger by 2030.
On April 23 Asbury will host a bicycle drive in conjunction with Community Bike Works. Any bike in any condition will be accepted. Learn more about Community Bike Works at communitybikeworks.org.
About Community Bike Works
Community Bike Works teaches life lessons through bicycles to the young people of the Lehigh Valley who could benefit most.
Learn how you can help provide relief for Ukraine via UMCOR at asburylv.org/ukraine.
Asbury is taking part in the Lehigh Conference of Churches‘ 2022 toilet paper drive. The following is information from the Conference of Churches:
Collection bins will be located at both the upper and lower entrances at Asbury. Collections will be received through the end of February.
Monetary donations can be sent in to the church office designated as “LCC Toilet Paper Drive.”
| All educators/staff are now covered by a note-writer. THANK YOU!
NOTE WRITERS: Please write and deliver your notes before February 25th (we’d like to deliver the notes by March 1st) and remember to leave the envelope unsealed. The collection bin is outside at the upper entrance to Asbury. |
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Need to know more? Here’s what “Notes for Ramos” is all about:
In 2020 Asbury in Mission (AIM) asked for Asbury members to help show our support for educators at our partner school, Luis A. Ramos Elementary School in the Allentown School District. The responses from Ramos teachers and staff were very touching.
“What a thoughtful gesture from people at Asbury!”
“Thank you Asbury Church for all you do for our students and our teachers!!”
“It brought tears to my eyes.”
After two years of the pandemic, teachers’ spirits may be at an all-time low as COVID cases continue to impact students and teachers alike. Absences have disrupted in-class learning and strained virtual instruction. So now that we’ve entered the spring semester of 2022 we again ask you for notes of encouragement for Ramos teachers and staff.
Sign up to write a personal, hand-written note of encouragement for one to three teachers or staff members! AIM will include a $5 Wawa gift card as well.
Please write a note to that person before February 25th (we’d like to deliver the notes by March 1st).
Put the teacher/staff member’s name on outside of the envelope, leave the envelope unsealed and place it in the container outside of Asbury’s upper entrance.
AIM will add the address and gift card, and stamp and seal the envelope for mailing.
Not sure what to say? While you’re encouraged to make it your own, if you have writer’s block, here are a few phrases/ideas to help you get started:
Sign your note with your name “and your friends at Asbury Church.”
Additional information on Asbury and Ramos:
Luis A Ramos Elementary School at 15th and Allen is a long-time Asbury mission partner.
The student population at Ramos ranges from 700-900 depending on the year; and over 90% of Ramos families live below the poverty level.
Over the years Asbury members have been actively involved in the support of Ramos teachers, staff, students and their families.
• Obtaining Books for the Library (Christmas Eve Offering)
• Concert to raise money for musical instruments
• Donation of used musical instruments
• Annual work day to mulch playground and beautify grounds
• Key supporters of the construction of a new playground at Ramos
• A dozen or so Asbury members volunteering in classrooms (prior to the pandemic)
• Backpack drives in the fall
• School supply drives
• Coat, hat and mitten drives
• Adopting Ramos families at Christmas
• Packing holiday gift bags before Christmas
• Gathering cleaning supplies to help teachers keep their classrooms safe
Here are excerpts from some of the most recent updates from some of our mission partners around the world, along with links to the full letter. Please keep them in prayer as they share the Good News!
“2021 was quite a year for us. Even leaving aside work in a COVID hospital, it brought more than its share of unexpected challenges and dangling issues… Our family, who’d spent the last two decades together, was abruptly in four different locations… [still, 2021 brought] a sense of gratitude. I don’t think we as a family had ever prayed as much or as fervently. So, along with its ups and downs, the journey has left an aftertaste, the sweetness of having shared a path with Immanuel…”
“The recent uproar over the new Omicron variant is taking Ecuador (and the world) by storm this Christmas season. The government is struggling to know how to respond, and we hear daily news of new rules and regulations. At the same time, rainy season has hit early, and we are being deluged with daily rains, triggering major mudslides and road closures. landslide. The main road between us and the city is now closed for perhaps the next 6 months as the engineers try to figure out a way to move a large section of the mountainside to re-construct the fallen roadbed… Amidst this chaos, we were recently encouraged by the phrase ‘Business as usual’ — God’s call to keep going about the business of teaching and discipling. People need to know Him, and amidst the craziness of the world situation, that is still our call!”
The Boake family has been a mission partner for many years as they take in and care for children and young adults in their home.
“I, as, mom to these children am so blessed, I love them dearly and they in turn are so kind, caring and a great blessing to me. We all miss our wonderful dad [Colin Boake passed away in 2020] –he was such an example of strong values, consideration and manners & I proudly say the children are following his example. Our home is bursting at the seams with every corner occupied. In the outside rooms we have Sean, Kayleen & four little boys. Sean’s work place was completely destroyed during the unrest so they have come to stay with me. In the main house we have Joy (now 24, Donny (24), Mathew (22), Siyabonga (18), Asanda (15), Lindo (15), Samuel (11), Thabiso (8)…”
On Christmas Eve, we pledged that 100% of the offering collected would be given to support Afghan Refugees as they resettle in the United States; and we are so excited to announce that the final amount has been totaled, and $19,187 will be donated towards this important cause.
Thank you so much for your support of this initiative!
The total will be split evenly between the United Methodist Commitee on Relief (UMCOR), which supports resettlement nationally; and Bethany Christian Services, which helps support resettlement more locally to our area. Thank you for your generosity!
While the final total is still being compiled, we are so grateful to be able to report that as of the end of this week, well over $18,000 has been collected for the Christmas Eve offering, 100% of which will be donated to help Afghan refugees as they resettle in the US. The total will be split evenly between the United Methodist Commitee on Relief (UMCOR) and Bethany Christian Services. Thank you for your generosity!
A food drive for the animals at Gress Mountain Ranch will begin on Sunday, January 2, and run through Sunday, January 16. Donations can be left outside Asbury’s upper level doors anytime throughout those weeks.
For over 21 years, the Gress Mountain Ranch in Orefield has been caring for abused, neglected, and abandoned animals. This is their “forever” home – animals are not bred or sold. Currently about 90 animals, including dogs, cats, pigs, horses, donkeys, ponies, alpacas, llamas, ducks, parrots and peacocks, are in need of food.
Items most needed at this time are applesauce, canned fruits and vegetables, zero Gatorade (no calories), duck pelleted food, pine shavings (not cedar) and Timothy hay. Other items requested, or for more information about the ranch, visit their web page at gressmountainranch.
Thank you for your generosity in caring for God’s creatures!
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/.
Asbury’s Stamp Ministry is continuing to collect and in need of used stamps to help raise money for missions.
At this time of year, especially, we receive many stamped pieces of mail. 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 1/3 -1/2″ paper around the stamp so the stamp is not damaged. Machine-cancelled stamps are not useable, but computer generated stamps are.
Stamps are collected year-round.
The stamps may be placed in baskets upstairs next to the elevator or downstairs next to the office. 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.
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Millions of Afghan refugees are fleeing war, persecution, and violence in their homelands, often running with just the clothes on their backs. From start to finish, their journey is treacherous. The global refugee and migration contexts are being addressed by the United Methodist Church guided by four principles: the right to stay and flourish in one’s country of origin; safe passage for those with no viable alternative but to leave; welcoming and belonging, a process wherein migrants, refugees, and receiving communities work together to meet the needs of new arrivals; and support for the returned to help them reintegrate with dignity into their home countries after deportation. In furtherance of these efforts Asbury is donating 100% of the Christmas Eve offering to these efforts on two fronts – 50% to the UMCOR/Church World Service joint effort on refugee resettlement in the US and 50% to Bethany Christian Services efforts on this front locally. This is especially pertinent locally as Fort Dix in NJ is the temporary housing center for close to 10,000 refugees. Thank you for your support of this initiative to show the love of Christ to those in need.
JANUARY 9, 2022 UPDATE
While the final total is still being compiled, we are so grateful to be able to report that as of the end of this week, well over $18,000 has been collected for the Christmas Eve offering, 100% of which will be donated to help Afghan refugees as they resettle in the US. The total will be split evenly between the United Methodist Commitee on Relief (UMCOR) and Bethany Christian Services. Thank you for your generosity!
PER BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES
TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE
SUCH AS BUS
OR GAS CARDS
CLOTHING TO A
REFUGEE WHO LEFT HOME
WITHOUT ANY BELONGINGS
KITCHEN ESSENTIALS
TO ESTABLISH THEIR
NEW HOME
ONE REFUGEE’S
RESETTLEMENT NEEDS
(ON AVERAGE)
| Christmas 2021 |
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Over 90% of families of attendees of Ramos Elementary School live below the poverty level; and teachers and counselors at Ramos have identified a few families in especially great need. This Christmas, help to spread cheer by blessing these families with gifts.
More families will be added throughout the season, so check back if there are no open slots available.
Sign up by using the Google Sheet found at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18GY2J-ReuDDd6kZxIKpBLa_tzL9kvgwvrkHdRNZXr4s/edit?usp=sharing Enter your name (or your group name as a placeholder) in the yellow field next to the person(s) you will be buying for. Do not wrap gifts, but put them in a bag and staple a tag with FAMILY NUMBER, GENDER, AGE (e.g. Family One, Boy, Age 6). Once you’re registered, you’ll be contact with information on where gifts can be delivered.
Thanks for making these Ramos families’ Christmas a bit brighter!
Homelessness can happen to anyone, anytime. All is takes is a job loss, an illness, and eviction to become a part of the homeless population. One Night Without A Home – Lehigh Valley is asking you to experience what it is like to be homeless for 12 hours. Learn more about how you can be involved – and how it can make a difference.
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.”
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| Mr. Hena in 2010 at the Dominic K. Hena School | A previously completed Asbury well |
Much-needed food items are being collected via a drive-thru drop-off for the Allentown Ecumenical Food Bank on behalf of this year’s Virtual CROP Hunger Walk.
The collection is taking place on Saturday, October 2, between 10 AM and 11:30 AM in Asbury’s Upper Parking Lot.
Most-needed items are as follows:
Reusable grocery shopping bags are also being collected.
Thank you for your support!
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.
Volunteers are needed to help load a truck with 100-200 boxes of medical supplies, wheelchairs, walkers and more for our friends at Healthy Women, Healthy Liberia. The packing will take place at Through These Hands‘ location in Lehighton, PA (about a half-hour drive from Asbury) at 10 AM on Saturday, June 26th. If you can help, please use the form below to contact Dick McCreight. Thank you for your continuing support of this life-changing mission.
