In ThIs IssueLenten Ministry, 3

New Stewardship Chair, 6

Stephen Ministry, 7

Prayer Partners, 8

Spring Retreats, 8

Spring Classes, 11

Music & Arts Events, 12

Talent Show, 13

Asbury First United Methodist Church NewsletterMarch 2016 • Vol. L No. 3 • www.asburyfirst.org

TheVisitor

He Is Risen!Easter 2016 at Asbury First

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staffSenior MinisterMinister for Pastoral Care and OutreachMinister for Discipleship and MissionMusic Administrator; Assistant OrganistDirector of MusicChildren’s Ministry DirectorChildren’s Ministry Assistant; Interim Director, Children’s MusicYouth MinisterMinistry InternFinancial AdministratorDevelopment DirectorAdministrative AssistantProperty Care ManagerDining & Caring Center DirectorCommunications DirectorOrganistDirector, Youth MusicDirector, Bell ChoirDirector, Asbury Singers Director, Youth TheaterArtist-in-Residence

Unless otherwise noted, photos are by Greg Francis.

Please send all submissions, questions, comments, or concerns to Mary Van Keuren at mvankeuren@asburyfirst.org or 585-271-1050, x109.

Deadline for next issue: Tuesday, March 29

The Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady IIKathy Thiel

Katie O’HernDavid Strong

Dr. William WeinertPaula Dugan

Holly Temming

Mike MullinSummer Sattora

Richard MoncriefMorgan Dornsife

Melody GuadagninoKen Carr

Michele CooleyMary Van Keuren

Duane PrillCarol Lamica

Elizabeth ChurchBrian BohrerLarry Dugan

Linda Clemow

The VisitorVol. L no. 2(USPS 558-470)

is published 10 times a year, monthly with combined issues for November/December and July/August, by

Asbury First United Methodist Church.Periodical postage paid at Rochester, N.Y.

POSTMASTER: Send addresses changes toAsbury First UMC Visitor

1050 East Ave.Rochester, N.Y. 14607-2239

(585) 271-1050

Emeriti StaffRev. Dr. Theodore Weeden, Sr., Pastor EmeritusDr. Roger Wilhelm, Director of Music Emeritus

Marian R. Craighead*, Organist Emeritus

*deceased

Mission stateMentThrough worship, education, outreach, and care, we develop disciples of Jesus Christ who live and proclaim the Gospel

and thereby work to transform our culture.

inCLUsiVitY stateMentAsbury First United Methodist Church prayerfully strives to live in its community with open hearts, open minds, and open doors. Affirming that each person is of sacred worth, we seek to be a fully inclusive church, believing that all people are God’s children, created in God’s image, loved and blessed equally by God. It is our purpose to be a Reconciling Congregation. This means extending hospital-ity and encouraging full participation of all, regardless of age, race, national origin, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orien-tation, marital status or family structure, education or economic background, and physical or mental ability. We recognize that we hold a variety of opinions. We do not seek to erase our differences, but to journey together in faith toward greater understanding and mutual respect. We believe that reconciliation to God and to one another is central to our mission and ministry.

Traditional Worship in our Sanctuary8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Sunday mornings

Chancel Worship with Holy Communion10:00 a.m. Sunday mornings

Listen on WYSL 1040 AM or 92.1 FM11:00 a.m.-noon Sunday mornings

Watch live at www.asburyfirst.org11:00 a.m. Sunday mornings

Watch past services in our video archive at www.asburyfirst.org any time!

sign Up for oUr e-newsLetterTo receive our email newsletters, with news of upcoming services, classes, and other events at Asbury First, go to www.asburyfirst.org and scroll to the bottom of the home page, where you’ll see a sign-up window. Or, if you have a smartphone, scan this QR code to take you directly to a sign-up page.

fiVe waYs to worship at asbUrY first

Our church goal this year: we commit to attending worship on Sundays as often as possible and inviting a friend

to worship with us.

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AFUMC news

The Great DramaA Pastoral Reflection

A pastor I know often describes wor-ship as “a dress rehearsal for the Kingdom of God.” In other words: in worship we do our very best to live into the Kingdom of God, knowing that it’s not yet quite the real deal, but trusting that it can come pretty close. We turn our collective attention to God and we are reminded of our identity as God’s beloved children.

This idea of worship as dress

rehearsal for the Kingdom feels particularly true to me as we approach Holy Week, the great drama of the liturgical year. From Palm Sunday to Easter morning – just seven short days – we will move together through the great story of our faith. A lot happens in those seven days, and it can feel a bit like an emotional roller coaster.

We shout “Hosanna!” and wel-come Jesus into Jerusalem, only to turn and desert him in his hour of need. We gather together around a table to taste God’s goodness, we watch the Savior wash our dirty feet, we fall asleep

in the garden and wonder why Jesus would have ever chosen us to be his disciples. We sit at the foot of the cross and hear Jesus cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” We see his body laid in the tomb. We wonder how it is that the Son of God could have died, what it means that he no longer walks this earth. And we gather in amazement at the astonishing good news of Easter morning: Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Life has overcome death, light has defeated darkness, and we find hope in the resurrection.

What a story! What a week! As

we come together in worship throughout Holy Week, as we hear that old, old story told once again, my prayer is that it might be a true dress rehearsal for the Kingdom of God. For a dress rehearsal to work, we need a full cast, and so I hope that you will join us in worship throughout the week (you’ll find the sched-ule of Holy Week services on the back cover of this issue of The Visitor). Together we will watch and pray, together we will live this great drama, and together we will catch a glimpse of our gracious God.

Katie O’Hern

Continued on next page.

Asbury First’s ministers with some of the members and friends who attended a Lenten service at Fairport Baptist Home in late February. In this picture (back row, l to r): the Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, Nancy Adamus, Marcia Wilke, Lorraine Fusare, unknown, Shirley Swackhamer, Evette Mogan, Carol MacMonagle, unknown, Kathy Thiel, Katie O’Hern, and Dick Wilke. (front row, l to r): Ann Hunter, Jane Wilson, Marge Warner, Rand Warner, Marion Anderson, Joy Gates, and Anna Collins.

Easter Hospitality

As we prepare for and celebrate Holy Week, there will be many visitors to our church who have never stepped through our doors before. The members of Asbury First have always extended their hands in friendship to those who are new, and we want to ask you to continue this tradition this Easter sea-son and take an extra moment when you are on campus to greet and welcome any new faces you see. This is especially true for Easter morning itself, when hundreds of first-time visitors will attend our services. They may be nervous about being in a new, unfamiliar place, or they may have questions that you can answer for them. Please join with us in helping to turn strangers into friends, and in making our services comfortable and welcoming for all. Thank you!

Asbury First Nursing Home Ministry

One of Asbury First’s most vital ministries is that to the area nursing homes and care facilities where members and friends of our church now live. During Lent, the pastors offered com-munion services at several of these homes, including Fairport Baptist Home. For many of the residents, the services are one of the highlights of their week. The Rev. Jennifer Streeter, (daughter to AFUMC members Bob and Barb Castle), pro-vides pastoral care at FBH, and was there for the recent week day service. She told us, “many of our residents have been members of Asbury First their whole life. Every Sunday morn-

ing Rand Warner gathers all of the Asbury First people he can find and they listen to the service on the radio together. Each year it means the world to the residents to have the Asbury First clergy come and lead a service where they live. After the service we gather for a time for fellowship. During that time I heard Stephen [Cady] swapping stories with Shirley Swack-hamer about the church years ago. Jane Wilson, for whom the Sunday School classes made cards on her 100th birthday,

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in CommunityOur Living WORSHIPworship schedulesUndaY serViCe tiMes8:30 a.m. – Traditional Worship10:00 a.m. – Chancel Worship with Holy Communion11:00 a.m. – Traditional Worship with Sanctuary Choir

sUndaY MarCh 20Palm SundayLuke 19:28-40Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, preacher

sUndaY MarCh 27Easter SundayLuke 24:1-12Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, preacher

For a full schedule of Holy Week services, please see the back cover.

sUndaY apriL 3Second Sunday after EasterJohn 20:19-31Katie O’Hern, preacher

sUndaY apriL 10Third Sunday after EasterJohn 21:1-19Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, preacher

sUndaY apriL 17Fourth Sunday after EasterJohn 10:22-30Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, preacher

sUndaY apriL 24Fifth Sunday after EasterJohn 13:31-35Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, preacher

DeathsMerciful God, we entrust to your

never-failing care and love

We offer our prayers and sympathy to Morgan Dornsife

and family on the death of Morgan’s grandmother

Christa Fumeaon February 17, 2016 in

Lewisburg, PA.

We offer our prayers and sympathy to Donna and Karen

Kelly on the death of their sister and aunt

Margaret Giblinon February 22, 2016 in

Canandaigua, NY.

We offer our prayers and sympathy to Nadia and Mike

Mullin and family on the death of Nadia’s grandfather

Mario Buzzelli on February 28, 2016 in

Havelock, NC.

Births & BaptismsGod has sealed you unto

love and grace divine

Elisabeth Kay Voelkldaughter of Sarah and Casey Voelkl, baptized on February

28, 2016.

Eli David Piazzason of AManda and Erik

Piazza, baptized on March 13, 2016.

is now 103 years old. She attended Asbury First when it was in a different location and a much different church than it is now. She teared up when she heard Asbury First was here to lead a service. Nancy Adamus, who is an usher at the 8:30 a.m. service at Asbury First, comes to our worship service with her mother every Sunday afternoon. Nancy helps serve communion on the communion Sundays. We appreciate how closely we can work with Asbury First and the many ways we stay connected with each other. It is a living testament that a church is not a building but a community of faith.”

Youth Interfaith Summit Helps Build Bridges

A visitor to Asbury First on Sunday evening, March 6, might have been surprised by the buzz in the air. The Gathering Center, packed with engaged, vibrant teens and teen leaders, was the location for a youth interfaith summit that brought together high school students from a broad range of faith traditions, including Mormon, Catholic, Jewish, and Islam. Nearly 100 people shared a pot luck dinner before breaking into groups to talk about topics that pertain to faith, life, God, and spirituality, as they saw it within their own traditions. At the end of the evening, the group closed by singing “Peace, Salam, Shalom, Namaste...”.

“Our goal was to get youth together to start a conversation, Photos courtesy of Dan Mack.

and begin creating an “us” mentality rather than an “us and them” mental-ity,” said Mike Mullin, Asbury First’s youth minister. “We were hoping to raise our level of understand-ing of others, not to try to convert them, but just to open dialogue. We want this to be the start of something that hap-pens again.”

Organizers say the event was highly successful, and plans are already being made for the next youth summit. Special thanks to Andrew Kennedy, the youth organizer and AFUMC member, who worked diligently to make the event a success.

AFUMC News, continued from the previous page.

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on holy groundCreated by the Spiritual Life Committee, On Holy Ground highlights opportunities for spiritual growth and renewal.

A favorite Lenten devotional, Donna Shaper’s Calmly Plotting the Resurrec-

tion, once again beckoned to me this year and was pulled from my bookshelf. The author suggests that we enter Lent to be-gin a journey – a journey to a place called Resurrection. She suggests that resurrec-tion is a concept too big for us to com-prehend. This catches my attention in a HUGE way, and I ask myself, “Really, Bonnie – is Jesus’ Resurrection (which is at the heart of your Christian faith) a concept too big for you?”

This sends me to pondering and the first thought that comes to mind is that Resurrection is about rising to new life. Yes, when my earthly journey closes and I die in the flesh, I know that through Jesus, I will rise to a new life (I remember Woody Allen’s profound quote, “One out of one of us is going to die”), but Shaper fervently believes that ris-ing must also be about the now; Resurrection Now must also be about our life now as well as life after death.

This makes me think that Shaper must be a dreamer like we all are at Asbury First, because she points to new life, to new possibilities in our personal lives and in our church’s life; to be raised up – now.

Interestingly, she coins many phrases – like “stone rolling;” and she names Jesus a “stone roller.” Jesus’ stone was rolled away from his tomb – and this opened up that which entombed him from living the resurrected life. She invites us to consider what stones or boulders need to be rolled away from each of our lives and the life of our churches to live the resurrected life – now. In my reflecting time I can envision my pile of stones that block my place of life now – which include places of apathy, unwarranted judgments, hopelessness, places that are stagnant, and lifeless places. My Lenten journey of reflecting and dreaming points to these areas as places of opportunity; as places of transformation for life now.

I quote Shaper: “Living Now with a resurrected spirit is triune: a raised self, a raised church, and a raised society. It is interac-

A Personal Reflection on the Lenten Journeytive: I raise my body to raise your spirit, and you raise your body to help me raise mine. In our churches we raise each other for the sake of our world. We lift society up from the gutter so that society can lift us up. We are in stone rolling together.”

My reflection is leading me to some stone roll-ing I need to take. I mention a few:

• I need an attitude change because of a grudge, a place of resentment that I’ve been holding far too long. Please help me roll this stone away.

• My heart aches regarding the high poverty rate in my home town. I ache especially for our hungry children. Please help me roll away the stone that

blocks me from being someone who helps bring nourish-ment to these children’s hungry bellies.

I sense an invitation before me and I invite you to join with me as we journey to Resurrection Now. Are you too, being invited to become a “stone roller,” considering your own life’s circum-stances? What blocks you and me from living Resurrection Now . . . of rising now? I ask the same question in a different way – how or what will open me to live resurrection now? I pray to be receptive to these invitations as the Lenten journey continues. – Bonnie Matthaidess, Spiritual Life Committee

LabyrinthWednesday, April 13

5:00-7:00 p.m. Come, walk, and listen to beautiful music as you experience some quiet, meditative time healing

your soul and re-connecting with God.

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Stewardship news1 by Lis Bischoff-Ormsbee, Chair, Stewardship Committee 2

Ed Note: In this is-sue, we introduce our new chair of the stew-ardship committee, Lis Bischoff-Ormsbee. We want to express our gratitude to previous chair Kelly Mueller, who led a number of successful stewardship campaigns for Asbury First with skill and grace. Here, Lis tells us a bit about her background, what drew her to Asbury First, and what her goals are for the steward-ship committee going forward.

Eight years ago, my family moved to the Rochester area. The first couple of years, we spent a fair amount of time visiting various churches, trying to find the one for us. Sur-prisingly, this was not an easy process and it needed to fit in with the tasks of getting to know new schools, new jobs, etc. One day, our son Mike came home and said that we had to go to Asbury First. He had seen the musical there because one of his friends was in it, and was really excited about the music program at this church. So, off we went and the rest, as they say, is history!

Right from the start, we were involved in the sanctuary and youth choirs as well as the youth group, mission trips, and several committees. About two years ago, I joined the stewardship committee, where I worked with our terrific leader, Kelly Mueller. I have worked in development (fundraising) at the University of Rochester, at my alma mater, and now here at Asbury First. And I find the work deeply meaningful.

Here’s why: I’ve had many years to think about why this work is important and here’s what I’ve learned. It’s about far more

than asking people for money. At its roots, stewardship is about building relationships with people whose dreams and ideals align with our institution’s purpose. It is con-necting with all kinds of people and giving them the opportunity to experience the joy of investing in ministries and programs that are working, every day, to make our world a better place. Stewarding our resources wisely is something that God asks of us on a regular basis, as we are able, and I enjoy helping people to find out how they can do that.

I also enjoy the opportunity to thank every-one for those amazing gifts. Each and every gift Asbury First receives has enormous value, and it’s an honor to be able to express our gratitude to those who give, no matter how they give (through pledging, Sunday offering, or in other ways) or the amount of their gift.

At Asbury First, stewardship provides a foundation for worship, education, mem-bership care and outreach. We love all the elements of our worship services – chil-dren’s time, the welcoming of those watch-ing the service online, our pastors, the music, and the thought-provoking sermons. We love the education that is available to every person, connecting young and not so young to the lessons that the Bible teaches. And we love the friendly and caring com-munity that is ready to welcome all, giving a ride to someone who wouldn’t otherwise get to church, and letting others know when someone is ill or in trouble. We especially enjoy the youth program that gets our kids involved in mission trips, local causes, and even their own musicals. We are, through all this, one big extended family!

So, as I take my place as chair of the stew-ardship committee, I’m excited to be here and honored to work with the people on the committee, the church staff, and our con-gregation. With all of you, we will continue to raise support for the many varied and meaningful ministries of Asbury First.

And just in case you’re interested, here is how we will plan the coming year in the committee:

• Spring: You will be hearing from us as we express our gratitude for your gifts to the church and show you, in a variety of ways, how your generosity is moving forward the church’s ministries.

• Summer – You want a clear sense of why we’re asking for your financial help. So we spend the summer making sure those questions will be answered when the annual campaign starts in the fall. This background work is vital to ensur-ing we are all on the same page regard-ing funding for Asbury First.

• Fall – You’ll be hearing from us once again in early October, as we present a plan for funding the 2017 budget and ask for your help in making that hap-pen. Throughout the following months, we’ll keep you up-to-date on how the efforts are going, leading up to Thanks-giving Sunday, when we dedicate our pledges to God.

If you are interested in the stewardship process at Asbury First, have questions, would like to help, or wish to talk about a gift to the church, please don’t hesitate to contact Asbury First’s development direc-tor, Morgan Dornsife, at 585-271-1050 or mdornsife@asburyfirst.org. I look forward to working with you in the coming year!

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Ed. Note: last month, Kathy Thiel, minister for pastoral care and outreach, gave us a brief overview of Stephen Ministry. This month, she answers some common questions of the practice of Stephen Ministry.

What kind of things would I go see a Stephen Minister about?A Stephen Minister is assigned to you if you are in need of Christ-centered care, given by someone who is trained to walk with you as a companion on your journey. Stephen Ministry is designed to benefit those who are experiencing the usual chal-lenges of life – loss of a loved one to death; unemployment; divorce; a new situation that brings questions; and more.

What does a Stephen Minister offer to me?A Stephen Minister will walk with you as you navigate what- ever is challenging you. S/he will listen as you talk about your fears, frustrations, sor-rows, hopes and dreams. The Stephen Minister does not give advice, or bring you to an appointment with your doctor. The Stephen Minister is there to share God’s loving presence and the gift of listening.

How long would I go to see them for? Is it a one-time thing or a continuing relation-ship?The relationship between a Ste-phen Minister (the care giver) and you (the care receiver) lasts for the length of whatever you are experiencing. Sometimes the relationship lasts six weeks; other relationships last for sev-

eral months. This is something that you and your Stephen Minister can discuss and revisit as your relationship deepens.

Is there any cost to me?Stephen Ministry is free! Ste-phen Ministers do not expect anything from you. You do not have to feed them or take them out for a meal. If you decide to meet at your home, you do not have to worry about what you or your home looks like when you get together. This relation-ship is about your spiritual health and it is free.

How much training do Ste-phen Ministers get?Lay people receive 50 hours of training to become Stephen Ministers, and continuing education throughout their ministry. Throughout the year, Stephen Ministers gather together for extra training with Stephen Ministers from other churches.

How do I know that my Ste-phen Minister won’t share my problems with other people? Are the meetings confidential?This is a holy and sacred relationship rooted in the love

of God and Christ. Whatever you share is precious to your Stephen Minister. It is of the utmost importance that your confidentiality is kept and Stephen Ministers are trained to keep all that you share to themselves. Stephen Ministers participate in peer supervision, meaning that they meet with other Stephen Ministers to talk about themselves and their ministry. Even in this sacred time of sharing, your Stephen Minister will never divulge what s/he learns from you. Your relationship with your Stephen Minister is confidential; your Stephen Minister will not even share that you are their care receiver. If you choose to share this information, that is up to you and it is perfectly fine to do this, but it is on your terms.

Can they help me to solve my problems?Stephen Ministers are here to listen and pray with you. They are not therapists or counselors. Stephen Ministers bring the presence of God and the com-panionship of Jesus Christ to you in a specific way of listening and praying. This is their gift

to you.

Can I choose a specific Stephen Minister I’d like to work with or does someone else choose the person I’ll be talking to?The pastor will choose a Ste-phen Minister for you. If you are a woman, you will receive a female Stephen Minister, and if you are a man, you will receive a male Stephen Min-ister. If for some reason the relationship is not productive, you may request a change. This relationship is solely for your benefit.

Where do we meet? When?You and your Stephen Minister will figure out what works best for both of you as far as meeting places and times. Usually, the meet-ings take place once a week. You can also talk with your Stephen Minister on the telephone. Remember, you are not responsible for taking your Stephen Minister out for a meal, you are not expected to provide any sort of re-freshment for your Stephen Minister if you meet at your home, this relationship is for your spiritual benefit.

Does my relationship with my Stephen Minister change the relationship I have with my pastor?No. The relationship you have with your pastor does not change if you have a Stephen Minister. Your pastor will continue to be in touch with you and offer you pastoral care and pastoral counseling.

Stephen Ministry: Frequently Asked Questionsby Kathy Thiel

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Prayer Partners for Youth Missions2016 is our fortieth year of youth missions at Asbury First. This is also an international year for our senior high students. With all of this excitement, we want to invite you to join in on the fun!This summer, our senior high youth will be travelling to Cuba to partner with Cuban Connection Ministries. We will be immersed in the culture, work with local churches, and even help out on a community farm.Meanwhile, our middle school youth will spend several days in Rochester, helping out with Asbury First’s Vacation Bible School program in the morning and at different local mission agencies in the afternoons. We will then enjoy a brief two-day excursion following this week of service.All together we will have approximately 65 youth and adults participating in our summer mission trips. We hope that you will consider participating with us in our missions this year by being a prayer partner! As a prayer partner: you will be matched with a missioner — junior high, senior high, or adult — and will be given a photo and brief bio of him or her; you will be asked to provide a photo and write a letter to your missioner which s/he will receive during his/her trip; and finally, you will be asked to keep your missioner in prayer throughout the trip.You may sign up to be a prayer partner at a table in the Welcoming Hall on a Sunday morning, by emailing Mike Mullin at mmul-lin@asburyfirst.org, or by calling the church office at (585) 271-1050 and letting us know of your interest. We look forward to sharing with you in these wonderful ministries!

Spring Spiritual RetreatsSpring Spiritual Retreatsfor Men ...Men, join us for our annual spring retreat at Camp Casowasco from Friday evening April 29-Sunday morning May 1. We will be staying at Wesley Lodge on the retreat on Owasco

Lake. We gather to sing, pray, hike, worship, and have discussions. This year’s theme will be

based on the book Seven Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness, by Eric Metaxas. This is a

chance to relax, reflect and renew one’s spirit. The cost is $133.50 per person and includes

lodging Friday through Sunday and four meals, Saturday through Sunday morning. You

can bring your own sleeping bag, or pay $8 per person for linens supplied by Casowasco.

If interested contact Bruce Thompson at brucerthompsonmd@mac.com or Glenn Peck at

gpeck1@rochester.rr.com.

for women ...Our theme this year is You Are My Beloved. Come and explore God’s relationship with us as

the Beloved, along with some help from the women in Scripture. The retreat is Friday, April 29-Sunday, May 1 at Asbury Camp and Retreat Center, Silver Lake, NY 14549. Cost is $138/double occupancy. On Friday evening, we’ll have soup and salad available from 6:00-9:00

p.m., provided by the retreat committee. Limited to 30 participants, so register soon by

contacting Melody Guadagnino in the church office at 585-271-1050 x103 or mguadagnino@

asburyfirst.org. Registration deadline is April 22. Please make checks out to AFUMC with

“women’s retreat” in the memo. For more info, contact Bonnie Matthaidess (bjmatt2@aol.com

or 381-7107) or Diane Dudley (diduds@aol.com or 223-1962).

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1 by Chris Lee 2

• A PLACE TO CALL HOME •

In 2000-2001, three socially-minded members of three

different Rochester faith com-munities (including Asbury First’s Rev. Margie Mayson) were exchanging thoughts about a “new” model that would allow faith communities to help homeless families with-out getting hopelessly over-burdened by administrative tasks. Through these meetings, they began to learn about the history, model and purpose of the National Interfaith Hospitality Net-work (NIHN, now called Family Promise), headquartered in New Jersey and founded in 1988. This organization addressed the problems that homeless families face when traditional shelters did not serve their needs well by tapping the resources and energies of faith communities.

As time went on, other faith community volunteers and leaders stepped forward to help shape what would become the Roch-ester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (RAIHN), a not-for-profit, interfaith, culturally-competent organization that as-sists homeless families to achieve sustain-able independence by supporting them with tailored services including shelter, food, personalized case management, and a diverse network of caring volunteers.

Celebrating its twelfth anniversary in April, RAIHN currently partners with 41 faith communities who serve as host and support congregations, with many others providing moral and financial support. Family Promise has grown to 187 affiliates in 42 states, serving over 50,000 people annually. RAIHN’s annual budget is $200,000, and it is funded by private dona-

tions from generous individuals, congrega-tions, corporations and foundations.

As a community, we have been increas-ingly more uncomfortable with the news that Rochester has the second highest poverty rate in the United States. Accord-ing to the RAIHN website, more than 600 individuals are homeless each night in Rochester and its suburbs, including 100 families with children. Yet some hearten-ing statistics appear on that website as well: RAIHN served 27 families, includ-ing 50 children, in 2014, and 90 percent of RAIHN families remain in permanent housing after one year. That’s more than a quarter of the homeless families in Roch-ester being served by this one program.

My husband, Doug, and I have been coordinators of Asbury First’s RAIHN outreach ministry since February 2013. During that time, we have had the pleasure of meeting many wonderful families and working alongside a caring, dedicated team of volunteers that includes members of our three support congregations: Greece Baptist Church, The Baptist Temple, and Baber African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Since we were fortunate enough to count the members of the youth group as part of our team during our January week, we can report a record 109 volunteers who served a collective 413 hours from Sunday, January 24 through Sunday, January 31.

Being a RAIHN volunteer isn’t complicated, and doesn’t take a great deal of time. Shifts (with the exception of the overnights) are gener-

ally two or three hours in length, and our congregation only hosts families four times a year. There are opportunities to greet the families as they arrive off the bus each afternoon, prepare and serve a meal dur-ing the week, play games, do homework, watch a movie, or just relax and chat with children and their parents, or you may spend the night in 1010 East Ave, making sure that families get up and out the door when the bus arrives before 7:00 a.m. the next morning.

It is safe to say that our first RAIHN rota-tion of 2016 was a particularly memorable one. We were blessed to spend the week with four families, made up of seven adults and four children ages newborn (and I do mean newborn!) to 10 years. One mom arrived at our door 41 weeks pregnant, and left us the following Sunday with a two-day-old baby girl. Another couple got married the day after we met them. Volunteer Lin Vanderstyne wondered if we could hold a baby shower, which quickly morphed into a combined baby/wedding shower, with gifts for all four of the fami-lies in the program.

Continued on next page.

10

Of all of the experiences of the week, it was what happened at the shower that had the biggest impact on me. The gift-giving had just gotten underway when the groom addressed the room. “These presents are great, and we are so thankful. But the gift I really want from you is the gift of the Holy Spirit.” In that moment all of the shower guests formed a circle and bowed our heads and shared in a time of prayer. With tears in our eyes and love overflowing from our hearts, we then returned to the festivities, laughter punc-tuating the present opening, game playing, punch drinking, and cake eating that ensued.

During RAIHN week, I happily walked alongside so many amaz-ing people, guests, and volunteers alike, who said “Yes, Lord, I love you” and then lovingly took care of those around them.

“Again Jesus said, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He an-swered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ “– John 21:16.

If you want to be a part of this important outreach ministry, please contact Chris or Doug Lee at c_s_lee29@msn.com or 585-451-7692.

Car City 2016 a fundraiser for RAIHN held at Asbury First on April 30-May 1.

Car City gives the community an opportunity to learn about family homelessness in a meaningful, hands-on way by sleeping overnight in their cars. Similar to the idea of a walk-a-thon, participants in Car City raise a registration fee plus pledges to benefit RAIHN. “Virtu-al” participants (who raise funds and attend the event, but sleep at home) are also welcome!

At Car City, you’ll find:

• A keynote speech by photojournalist Arleen Thaler.

• Car-aoke with Creekside Entertainment.

• Bedtime yoga to help you relax.

See www.RAIHN.org to register or for more details.

RAIHN, continued from previous page.

2016 RAIHN Hosting Weeks at Asbury First

Please mark your calendars!

Sunday, April 24-Sunday, May 1

Sunday, July 24-Sunday, July 31

Sunday, October 16-Sunday October 23

Planning Our FutureThe dream board has come down and we have asked that

the community spend the season of Lent in prayer for our

common dreams. Easter brings with it the promise of new

life and, this year, a new chance to dream. For one week, from

Sunday, April 10 to Sunday April 17, we will place a large

board with all of our dreams on it in the Gathering Center.

We request and encourage all who are interested to take a

moment, either Sunday morning or sometime during the

week, to arrange the dreams as you see fit. This crowd-sourced

“affinity diagram” will be fluid and allow everyone to reveal

the common themes of our dreaming together and to help

us find together who God is calling us to be. New cards will

be available for those who, through the process, discover new

dreams. Once the dreams have been sorted, our Strategic

Planning Team (aka “Dream Team”) will use those themes and

insights to create a new five-year strategic plan for Asbury First.

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Spring classes & events

United MethodisM 101Wednesdays, April 6, 13, 20, 276:30-7:30 p.m.Gathering Center

• Do we believe in free will or predestination? • Why do our ministers move around so much? • What’s up with the name “Methodist?” • What does it mean to be “strangely warmed?”

Whether you’ve been a United Methodist all of your life or have just stumbled upon us recently, this class is for you! This discussion is about the history, structure, beliefs, and challenges of The United Methodist Church. Please let us know if you plan to attend by April 1 so that we can order books (optional). The cost will be $12 for the optional book and assistance is available. For more info or to register call Melody Guadagnino in the church office at 585-271- 1050 x103 or mguadagnino@asburyfirst.org.

Comparing the GospelsThursdays, April 7, 14, 21, 28

6:00-7:00 p.m. | 1010 East Ave., Red Room

Have you ever wondered why we

have four Gospels – not just one?

In this class, we’ll take a look at

differences and similarities among

the books of Matthew, Mark,

Luke and John. Each written un-

der different circumstances, we’ll

contrast some of the better-known

stories and talk about what each

author was trying to accomplish

by writing it as he did. We’ll pay

special attention to the Johannine

Gospel, which deviates from the synoptics (Matthew, Mark, and Luke)

in some significant ways. Join us as we take a closer look at these four

seminal books of our faith. For more information contact Summer Sat-

tora at ssattora@asburyfirst.org.

Theology on TapasThursdays, April 7, 14, 21, 28

5-6:30 p.m. | Ox and Stone

(282 Alexander St.)

Join us for tapas and informal conversation

about life, faith, and today’s world. Each

week we’ll talk about a different topic,

all while getting to know one another

and sharing food. Want to learn more or

suggest a topic for conversation? Contact

Katie O’Hern at kohern@asburyfirst.org.

No need to register: just show up, and stay

as long as you like!

Dr. Leonard SweetMonday, March 28

7:00 p.m. | free

Renowned writer and theologian

Dr. Leonard Sweet will visit Asbury

First in March under the auspices

of Colgate Rochester Crozer

Divinity School. At Asbury First

he will give the Stanley I. Stuber

Lecture, titled You Don’t ‘Work’ a

Violin: The Play of Faith.

Dr. Sweet is a scholar of American

culture, a preacher and a best-selling

author who communicates the gos-

pel with a signature bridging of the worlds of faith, the academy, and

popular culture. He is currently the E. Stanley Jones Professor of

Evangelism at Drew University, Madison, NJ and a Visiting Distin-

guished Professor at George Fox University, Portland, Oregon.

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&m u s i cthe a r t s

Salon Concert Seriesat a s b u r y F i r s t

s u n d ay, a p r i l 1 0 / 2 : 0 0 p . M .

s c h u b e r t t r i o s n o s . 1 & 2

Featuring

Rebecca Penneys, piano

Mikhail Kopelman, violin

Stefan Reuss, cello

Tickets are $30 in advance, available by calling the

church office at (585) 271-1050 x103. Tickets are

also available at the door for $35, free for full-time

students with ID.

This year’s children’s musical produc-tion is Table for Five Thousand: The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, written by Tom S. Long and Allen Pote.The 25-minute musical with piano and flute accompaniment will be performed in the sanctuary during the 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services on Sunday, May 1 under the direction of Holly Temming, interim director of children’s music.

The music features memorable melodies and touching lyrics to convey the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand. The musical remains true to the New Testament writings while underlining the theme that the most humble among us —especially children — can do great things with God’s help. An outstanding dramatic narrative employs numer-ous roles for our cast of 32 children ranging in age from four to eleven. There are nine musical numbers.

The creators of this musical also collaborated on other children’s mu-sicals performed in past years at Asbury First, including Malice in the Palace, and The Rock Slinger and His Greatest Hit.

Children to Perform Musical This Spring

v

Save the Date!

Cordancia Chamber Orchestra: April in Paris

Friday, April 227:00 p.m.

Tickets: $12 general admission; $9 senior/student admission, available at the door.

A program of French music, including works by George Antheil, Delius, and Ibert, and members of the French

group, Les Six. The program will also feature the winner of Cordancia’s Concerto Competition for Young Performers.

Cordancia performs with conductor Rachel Lauber, pianist Ines Draskovic and this year’s competition winner.

This is the first performance of this program. The second performance will be on April 24 in the Linehan Chapel at

Nazareth College.

www.cordancia.org

Rising as on Wings: At the Intersection of Architecture and Music

A concert featuring the Telos TrioSunday, April 24

2:30 p.m.Free will offering

The Telos Trio – Rita George

Simmons on flute, Debbie

Grohman on clarinet, and

Willie La Favor on piano – have

performed to much acclaim

across upstate New York. In

Asbury First’s beautiful Neo-Gothic sanctuary, they will perform

music that explores the architecture of the performance space

as that space impacts how the music is heard. How does our

surrounding environment influence what we hear? Please join us

as these talented musicians help us to explore this question.

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registration form – sixth annual talent showName___________________________________________ Phone________________________________________

Email _____________________________________

Briefly describe your act: _________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

(If performing a piece of music, please list title and composer)

Materials/props you will bring: ____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

Tech resources required: CD Player ____ Piano ____ Electric Cord ___ Amp ____

Microphone(s) ______ (# of mics) _______ Other __________________________________________

Do you need piano accompaniment? Yes ___ No ___ If yes, please attach a copy of the music to this form,

and you will be contacted about your performance.

This intergenerational talent show is produced by our youth and directed by Brian Bohrer. If you

would like to perform, fill out the registration form and return it to the church office or to the

Welcoming Hall registration table (after Easter) by Sunday, April 17. Rehearsals will be held on Sunday,

April 24 from 3:30-5:30 or Sunday, May 1 from 12:15-2:30. You must attend a rehearsal (you only need

to come to one rehearsal) with your act fully prepared in order to be included on the program. Ques-

tions? Please contact Carol Lamica at clamica@asburyfirst.org. Hope to see you there!

Ready for your Curtain Call?Save the date for Asbury First’s Sixth Annual

Talent ShowSaturday, May 7

6:00 p.m. dinner (please bring a dish to pass)

6:30 showFellowship Hall

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Scripture reading suggestions courtesy of the American Bible Society, www.americanbible.org.

library news

Children:Last Stop on Market Street, by Matt de la Pena, pictures by Christian Robinson.The award-winning story of CJ and his grandma on a bus ride across town and the grandma’s response to the why’s of a young child who wonders why he does not have a car, an IPod, or a home in the better part of town. Simple shapes and bright colors will capture the interest of the target ages 3-5.

Waiting, by Kevin Henkes. “An irresistible picture book” is the description of this Caldecott Medal honoree, and we are certain that ages 4-8 will find it so. Children learn all about patience from an endearing cast of toys – an owl, a puppy, a bear, a rabbit, and a pig – in this charming story.

The Only Child, by Guojing.Ages 5-9 will be drawn to this part picture book, part graphic novel of a little girl – lost and alone – who follows a mysterious stag deep into the woods and finds herself in a strange and wondrous world. But home and family are very far away. How will she get back?

Teens:I Am Malala (Young Readers Edition), by Malala Yousafzai.This notable memoir is by a remarkable teenage Pakistani girl who risked her life for the right to go to school. Malala was taught to stand up for what she believes and her story is of bravery and determination. The library also has the standard adult and large print versions of this book. It is a selection of the church’s

National Library Week is April 10-16, 2016 with the theme, “Libraries Transform.” Be a part of the transformation and make use of the libraries on the Asbury First campus. Books for all ages and on all topics can be found in the church resource library (off the Gathering Cen-ter) and spiritual life library (in 1010 East Ave.). Everyone is welcome and it’s FREE! National Library Week was first held in 1958. It is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and to promote library use and support. Come to the library and celebrate with us!

Diversity Book Club and will be discussed after the 11:00 church service on April 24.

Adults:Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race, by Debby Irving.A “... must read for anyone exploring issues of racism, power, privilege and leadership” this book is a personal story of the author’s awareness of race in the United States.

The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver.In this intense family drama set in Africa, the author tells the story of an evangelical missionary preacher, his wife and four daughters and their struggles as a family while living a foreign country.

DVD:The Muslims We Know: A Documentary Film.In case you missed one of the recent showings of this documentary at Asbury First, here is another opportunity. This 54-minute DVD describes Pakistani-American Muslims in Rochester with a goal to educate people about basic tenets of Islam and to highlight similarities with the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Jerusalem, a DVD directed by Daniel Ferguson.If you missed it on television, you can check out the DVD and see it in the comfort of your own home. Actor Benedict Cumberbatch narrates this 43 minute National Geographic Film that explores the landscape of Jerusalem and why this tiny piece of land is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims.

March20 Luke 19:28-4821 Luke 20:1-2622 Luke 22:1-3823 Luke 22:39-7124 Luke 23:1-2525 Luke 23:26-4926 Luke 23:50-5627 Luke 24:1-1228 Luke 24:13-3529 Luke 24:36-5330 Jonah 1:1-1731 Jonah 2:1-10

9 Hosea 8:1-1410 Hosea 9:1-1611 Hosea 9:17-10:1512 Hosea 11:1-1113 Hosea 11:12-12:1414 Hosea 13:1-1615 Hosea 14:1-916 Leviticus 16:1-1917 Leviticus 16:20-34

April1 Jonah 3:1-102 Jonah 4:1-113 Hosea 1:1-2:14 Hosea 2:2-235 Hosea 3:1-4:106 Hosea 4:11-5:157 Hosea 6:1-7:28 Hosea 7:3-16

18 2 Samuel 9:1-1319 1 Kings 16:29-17:720 1 Kings 17:8-2421 Psalm 3222 Psalm 5123 Psalm 5224 Psalm 5625 Psalm 5726 Psalm 9127 Psalm 10228 Psalm 10329 Psalm 12130 Psalm 130

the last word1 by Michele Cooley, DCC Director, and Mal Traub 2

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The operation of our ministry and meal program takes a lot of energy,

coordination, and determination to meet the needs of Rochester’s hungry and homeless. The Asbury First Dining and Caring Center is a ministry that never sleeps. When we are not open we are plan-ning our next 35,000 meals, procuring food, picking up food somewhere, connect-ing with outreach workers, making refer-rals to agencies, etc. Much of our success is dependant on the kindness and generosity of our volunteers.

One volunteer who has brought his knowledge of the restaurant business, his generosity, and determination to the Dining Center is Mal Traub. Mal has 50 years of experience, including time spent supervising Marine Corps kitchens while in the service as well as running his own restaurant and catering business.

Mal was on the ground floor when we were setting up the kitchen and ordering the equipment for the Dining Center 23 years ago. He is a long-time friend of AFUMC

member Bill Lisi, who now operates the Grocery Bag Ministry and was a founder of the Dining and Caring Center. Mal as-sisted Bill in the early days. Mal and Bill’s friendship is nearly life-long. When Mal was a teenager, Bill hired him to work in his restaurant and years later Bill actually purchased Mal’s parents’ home.

After many years of volunteering here, other projects demanded his time as his

catering business flourished. But after a five-year hiatus, Mal returned three years ago to volunteer. He has provided employ-ment opportunities which have helped a number of our guests succeed in the restaurant business. If we need new bowls, glasses, equipment, etc., Mal is the first to recognize that fact and facilitate their pro-curement. Recently he organized a three-day deep cleaning of the Dining Center. He also purchased Dining and Caring Center caps and aprons for our volunteers. When he is not cooking, catering, going to Foodlink, or picking up kitchen supplies, he can be found visiting his grandchildren or bird hunting with his best friend, “Dew,” his beloved Labrador retriever.

Mal operates on a common-sense level with our guests. As he says: “No matter how many obstacles you have in life you have to give back. You must donate your time and energy. Give from your heart, give of your self.” Thank you Mal. You are a great friend to all of us here at the Dining and Caring Center.

Mal Traub and his best friend, Dew.

You are invited to experience first-hand the miracle of Project Chacocente! Since

its founding in 2003, this ministry has been changing lives both in Nicaragua and in the USA. For our friends in Nicaragua, the despair of living in the Managua city dump has been replaced with dignity. For those of us in the USA who have been involved, our eyes and hearts have been opened. Although life remains difficult, it is immeasurably better for the eight families of the Project. The blessings have extended to the surrounding neighborhood as well. Chaco-cente Christian School is a beacon of hope for over 160 children, providing education, nourishment and recreation.

Asbury First has been an integral part of the success of this min-istry. Thisie Schisler, an Asbury First member, was a participant in the 2002 Mission of Peace trip to Nicaragua. The groups’ disbelief over the conditions of the 180 families living in the dump led directly to Project Founder Cheryl Avery’s decision to take action. Since then, more than 50 AFUMC members have visited the Project

N i c a r a g u a M i s s i o n Tr i p P l a n n e dand at least 20 have visited more than once. Four members have served as long-term volunteers up to six months at a time and two youth have led teams of their own. Several church members sponsor children of the Project and/or school. Asbury First has generously supported it financially through the Outreach Work Area and various fundrais-ers. The people of the Project are grateful and look forward to meeting even more of you!

The trip will be June 25-July 2, and is open to all church members and guests. The purpose of the trip is to break ground for a church on the school campus. However, if mixing ce-ment is not something you can do, there are plenty of others tasks to be completed. The estimated cost of the trip is $1,200-1,400 per person. Final figures will vary according to the number of partici-pants. The deadline for reserving your spot is April 15.

For more information email Robyn Gage at robynegage@gmail.com or call 585-752-9070. Visit www.outofthedump.org for up-dates on the Project.

PERIODICAL

1050 East AvenueRochester, NY 14607-2293

Address Service Requested

Palm SundayMarch 20Our regular services will be held at 8:30, 10:00 and 11:00 a.m.; palms will be distributed to all.

maundy ThurSdayMarch 24 / 6:30 (Sanctuary open); 7:30 p.m. (service)

The sanctuary opens at 6:30 p.m. for silent meditation. Living tableaus of scenes from the life of Christ will be presented on the altar during this time. At 7:30, we will offer communion and hold a candlelight re-enactment of Christ’s last night, ending with the placement of the cross on the East Avenue lawn by our Christ-figure. (Note: this service will not begin in Fellowship Hall, as it has in previous years. It will take place entirely in the Sanctuary.)

Good FridayMarch 25informal holy Communion6:00 a.m.Join the Men’s Prayer Group for a short service.

He Is Risen!Join us at Asbury First During Lent and Easter Week

Envisioning the PassionnoonHoly Week-themed art and music by Voices, Rochester’s professional chamber chorus.

Family Prayer night 6:00-7:30 p.m.A come-when-you-wish child-friendly event.

EaSTEr SundayMarch 27Sunrise Service6:30 a.m., Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, 1100 South Goodman Street, 14620Asbury First co-sponsors this service with other local churches.

Traditional Service 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. With festive music.

Chancel Communion service (brief service with no sermon)10:00 a.m.