Circuit Rider The Newsletter of Asbury United Methodist Church

Transcription

1 Circuit Rider The Newsletter of Asbury United Methodist Church 17 Old Post Road South, Croton-on Hudson, NY Tel: (914) Website: Jean Evans, Editor Lena Cheng, Mailing Coordinator CIRCUIT RIDER MARCH 2014 PASTOR S PEN GOD CALLS US TO BE HOLY, FOR GOD IS HOLY Leviticus urges us to be holy, for God is holy (Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18). Paul takes us a step further by saying that because God s spirit dwells within us we are God s temple. (Matthew 5:38-48) Because we are God s temple we have to start acting like it so that we can love and serve God, and love and serve our neighbors as we love ourselves. It is truly hard to be a holy people. Sometimes our posture becomes Holier than thou and righteous or angry, resentment and judgmental. However, God wants us to be humble, loving and forgiving. God calls us to be holy, for God is holy. God s precepts lead us into life. Christ calls us to be perfect, as God, our heavenly Mother and Father, is perfect. We are made perfect by loving our enemies and returning good for evil. The Spirit calls us to be holy, for we are temples of God. God s Spirit dwells within us. In the Spirit we find our true home. (B.J. Beu) God has put his spirit into us so that God will dwell in us as God s temple. As God makes us transformative, holy, loving, whole and perfected in holy love we will follow Christ s footsteps acting as holy and loving Christians and disciples by God s grace. God will give us life and we will be able to truly live and know love s perfection. We will become healthy, whole and able to serve effectively in love and holiness. May it be so - in Christ s name we pray. In Christ s love, Pastor Barbara

2 Men Growing in Christ so Others May Know Christ ASBURY CROTON ON HUDSON UNITED METHODIST MEN S FELLOWSHIP ASSOCIATION ACOHUMMFA MARCH 2014 meeting dates: Saturday 8:00 A.M. BROWN BAG BREAKFAST (OPTIONAL) 8:30 A.M. MEETING BEGINS 19 Old Post Road So Croton on Hudson 10:00 A.M. MEETING OVER Topics: JESUS His Powerful Life 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29 Weekly Readings (IT S JUST 15 min/day, WHOLE BIBLE IN A YEAR, YOU CAN DO IT!) for personal devotions: 1) NUMBERS 30 - Duteronomy 7 2) Deuteronomy ) Deuteronomy 29 - Joshua 13 4) Joshua14 - Judges 7 5) Judges 8 - Ruth 1-4 (WARNING: THIS MIGHT BE A CHALLENGE YOU WILL NEED HELP WITH. ASK PASTOR OR ACOHUMMFA MEMBER) Intercessory Prayers: 1) Asbury Prayer Chain 2) Asbury COH Church Families: E_F Women s History Month 3/2: John Wesley died /10: One Great Hour of Sharing Girl Scout Sunday More info: Stu Colby call or text or ACOHUMMFA@aol.com NOTE: ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO CHANGE CALL / CONTACT ABOVE TO CONFIRM

3 TREASURER S REPORT ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OUTSTANDING BILLS JANUARY 2014 Apportionments: NYAC Administration - January $ NYAC Clergy Support - January $ NYAC World Service - January $ NYAC Ministerial Education - January $ NYAC Mission Priority - January $ NYAC Black College Fund - January $ NYAC Africa University - January $ 7.12 NYAC Rev. Mungin Healthflex - January $1, NYAC Rev. Mungin Pension - January $ Subtotal $3, Buchanan Petroleum - Fuel Del y 1/06/14, $ $1,209.8 Buchanan Petroleum - Fuel Del y 1/17/14, $ $1, Buchanan Petroleum - Fuel Del y 1/24/14, $ $ Cokesbury - Custom Envelopes & Flower Chart $ Lena Cheng - Stamps for Circuit Rider (4 months) $ Upper Room - Jan/Feb Issues $ United Methodist Communications - Program Calendar $ Cynthia Plater - Annual website fee $ Cynthia Plater - One month broadcast system $ TOTAL $ 7, Thank you for your continued support. Now that the fuel bills are coming in every week, I urge you to keep your pledges up-to-date. I appreciate everyone s cooperation. Sincerely, Marilyn Hansen, Treasurer

4 Tag Sale is Coming! Save these dates on your calendar Saturday, April 5-9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6 - Noon to 3 p.m. Save all your unwanted treasures for this event We need the entire congregation involved We will accept donations from March 9 after church through Wednesday, April 2 To Make the Sale a Success We need sorters, setter-uppers, price-setters, department heads, floor walkers, poster putter-uppers and bakers On the sale days we need many hands to make the day a success for us and our customers SIGN UP ON THE SIGN-UP SHEET AT THE BACK OF THE SANCTUARY Join us on Sunday, March 30 after church for the annual tag sale sorting day and lunch The Asbury tag sale is not only the biggest fundraising event for the church, it is also a time for fun and fellowship. To volunteer, or for further information, please contact Bill and Gloria Laemmel at

5 Mark your Calendars! Church Spring Cleanup is April 12 th 8:00 a.m. 12:00 Noon The trustees cordially invite you (yes, YOU!) to the annual Church Spring Cleanup, to be held Saturday, April 12 (the day before Palm Sunday). Bring your favorite cleaning supplies/tools or rely on the trustees to provide them. Come for a half hour or for the whole morning we ll be there! Along with the usual chores, we need to clear out the garage at the parsonage, so it would be really great if someone can bring a truck (please call John Pershing to confirm). Asbury Play & Learn Summer Camp Asbury Play & Learn is Calling all Campers! Summer camp will begin on July 7 - August 7 from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon. Children ages 2 years - 6 years are welcome. Register now at

6 Denise Hansen is Betrothed Marilyn & Peter Hansen are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Denise Elaine Hansen to Joseph Castricone of Dallas, Texas The wedding is planned for fall 2014 THE LENTEN SEASON by Don Daubney The coming of Lenten season reminds me of a long standing Christian tradition of giving something up for Lent; a way of showing a personal sacrifice honoring Jesus' ultimate sacrifice for us. What we do not want to give up however is our Christian responsibilities as disciples in our church. Asbury United Methodist Church has been serving the Croton community for a long time in many ways, a spiritual leader in the community. We, as congregants, have an obligation to not give up, but must renew our vows to support our church with our presence and gifts of talent and resources. Are we going to reinvigorate our Christian spirit in Asbury Church? Perhaps there is something to be "given up" this Lenten season that will allow us to take a larger role in the life of our church. A common phrase that is tossed around is: Nobody said it was going to be easy." Christ's message was similar to that. His message included sacrifice and commitment. Let us renew our Christian vows this season, and be willing to "give up" something if we have to, in order to fulfill those vows. Also, some religious humor In Florida an atheist hired an attorney to bring a discrimination suit against Christians and Jews and observances of their holy days. The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged the gavel declaring, "Case dismissed!" The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling, "Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others, Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays. The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counselor, is woefully ignorant." The lawyer said, "Your honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists. The judge replied, "The calendar indicates April 1st as April Fool s Day. Psalm 14:1 states 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, in the opinion of this court, if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court is dismissed."

7 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY MARCH 2014 ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH :00 Worship Tag Sale Planning Meeting (following worship) Ash Wednesday Service 7:30 p.m. 6 Bible Study 10:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m :00-10:30 Book Club (Music Rm) Saxe Shower 1pm-5pm in Fellowship Hall 9 10:00 Worship 6:00 Jan Peek Meal :30 Trustees :00 p.m :00-10:30 UMW (Music Rm) Start bringing tag sale items to Soc. Hall 16 10:00 a.m. Worship 17 12:00 Peekskill Meal 18 7:30 Ad Board :00 p.m :00 a.m. Worship :00 pm :00 a.m. Worship Tag Sale set-up after worship service