DISCOVERING GOD S THUMBPRINT

Transcription

1 DISCOVERING GOD S THUMBPRINT N E W S L E T T E R by Pastor Mark Moore March 2011 INSIDE Caring for Others Workshop pg. 2 Parish Nurse Health Ministry pg. 3 UMW News pg. 4 Asbury Mailbox pg. 5 Family Album pg. 8 IF YOU have ever seen an episode of any of the police shows now on TV (Law and Order, CSI, NCIS) you know that every person ever born has a unique finger print no two are ever exactly alike. More advanced technology, such as retinal scanning or DNA analysis, is now being used and can show us in ever more detail that no two people are exactly alike. Just as we all have different fingerprints and DNA, so God has made each of us unique creations. No one else has your passions, your personality, your giftedness, your experiences or your hopes and dreams. Out of over six billion people living on the planet at this minute, no one is just like you! Why is this important? As we discover how God has made us, learn to develop our unique characteristics and employ that uniqueness to build the Kingdom of God, we discover why we were born and why we are alive! And as we serve God in our own unique manner, the joy in our life multiplies! In worship during Lent, Pastor Eric and I will be addressing the topic of Discovering God s Thumbprint. We will look at the scriptures that tell us of how God has designed each of us. Psalm 139:14 says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Be sure to join your friends in worship every Sunday as you discover how God fearfully and wonderfully made you, and how to serve God not out of a sense of obligation but with the expectation that you will find your joy increased! Also, did you know that if you do miss a Sunday, want to hear a message again or share a message with a friend, you can! Go to online resources, sermon archive where you can hear and watch many of our worship services. Spread the word! Asbury United Methodist Church 1533 Springhouse Road Allentown, PA one community... encountering Christ... empowered to serve

2 2 April DEADLINE Hardcopy: Feb Mar. 6 Vol. 16 No. 2 STAFF Editor DAVID TELLIER UMW News FAYE RENTSCHLER A.I.M. News DICK MCCREIGHT Photography CAROL COLLINS DICK MCCREIGHT Data Entry SUE DYMOND Proofreading THOMAS BRIGGS MICHELLE HEISLER Printing SARA BROWN Mailings SHERRY MINICH JUDY WHITBY Business Administrator TOM GIBSON Pastors MARK MOORE ERIC YEAKEL The Cross & Flame is published nine times per year by Asbury United Methodist Church. General Information Asbury UMC: Ph Fax info@asburylv.org Advertising Information David Tellier: Ph dtellier@ptd.net Editorial Information David Tellier: Ph dtellier@ptd.net VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT Caring For Others Workshop Saturday, Mar. 12 9:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Church Aldersgate Room Rev. Glenn Asquith, Facilitator The Keep In Touch Committee recently adopted its mission statement: The mission of the Keep In Touch lay ministry team is to provide a ministry of presence for Asbury members who are in hospitals or who are confined to their homes or retirement communities, in order to be a living reminder of God s love and to help them stay connected with their church community. We plan to develop creative and caring ways to assist all Asbury members to maintain their connection with the congregation and to provide spiritual care in times of illness, rehabilitation, or confinement. Therefore, our Committee is offering a workshop for all Asbury members in which we hope to better equip members to assist other persons in times of need. Whether you would like to explore the possibility of joining our ministry, or if you are interested in preparing yourself individually to help others, you are welcome to attend the workshop on Saturday, Mar. 12. Rev. Dr. Glenn Asquith, Asbury s Director of Pastoral Care, will lead the sessions on listening skills, being present with persons in crisis, and visiting older adults, including those with dementia or Alzheimer s disease. Dr. Asquith is a pastoral counselor and retired professor of Pastoral Theology at Moravian Theological Seminary; he has been involved in training lay persons for ministry throughout most of his career. Members presently serving on the Keep In Touch Committee include Marty Barnes, Jane Candy, Joan Donham, Debra Feudale, Paul Frary, Margie Kelly, Wilbur Kratz, Leah Kuhns, Carole Pavone, Mark Schessler, Janet Shannon, Doris Farrar, Judy Whitby (chairperson) and Rev. Asquith (advisor). Sign-up sheets will be available in the Community Room on Sundays, Feb. 27 and Mar. 6. For additional information, contact Judy Whitby at (jmwhitby@aol.com) or Rev. Asquith at (gasquith@asburylv.org).

3 3 Parish Nurse Health Ministry by Doris Farrar, RN IT S SNOWING AGAIN... but the groundhog didn t see his shadow! So maybe there is hope for an early spring. Our trip to the Virgin Islands via a cruise ship turned out to be great timing to escape the cold weather. When we returned to an ice storm it brought us back to reality. After eating all the scrumptious food aboard ship, I bravely had my cholesterol checked on Sunday morning to help me renew my vows to return to a healthier way of eating. Thirty-three individuals participated in the cholesterol screening on Feb. 6. I hope you take advantage of all screenings available to enhance your own holistic attitude of mind, body and spirit to enhance your lifestyle. Acupuncture was available on the cruise ship and offered classes to share alternate therapy goals. Some insurance plans may provide coverage for this. This ancient Chinese therapy can often enhance medical goals. Below are eight secrets to longevity. It is interesting to compare the concept to our own Christian beliefs. A healthy life reconnects with nature, extends life and restores harmony. Eight Secrets to Longevity 1) Self Cultivation... meditate concentrate on breaths. 2) Mindful exercise... be active in whatever you love to do Tai Chi, yoga, bike walk, garden, tap dance, etc. 3) Diet... eat mostly plants, small portions. 4) Feng Shui... move your stuff and change your life (deals with your five senses of smell, taste, touch, hearing). 5) Geomancy... natural environment and magnetic forces. 6) Massage Therapy... assists with our needs for human touch. 7) Herbs... many can enhance our life (inquire about guidance from your doctor based on your medical issues and medication). 8) Acupuncture for pain symptoms (seek a qualified provider). Many of these eight secrets compare to our own mission of holistic care of mind, body and spirit. Coming events: Blood Drive and Bone Density screening in March and April. Our next meeting for Health Ministry is the first Thursday in March at 7:00 p.m. in Room 202. Chancel Choir News SPRING IS a season of re-birth and new beginnings as we bid farewell to the cold, snow and ice of winter and look ahead to a season of hope, promise and warmer weather! Come join Chancel Choir as we prepare beautiful music in observance of the Lenten season, followed by the joy and celebration of Christ s resurrection on Easter Sunday. There are plenty of choir rehearsals before Easter Sunday and we are always happy to welcome new members to our choral family. On Mar. 13 we will be singing, As We Gather At Your Table by Robert Lau at the 11:00 a.m. service. On Mar. 20 we will join with the Youth Choir to perform The Prayer at the 8:00 a.m. worship service. On Mar. 27 at 8:00 a.m. our anthem will be, When Jesus Wept by William Billings. Chancel Choir rehearsals are Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Our schedule is posted on the bulletin board outside of the Choir Room and on Asbury s website at For additional information, please call our Director, Ken Schneider at (610) , or Robin Fitch at (610) Come celebrate the season of hope and promise as we offer up our gifts of music. Regency Real Estate RICHARD L. BLACK, GRI Associate Broker 811 N. 19th St. Allentown, PA Bus. (610) Res. (610)

4 MISSION MINUTE Our mission minute this month comes from Elizabeth Lisa Nichols, deaconess and church and community worker for St. Elmo/Alton Park Empowerment Ministry, Chattanooga, Tenn. One of the reasons I treasure my relationships as a deaconess and church community worker is your prayer support around the time of my birthday and throughout the year. Lent and Easter bring a time of reflection and contemplation. For me it s a struggle between how much God loves us and what God calls me to do in response to that love. Am I doing enough to bring others into the realm of love that God has for each of us? CIRCLE NEWS Deborah Circle is beginning a book by Phillip Yancey titled The 4 Jesus I Never Knew. The circle gathers at 9:30 am each Thursday at members homes for study and fellowship. Please contact Connie Miller at (610) or cjmiller4home@aol.com for information regarding our meeting place for the month of March. Susanna Circle will meet on Monday, Mar. 14, at 7:30 p.m. at Marsha Johnston s home, 4426 Bachman Drive, Schnecksville. Dick McCreight will speak with us about Asbury s Mission: Liberia. Join us! All women are welcome! For information call (610) Dorcas/Martha Circle will meet on Thursday, Mar. 10, at 9:15 a.m. in the parlor. The circle will have a Sing-a-long. Carolyn Gernet will lead the devotions. All women are welcome. Please watch the Sunday bulletin for further details. Sarah Circle will meet on Friday, Mar. 11 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 215. We will continue our discussion of Bad Girls of the Bible. All women are welcome. Priscilla Circle will meet on Tuesday, Mar. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Aldersgate. Patty Utsch will lead discussion on the lesson, Divine Destiny. All women interested in Bible study are welcome. For additional information contact Brenda Baxter at (610) or Judy Whitby at (610) Please check the bulletin for Hannah Circle activities. UMW Offers Scholarships THE ASBURY United Methodist Women are pleased to be able to offer the Clara D. Koch Student Scholarships for college again this year. This is the 21st year that the scholarships have been made possible by the hard work and generosity of Asbury members and friends at the annual UMW bazaar. There are several criteria that must be met by aspiring students in order to be considered for the scholarship monies available: (1) The applicant has shown scholastic achievement and motivation for continued education. 2) The applicant has qualities of leadership, good citizenship and Christian service. 3) The applicant demonstrates definite financial need. In addition to Asbury members, UMW scholarship applications are also available to students who are members of Salem U.M.C., La Trinidad U.M.C. and St. James A.M.E. Zion applications are available in the church office or you can receive one via . The application must be completed and returned no later than April 15. Please contact Tanya Rowland for more information at (610) or tanyarowland200@hotmail.com.

5 5 United Methodist Women Communion Breakfast Saturday, Mar. 19 9:00 10:30 a.m. Worship with Communion Breakfast Fellowship Asbury Church Wesley Center Pastor Eric Yeakel, Speaker Special Music by Jeanne McLean Child Care Provided All women welcome! Dear Friends, On behalf of the Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank, we thank you for your recent donation of $75.00 and seven bags of food as of Jan. 8. Because of your caring and sharing, hungry people of our community are being fed. For every dollar we receive, we can purchase six pounds of food through Second Harvest Food Bank. Again, thank you for your donation. Sincerely, Esther A. Stahl, Corresponding Secretary AAEFB For rent 3 Br. 2 b. Lake Front Cottage on Lake Wallenpaupack Contact Alice Huey MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. 3 OCEANFRONT CONDOS FOR RENT 50 Beautiful Golf Courses 30 Miles of Glorious Beach Pool by the Sea Call Alice Hueys Huey today! at North 18th St. Allentown, PA FAX info@nacciprinting.com TOM A. STROHL Licensed Professional Counselor Licensed Psychologist MARRIAGE SPECIALIST Premarital Marriage Problems Affairs Separation Divorce Adjustment Remarriage 5000 Tilghman Street, Ste 147 Phone: Allentown, PA TomStrohl@aol.com Office Hours By Appointment Website: Dear Asbury, Thank you very much. You couldn t be more thoughtful, and I couldn t be more grateful. Thanks to Pastors Yeakel and Asquith and the prayer team for your visits and prayers for my return to health. I am most appreciative of all your support during my illness. Edward Kankowski

6 Dilcher Grants THE HARRY AND MOLLIE DILCHER TRUST provides grants for Asbury Church college and university students. Earnings from the trust are to be used to help fund the education of worthy young persons pursuing either undergraduate or graduate degrees. To qualify for the grant, applicants must (1) have been active members of Asbury for at least two years prior to issuance of the grant; (2) be 25 years old or younger at the time the grant is awarded; and (3) either be attending or have been accepted at an accredited college or university in a degree program. An active member is defined as a youth who has attended worship and Sunday School regularly and has consistently participated in at least one other activity such as choir, ushering, handbells, acolyte, etc. In accordance with the terms of the grant, preference will be given to those students pursuing degrees in religion, medicine or nursing, but grants will also be available to those in other degree programs. Once a student has been accepted for a Dilcher Grant, he/she will receive grant monies for each of the years normally required to complete their chosen field of study, providing he/she remains enrolled in good standing (Minimum GPA of 2.0) Applications for Dilcher Grants are available in the church office for new applicants, and have been mailed to current recipients. Application deadline for the fall 2011 term is Apr Clarke Scholarship THE JESS F. AND EVELYN B. CLARKE ENGINEERING AND MUSIC STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND provides grants for Asbury Church college and university students who have declared a major in Engineering or Music. To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must: (1) have been active members of Asbury for at least three years prior to entering college; (2) be 25 years old or younger at the time the scholarship is awarded; (3) be a full-time student in good standing at an accredited college or university; (4) be entering their third or fourth year when the scholarship is given; and (5) have declared a major in either Engineering or Music and be pursuing a course of study in these disciplines. An active member is defined as a youth who has attended worship regularly and has consistently participated in at least one other activity such as choir, ushering, handbells, acolyte, etc. Applicants for the Clarke Scholarship may also apply for the Dilcher Scholarship, however separate applications must be submitted. Applications for Clarke grants are available in the church office for new applicants, and have been mailed to current recipients. Application deadline for the fall 2011 term is Apr. 18. Children s Ministry by Linda Arleth THERE WERE 55 packs of socks and underwear, 56 school supplies and 20 toys all donated by the children to our Christmas Stocking project for December. Thanks to all who donated these items for Sixth Street Shelter, Cookson Hills Mission and Pinebrook Family Services. Our Sunday School will be celebrating our Mission relationships and kicking off our Penny Challenge and Food Drive on Feb. 27. Put the dates on your calendar for VBS Shake It Up Café Where Kids Carry Out God s Recipe on Aug. 1-5 Other Future events include: Mar. 6 Camping Sunday Mar. 25 Kids Klub from 6:00 8:30 p.m. Mar. 26 Communion Workshop for 3rd graders and their parents at 9:30 a.m. Apr. 10 Teacher Appreciation Breakfast from 8:15-9:30 a.m. Apr. 16 Easter Egg Hunt at 10:00 a.m. in the Wesley Center We need lots of kids and volunteers!! Stay safe and warm! Blessings Linda

7 7 Ash Wednesday For many centuries the Church has set Lent the 40 days before Easter (not counting Sundays) aside as a time for prayer, reflection and actions that will help us grow as followers of Christ. Here at Asbury, we will start our Lent season with a time of worship on Ash Wednesday, Mar. 9, with a time of worship. We encourage you to join your brothers and sisters from the congregation in worship as we begin our Lenten journey which will culminate when we gather on Easter to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. Plan now to attend Ash Wednesday and every Sunday that you are in town, worshipping the Lord in spirit and truth. PlayDays 2011 / 2012 Asbury s preschool program for ones and twos Registration Dates Mar. 1 6 Registration for Asbury Members Mar Registration for returning PlayDays and Asbury Nursery School families Mar. 15 from 8:00 10:00 a.m. Open Registration Cross & Flame Guidelines EDITORIAL GUIDELINES Articles submitted for publications should be either placed in the Cross & Flame box, located in the work area or sent via . The submission can be supplied as follows (in order of preference): sent directly as a text or Word file to David Tellier at dtellier@ptd.net. CDs or Flash Drives the file should be saved as a text or Word file. A hard copy of the article should be included. Disks should be labeled and picked up in the C&F box after the publication of each issue. Disks not picked up after a reasonable period of time will be recycled. Hard Copy typed submissions are preferred. The article must be received by the editorial deadline, which are published in the previous month s issue and announced in the church bulletin. ADVERTISING GUIDELINES The deadline for advertising is one week prior to the editorial deadline. Placement of all ads and questions pertaining to advertising copy and layout should be directed to Dave Tellier at (610) or ed to dtellier@ptd.net.

8 8 BIRTHS 11/16 Lauren Grace Keller, daughter of Michael & Shelli Keller Only 13 A Taste of Asbury cookbooks left. They can be purchased in the church office during office hours for just $5.00. Asbury United Methodist Church 1533 Springhouse Road, Allentown, PA Phone Address Service Requested Postmaster: Dated Material Please do not delay. Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID ALLENTOWN, PA Permit No. 1247