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 May 2018 PASTOR S MESSAGE A MOTHER S DAY DEVOTION By Rev. Melissa Hinnen Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down; fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown! (Love Divine, all Loves Excelling by Charles Wesley) Prayer - Thank you Divine Love for a new day to perfect our relationship with you and with one another. Deepen our faith as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus and honor the mothers and fathers of our faith. Connect us in your love and grace. Strengthen us in mind, body, and spirit so that all that we experience today will glorify you in the name of Jesus. Amen Isaiah 40:28-31 The Message - Don t you know anything? Haven t you been listening? God doesn t come and go. God lasts. The Creator of all you can see or imagine. God doesn t get tired out, doesn t pause to catch his breath. And knows everything, inside and out. God energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon GOD get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles. They run and don t get tired, they walk and don t lag behind. Reflection - On May 13, we celebrate Mother s Day in the United States. When we look back on how the Methodist movement has shaped our theology and disciplines as Christians, our focus is often on John Wesley and his hymn- writing brother, Charles. I am mindful that the person who most impacted their deep faith was their mother, the mother of Methodism, Susanna Wesley. Susanna Wesley had 24 siblings that s nearly the size of Asbury s Sunday school. Mrs. Wesley gave birth 19 times but only ten of her children survived. When she needed time alone with God, she put her apron over her head because it was the only way she could find time to separate herself from her children. Before they were allowed to go to work, her daughters were required to learn to read. When Susanna s Bible study group became bigger than her husband s congregation, he asked her to tone it down a bit and she responded, If after all this you think fit to dissolve this assembly, do not tell me you desire me to do it, for that will not satisfy my conscience; but send your positive command in such full and express terms as may absolve me from all guilt and punishment for neglecting this opportunity for doing good when you and I shall appear before the great and awful tribunal of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Her faith transcended societal expectations about her role as a wife and mother. She stood up to her husband s ego and to the way it had always been done... God showed Susanna a new way to reach people with the Good News of Jesus Christ. And she passed this spirit of righteousness, right relationship with God and neighbor, onto her children. We are inheritors of that fruit. We are bearers of a theology of God s grace that is available to all; to every single person who desires to know and love and follow Jesus Christ. When we stay grounded in who we are and whose we are, we are led by wisdom and courage that is greater than systems and principalities that try to conform us to the expectations of this world. The prophet Isaiah encourages us: Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. We sing in the words of Charles Wesley: Jesus thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art; visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart. Prayer - Thank you God for the mothers and fathers of our faith. Birth in us this day a renewed commitment to stay in love with you so that all who we meet will experience the life giving love of Jesus Christ. Amen PASTOR MELISSA S ORDINATION We have exciting news! Pastor Melissa has completed the long and challenging path toward serving God as an ordained member of the clergy in the New York Annual Conference. She is one of only four pastors being ordained on Sunday, June 10 at Hofstra University. The ordination service is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. We want to support Pastor Melissa as she takes this exciting step. If you are driving to the event and are able to take additional passengers, or if you would like a ride to the event, please contact Sheila Furjanic at or at sheilaoa2010@gmail.com. We will be investigating the possibility of live streaming the ordination, but don t, at this time, have confirmation that we will have reception. Watch for an announcement about our celebration of this exciting event at Asbury.

3 Men Growing in Christ so Others May Know Christ ASBURY CROTON ON HUDSON UNITED METHODIST MEN S FELLOWSHIP ASSOCIATION ACOHUMMFA May 5, 12, 19, 26 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. WESLEY HOUSE 19 Old Post Road So Croton on Hudson (8:00 a.m. FREE BREAKFAST OPTIONAL) Tues & Thurs 10:00 a.m. - UMM at Premier Fitness Club, Montrose Weekly Readings (IT S JUST 15 min/day, WHOLE BIBLE IN A YEAR, YOU CAN DO IT!) for personal devotions: 11K6-11K13 / 11K14-1C5 / 1C6-1C26 / 1C27-11C20 Intercessory Prayers: 1) Asbury Prayer Chain 2) Asbury COH Church Families I & J 3) Croton Youth: Scouts, 4-H 4) First Responders 5) USA Service Members across the world EVENTS: MAY 24 ALDERSGATE DAY I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death More info: Stu Colby call or text or ACOHUMMFA@aol.com NOTE: ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO CHANGE, CALL / CONTACT ABOVE TO CONFIRM PALM SUNDAY BRUNCH Cathy Adlesic Dynamite food, great folks, hearty appetites, and lots of assistance allowed us to enjoy another super Palm Sunday celebration. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

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5 CROTON COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE Sunday May 6, :00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Croton-Harmon High School 36 Old Post Road Croton-on-Hudson NY To schedule an appointment please call Walk-ins are welcome! This is a critical time of year to donate! Due to snowstorms donations are down. The needs are constant. Please take the time to donate! Thanks. Peggy DeGasperis EMPOWERING WOMEN S PROGRAM The 2018 Empowering Women s Program, focusing on immigration in our community, is scheduled for the evening of May 8 at 7:00 p.m. at Temple Israel (see flyer). The Empowering Women s group are women from the Croton Houses of Worship and the Upper Westchester Muslim Society. As our hands-on project we will be assembling personal care kits for local food pantries to distribute to those in need. We are asking members of our houses of worship to contribute these specific items (whatever brands you wish): 2 standard sized bars of soap or body wash/liquid hand soap (6-8 oz.) tube of toothpaste (4 to 6 oz.) 2 wrapped toothbrushes tube/bottle of shampoo (10 to 13 oz.) tube of hand/body lotion (6 to 10 oz.) All items must be new and no travel sizes, please (see sample picture above). Items will be assembled into gallon-sized zip-lock bags prior to distribution. Asbury has a collection box in the breezeway. Monetary donations are also welcome. See Cynthia Plater for more details.

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9 SAVE THE DATES: AUG AT ASBURY Our theme this year is Rolling River Rampage: Experience the Ride of a Lifetime with God! There will be spirit-filled music, energetic games, interesting experiments, fun-filled crafts and bible stories brought to life! We hope that you and/or your children will join us this summer! Check out this preview: Croton Village Vacation Bible School (VBS) Camp is open to ALL children 4 years old and older. Families do not need to be a church member to participate. Invite a friend! Hosted at Asbury United Methodist Church and sponsored by Croton churches: Our Saviour Lutheran Church, St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church $30 FOR 1 CHILD * $40 FOR 2 CHILDREN * $45 MAX FAMILY JR. COUNSELORS 12 AND OLDER ARE FREE Parent volunteers are needed to lead sessions or to set up during the week before camp. Please contact Pastor Melissa for more information. Rev. Melissa Hinnen Asbury United Methodist Church Croton-on-Hudson, NY C)

10 THE HISTORY CORNER MEMORIAL DAY Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. It began after the Civil War when the graves of service men were decorated with flowers in May. On May 5, 1868 May 30 was designated Decoration Day. The date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of a particular battle. In 1967 the name was changed to Memorial Day. ALTAR FLOWERS Thank you to everyone who donated pots of spring flowering bulbs and plants to create a spring garden for our Easter altar. The following dates to donate altar flowers are open through June: May 6, 13, 20, 27 and June 3, 10, 17, 24. To donate flowers please sign up on the flower chart next to Rev. Hinnen s office or call Gloria Laemmel at The cost is $42.00 for two vases with a check made payable to Asbury UMC. If a date is taken you may order a rose in a bud vase for $9.00. Following services you may take your flowers home or ask that they be given to a member of the congregation who is hospitalized or otherwise not able to come to church. SUMMERFEST GARDEN SALE Asbury United Methodist Women are having a used garden equipment and plant sale during Croton s Summerfest on June 3. Do you have any pots for container planting you have accumulated, a rake you re not using, a garden chair that just doesn t fit into your outdoor decorating scheme? This is a chance to recycle that kind of thing. You can bring your donations beginning Saturday, May 26 to the social hall. If you bring pots, it would be appreciated if you coul wash them. If you can provide either house or garden plants, please let us know and then bring them either on the day of the sale or on Saturday, June 2. For more information you may contact Barbara Whipple at or Gloria Laemmel at

11 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 6 9:00 Adult Sunday School 9:30 Choir Practice 10:00 Worship & Children s Sunday School Rev. Matthew Curry, Guest Preacher Premier Athletic Club 10am Croton Chorale Rehearsal Premier Athletic Club 10am Play & Learn Mother s Luncheon 11:00am -1:00pm Premier Athletic Club 10am Croton Chorale Rehearsal 10 Premier Athletic Club 10am 4 5 8:00 ACOHUMMFA Breakfast at Frankie s 8:30 ACOHUMMFA at Wesley House GS :30pm 10:00 AA 8:00pm Croton Chorale Concert :00 ACOHUMMFA Breakfast at Frankie s 8:30 ACOHUMMFA at Wesley House 9:00-10:30 Sally Read Book Group Pastor Melissa on Vacation through May 12 =============================================================> 10:00 AA 13 9:00 Adult Sunday School 9:30 Choir Practice 10:00 Worship & Children s Sunday School 11am Coffee Hour 14 SPRC 8:00pm 15 Ad Council 7:30pm Premier Athletic Club 10am Premier Athletic Club 10am :00 ACOHUMMFA Breakfast at Frankie s 8:30 ACOHUMMFA at Wesley House 9:00-10:30 UMW 6:00 Jan Peek Meal 20 Pentecost Baptism & Confirmation 9:00 Adult Sunday School 9:30 Choir Practice 10:00 Worship & Children s Sunday School 11am Reception 21 Salvation Army Lunch 22 Premier Athletic Club 10am Girl Scout Meeting (Liz Polling) in Fellowship Hall 4-6pm Premier Athletic Club 10am 10:00 AA GS :30pm Confirmands Worship Preparation 10am in sanctuary :00 ACOHUMMFA Breakfast at Frankie s 8:30 ACOHUMMFA at Wesley House 10:00 AA GS :00-6:30pm Pastor Melissa at Festival of Homiletics in Washington DC =================================>. 27 Peace with Justice Sunday 9:00 Adult Sunday School 9:30 Choir Practice 10:00 Worship & Children s Sunday School 11:15 Prayer Circle 11am Coffee Hour 28 Memorial Day MAY 2018 ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH