ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HEARTS THAT LOVE AND HANDS THAT

Transcription

1 ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HEARTS THAT LOVE AND HANDS THAT SERVE AS DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST Volume 56, No. 1 CIRCUIT RIDER January 1, 2017 Hello Church, Recently, I was once again reading the Scripture passage about the sisters Mary and Martha. (Luke 10:38-42) This is the story where Jesus arrives with the disciples at the sisters home. Martha gets to work preparing food for her guests. Mary makes herself comfortable at Jesus feet. Martha is annoyed and asks Jesus to tell Mary to work with her. Instead, Jesus tells Martha that Mary has made the better choice. I ll admit, I ve always sympathized with Martha. I think many who are doers would. Martha is seeing to everything that needs to be done rather than being with Jesus. And while she is missing out on what she d really like to be a part of, her lazy sister is in the other room listening to Jesus. Mary is just sitting there, doing what she wants, rather than what s needed! What makes this story even more perplexing is that Martha is serving, and Jesus spoke about the importance of serving constantly. Jesus certainly didn't stop the woman from serving when she was anointing Him with oil. In the same story Jesus also reprimanded the Pharisee for not serving Him by offering hospitality when He visited the Pharisee s home. (Luke 7:35-50) Why did Jesus value serving so much, but want something else from Martha? I think it has to do with timing more than anything else. This was Mary s and Martha s chance to be present with the Lord and hear Him speak. Yet, Martha chose to do something else. Service is a key aspect to life with Jesus but not without first sitting at His feet. We must first take time to connect with Him and hear from Him. So the problem was not Martha s to-do list. The problem was that she put her service before her be-with-jesus time. The season of Lent, which begins this year on Valentine s Day at our Ash Wednesday service at 7pm, is an annual opportunity to be more like Mary. It s a time when we re encouraged to take something out of our daily routine, so we can add in be-with-jesus time. Just like Mary did, we need to spend time listening to God first. And this doesn t apply to just our daily tasks. It s also a tenet we need to be mindful of in our personal time with Him and our ministry for Him. We need to make sure we never get so busy being faithful or working for God that we forget to listen to God. During February, I ll be doing a sermon series entitled Extravagant Generosity. Companion Extravagant Generosity devotionals are also available. We ll reflect on God as the giver of all good things. We ll look at His incredible gifts for us and how we can respond to His generosity by giving back to Him. This series speaks so clearly of Mary and Martha and of Lent, because our service, our ministry to the Lord, should only occur after we first experience Him. I encourage you to participate in this series to help remind you to be a listening Mary before you are a doing Martha. (continued ) Our Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:30 am - 3:30pm Friday 8:30 am - Noon Contact Us: Phone: Fax: Online: Pastor: Rev. Lindsay Kirkpatrick

2 As you know we have much work to do this year at Asbury, including: inviting first time visitors to worship, building a building, meeting our new neighbors when they arrive, and more. And I know God has given you work to accomplish in your personal lives, as well. So together let s commit to experiencing Jesus before focusing on our to-do lists, goals, and ministries. Let s spend time sitting with the Lord asking, listening, and reflecting first, so that our work doesn t impede our relationship. Blessings, Rev. Lindsay Kirkpatrick Church Calendar (p leas e c ontac t the off ic e f or more informat ion on any of thes e ev ents) Church Events Feb 4 Souper Bowl Sunday: church lunch & food drive Feb 13 Ash Wednesday Service Feb 3 UM Women General Meeting Feb 3 - Vendor Market on the Pavillion Feb 6 Girl Scouts # Feb 11 Blankets & Blessings Feb 17 UM Men Feb 19 Newsletter Deadline Feb 20 Girl Scouts # Feb 25 Blankets & Blessings Feb 26 Reader s Group Book Discussion Feb 27 Soul Sisters Every Sun Boy Scout Troop / God & Family Every Mon Aerobics - GriefShare Every Tues Cub Scout Troop Every Wed Faith & Family Nights Re:Mind (DBSA) Support Group Handbell Choirs Chancel Choir Every Thurs Aerobics - Girl Scouts # & # But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. VBS Romans 5:8 NKJV Our Vacation Bible School Package has arrived! And we are ready for you to join us castaways. You can register to volunteer online: Follow the link and click on Volunteer Registration for a description of each type of volunteer we will need. If you volunteered last year, you have first pick of the same activity. We will be reaching out to our volunteers soon. We are looking forward to another awesome year of spreading Jesus love with our neighbors! Please Note Feb 14 No Faith & Family Night Activities Upcoming March Events Easter Egg Hunt & Picnic Holy Week Services The devotional Extravagant Generosity is available to aid you as you prayerfully consider your 2018 stewardship contribution. The books are in the Main Hall for $7 each.

3 Hello Asbury! One of the most important things we do as a Church is to train our next generation in the Bible. In order to do this, we need caring adults in the congregation to step up and help the children. We currently have primary leaders for all of our children s classes, but we need you to provide assistance to these wonderful ladies. I would love to see a large number of congregation members willing to spend time with our young Christians, sharing your life experiences and offering them your support in their journeys. It truly is the responsibility of the entire Church to ensure that the children of Asbury are growing in Christ. Our classes currently meet during the Sunday school hour, during the 11am service for WOW, and on Wednesday nights from 6:30-7:30. Even if you are involved in your own studies and classes, I would like you to consider spending one hour every other month in a children s class. Sometimes spending time with children helps us to see things with fresh eyes. I know that I have learned more from them than I ever expected. If you would be interested in helping with the children, please me at nara@asbury.cc All people working with the children and youth must have attended Safe Sanctuary training within the last two years. If you need to be trained, I will arrange to meet with you or your small group for this short minute class. Thank you for supporting the Children of Asbury, Nara Ebel Children s Director Joyringers Hearts & Handbells Ringers Needed We have some opportunities for you to serve in the music ministry through our bell choirs. Each choirs has one position open for someone who enjoys music in worship. Contact the church office or Kay Lunsford, music director, if you are interested. Thanks! from the Readers Corner New books available! Tattered and Mended The art of healing the wounded soul Hiding in the Light One woman s journey from Islam to Christianity Many more books can be found in our library room. There are books on topics like Spiritual Community and Mission. Christian fiction books and Resource Magazine are also available. Please sign the books you choose in or out. Come check out all our of Christian Books for yourself. And you re welcome to come discuss your book with The Readers Group. Meetings are held the 4 th Monday of each month at 6:30pm at Dixie McAdam s home. Please contact Dixie or Lu Harrison for to learn more about this group. Registration for the school year begins Monday, February 26 th. For more information please contact Stephanie Kichline the Day School director. Thank you! The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, is know by many names: Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, and Pancake Tuesday. Originally, Christians marked this day with confession of their sins is preparation for Lent. Also, fatty foods were not allowed during Lent, so pancakes were a good way to use up those ingredients, like milk or butter, without waste. This pancake tradition can still be an occasion to reflect and prepare for this important church season. As you mix your fatty ingredients consider the fat in your own life. That fat may be wrong choices, bad habits, or anything else hindering your Christian faith. Then as you enjoy your sweet stack of pancakes remember that God s grace and forgiveness are sweet gifts given by Jesus at Easter.

4 Spotlight on Ministry Our church family is involved in a number of committees. Much of their work happens behind the scenes, so perhaps you aren t even aware of some of these ministries. For the next few months we will be introducing you to each of these groups. If you would be interested in joining one of these groups, please contact the front office. These groups are either open to new members or would appreciate names to call upon as spots open up. Dear Friends- Katie and I would like to introduce ourselves as the 2018 Mission Coordinators for Asbury UMC. We are extremely honored to serve side by side with you in this coming year and look forward to how God will use us for HIS purpose. We are passionate about the mission ministry and hope to venture into some new mission fields so we can impact more lives with this ministry. Our focus this year will be to move Asbury into a unified mission congregation, which will require everyone's help. In the next couple of weeks we will begin reaching out to the congregation as we embrace and enhance our role as the hands and feet of Christ. We would love to hear from you if you have any mission thoughts you feel God has placed on your heart. We can be reached though our s. Katie Gaw: kmd04@hotmail.com Andrea Mann: manndeerpark@aol.com Hello Asbury, The Community Connections Committee has several goals for 2018: Reach out to Bay Wood Villa Senior Apartments across the street. We're hoping to form a welcoming committee and to create a 12 month plan to launch friendship with this new community and our church so we can reach the goal of 10% of the residents joining our church. Create ideas to reach the goal of inviting 500 new families to our church over the next two years. We will also be meeting in the near future to plan out events for this year Pam Sweny and Diane Peppo 2017 Financial Review Unfortunately, we ended the year with a negative cash balance. Our expenses were met by using the emergency fund. We are not delinquent on any bills. *From sources like Sunday School donations, pumpkin patch sales, the Vendor Market, etc. Note: The Day School Income is the amount paid to the church each month as rent/phone/custodial services. THRIVE Balance District & Conference 100% Apportionments Paid 207,000 18,000 = $189,000 Donations Expenses Funds on Hand (pledged & received) Debt Principal $42,000 Debt Balance = $733,000

5

6

7 We seek to honor our covenant through our Prayers, our Presence, our Gifts, our Serving, and our Witness. Thank you! Many thanks to everyone for supporting Avery as he completed his Eagle Scout project at the church. Your prayers and generosity in his fundraising efforts were greatly appreciated. He had $200 left over after completing the project, and he gave this to the Trustee s committee for future landscaping needs. We ask for your continued prayers as he completes his final steps to becoming an Eagle Scout. Sincerely, The Zikogiannis Family Community Event Volunteer Opportunities: People are needed to help out in several areas. Please consider giving you time to assist in one of these areas: Welcome Center: Greet visitors and answer questions before either service. Technology: We are in need of someone or several people to maintain our web site and our church app. Sunday School Support: to meet the Safe Sanctuary requirements aids are needed to support the teachers at kids Sunday School, WOW Worship, & KidsLife. Prayer Concerns: Al McIntyre Marilyn Wiggins Wendy & John McClain Tess Kone, Alice Webb s mother Harold Hargus, Pat Sommerfield s dad Mick Rooney in hospice, Mark Rooney s Dad Please also remember in prayer those still recovering from Hurricane Harvey and those serving in the military. A weekly updated list of prayer concerns can be found in the Main Hall on the table to the right of the sanctuary doors Budget $530K for planned expenses PRESENCE... Sunday, January 7, :45 am Worship Service 66 11:00 am Worship Service 89 Sunday, January 14, :45 am Worship Service 68 11:00 am Worship Service 62 Sunday, January 21, :45 am Worship Service 72 11:00 am Worship Service 105 Sunday, January 28, :45 am Worship Service 69 11:00 am Worship Service 97 Our vision is to bring Jesus from the margins to the center in ministry for and with neighborhood families.

8 ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Non-Profit Org SPACE CENTER U.S. Postage Paid PASADENA, TEXAS Pasadena, TX RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Permit No. 104 Encounter Student Ministries invites you to ASBURY S SOUPER BOWL LUNCH Sunday, February 4 th following the 11 o clock service It s a potluck of soups, chilis, and gumbos, but it s not necessary to bring food. Also, the youth will be collecting donations for Pasadena Community Ministries Food Bank. Together we CAN reach our GOAL collecting 500 lbs of non-perishable foods to feed our neighbors.