AUGUST 17, 2014 The Vine faith in action imagine your life changed. Our Vision Statement In all aspects of our lives, we will strive to be disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. PASSIONATE WORSHIP SUMMER SCHEDULE WORSHIP 9:00 AM in the Sanctuary WORSHIP 10:30 AM in the Sanctuary OPEN DOOR WORSHIP 10:45 AM in the Wesley Center SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:00 AM Pastor Eric S. Yeakel SUNDAY MORNING CHILDCARE ROOM 223 During our 9:00 Sunday School time, we have childcare for infants through three year olds. During our 10:30 Service, we have childcare available for infants through PreK. OFFICE HOURS 8 AM to 4 PM, M F 1533 Springhouse Road Allentown, PA 18104 Phone: 610-398-2577 Fax: 610-366-1108 www.asburylv.org Publicity Requests: http://publicityform.asburylv.org/ Asbury United Methodist Church @asburyumclv From Pastor Eric It is hard to believe that we are already in the middle of August. Our summer worship schedule will be ending on Sunday August 31 st and we will be returning to four worship services on September 7 th (Rally Day). We will be focusing on our Growing Asbury movement on that day in worship. We will have special music, a video about Growing Asbury, and my message will be on our purpose as a church. There will be a Rally Day picnic immediately following the 11:00 AM worship service. The Sunday after Rally Day (September 14 th ) we will be having a small group fair. After worship you will be able to get information on new and existing Asbury small group communities (Sunday school classes, Small group Bible Studies, etc.). This year we will be offering Disciple I on Sunday evenings. Judy Ehninger and Dave Grieble will be co-leading this 24-week study. I took Disciple I in 2006 and it had a major impact on my faith development. I would encourage you to consider taking this study. We will also be offering the Alpha Course on Wednesday nights. Alpha is a 10- week series of sessions that explores the basics of the Christian faith. Alpha will start off with a meal in the Wesley Center followed by the sessions which will be facilitated by Paul Wood and Israel Olivieri. This is a great way to explore your faith. This Sunday we continue our sermon series The Gospel in Film by looking at The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure. The story really symbolizes God s calling on our life s journey. See you in worship! Disciple Bible Study The Old Testament Disciple Bible Study, Fall 2014 is tentatively scheduled to begin Sunday September 21, 6:00 PM -7:45 PM for 12 weeks. The cost is $40 which covers the cost of the study manual. Sign up in the Community Room beginning Sunday, August 17 after each service or outside the Wesley Center. Brief Orientation sessions will be held in Aldersgate on the following dates: Sunday, August 24 after the 10:30 service (11:45-12:30 PM) Wednesday, August 27, 7:00-8:00 PM Sunday, September 7 after the 10:45 or 11:00 AM services (12:00-12:45 PM) Sunday, September 7, 6:00-7:00 PM
RADICAL HOSPITALITY / CONGREGATIONAL LIFE AND CARE KNITTING RETREAT AT POCON0 PLATEAU: Friday, October 31, 7:00 PM to Sunday, November 2, 2:00 PM. A knitting retreat for those just learning to knit to those who are advanced. The retreat will include knitting classes, Bible studies/reflection, fellowship, ziplining (optional), boating, hiking and time to enjoy creation. Cost: $135 per person includes lodging (heated dormitory style cabins with hot running water), meals, snacks, ziplining, knitting booklet and yarn. Bring your own needles! All interested are invited to attend a meeting to discuss the Prayer Ministries of Asbury Church on Wednesday, September 3, 7:00-8:30 PM in the Aldersgate Room. We will discuss the existing elements of the Prayer Ministries at Asbury, and do some exploring to find new ways we can deepen our prayer l i f e i n d i v i d u a l l y a n d a s a congregation. Contact Linda Woolbaugh or Judy Ehninger for more details. Additional information will follow. Register at poconoplateau.org/new/events or contact the camp office at 570-575-3665. THE SUMMER HARMONY/ALLENTOWN BAND CONCERT will be held at Parkland High School on Friday, 8/22, at 7:30 PM. Reserved seat tickets for the concert ($20.00 or $15.00) are available via the Summer Harmony Ticket Hotline (610-351-6001), on the website (www.summerharmony.com) or at the door the night of the concert. COOKSON HILLS UPDATE: Visit Asbury s webpage to read about the recent Vacation Bible School that Asbury members facilitated during their Mission Trip to Cookson Hills. Find it under Ministries Mission Ministries Mission Blog. Asbury is currently seeking patient, compassionate individuals to provide child care for any of the following times: Sunday mornings (9:15-10:45 AM), Sunday evenings (5:45-8:00 PM) and Wednesday evenings (from 5:45-7:45 PM) from October through December. This individual should be willing to obtain Child Abuse and Criminal background clearances and participate in the Safe Sanctuaries training. These are paid positions. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Pam Unrath in the church office (610-398-2577) or via e-mail at punrath@asburylv.org. Asbury Preschool Position Available Asbury Preschool is seeking a teacher for the 3-year-old morning class (Monday/ Wednesday/Friday) for the 2014-15 school year. Contact Karen Bowermaster at 610-481- 0242 for more details. Prayers of Our Congregation For those who are sick or in the hospital Lord, we ask your mercy and healing for all those currently hospitalized or recently discharged, including Phyllis Coleman, Donna Nuss, Dorothy Crawshaw, and Betty Snow. We ask you to have mercy on all those in pain, both physical and mental and grant them your peace. For those who mourn Lord, we ask comfort for all who mourn the loss of loved ones. Reassure them of your unending mercy and eternal love. For those who need your special help Lord, we affirm that your power is infinite and that you love us all like a devoted parent. Gratefully acknowledging your love and mercy toward us, we lift up these people for your care: Kirsten Osborne, as she begins teaching 3 rd grade in the Teach for America program in St. Louis. Travel mercies for Sue, Beth & Hannah as they go to New York for a funeral. A friend s uncle who is addicted to pain medication. LouAnn s sister, Jane Fox, who is undergoing cyber-knife surgery for cancer this week as her last option. For our congregation Lord, send new people to join the Asbury Meals on Wheels Team. Keep our focus on your kingdom, Lord. Thank you from the Mitton family for the cards and prayers on the passing of Greg s dad, Walt. Lord, we are on our way to your kingdom every day, but we tend to get lost. Remind us that all we need to do is ask you for directions. Show us the way, the truth, and the light through Jesus Christ, our Lord. And please God, grant us these mercies: For the world, its people and its leaders Lord, the Middle East needs your powerful peaceful touch. We ask also that you influence hearts so that diplomacy prevails in Ukraine. With thanksgiving for our joys We celebrate the following joys: The joy that James Oliver Lenhart was born to parents Ryan and Kari on August 2 nd. Grandparents are Jack and Carol Lenhart and Chris Lenhart is an aunt! Happy Birthday to Pastor Eric on August 14 th..for our children Lord, it is the adults who fight and the children who suffer in wartorn areas of the world and sometimes within families here at home. Help us to see past our differences so that we can alleviate the suffering of the little ones. For the missions we support Lord, we ask your blessing on Youth For Christ Lehigh Valley. We pray that they fulfill their mission to raise up lifelong followers of Jesus who lead by their godliness in lifestyle, devotion to the Word of God and prayer, passion for sharing the love of Christ and commitment to social involvement.
INTENTIONAL FAITH DEVELOPMENT RISK-TAKING MISSION AND SERVICE Contact Pam Unrath, Director of Children s Ministries, for information on all Children s Ministry Children s Sunday School: Child care is available during the 9:00 AM worship service in Room 223 for infants through 3 years of age. Children ages 4 years through 5th grade will participate in Sunday School in Fellowship Hall. August J.A.M. will take place on August 17 th from 6:00-7:30 PM. This month we will have a pool party at Bob & Cheryl Barraco s to celebrate summer and honor the 5 th graders that will be moving into Youth Ministry. For details, please e-mail Pam Unrath at punrath@asburylv.org. C H A N G E F O R C H A N G E is designated to help purchase school supplies for the Ramos Elementary School in Allentown. Please place your monetary contributions in the containers at the rear of the Sanctuary or in the Wesley Center. Asbury s Kids Club will be held on August 20 from 6:30-8:00 PM. Children ages 4 years through 5 th grade will be exploring the concepts of teamwork as they participate in a cooperative obstacle course. To register your child, see the sign-up sheets located downstairs outside the Wesley Center, upstairs in the Community Room and in Fellowship Hall at the beginning of Children s Sunday School. A very special thank you goes out to all those volunteers who made Vacation Bible School such a wonderful experience this year! The dedication of your time and energy in serving more than 180 children that attended this year s program was appreciated and an absolute blessing. Thanks again! Contact Aaron Forney, Director of Youth Ministries, for information on all Youth Ministry activities and opportunities (aforney@asburylv.org or 610-398-2577). Since we had Night on the Move on Friday, we will be having Sunday School at 9:00 AM (Youth Lounge) and Worship (10:30 AM blended in the Sanctuary or 10:45 AM Open Door alternative in the Wesley Center) this week, but NO lunch or Game/ Hangout Time on Sunday, 8/17. Next Sunday, 8/24, our afternoon time is going to be open to some special friends our incoming 6 th graders! We re going to use our normal lunch and game time (12:00 PM 2:00 PM), but spend time getting to know some new faces! Make sure to come out and welcome them! Mark these dates on your calendar as we look toward the next school year: Casowasco - High School Retreat- September 26-28, 2014; Impact - High School Retreat - March 27-29, 2015. Rest assured there are plenty more to come, including a retreat for Middle School! We have a lot of stuff going on this year, including some great new opportunities. We ll be sharing the full schedule on our website www.asburyym.org since it will be too much to share here in The Vine! The following notes were received regarding Asbury s Mission support: Care Net: Thanks to your church for participating in the 2014 Care Net LV Baby Bottle Campaign. Your support helps Care Net to Honor Life, Offer Hope and Heal the Brokenhearted. Your church family generously donated $1,660.70. May God bless your congregation. Jennifer Gross Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank: Thank you for your donation of 20 bags of food. Because of your caring and sharing, we are able to feed those less fortunate in our community. We are currently serving between 200 and 250 families per week. AAEFB Parkland Snack Pack Program: Once again we certainly thank you for the check of $290.40 that we recently received in the mail. The Rotary Club of Allentown Western Lehigh County appreciates your support of our Snack Pack program in the Parkland School District. Together, we can make a difference in the life of a student. Barbara Kistler EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY Asbury Endowment Fund Is your current will keeping up with you? Does it reflect your Christian commitments? Make sure it is up to date and consider including the Asbury Endowment Fund.
Our Staff WEEKLY CALENDAR Sunday, August 17 Wednesday, August 20 (continued) 9:00 a.m. Worship Celebration- Sanctuary 6:30 p.m. Asbury Quilters- 204 9:00 a.m. Sunday School All Ages 7:00 p.m. Church & Society- 202 10:30 a.m. Worship Celebration- Sanctuary 7:00 p.m. Summer Harmony- FH 10:45 a.m. Open Door Community Worship- WC 1:00 p.m. Church of God- FH/106/108 Thursday, August 21 6:00 p.m. JAM (4th&5th grade) Pool Party- offsite 6:00 p.m. Open Door Rehearsal - WC 7:00 p.m. NARANON- 108 Monday, August 18 8:00 a.m. Piano Tuning Friday, August 22 7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 12- FH&106 1:00 p.m. AA (Open)- 108 7:00 p.m. Finance Committee- Aldersgate 1:30 p.m. CROP Walk Meeting- Aldersgate Tuesday, August 19 Saturday, August 23 9:00 a.m. Preschool Teacher Meeting- Parlor 10:00 a.m. Certified Lay Minister Orientation- Ald. 12:30 p.m. Program Staff Meeting- Aldersgate 10:00 a.m. Church of God- 106/108 6:30 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry- Aldersgate 7:00 p.m. AIM- 106 Sunday, August 24 7:30 p.m. OA- 204 9:00 a.m. Worship Celebration- Sanctuary 9:00 a.m. Sunday School All Ages Wednesday, August 20 10:30 a.m. Worship Celebration- Sanctuary 9:00 a.m. Prayer Group- 231 10:45 a.m. Open Door Community Worship- WC 1:00 p.m. AA (Open)- 108 12:00 p.m. Church Council- 217 6:30 p.m. Kids Club- WC 12:00 p.m. Youth Lunch- WC 12:30 p.m. Youth Group- YL 1:00 p.m. Church of God- FH/106/108 Prayer Shawl Meeting Tuesday, August 19 6:30 PM Aldersgate Sunday, September 7th Plan now to attend! DEBBIE GOODWIN LINDA LANTAFF Debbie was very active when she was at Asbury previously, and after living in Virginia for a few years she is Linda back and is a active faithful again! Open Debbie Door volunteer, is a frequent helping Liturgist with and setup Worship & tear-down Coordinator many weeks. on Sunday She mornings, has also shared schedules her expertise the Lay Readers on college-age to read scripture, students and by is being a Communion a guest speaker Server. at After Asbury establishing Connections the Quilting programs. Circle at This Asbury, was Linda s she is still second a faithful summer member. as a Debbie Kitchen is Kween also part on of the Youth Worship West Ministry Virginia Team, Work the Trip. Parish Nurse & Health Ministry, and the United Methodist Women. Thanks, Deb ~ we re glad you're back with us! Over 50 folks from Asbury have been hard at work making meaningful improvements. Find out what they have been doing by visiting www.growingasbury.com Eric Yeakel, Pastor eyeakel@asburylv.org Glenn Asquith, Director of Congregational Care gasquith@asburylv.org Laurie Wallace Theisen, Director of Lay Ministries ltheisen@asburylv.org Pam Unrath, Director of Children s Ministries punrath@asburylv.org Aaron Forney, Director of Youth Ministries & Leader of Open Door Worship Band aforney@asburylv.org Karen Bowermaster, Director of PreSchool preschool@asburylv.org & Interim Director of PlayDays playdays@asburylv.org Tom Gibson, Business Administrator tgibson@asburylv.org Larry Hein, Head Custodian lhein@asburylv.org