Circuit Rider The Newsletter of Asbury United Methodist Church 17 Old Post Road South, Croton-on Hudson, NY 10520 Tel: (914) 271-3150 email: asburycrotonumc@gmail.com website: www.asburycroton.umcchurches.org Jean Evans, Editor Lena Cheng, Mailing Coordinator Summer 2018 PASTOR S MESSAGE
Men Growing in Christ so Others May Know Christ ASBURY CROTON ON HUDSON UNITED METHODIST MEN S FELLOWSHIP ASSOCIATION ACOHUMMFA JULY-AUGUST meeting dates: Saturday (8:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. sharp) (Breakfast 8:00 a.m at Frankies) JULY 7, 14, 21, 28 AUGUST 4, 11, 18, 25 WESLEY HOUSE 19 Old Post Road So Croton on Hudson Topics: Work of the Apostles TBD activities (Summer wild card fun): Trail hikes / Baseball game / West Point Concert Weekly Readings (15 min/day) for personal devotions (BIBLE in a year challenge): JULY P36-77 / P78-118 / P119-PR7 / PR8-31 AUGUST Ecc-SOS-I21 / I22-57 / I58-J18 / J19-40 Intercessory Prayer and events: JULY Asbury COH Church Families: M-N 7/4: Independence Day AUGUST Asbury COH Church Families: O-P More info: Stu Colby call or text 914 330 4104 or ACOHUMMFA@aol.com Inspirational booklets for you to give and share with your family, and friends, armed forces service members, and first responders, complements of ACOHUMMFA. Request any or all of the following: 1. Three Simple Rules, 2. Strength for Service to God and Country, 3. Strength for Service togod and Community Yes, please provide copies of: 1. Three Simple Rules 2. Strength for Service to God and Country 3. Strength for Service to God and Community As a gift to: (name of family, family member, service member, first responder) Send/give to: Name: Address: Contact (optional) email or telephone: (Drop request in collection plate, email to ACOHUMMFA@aol.com, or call 914-330-4104 THANK YOU! Did you notice the new vanity sinks in the education wing bathrooms? They were donated and installed by John VanAssalt, Croton neighbor & licensed and insured Master Plumber (9144 903653). John has fond memories of Asbury and generously helped upgrade our property. Thank John when you see him. Give John a call if you need plumbing services.
ASBURY TREASURER S REPORT JULY/AUGUST 2018 Tithing: Law of God or Gift of God? (Part I) David S. Bell Recently, tithing has become of topic of great discussion within the church community and even outside the immediate church community. Some congregations set the expectation of giving at the traditional tithing mark (10% of an individual's income); while other congregations rarely, if ever, deal with this predominantly Old Testament concept. In reality giving in United Methodist congregations, as well as other mainline Protestant congregations, is far less than 10% of people's income. According to studies by Empty Tomb, Inc., average giving by church members is less than 2.5% of members' annual income. A November 23, 2007 Wall Street Journal article titled The Backlash against Tithing notes congregants' reluctance to tithe. As Christians, we are called to give to God "what is right, not what is left," as the popular quote from a church marquee states. God calls us to offer our "first fruits," not the "leftovers." First fruits giving requires the theological premise that our possessions and assets ultimately belong to God. All that we have in life is a gift from God! Faith-filled, first fruits giving is our opportunity to return to God a small portion of God's abundant blessing in our lives. Moreover, these blessings are not limited to financial assets or possessions. Most of us can examine our own lives and find numerous blessings, perhaps even some astounding miracles. Tithing becomes a benchmark for the modern-day Christian. Since few regular worship attendees have achieved the giving mark of tithing, how might pastors and church leaders encourage congregants to strive to tithe? If pastors and church leaders promote proportionate giving, worshipers will be called to examine their current giving levels and will be challenged to move closer to the tithe. Why is tithing a benchmark rather than a goal? In his sermon, The Use of Money," John Wesley preached about "earning all you can, saving all you can, and giving all you can." For Wesley, the tithe was not the ultimate goal of the Christian; it was the standard, the normative mark, the common denominator. Jesus' teaching and example urge us to examine our choices with all our possessions and assets, not just 10% of them. Frankly, Jesus asked his disciples for 100% commitment. In Holy Smoke: Whatever Happened to Tithing authors J. Clif Christopher and Herb Mather write: "God provided the tithe as a benchmark, to help us put God first in our lives... to help us put all else in proper perspective." See Part 2 of Tithing: Law of God or Gift of God? Copyright 2008 David S. Bell. Any local church, regardless of denominational affiliation, or any United Methodist organization may reprint any or all of these prayers provided that the author is cited. It s Only a Dime per Dollar to Support the Good Works of Asbury in Croton and Beyond
ALTAR FLOWERS The following dates to donate altar flowers are open through September: July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; August 5, 12, 19, 26 and September 9, 23, 30. To donate flowers please sign up on the flower chart next to Rev. Hinnen s office or call Gloria Laemmel at 271-8712. The cost is $42.00 for two vases. If a date is taken you may order a rose in a bud vase for $9.00. Please make your check payable to Asbury UMC. 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. THE RETURN OF THE BARD Join us for an evening under the tent at Boscobel for the Hudson River Shakespeare Festival s production of The Taming of the Shrew, Friday, July 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40.00. The picnic grounds will be open at 5:30 for those of us who would like to meet for a pot luck picnic. There is a signup sheet at the back of the sanctuary or you may call Gloria Laemmel at 914-271-8712 to reserve a ticket. THE HISTORY CORNER Maple Street (Route 129) was originally called Barlow Street because the Barlow family owned the property adjacent to the street. Maple Street did not go through to the corner of Grand Street and Maple as it does today. It ended about the eastern end of Dobbs Field. In 1875, when the Croton Methodist Society had begun to outgrow Bethel Chapel, land was purchased from the Barlow estate to build a new Methodist church that is our Asbury United Methodist Church today. CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES! We send our congratulations and ask God s blessings for the following Asbury children and young adults who graduated this year: L. J Caterino - Graduated from Play n Learn Kaitlyn Gillis and Mitch Weisz - Graduated from 8 th grade at PVC Lauren Diggs - Graduated from Croton-Harmon High School Claire Pershing - Graduated from Boston University with a PhD. in Physical Therapy
United Methodist Women Again this year the United Methodist Women will be offering partial scholarships to those attending Methodist camps, volunteer service projects, and Vacation Bible School. For more info, contact Barb Whipple, Asbury UMW President or Cynthia Plater, Asbury UMW Treasurer. 5th Annual HOLIDAYS ARTISAN FAIR On Saturday, November 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. we will again be hosting the fair - 20 exciting vendor booths, our famous Asbury bake sale, and Asbury craft table. Although it is coordinated by UMW the whole congregation is encouraged to participate. Besides being a time of fellowship with the Croton community, it is a fundraiser for the church keeping those lights on. So please 1. Save the date and tell all your friends, neighbors, relatives and coworkers 2. Pass the word to all your crafty acquaintances that booths are available at $55 for a 6x8 space to display items for sale. Vendor application and pictures from 2017 fair are on the web at: http://asburycroton.umcchurches.org/events/holidays/ 3. Start by creating items yourself to sell at the Asbury craft table. For more info, contact Cynthia Plater at 271-3178 or Barb Whipple at 271-5095, or email asburycroton2@gmail.com.
"That Look:" An Immigration Story by Bishop Bickerton 6/22/2018 I will never forget that look. It was our first Christmas Day with our new daughter. Elizabeth was 11 months old and it was an exciting time to be a parent. Her eyes lit up with packages all around her. The breakfast casserole was in the oven and the coffee was tasting really good on that frigid winter morning. That s when the doorbell rang. Who could it be interrupting our memorable day? When I answered the door, standing in front of me was a young couple holding a baby wrapped up in a blanket. Their car was still running on the street. We have no home, the young man started, and we ve been sleeping in our car. We don t have any food, and we have our baby. The food we gave them seemed to please them, as did the night s lodging. It seemed to be so very little in comparison with the need. Many years have passed, but I will never forget that look. Over the years I have seen the exact same look in very different places. I have held babies who were dying of malaria and I have put my hand gently into an incubator in a neo-natal unit. I have watched parents as sons went off to college and daughters went off to war. I have been in stores when a mother has all of sudden lost her child, and I have watched as a father was told that the accident his son was in had been fatal. The settings have been very different but that look? It has been exactly the same. If you are blessed to be a parent or grandparent you know what I am talking about. The bond between parent and child generates a desire to be connected and a passion to protect. You will do things for your child that you wouldn t do for anyone else. It is your instinct to protect them from harm, shelter them from the storm, and see that their needs are met. Yet, when that privilege, that role, that responsibility is taken away from you it creates a helpless void that cannot be replaced. Take a parent away from their child and it creates that look. I often say that I am nothing but a 12-year old in a 59-year old body. That is particularly true when I think about my parents. No matter how old I get, I am still their child, their little boy. Although my mother doesn t cook any more, she still asks if I m being fed. When I travel she wants me to call to make sure I have arrived safely. When I visit, she lights up and strokes my face. And when I leave, well, I will never forget that look. It s in her eyes and in mine, too. She doesn t ever want to be separated from her child and her child feels exactly the same way. You can probably guess by now that I am writing an article about the headline news this week about migrant parents being separated from their children at the borders. As has become the norm, it has been a week of finger pointing and accusations. The president says it s the Democrats fault. Some Democrats say it s the president s fault. Some in the media say the government is using the situation to get tougher laws passed. Some in the government say the parents are using their children for drug smuggling or sex trafficking. Regardless of where fingers are being pointed, this issue has, at its very core, a basic yet very clear reality the need for a child to be with their parents and the need for parents to be with their children. There is no place for a child being used as a pawn in a massive chess game. There is no room for a parent to be separated from their offspring in the midst of emotional circumstances when their care is needed most. There is no room for actions that give rise to injustices that demean, denigrate, and use children and families for motives that are unfair and inhumane. We should be proud that we are a part of a church that says in its Social Principles, The United Methodist Church recognizes, embraces, and affirms all persons, regardless of country of origin, as members of the family of God. We urge society to "recognize the gifts, contributions, and struggles of those who are immigrants and to advocate for justice for all." But we should be embarrassed if we are in any way associated with actions that separate parents and children and deny the basic right of a child to be cared for, embraced, and loved by the one(s) who brought them into the world. Do we really want to be associated with any actions that deny our children the physical and emotional care that they need?
There have been letters written this week that suggest you should call your senator or sign onto a letter of complaint against the U.S. attorney general. You may have been urged to be a part of a rally or invited to participate in a march. Those are all good and necessary things. But today, I want to urge you to do something else. Hug your daughter. Call your grandson. Sit in a park and watch a parent playing with their child. Pause at a little league baseball game and watch the parents as they undyingly root for their kid to get a hit. And, in the midst of all of that, give yourself just enough time to think about what it would feel like if all of a sudden you were violently removed from the privilege of taking care of your son or daughter. It won t take too long to conjure up within you an uncomfortable feeling about what that separation might feel like. It won t take too long for you to think to yourself how wrong it would be if it were done to you. And then, as a result, do something about it. Today at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew United Methodist there is a new immigrant family who is being cared for and sheltered. A mother and a child. Send them a card. Write the church a check. Show your support. Today there are lawyers giving free assistance to immigrants who want to do things right so that they can live in a place that is safe and free. Lift up a prayer for them. Give a contribution to JFON through the conference center. Show your support. Today there is a single parent in your community who is struggling with how to stay employed and care for their child at the same time. Offer your time. Buy them a bag of food. Show your support. The list is endless. When you take a story about an abuse happening to someone on the border of Texas and you apply that story to your life and give yourself just long enough to imagine what it might be like if it happened to you, then it becomes more than a story. It becomes a possibility. Make it more than just a story. Do something about it. One day, in the midst of a story, the disciples asked Jesus a question, Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you? Jesus answer was simple, yet profound, Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. (Matthew 25:44-45) Realize what you have today and use that reality to take a stand that will settle for nothing less than the same standard for everyone in the human family. Use your privilege as a baseline of expectation. Everyone in the human family should be treated just the same. Look around you today and take notice of all the ways you have been given freedom to raise your children, love your grandchildren, and provide a safe space for them to feel your love and protection. And then, standing in front of a mirror, imagine all of that being taken away from you. You will never forget that look. The Journey Continues,... Thomas J. Bickerton Resident Bishop Once considered the property of their parents, children are now acknowledged to be full human beings in their own right, but beings to whom adults and society in general have special obligations.... Moreover, children have the rights to food, shelter, clothing, health care, and emotional well-being as do adults, and these rights we affirm as theirs regardless of actions or inactions of their parents or guardians. In particular, children must be protected from economic, physical, emotional, and sexual exploitation and abuse.
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 9:00 Adult Sunday School 10:00 Worship 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9:00 Adult Sunday School 10:00 Worship 6:00 Jan Peek Meal 9 10 11 12 13 14 9:00-10:30 Sally Read Book Group Pastor on Renewal Leave 7/11-8/14 ========================================= 15 9:00 Adult Sunday School 10:00 Worship 16 Salvation Army Lunch 17 18 19 20 Shakespeare Festival at Boscobel 7:30pm Picnic at 5:30pm 21 9:00 UMW Craft Workshop Pastor on Renewal Leave 7/11-8/14 ==================================================================================================== 22 9:00 Adult Sunday School 10:00 Worship 23 24 25 26 27 29 Pastor on Renewal Leave 7/11-8/14 ==================================================================================================== 29 9:00 Adult Sunday School 10:00 Worship 30 31 JULY 2018 ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Pastor on Renewal Leave 7/11-8/14 ===================================================================================================
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 5 10:00 Worship at Bethel Chapel 6:00 Jan Peek Meal AUGUST 2018 ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 6 7 1 2 8 9 3 4 Pastor on Renewal Leave 7/11-8/14 ======================================= 10 11 9:00-10:30 Sally Read Book Group Pastor on Renewal Leave 7/11-8/14 =================================================================================================== 12 10:00 Worship at Bethel Chapel Historical Sunday 13 Salvation Army Lunch 14 15 16 17 18 9:00 UMW Craft Workshop Pastor on Renewal Leave 7/11-8/14 ===================== Pastor in San Diego 8/15-8/18 ============================================ 19 10:00 Worship at Bethel Chapel Hymn Sing 20 21 22 23 24 25 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 9AM-12NOON ============================================================================================= 26 10:00 Worship at Bethel Chapel 27 28 29 30 31