Pastor’s Weekly Update

Cyndi Johnson 12/23/21 Cyndi Johnson 12/23/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

Check out these words that God inspired the apostle John to pen in the opening of his Gospel.

So the Word became human and made his home among us.

John 1:14 (NLT)

The event to which John is referring here is the incarnation – God becoming a human being in Jesus. While there are plenty of theological concepts that I find utterly mind-boggling, the incarnation may be the most mind-boggling of them all. I simply can’t wrap my teeny tiny brain around the idea that God – motivated by love and a passionate desire to be with us – took on real flesh and blood in Jesus. But that’s exactly what happened in Bethlehem.

I hope you will join us on Friday, December 24th for one of our two Candlelight Christmas Eve Services. The first service will be at 5 pm (contemporary) and the second at 7:30 pm (traditional). If you’re not planning to attend in person – no worries. Both services will be live streamed on Facebook (facebook.com/asburyumcmaitland) and YouTube (search Asbury Maitland).

There is something about Christmas Eve worship that always touches me deeply. I look forward to sharing in this experience with you on Friday night. Until then, I leave you with these words from Christian Rosetti’s famous poem (published in 1885) titled “Love Came Down at Christmas.”

Love came down at Christmas,

Love all lovely, Love Divine,

Love was born at Christmas,

Star and Angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,

Love Incarnate, Love Divine,

Worship we our Jesus,

But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,

Love be yours and love be mine,

Love to God and all men [human beings],

Love for plea and gift and sign.

Blessings,

Chris

Cyndi Johnson 12/16/21 Cyndi Johnson 12/16/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Hi friends,

It’s hard to think of what to write when tragedies like the tornados of this past weekend have occurred. Earlier in the week, the death toll neared 74 and there were still many that were unaccounted for. In these moments, all we can pray for is God to draw near and comfort the brokenhearted. Verse 18 of the 34th Psalm reminds us of that by saying, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

I’m reminded of the passage in John 9 when Jesus heals the blind man. As Jesus and his disciples first encounter the blind man, the first question the disciples ask is, “Why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents sins?” Jesus responds by saying that it isn’t either of their sins that caused this, but rather, this moment will be a moment where God’s glory can shine through. With the devastation, it’s not that this was caused by one person's sin or something similar, but even though it happened, God’s glory will shine through regardless.

While there is still a lot of chaos in Kentucky and the surrounding areas, it can feel overwhelming how we can best help those afflicted. From our experience, the best thing we can do is not only pray for those afflicted, but also give financially to those who are on the ground in the area. Those on the ground are one of the ways in which God’s glory is shining through. Thankfully, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, or UMCOR, is already responding and making strides to help those in need. You can find more information about UMCOR’s direct response here https://umcmission.org/advance-project/901670/.

Further, UMCOR will be one of the missions we are donating to as we celebrate March to the Manger this Sunday, the 19th, in worship, as we look at Scrooge’s visit with The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. Hopefully, you can join us for that!

Moments like these remind me of how fragile life can be and how in need of a Savior we are. We also need one another. This life is too difficult to do on our own. With that, I pray that you can hold your loved ones close and pray for God to be near us all. Amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Will

Cyndi Johnson 12/9/21 Cyndi Johnson 12/9/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

Ask any parent, and I’m sure they’ll agree with the following: A baby changes everything.

I remember when Amanda and I first got the news that she was pregnant. While we were over the moon excited, we were also a bundle of nerves. Things immediately began to change in our world. We went to the car dealer and traded in Amanda’s two-door car for a kid-friendly vehicle. We transformed the spare bedroom into a nursery and the home office into a playroom. I made adjustments to my work schedule, and Amanda made the decision to temporarily stop working until Hannah and Noah were toddlers. A baby changes everything (or, in our case, babies change everything).

Well, if anyone understood the reality that a baby changes everything, certainly Mary, the mother of Jesus, did. After all, the child she was carrying wasn’t only going to change her world, he was going to transform the entire world.

Mary obviously had some sense that this child was unique given the angel Gabriel’s visit with her in Nazareth (Luke 1:26-38). She also understood the uniqueness of this child when the prophet Simeon spoke these words over Jesus when he was just eight days old, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul” (Luke 2:34-35 NLT).

I have often wondered if Mary thought back to Simeon’s prophetic message as she stood beneath the cross thirty-three years later and witnessed her own son’s execution.

A baby changes everything, but this particular baby had come to change things in a way no child has or will.

My prayer for all of us this Advent – as we draw closer to the celebration of Christmas and reflect on the significance of this holiday – is that we will open ourselves up to the transformative presence of Jesus Christ. He has come as Emmanuel, God-with-us, to change everything.

Blessings,

Chris
p.s. Some of you probably know that “A Baby Changes Everything” is actually the title of a Christmas song by Faith Hill. If you’re interested, you can listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1g1hp_Eb3o. It’s a wonderful song that speaks to Mary's special role in God's plan of salvation.

p.p.s. Be sure to join us this week for Asbury’s Christmas Cantata. Performances will be held in Asbury's sanctuary on Friday, December 10 at 6:30pm, Saturday, December 11 at 6:30pm, and Sunday, December 12, at 3:00pm. Hope to see you there!

Cyndi Johnson 12/2/21 Cyndi Johnson 12/2/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

Last Sunday in worship – the first weekend of Advent – we started a new sermon series called “The Gospel in Scrooge.” As I mentioned, we’re not calling the series “The Gospel According to Scrooge,” but rather, “The Gospel in Scrooge.” The difference might seem small, but it’s important.

The gospel upon which we’re reflecting in these messages is not the gospel of Ebenezer Scrooge, nor is it the gospel of Charles Dickens. Rather, it’s the gospel of Jesus. In these messages, we are using Dickens’ story – first published in 1843 – as a means of reflecting upon the gospel of Jesus.

The wonderful reality is God’s truth is universal. This means (if we look carefully and pay attention) we can find demonstrations of God’s truth in music, art, literature, TV shows, and movies – even those that aren’t explicitly Christian. Indeed, while A Christmas Carol is not an explicitly Christian story, so many of the themes that Dickens tackles in this novella are Christian (e.g., caring for the poor and needy, being kind and charitable to those around us, putting others ahead of ourselves, redemption). With the above in mind, Pastor Will and I look forward to continuing in this series with you throughout the season of Advent.

This Sunday (December 5), we’re going to explore the gospel themes within Scrooge’s visit with the Ghost of Christmas Past. Bring a friend (or two or three!) and join us in person or online for what I pray – by God’s good grace – will be an inspiring day of worship.

Take care!

Blessings,

Chris

Cyndi Johnson 11/24/21 Cyndi Johnson 11/24/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Dear Asbury family,

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving tradition? Are you someone who likes to go run a 5k on Thanksgiving morning? How about watching sports all day? Is it eating a specific food that reminds you of times past? Maybe you are someone who doesn’t mind what you are doing, as long as you are with loved ones. Through the years, I have found myself more in that last category. It doesn’t really matter what I’m doing, just as I don’t have to do it alone. Better yet, it’s best with family and friends.
Every Thanksgiving a newer tradition I’ve adopted is I find myself thinking about a story or some Scripture that I can read that relates to gratitude. There are always a few that come to mind, but as I think ahead to Thanksgiving, the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 sticks out for me and will be the one I reflect on. Here’s the quick recap. In the parable, Jesus tells about a son who wants the inheritance that he would normally receive upon his father’s death. His father obliges and gives him his inheritance. The son quickly squanders it on lavish living, only to find himself eating with the pigs. When he finally comes to his senses, he remembers his father’s generosity and returns home to find his father eagerly waiting for him. The father wasn’t there to criticize him or mock him. Rather, he ran to him and threw him a party. Sounds like a pretty loving dad, huh?
       Reflecting on this year, there have been some ups and downs in my life. Finishing up divinity school and raising Liam all while living on a college campus through a pandemic wasn’t easy. In fact, I might’ve thrown a hissy fit or two (or thirty). However, when I reflect on everything and see where God’s brought me and God’s hand at work, I feel like the prodigal son. Maybe I didn’t squander my inheritance to the extent the son did, but I certainly know I took God’s goodness for granted. I found myself asking, “why God?” more often than saying, “Thank you, God!” I wish I had better gratitude through it all, but my biggest gratitude is for God’s response. Just like the father in the parable, he wasn’t mad or angry, only glad to see me come home. As verse 32 says, “We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!” (NLT)
       Friends, I don’t know what this past year has held for each and every one of you. I know I’ve got my share of moments where I could’ve done better. What I do know is that, whichever way I respond in a situation, God is always waiting for me with open arms and running towards me. And for that, I am truly thankful!
        I hope and pray for a wonderful Thanksgiving for you and yours. Have a blessed day and weekend, and we will see you on Sunday as we kick off the Advent season with our new sermon series, The Gospel in Scrooge. Take Care!
Pastor Will

Cyndi Johnson 11/24/21 Cyndi Johnson 11/24/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Cyndi Johnson 11/18/21 Cyndi Johnson 11/18/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Dear Asbury family,

Can you believe it? It’s already Commitment Sunday! I remember when I was younger (and still a little bit now), it was always hard for me to commit to some things. This applied to big things, but also to small things as well. Sometimes it’s hard for me to commit to scheduling plans, because what if something changes or something else comes up? It was even hard to commit to what I wanted for dinner. What if my appetite changed? What if all of a sudden, someone delivered a fresh pizza to the house because it was ordered in error, and they didn’t want it to go to waste? Maybe that last point is a bit of a stretch, but it certainly highlights the point that commitment has always been hard for me because of the “what if?”. I think another reason commitment has been hard for me is because I don’t like letting people down. Simply put, if I say I’m going to do something, I really better be able to do it. If I tell someone that I’m going to be there for them, I’m going to do everything in my power to do so.

Growing older, I’ve realized that commitment, although difficult at times, has made me stronger and made me the person I am today. It has challenged me to stick to my word when the going gets tough instead of just saying forget it. Sure there are times when something is too overwhelming and it’s better to walk away, but for the most part, commitment has made me who I am. The same thing goes for my stewardship to the church.

When I was interviewing for my ordination, one of the questions asked was about my views on stewardship. I thought I gave a decent response; however, the people interviewing me had a different view of my answer. The committee that was interviewing me pressed into my view of stewardship being more than just giving back because we are supposed to, but more so as a spiritual discipline. A discipline that is practiced and maintained, even when times are tough, because, simply put, the church needs me. The church needs us. The church IS us.

With Commitment Sunday only a few days away, I feel the anticipation growing for what the future holds for us here at Asbury. I can’t wait to see how God continues to bless us in 2022, and how we will continue to know the love of Jesus and pass it on! :) See you all on Sunday, if not before!

Blessings,

Pastor Will

Cyndi Johnson 11/11/21 Cyndi Johnson 11/11/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

One of my favorite money stories comes from John Ortberg.
In one of his books, Ortberg explains how when his kids were little, he and his wife decided to put them on the envelope system. When the children received an allowance, they would put it in envelopes labeled “Give,” “Save,” “Gifts,” “Spend,” and so on.

Ortberg thought it was working until one day he had a Band-Aid on his arm, and his daughter, who at that time was about six, asked, “Why?” Ortberg explained he had gotten a medical exam that day to get life insurance. The daughter asked, "What’s that?" He explained, “Well, Daddy loves you so much and loves the family so much, so if anything were to happen to Daddy (not that it would, but in case it ever did), it would provide for $250,000.” Her eyes got really wide. Ortberg says his daughter has a tender heart, and he knew she’d be worried. Then she looked up at him and said, “Apiece?” Ortberg thought I’m not sure the right lesson is getting communicated!

We certainly live in a culture that conditions us from an early age (even from the young age of six) to acquire as much money as possible and then keep it for ourselves. However, in our current preaching series, “Earn. Save. Give.,” we’re learning that the purpose of acquiring wealth isn’t to keep it but to give it away. This countercultural view is undergirded by the recognition that what we have really isn’t ours but God’s. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, put it best in his sermon titled “The Good Steward.”

[The steward] is not at liberty to use what is lodged in his [or her] hands as he [or she] pleases but as [t]he master pleases … For he [or she] is not the proprietor of any of these things, but barely entrusted with them by another.”

John Wesley, “The Good Steward”

The “another” to whom Wesley is referring here is, of course, God, the giver of all good gifts (James 1:17). Put simply, our money belongs to God, and God, who entrusts us with our money, calls (indeed expects) us to use it responsibly and to invest in the things that matter to God.
I hope you will join us for worship this Sunday at 9:30am or 11am (in person or online) as we continue to discover what it means to see and handle money in God’s way. You’ll be glad you did.
Blessings,
Chris

Cyndi Johnson 11/4/21 Cyndi Johnson 11/4/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family.

Last Sunday we started a new preaching series titled “Earn. Save. Give.” In this 3-part series – which ties directly with the information you should have received in your stewardship packet – we are looking at John Wesley’s rules for managing money God's way. In a sermon he preached in 1760, Wesley said we as Christ-followers should earn all we can, save all we can, and give all we can.

In the first sermon, we talked about earning all we can. I’ll remind us of Wesley's practical guidelines for earning all we can.

1. Recognize our work as a calling from God.

We shouldn’t see our job simply as a way of making money. Rather, we should see it as a way of fulfilling God’s call on our lives to serve and be about the kingdom of God.

2. Use common sense

We should seek counsel from other people as we’re earning money, especially people who are wiser and more experienced than ourselves (mentors, parents, financial advisers, etc.)

3. Don’t pay more for it than it is worth.

We shouldn’t neglect our health and our families while making money. Along this same line, we should do right by our neighbor, which includes the people with whom we do business. We shouldn’t sell our clients something they don’t need, and we shouldn’t charge them more than we should be charging them. Jesus puts it best, “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Mark 8:36 NLT)

I hope you find these guidelines helpful as you attempt to live out this first rule of John Wesley.

We’re going to pause our “Earn. Save. Give.” series this weekend in order to observe All Saints Sunday. During this festival, we remember all the Christ-followers who have gone before us in the faith and now rest from their labors in heaven (Revelation 14:13). Speaking of John Wesley, he enjoyed and celebrated All Saints Day. In a journal entry from November 1, 1767, Wesley calls it "a festival I truly love." On the same day in 1788, he writes, "I always find this a comfortable day." The very next year he calls it "a day that I peculiarly love." I hope you’ll join us for Sunday worship at 9:30am or 11am as we remember and celebrate the saints, particularly those who were a part of our church family.

Additionally, since this Sunday is the Sunday before Veterans Day, we will acknowledge all our veterans in worship. Thank you so much for your service! We certainly appreciate all of you.

Have a great a weekend. And, oh, for you men out there, I hope to see you at the Men’s Prayer Breakfast this Saturday from 7:30am-9am as John Lowndes, the Mayor of Maitland, shares with us.

Blessings,

Chris

Cyndi Johnson 10/28/21 Cyndi Johnson 10/28/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Hi friends,

This past Sunday during the Celebration Service I wore a shirt that garnered more questions and conversations than any other piece of clothing I’ve worn in a while. Sometimes I get a comment or two about my tie if it has flowers or something else brightly colored. Now and then I get comments on my socks because I like to have fun with my sock choice, because, why not? However, this shirt didn’t have any flowers, or bright colors. Really, the main talking point was four letters across the chest of the shirt, “YNWA.” I had a few people guess that maybe it was a Greek word or some other language. The shirt I was wearing was for Liverpool Football Club based in Liverpool, England, home of The Beatles, and the letters represent the club motto, You’ll Never Walk Alone, which can be applied to much more than soccer, or any sport for that matter.

Liverpool is a club or team that was formed in 1892 and has a decorated history, especially in the 1970s. They haven’t always been a fun team to watch, even though it has been fun lately, but the club culture is what made me fall in love. At the beginning and end of every match, they sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” the Gerry and the Pacemakers version at full voice. Although I’ve seen Liverpool play in the US a couple of times and the song was sung, I’ve heard there is nothing like it at their home stadium in England, which I hope to hear for myself one day. And like any good pastor, it’s easy to see the theological implications this song and motto represent.

The main theme from the song is this idea that we will never be alone, no matter the circumstances, and to hold onto that hope even in the darkest times. The club sings this song almost as a pledge to one another and to be there for one another. As the church, this should be our pledge to one another as well. Since we heard from Pastor Chris that the church is not a building, but the people, one of our primary goals as the church is to be there for one another, especially as we see ourselves as the “body of Christ” that Paul talks of in 1 Corinthians. If one part is suffering, we should all do what we can to lift that part up and provide relief in any way we can.

We can also hold onto hope knowing God is with us as well, both in the valleys and the peaks. This is something that can stabilize us when everything around us may feel like it is falling apart. I found this to be most comforting to a lot of the patients I visited during my chaplaincy at UNC hospital, knowing that they were not alone, and God was with them. I learned a lot from those patients because it was easy to overlook God being with me in my own life. As we go about our days, some of the greatest news is knowing God is with us, especially as we look toward our Advent season when God came to us in human form.

I pray that you all have a blessed weekend and look forward to being with you all in worship on Sunday as we kick off our Stewardship Campaign based on John Wesley’s principles for money, “Earn, Save, Give”. See you then!

Be Blessed,

Pastor Will

Cyndi Johnson 10/21/21 Cyndi Johnson 10/21/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

Last Sunday in worship, I preached a message titled “Lie #2: The Church is about Me.” The message was part of our “MythBusters” preaching series in which we are seeking to “bust” several lies we tell ourselves about the church. In my estimation, the notion that the church is about us is the most pervasive lie about the church that’s out there right now. As I explained in the message, we owe this lie to the consumerist culture in which we live. Consumerism is the air that we breathe and the water that we drink. It’s no wonder, then, that consumerism has come to affect our modern approach to church. (Think about it. We even use words like “church-shopping” when searching for a new church home.)

At the end of the message, I challenged us to adopt a missional approach to church rather than a consumer approach. Here’s the difference:

A consumer church is seen as a dispenser of religious goods and services. People come to church to be “fed,” to have their needs met through quality programs, and to have the professionals teach their children about God. Those who approach the church with this mindset will say, “I go to church” like “I go to the gym” or “I go to the grocery store.”

A missional church is a body of people sent on a mission who gather in community for worship, community encouragement and teaching from the Word in addition to what they are self-feeding themselves throughout the week. Those who approach the church from this mindset will say, “I am the church. We are the church.”

Imagine what would happen if all of us adopted this second approach! I truly believe, by God’s grace, we would become an unstoppable force that would change our community and even the world.

This Sunday (10/24) we’ll close out our “MythBusters” series with a message titled “Lie #3: It’s Enough Just to ‘Go to’ Church.” I hope you’ll join us for Sunday worship (in person or online) as we discover what it means to be the church.

I also hope you’ll stop by the Rummage Sale on Friday or Saturday from 8am -2pm. All the money will go to support missions. A huge thanks to Cyd Frank and our United Methodist Women for all their hard work here.

Have a great rest of your week, and I’ll see you soon.

Blessings,

Chris

Cyndi Johnson 10/15/21 Cyndi Johnson 10/15/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Church Family,

Today, (Friday, October 15) is the Fall Festival! I don't think it’s an overstatement to say I might be more excited than some of the kids. We’ll have candy, food trucks, costumes, candy, live music, candy, baby animals, candy, games, and more. (Did I mention there will be candy?) Please be sure to spread the word on social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) as well as among your neighbors and friends. We want as many people as possible to connect with our church and attend this fun (and free!) event.

Last Sunday in worship we kicked off a new sermon series inspired by the hit TV show MythBusters. We’re calling the series “MythBusters: Lies We Tell Ourselves about the Church.” In this brief series, we’re exploring three of the most common and destructive lies we as Christians tend to tell ourselves about the church.

I don’t need the church.
The church is about me.
It’s enough just to “go to” church.

Having busted lie #1, we now move to lie #2 for this Sunday: The Church is About Me. I hope you’ll join us for worship at 9:30 am or 11 am as we discover why the church isn’t about us, but rather, about God and the mission God has for us. We’ll also be baptizing a child at the 11 am service. It’s going to be a great Sunday!

Don’t forget that Cluster Charge Conference is also this Sunday. The event will start at 4 pm and be held at Apopka United Methodist Church. While everyone is invited to attend, only church members will be eligible to vote. (We’ll be voting on the matters that we previously approved on October 3).

There’s a lot more going on in our church, so be sure to stay connected with us. Enjoy the rest of your week.

Blessings,

Chris

Cyndi Johnson 10/6/21 Cyndi Johnson 10/6/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Hello Asbury Family,

As you probably know, Asbury United Methodist Church includes an Early Learning Center on the campus. If my knowledge serves me correct, we have about 30 students who attend, from one year old to four years old. To make the school feel more integrated with the church, the two came together and had a luncheon on Tuesday. This was to facilitate the two staff feeling more like one, and not separate. And if I may say so myself, it was a success!

We met in the courtyard and had a small lunch at high tops, which gave us a chance to walk around and mingle with everyone. I was so encouraged to see everyone talking with each other and not standing off to themselves. Topics ranged from the weather (we’re Floridians, of course, we talked about it), our kids, the church, and the music which had a Hawaiian sound to it that everyone enjoyed. No agenda, nothing planned, just good old-fashioned fellowship.

Similarly, this weekend, we have something for everyone sure to be some great fellowship, Dinner in Spanish. Saturday, the 9th at 5 pm in the Parlor, Alina Saucedo along with Mike Keyse, will host this bilingual dinner in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Families are encouraged to bring a potluck dish and/or something to drink and their appetite. The evening will include eating, games, and liturgy. No worries if you do not speak Spanish, the evening will be bilingual. Further, youth and children are encouraged to attend as well! If you have any questions, reach out to either Alina or Mike, as I’m sure they’d be happy to answer any questions.

As I look at October, I am encouraged by the many ways our church is creating community and fellowshipping with one another. The events mentioned previously are only two examples with many more in the month, including but not limited to, the Fall Festival, the Rummage Sale, Hot Dogs by the Lake, and so much more. October is shaping up to be a great month as we welcome cooler weather with open arms!

Thanks

Will Kendust

Cyndi Johnson 9/30/21 Cyndi Johnson 9/30/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family, 

Happy Thursday! I hope your week has been going well so far, and that you’re enjoying the cooler weather we’ve been experiencing in Central Florida. (We’ll take what we can get, right?)

Last week in worship, we finished our 6-week sermon series titled “The Short of It: The Entire Story of the Bible from Creation to New Creation.” In the series, we explored the story of Scripture from beginning to end, starting with the creation of the universe in Genesis Chapter 1 and then closing with the vision of Eden restored in Revelation Chapter 22. My prayer is that the series has made the Bible more approachable for us. John Wesley, the principal founder of Methodism, identified “searching the Scriptures” as a means of grace. Put simply, Wesley believed that God communicates grace to us when we engage the inspired writings of the Bible, and that this grace empowers us for holy living, to be God's people in the world.

It’s true God wants us to read the Bible. However, it’s also true God wants us to understand (and appreciate) the diversity of Scripture and the many genres through which the Bible communicates truth (historical narrative, parable, poetry, prophecy, apocalyptic literature, etc.). Hopefully, this series has given all of us a new love for the Bible!

This Sunday in worship, Pastor Will is going to preach a stand-alone message on what it means for us to be the church (a great segue into our next sermon series, which you’ll hear more about later). Additionally, we’re going to be receiving 3 (that’s right – 3!) new members at our 11 am service. This is now the third week in a row that our church has received new members. Please join me in welcoming these persons and praising God for the growth of our church.

Don’t forget to bring your candy donations to worship this weekend for our Asbury Fall Festival on October 15, and sign up to host a trunk for trunk-or-treat, which will be part of the event. Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t invite all the men out there to attend our United Methodist Men Prayer Breakfast, which will be this Saturday (October 2) from 7:30-9:00 am in the Fellowship Hall. Larry Koch, who serves on our staff, will be the speaker.

I consider it a great honor to serve as one of your pastors. I look forward to being with you (in person or online) this Sunday!

Blessings,

Chris

Cyndi Johnson 9/23/21 Cyndi Johnson 9/23/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

This Sunday in worship, we’ll wrap up our sermon series entitled “The Short of It: The Entire Story of the Bible from Creation to New Creation.” This has been a fun and interesting series for Pastor Will and me to preach through. My hope is that these messages have given all of us a framework in which to put all the individual parts and pieces of the Bible.

In this Sunday’s message, we’ll look at New Creation, which is the last major movement of the Bible. If you’ve ever wondered what the return of Jesus will look like and involve (and if you've ever wondered what John Lennon has to do with this sermon series), don’t miss Sunday’s sermon. As always, you can worship online (facebook.com/asburyumcmaitland/live) or in person at 9:30am or 11am eastern.

I am also excited that we’re receiving two new members at our 11am service on Sunday. Thank you to all of you who continue to invite new friends and family to worship with you here at Asbury. Trust me when I say God is using these invitations to expand the reach of our church.

Have a terrific end to your week, and I’ll see you Sunday.

p.s. Don't forget about the Voices of Asbury Concert this Saturday at 6pm in the Sanctuary (which will also be livestreamed).

Blessings,

Chris

Cyndi Johnson 9/16/21 Cyndi Johnson 9/16/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Hi Asbury Family,

If you’ve ever been to one of our morning prayer gatherings, you know that we get together Monday through Friday on Facebook Live at 8:30 am. It is a time we read scripture together, usually a Psalm and then a New Testament reading, followed by a song, and a time of prayer. Most of the songs I’ve chosen are ones that have spoken to me in some shape or form in my life. Maybe it was a recent interaction, or maybe one from years ago, but either way, I could probably pinpoint a moment that I had a close encounter, if you will, with the song. It just so happened, I had one of those “close encounters” during morning prayer on Tuesday.

After the song finished and morning prayer was wrapped up, I could not help but continue to reflect on that moment and there were a few take aways, but one major one that kept ringing true. That moment was a “thin place.” Essentially, thin places are moments when Heaven and Earth are very close. The separation between the two are very “thin.” Some people experience thin places out in creation on mountain tops or at the beach. During my time as a chaplain at UNC hospital, I didn’t experience thin places anywhere fancy. Sometimes, I experienced thin places in hospital rooms, when speaking with families or patients. In those moments, I found that it was best, if not most helpful, to slow down and really soak the moment in. Here we were, in the presence of God, and it felt so tangible, that you could almost touch it. It’s giving me goosebumps just writing about it!

My encouragement for you to is to think about those moments where the separation between Heaven and Earth felt “thin.” What was it like? What was the feeling you had? Could you feel it physically? However you may have answered, know that God is always with us, but sometimes we get those moments where his presence is a little more palpable than others. It doesn’t always have to be sitting next to a beautiful stream or over-looking the Grand Canyon. It might be in your bedroom or your office as you do your quiet time. Cherish those moments. Soak them up. Know that God is always with us!

Blessings,

Will

Cyndi Johnson 9/9/21 Cyndi Johnson 9/9/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

I was 14 when 9/11 happened. I had just started my first year of high school a few weeks beforehand. Actually, I wasn’t even in school that day. Instead, I was at a hotel.

At the time, my dad was in business. The company he worked for was holding a conference at the historic Don CeSar Hotel in St. Petersburg. Since the company was already paying for a room, my dad thought it'd be fun if our whole family could enjoy the luxury hotel. So that's what we did. All five of us - my mom, dad, younger brother, older sister, and I - piled in my dad's 1990 Toyota Corolla and made the drive from Fort Lauderdale to St. Petersburg.

We arrived at the hotel the evening of September 10. The next day was supposed to be the conference. Only the conference never happened. Early on September 11, just before 9:00AM, my brother and I left the room to "get ice" (which was really just an excuse to explore the hotel). When we returned, our parents' eyes were glued to the TV as they watched with horror the events of that day.

I’m sure all of us (if we were alive then) can remember where we were on September 11, 2001. Though 9/11 is now twenty years in the past, the memory of that day is forever etched in our minds.

This Sunday in worship (September 12), we’ll set aside time to remember 9/11 and pray for those for whom this anniversary is especially difficult. For now, I leave you with this prayer, which was crafted by Jeremy Pridgeon, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church of Panama City, FL. I hope this prayer comforts you and helps you meditate on God who is both with us and for us.

O God, our hope and refuge,

in our distress we come quickly to you.

Shock and horror of that tragic day have subsided,

replaced now with an emptiness,

a longing for an innocence lost.

We come remembering those who lost their lives

in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania.

We are mindful of the sacrifice of public servants

who demonstrated the greatest love of all

by laying down their lives for friends.

We commit their souls to your eternal care

and celebrate their gifts to a fallen humanity.

We come remembering

and we come in hope,

not in ourselves, but in you.

As foundations we once thought secure have been shaken,

we are reminded of the illusion of security.

In commemorating this tragedy,

we give you thanks for your presence

in our time of need

and we seek to worship you in Spirit and in truth,

our guide and our guardian. Amen.

Blessings,

Chris

p.s. In addition to remembering 9/11, we’ll continue in our series called “The Short of It: The Entire Story of the Bible from Creation to New Creation.” In this series, we’re trying to glean a big picture view of the Bible. We're doing so by focusing on six major movements of Scripture. The movement we’ll focus on this Sunday is Jesus, whose life and ministry is recorded in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Finally, this Sunday, we’ll hear from Dee Woolford of OurLegacy, an organization committed to organ and tissue donation. Dee will speak to us about the importance of becoming an organ and tissue donor. Join us in person or online for what’s sure to be an inspiring day of worship.

Cyndi Johnson 9/2/21 Cyndi Johnson 9/2/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Hi, friends!

        I’m not sure how your week is going, but my week is going great. Thankfully, much better than a few weeks back. We had just recently taken our little one to the doctor’s because he wasn’t feeling well and found out that he didn’t have one, but two ear infections. Of course, guilt as parents set in that we should’ve seen this sooner and done something about it, but we were thankful that he was getting treatment nonetheless! I think we were also in the process of closing on our home and there were some hiccups in the paperwork and insurance, and it almost looked like the closing was not even going to happen. More things were going on and although I can’t remember all of them, what I do remember is the feeling of being stressed and overwhelmed.
        I also remember driving to the church one of the mornings and sitting at the traffic light on Horatio and 17-92 and being able to see the cross above the trees. I almost had to do a double take because I felt like I had never noticed it before, but there it was, above everything else. I had an instant peace and heard God tell me, “Hey, that stuff you are worried about, I’m with you, I’ve got you, and I love you!” At that moment, I remembered that I do have a God who loves me and cares about me and cares about the things that I care about. I didn’t need to fully understand everything that was going on. I didn’t need to know the why of everything, but rather, I needed to trust and put my hope in Christ. Does that mean that everything is always going to work out in my favor? No, but what it does mean is that I don’t have to go through all these things on my own. For me, that’s enough to get me through even the toughest times. Thanks be to God.
        Friends, we have an amazing fall season coming up with Wednesday Night Live kicking off next week along with so many other great ministries. I can’t wait till we are in the full fall swing. Not to mention, we already have pumpkin-flavored everything showing up! I hope that you will join us for our fall-offerings, and we would love to see you at worship this Sunday. Have a blessed day and a blessed holiday weekend!

Pastor Will

Cyndi Johnson 8/26/21 Cyndi Johnson 8/26/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

I’m excited about worship this Sunday. (Am I ever not excited?) First, we’re continuing in our new series called “The Short of It: The Entire Story of the Bible from Creation to New Creation.” In this series, we’re looking at six major movements of Scripture. Our hope is that, by understanding and wrapping our minds around these movements, we’ll gain a “big picture” view of the Bible. The six major movements are these:

1. Creation

2. Fall

3. Israel

4. Jesus

5. Church

6. New Creation

Last week we talked about Creation. Specifically, we focused on God’s intent for us as human beings from the beginning, which is for us to be in relationship with God and for us to be in relationship with other people. This week we turn our attention to the fall of humanity from the sin of Adam and Eve. If you’d like to get a jump start on the message, I’d encourage you to read Genesis 3, which is the text from which I will be preaching.

Another reason I’m excited about worship this Sunday is that at our 9:30am Celebration Service, we’re welcoming a family into our church as new members. In addition, I’ll be baptizing a child from this same family. It’s amazing to witness the growth of our church, even in this difficult season marked by COVID-19. God’s been good to us, and I pray that we continue to open ourselves up to the movement of God's Spirit and become a part of what God is doing in and through our church.

Don’t forget about Wednesday Night Live, which begins September 8. Further information will be included in the bulletin this weekend. You can also contact the church office if you’d like to learn more.

Have a wonderful rest of your week, and I’ll see you Sunday.

Blessings,

Chris

Cyndi Johnson 8/19/21 Cyndi Johnson 8/19/21

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

A couple of weeks ago, Amanda and I received a record of our church contributions through the midpart of the year. This document reminded us how much of our financial resources we have pledged and how we are doing with meeting our pledge. It also made us think about those times in our life when God’s been faithful to us, particularly in the hard seasons.

For example, there was a time, not long ago, in which Amanda and I found ourselves in somewhat of a financial bind. I was to blame. At the beginning of the year, I had miscalculated how much money I was supposed to withhold from each paycheck for federal taxes. It wasn’t until the end of June that I discovered my mistake. At that point, the year was already halfway over. Still, I chose to rectify things by withholding double the amount from each paycheck. Amanda wasn’t working at the time, so money became tight. We cut back on our expenses, but one thing we refused to cut back on was our giving to the church. Then, one day, we randomly received a check in the mail from the insurance company of all places. In the accompanying letter, I learned that we had overpaid in insurance premiums two years earlier. The check came at just the right time! When I deposited the money, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. It was then that I felt God whisper to me, “You see, Chris? Trust me, and things will work out.”

I don’t share this story to make you think I’ve somehow “arrived” in my faith journey, because I haven’t. (Trust me, I get it wrong more often than I get it right.) I also don’t share this story because I believe we can somehow “force” God’s hand through our giving. Rather, I share this story because, in my experience, when we put God first in our finances and trust God in the difficult seasons, God always provides, and God always comes through for us. Ask anybody who tithes, and that person will tell you, “I’ve always had enough.”

I think that far too often we as Christians operate from an economy of scarcity instead of an economy of abundance. An economy of scarcity says, “I can’t give my money to God through the church because, if I do, there might not be enough for me.” An economy of abundance, on the other hand, says, “I’m going to put God first in my finances and trust that the very One who multiplied the loaves and fish will also provide for all my needs."

So, here’s my question: which economy are you operating from? An economy of scarcity or an economy of abundance? (If you’re unsure of the answer, take a look at your bank account and see where your money is going.) Are you trusting God enough to let go of your resources? Just imagine what God can do.

Blessings,

Chris

p.s. I hope you’ll join us for worship this Sunday (August 22) as we kick off a new series called “The Short of It: The Entire Story of the Bible from Creation to New Creation.” In this series, we’ll be looking at the 6 major movements of Scripture. The first major movement we’ll be talking about is Creation. See you soon!

Pastor’s Weekly Update

Asbury Church