Pastor’s Weekly Update
Weekly Update// Pastor Chris
Dear Church Family,
Last Sunday, we began a new preaching/teaching series entitled “Disappointment with God.” In this 3-part series (based on a book of the same name by author Philip Yancey), we’re exploring the disappointments we sometimes carry in our relationship with God. In particular, we are focusing on three questions: 1) Is God hidden? 2) Is God silent? 3) Is God unfair? Last week we looked at the question of God’s hiddenness. This week we turn our attention to the question of God’s silence. If you’ve ever struggled with the apparent silence of God, especially in the face of suffering, be sure not to miss Sunday worship. As always, services are at 9:30am (contemporary) and 11am (traditional). You can worship in person or online. Additionally, since this Sunday is Mother’s Day, we will be sure to honor all moms and mom-like figures among us.
Speaking of honoring moms and mom-like figures, our United Methodist Women of Faith (UMWF) are hosting our “Fairies & Flowers, Mother, Daughter, Sister in Christ” Banquet tomorrow evening (Friday, May 6) at 6pm. I hope those of you who purchased tickets and plan to attend have a wonderful evening. I know Amanda (my wife) and Hannah (our 4-year-old daughter) are both looking forward to the event!
The very next morning (Saturday, May 7), our United Methodist Men will be hosting their monthly prayer breakfast. This month’s prayer breakfast speaker is Rev. Dr. Bob Bushong, who serves as the District Superintendent of the East Central District of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. In his program, Pastor Bob will share the things that are on his heart. All men are invited! We simply ask that you bring a few dollars to offset the cost of breakfast.
Trust me when I say there are a lot of other things happening in our church. In fact, just the other day, I said to Amanda, “There is so much going on at Asbury. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up!” It’s true that we are an active church with plenty of ways to serve and live out our faith.
I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. I am thankful for the privilege of serving as one of your pastors and being on this journey with you. I hope you have a great rest of your week.
Blessings,
Chris
Weekly Update// Pastor Chris
Dear Asbury Family,
After Easter services, Amanda and I drove to Melbourne to drop Hannah and Noah (and our two pups!) off at Amanda’s mom’s house. Then we stole away to Savannah, GA for a few days. It was nice to get away, but even better to return. We especially enjoyed returning to such hope-filled and inspiring worship services last Sunday morning. We had a baptism, Pastor Will preached a great a message on the road to Emmaus story, and our worship band and choir performed wonderful music. To top it all off, we had a great turnout at our church-wide picnic at Maitland Community Park. All in all, it was a fantastic day!
This Sunday, we start a new series of sermons called “Disappointment with God.” Based on a book of the same name by author Philip Yancey (one of my favorite spiritual writers), the series will explore three commonly asked questions related to disappointment with God:
1) Is God hidden?
2) Is God silent?
3) Is God unfair?
I hope you will join us for worship at either our 9:30am or 11am services as we look at the first of these three questions. We will also be receiving Holy Communion at both services. It’s going to be another great Sunday!
Enjoy the rest of your week. I look forward to being with you soon.
Blessings,
Chris
Weekly Update// Pastor Will
Hi friends!
What a week it has been! Or should I say weeks? The weeks that led up to Easter and Holy Week itself were incredible. As I reflect back on everything that took place, I find myself smiling. I’m even smiling as I write this out. The various services and gatherings made this year’s Lent season and Holy Week a memorable one. I know I’m a little biased on all of this because it’s my first year in congregational ministry, however, I still think it will be a tough one to top. I want to give a special thanks to all who were involved, who gave above and beyond to make this year special. I hope you will join me in thanking our wonderful staff and volunteers here at Asbury for all that they contributed during this season.
As Holy Week wraps up, do not forget that the journey continues. Not only in the scripture, but also in our own lives. This week in service, we will be looking at how Jesus shows up after the resurrection to his followers, has a meal with them, and offers them encouragement to keep going! I can certainly relate to this story, especially after you have been through so much like the disciples had. Their whole world had been turned upside down. It’s easy to feel defeated in those moments and even want to give up, but then Jesus shows up to offer encouragement to the disciples to keep going. It’s a wonderful story that I think we can all get behind, and I hope you’ll join us as we walk through it together!
Speaking of Sunday, we also have our Asbury Family Picnic at Maitland Community Park, from 12:30 - 2:30 pm. The address is 1400 Mayo Ave, Maitland, FL 32751. The staff is providing the main dish and drinks. The only thing we ask of you is to bring a side dish to share! It’s sure to be a great time where we get to celebrate the community, and also the family that Asbury offers to each and every one of us. No need to RSVP, just show up! Until then, we hope you all have a great weekend and we will hopefully see you on Sunday! Take care and God Bless!
Pastor Will
Weekly Update// Pastor Will
Dear Asbury Family,
It’s hard to write about something that hasn’t happened yet. In the same way, it’s hard to write about emotions that you haven’t fully experienced. Although you know they’re coming, there is something, at least on a personal level, that makes it difficult to fully articulate those feelings. It’s almost like watching a video where the audio is slightly off from the video. You see the words being articulated, but the audio is just a tad delayed. That’s kind of how it feels to write about Easter when Good Friday hasn’t happened yet, but I’m going to try!
One challenge I have found as a pastor is thinking and writing beyond what I know is going to happen. When you know that something dark and dim will happen (in this case, Good Friday), it’s challenging to look beyond it. The other side of that is racing through the experience and the emotions that come with Good Friday. While I do want to get to Sunday, it’s important to fully take in Good Friday and experience all that it has to offer. That helps our perspective on why Sunday is so meaningful to us. But while we sit in the darkness on Friday, we ultimately know that Sunday is coming. As Bishop Desmond Tutu says, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness,” and Jesus is that light.
Friends, it’s Holy Week. I feel as though that is enough to say. The week in which Jesus is betrayed and crucified, but ultimately, conquers the grave. We hope that as we journey through this week, you will journey with us, not only through Scripture but also with our services. Tonight is our Maundy Thursday service at 7pm in the Sanctuary. Tomorrow evening is our Good Friday service, also at 7pm in the Sanctuary. Then, on Easter morning, we have four services. First, there is the Sunrise service at 6:30am at the Lakeside Chapel. Then we have two Traditional services, 8:15amand 11am in the Sanctuary, and we have our Celebration service at 9:30amin the Fellowship Hall. All of this week’s services will be live-streamed, except for the Sunrise 6:30am service and the 8:15amTraditional Service. We hope you can join us to celebrate our risen Lord this Easter season.
God Bless,
Pastor Will
Weekly Update// Pastor Chris
Dear Asbury Family,
There was a little boy named Johnny who was sick on Palm Sunday. Consequently, he stayed home with his mother while the rest of the family attended service. When everyone returned home, Johnny’s dad was carrying a palm branch in his hand. Johnny was curious and asked, “What’s the palm branch for, dad?” His father said, “It’s for Jesus. You see, when Jesus came into town, everyone waved palm branches to honor him.” “Wouldn’t you know it,” Johnny fumed, “the one Sunday I miss church service, and Jesus shows up!”
I am convinced that Jesus is going to show up in a big way this Palm Sunday (April 10). Whatever your weekend plans are, I hope they include attending worship (in person or online) at either our 9:30am Contemporary/Celebration Service or 11am Traditional Service. There will be inspiring music, affectionate fellowship, and a message filled with hope. Trust me when I say you don’t want to miss out!
Additionally, you don’t want to miss out on the rest of our services for Holy Week and Easter. Listed below are all the service times. (Please note that, with the exception of Easter Sunrise and 8:15AM Traditional, all these services will be livestreamed.)
Maundy Thursday // April 14 (7PM in the Sanctuary)
Good Friday // April 15 (7PM in the Sanctuary)
Easter Sunday // April 17
6:30AM // Sunrise (Lakeside)
8:15AM // Traditional (Sanctuary)
9:30AM // Contemporary/Celebration (Fellowship Hall)
11AM // Traditional (Sanctuary)
I ask that you please pray for our staff and volunteers as we put together these services. There is no question that Holy Week and Easter is a busy time. However, this season is also sacred. To me, there is simply no greater honor than helping people realize the depth of God’s love, especially as that love was revealed through the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection from the dead. I can’t wait to experience the sacredness of Holy Week and the joy of Easter with you in the coming days.
Please don’t forget about our upcoming District Gathering. The gathering will take place this Saturday (April 9) in the sanctuary from 9-11AM (it will not be livestreamed). Our District Superintendent, Bob Bushong, will lead us in that time. Bob will discuss the postponement of General Conference (the legislative body for the United Methodist Church) and the future of the United Methodist Church. I plan to be in attendance, and I invite you to be there as well.
Enjoy the rest of your week!
Blessings,
Chris
Weekly Update// Pastor Chris
Dear Asbury Family,
Over the past month, we’ve been engaged in a message series called “Including the Excluded.” In these messages, we’re journeying through the Gospel of Luke – the third Gospel of the New Testament – and focusing on those stories in Luke that show us Jesus’ concern for the outcasts.
Something that I’ve repeated several times in this series (and in previous messages) is that all people, regardless of who they are or where they may be on their faith journey, are children of God (Luke 15:24; 1 John 3:1). Even in sin, we never cease being God’s children. Therefore, the task of the church isn’t to “bring God” to people. Rather, the task of the church is to help everyone know and understand that, in Jesus Christ, God has claimed them as God’s own; they belong to the King of Kings, and all they must do is embrace this identity.
Earlier this week, somebody came up to me and said, “Well, what about Vladimir Putin? To be honest, I am having a hard time thinking of Putin as a child of God.”
It is true that Vladimir Putin has been the mastermind behind despicable and heinous acts. My heart continues to break for the people of Ukraine, many of whom have had to flee their homes and communities, and I pray each day (as I’m sure you do) for their safety and wellbeing. I also acknowledge that what I'm about to write comes from a place of great privilege and comfort, where my life isn't being threatened. I still believe that as evil as Putin’s behavior has been, he, too, is a child of God.
Some years ago, I watched a YouTube video in which Thomas Long, professor of preaching at Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, GA, shared a story about a young black man involved in the Civil Rights Movement. The man was often beaten at protests and demonstrations for demanding that he receive the same treatment as his white counterparts. The man went on to say that the only way he was able to hold onto his humanity and see the humanity of those who were oppressing him, was to look into their hate-filled faces and say, “There is a child of God who has forgotten who he is.”
The reality is that until Jesus returns and brings the kingdom of God to completion, there will continue to be people who author despicable acts. It may be tempting for us to write off such persons. But what if instead we looked at that them and said, “There is a child of God who has forgotten who he (or she) is”?
Whatever we do, we must not forget that we’re all God’s children, even if we don’t act like it. My prayer is that our behavior - motivated by love - will inspire others to embrace who they are in Jesus and live as his disciples in the world.
Blessings,
Chris
p.s. Join us for worship this Sunday (April 3) as we continue our journey through the Gospel of Luke. We’ll be looking at the story of Zacchaeus, which we find in Luke 19:1-10. I hope to see you in person or online at either our 9:30am service or 11am service. Have a great weekend!
Weekly Update// Pastor Will
Hi Asbury Family,
Recently I came across a passage that really resonated with me. It was from Jeremiah 17:7-8. The New Living Translation reads, “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” As you probably noticed, the beginning of the verses starts out with the word “but” so there’s something against which Jeremiah is contrasting in the previous verses. Those verses talk about those who don’t trust in the Lord, but instead place their trust in human strength. Jeremiah describes them as shrubs in the desert. It doesn’t sound very lush, does it?
As I’ve grown in my faith and had more life experience, I find myself appreciating the imagery that is used in the scriptures more and more. Examples like houses and buildings, rocks, or in this case, my favorite, plants. I’ll be honest with you all before we go further, I have the opposite of a green thumb. Just stop by my office and you can see two out of the three plants in my office are dying, but I digress. As I work to revive these plants, it helps me appreciate how the biblical authors spoke of them so often and how we are similar to them, especially regarding our faith. Returning to the verse in Jeremiah, I cannot help but think about all those who have been recently affected by the tornados. My guess is these are the times of drought or heat for them. They are likely struggling to see God and even questioning where he is in the midst of all this. I know I’ve been in a similar place. It’s a very difficult place to be, but when we place our trust in God, our roots run deep. We not only have the ability to stay upright, but we can tap into the water that sustains and carries us through. As Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7 of the wise and the foolish builders, the question is not if the storms will come, but when they come.
Friends, as we continue to pray for those affected by the tornados, we will update you of anything else that comes our way to increase the efforts to relieve the suffering of those individuals. In the same manner, we continue to pray for Ukraine and everything happening there. We are continuing to give an offering to help those in both Ukraine and Poland. May God’s peace prevail.
We hope you will join us for worship Sunday as Pastor Chris takes us through Jesus’ encounter with the Gerasene Demoniac found in Luke 8:22, 26-39. You can join us (in person or online) either at our Celebration Service at 9:30 am or our Traditional Service at 11:00 am.
Have a blessed weekend!
Pastor Will
Weekly Update// Pastor Chris
Dear Asbury Family,
I pray you had a good week. It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through March!
This Sunday in worship, we continue in our preaching series titled “Including the Excluded.” In these messages, we’re looking at Jesus’ ministry in the third Gospel, the Gospel of Luke, where special attention is paid to outsiders. I hope that as we go throughout this series, you’re reading and engaging Luke on your own. This will give you a better sense of the unique portrait of Jesus that Luke paints in his Gospel.
In this Sunday’s message, we’ll be in Luke 7:36-50, which includes one of the most controversial scenes in all Jesus’ ministry. Do I have your attention now? Rather than describing the scene for you, I’ll let you read the passage for yourself. After you read it, make plans to join us for worship on Sunday morning at either 9:30am (contemporary) or 11am (traditional). We’ll learn why this scene was so controversial and how, even in the midst of such controversy, Jesus made space for people.
I know all of us are disturbed and saddened by the events unfolding in Ukraine. Hardly a day goes by in Morning Prayer (our weekday online prayer ministry) when we don’t lift up the people of Ukraine, many of whom have fled their homes to find shelter elsewhere. This Sunday in worship, you’ll have the opportunity to give an offering to support United Methodist churches in Ukraine and Poland on the front lines of this refugee humanitarian crisis. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity toward this effort.
Finally, since today is St. Patrick’s Day (did you remember to wear green?), I thought I would end this email with a portion of the prayer traditionally ascribed to the patron saint of Ireland. Enjoy!
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Blessings,
Chris
Weekly Update// Pastor Chris
Dear Asbury Family,
I pray you had a good week. It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through March!
This Sunday in worship, we continue in our preaching series titled “Including the Excluded.” In these messages, we’re looking at Jesus’ ministry in the third Gospel, the Gospel of Luke, where special attention is paid to outsiders. I hope that as we go throughout this series, you’re reading and engaging Luke on your own. This will give you a better sense of the unique portrait of Jesus that Luke paints in his Gospel.
In this Sunday’s message, we’ll be in Luke 7:36-50, which includes one of the most controversial scenes in all Jesus’ ministry. Do I have your attention now? Rather than describing the scene for you, I’ll let you read the passage for yourself. After you read it, make plans to join us for worship on Sunday morning at either 9:30am (contemporary) or 11am (traditional). We’ll learn why this scene was so controversial and how, even in the midst of such controversy, Jesus made space for people.
I know all of us are disturbed and saddened by the events unfolding in Ukraine. Hardly a day goes by in Morning Prayer (our weekday online prayer ministry) when we don’t lift up the people of Ukraine, many of whom have fled their homes to find shelter elsewhere. This Sunday in worship, you’ll have the opportunity to give an offering to support United Methodist churches in Ukraine and Poland on the front lines of this refugee humanitarian crisis. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity toward this effort.
Finally, since today is St. Patrick’s Day (did you remember to wear green?), I thought I would end this email with a portion of the prayer traditionally ascribed to the patron saint of Ireland. Enjoy!
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Blessings,
Chris
Weekly Update// Pastor Will
Dear Asbury Family,
Hi Asbury Family!
A reading Christian is a growing Christian! At least, that’s what a friend and mentor of mine used to say to me all the time as I grew in my faith. Nowadays, with the ability to consume different forms of media such as podcasts, audiobooks, or watching sermons online, I think it is still helpful to read. There is something calming about reading. Something that demands almost all your attention. I used to have a reading “corner” literally in the corner of my room in college where I would do most of my reading. The problem was that it sometimes unintentionally turned into a napping corner. When I did get some reading done, though, it helped me realize reading is such a gift because it allows us to connect with the author, and almost have a conversation with them. Rich Villodas, a pastor in New York City, says that if there is someone we admire and want to learn from, we should be reading their material. All of this to say, that’s why we are wanting everyone to read along through the Gospel of Luke with us. We hope that as you read through Luke, you will be in conversation with the writer too.
Pastor Chris mentioned last week in his sermon that Luke is considered the Gospel of Nobodies. It is considered this because it includes stories and interactions that Jesus has with certain people that are not mentioned in the other Gospels. For example, just last week, Pastor Chris talked about the shepherds only being mentioned in Luke. As we continue through this series, we will get to see other interactions that Jesus has with people who are normally excluded.
I know for me, I had plenty of times where I felt excluded. I was the baby of the family and always looked up to my brother and sister, but as in most households, the love wasn’t always reciprocated, especially when they had their friends over, so I often found myself alone. Similarly, I was never the first person picked during PE, so I relate to being excluded, as I’m sure we all do in some shape or form. However, because of my previous experiences, I have learned to appreciate the love that Jesus has for me that much more. To know that we have a God who includes every one of us, especially those of us who feel excluded, is an incredible gift. It’s one thing to love the lovable, but a whole different thing to love those who are considered unlovable, especially when we ourselves are the unlovable. It brings new meaning that is sweeter than honey to the song “What a friend we have in Jesus!”
As we continue through this season of Lent, where we recognize our frailty and our brokenness, where we may even consider ourselves unlovable, I pray that you will know that there is hope. There is hope in Jesus, who came to include everyone, especially the excluded, so that all may know his love that can change lives. I hope you will join us Sunday as Pastor Chris continues our journey through Luke. We’ll look at Jesus’ healing of a man with leprosy (Luke 5:12-15). You can join us (in person or online) at either our Celebration Service at 9:30 am or our Traditional Service at 11:00 am. Have a blessed weekend!
Thanks!
Pastor Will
Weekly Update// Pastor Chris
Dear Asbury Family,
Yesterday (March 2) we began the Lenten season with Ash Wednesday. Thank you to those of you who joined us for worship last night, either in person or online. I trust you found the service to be both inspiring and meaningful. I also want to express my gratitude and appreciation to those of you who joined us for our first Lenten Gathering in the Fellowship Hall (particularly to John Berry who gave the message).
We’re officially in the season of Lent, the forty-day period (excluding Sundays) leading into Easter. The forty days of Lent are meant to correspond to the forty days Jesus spent being tempted by Satan in the desert. (See, for example, Matthew 4:1-11). Lent is a season of introspection and self-examination. It’s a time for us to come to terms with the sin in our lives, repent (i.e., turn away from) that sin, and cling to God’s promise of forgiveness and new life.
As you probably know, Christians are encouraged to fast during Lent, which reminds us of the ministry of Jesus, who “emptied” himself to be with us (Philippians 2:5-11). Nowadays most people fast from things like meat, chocolate, coffee, soda, and caffeinated beverages. (I had a friend one year who fasted from sleeping in a bed and opted instead to sleep on the floor in his bedroom.) While these practices are certainly commendable, I came across a list of fasting suggestions from Pope Francis that I wanted to share with you.
• Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
• Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
• Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
• Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
• Fast from worries and have trust in God.
• Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
• Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
• Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.
• Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
• Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
• Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.
Whatever your spiritual practices happen to be this season, I hope you will see Lent as a time to deepen and strengthen our connection with God. I also hope you’ll make worship a priority during this season.
Speaking of worship, please make every effort to attend this Sunday (March 6). We begin a new series titled “Including the Excluded,” where we’ll be exploring Jesus’ ministry of inclusion Gospel of Luke. I also encourage you to read Luke over the next week. We’ll be unpacking this Gospel each Sunday in worship.
Have a great weekend, and I hope to see you this Sunday!
Blessings,
Chris
Weekly Update// Pastor Chris
Dear Asbury Family,
We’re quickly approaching Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of the Lenten season. During the forty-day period of Lent, we journey with Jesus to the cross and anticipate the hope and promise of Easter.
Since serving as a pastor, it’s been my custom during Lent to preach through a series of sermons focused on the life and ministry of Jesus. You may recall that last year’s Lenten series looked at the seven “I AM statements” of Jesus in the Gospel of John (i.e., I am the bread of life, I am the light of the world, I am the gate for the sheep, I am the good shepherd, etc.). This year’s Lenten series, which is called “Including the Excluded,” is going to look at another Gospel, the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus’ heart beats for outsiders – the poor, the weak, the sick, the demon-possessed, tax collectors, and convicted criminals. I can’t wait for this sermon series to begin on Sunday, March 6. Until then, I encourage you to begin reading through the Gospel of Luke. I think you’ll be amazed by the unique portrait Luke paints of Jesus.
This Sunday (February 27), our Associate Youth Director, Noah Pullon, is going to be delivering the message. Noah’s sermon is going to focus on gifts. Specifically, he is going to talk about how God is calling us to use our gifts to support the ministry of the church. As many of you know, Noah is a college student at UCF where he is majoring in Engineering. He has a heart for youth and passion for seeing young people connect with the church. I trust that God will use Noah’s words to touch and inspire all of us. I know I’ve said this before, but I’m so proud to be part of a church that is committed to raising the next generation of leaders.
Don’t forget that our Ash Wednesday service will be on March 2 at 7PM in the sanctuary (the service will also be live-streamed). In addition, our Lenten Gatherings begin at noontime in the Fellowship Hall on March 2. My prayer is that these opportunities enrich your faith and usher you into the presence of the very One whose love was made known in Jesus, specifically through the cross and resurrection.
Enjoy the rest of your week, and I hope to see you on Sunday morning.
Blessings,
Chris
Weekly Update// Pastor Will
Hi friends!
This last weekend was the Super Bowl. They estimated that 114 million people watched this year, which is up 14% from last year. This could be for many reasons, but my guess is viewership has to do with which teams are playing. This year we saw the LA Rams, a newer team in the league, playing against the Cincinnati Bengals, a team that has never won a Super Bowl, despite being around for over 50 years. On paper, it seemed like the Rams were the better team, but the more I talked to people, the more it sounded like people were pulling for the Bengals. As one person said, “everyone loves a good underdog story!” Why is it we like an underdog story? Is it we often see ourselves as underdogs? Do we find it easier to relate to the underdogs? Whatever it may be, the underdogs are often the favorites.
Philippians 2:5-11, often referred to as the Christ Hymn, is a good example of an underdog story. In the text, it talks about how Jesus did not consider his divinity as something to “cling to,” but rather he gives up, or empties himself of his divinity to prove his love for us. Since we know Jesus was always God as we read in John 1, this text in Philippians reminds us of the low status that Jesus took on to come alongside us. This was especially wild for people of the Greco-Roman world, where status and power were everything. They viewed their gods as being beyond reach, untouchable. That’s why this message of Jesus was so radical back then, but it is also why the message is powerful for us, even today. A God who took on the form of a human, even to the point of death, to prove his love for us. That’s an underdog story we can all root for!
On a side note, this weekend the Youth Group is headed to the Sharing Center as part of our Serve Saturdays, our efforts to do a monthly service project in the community. We ask that you would be in prayer for us on that day! Also, this Sunday we are wrapping up our sermon series with the question, “"Why didn't God save my loved one from dying?" This is certainly a topic that hits close to home, and one that most of us have probably asked.
We hope you will join us for service at 9:30 am or 11:00 am, online or in-person as Pastor Chris explores and walks through this sensitive topic. Be blessed and have a great weekend!
Pastor Will
Weekly Update// Pastor Chris
Dear Asbury Family,
For the past month, our congregation has been walking through a series of sermons called “Help My Unbelief." Our aim in these messages has been to grapple with tough questions of faith. The message a few weeks back focused on prayer, why would an all-powerful God require prayer? We established that the reason God gave us prayer is to relate to us. Everything God does is driven by God’s desire to be in relationship with human beings, and prayer is the channel that facilitates our relationship with God.
I wanted to follow up by speaking a bit about “offensive prayers.” Do you know what those are? Those are the prayers in which we honestly communicate our raw emotion to God about a given situation – even being so bold as to raise our fists at God out of anguish and distress. We might consider such prayers “blasphemous.” However, there’s plenty of precedence for this in the Bible (Moses, the Psalms, etc.) As I did some reading on this topic, I came across a story that really spoke to me, so I wanted to share it.
Roy Lawrence writes how he was privileged to be associated with a group in England called St. Colombia’s Fellowship. Its members consist of hospice staff, nurses and sisters who work among those who are dying. At times, Roy and his wife are invited to speak at the fellowship’s conference.
At one of these conferences, they heard a hospice chaplain speak about a patient who wanted to see him because he was in great emotional distress. He was in the final stages of cancer and was feeling very guilty because he had spent the previous night ranting, raving, and swearing at God. The following morning the man felt terrible. He imagined that his chance of eternal life had now been lost forever, and that God would never forgive him for his words.
The chaplain asked the patient, “What do you think is the opposite of love?”
The man replied, “Hate.”
The chaplain wisely responded, “No, the opposite of love is indifference. You have not been indifferent to God, or you would never have spent the night talking to him, honestly telling him what was in your heart and mind. Do you know the Christian word that describes what you are doing? The word is ‘prayer.’ You have spent the night praying.”
(Philip Yancey, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?, page 100).
Isn’t it remarkable that God is so filled with love for us that he receives ALL our prayers, including the “offensive” ones? If prayer is about relationship, it’s important that we bring our whole selves to God in this relationship. Indeed, it’s in such prayers that God promises to meet and engage us. Thanks be to God.
Blessings,
Chris
Weekly Update// Pastor Will
Dear Asbury Family,
You may not know it, but this is an important week for the Florida Annual Conference. This week, the Board of Ordained Ministry, or BOM (pronounced boom), is meeting all week long. This only happens once a year in the Florida Annual Conference. It is the time when those seeking full ordination in the United Methodist Church are interviewed to find out whether they will be recommended for the status for which each of them is applying. In other words, the BOM is the final say on whether or not you become ordained. I’ll get into some of the details to help explain.
Before a candidate comes before the BOM, they submit paperwork that focuses on four sections of ministry — proclamation, personal growth, leadership, and theology — to which there is a respective team that focuses on the different sections. Our very own, Pastor Chris Jones, sits on the theology team. Candidates are then given either a morning or an afternoon interview time and are expected to come prepared to discuss the paperwork that they submitted. The candidate will then be interviewed by a group of BOM members who will ask questions specific to their team. For example, Pastor Chris will ask questions specific to theology. This will give the candidate a chance to further clarify any details that the group feels necessary. The interview typically lasts about an hour, and once it concludes, the candidate is excused so the group can discuss their findings and will vote whether to recommend the candidate for the status they are applying for or not. The group will then take their vote to the other groups and convey the results of the interview. If all goes well, the candidate will be approved and their day will be a joyful one. If things don’t go well, the candidate will receive feedback on areas that need refining to which they can return the following year and re-apply for the status they are desiring. I know that’s a lot, but that’s probably the short (maybe even too short) version of it all.
As I write this Tuesday afternoon, I am scheduled to interview tomorrow, Wednesday, afternoon. I currently hold the status of a Licensed Local Pastor but am applying to become a Provisional Elder. If all goes well, I will be a happy camper when you are reading this! Hopefully, this will be a happy week for all those applying and journeying on this path of ordination toward becoming an Elder or a Deacon in the United Methodist Church. If it isn’t a happy week, hopefully, it is a chance to see opportunities and areas for growth and to better ourselves for ministry.
Speaking of all this ordination talk! Our very own candidate for ministry, Alina Saucedo, will be preaching this Sunday. She will be looking at the question, “Are We Allowed to Question God?" We are excited to hear from Alina as she explores and wrestles with this question. We hope you will join us for services on Sunday, 9:30 am or 11:00 am, online or in-person! Have a wonderful weekend and we will see you on Sunday!Blessings,
Pastor Will
Weekly Update// Pastor Chris
Dear Asbury family,
We’re almost halfway through our January/February message series called “Help My Unbelief.” In this series, we’re examining tough questions of faith. So far we’ve looked at the questions, Why are Christians hypocrites?, Is free will worth all the suffering?, and Isn’t the Bible full of myths? This week’s question has to do with prayer, Why would an all-powerful God require prayer?
I think you’ll agree that of all the activities of the Christian life, prayer is the most mysterious. Many, if not all of us, have questions surrounding prayer. My hope is that this message will address our questions and encourage us to lead deeper prayer lives.
I am sorry to report that due to the cold (cold for us Floridians anyway) weather forecast, the Asbury Young Couples and Families Picnic, which was scheduled for this Sunday, has been postponed until February 20. We promise to give more updates as we get closer to the event. In the meantime, bundle up and stay warm.
There’s lots going on at Asbury. Check out the bulletin this weekend for a list of upcoming events or simply call the church office.
See you Sunday!
Blessings,
Chris
Weekly Update// Pastor Will
Dear Asbury family,
Last night when I was putting laundry away, I found myself reflecting on how/when I got each of the shirts I was folding. I know Marie Kondo would tell me that was not a good enough reason to keep those shirts, but that’s beside the point. As I reflected on the shirts, I found that there were a few shirts that I was more fond of than others, particularly a Duke Intramurals Champion shirt. You may have seen me wear it (proudly) on Morning Prayer a few times. I won it with a group of Divinity Students playing flag football. For that specific reason, I loved that shirt. It wasn’t given to me by someone. I didn’t just go out and buy it. I earned it. I remember a few years back, eBay had some commercials that communicated a similar point where people were running after a toaster. Essentially, they communicated that we valued things more when we had to fight or do something for them, in their case, winning the item via auction. The effort we put in reflected our gratitude for it.
As I usually do, especially as a pastor, I got super theological and started thinking about our faith and salvation. My salvation is not something that I did anything for, but rather just accepted it as it was freely given to me. This also got me thinking about my level of gratitude for it. Since I didn’t do anything for it, I wondered if maybe that’s why I sometimes take it for granted. Sometimes even going without thinking about it. Before I beat myself up too much, I remembered that this was God’s choice to do so. Paul’s words in Romans 5:8 gave me comfort in saying, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” While there may be moments when I take God’s love for granted or not acknowledge it, I have to remember that regardless of my awareness and/or appreciation, God still loves us, which is incredibly great news. Going forward, my hope is to slow down and be more aware of God’s love and presence in my life. I’ve only just begun, but so far, so good!
This Sunday, we will dive into the third week of our sermon series, “Help My Unbelief” where we will look at the question, “Isn’t the Bible full of myths?” I’m sure this question has come across your mind or at least been asked of you, so I hope you all will join us! We will see you either online or in person, and until then, be blessed!
Pastor Will
Peace in Christ,
Weekly Update// Pastor Chris
Dear Asbury Family,
In worship last weekend, I shared some numbers with you. Just in case you missed them, here they are again.
Over the season of Advent (the season leading into Christmas), our congregation committed to raising money for the Evangelical Methodist Church in El Salvador. Specifically, we wanted to raise funds for two causes associated with the church: a school and a medical clinic. As I mentioned on Sunday, through the end of Christmas Eve, we raised a grand total of $14,163. Additionally, during March to the Manger, we raised another $6,000 for other causes (e.g., tornado victims, Family Promise, the Sharing Center, Christian Concerns, etc.). Thank you so much for your generosity! Asbury is fortunate to have so many caring individuals who invest in the lives of others.
This weekend in worship, we continue in our new sermon series entitled “Help My Unbelief.” As a reminder, the purpose of these messages is to explore tough questions of faith. Last week’s question focused on Christian behavior: Why are Christians hypocrites? This week’s question is going to be more philosophical in nature: Is free will worth all the suffering?
If you're not sure where I'm going with this question, please hear me out.
Adolf Hitler had free will when he orchestrated the Holocaust. Joseph Stalin had free will when he led Soviet Russia. Jeffrey Dahmer and Charles Manson had free will when they became two of the most infamous serial killers in American history. Timothy McVeigh had free will when he planned the Oklahoma City bombing. Osama bin Laden had free will when he became the mastermind behind 9/11. I could provide more examples, but you get the point.
In a world where human beings insist on harming – and killing— others, is free will even worth it? Did God know what he was doing when he gave us free will? Why doesn't God remove our capacity for evil, thereby sparing the lives of millions of people? Or why doesn't God simply create people whom he knows won’t inflict harm?
Be sure to join us for worship this Sunday as we tackle this difficult question. By the way, we are also going to have new members join us at the 9:30am service, which is always an exciting thing.
Enjoy the rest of your week, and we’ll see you on Sunday!
Blessings,
Chris
Weekly Update// Pastor Chris
Dear Asbury Family,
Happy New Year!
I hope you enjoyed a blessed Christmastime with your family and friends, and that you’re ready for all that 2022 has to offer.
As I begin this note, I want to quickly remind us that our new series of sermons begins THIS SUNDAY (January 9). The series is entitled “Help My Unbelief.” Inspired by the story in Scripture where a man admits his unbelief to Jesus (Mark 9:24), this series is going to explore tough questions of faith. Here are the questions we’ll be looking at:
Why are Christians hypocrites?
Is free will worth all the suffering?
Isn’t the Bible full of myths?
Are we allowed to question God?
Why would an all-powerful God require prayer?
How does a Christian make sense of other religions?
Why didn’t God save my loved one from dying?
By no means are any of the above easy questions. (Where would the fun be in that?) But they’re important questions that deserve our attention.
The sermon this Sunday – the inaugural sermon for the series – is going to tackle a frequently asked question by non-church-goers (and maybe even some church-goers): Why are Christians hypocrites? Join us for worship (in person or online) as we look at what Scripture has to say about this question.
By the way, I also plan to let us know how much money we collected for our 2021 Advent Project. As you may recall, this money will go to support both a school and medical clinic affiliated with the Evangelical Methodist Church in El Salvador. Thank you to all of you who donated. God is going to use your generosity to change lives!
2022 is gearing up to be a busy year. Stay tuned as our pastoral and program staff plan events designed to help us connect to God and each other.
Blessings,
Chris
p.s. In our traditional service last Sunday, I shared this prayer that John Wesley and the early Methodists would pray at the start of each year. I encourage you to commit this prayer to memory and pray some version of it each day. It’s called the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer.
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
Exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O Glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
Weekly Update// Pastor Will
Hi friends,
Have you heard the phrase, “New Year, New Me!”? I’m not sure if it is popular anymore, but I know a few years ago, it was a hit! The phrase was meant to be a motivator or indicator for those who were making big changes in their life in the upcoming year. Some of these changes showed up in New Year’s resolutions, some in subtle lifestyle changes. Whatever form they appeared in, they were all meant to signify a change in the new year.
As we approach 2022, have you made any New Year’s resolutions? Anything you are looking to change as we leave 2021 behind? If I’m being honest, I’ve never been huge on New Year’s resolutions. I’ve had a couple of times where I said I was going to eat less dessert or treats. I would do well for about three days before that quickly went out the window.
One year I heard a resolution that resonated with me that I’ve been trying to live into ever since, and that was, “to wear Christ well.” I got the phrase from someone online who said it was their resolution and I loved it! Without getting caught up in too many theological weeds, my take is that in whatever we do, we are representing Christ and Christ is with us. The way in which I interact with others and conduct myself, will they see that I am wearing Christ well, or will they think that it just doesn’t fit? Similar to a favorite shirt or perfect pair of pants. Not only is it one of the first things people notice, but whenever we put it on, it can almost lift our spirits. So, whether 2021 was a year to remember or one to forget, may we all wear Christ well in 2022!
I hope you all will join us for worship this Sunday as we look at Epiphany and the visit of the Magi to baby Jesus. Since it is the first Sunday of the month, we also will be celebrating Communion. Until then, have a Happy New Year and we will see you in 2022!
God Bless,
Pastor Will