Weekly Update // Pastor Will

Hi, friends!
Although I write this message early in the week, I’m sure the feeling will still ring true later that Sunday’s worship was a gift. Witnessing such talented individuals using their gifts for the glory of God was truly heartwarming. It's even more special knowing that these individuals are young college students. During offertory time, I spoke about the significance of our connexionalism as United Methodists. Each year, a portion of our budget goes towards apportionments, which support various ministries statewide, including Bethune Cookman and Central Florida Wesley. I'm pleased to report that Asbury has consistently fulfilled its apportionments.
In other United Methodist news, in a couple weeks is the upcoming General Conference, scheduled for April 23-May 3, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. This conference, originally planned for 2020 but postponed due to Covid, will center around Psalm 46, "...and know that I am God." If you are unfamiliar, the “General Conference is the denomination’s highest legislative body. As such, it has the authority to make revisions to the denomination’s Book of Discipline and Book of Resolutions.”  There’s a lot more that happens and if you’re interested in learning more, head over to the link here: https://www.umnews.org/en/news/a-beginners-guide-to-general-conference

A beginner’s guide to General Conference

Need a primer on how The United Methodist Church’s big meeting works? United Methodist News has you covered. Heather Hahn reports for UM News.

www.umnews.org

. Let's keep the conference in our prayers, asking for God's guidance for the conference and all who are involved!
On a local note, we have one more week with our fearless and beloved leader before he and his family welcome their third child. We continue to celebrate and pray for them during this exciting time. Pastor Chris will be preaching this weekend before taking some time off to be with his family. We will keep you updated on any news regarding the arrival of baby Levi. This Sunday, we'll also be celebrating Holy Communion and sharing an exciting announcement from our Staff Parish Relations Committee. Join us for either our Celebration Contemporary Service at 9:30 am or our Traditional Service at 11:00 am, both live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook.
God Bless, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Warm regards,
Pastor Will

Weekly Update // Pastor Chris

As I reflect on the recent Holy Week and Easter services, I am filled with gratitude for the dedication and hard work of so many within our congregation. From the journey through Lent to the joyous celebration of Easter Sunday, each moment was made possible by the commitment and tireless efforts of a number of individuals.

I want to extend my deepest appreciation to all who contributed behind the scenes. To our devoted staff who meticulously coordinated every detail, to Tom Moore and our Lenten Luncheon speakers and volunteers who organized meaningful gatherings, to David Vatcher and our writers for their work with the moving Lenten Devotionals, to our talented musicians who poured their hearts into leading us in worship, to our tech team who ensured seamless operations both in-person and online, to our speakers who crafted inspiring messages, to our altar guild who prepared our sacred spaces with care, and to our ushers and greeters who welcomed people into services—thank you. Your dedication did not go unnoticed, and we are profoundly grateful for your service to our church community.

This Sunday (April 7), we have something special planned. We will be hosting a single service at 10:45 am in the sanctuary, featuring the Bethune Cookman University Choir. Some of you may recall their previous visit, and we are thrilled to welcome them back. Following the service, we will gather for a church-wide potluck—a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and sharing a meal together. Please bring a dish to share, and feel free to invite friends and family to join us. It is going to be a great day of worship and community.

Lastly, let us continue to uplift the Riddles in prayer as Pastor Barbara continues to heal from a stroke. Though she remains hospitalized, your prayers and support are deeply appreciated during this challenging time. May we surround Barbara, Ty, and the rest of the family with love and strength as they navigate this journey together. Blessings, Chris

Rev. Chris Jones Pastor

Weekly Update // Pastor Will

Hello friends,

During Holy Week, the church engages in various symbolic acts. For instance, Palm Sunday starts the week with the waving of palm branches, symbolizing Jesus' entry into Jerusalem amidst the people's welcome. On Thursday, the altar is stripped during the service, symbolizing Christ's humiliation on the Cross and the events leading up to it. The colors hung on the cross throughout the week reflect the tone and emotions of each day. Additionally, the Tenebrae service on Good Friday, deriving its name from Latin for "Shadows" or "Darkness," employs darkness to represent the gloom that enveloped the earth on that fateful day. This solemn service intersperses the reading of the crucifixion story with musical pieces, gradually dimming the lights, creating a deeply moving experience. If you have not been before, I hope you will come on out and join us for this service.

Despite the solemnity of Holy Week, we anticipate the joyful celebration of Jesus' resurrection and triumph over sin and death on Easter Sunday. The day begins early, at 6:30 am, with a service at our Lakeside Chapel, often well attended, so bringing a chair would be helpful. Following this, we have our 9:30 am Contemporary Service and our 11:00 am Traditional Service, both featuring communion. If you're unable to attend in person, we'll be live-streaming the 9:30 am and 11:00 am services, though unfortunately not the 6:30 am due to connectivity issues. Whichever service(s) you choose to join, Easter promises to be a special occasion as always.

God Bless, and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Warm regards,

Pastor Will

Weekly Update//Pastor Will

Hi friends,

Stewardship has become a growing passion in my faith journey, especially stewardship of our bodies. For me, this means taking care of myself physically and mentally, doing the best I can for this amazing gift.

One way I stay active is through exercise. Fortunately, I've always enjoyed working out. The key is finding something you love and can stick with. My workouts often become a time to settle in, reflect on my thoughts and worries, and ultimately release them to God. In a way, it's also an act of praise. Pushing my body and appreciating its capabilities allows me to give thanks.

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul reminds us that our bodies are "temples of the Holy Spirit" (NLT). We were "bought at a price" and should honor God with them. Back then, Corinth was a center of pagan practices, so people participated in some pagan practices with their bodies. Further, some Christians thought their bodies didn't matter since they were going to die anyway. Paul argues against this, emphasizing that God cares for us and our bodies, just like a loving parent who wants their child to take care of themselves.

Remember, what works for me might not work for you, and that's okay! Find what keeps you moving and enjoying life, maybe even getting some sunshine. We only get one body, so let's treat it well!

This Sunday, Pastor Chris will explore the story of the Unknown Soldier at Jesus' crucifixion. It's also Palm Sunday! Our children will participate in the service, processing in with palms and hunting for Easter eggs at the 9:30 am Celebration service. They will also process at the beginning of the 11:00 am Traditional service. It's always a joy to see their happy faces. You can join us in person or online, at either (or both) services. It will be a special day!

Have a fantastic weekend, and God bless!

Pastor Will

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

This Sunday, March 17th, is St. Patrick’s Day. When Amanda and I take Hannah and Noah (and soon Levi) to the library, we love selecting seasonal books. Since Valentine’s Day passed, our choices have largely centered on the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick (as well as a few tales involves leprechauns!).

Though St. Patrick didn’t drive out the snakes from Ireland as folklore suggests, his story is one of resilience and faith. Originally from Britain, he was captured by Irish pirates and endured enslavement in Ireland. It was during this incredibly challenging time that he found solace and strength through faith in Jesus. After escaping and returning to his homeland, he felt a profound calling to spread the Christian message in Ireland.

As we observe St. Patrick's Day, I invite us to remember his unwavering dedication to spreading love, peace, and the Christian faith despite adversity.

Reflecting on St. Patrick's legacy, let’s contemplate his commitment to faith and service through the following prayer attributed to him:

"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 in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me. I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through a confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation."

Blessings,

Chris

p.s.This Sunday's worship will continue our "Behind the Cross" sermon

series. Pastor Will will deliver a message focusing on Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the beloved disciple, presumably John who authored the fourth Gospel, both of whom were present at the cross and received direct words from Jesus. Furthermore, we will celebrate a baptism during the 9:30 am service. As always, it promises to be a meaningful Sunday of worship!

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

I hope this message finds you well. Before I discuss our upcoming worship services, I want to remind you about our church-wide cleanup day happening this Saturday, March 9th. Join us as we come together to spruce up Asbury’s campus in preparation for Easter. Your help and presence would be greatly appreciated!

Now, let's talk about this Sunday's services. We're continuing our Lenten series titled “Behind the Cross,” where we’re delving into the stories of individuals who played a role in the events surrounding Jesus’ suffering and death. So far, we’ve explored the stories of Caiaphas (the chief priest who presided over the religious trial that condemned Jesus to death) and Peter (the disciple who denied Jesus three times but whom Jesus restored). This Sunday, our focus turns to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea who ultimately authorized the crucifixion. Join us as we unravel Pilate's role in the crucifixion narrative and consider the lessons we can draw from his story.

Looking ahead, mark your calendars for Sunday, April 7th. On that day, a week after Easter, at 10:45 am, we will have a special combined service. Bethune Cookman University will be leading us in music for the entire service. Known for their renowned music program, their performance is sure to be enriching and uplifting. Following the service, we'll gather for a church-wide potluck. So be sure to keep that Sunday free and join us for this wonderful occasion!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Blessings,
Chris

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Hi friends!

This week's email is short because we hope you will take a moment to read the information below about some restructuring of the Florida United Methodist Conference. While this will not go into effect until it is voted on in June, the basic premise is to go from 8 districts down to 6. This will allow the conference to allocate resources responsibly and efficiently to ensure the conference continues to operate at an optimal level. And I know I said I wasn’t going to say much, but I’m a Pastor

and I can’t help it.

This conversation has me thinking about stewardship. I think a lot of the time, when we talk about stewardship, the main focus is finances. However, there are many other areas where we can practice good stewardship. One example is our time. Are we making the best use of our time? That’s not to say we need to always be doing something and never resting, but rather prioritizing it to get the most out of

our time. Another area is being good stewards of the environment. In Jim Esch’s talk at the Lenten Gathering this week, he reminded me that when we are called to practice dominion over all of creation, it’s not to dominate it, but to work alongside it for the benefit of all. Lastly, I think about being stewards of our health. God has given us our bodies and also the responsibility to take care of them as best as we can! Since we have two little ones, Alicia and I do our best to practice good stewardship of our health to make sure that we are around to see them grow up! Okay, I’ll stop talking (typing) now!

Please join us this Saturday as Officer Holland from the Maitland Police Department comes and speaks to us about fraud and scam prevention. This is during the United Methodist Men’s Breakfast at 7:30 am in the Fellowship Hall but is open to the whole congregation and more, so bring a friend! The following Saturday is a church campus clean-up day where we will really make our beautiful campus shine, especially for visitors during this Lent season. Lastly, the following Saturday is the Royal Tea Party put on by the United Women in Faith.

It’s free and will be at 11:45 in the Fellowship Hall. We’d love to have you join us!

This week in worship, Pastor Chris will continue in our series “Behind the Cross,” where this week he will be looking at Peter. Come join us if possible as we take a look at these characters that are part of the crucifixion story that culminates with a surprise on Easter Sunday :) but I don’t want to give any spoilers. Of course, both services will be live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube.

Blessings and see you all then!

Pastor Will

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

Amanda and I wanted to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming love and support you showed us during Levi's baby shower on February 11. The kindness and generosity displayed by this congregation touched our hearts profoundly.

Being part of the Asbury community has been an incredible blessing for our family. Knowing that our children are growing up within the embrace of such a loving church family fills us with immense gratitude.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making Levi's baby shower such a memorable and joyous occasion. Your presence and well-wishes mean the world to us, and we are endlessly grateful for your continued love and support.

As I write this email, I am still feeling the energy from last Sunday’s combined service. Bishop Tom Berlin's message about ensuring that Jesus is not just our teacher rabbi, but indeed our Lord to whom we submit, resonated deeply. Additionally, the phenomenal music shared during the service truly added to the experience of God’s love and presence. As Bishop Berlin shared just before his message, it's remarkable when people share their gifts for the benefit of others.

Speaking of gifts, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our preschool kids for their wonderful displays of artwork that we were able to enjoy during the potluck. And thank you to all those who organized the potluck. It was wonderful to see so many in our church family interact and build relationships.

On a different note, I wanted to inform you that last Sunday was also Jan Morton’s last Sunday with us. Jan has been a member of Asbury for decades and an integral part of our church family. During a goodbye party hosted by her Sunday school class, I shared that when I preached my first sermon at Asbury, she wrote me the kindest and most encouraging email, which left such an impression on me. Jan is moving to be closer to family. While we’re going to miss her, we are grateful that God saw fit to have her journey intersect with ours.

Finally, I want to invite you to worship this Sunday. We’re launching a new series titled “Behind the Cross.” Similar to the approach of VH1’s Behind the Music, which profiled musical artists and groups, we’re going to be profiling different figures of the passion narrative (passion refers to the suffering and death of Jesus). The first one is Joseph Caiaphas, the high priest who oversaw the religious trial that resulted in Jesus’ death. What does Caiaphas’ story teach us about God’s sovereignty and commitment to using us? Join us on Sunday at 9:30 am or 11 am to find out!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Blessings,

Chris

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Hello friends!

As you may know, last Sunday, we hosted a Blessing of the Animals service, inviting everyone, with or without pets, to join us. This was something we had wanted to do for a long time. However, scheduling issues prevented us until this past weekend. I must say, I'm really glad we did it. We were unsure what to expect but quickly realized that this was something special. By our count, we had 51 people and 27 animals, mainly dogs, a few birds, a couple of cats, a bunny, and a hedgehog. We even had a wild bird from the lake that felt left out and joined us to receive a blessing. This tells me that we have many folks who genuinely care about their pets. While I don't know for sure, I'm confident that some of these pets were there for these people during dark and difficult times, probably helping pull them through. For that, we celebrated the lives that we share in fellowship with these pets, including the insects and the birds of the sky, and the way all of God's creation works together for our enjoyment.

I want to express special thanks to the Creation Care Team, especially Carla Smith and Linda Stevenson, for helping get this off the ground, as well as two of our young people, Lyla and Nadia, for assisting. Thanks also to Chris Kovic for helping with music, which added a special touch to the service. If you missed it, I'm pretty sure we will be doing it again soon!

In the life of the church, our significant focus right now is the Family Glow Party on Friday evening from 5:30-7:00 pm. I know Laura Molloy still needs some help, so if you can, please reach out to her at childrensministry@asburymaitland.org. The next morning is the Men’s Breakfast where Jim Esch will be speaking to the men, with breakfast starting at 7:30 am in the Fellowship Hall. Come on out and bring a friend if possible for some great food and fellowship!

Speaking of food, the following Friday, February 9th, is the Valentine's Dinner and Dance. It’s such a fun evening and only $15 for a great meal and, if you want, some dancing too! The price of admission to see me attempt to dance is worth it alone! Then the following Wednesday, February 14th, we begin our Lenten Lunches at Noon in the Fellowship Hall. Since that’s also Ash Wednesday, we will have a time to impose the ashes if you join, but if you can’t make that, we will have an Ash Wednesday Service that evening at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary.

Exciting news! Join us for Amanda and Pastor Chris's Baby Shower on Sunday, February 11th, at 12pm in the Fellowship Hall, right after our 11:00 services. All are invited to celebrate and shower the Jones family with love. To help us plan, please confirm your attendance by Wednesday, February 7th. Simply click on the link provided here!

https://www.evite.com/event0250XM7TNGXRQYH7MEPOVWU4LF7ACY/

Rewinding a tad to focus on Sunday, I’ll be preaching on James 4:3 in our service “You Keep Using that Bible Verse,” and unpacking what James truly meant when he expressed that we were not getting from God what we are asking for! Both our 9:30 am Celebration/ Contemporary Service and our 11:00 am Traditional Service will be live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook if you’re unable to make it in person, but we hope to see you either way!

God Bless and have a wonderful weekend!

Pastor Will

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Although I missed being with you for about two weeks, I am genuinely grateful for the time off. This break has left me feeling refreshed and recharged, and I am eager for the energy and excitement that the upcoming year holds.

This Sunday in worship (January 14), we are launching a new series with perhaps the longest title in sermon series history: "You Keep Using That Bible Verse. I Don’t Think It Means What You Think It Means." Inspired by the popular 1987 movie Princess Bride (don’t worry, I'll explain the reference at the beginning of my sermon), the series aims to dissect commonly misinterpreted Bible verses and delve into their proper context. My hope is that these messages will encourage us to read Scripture in its entirety, rather than extracting individual verses here and there. The verse we'll examine this Sunday is none other than Jeremiah 29:11. I invite you to join us for what is sure to be an inspiring morning.

I want to express my gratitude for your incredible generosity to Asbury throughout 2023. Our leadership team will provide a more complete picture in the next couple of weeks, but overall, 2023 turned out to be a great year, ensuring our church’s vitality into the future.

As I conclude this email, I want to share with you the Wesley Covenant Prayer. John Wesley adapted this prayer, and it profoundly influenced his theology and preaching. He expected the people called "Methodists" to pray this prayer at the beginning of each new year as a way of remembering and renewing their commitment to Jesus Christ. 

“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.”

Blessings,

Chris

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Hello Friends,

As I pen down these words, it's already 2024! New Year's had a different flavor for us this time around. Instead of the usual dining out and meeting up with friends, we opted for brinner, or breakfast for dinner, relishing some delicious pancakes my brother whipped up. We found an old ball drop on YouTube, ushered in the New Year with the kids at 8:45, and called it a night—an unexpectedly serene and pleasant evening.

Life has a way of evolving with the seasons, and I find myself embracing each stage with anticipation forwhat lies ahead. Whatever you did to welcome the New Year, I hope it broughtjoy and contentment to your celebration.

Regarding resolutions, I refrained from making any grand commitments this year. I see them more as personal challenges—a chance to improve in a few areas. My overarching goal, as I've heard it expressed, is to "wear Christ well." In everything I do, I aspire for the love of Christ to radiate through my life. This has been my hope in years past and will remain the same for 2024.

Looking ahead, the United Methodist Men are gathering this Saturday, the 6th, where I'll be sharing reflections on the past year and thoughts for 2024. If you're free, I'd be delighted if you could join us at 7:30 am in the Fellowship Hall. Bring a friend and a couple of bucks.

In our upcoming worship service this Sunday, we have a standalone message titled "Leading From the Front: The Baptism of Jesus." It delves into the significant event of Jesus' baptism. We'd love for you to be part of our Celebration/Contemporary Service at 9:30 am or the Traditional Service at 11:00 am. And, of course, you can catch the live stream if you can't make it in person.

I'm eagerly anticipating a fantastic 2024 together with all of you and wish you a wonderful weekend!

Thanks,

Pastor Will

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

A baby changes everything.

Amanda and I are excitedly preparing for the arrival of baby Levi in April. Our days are filled with doctor visits, furniture shopping, room rearrangements, and trying to keep up with the boundless energy of Hannah and Noah amidst all the preparations.

The announcement of another addition to our family has brought about significant changes in our lives, and we are putting our hearts into making sure we are fully ready for this wonderful new chapter. Indeed, a baby changes everything.

Reflecting on this transformative experience, I’m reminded of Mary and Joseph, who understood firsthand the profound change a baby brings. Their unique journey extends beyond personal transformation; their child didn’t just change their world but continues to effect change in the whole world, especially when we open our hearts and yield our lives to Him. 

In the spirit of the season, I invite you to join us for worship on Sunday, December 24. We will have one combined service at 10am in the sanctuary where Pastor Will will delve into the theological themes of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Following that, we have two Candlelight Christmas Eve services at 5 pm(contemporary/family) and 7:30pm(traditional), where we will explore A Charlie Brown Christmas and share in the communion. All Sunday services will be livestreamed and include nursery for little ones.

As we reflect on this special time, I leave you with the poignant lyrics of Faith Hill’s 2008 song, “A Baby Changes Everything.”

Blessings,

Chris

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Hi Friends,

A few weeks ago, during our celebration of the previous year's achievements, I highlighted the significant growth in our online ministries. In the year prior, we had 145 subscribers on our YouTube channel, and as of now, we are delighted to share that our community has grown to 445 subscribers. To provide context, in November, we celebrated reaching 382 subscribers, marking an impressive increase of 62 new subscribers in just a few weeks!

This growth is a tremendous positive for our online ministries, with some of our videos amassing up to 17,000 views – a remarkable feat! Particularly exciting is the surge in interest for our new sermon series, where videos that typically receive 10, maybe 20 views within a few weeks have already garnered over 100 views in just a few days.

In addition to the overall increase in online ministry usage, we believe this surge is also due to our intentional efforts, such as incorporating Christmas movie classics into our Advent sermon series. It's noteworthy that, for the first time at Asbury, more people live-streamed our services this past weekend than attended in person – a milestone worth celebrating and giving thanks for!

This development reflects broader trends in the church landscape, indicating that online church is a growing space. We've had visitors share how they first discovered our church and engaged with our services online before attending in person. We have other folks who mostly attend online but attend various events such as Coffee with the Pastor. Furthermore, many individuals who do not reside in our local area consider Asbury their church home.

We extend our gratitude to Hannah King and her team for ensuring that our online ministry is executed with excellence, providing a wonderful experience for our viewers. Further, it is a testament to the dedication of talented individuals who use their time and gifts for our in-person and online experience for the glory of God. A heartfelt thank you to all who contribute to making Asbury a truly wonderful place of worship!

As we continue through the Advent season, we want to remind you that this Sunday, the 17th, is March to the Manger. We've designated Central Florida Wesley as the ministry to support. The morning sermon will focus on the holiday classic, "It’s a Wonderful Life," during our third week of Advent focused on Joy. Later in the day, our Blue Christmas Service at 4:00 pm in the Traditional Sanctuary is designed for those finding the holiday season challenging due to loss, grief, or other reasons. We’ve also made the decision to make this service in-person only due to the sensitive and intimate nature of it.

On Christmas Eve, we will have one combined service at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary, followed by our 5:00 pm Family/Contemporary Service and our 7:30 pm Traditional Service, both concluding with communion and candlelight. All Christmas Eve services, morning and night, will be live-streamed, allowing you to join us virtually.

We hope to see as many of you as possible, in-person or online, in the coming weeks as we continue to celebrate this special season together!

Thanks for your continued support.

Warm regards,
Pastor Will

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Hi friends,

Last Sunday, I had the privilege of spending time with our amazing choir at Disney's Candlelight Processional. While I missed seeing their actual performance, their warm-up resonated throughout the rehearsal tent, showcasing their incredible talent. Also, I didn't meet John Stamos, which was a bummer, but that’s okay because the experience really highlighted our gratitude for Tamara's leadership and the entire choir team.

If you're available this Sunday, join us at 4pm in the

Sanctuary for the Christmas Cantata—a rendition of the Candlelight Processional featuring all your holiday favorites!

Reflecting on the ministries at Asbury, I ran into a former

youth member at Publix last week and found myself enthusiastically praising our church. We are genuinely blessed with diverse ministries and incredible individuals who contribute their time and talents to making Asbury a wonderful place! I couldn't resist boasting, particularly about our exceptional music ministries—the Bell Choirs, Traditional Choir, and Celebration Worship Team. It's evident that we are blessed with both talent and strong leadership. Praise God!

In other news, our community garden hosts a special session

on Garden Therapy this Saturday at 2pm. Next Wednesday, the 13th, is the Family Promise Christmas Party from 6-8pm, and on Sunday, the 17th, we'll hold the Blue Christmas Service at 4pm in the Sanctuary, providing reflection for those navigating grief during the holiday season. For details, contact the front office.

This Sunday in worship, Pastor Chris will explore the theological

themes in the Christmas Classic, Home Alone. Following the positive

response to last week's sermon on Miracle on 34th St, we anticipate another engaging discussion. This will be done at both our 9:30am

Celebration/Contemporary Service and our 11:00am Traditional Service.

Wishing you a blessed week, and I hope to see you at one of our services this weekend—either online or in person—to enjoy the gifts of our

various music ministries and warm community!

Thanks,

Will

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving with your loved ones, full of gratitude. As we move from Thanksgiving to Advent (the season leading into Christmas), I want to share a meaningful lesson from Acts 17.

In Acts 17, Paul faced a tough task in Athens, a city deeply rooted in idol worship. Even skilled speakers like Paul can struggle to connect with their audience, as seen in the initial resistance he encountered:

[Paul] also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?' Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods."

Acts 17:18 (NLT)

Despite this resistance, Paul recognized the importance of relating to people personally.

Paul adjusted his approach by finding common ground. A few verses later, he acknowledged the Athenians' religious practices, creating a connection before sharing the message of Jesus.

“Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along, I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: 'To an Unknown God.' This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.”

Acts 17:22-23 (NLT)

This story highlights the power of finding common ground and communicating in a way that resonates. As we approach Christmas, a time when stories matter, I'm excited to introduce our new preaching series, "Christmas at the Movies." This series will delve into how popular Christmas movies align with biblical truths, mirroring Paul's connection with the Athenians.

I am excited to explore this series together, starting with the first movie on the list, Miracle on 34th Street.

See you Sunday!

Blessings,

Chris

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Hi, friends!

Last Sunday was a remarkable testament to the power of God's presence in our lives. Seeing everyone gathered in one space, united in worship, was a truly inspiring sight. I hope you felt the same sense of unity and awe that I did.

I'd like to share again the Psalm I read before the Celebration of Ministries at Asbury: Psalm 150.

1 Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;

            praise him in his mighty heaven!

2 Praise him for his mighty works;

            praise his unequaled greatness!

3 Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;

            praise him with the lyre and harp!

4 Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;

            praise him with strings and flutes!

5 Praise him with a clash of cymbals;

            praise him with loud clanging cymbals.

6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

What I love about this Psalm is its unrestrained praise. It's as if the Psalmist was determined to exhaust every possible way to express gratitude to God. I can picture them saying, "What instruments do you have? A ram's horn? Fantastic! Bring it!" Or, "You don't have an instrument, but you can dance? Wonderful!" And perhaps my favorite verse, verse 5, which seems to say, "I appreciate your efforts with the cymbals, but I need you to give it your all—eleven out of ten!" You get the idea.

As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, I encourage us to focus on the things we have to celebrate. Yes, there will always be things to lament and grieve, and that's perfectly normal and healthy, so make sure to take the necessary time to do so. But let's not forget to celebrate as well. Let's celebrate all that God has done and all that God will continue to do in our lives. Amen? Amen!

We will be resuming our regular service times this Sunday, November 26th, with our 9:30am Contemporary/Celebration Service and our 11:00am Traditional Service. Since it's Christ the King Sunday, the message will be a stand-alone one focusing on that theme.

There's a lot happening in the coming weeks as we approach the Advent season, so be sure to check out the rest of this email for all the details!

 Have a blessed Thanksgiving, and we'll see you all on Sunday.

God Bless,

Will

Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

 This upcoming Sunday, November 19, marks Celebration-Commitment Sunday. We’ll hold a combined service at 10:45 am in the sanctuary, where we'll confirm students, celebrate the milestones of our ministry from the past year (and there are many!), and pledge ourselves to the kingdom work that God intends for our church in 2024. Remember to bring along your 2024 Commitment Card (if you intend to worship online, you can submit your card via our website) and a side dish for the potluck that follows.

As we prepare for this Sunday, I wanted to share the manuscript copy of last week's sermon on the significance of financial giving. While surrendering to Jesus involves more than our giving, it includes our giving. My hope and prayer are that God will use this message to lead all of us towards a new level of generosity, both for the remaining part of this year and into the next.

Blessings,

Chris

“Gifts”

Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:15

Asbury UMC

November 12, 2023

In his book The Walk, Pastor Adam Hamilton recounts a conversation he had during tax season with an accountant named Dan Hutchins. Dan was in the process of carefully preparing his clients’ taxes, and as he and Adam spoke, he made an interesting comment. He said, “You know, Adam, you can tell a lot about a person by their taxes. A tax return is a kind of ‘selfie.’” Intrigued, Adam asked, “What do you mean?”

Dan proceeded to pull up a tax return of one of our nation’s former vice presidents. The man had made the return available to the public via the internet, and it was dated just a few years before his bid for office. The return revealed an adjusted gross household income of $200,000, relatively high compared to most Americans. Digging deeper into the return, Dan found a very high mortgage interest deduction relative to the family’s income. “This tells me,” Dan said, “that this family was probably living on the very edge of what they could afford. I’m going to guess that I will also find a very low level of charitable contributions given that this family was spending so much money on their home.” Sure enough, he was right. The family gave $300 to charity that year—$300 from an income of $200,000. That’s about one-tenth of 1 percent.

From there, Dan explained that he and his associates had developed something called a “Tax Return Credit Score,” a tool that lenders can use to gauge a person’s ability to repay a loan. They found that in many cases, this tool is actually more reliable than a person’s FICO or credit score. The Tax Return Credit score looks at how much money you spend on mortgage interest compared to your income and how much you give to charity, with 90% of the score depending on charitable giving.

According to this tool, those who spend most of their money on their home and don’t give much to charity are at a higher risk of defaulting on their loan. However, those who are generous and charitable are likely living within their financial means and are considered more reliable at repaying a loan.

It’s fascinating that Dan was describing in the language of accounting and economics a lesson that Jesus taught a long time ago in the most famous sermon he ever preached, the Sermon on the Mount: what we do with our money matters. In fact, what we do with our money reveals the condition of our hearts. Here’s what Jesus said

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Matthew 6:21 (NLT)

Money is not directionless; it follows the state of our heart. It goes exactly where our heart tells it to go, prompting this important question:

What does your MOST RECENT tax return reveal about the state of your heart? How much of our money went to us last year versus how much went to others, particularly to our local church?

We’re in week 4 of a 5-part sermon series titled “A Community That Thrives.” Our aim in these messages is to better understand the membership vow that we take when we join Asbury, and not just Asbury but any United Methodist congregation. This vow includes supporting the church and faithfully participating in its ministries in five keys ways: through our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness.

Notice the vow doesn’t say, “Our prayers or our presence or our gifts or our service or our witness,” but “our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness.” Discipleship, which simply means following Jesus, is not à la carte. We don’t pick from one column like volunteering and then ignore another column like giving. Jesus doesn’t simply want some or even most of who we are and what we possess; he wants all of it. This includes what we are going to discuss this morning: money. Everybody’s favorite sermon topic—Amen? Isn’t that why you came to worship this morning—to hear a sermon on money?

Listen, I am not naïve. I understand sermons on money tend to be unpopular. After all, money is a sensitive issue. It stirs up a mix of negative emotions, especially as we continue to navigate a world where expenses are on the rise. But we need to understand it wasn’t exactly a walk in the park for people in biblical times. Some people back then were wealthy, but the majority of individuals had very little financial margin. Even so, when we read Jesus’ words in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), we discover that Jesus speaks about money and material possessions more than he speaks of worship, prayer, and Scripture study COMBINED.

Jesus makes clear that our relationship with money—whether we think we have a lot or a little—has spiritual implications. Money is a tool that can either suffocate, choke out our spiritual life or deepen and support it. The choice is ours! Are we investing our money in the things of God or are we investing our money in things that don’t hold a candle to eternity?

It’s no secret that in our world today, where the average American experiences 47 commercials a day, we are bombarded with messages all the time, urging us to buy stuff we don’t need. Open your phone, scroll through social media, watch TV, listen to the radio—you’ll experience ads pushing you to get this and buy that, promising that these things will make you happy.

In less than two weeks, our culture is going to be observing the retail frenzy known as Black Friday. Originally started in the 1960s to encourage retailers to end their financial year in the black instead of ending it in the red, over the decades Black Friday has soared in popularity. Technically Black Friday, which marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season, is supposed to begin the day after Thanksgiving. However, we all know many people flock to stores well before then, hoping to snatch up the best holiday deals.

I want to share with you some Black Friday shopping footage that was taken some years ago. Take a look!

"Did you catch what that newscaster said? Videos like that showing off chaos now seem as customary as the turkey dinner! Lord, help us! What have we become?"

I realize it’s highly unlikely that anyone at this church is going to the mall and taze somebody over a TV (at least I hope that doesn’t happen!). But if we’re honest, we have embraced our share of consumerism. We have participated in greedy forms of self-indulgence. We have forgotten these words of Jesus:

15 Then he [Jesus] said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. LIFE IS NOT MEASURED BY HOW MUCH YOU OWN.”

Luke 12:15 (NLT, emphasis added)

Despite Jesus’ message, it seems that many of us want to measure our life and well-being by how much we own—what kind of car we drive, what kind of house we live in, what sort of vacations we take, and how much money is in our bank account. We spend our money chasing after the latest gadget, the newest fad.

The antidote to resisting the lies of our consumer-driven world and embracing life as God intended is multifaceted. First, it involves gratitude and contentment for the things we have, which may not seem like much to us, but—you know what?—they’re far more than what many people have. Plenty of people don’t have access to adequate transportation; many of us do. Plenty of people don’t have a home; many of us do. Plenty of people don’t know where their next meal is going to come from; many of us have the luxury of not worrying about that.

In addition to gratitude and contentment, the other essential piece is generosity. Generosity realigns our perspective. Generosity reminds us that the world is so much bigger than us. Generosity compels us to look beyond ourselves and focus on others, thereby fulfilling what Jesus identified as the Great Commandment, love God and love our neighbor.

It goes without saying that there are many ways to practice generosity. However, a CRUCIAL WAY we as Christians do this is by expressing generosity to our local church, recognizing that when we do so, the work of Jesus goes forward in the world.

I so wish you could see what I see as the pastor, because every day I see Jesus using this church to reach people, change lives, and accomplish his mission. I want to share with you a message somebody wrote me after receiving Holy Communion at one of our worship services.

I hope your afternoon is going well. I wanted to tell you…that I have not taken part in communion for a long time because I did not feel I was worthy or in the right place in my faith. I realized this morning [after the message] it’s not about me being perfect before I partake; it’s about remembering what Jesus did for me…Coming to Asbury...has been eye opening and makes me think about my own faith and what I believe and have been taught all my life.

Somebody experienced God’s unconditional love at the table through the ministry of this church. Can we praise God for that? There are countless stories like this!

When we give, it’s not to keep the lights on; it’s to invest in Jesus’ ongoing work. However, it seems that many Christians hesitate to give to this work—or if they give, they give very little. It reminds me of a story about a man who came to church with his family. On the drive home, the man kept complaining about the service. “The music was too loud. The sermon was too long. The announcements were unclear. The people were unfriendly. The building was hot.” Finally, his son said, “Dad, you have to admit it wasn’t too bad of a show for that dollar you gave.”

We laugh but that story reveals the common approach people have toward giving.

I read a report this week that surprised me. Maybe it’ll surprise you, too! The report revealed that in a typical year 80% of church contributors (this is all church contributors) give so irregularly/infrequently that their combined donations make up 20% of total contributions. In contrast, 20% of donors account for the other 80% of total contributions (source: nucleus.church/blog/church-giving-statistics/).

That disparity is huge! 20% of contributors account for 80% of contributions. Now some people might challenge this information and say, “I bet those 20% of contributors are wealthy people.” Some of them might be but the majority are not. I promise there are wealthy people in this 80% category and people with relatively modest incomes in this 20% category. This isn’t really about the money; it’s about priorities. Oh, that all of us would make giving to the church a priority!

Churches are not businesses; they’re nonprofit organizations that rise or fall on the contributions of those who are members and attendees.

If we want our church to thrive, do well, and continue to accomplish great ministry, then collectively we need to step up and practice generosity. Not giving our church the bare minimum, not giving the leftovers in our budget once we’ve paid all our bills (too many Christians do that), but giving in a way that’s consistent, planned, intentional and sacrificial; that demonstrates on the tax return we’re going to submit next year that Jesus is indeed the Lord of our finances.

As Amanda and I have leaned into this by God’s grace (and I share this for no other reason than to be transparent) this means following the biblical precept of tithing, giving 10% of our combined (because she and I both work; God has given us both jobs) annual income to the church. Tithing is a value that was instilled in me from an early age.

One Saturday when I was 12, my mom, brother and I were on our way to a bagel shop for breakfast. As we were walking, we went past a restaurant that was closed. I looked at the ground where I noticed a thick envelope. Curiosity got the best of me, so I picked up the envelope and opened it up. I found a substantial amount of money inside, around $4500. The money was the restaurant’s earnings from the previous night. The manager had gone to deposit the money at the bank when he accidentally dropped the envelope on the ground. I showed my mom the money. Even though the restaurant was closed, we managed to go inside and give the money to the manager, who thanked us.

A few weeks later, the owner of the restaurant contacted us. He said, “I want to express my gratitude for turning that money in.” He stopped by our house and personally delivered a $300 gift certificate to Sports Authority. I was 12 years old with $300 to Sports Authority; I was so excited! I immediately began to think of all the things I was going to buy with that gift certificate like a sports watch and new shoes. That’s when my mom said to me, “Christopher, God owns that gift certificate; you are simply the manager. At least 10% of that needs to go to the church.” How on earth do you tithe off a gift certificate?! Under my mom’s direction, I purchased socks and underwear and donated those items to our church’s clothing ministry.

Thank God for my late mother who not only took me to church (including on occasions when I didn’t want to go), but who taught me that everything I have belongs to God and that I am to tithe off what the Lord has given me.

Tithing might seem intimidating, but it’s actually straightforward once you begin. You discover new levels of God’s provision. I have never heard a tithing Christian say, “I haven’t had enough.” Did they have to adjust things in their budget? Yes. Maybe they had to go out to eat a little bit less and/or get one car instead of another. However, all their needs were met. If you don’t believe me, test me on this! Try tithing for a few months. See that God, who holds the whole universe in his hands, doesn’t handle all your needs.

That said, I understand not everyone is in a position where they feel they’re ready to tithe. If that’s where you are this morning, here’s what I would invite you to do: start with a smaller amount and then allow God to GROW your giving from there. Resist the temptation many people have to give the same amount each year because it feels comfortable and familiar. Remember, faith involves letting go of our comfort and journeying with God into the unfamiliar.

As we close out this message, I want to share some information with you. [You can find a graphic about giving at the bottom.]

Last year in 2022, 238 households gave to Asbury United Methodist Church, totaling just over $853,000 in giving. Praise God for this generosity! Now, of these 238 households, 50 of them (or 21%) gave $500 or less. 80 of them (or 33-34%) gave $1,000 or less. Then, from there, you can see the rest of the numbers. I don’t know everybody’s individual financial situation, but I share this information to humbly suggest that there is likely room for many of us to grow in our giving.

When we collectively grow in our giving, a huge impact is felt. For example, if every one of these 238 households increased their giving by $20 a week, $1,000 a year, that would amount to $238,000! Or if every one of these households increased their giving by half that amount, $10 a week or $500 a year, that would amount to $119,000. If we had $119,000, we wouldn’t have a deficit right now. That would alleviate stress and free us to focus on reaching more people with the good news of Jesus.

All of us are in a different place financially, with varying levels of income. God doesn’t expect the same amount from each of us, but God does ask for the same heart and a similar level of commitment.

It reminds me of the pig and the chicken that were walking down the road. Suddenly, the chicken turned to the pig and said, “I was thinking we should open a restaurant!” The pig replied, “Hm, maybe, what would we call it?” The chicken responded, “How about ‘Ham-n-Eggs’?” The pig thought for a moment and said, “No thanks. For you, it’s just a donation; for me, it’s a total commitment!”

God doesn’t simply want our donations; he wants our heart, our commitment.

I began this sermon by asking what your most recent tax return reveals about the condition of your heart. That tax year is over, but this year’s is not. What is that return going to say? What are future returns going to reveal?

Resist the lies of our consumer-driven world. Practice gratitude, contentment, and generosity. Align your finances, and thus your heart, with the kingdom-work God is accomplishing in our midst here at Asbury.

Rev. Chris Jones Pastor

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Hi friends,

Last week, we had our final meeting with our confirmation students before they are confirmed in a few weeks. We planned to speak about the sacraments, baptism and Holy Communion, and also to partake in Holy Communion at the end of our class. I was inspired by the students' curiosity about communion. It was fun to answer their questions and explain the theological significance of different parts of the sacrament. For example, I mentioned that the bread we receive is given to us, not taken, which is analogous to God's grace for us. I also explained that the unleavened bread we use is the same kind of bread that Jesus would have used at his last meal with his disciples.

While we know a lot about the theology of communion, there are also some things we don't fully understand. The word "sacrament" comes from the Latin word "sacramentum," meaning "sacred oath" or "mystery." As C.S. Lewis said about the Last Supper, "The command, after all, was Take, eat: not Take, understand." It's okay that we don't fully comprehend everything that happens during communion, but we still participate trusting that God is at work.

As we approach the Advent season, we have a few things happening before then. This Sunday, November 12th, we will be honoring our veterans. Please wear your uniform if you served so we can honor you! We will also continue our series "A Community That Thrives" and talk about gifts and the ways we give of ourselves financially to help the church community. Please join us if possible!

Finally, on Celebration and Commitment Sunday, November 19, we will look back on all the ways God has moved through Asbury and commit ourselves to the upcoming year. This will be one combined service at 10:45 am in the Sanctuary, followed by a potluck in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share.

As always, it's shaping up to be a fantastic end of the year. I look forward to ending 2023 well with you all!

Thanks and God bless,

Will

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Hello friends,

We trust you're enjoying the new sermon series, "A Community That Thrives," exploring how we contribute to our church's growth and wellbeing. This week, we're adjusting the schedule to discuss service, aligning with All Saints Sunday to honor those who've paved the way and gone to glory. I know this is particularly meaningful to those who have lost loved ones, especially for those who have passed more recently. I remember the first All Saints Sunday after my father had passed. I didn’t expect the rush of emotions to come over me when his name was spoken. It was a very complex feeling to fully describe but I do remember it being a mix of grief but also of great joy. Join us for a special celebration in both services.

We’ll also celebrate Holy Communion since it is the first Sunday of the month. Sunday holds particular significance for me as we delve into the sacraments with the confirmation students and then participate in communion at the Traditional Service.

Last Friday our Fall Festival was a huge success. We certainly want to give thanks to Laura Molloy and her team and also all those who contributed to its success. This Saturday at 9:30 am, let's come together for a church workday to spruce up our campus as we head into Advent. The United Methodist Men will meet for breakfast beforehand at 7:30 am and also provide lunch afterward. Next Sunday, November 12th, we'll honor our Veterans in our services, so if you served, wear your uniform proudly so we can celebrate you!

We wish you a wonderful weekend, and we hope to see you on Saturday or Sunday, or both!

God Bless,

Will

Weekly Update// Pastor Will

Hello friends,

We trust you're enjoying the new sermon series, "A Community That Thrives," exploring how we contribute to our church's growth and wellbeing. This week, we're adjusting the schedule to discuss service, aligning with All Saints Sunday to honor those who've paved the way and gone to glory. I know this is particularly meaningful to those who have lost loved ones, especially for those who have passed more recently. I remember the first All Saints Sunday after my father had passed. I didn’t expect the rush of emotions to come over me when his name was spoken. It was a very complex feeling to fully describe but I do remember it being a mix of grief but also of great joy. Join us for a special celebration in both services.

We’ll also celebrate Holy Communion since it is the first Sunday of the month. Sunday holds particular significance for me as we delve into the sacraments with the confirmation students and then participate in communion at the Traditional Service.

Last Friday our Fall Festival was a huge success. We certainly want to give thanks to Laura Molloy and her team and also all those who contributed to its success. This Saturday at 9:30 am, let's come together for a church workday to spruce up our campus as we head into Advent. The United Methodist Men will meet for breakfast beforehand at 7:30 am and also provide lunch afterward. Next Sunday, November 12th, we'll honor our Veterans in our services, so if you served, wear your uniform proudly so we can celebrate you!

We wish you a wonderful weekend, and we hope to see you on Saturday or Sunday, or both!

God Bless,

Will