August 5

 

What a joy it is to welcome back Rev. Claire Marich to the Asbury pulpit. Claire served as Asbury's associate minister and retired at the end of 2022. Claire and her husband, John, have added so much to our faith community. I'm especially thankful that Claire was on staff during the pandemic. Since we had to learn to do ministry differently, it was a particularly stressful time for our staff. Claire was invaluable in helping us take precautions in order to keep our congregation safe. She helped us create meaningful worship services. She was very supportive in helping with our children and youth ministries. She and Candace helped us stay connected to our church family through amazing porch visits. Claire deftly kept us in touch with justice issues within our community, especially with JUST (Justice Unites Savannah Together) and with our work against gun violence. And then there's the Stephen Ministry she helped develop that continues to be an important ministry at Asbury. 

We have tried to give her a little break from us since her retirement, but we're mighty glad that she's back in action now and will be bringing us Sunday's message!

We usually have our BIG Coffee Hour after the worship service on the first Sunday of the month. However, since we will be celebrating Virginia Holliday's life on the 20th, we have moved the BIG Coffee Hour to that Sunday.

Director of Music, Ray Ellis, has just started choir rehearsals after the choir took a break in July. He'd love to have you join them. Rehearsals are on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. They are working on music for our worship services and our God On Broadway Services. The first time they will be singing in our services will be on the 20th.

The doors at Asbury and Wesley Oak are always wide open for anyone looking for a church home and a church family. Our next New Member Classes will be in October. If you are interested in learning more about church membership and the classes, please contact Candace Jenkins at the church office or contact me at bghester3@comcast.net.

Be sure to check out the August Newsletter which happens to have the world's best cover! The newsletter has wonderful pictures of Virginia Holliday, of Mary Pulwarty, and of the Mission Trip that our youth went on this summer! The newsletter is packed with information about a presentation of a documentary about the Methodist split that features our August Alderman. The newsletter has promos about our School Supply Drive and upcoming Blood Drive. It has information about our study groups, fellowship groups, and support groups. It has Richard Allen's monthly Stewardship article. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!

The Newsletter also includes the newsletter from our Wesley Oak campus, Did you know that we have a food pantry at Wesley Oak? 

Be sure to peruse the August Newsletter. You can find it on our website. 

I noticed that in the newsletter, there is an article about free vision screenings that are being offered this month. Today I spoke at a fundraiser for the Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision. Asbury member, Roy Hill, is the president of the SCBLV board. If you are not familiar with SCBLV I encourage you to learn about it by going on their website. The Center does an amazing job at helping people with vision issues to develop skills and learn how to live more independently. It's not only for people who are totally blind, but also for people with any vision issues. It's the only resource like it in our area. I believe the next closest one is in Atlanta. We (our church) made a donation to this great organization today. If you or a family member could benefit from its services, please take advantage of it. They help people with vision issues learn how to do amazing things!

Love & Blessings,
Billy