March 19 (Life After Seeing)

I hope Irish eyes are smiling on you today!

They'll be smiling on you for sure on Sunday as we continue celebrating the Irish heritage by singing St. Patrick's Breastplate as our opening hymn. We'll also be offering a prayer from the Celtic tradition called The Prayer of Six Directions 

Speaking of Irish eyes, our sermon series, Lenten Conversations, has us looking at the story of Jesus healing a man who was blind from birth. We'll also be looking at a conversation that the Pharisees had with the man after he was healed. This is the story that has Jesus putting mud on the man's eyes and telling him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. It's the story that gives us, "I once was blind, but now I see." You would think that everyone would be happy for this man, but as we will see, the healing brings controversy and makes life a bit more complicated for the man. The text is John 9:1-41, and my sermon title is, "Life after Seeing." We'll be concluding the service by singing Amazing Grace to the tune of The House of the Rising Sun which has become a church favorite. 

I want to remind folks who are not able to worship with us in person that online viewers have the opportunity to chat with each other every Sunday morning before the worship service. About 10 to 20 people do this each Sunday, and they would love for you to join them. They usually start about 11:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings, but due to technology issues, it can start a little later. So if no one is there right at 11:00, hang in there. They are on their way! 

We are hoping to build more support and community opportunities for those who are online. The group will be talking about setting up a time to have a Zoom gathering so they can have more time to connect with each another. If you are interested in being involved or if you have questions about our Online Campus, email Terry Harman at tj02usa@hotmail.com. 

Holy Week will be here soon...it starts on April 2nd. I know of no better book about the life of Jesus from Palm Sunday to his crucifixion than The Last Week by John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg. If you want to enhance your experience of Holy Week, I encourage you to get a copy of this book and read it. You can it in paperback or on Amazon Kindle for $10 or $11. It is well worth it. 

Our season of Lent has been enhanced by the opportunity to gather as a church family for food and fellowship on Wednesday nights. Join us for our Wednesday Night Supper starting at 5:30 pm. Please see our website and our newsletter for details about menus and how to register.

Then stay for the most renewing and fulfilling thirty minutes of your life as we experience the breath of God through our Taizé Service at 6:30 pm. This special time of silence, scripture, music, and visual setting is renewing and transforming.

I want to give you a brief financial update. We develop our annual operating budget based upon ministry goals for the year, our projected giving, and the economic outlook. Every Sunday on the back of the bulletin, we report how we are doing with our budget and giving. This Sunday, for instance, you will see on the back of the bulletin that our year-to-date budget need to this point is $155,692. You will also see that the year-to-date of funds received is $128, 843. So we are $26,849 behind our operating budget need. Since we are bouncing back from a pandemic, this shortfall is not unexpected. We knew it would be challenging. That's why we cut $50,000 out of last year's budget.

I feel confident that by the end of the year, we'll be doing much better. More and more people are starting to attend church. Plus, our Online participants are growing, and we'll be getting more support from them as we continue to develop our Online Campus.

But I want to share this information with you as a reminder that it is your gifts that support the ministry of the church. We are grateful for you and your generosity. If you are interested in setting up an account to ensure regular giving, even when you are out of town or can't attend church, Randy Canady (church administrator) and/or Claudette DeLong (financial secretary) would be glad to help you. You can call the church office at (912)233-4351 or email them at 

racanady@asburymemorial.org or cdelong@asburymemorial.org.

May God bless us in our giving.

March is designated as Women's History Month, and I'd like to share a little something about an amazing woman who played an important role in the history of Asbury Memorial and Wesley Oak. Nell Hagins was born in 1924, almost 100 years ago. Before I met Nell in 1993, she had been employed by Nabisco and by Georgia Industrial Supply. She was a member of the Boiler Maker's Union and the American Businesswomen's Association. Her greatest passions, however, were her family and her church. Nell practically lived at the church and became known as "Miss Asbury." She was president of the United Methodist Women, a member of the Church Council and the Busy Bees and was head honcho of the church kitchen. Nell was the first person to volunteer in the nursery to watch the babies and the last person to leave the church after a funeral. She loved and gave to people from cradle to tomb.

I remember one occasion — the ONLY occasion — Nell was not present for a church member's funeral. Since she was not present, I knew that she must had not been feeling well. And indeed, word got back to me that Nell was very sick. After the funeral, I followed the hearse to the cemetery for the internment ceremony. We arrived, and as I got out of my car, I looked over and saw Nell sitting in her car. She couldn't stay away - she had to be there to offer her support.

Whenever I visited Nell, she would say, “I love Asbury with all my heart.” Even in her last days, when she was so weak & tired at the nursing home, she would say, “With all my heart…. all my heart… all my heart.”

Since I served both Asbury and Wesley Oak for eight years, Nell was also well connected to the members of Wesley Oak — especially to Shirley Johnson Irvine, who was also the president of the United Methodist Women. Nell loved Rev. Lynn Drake, and she had a sister who was a longtime residence of Thunderbolt. So Nell was a big supporter of Wesley Oak too.

It is because of the faith, hard work, and leadership of Nell and other Elderberries that we are able to worship God on the corner of Henry Street and Waters Avenue... and on the corner of Victory Drive and Mechanics Avenue. Not bad for someone who only had a 9th grade education and got married at age 15. 

"Way to go, Nell! Thank you!!"

As you enter the doors of the sanctuary this Sunday, let us give thanks for Nell Hagins and the small, but strong-willed group of Elderberries who kept the faith so that we can continue to be part of this wonderful ministry.

Slán!

Love,
Billy