Last Sunday we began a series called, Lenten Conversations. The biblical texts for our Sunday services throughout Lent consist of conversations people had with Jesus. The conversation we'll be looking at this Sunday is one Jesus had with a Jewish leader and Pharisee named Nicodemus. The passage includes one of the most known verses in the Bible. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most misinterpreted verses in the Bible and has been used to divide families and nations. Ironically, the theme of the verse is "Love." That's why my sermon title this week is, "Why Weren't We Told?" 

Since the misinterpretation of this text is responsible for much of the division, tribalism, and even deaths in the world, this is an extremely important message for people to hear and share with others. I encourage you to invite family, friends, and neighbors to join you in church this Sunday. Encourage them to be on the Lenten journey. The choir will be blessing us with an incredible anthem titled, "O Love". And August Alderman will be leading us in prayer. August is a member of the church who is a student at Chicago Theological Seminary. August preaches at our Wesley Oak Campus about once a month. 

Holy Communion will be celebrated this Sunday. I hope those of you who will be worshipping with us online will participate with us. All you need in order to join us for Communion is juice or water and bread or crackers. Let me also remind you that it's also a good idea to print up the bulletin. The Sunday bulletin is always included in the "This Week at Asbury" email that is sent out each week.

Confirmation Classes for youth in the 6th grade and above start this Sunday. Youth will be meeting with Rev. Lynn Drake, Chris Kincade, Beth Tyson, and me once a week until the youth are confirmed on April 16th, the Sunday after Easter. Besides our weekly class, the confirmation experience will also include a day trip to Epworth By the Sea on St. Simon's Island. 

Hopefully all of the youth who are of confirmation age have been contacted. However, if there is someone we missed or we don't know about who would like to participate, please call or email Chris Kincade at ckincade@asburymemorial.org or Beth Tyson at btyson@vniconnects.com.

We are excited about having this opportunity to be with our youth. Please be praying for our youth and adults during this confirmation experience.

It is difficult to explain the peace and renewal that is experienced from these 30-minute services on Wednesday nights during Lent. The silence, the prayers, the music, the chants, the visuals....all come together in such a way that we experience the Mystery and Wonder of God. 

I want to give a special thank you to Randy Canady who works very hard at creating the visuals and altar area for these special services.

Come join us on Wednesday nights and experience the breath of God.

Before the Taizé Services on Wednesday, come and have supper with your church family. We hope that folks from both the Asbury Campus and the Wesley Oak Campus will come and commune together. Please see our website and our newsletter for details. We want to be sure to have enough food and place settings for everyone, so please make a reservation by contacting the church office.

The March Newsletter is now out. Chris Kincade has done another great artistic job of informing us and celebrating our ministries. And we thank photographer John Mason for many of the pictures in the newsletter.

Starting this month, Rev. Richard Allen, who is a member of our Stewardship Committee, will be writing an article for our monthly newsletter. Be sure to check out his wonderful story and revelation through his experience with his friend David.

I, of course, am glad that our newsletter informs us about our programs, events, and ministries. But I'm also glad that it helps us celebrate them after they happen.

For instance, be sure to check out the pictures from the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and the pictures from the Renewal of Vows Ceremony.

Best of all, check out the pictures of the folks in our last New Member Class. Work on studying those names and faces. Welcome Bo, Pat, Mark, Ed, Virginia, Tim, Karen, Hank, Jan, and Curtis. We're sure are glad to have you as part of the Asbury/Wesley Oak family! 

Blessings to everyone as we approach the second Sunday in Lent.

Hope you can join us as we listen in on the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus. It is an amazing conversation. "Why weren't we told?"

Love,  Billy