November 21, 2021

I have just returned from a day trip to Brunswick with the Savannah Alliance of Pastors. We were among several hundred ministers and church leaders meeting at the Brunswick Courthouse to pray for those involved in the Arbery case, for the families, for justice, and for peace. I encourage you to pray for this situation and for the violence and prejudices that permeate our nation. 

I also hope that you will take action and seek ways to bring God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. 

This Sunday is one of my favorite Sundays of the year. l love how the altar in the sanctuary is decorated on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. It is always covered with foods from the harvest, reminding us of God's power and goodness. This Sunday also concludes our Stewardship season. People will have one last opportunity to bring their 2022 Pledge to the altar. These pledges are very important as they help determine the church budget: programs, ministries, and staff for the future. We thank you for your gifts and for your commitment. We celebrate what God has done for us, and we celebrate what these pledges will allow us to do for God. 

Since it is Celebration Sunday, we will be celebrating the Lord's Supper together. I encourage those of you who will be worshipping with us online to have Communion elements with you so you can participate with us. All you need is bread or crackers and juice or water.

I am happy to announce that Rev. Claire Marich will be worshipping with us on Sunday. Claire has been on a Leave of Absence to assist her husband, John, as he underwent cancer treatments at M.D. Anderson in Texas. We are so glad that John has completed his treatments and that the Marichs are back in Savannah. Let us all continue to pray for John and Claire.

Starting this Sunday, we will have coffee and hot chocolate in the courtyard (weather permitting) after the service. I am excited about this new way that we can connect and spend time together. We hope you will stay and fellowship as we sip our warm beverages together.

For the last two Sundays, everyone at church has been invited to write a word of gratitude on a pumpkin. There will be a third and final pumpkin in the narthex this Sunday. Prior to the service, you are invited to write one word of gratitude on the pumpkin. What is something that you are thankful for and gives you a grateful heart? Share it on the pumpkin. During the choir's introit at the start of the service, all three pumpkins filled with our words of gratitude will be brought to the altar. 

There will be a Saturday Drive Through tomorrow from 10:00-12:00 for those who need to pick up pecans and/or honey. If there is any honey and pecans left over, they will be sold after the worship service on Sunday. Thank you, everyone, for your help preparing and purchasing pecans and honey. It has been a wonderful success!

Best-selling author, activist, and speaker, Shane Claiborne, will be preaching at the 11:15 service on December 5th. Shane will also be leading a workshop that afternoon at 2:30. I hope you can be present for both events. I also hope you will tell many, many, MANY others about this unique opportunity to hear Shane. 

If you are not familiar with Shane, here he is on YouTube:

Besides being Celebration Sunday, Commitment Sunday, Communion Sunday, & Thanksgiving Sunday, did you know this is also the last Sunday in the Christian year? The following Sunday, November 28th, is the first Sunday of Advent and the start of the new liturgical year. So this Sunday is the last of the Christian year and we have a lot to celebrate on Sunday. J.J. Collins and the choir will be singing the wonderful song from the musical Godspell, All Good Gifts. My sermon for Sunday is titled, Ending With a Thankful Heart, and the texts are Joel 2:21-27 and Psalm 126. 

It's going to be another great Sunday at Asbury!

I hope to see you on the corner of Henry and Waters Avenue.

In Christ’s love,
Billy