November 28, 2021

I hope you had an excellent Thanksgiving!

Thanks again to Asbury's Youth for this year's Food Drive and to all of you who supplied canned goods and nonperishables to help those in need. It was a tremendous response of giving! 

And thank you also to those who helped with our Pecans and Honey this year. You are a blessing to this unique ministry we have at Asbury.

This Sunday is the start of the season of Advent and the start of a new Christian year. You wouldn't know it by what we see in stores, but Christmas is not yet here. The season of Advent is the four weeks before Christmas and is designed to prepare our hearts and minds in such a way that makes Christmas more meaningful for us. So jump on the Advent Train with us this Sunday as we journey to Christmas.

Last Sunday, we had coffee and hot chocolate in the courtyard and it was wonderful! We'll do the same this Sunday (weather permitting). We hope you will stay and fellowship with us as we sip our warm beverages together.

Best-selling author, activist, and speaker, Shane Claiborne, will be preaching at the 11:15 service next Sunday, 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:

I am happy to announce that next Sunday, December 5th, we will be starting our programs back for children during our worship time. Our nursery will be available for infants and toddlers, and we'll also have our Children's Church program for elementary age children. People working with our children will be vaccinated and will wear masks. Children older than two years old are also to wear a mask. If you have any questions, call the church office or contact Ellie Covington.

Since we are in the holiday season with Thanksgiving gatherings, office parties, and Christmas events, let us keep in mind our need to keep people healthy and safe. With the colder weather and being inside more, Covid cases are expected to be on the rise...and already are in some parts of the country. The single most important thing we can do to avoid being hospitalized from Covid is to be vaccinated. I want to encourage you, once again, if you have not been vaccinated and you don't have a health condition that prevents you from being vaccinated, to take the step and become vaccinated, including getting the booster.

Let us not let our guards down during this new time of year with the weather changing and more indoor events. I know that touching - hugging and handshakes - are an important part of our ministry at Asbury. It was an important part of Jesus' ministry. And we know that many people are starving to be touched. But during this critical time, we need to keep everyone safe. Please be respectful of people's health and personal space. Before hugging someone or even offering a handshake, please ask them, "May I?" There are lots of reasons someone may prefer not to have physical contact. Perhaps they suddenly don't feel well. Perhaps they have a weakened immune system. Perhaps they are not vaccinated. Perhaps they have a family member at home who is sick. Perhaps they are having a tough day and need some personal space. And there are people who simply prefer not to be touched.

We are all different...with different perspectives and preferences.

I have been hugging people after church for almost 30 years. However, during the pandemic, it's been important for me to keep a distance from people. Due to the vaccine, I am in a little different place. I am willing to offer hugs and handshakes again, if requested. If you are vaccinated and you come through the line to see me after the service, please let me know if you would like to receive a hug or a handshake. Otherwise, I will keep my distance. Likewise, please be in communication with others before offering to touch. Remember, there are a variety of reasons why someone may not desire to be touched.

Thank you to each of you who made your financial pledge to God for the ministry of the church for the coming year. I am, and as a church we are, so grateful for each of you who has returned your pledge card. If you weren't able to pledge this month, and you consider Asbury your church home, you can still do it by bringing it to the church on Sunday, by mailing it in, or by calling Claudette at the church office.

I want to thank Michael Dayoub (Stewardship Chair) and Cynthia Harold (Finance Chair) and their committee members for their leadership during the Stewardship Season. Thanks, too, to the Asbury members who bravely shared with us their stories of thanksgiving during our worship services. You touched us mightily!

For many people, this time of year is very difficult. It's hard to feel "merry and bright" when you have experienced loss and are facing personal challenges. We are your church family, and we want to care for and support you. Reach out to us and let us know how we can help. Perhaps we will have some ideas ourselves about how we can help. Please feel free to reach out to me, Rev. Claire Marich, or our lay leader, Preston Hodges. You can also reach out to our Congregational Care Team that is headed up by Candace Jenkins, Carol Klein, and Rhonda Reed. We are blessed to have so many caring people at Asbury. 

One of the best things we can do to help us gain strength and faith during tough times is to attend Asbury's worship services. We're going to have another good one this Sunday. Please join us on the first Sunday of Advent...the first Sunday of the Christian year...on the corner of Henry and Waters Avenue. And if you can't join us in person, tune in to us on the internet or on television.

God's Spirit will be tuning in to all of us!

In Christ’s love,
Billy