November 7, 2021

There will be a lot of wonderful things happening at the worship service this Sunday. Before I tell you about them, let me remind you that Daylight Saving Time is this weekend. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour and enjoy an extra hour of sleep Saturday night before worship Sunday morning! Also, we will not be having Holy Communion this week as we normally do on the first Sunday of the month. Instead, we will be having Communion on our Celebration-Commitment Sunday on November 21st. 

One of the special things we’ll be doing this Sunday is remembering and giving thanks for our Loved Ones who have gone to eternity. We will especially be remembering our church family members who have died since last November. They are Birdie Anderson, Lance Braden, Mike Dayoub, Jesse Follett, Betty Haldeman, Bob Haldeman, Kelly Hall, Geoff Harrison, Sanford Jones, L.A. Lanier, Kathryn Osborne, Caroline Smith, and Bobby Soletto. We encourage you to bring flowers to place in memory of these Loved Ones when their names are read. You will also have the opportunity to bring flowers to the altar in memory of other Loved Ones who have passed. 

This Sunday is also the first of three Sundays in which members have the opportunity to bring their 2022 Pledge Card to the church and have it dedicated. We realized that if we only have one Sunday to bring our pledges forward, not everyone will have the opportunity to participate. So this year we’ll have three opportunities (Nov. 7, 14, & 21). After you place your pledge in the basket at the front of the sanctuary, you will have the opportunity to pray at the altar. Praying at our sanctuary altar is something we have sorely missed. We are glad that it is now back.

Starting this Sunday, a pumpkin will be in the narthex prior to the worship service and in the courtyard after the service. Using a Sharpie that the church will provide, 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. We’ll be placing the pumpkin on the altar on our Celebration-Thanksgiving Sunday on November 21st. 

One word that I hope will be on our Thanksgiving Pumpkin is the word “Teachers.” Where would we be without those who have taught and educated us? Besides being our All Saints’ Sunday and one of our Pledge Sundays, November 7th is Retired Educators’ Day in Georgia. There are more than 135,000 retired educators in the state of Georgia. Just think how many students have benefitted from these individuals. I look forward to recognizing our teachers and educators during Sunday’s service. 

The Rock and Roll Marathon is tomorrow morning, and I want to thank some of our Asburians for being there to assist the runners as they pass by Asbury Memorial on Henry Street. This Sunday I will be telling you about my most memorable marathon. No, it’s not a marathon I was in. It was one I witnessed. It has a whole lot to do with All Saints’ Day and with us finishing our course in faith as we journey to eternity.

Lastly I want to remind you that the Memorial Service for longtime Asbury member, Caroline Smith, will be Saturday (tomorrow) at Asbury Memorial at 3:00 pm. We look forward to celebrating her life. Please continue to keep Caroline’s family in your prayers.

Also, on behalf of our church family, I offer condolences to Richard and Laura Armitage in the loss of their dear friend, Colin Powell, who passed on October 18 Richard had the opportunity to speak at General Powell’s Memorial Service today at the Washington National Cathedral. We give thanks for all the many ways that General Powell served and blessed our country. And we ask God’s blessings upon the Armitages and their travels.

I told you that A LOT is happening this Sunday...

Wow!!!

Things are improving. We’re making our way back!!

Hope to see you on the corner of Henry Street and Waters Avenue!!!

In Christ’s love,
Billy