October 29, 2022 - Billy's Weekly Message

 

Three years ago, Mimi Numer gave birth to beautiful twin babies. The infants were about to be baptized, but then the pandemic happened, so we had to postpone the baptism. Finally, the day has arrived. The twins will be baptized this Sunday, October 30th, on their 3rd birthday! About a month ago, I apologized to Mimi saying, "I'm sorry, but the baptism will be during a God on Broadway Service. We'll be using To Kill a Mockingbird that Sunday." In her gracious way, Mimi said, "It's okay. We're just glad we can be back in church." 

On Wednesday I emailed our office manager, Claudette DeLong, to ask her for the full names of the twins so I could put their names in the Sunday bulletin. Claudette sent me the following: "Birdie and Win are the names they go by. Their full names are Ellenmarie Birdsong Numer and Warren Paul Thomas Numer." 

I couldn't believe it. Some of the most famous lines in To Kill a Mockingbird are: 

What are the chances that a child named "Birdsong" would be baptized this Sunday? In fact, I've never baptized any child named Birdsong. In fact, I don't know anyone else named Birdsong. I emailed Mimi right away to share this wow moment. She said, "I hadn't even put this together! It's meant to be!"

Through pandemics and other challenges, we sometimes have moments when we feel like God is far away. We are thankful for these serendipitous experiences that remind us that we are not alone — that God is with us. I hope you can be at Asbury on Sunday to help Mimi, her husband, Spencer, and their family celebrate the baptisms of Birdie and Win...our special songbirds!

Don't forget that today we have two big church events:

We'll have a booth at the PRIDE Festival. Hope you will come to the festival and drop by the booth to say, "hello." Then later at 4:00 pm, we'll have our annual TRUNK OR TREAT at the Wesley Oak campus. Come on by for the festivities. We'll end at 6:00 pm. 

Last Sunday during the worship service, the West family touched us deeply by telling us what Asbury means to them. Cory, Temperance, Lila, Collis, and Grayson are such a blessing to us. They live in Ludowici, Georgia, and drive over an hour to worship on Sundays. 

During the rest of the weeks leading up to Commitment Sunday on November 20th, when we make our financial pledge for 2023, we will continue to hear about how Asbury's ministries are making a difference in people's lives. This Sunday, we will be hearing about some of Asbury's social justice ministries.

When we had to postpone this year's original God on Broadway Services, which involved five musicals, we wondered how things would go with using non-musicals. Judging from the tears, the laughter, and the "aha moments" by the congregation, I would say they have gone extremely well. Amadeus, The Kite Runner, The Play That Goes Wrong, and Dog Sees God have each blessed us. We end with the theatrical form of To Kill a Mockingbird, which, of course, is considered to be one of the greatest novels ever written and one of the greatest films ever made. Actor Jonathan Rabb will again be with us...this time bringing Atticus Finch to life for us. Jonathan helped us with three of the five GOB services this year, and I am eternally grateful Try to invite people to tomorrow's service, so they can have this special experience. 

I hope to see you tomorrow as we come to church thankful, prayerful, and anticipating the movement of God's Spirit in our lives!

Love, Peace, & Blessings,
Billy