October 3, 2021

October is here, and something doesn’t feel quite right We usually are gearing up for our incredible God On Broadway Services. We would have been leading off this Sunday with Fiddler On the Roof. Tevye and all of those great characters in the town of Anatevka would have been teaching and inspiring us. I’m sorry that the God On Broadway Services had to be postponed due to the pandemic. But don’t worry (“Hakuna Matata”), those characters from Fiddler On the Roof and other characters from musicals like The Lion King and Hair will one day be in our worship services! 

Lectionary Texts in October – The Bible’s Charlie Brown 

Something positive has come out of the postponement of God On Broadway (GOB). At least, it’s positive for me. I hope it will be positive for you, too. I do not use the Common Lectionary for my sermons in our GOB Services. The topics for my sermons have to be determined by the music and themes of the particular musical we use for the service. We have been doing GOB for over a decade, so I have not preached on the lectionary texts for October in a long, long time. I am looking forward to studying and preaching on texts I haven’t focused on in many years. The lectionary texts we’ll be using this Sunday are Job 1:1 and Job 2:1-10.   The Book of Job is part of the Wisdom Literature in the Bible and tackles the issue of suffering. I'll be preaching about “The Bible’s Charlie Brown.” 

This Sunday is World Communion Sunday. As we celebrate the Lord’s Supper with Christians throughout the world, I want to encourage those who will be worshipping online to join us for Communion. All you will need to have with you is bread or crackers and juice or water. In the sanctuary, we will have a globe on the altar to remind us of all the people around the world who will be celebrating Communion with us in spirit. Those of you at home may also want to have a globe or some other visual to remind you of God the Creator and the kinship of all God’s children.

When you go to the Asbury website to read the October Newsletter, you will see a new addition. We are now including Wesley Oak’s newsletter (The Wesley Oak Leaf) as part of our church newsletter. Let me remind you that our Wesley Oak campus offers a 9:30 a.m. service on Sundays and celebrates Holy Communion every week. 

Last but certainly not least, I am ecstatic to announce that Ellie Covington started her job today as our Director of Children and Family Ministries. We know these are unusual times and our regular programs and ministries for children are on hold. However, we will be creative to do what we can for the children of the church. Ellie will be in touch!

I look forward to being with you on Sunday…in person or in spirit!
 

In Christ’s love,
Billy