September 10, 2022

It's Kickoff Sunday! And I don't just mean that the Atlanta Falcons and other NFL Teams are starting their season tomorrow. I'm talking about something even more important: 

 

Wesley Oak will be starting its Welcome Back Service at 9:30 a.m., and Asbury will be having its Welcome Back Service at 11:15 a.m. Then both congregations will gather at Asbury at 12:30 for a Ministry Fair! 
 

Let me share some of the specifics that we'll be experiencing over at the Asbury Campus tomorrow:

Following the announcements, we'll begin the service by singing a Hymn of Preparation called, Dona Nobis Pacem - which means "Grant us peace." This is a chant that we have used over the years that the congregation has sung to help them get centered. We look forward to using it again.

Cheri will be reading a poem by Ann Weems titled, "The Church." Ann was a poet laureate, who was both the daughter and wife of Presbyterian ministers. But her faith was tested when her son, Todd, was murdered by a gang on his 21st birthday. If you are not familiar with Ann's work, I encourage you to read her poetry. A great book to start with is "Reaching for Rainbows." 

The choir will be singing, "Welcome to the House of the Lord." Back in 2009, the Asbury Choir commissioned composer, Mark A. Miller, to write a song for the 100th birthday of Asbury Memorial. Mark did an excellent job writing a song that captures the spirit of the people and ministries at Asbury.

Rev. Claire Marich will be calling us together in prayer at an important time in our history. We will be lifting up the new church year and our ministries on a date many Americans lost their lives, during a week a country lost a Queen, and during a time the world continues to navigate through a pandemic. How good it will be to come together in prayer.

We'll also experience a Re-covenanting Litany in the service. At the start of each new church season, we take the time to recommit our lives to following the way of Christ and servicing God and others through our faith community.

Tomorrow, I will be addressing some of the major challenges that churches and other places of worship are experiencing in the 21st century. Of course, where there are challenges, there are opportunities. I hope you will be present in person or online for this important message. The texts that I will be using for the sermon are I Kings 3:5-12 and Acts 2:42-47.

Wednesday Night Suppers start back this week on September 14th. We'll be sending out an email soon with all of the details!

The past two Sundays, we announced two of the shows we'll be using for our God On Broadway Services in October. They are Amadeus and The Kite Runner, 

During the announcements tomorrow, we'll be revealing the third show. It is one of my favorites. I've seen it twice on Broadway and saw the National Tour in San Francisco. Clue: It is perhaps the funniest play that's ever been on Broadway!

Hope to see you at church tomorrow! Blessings on all who will be worshipping with us in person and online!! 

Love, Peace, & Blessings,
Billy