September 2

I hope everyone got through the storm this week without too many problems or too much damage. If you did get hit particularly hard by the storm and need help in some way, please let us know by contacting the church office. We are thankful that most of us did not get the full brunt of Idalia.

Asbury member, Steve Johnson, sent me an email last Monday to let me know that Franciscan priest, Richard Rohr, gave us dessert after last Sunday's sermon. Apparently, the morning after I preached a sermon about "living in the moment," Rohr sent out a mass email about "Waking Up to Life." To see Rohr's meditation, click on this link:
https://cac.org/daily-meditations/waking-up-to-life-2023-08-28/.

Rohr uses James Finley as a resource in his material. Finley is a clinical psychologist who is a former Trappist monk. Steve highly recommends Finley's book, The Healing Path. 

We will be celebrating Holy Communion this Sunday, so if you are worshipping online, please plan on participating with us. All you need to have is juice or water and bread or crackers.

We will NOT be having "Big" Coffee Hour since we will be having something special after the church next Sunday on the 10th.

We'll be kicking off the church year on the 10th by recognizing the children and youth of the church who will be moving into a new church program. Rev. Lynn Drake and I will also be having an ordination blessing during the service since we had to leave the United Methodist denomination. As an independent church, our church leadership approves and blesses our ordination. We will celebrate the big day after the service with Leopold's Ice Cream in Holliday Hall!

I can't remember a time in my 30 years at Asbury when we have lost so many of our faithful church members by death in the span of three to four months. Just this week, we lost Pat Bangs, husband of Bo Curler. Pat and Bo became members of Asbury recently, but quickly became active. Pat had joined the choir and was really looking forward to participating in the God On Broadway Services. He was seriously ill in the ICU at Candler Hospital and fought valiantly. But he was also able to embrace his next adventure with God. I feel blessed to have spent the time with Pat in the ICU to witness his courage and acceptance. I'm also thankful that Pat and Bo have a church family that loves and embraces them. The Memorial Service for Pat will be on Saturday, September 16th at 4:00 pm. Please continue to be in prayer for Bo.

It's a new month so there's a new newsletter! We thank Chris Kincade for the wonderful job he does with our newsletter. Be sure to check it out! You can find it on our website or just click on this link:
 https://www.asburymemorial.org/newsletter/newsletter_sept_23.pdf

I recently heard an Orthodox Rabbi give a lecture on "Why he is an atheist?" He said he didn't believe in God, but rather believed in Hashem. "Who is Hashem?" you ask. It just so happens that the lectionary text from the Hebrew Scriptures this Sunday is about Hashem...the 3rd chapter in the book of Exodus. I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts about it with you this Sunday on the Holy Ground of Asbury Memorial.

Right around the corner are our God On Broadway Services. Please share this news and our promo cards with neighbors, friends, and acquaintances. We hope to pack the church in October.

Every October we also offer New Member Classes. They will be after worship on the last two Sundays in October (22nd & 29th). If you are interested in learning more about church membership and attending the classes, please contact Candace Jenkins at the church office or contact me at bghester3@comcast.net.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day on Monday. 

Lord on this Labor Day,
we thank You for the blessing of work.
We ask for strength to complete each day.
We ask for rest when we are weary.
We ask Your guidance
for everyone seeking employment,
and we ask that
You be with those whose faces
we might never see
but who work tirelessly each day
for the good of us all.

See ya Sunday!

Love & Blessings,
Billy