ASBURY NEWS

Pastor’s Corner

As we approach Holy Week, may we remember the sacredness of each day. On Palm Sunday, Jesus was a hero. Palm branches were waved. Hallelujahs were shouted. On Holy Thursday, Jesus shared the Last Supper with his disciples. Judas slipped out to betray him. Jesus symbolically shared his body and blood. He washed the disciples’ feet and told them to be servants. He was betrayed by the kiss of Judas, his disciples deserted him, and he was taken to the authorities to decide his fate. On Good Friday, he was nailed to a cross and died a slow agonizing death. His body was sealed in a tomb. On Easter Sunday morning, the tomb had been opened, in spite of being heavily guarded. The body was gone. An angel said he had risen. So where is Jesus now? Looking for hearts to live in. -Rev. Dr. Eileen Dumire

Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday

This year we will be focusing more on the passion theme on the Sunday before Easter. We are going to explore the question of “What is good about Good Friday?” The choir will sing our traditional Palm Sunday anthem. We will have palms, but they will be dried palms in the form of crosses. These, you can take home and keep. They make excellent bookmarks. The crosses are made throughout the year in seven mud villages in Tanzania. The workers who make the crosses are paid generous wages. The money from the sale of the crosses goes to projects such as agricultural and vocational training schools, safe community water systems and emergency relief for victims of civil strife, drought and other disasters.

Easter Services

Palm Sunday,

March 16, 11:30am, Asbury Sanctuary

Maundy Thursday,

March 20, 5:30pm, Asbury Social Hall

Good Friday Service,

March 21, 7pm, St. John UMC

Easter

Sunrise, 6:30am, St. Mark’s UMC

Flowering of Cross, 10:30am, Asbury

Easter Worship, 11:30am, Sanctuary

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is thus named because it recalls the new commandment (mandatum novum in Latin). The new commandment was, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34) We will be having our service in the Social Hall around tables with clay candle lamps. We will not be having a Seder meal like at the Last Supper, but we will pass the bread and cup as Jesus did following the meal he had with his disciples. There will be a short meditation called, “In Conclusion.” The service will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 20^th in the Social Hall.

Good Friday Service

On Friday, March 21^st, we are invited to a charge-wide Good Friday service at St. John United Methodist Church at 212 D Street in South Charleston, WV. This service will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be a Tenebrae service. Tenebrae means darkness. We begin the service with a number of candles lit. They are extinguished one by one as scriptures are read. The sanctuary is stripped of all its paraments (like altar cloths) and flowers, etc. and the service ends in darkness. A door is sometimes slammed to indicate the closing of the tomb. This service originated in the twelfth century.

Easter Sunday

Our Easter celebrations will begin early with a 6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service at St. Mark’s UMC which is located on Washington Street across from the Post Office. Our pastor will be doing a puppet show for the children (and the adults who still nurture the child within).

Back at Asbury in the sanctuary at 10:30 a.m., we will have our traditional Flowering of the Cross Service followed by refreshments.

At 11:30 a.m., we will have Easter Worship Service with music that will take us through the themes of Holy Week. The message will be “Morning Breaks!” Let’s celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior and then go forth with the Good News of new life in Christ.

Invite to win

Evangelism is not a game; however, evangelism IS about winning. The Apostle Paul said, for though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them [I Corinthians 10:19]. In order to win the Jews, Paul became as a Jew. In order to win those under the law, Paul became as one under the law. In order to win those outside the law, Paul became as one outside the law. Paul became weak so that he might win the weak.

Paul was so concerned about winning people to Christ that he said: …I have become all things to all people that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the Gospel, so that I may share in its blessings [I Cor. 9:22b-23].

Although evangelism is not a game, Paul uses the example of a race. Paul notes that there is one prize in a race and the runners should strive to win the race. We, therefore, should strive to extend an invitation to people so that we can win them for Christ.

The hymnist, C. Austin Miles, affirms the necessity of bringing people to Christ. He concluded that we must win them one by one.

In his hymn, Win Them One By One, he says:

So you bring the one next to you,

And I’ll bring the one next to me;

In all kinds of weather, we’ll all work together,

And see what can be done.

If you’ll bring the one next to you,

And I bring the one next to me,

In no time at all we’ll have them all,

So win them, one by one.

Jesus wanted his disciples to fish for people by going into the entire world in the name of Jesus. Likewise, we modern day pilgrim disciples have the challenge and the opportunity to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

We are called to be evangelists. We are urged to go out into the community and engage in the ministry of soul winning, which is the practice of consistently trying to lead lost sinners to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. The purpose or the goal is salvation. We must not fail in meeting the goal of salvation, so we in the West Virginia Annual Conference cannot sit on the sidelines. We must go into our communities and evangelize [sharing the Good News].

Some folk erroneously suggest that evangelism is out of style, no longer important as a focus of ministry. Have these people taken a time out? Have they gone on an extended vacation from the work of ministry and mission? Can we afford to take a break from doing personal evangelism?

When the New York Giants and the New England Patriots met on the gridiron on December 29, 2007, the game had no practical importance for either team. The Giants would be seeded as a wild card team in the coming playoffs. The Patriots would go into the playoffs as the top seed in their conference. Seemingly there was nothing at stake, nothing to play for at the end of the season.

The sports pundits predicted that both teams would rest their top players to avoid the possibility of any injury. Other teams did exactly that, but the Giants and the Patriots played their starters and they played to win the game, which the Giants ultimately lost in a tight game. Both of the teams took the game seriously and the players played with abandon. The principle here is that a team that allows itself to lose a game [by resting its top players] runs the risk of forgetting how to win.

Could it be that in the arena of invitational evangelism, we have forgotten how to win them for Christ, one by one? Have we been resting our evangelists? There is no meaningless game in sports; one must always play to win. Likewise, there is no meaningless encounter with one of God’s children; we must invite the unchurched to Christ.

We must invite to win folks to Christ. Think about it! Then go out and invite.

(by Bishop Lyght, The United Methodist, March 2008, http://www.wvumc.org/WVUM%20March%202008.pdf.

March

06- John Roberts

11-Don Ullum

12-Marilyn Lynch

17-Nolan Byars

17-Bettie Williams

17-Robert Brooks

26-Ted Ford

27-Alma Russell

27-Darlene Jett

April

1-Gerry Cavacini

3-Grace Rinehart

3-Jean Smith

19-Roger Bennett

20-Nancy Hunt

21-Rev. Ellen Rowan

22-Francis Fisher

23-David Shields

23-Stephen Sutherland

24-Ron Pauley

24-Dorothy Davis

May

1-Edward Goins

2-Moyne Bays

10-Earl Hastings

14-Tom Bodkins

17-Patty Arthur

18-Christina Vickers

22-Rev. Margo Friend

23-Bob Miller

31-Beth Bostic

31-Debbie Jett

June

5-Charlie Walker

7-Bob Marcoux

14-Julie Doss

17-Robb Turner

19-Jamie Smith

23-Larry Grimm

29-Sheila Chambers

30-Steve Bailey

Everybody Here Sunday

We are having another Everybody Here Sunday on March 30^th. This is an exciting day when we try to get everyone who attends Asbury, even on an occasional basis, to attend on the same day. The last time we had this, we had the highest attendance for that year. I love to take the challenge of doing this on what is historically called “Low Sunday” because it generally has the lowest attendance of all Sundays in churches in general. That is the Sunday after Easter. So let’s see if we can beat the odds and have not only our highest attendance this year, but higher than the last Everybody Here Sunday. Our attendance then was 65. Remember, we are going to need an average attendance of 50 this year in order to be able to keep a fully ordained Elder as the pastor on our charge. We are averaging about 38 for this year so far. But don’t come just to swell the numbers. Come to “belong to God, to be filled by God, and to serve God” (our Conference vision statement).

Thanks for Krogering

Asbury received its first check of the year in January from Kroger's in the amount of $267.05 and, with continued use of Kroger Gift Cards assigned to Asbury, we should receive another check at the end of March. Our goal for 2008 is $3,000.00, so we need more people with cards!! Remember these cards can be used by ANYONE in the nation!! Anyone, anywhere, can support Asbury through this very generous program as it donates 5% of our combined amount "loaded" onto Asbury-assigned Kroger cards. These cards can be ordered in any amount. Just contact Nancy Dunst to get questions answered and cards ordered: 304-345-8197 or nancydunst@netzero.net.

Choir Notes

Asbury's choir is rehearsing for the Sunrise service, Palm/Passion Sunday and Easter! "From Darkness to Light" will be emphasized in all of these services. We will take part in Charleston's city-wide service, which is being held inside this year due to the early date of Easter thus increasing the chance of cold weather. The location is St. Mark's United Methodist Church at 6:30 AM. The brass ensemble, a mass choir and Pastor Braxton Brody of Ebenezer Baptist Church will bring the message. Thanks to Reverend Eileen's suggestion, the offering will go to our very own Community Development Outreach Ministries!

Plan to attend these services to seize the Light of Christ's Resurrection!

Churchwide Meeting

The Sunday morning service on March 9, 2008 was held in the Social Hall and shortened due to the scheduled church meeting. Hymns were sung, praise was given and Pastor Eileen delivered her sermon.

During the church meeting Pastor Eileen updated the church on her recent meetings with the District Superintendant. It was announced that Asbury and St. John charge must have an average attendance of 100 in order to keep a seminary trained pastor on the charge. Asbury needs at least 12+ more people attending every week to do their part. Asbury is also required to pay more of our apportionment. We have already budgeted to pay 40% of the apportionment which would be almost 20% increase over last year.

Tom Bodkins then gave a short program on living the parable from the book of Matthew (see article below).

Michael Hill presented ideas on sprucing up the Social Hall. Ideas range from a new retractable stage, painted tables & chairs, new lights, and a new paint job. Proceeds from the Live the Parable of Talents fundraiser will be used for these Social Hall improvements.

The church meeting was followed by food and fellowship in the social hall.

Live the Parable of the Talents

The congregation was curious as our Stewardship Chairperson, Tom Bodkins, went around the room handing out 25 colorful envelopes. They all knew that Tom had been talking about "talents" and the parable of the talents from the book of Matthew for several weeks but they had no idea what was about to take place. After Tom explained the parable of the talents, he asked the congregation to open the envelopes. Each of the 25 envelopes had $20 inside. The participants now had the "talents" and they were given until Mother's Day (nine weeks) to use their God given talent to at least double the money given to them. Many talents were mentioned from motorcycle rides to cooking classes. The participants are to use the $20 to buy supplies for their product or service and then sell those items in order to make money for the fund raising event. The good news is that all the money generated from this fun project will be used to help update our social hall. -Tom Bodkins

Asbury Maintenance Day

The next Asbury Maintenance Day is scheduled for April 12 from 9am-4pm. That will give everyone a chance to come out; early risers and late risers.
We have the windows in the chapel to do, stair treads to put down, other windows to finish insulating, the minister's office to finish, etc. According to the Trustee Chair, Steve Bailey, “There are apparently some flakes in the choir loft (or was that flaking paint?)”

2008 Budget Report

Our 2008 budget made a significant step on faith to help toward meeting the conference obligations for Asbury. The budget income for the first two months was $10,804. The budgeted amount to meet expenses for the same period is $12,783.

Last fall’s Stewardship Drive was a success in that 11 people increased their pledge to Asbury and we have 8 new pledgers for an increase of 138% in pledged monetary support for 2008.

We need to focus our efforts on increasing membership and the approved budget if we are to meet the objectives. It is so easy to become distracted with other worthy causes and miss the mark necessary for Asbury.

Spiritual Renewal Weekend

Asbury is planning a road trip! Our Spiritual Renewal Weekend this year is going to be at a beautiful log cabin Bed and Breakfast in Harrisville, W.Va., just a few miles from North Bend State Park. The owners of The Log House at Sweet Trees are members of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church where Rev. Eileen served before coming to Asbury. Rev. Eileen mentored Barbara Rogerson who will soon be an Ordained Deacon. Barbara was an art teacher at Ritchie County High School and her husband, Russell, is a musician (Eileen’s last choir director). They are wonderful, open people who are looking forward to participating in our retreat, as well as cooking for us. They are both great cooks and have offered to prepare our other meals besides breakfast, including a cook-out. The cost will be $5 or $10, thanks to their generosity. The retreat is scheduled for the evening of August 15^th until the evening of August 16^th. You can check out the bed and breakfast website at www.loghouseatsweettrees.com.

God Gave Us a Gift of Life

God gave us a gift and a task

And what would that be, you may ask

He called us to pray,

And called us to say

That Christ is the first and the last.

God gave us a gift and a chore.

To do what he asks, and much more.

To help those in need,

Whatever their creed,

And evil and vileness abhor!

God gave us a gift and a pen

To write it all down that we can.

To tell of God’s love,

It comes from above

He says “love one another,” again.

God gave us a gift of HIS son.

To sing praises of how we belong.

To the church, do embrace.

And you will find grace

It will help you from doing what’s wrong!

God gave us a gift and a sight

To see that the world got the “light.”

The deaf will all hear,

To the blind, he’ll appear,

And the mute will shout with delight.

God gave us a gift and a drive.

To tell all that he is alive.

To Love one another,