Published: May 25, 2023

Sunday, June 11, Following the 11 am service

For several years, a team has been faithfully working together to explore the possibility of a columbarium at Asbury First—a sacred, consecrated location where urns of cremated remains are placed. We are pleased to report that we have strong interest and preliminary commitments to move forward with this self-funded project. As such, we will hold a vote at a special Church Conference immediately following the 11 am service on Sunday, June 11.

If you have questions about the Columbarium or would like to inquire about securing a niche, please contact the church office at 585-271-1050, reach out to a member of the pastoral team, or email us at columbarium@asburyfirst.org. Immediately following the Church Conference, the Governing Board will hold another open town hall to share updates on various aspects of our life together and to answer your questions. These town halls are part of our ongoing commitment to transparency. If you have specific questions that you would like us to address, please call the church office or email us at governance@asburyfirst.org.

Published: May 24, 2023

Friday, June 2, 7:30 pm, SRC Arena Onondaga Community College
4585 West Seneca Turnpike Syracuse, NY 13215

We are pleased to announce that the Rev. Patrick Dupont will be ordained as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church during the Service of Commissioning and Ordination of the Upper New York Annual Conference on Friday, June 2, 2023. The service will take place at 7:30 pm in the SRC arena in Syracuse. All are invited to attend!

If you are not able to attend the Service of Commissioning and Ordination for Rev. Dupont, we will be celebrating his ordination during the 11 am worship service on Sunday, June 11.

In the United Methodist Church, there are two ordination tracks—Elder and Deacon. Elders see their call to ministry as ordering the life of the Church through word and sacrament. Deacons are called to connect the Church to the world through word, service, compassion, and justice. As our Minister for Outreach and the Director of the Community Outreach Center, Rev. Dupont has embodied the order of the deacons and we celebrate this joyous moment in his life and ministry.

Published: May 24, 2023

Sunday, June 4, 11 am, Sanctuary

Our 6th-12th grade youth will lead us in worship on this special day. The youth have worked to help put together all aspects of the service—from choosing hymns, to writing prayers, to preparing sermons. Sundays like these help remind us that the youth are not simply our future, they are our present. The youth have a voice and a message for us today that is prophetic and inspirational. On June 4, we will bear witness to the talents and offerings of these young people as we are led in worship together. 

Published: May 23, 2023

As we enter the month of May, it’s already time to look ahead to summer. Rehearsals for our musical groups will be winding down soon, but before they do, we want to offer enthusiastic thanks to all our volunteer musicians of all ages! We are so blessed by each member of our Sanctuary Choir, Asbury Ringers, Youth and Children’s Choirs, and Asbury Orchestra. Summer Choir will commence on June 11. Anyone who has a desire to sing is invited to join with no commitment! Simply show up in Wesley Hall at 9:55 am any Sunday morning between June 11 and September 3. Together we will prepare fun and meaningful music for that morning’s worship. If you have any questions, please contact Director of Music Ministry Carl Johengen at cjohengen@asburyfirst.org or at 585-271-1050 x134.

Published: May 10, 2023

Sunday, May 21, 4 pm, 1040 Sanctuary 

("This concert is open to adults and mature teens with parental discretion as this event contains sensitive topics relating to physical and mental health")

Kimayo opens up about her life, personal struggles, and overcoming hardships. From coming to terms with and celebrating her sexuality, to wrestling with her faith, she offers her experience with humility and vulnerability. Through poignant songs and narrative, Kimayo invites us all to welcome, affirm, and love unconditionally.

Artist Bio: Kimayo is a folk-pop artist, performing in New England since 2019. Her authentic and personal songs are relatable and vulnerable. Coming out as queer in Spring of 2021, her new music explores self-discovery with an adult contemporary sound. Her engaging performances even led to winning Best of the Lakes Region: Music (Solo) in 2022. Through her music, Kimayo seeks to cultivate connection, solidarity, and hope for each of her listeners.

Published: May 10, 2023

Warmer days are ahead, and we are looking forward to our outdoor Summer Worship! Sundays May 28 (Outreach Sunday) and June 4 (Youth Sunday) will have only one service at 11 am. So, outdoor summer worship will begin on Sunday, June 11 and will finish up Sunday, September 3. 

Summer Worship June 11–September 3

• 9 am service — In-person outside (in inclement weather, the service will be moved inside)
• 11 am service — In-person and Livestream

Published: May 10, 2023

You may have noticed that we have begun to have an ASL—American Sign Language—interpreter with us in the Meditation Chapel during the 11am service. This is to fulfill our value of being open to all and it has made it possible for us to worship with deaf members of our community. We would like to maintain this service moving forward and need some financial support to make it possible. If you are willing to support this ongoing ministry, please consider a special donation with the note “ASL.” Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Published: May 7, 2023

Saturday, May 6, we experinced technical difficulties with our domain (asburyfirst.org) that is caused our website and staff email to be down. 

The website and staff email are now back up and fully functioning. If you contacted us via email on Saturday, May 6, we may not have received your message. Please check in with us if you sent an email regarding an important matter to ensure receipt. We appreciate your grace and understanding in light of this issue.

The domain name registration mistakenly expired and since the domain was down, our staff emails were affected as well — making it difficult to access the website of the company that has our domain. The issue has now been corrected, and we will be working to consolidate our website domain and website hosting companies to prevent this from happening in the future.

Thank you all again for your patience and understanding.

— Asbury First Staff

Published: May 3, 2023

DEIA JOB FAIR, Tuesday, May 9, 1 – 4 pm, 1040 Fellowship Hall

• 1–2 pm – Sensory Friendly Hour (including limited job seeker traffic, lower lighting, and space for individuals who may be supported by a job coach)
• 2–4 pm – Open to the Public

On Tuesday, May 9, RochesterWorks and ACCES-VR will host a Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEIA) Job Fair. The goal of the job fair is to allow job seekers to connect in-person with employers seeking a diverse, inclusive workforce. This in-person event is the culmination of the webinar series, “Accessibility in the Workplace,” that offered strategies for employers to create a more inclusive workforce for people with disabilities. While the event offers an ideal opportunity for candidates with disabilities to connect with employers, it will also be open to the general public, so anyone interested in learning more about job openings from hiring employers can attend.

Job seekers are encouraged to attend this free event, regardless of level of skill, education, or experience. An Information Table will also be available that job seekers can visit for job search advice, resume tips, and more. American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters will be on-site during the entire event. Twenty local employers across a variety of industries are scheduled to attend.

Published: May 3, 2023

In addition to celebrating our confirmands, this is a Sunday that invites each of us to think more critically about our faith. At Asbury First, we recognize that while we strive to do more good, the Church is not always perfect. With some of the challenges facing The United Methodist Church today, it is no small task for our teenagers to stand up in front of a congregation and profess their faith and commitment to Asbury First, United Methodism, and Christianity.

Thankfully, these teenagers have spent the past several months learning more about what this commitment means. Confirming ones faith does not mean that we must agree with everything as it stands; it means that we are committing to help work to make our church a more open and welcoming space for all. We are excited that our confirmands are committing to journey with us in faith as we seek to love God and neighbor, live fully, serve all, and repeat. And we hope that you will join us in reaffirming your commitment to this community as well.

Published: April 27, 2023

Sunday, May 7, 1–4:30 pm, Temple B'rith Kodesh, 2131 Elmwood Avenue

The Rochester Area Interfaith Climate Action (RAICA) Annual Summit is returning to connect with others in the Rochester Area Community, share best practices, get support and connect with local resources and experts. This summit will help congregations and individuals navigate the new world of sustainable choices. The summit will commence with words of inspiration given by Muhammed Rashid, Reverend Myra Brown and Rabbi Peter Stein. A keynote address will be given by Abigail McHugh-Grifa of the Climate Solutions Accelerator.

Workshops will cover solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling installations, congregational and household composting, energy audits, sustainable landscaping, youth action, and climate justice advocacy. In addition, there will be representatives of a myriad of environmental organizations and services. Our faiths direct us to protect our environment. Now is the time to take action.

To learn more and to register, visit www.raica.net/events.

Published: April 26, 2023

Meals On Wheels needs volunteers to deliver meals to residents in the City of Rochester! Partner with your friend, spouse, family member or neighbor and volunteer to deliver meals together!

Information on how you can get started volunteering for Meals On Wheels can be found on our website at www.homecare.urmc.edu under the Service and Specialties Programs tab or by calling the Volunteer Services office at 274-4385.

We need you to help us bring hot meals, warm smiles, independence, and peace of mind to those in need!

For more information or to begin the application process please call 274-4385 or visit our website at www.homecare.urmc.edu.

Published: April 26, 2023

Saturday, June 3, 8:30 am - 1 pm, 1040 Gathering Center

Maximize your blood donation. Help more patients. If you are eligible type O, B - or A - donor, consider making a Power Red donation. Red blood cells are the most commonly transfused blood component. Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment.

Please call Ed Ristau at 223-4356 or call 1-800-RED CROSS or www.redcrossblood.org to schedule your appointment.

Please bring ID!!

Published: April 26, 2023

Mothers In Need of Others (MINO) is starting a new campaign called "Churches for Change". They are asking all area churches to partner with them in hosting two donation drives for us within a one year period for just one item from our supply list each drive. This will help them to greatly reduce their costs for supplies and drastically increase the number of families they can provide for through the programs they serve! If your group, class, or ministry would like to sign up for a drive to support MINO, please click the link below. The only way we are going to reduce the number of families in poverty here in Rochester, is by working TOGETHER!

Click here to sign up.

Published: April 25, 2023

Wednesday, May 10 and 17, 6 -7 pm, at Asbury First

"In This Moment" is a project that brings together teams of black leaders, writers, and photographers as they put together a chapbook—a short book that showcases the talents of each of the three individuals on the team. Each week will offer a panel presentation and conversation about the work of each individual, as well as some reflections on what it was like to come together as a team for this project.

You can learn more about the teams by clicking here.