Published: June 21, 2022

We are encouraged that the COVID-19 situation in our community is such that we are ready, once again, to adjust our masking policy from “masks recommended": to “masking by choice.” Everyone on our campus may choose to wear a mask at any time as an additional precaution to protect themselves and those around them. We will respect everyone’s choice in this matter. This policy is reflective of the updated CDC guidance and in line with what is happening in other public venues in our area.

We continue to encourage everyone to get vaccinated (and boosted when eligible). We are particularly mindful of protecting those who are not yet vaccinated—especially babies and very young children for whom the FDA has only recently approved vaccination. We continue to encourage everyone to practice good hand hygiene. Hand sanitizing stations are located throughout the campus. Additionally, we ask everyone to be respectful of individual preferences regarding social distancing and physical contact such as handshakes or hugging. When in doubt, ask first.

As we learned during these past two years of the pandemic, flexibility is essential. As the situation changes, we will continue to make decisions with the health and safety of the community in mind.

Thank you for your patience and your grace as we continue to find our way through these challenging times.

Peace and Blessings,
The COVID-19 Task Force

Published: June 17, 2022

Dick Moncrief, our Financial Administrator for the past 16 years, has announced his intention to retire from that position on September 1.

Thankfully, he has no intention of leaving us. He will assume a volunteer role in the Outreach Center, assisting with foundation, corporate, and individual fundraising activities.

We will celebrate Dick’s contributions and celebrate his “retirement” as we all re-gather in the Fall.

Published: June 16, 2022

Come see our new location for children’s books in the Church Library—just off the gathering space. A reachable bookcase filled with picture books and children’s books are located just inside the Church Library. 

This new location features books that are within reach of even the shortest readers. Come look through the new additions and old favorites. Check them out to take home absolutely free and so convenient. Simply sign the blue card in the front of the book and leave it on the library desk and enjoy your book.

Click here for all the latest books

Published: June 13, 2022

Tent Sunday, August 7, following the 11 am service

We are so sorry we had to cancel the Carnival due to forecast of thunderstorms, but we have rescheduled it already. Our church-wide carnival and talent show will take place Tent Sunday, August 7, immediately following the 11 am service. What better way to kick off Tent Week than with hot dogs, bouncy house, and a talent show! The church-wide carnival is free to all and it's not too late to be a part of our talent show so if you'd like to participate, contact Paula Dugan at pdugan@asburyfirst.org.

Published: June 10, 2022

We are pleased to say that Asbury First is ahead of budget thus far in 2022 and we thank you for your generous giving. Click the link below to see Asbury First's Financial Report for January—April 2022. It is only through your support that Asbury First can "Do More Good" in this world.

Read the Financial Report Here

Published: June 10, 2022

Thursday, June 23, 5 pm, Gathering Center

Rochester Regional Health’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion leaders are launching a Colorectal Screening Awareness Campaign, to engage our communities of color in conversations regarding early screenings. Compared to other groups, African Americans are disproportionately affected by colorectal cancer, and this is partly due to low rates of screening. Screening for colorectal cancer is safe and easy, and treatment is very successful if it is caught early. 

Please attend the event on June 23 at 5 pm in the Gathering Center to learn more. 

Published: June 10, 2022

Saturdays, 9-10 am, Granger Lawn
Mondays, 7:15-8:15 pm, Granger Lawn
$15 per class or $130 for 10-class pass

Looking to get outside and do some yoga in nature? Yoga on the Lawn with Brett Richardson at Asbury First will ground your senses, along with an all levels yoga flow to get the body moving and connected... mind, body, spirit!

This is a class to help you start or build your yoga journey. We will work on improving strength and flexibility as well as techniques to help calm the mind, body, and soul.

Each class will help you move steadily through yoga asanas, allowing you time to learn not only about alignment and postures, but also giving you opportunity to learn to establish breath, awareness, and flexibility within your body. 

Brett currently teaches in Rochester and the greater Rochester area. You can take class with him at Midtown Athletic Club, M/Body Rochester, Roc and Soul Fitness (Webster, NY), Vault Rochester, STAR Physical Therapy (Fairport, NY), NYS Yoga Festival (Letchworth State Park 6/4) and at Dick’s House of Sports in Victor for a Pride Yoga class on June 11th.

Brett is a Experienced E-RYT 500 hour trained yoga instructor with over 2000 teaching hours. Brett has education and certification in power yoga, restorative and yin yoga, Hikyoga, yoga for athletes, yoga for 12 step recovery, trauma yoga, meditation, energy healing and a love for myofascial and trigger point therapy. Brett has taught at the NYS Yoga Festivals in 2021 and will also teach at the 2022 Festivals. Brett serverd as an ambassador with Lululemon 2018-2020, he is currently a Lululemon Legacy Ambassador. 

Published: June 9, 2022

We're seeking volunteers who can join our team to mow and trim our lawns. The schedule can be flexible. If interested, please contact James Flack at jflack@asburyfirst.org or David Strong at dstrong@asburyfirst.org.

Published: June 3, 2022

This summer, we will have more than 40 youth and adults participating in Youth Mission Trips. Our 8th–12th graders will be traveling to Breathitt County, Kentucky the week of July 3; and our 5th–8th graders will be volunteering locally in Rochester the week of August 8. As we prepare to embark on these trips, we would love to partner every participant with a congregant from Asbury First who will commit to hold them in prayer throughout their mission week. 

In addition to prayers, we would also like each prayer partner to write a letter to their missioner. These will be collected by Mike Mullin in June, and will be dispersed to your missioner as a bit of encouragement during their week of service. This is a wonderful way to highlight the connectionism of our United Methodist community, and to invite people of all ages to vicariously participate in our youth mission trips. Any one is welcome to be a prayer partner—just fill out the interest form by clicking here, or contact Mike Mullin (mmullin@asburyfirst.org) and we will send you information about one of our missioners!

Published: June 3, 2022

Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out our worship survey. We had 314 responses and learned some really valuable information. Here are a few highlights: 

1. MOST WORSHIP VIRTUALLY: More than half of respondents (53%) shared that they worship virtually or mostly virtually. Comparatively, 27% said that they worship in-person or mostly in-person. The remaining 20% were “some of both” or “via the archive or podcast.”
2. WORSHIP ATTENDANCE: 15% reported that they anticipated their worship habits might change in the fall, while 47% said “no” and 38% said “maybe.”
3. ADDITIONAL SERVICE: 10% of respondents reported that an additional service in the fall would impact their worship habits. Some were primarily interested in an earlier time; and some were interested in a simplified service with communion. 
4. COVID IS STILL A CONCERN: The most common response people gave for remaining virtual was concerns over COVID.
5. WE ARE REACHING NEW PEOPLE: More than 10% of the respondents shared that they began worshiping with us since COVID.

Where do we go from here?

Over the summer, we will be evaluating ways that we can connect and engage with a congregation in which most worship virtually. We will also try to find ways to implement some of the wonderful ideas that people shared in the survey responses.

While we consider the implications of adding an additional worship service, we recognize that critical mass makes a difference. Additionally, there is something faithful and unifying about maintaining one moment where we all gather together for worship. That being said, we had several recommendations to re-evaluate the worship time, and we will spend some time considering that over the summer. As has been the case since the beginning of the pandemic, we will re-evaluate as we go—and make the best decisions we can—to make sure that as many people as possible can worship in the way that is most meaningful to them.

Your prayers and support are welcome.

Sincerely,
Your Pastoral Team

Published: June 2, 2022

Thursday, June 16, 2:45–5 pm, Grace Road Church, Rochester, NY
Register online at pathstonepresents.org/register

The PathStone Foundation is partnering with the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS to host Justin Murphy’s presentation about his book Your Children are Very Greatly in Danger. Join us on Thursday, June 16 at Grace Road Church for this critical presentation and panel discussion. To register for the event and for more information visit pathstonepresents.org. Questions? Please email events@pathstone.org. 

Published: June 2, 2022

Thank you for your donations of used books for the Used Book Drive. These books will be given out to students in June at School 17 for summer reading fun! Thank you all for your support to this ministry. To learn more about the Help Me Read ministry, click here, or email John Smalt at jhsmalt@gmail.com.

Published: June 2, 2022

Meals On Wheels needs your help delivering meals to homebound residents in the City of Rochester!

• Partner with your friend, spouse, family member 
or neighbor & volunteer to deliver meals together!
• Delivery takes about 60- 90 minutes
• Meals are picked up in the city
• Easy to follow route directions

For more information or to begin the application process please call 585-274-4385 or visit the website at www.homecare.urmc.edu.

Published: May 25, 2022

Wednesday, May 25, 7 pm, In-Person and Livestreamed

Click here for the bulletin

I began this Aldersgate Day—the unofficial birthday of the Methodist movement—praying that hearts would be strangely warmed. I end it with my own heart utterly broken. 

Eighteen elementary-aged children—mostly Hispanic, mostly poor—and three adults are confirmed dead as of this writing, murdered by an eighteen-year-old whose motivations are yet to be revealed.

This, just days after the murder of ten Black people by an eighteen-year-old white supremacist. While one happened in Buffalo and the other in Texas, both hit close to home. Although, we are still awaiting details of this latest shooting, one thing we know for sure: enough is enough.

Our obsession with guns, our paucity of mental health resources, our tolerance of violence, and our unwillingness to address the systemic injustices and racism of our world have created a terrifying new reality that cannot be allowed to stand.

As a people of faith, we will not stand for it. 

But whatever we do, it must begin in prayer—for the victims, for the survivors, for the perpetrators of violence, for true justice, for wisdom, for guidance. 

Let us join with our siblings of faith to offer our laments to God and our support to one another. To that end, Asbury First will host an Interfaith Prayer Vigil tomorrow evening (Wednesday, May 25) at 7 pm.  

While coming together will not mend our broken hearts, it will help us step outside that cycle of outrage and apathy to listen to who God is calling us to be.

Grace and Peace,
Stephen

Published: May 23, 2022

Check out our Senior Minister, Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, in an interview with WHEC TV about the recent shooting in Buffalo. Learn about what we can do to process this tragedy in the segment: "Rochester in Focus: Understanding domestic terrorism."

https://www.whec.com/news/rochester-in-focus-understanding-domestic-terrorism/6476599/