Adults

None of us should face the trials and tribulations of life alone and no matter our age, we should never stop learning. Fortunately, we have many opportunities for fellowship and growth at Asbury First.

While worship is the centerpiece of our life together, we experience community in many other ways as well. Click the links below for different opportunities to join us on this journey, or contact Mike Mullin, our Minister for Youth and Discipleship, at mmullin@asburyfirst.org to learn more. We hope that you find a place to connect at Asbury First!

Volunteer Educational Fellowship Events

Educational Opportunities

Sunday School Classes

Our Sunday School classes will return in Septmeber.

As the Spirit Moves Us

Sundays, Beginning September 10, 9:45–10:45 am, Room LL 
and Zoom (zoom.us/j/6174865464 PW Disciple)


As The Spirit Moves is a class founded on forming a welcoming community to study Biblical events through scripture as well as Christian-based literature. All are welcome, and every voice is heard as we become better together.
On Sunday, September 10, our class will begin by exploring the resurrection of Christ Jesus and the ways we can live a life leading us to resurrection. From there we will let the Spirit move us to continue to follow The Way. For more information about this class, please contact Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org or at 585-271-1050 x105.

Adult Sunday School Class

Sundays, 9:45–10:45 am, 1040 Fellowship Hall and Zoom (zoom.us/j/8347173468 PW 200)

We will have faithful discussions covering myriad topics, and would love to have your voice be a part of our community! For more information about this class, please contact Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org or at 585-271-1050 x105.
Class Topics (for up-to-date information, please visit asburyfirst.org/events)

October 8 — A presentation on Communications at Asbury First led by Sarah Brubaker.
October 15 —SEEKING THE FACE OF GOD — How do you see God? Where do you find the face of Jesus? And in turn, how does God see you? Does Jesus behold you? Come join us on October 15 in Fellowship Hall to seek the face of God in our world and in each other.  Please feel free to bring an item that reminds you of God or helps you to enter into prayer. Or simply bring yourself…let’s discuss how we are made in the sacred image of Jesus. Music, prayer and discussion. All are invited!!!! 
Facilitated by Colleen Schantz.
October 22 —Tithing and Stewardship — A conversation on the history and biblical foundations of tithes and giving led by Mike Mullin. 
October 29 —Theater and Theology — If you enjoy the varied theater productions at Asbury First, then you will enjoy hearing from Director Larry Dugan on why these types of programs are beneficial not just for our community, but also for our faith.

 
November 5–19 — God and Guns —  This three-week Bible Study on “Kingdom Dreams Violent Realities: Reflections on Gun violence from Micah 4:1-4” was produced by The United Methodist Church in 2014 and was revised and updated in 2016. Our conversations will take this foundation and update it once again to our context today in Rochester. These classes will be led by members of our Asbury First community. 

Non-Sunday Educational Opportunities

 

Lectio Divina

Tuesdays, 8:30 am, Zoom (zoom.us/j/8347173468 PW 200)

Lectio Divina is a contemplative practice on reading scripture. A passage of scripture is read, then there is silent meditation, then the passage is read again, then more silence, and then discussion. The silence is an opportunity to reflect upon what you experienced in the scripture. This half hour opens and closes with prayer. All are welcome. For more information please contact Rev. Kathy Thiel at kthiel@asburyfirst.org or at 585-271-1050 x106.

 

Discipleship III Bible Studies

Fridays, Beginning September 15, 9:30-10:30 am, Zoom (zoom.us/j/6174865464 PW Disciple)

Tuesdays, Beginning September 19, 2–3 pm, Zoom (zoom.us/j/6174865464 PW Disciple)

The Disciple Bible Study series encourages participants to read portions of the Bible everyday, and offers a study guide to help focus our thoughts and questions. We gather together in community to share, reflect, and learn from one another on the readings from the week. This fall, we have two Disciple Bible Study groups that will both be meeting on Zoom.
Friday mornings will be led by Mike Mullin, and will be starting the second half of Disciple III which focuses on the Pauline Epistles. Tuesday afternoons will be led by Ruthellen Hoyle, and will be starting at the beginning of Disciple III, which focuses on the Old Testament prophets. Both groups are open to all. Please contact Mike Mullin with questions or for more information at mmullin@asburyfirst.org or at 585-271-1050 x105.

Wednesday Morning Study Group

Wednesdays, 10–11:30 am, 1010 Red Room and Zoom (zoom.us/j/6174865464 PW Disciple)

All are invited to join this book discussion group as we meet in-person and on Zoom on Wednesday mornings. Some have been a part of this group for years, while others come and go depending on availability and the books that we are reading. This year, we will be reading: A Pilgrimage to Eternity; Poverty, By America; The Gift of Years; The Flag, The Cross, and The Station Wagon; and we will finish up with a few documentary films on Discover Islam.

On September 13, we will begin discussing chapters 1-3 from A Pilgrimage to Eternity. This book highlights a pilgrimage from Canterbury to Rome, and will invite us to consider our own pilgrimages of faith that we have encountered throughout our lives. At the end of our reading, we will even have the opportunity to plan a pilgrimage of our own—admittedly on a much smaller scale. We will begin our next book, Poverty, By America, at the start of Advent. For more information, please contact Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org.
 

Let Freedom Read!

Wednesdays, September 13, 20, 27, 6-7 pm,
Room 205 and on Zoom (zoom.us/j/8347173468 PW 200)

Did you know that the Bible has been banned? What about To Kill a Mockingbird, Huckleberry Finn, The Grapes of Wrath, and even Goodnight Moon? In 2022, there were 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources, up almost double from 2021, and nearly ten times from 2020. Of those, 90% were attempts to censor multiple books, targeting a record number of 2,571 unique titles. The majority were written by or about members of the LGBTQIA+ community or by and about Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color. What does it mean for a book to be censored or banned? Is this something we, as Christians, should care about? And if so, what could we even do? Come to our class in September, led by our newly formed Banned Book Team to find out. For more information, contact Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org.

Sept. 13 — Why should we care about challenged and banned books?
Sept. 20 — What are some books that have been challenged or banned?    
Sept. 27Book Banning in Your Backyard. We will have a special guest speaker. Director of the Monroe County Library System, Patricia Utarro, talk about contentious challenges that have taken place at the Henrietta, Webster, and Riga Public Libraries and what we can do that would be helpful for our local libraries.

 

Asbury First Book Read: Your Children Are Very Greatly in Danger

Wednesdays, October 4, 11, 18, 25, 6–7 pm, 1040 Sanctuary and Zoom (zoom.us/j/6174865464 PW Disciple)

Many of us had the opportunity to read and discuss 400 Souls together last year. Following that read, there was a clear call to continue these conversations with a focus on Rochester. With that in mind, we hope you will join us during the month of October as we read through Your Children Are Very Greatly in Danger by Justin Murphy. This book highlights the history and realities of our segregated school systems, and offers some ideas and suggestions about how we might advocate for change.
All are encouraged to read along with us, and to join in our public discussions on Wednesdays from 6–7 pm. On October 4, 
we will be joined by representatives from the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights & Social Justice and the NYS Poor People's Campaign, who will help set the stage on a national level for some of the disparities and challenges that we will encounter 
as we read through Murphy's book. Please contact Mike Mullin with questions or for more information at mmullin@asburyfirst.org.
Participants are encouraged to read the following before each gathering:

October 4 — The Introduction

October 11 — Chapters 1-3
October 18 — Chapters 4-6
October 19 — Chapters 7-8 
and the Conclusion
 

Fellowship Opportunities

Tuesday Women's Fellowship

Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30 am, Zoom (zoom.us/j/8347173468 PW 200)

Looking for a way to stay connected to your Asbury First friends during the week? Want to meet new Asbury First friends? All women, all ages, are welcome to join the Tuesday Women's Fellowship via Zoom, 9:30–10:30 am each week. Bring your coffee or tea, and perhaps a treat, zoom in and enjoy an hour of devotion, sharing, and connection. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Elizabeth Church, coordinator, at emchurch418@gmail.com. Hope to see you soon!

 

Asbury Art Class — Silk Painting

Tuesdays, beginning September 5, 12:30–3 pm, Room 205


The Asbury Art Class will begin a new project starting on September 5. We are going to paint on silk scarves. This means the scarves will be stretched on frames and painted with your design. All materials — stretcher frames, silk scarves, paints, brushes, and designs will be provided. Cost will be assessed after class size is determined. Please email Linda Clemow 
at soulsourcestudio1@gmail.com for more information and to register.
 

Men's Devotional Group

Wednesdays, 7 am, Zoom (zoom.us/j/8347173468 PW 200)

Men of all ages are welcome to join us on Wednesday mornings via Zoom as we discuss topics of faith, life, and more. Each week, a different member of the group leads us in a devotion for our time together. These can be instructional, reflective, conversational, etc. This is a wonderful group to make and build connections, and we hope that you will drop in to join us!

 

Prayer Shawl Ministry

4th Wednesday of the Month, 3–4:30 pm, Library

A prayer shawl is a simple shawl or a lap blanket knitted by members of our group. It is symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving God. The knitting itself is very simple and we have “experts” on hand to help you if you are a beginner. The group meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday. Clergy and lay members of our church identify those who may benefit from our ministry and a shawl, and they're delivered by ministers or congregation members. Questions? Contact Meredith Pixley at meredithpixley@gmail.com.

 

Carvers of Hope

4th Wednesday of the Month, 6:30–8 pm, Education Wing

Carvers of Hope is a wood carving ministry that helps people who find themselves in the very difficult places of life. Its members carve handmade crosses as a reminder of the hope Jesus brought to us through the cross. All materials, wood, and carving tools are provided, as well as carving lessons. No prior skill is needed to carve crosses with this group. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact John Smalt at jhsmalt@gmail.com.

 

The Discipleship Project

Asbury First has a long history of thriving small group ministry. We believe that small groups are a great way to connect with others, and to grow deeper in our faith. 

The Discipleship Project at Asbury is an initiative to strengthen our connection with God and with each other through a growing number of small groups focused on Discipleship. These groups are called Classes after the original small group of our faith tradition.

Learn More about the Discipleship Project

For more information about any of our adult classes or fellowship opportunities, please contact Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org or by calling 585-271-1050 x105.