Published: March 21, 2025

Tuesdays 8:30 - 9 am on ZOOM
(M-F during Holy Week, Sun, Apr 13 – Sun, Apr 20)

Lectio Divina will be offered on each day of Holy Week.

Lectio Divina is a way to use contemplative prayer with one scripture. Setting aside this time to deepen into scripture helps us strengthen our relationship with God and Christ. There will be a different scripture every day, leading us through this week in spiritual reflection together. All are welcome, and you need not attend every day in order to participate. Bring your heart and we will journey together.

Published: March 21, 2025

If you would like to purchase altar flowers in memory, honor, or celebration of a loved one, please click HERE. Orders will be accepted until April 7. If you would prefer to pay by check, forms are available at the Welcome Desk.

Checks should be made payable to Asbury First United Methodist Church Altar Guild and delivered to the church office, attention Beverly Schuman.

Published: March 21, 2025

Keeping Our Promise, an Asbury First adopted off-campus outreach program, is doing powerful refugee resettlement work in Rochester despite a dramatic downturn in support at the federal level. As a congregation, we are helping to support this organization through this crisis moment: our Grocery Bag Ministry provides refugee families with groceries and we have made a contribution out of our discretionary outreach fund. Donations and volunteers continue to be needed and there are many ways you can help! Apartment setups, sorting in-kind donations, ride to appointments, driving to grocery stores, setting up internet or HEAP. Reach out to Cindy Malone (585) 645-4060 with questions or reach out on the Keeping Our Promise Website to become a volunteer or to make a donation at keepingourpromise.org

Published: March 21, 2025

To those who helped make the most recent Red Cross Blood Drive a success, thank you! A note from the Red Cross on the results of our efforts "We collected 22 units, enough to impact 66 lives! Our staff was very appreciative of your help in calling donors to ensure they were coming."

The next Blood Drive at Asbury First will be Saturday, June 21, 8:30 am - 1 pm.

Published: March 21, 2025

We're spreading the word about the good work being done at the Community Outreach Center (COC), and we could use your help. Invite a friend, colleague, business owner, or relative to join us for 1010 Tuesdays – a monthly guided tour of the facilities, a light breakfast in the Dining & Caring Center, and an open Q&A session. We want to tell more people about the COC, and we want to learn new ways we can be effective in the community. Join us Tuesday, April 8 at 8 am at the COC. Space is limited so reserve your spot today!

Visit asburyfirst.org/1010tuesdays or call the office at (585) 271-1050 x117.

Published: March 14, 2025

Published: March 12, 2025

Sunday,
March 30,
7 pm,
Sanctuary

Marcel Dupré's monumental "Stations of the Cross", op. 29 for organ
a unique musical and visual experience for the Lenten season
accompanied by projected artworks and the poetry of Paul Claudel.

Organist – Michael Messina, D.M.A.
Director of Music at Trinity Episcopal Church in Indianapolis

Artistic Coordinator – Lucy Winters Durkin
Long-time collaborator on Asbury First's "Envisioning the Passion" Good Friday programs

Poetry read by Judy Messenger 

Free | Open to the public | Free-will offering taken

Published: March 12, 2025

Please join us at one, two or three gatherings for a time of holy communion, and stick around for cookies and catching-up with friends.  

ST JOHNS MEADOWS – Monday, March 24, 2 pm

LINDEN KNOLL – Monday, March 31, 2 pm

THE HIGHLANDS – Tuesday, April 8, 2 pm

If you have any questions, contact Barbara Eltinge at (585) 737-8775 or beltinge@icloud.com

Published: March 12, 2025

Monday, April 7, 7–8 pm
1010 East Avenue,
Red Room OR by Zoom

Come join a conversation with Alex Sanchez, Mexican-American author of 10 award-winning books for young people, all of which have been challenged or banned for their LGBTQ characters and themes.

To register for Zoom, email Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org

Published: March 12, 2025

News Flash! Your Library at Asbury has purchased some new books and we are eager to tell you about them! Click on the book title and you will be linked to bookshop.org which will give you a short description of the book.

Picture book - Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
"J" Fiction - Gracie Under The Waves by Linda Sue Park
YA Non-fiction - The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
Adult Non-fiction - How We Learn To Be Brave by Bishop Mariann Budde
Adult Fiction - The Overstory by Richard Powers

We look forward to seeing these and many other books disappear from the shelves!

Published: March 5, 2025

March 16 is the 48th anniversary of our beloved Pretzel Sunday! And this unique tradition isn't just for kids anymore!

Here's how you can be involved:
1) using the recipe at the link below, make your dough at home
2) bring that dough with you to church on March 16
3) learn all about this tradition while braiding your very own delectable pretzels!  

Join in at 10 am in Fellowship Hall, and the children will return to Fellowship Hall after children's time to finish making the pretzels.

Recipe cards for preparing the dough can be picked up at the Welcome Desk, or downloaded HERE.

Contact Paula Dugan with any questions at pdugan@asburyfirst.org

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

Lent is nearly here!

Each week this devotional will serve as your guide. Commit to some intentional time to pray, meditate, reflect on whatever resonates with you, and then respond in love as your roots deepen. This practice may become your Lenten practice.

Pick up a copy in the Welcome Hall, or read them in the Monday Reader, our weekly Monday email. 

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

The Asbury Orchestra had its first rehearsal of the season a couple weeks ago, and will resume weekly rehearsals on Sunday, March 2, from 9:45-10:30 am in Wesley Hall. New members are still welcome - please contact Laurie Kennedy for more information, cellokennedy@frontiernet.net.

The Orchestra will grace our 11 am worship on Sunday, March 30.

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

Throughout 2025 we are going to pair worship with action in a new way!

Each month we will collect different needed supplies for the ministries of the Community Outreach Center. For the March Chapel Challenge, we are going to collect men's sweatpants (all sizes) and bath towels. Please drop them off near the rail in the front of the Children's Chapel before or after services.

Thank you for caring for our neighbors!

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

Wednesdays 10 – 11:30 am in the Red Room and on Zoom 

For the season of Lent, Asbury First's Wednesday Morning Reading Group will be reading through The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, by Heather McGhee. We will read and discuss one or two chapters each week. 

For a complete schedule, or for more information, please reach out to Mike Mullin, mmullin@asburyfirst.org