Published: Feb. 23, 2024

It is with very mixed emotions that we announce that Lori Young, our Director of Property Care, is stepping down from her full-time position to concentrate on her career in landscape architecture. Lori has been presented with an opportunity to build a full-time landscaping business, Sacred Breadth, where she will specialize in creating beautiful gardens and sacred spaces for healing, contemplation and prayer, which is a return to her academic and experiential background and passion.

We are sad to see her go, but excited to see the wonderful work this new venture will stimulate. Lori will continue with us on a part-time basis as Property Administrator so she can oversee and supervise the work and training of staff, fully implement automated applications, and serve as liaison to Monday Morning crew, Property Stewardship Committee, Garden Team, and Community Garden Team, among others.

Recruitment efforts to fill the full-time position of Property Care Director is in process.

Published: Feb. 23, 2024

Asbury First is part of the Harvest Home Coalition that sponsors local home construction with Habitat for Humanity. We are planning an Asbury First work day at a Rochester construction site sometime this spring. If you might be interested in participating, please email Dave Kennedy at DAKennedy@Frontiernet.net so we can gauge the level of interest. Specify whether you would be able to work on a Friday or a Saturday. Work sessions are 9 am to 3 pm. 

No experience is necessary. Everyone 16 or older is welcome to participate. We will make plans based upon your responses. 
 

Published: Feb. 23, 2024

Mondays, March 4 and 11, 6:30 - 8 pm, Hybrid - Red Room (Community Outreach Center - the red brick building next door to the church) and Zoom

We are pleased to be offering these classes for any and all interested in joining Asbury First, both in person and via Zoom. This is a two-part series of classes sharing information about what it means to be a United Methodist, as well as information about ministries at Asbury First. Please bring a bag supper, if you'd like. Light snacks and beverages will be provided. Our hope is to have everyone join on Sunday, November 12. You need not register to attend, but if you know that you will be there, we’d love to know! Simply email or call Deb Bullock-Smith at 585-271-1050 x117 or dbullocksmith@asburyfirst.org.

Published: Feb. 23, 2024

1010 Tuesdays | 2nd Tuesday of the Month, 8 am

On haitus until Tuesday, October 8

Have you wondered what goes on at the newly renovated Community Outreach Center? Here’s your chance to See For Yourself!

Monthly, every 2nd Tuesday, join us for what we call 1010 TUESDAYS! Meet us at 1010 East Ave at 8 am for a simple breakfast, a brief tour of the facility, and stories about these life-changing services. Bring a friend or colleague, and help us spread the word about the Community Outreach Center. 

RSVP today by visiting asburyfirst.org/1010tuesdays or calling (585) 271-1050 x117.

Published: Feb. 23, 2024

It's pretzel time! 

Join us March 10, 11 am to noon in Fellowship Hall for fun, fellowship, and all things pretzels! This 40 year tradition is educational, entertaining, and delicious.

Contact Paula Dugan for more information at pdugan@asburyfirst.org or at 585-271-1050 x111.

Published: Feb. 19, 2024

Join us February 25 for the final visiting preacher in our winter preaching series, the Rev. Joe Kim!

The Rev. Joe Kim serves as Lead Pastor of Bothell United Methodist Church outside of Seattle, WA. He has served in and with communities of faith for over 15 years, both in the non-profit sector and in the local church. He has traveled around the world as a speaker, preacher, workshop leader and facilitator, encouraging people of faith to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God.

Published: Feb. 19, 2024

Kearstin Piper Brown and Friends from the Black Students Union at Eastman
 

Sunday March 3 at 3 pm, Asbury First, Sanctuary – FREE! 

Ahead of her Metropolitan Opera debut, don’t miss soprano Kearstin Piper Brown’s very special performance. 

This performance is sponsored by WXXI

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An Evening with the internationally acclaimed Spelman College Glee Club 

Wednesday, March 13 at 6:30 pm, Asbury First, Sanctuary

$25 (adults), $10 (students)

Now celebrating its 99th season, this historic Spelman College Glee Club has a reputation for choral excellence.

Tickets will be available at a table in the Welcome Hall after worship, or by calling Bill Davis at (585) 266-4500.

Published: Feb. 16, 2024

Join us February 18 for another visiting preacher in our winter preaching series, the Rev. Katie McKay Simpson!

The Rev. Katie McKay Simpson is the Senior Minister of University United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, LA. For eighteen years, she has served as a pastor, community leader, and planter of new ministries among Louisiana congregations located in Bossier City and Lake Charles. She is a graduate of Centenary College of Louisiana and received her MDiv from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL and she is presently working toward a PhD in Organizational Leadership at Eastern University outside of Philadelphia. Katie has been an active voice for inclusion in the Annual, Jurisdictional and General Conference levels of The United Methodist Church. She is married to Taylor and together they have three children—Eva, Jack, and Sam.

Published: Feb. 9, 2024

Join us February 11 for another visiting preacher in our winter preaching series, the Rev. Bryant Clark!

The Rev. Bryant Clark is a graduate of Boston University School of Theology. He was ordained an elder in 2022 and is currently serving at Marcellus United Methodist Church. Pastor Bryant is passionate about church renewal, lay leadership development, youth ministry and ministries of mercy and justice. His wife, Kristina, serves as Director of Missional Engagement for the Upper New York Annual Conference. Together they have two daughters, Camila and Ella. Pastor Bryant is a lifelong Methodist and believes that our collective faith not only gives our lives meaning but also gifts us with the opportunity to affect the world in profound ways.

Published: Feb. 9, 2024

Housing availability, affordability, and security are hallmarks of a healthy community, but access to housing in the U.S. is not an equal playing field. Speakers Nick Coulter, Ryan Acuff and our own Stuart Mitchell will share their knowledge about Rochester’s housing equity problems, the ways these issues impact us, and the ways in which we can seek justice in our community. 

Sundays, 9:45 -10:45 am 

February 25, March 3, and March 10

Fellowship Hall and Zoom: zoom.us/j/8347173468 PW 200

February 25 – Housing Equity (week 1) – presentation by Nick Coulter

March 3 – Housing Equity (week 2) – presentation by Ryan Acuff

March 10 – Housing Equity (week 3) – presentation by Stuart Mitchell

Please contact Rachel Dupont with any questions at rdupont@asburyfirst.org

Published: Feb. 2, 2024

Do you love perusing books? Do you love cozy places to sit? Would you love a quiet place to catch up with a friend after the service? The Asbury First library is a perfect place for all three of these activities, located just around the corner from the Gathering Center in the Education Wing.

Our library collection database is also all online! Click here to learn more

Published: Feb. 2, 2024

Please join us for a time of Lenten worship followed by a time of fellowship with friends at one or more of the following times and locations:

• Thursday, February 22, 2 pm at The Highlands at Pittsford
• Monday, March 11, 2 pm at Linden Knoll
• Wednesday, March 13, 2:30 pm at St. Johns Meadows

All are welcome! Please call Barbara Eltinge with any questions at 585-737-8775

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

The Storehouse is in need of the following items for our neighbors:

• Bed-sized blankets (Twin, Full/Queen & King sizes)
• Bath & hand towels
• Queen sized bed sheets
• Boys winter jackets in sizes 8-18
• plastic plates, bowls and cups for children

Donations have slowed down, so if you have general donations, please bring them to the COC. The items listed above are things we are most in need of at this time, however, we always need coats, clothing, shoes for men, women and children and essential household items. If you have questions about what we accept, call 473-0950 between 9am - 3pm on Monday-Thursday. We'd like to be able to give each family that shops with us, if needed, one blanket and one towel set. We serve 200-250 families/month. Your donations can be dropped off in the brick donation building outside of the Community Outreach Center (COC) or brought to the 1st floor reception desk in the COC Mon.-Thurs. from 9am-3pm and Fridays from 9am-12. Thanks for your ongoing generosity.

Published: Jan. 19, 2024

January 21, we will have only one service, at 11 am (no 9 am service), as this will be the Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady’s final service with Asbury First before relocating to Fort Worth, Texas where he will begin his new role as President of Brite Divinity School. To learn more about this transition period, please visit asburyfirst.org.

Please plan to join us after the 11 am service in the Fellowship Hall on January 21 to celebrate the start of a new chapter for the Cady family.

And save the date for June 1 and 2 for a more formal celebration of the Cady family's ministry among us!

Published: Jan. 19, 2024

Join us January 28 for the first visiting preacher in our winter preaching series, the Rev. Jess Winderweedle!

The Rev. Jess Winderweedle (she/her) is an elder in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Practical Theology (Homiletics) at Princeton Theological Seminary. Jess’s research interests center on the experiences of LGBTQ+ preachers in Mainline Protestant traditions. Jess grew up in Oklahoma, but she has called the East Coast home now for over 16 years. Before returning to school, Jess served as lead pastor at Kingston UMC where she also founded The Feed Truck, a mobile campus and community outreach ministry. She last preached at Asbury First in October.