Published: April 7, 2023

Wednesdays, June 7, 14, & 21, 6 pm, location TBD

Led by Emily and Stephen Cady

Do you BELIEVE? Like an American Football coach who somehow finds himself managing a British football (soccer) team, sometimes the gospel shows up in the strangest places. Join us as we explore the rich gospel themes of the award-winning show Ted Lasso (available on Apple TV+) and have some fun doing it. The class will begin June 7 at 6 pm, location TBD and is open to all adults. If you are interested in joining us, please email Deb Bullock-Smith at dbullocksmith@asburyfirst.org or call the church office. Go Richmond!

Published: March 31, 2023

Tuesdays, 12-3 pm, Room 205 (Bell Room), Contact Linda Clemow for cost

The Asbury Art Class will begin working on a drawing class on Tuesday afternoons. It is based loosely on the book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. This course is offered in a safe and nonjudgmental environment. You need not have any prior experience in drawing, although we also welcome those who wish hone their drawing skills. All materials will be supplied! The cost will depend on the number of participants. Class starts on Tuesday, April 18, 12:30-3 pm. Please email Linda Clemow to register at soulsourcestudio1@gmail.com or call the church office.

Published: March 31, 2023

Saturday, April 29, 1–4 pm, Asbury First Parking Lot

AARP Fraud Watch Network™ can help you protect yourself against identity theft. Join us for a free document-shredding event in your community. Reserve your spot for AARP New York's shredding event. Your documents will be shredded on-site, free of charge. There is a three-bag limit per person. The event concludes when the truck is full. One on-site shredding truck will be available from 1–4 pm. The site may close early if the truck fills up. Register at events.aarp.org/ShredRoc2023.

Published: March 30, 2023

The Storehouse has been fully operational for a few weeks now and we are happily settling into our new location. We are thrilled to offer a fully-accessible shopping experience for our clients and a more streamlined sorting area for our volunteers. This is all possible from the generosity of our members and the community.  

Now that we are back in business, we have a new need for gently used children’s shoes/sneakers size 13 and under. To drop off donations, you can deposit them in the small brick building in front of the main entrance. Thank you for your continued support. 

Published: March 30, 2023

We are pleased to announce that, effective immediately, Sarah Brubaker will be our new Director of Communications. This change in title from Communications Coordinator recognizes Sarah’s hard work and dedication over the last few years keeping Asbury First connected during a challenging time. In her tenure, she has already brought us to new heights in our communications and we look forward to the ways she will continue to help us tell our story and live our mission in the years ahead. Please join us in congratulating Sarah for this well-deserved honor.

Published: March 30, 2023

Saturday, April 15, 9 am, Front Lawn

Come join us for our Annual Grounds Clean Up on April 15 starting at 9 am. If you have rakes, leaf blowers, and tarps, please bring them! Please contact David Strong at dstrong@asburyfirst.org or 585-271-1050 ext. 110 if you have any questions. We hope to see you there!

Published: March 29, 2023

May 10 and 17, 6-7 pm in Fellowship Hall

"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 of the team. You can learn more about the teams by clicking here.

Published: March 23, 2023

Wednesdays, April 12, 19, 26, 6-7 pm, Fellowship Hall

Led by Dr. Jeff Brubaker

Many of us know Jeff as the spouse of our Director of Communications, as an expert of ancient church heresies, and as a new dad to Eirene. In addition to these accolades, Dr. Brubaker recently celebrated the publication of his first book, The Disputatio of the Latins and the Greeks, 1234: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary. And while this title may not lend itself to becoming a New York Times Best-Seller, Jeff has put together an enticing 3-session course that will be accessible to all. This course will highlight some of the histories that led up to the “Great Schism” of the East and West churches, and the subsequent conversations of church leaders who ostensibly were working to heal this divide.

Here is an outline of the discussions for each week:

1. A Brief History of Schism (to 1234): What caused the division between the Western Roman and Eastern Greek Churches? History shows that the schism between these two Christian communities was complex and often confrontational. What provoked the initial divergence between these sibling churches? How did these issues evolve over the medieval period?

2. Overtures toward Union: This session seeks to understand the roles of Patriarch and Pope over the Greek and Roman Churches. How did the two communities organize their hierarchies? What impacted their roles in the years leading up to the meeting of 1234? Do the letters between Pope Gregory IX and Patriarch Germanos II shed any light on their intentions or possible outcomes of that encounter?

3. Report of the Friars: Four friars representing Pope Gregory IX left a detailed account of their dialogue with the leadership of the Greek Church in 1234. What does their recollection tell us about how Christians of East and West saw one another? How does their report reflect the larger and longer effort to heal the Great Schism? Can we accept their comments as a faithful account? If not, what causes us to question their account?
 

Contact Mike Mullin (mmullin@asburyfirst.org) with any additional questions. 

Published: March 23, 2023

Sunday, April 23, starting at 11 am, 1040 Sanctuary and 1010 Community Outreach Center

Save the date!! Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez will be preaching during Sunday worship on April 23 in the Sanctuary. Also, join us for an open house of the new Community Outreach Center after the service! More information coming soon!

Click here to learn more about the Bishop.
Click here to learn more about the Community Outreach Center.

Published: March 23, 2023

Rehearsals: March 26, April 2, and April 16, 9:40-10:20 1040 Wesley Hall
Performance: Sunday, April 23 and rehearse on the following Sunday mornings.

You are cordially invited to join the Asbury orchestra in rehearsals this Sunday and then the following Sundays until we play on April 23rd (Minus Easter Sunday). We hope you and any of your musically inclined friends will join us!  

Contact Laurie Kennedy at cellokennedy@frontiernet.net

Published: March 23, 2023

The Morehouse College Glee Club and the Concert Planning Committee extend a heartfelt thank you to Asbury First United Methodist Church family and staff for your outstanding hospitality and support, because of you, the concert was an overwhelming success.

Published: March 23, 2023

In 2020, a short-term Racial Justice Advocacy team formed and spent many hours over several months gathering information about how members at Asbury First could participate in Racial Justice work through education and partnering with local advocacy groups. A newly-formed Racial Equity ministry will be taking on long-term work of building racial equity at Asbury First. One of the first things this group has done is to compile the information gathered by the original team into one accessible place as a resource for our congregation. 

A new section of the website is the Racial Equity Resource Database. It will be updated regularly. Click here to download a PDF of the database.

Visit asburyfirst.org/racial-equity/ for more information on the group or contact Rev. Rachel Dupont at rdupont@asburyfirst.org with any questions.

Published: March 22, 2023

Wednesday, May 3, 1:30am - 9pm, Bennuci's Italian Restaurant—3349 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, NY

Benucci's Italian Restaurant will donate 20% of the entire day's proceeds to support families at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Located at the Pittsford Plaza location. Take-out included. Reservations for dine-in are recommended—call 264-1300.

Click here to learn more. 

Published: March 16, 2023

As we continue to acclimate to our ‘post-pandemic’ life together, we are exploring ways to offer Holy Communion that meet the needs of our congregation. In order to do this well, we would like to equip and empower a team of Communion Stewards.

If you are interested in helping to plan, set up for, and/or clean up after Communion, please contact Rev. Rachel Dupont: rdupont@asburyfirst.org (585) 271-1050 x113

Published: March 16, 2023

The first Sunday of each month after the 11 am service the church library bibliocart will meet you in the church Gathering Space with a full selection of new library purchases and the theme of the month.

This month (April 2) the focus is on Easter with numerous books on this topic. You can check out the books—for free—right there at the bibliocart—just in front of the piano. Stop by and check us out on this first Sunday in April: April 2, just one short week before Easter.