Published: Feb. 16, 2023

The first Sunday of each month after the 11 am service, the Church Library Bibliocart will meet you in the Gathering Center with a full selection of new library purchases and the theme of the month. For March, the focus is on Lent and Easter with numerous books on this topic. You can check out the books — for free — right there at the Bibliocart. Stop by and check us out on this first Sunday in March.

Published: Feb. 16, 2023

Rehearsal and work for the church-wide production of The Sound of Music is underway! Donations for any of the following are greatly appreciated:

• Black or white sheets – any size
• Military jackets - any size
• Suit-coats or jackets that can be made into military uniforms
• Prom dresses – floor length; any size or style
• Wooden cross necklaces – at least 3 inches tall
• Rosaries

Contact Robyn Gage at robynegage@gmail.com

Published: Feb. 16, 2023

RADIO
The last few weeks, our radio broadcast partner WRFZ 106.3 Rochester Free Radio has been in the process of moving offices. Due to the move, the radio broadcast is currently down. You can access the broadcast on their website at www.rochesterfreeradio.com. We understand this is inconvenient and ask for patience as we wait for this broadcast to return. 

PHONE
We have also recently had an update with our livestream broadcast over the phone. The service has implemented a change to avoid calls from spammers/ bots. When you dial our toll-free number (1-833-829-1050), you will be asked to press '5' to continue to the broadcast.

Please share these updates with anyone who might benefit from these additional ways to connect.

Published: Feb. 10, 2023

Are you as excited for the Community Outreach Center to fully open up as we are? Then come on over and learn about volunteering and join a COC Volunteer Orientation to help us get moving!

All of our outreach programs depend on volunteer time, energy and labor. We would not be able to offer our neighborhood the same kind of hospitality, solidarity and compassion without our dedicated community of servant-leaders. Learn about ways we can help as a community, and important safety information.

Questions? Contact the Rev. Pat Dupont at pdupont@asburyfirst.org or at 585-271-1050 x136.

Published: Feb. 8, 2023

UMCOR has an International branch that addresses the devastating natural disasters, including what is happening in Turkey and Syria. UMCOR has released an initial solidarity grant to a longstanding humanitarian partner, International Blue Crescent (IBC), which has offices in Turkey. The grant will provide tents, heaters, blankets, warm clothes, ready to eat meals and basic first aid kits.

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey at 4:17 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023, the most powerful earthquake recorded since 1939. In the hours that followed, at least 78 aftershocks were reported, followed by a second earthquake of 7.5 magnitude. More than 5,000 people were killed, with deaths expected to rise. 

The earthquake also heavily impacted northwest Syria, where 4.1 million people depend on humanitarian assistance. The majority are women and children. At this time, Syrian communities are simultaneously facing an ongoing cholera outbreak and extreme winter weather events, including heavy rain and snow. The humanitarian response is overstretched due to the devastation and cold weather. 

Financial contributions make the biggest impact, especially when dealing with international disasters. Support UMCOR with donations 
to the International Disaster Fund. 

Click here to Donate to UMCOR

Published: Feb. 8, 2023

Check out this article from Spectrum News about the founder of the Help Me Read program, Bishop David J. Singleton. Click here to read the article.

The Help Me Read Program is a one-on-one tutoring program held at School 17 and School 45. Asbury First volunteers tutor students at these Rochester City Schools in reading. Asbury First also holds a yearly school supply drive to help students get the necessary materials needed for a successful school year. Click here to learn more and to sign up to help!

Published: Feb. 8, 2023

Sundays, 9:45-10:45, 1050 Teak Room

AS THE SPIRIT MOVES US

This year’s class will be discussing the role of parables in both the Hebrew and Christian Testaments. The parables were an important teaching tool throughout the Bible, and we will discuss what Jesus and the writers of the earlier ones were trying to teach through them.

The class is also a loving community of life-long learners, who also share their joys and concerns so that we can pray about them at the beginning of each class. Every voice is heard and respected.

We will have our first class Sept. 8 in room LL03 of the main building. We hope you will join us in our quest to understand The Holy Bible better. For more information, please contact Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org or at 585-271-1050 x105.

Published: Feb. 7, 2023

URGENT NEED FOR CARING CIRCLE MEMBERS and NEW CARING CIRCLE TRAINING!

We have need for TEN CARING CIRCLES to help support eight recently arrived families, and two more arriving on soon. There are single men, couples, and families in need.

We still need seasoned volunteers who can get new volunteers and families off on the right foot. Even if you only have a few days a month that you can assist, we can really use your support.

Please email Kristen at kristen@keepingourpromise.org if you would like to be assigned to a Caring Circle, even if your ability/availability is limited. We cannot support these individuals and families without each of you!

Caring Circle members are a support network and friendly face to help Afghans acclimate to the Rochester area. Duties range from weekly home visits, outings to explore all that Rochester has to offer, occasional rides for appointments and to get groceries, and familiarizing Afghans with common daily practices like paying bills, obtaining a library card, and more. Caring Circles can expect their support role to last approximately six months, though friendships are formed that last a lifetime.

Published: Feb. 6, 2023

Join us in February as we focus on Rochester Black History. Using scripture lessons from the book of Jonah — which is about someone not wanting to look at their own city (Nineveh) and what happens when we fail to do so — we will delve into a deep look at our own city's Black history. The first week will be about the great migration to Rochester and the challenges that came with it. The following weeks will continue to tell stories too often forgotten.

Bulletin cover features: Each week we will highlight a local Black artist or their work to showcase the incredible talent in our city, curated by Rashaad Parker of the Flower City Arts Center. Check out the inside, back page to learn more about each artist and their impact on the city and art scene.

Published: Feb. 6, 2023

1st Sunday of the Month, Gathering Center near piano, Bibliocart

Need a good book?

Look for the newly added Library Bibliocart the first Sunday of every month in the gathering space by the piano. Books featured here are new purchases, the event or topic of the month, and staff recommended books. They can be checked out right at the Bibliocart staffed by Library committee members. 

Also, stop by for a visit. The Church Library is just off the Gathering Center at the entrance to the Education Wing. The library is free and open for your use when the church is open. Help yourself to materials of your choice by simply signing your name, phone number and date. Books may be borrowed for a period of three weeks, but may be easily renewed. 

If you need a book for a devotion for your group, a Bible story, entertainment for children, a Sunday School class lesson or a look at a variety of different Bibles, the church library can provide all of these and more. Our library collection of 4,000 plus books, DVDs, and videos are available and may be checked out free of charge on an easy, self-serve honor system.

The collection ranges from information on religion and science, the Bible, theology, spirituality, church history, and Christian Education topics to books specializing in parenting, marriage, aging, sexuality, diversity of peoples, and conservation of the earth. There are books for children, youth, large print needs, holidays and special topics, and a variety of fiction and non-fiction books. 

Published: Feb. 6, 2023

Wednesday, February 22, 7 pm, In-Person and Livestream

Join us as we begin the holy season of Lent together with our pan-Methodist siblings from around Rochester. We are delighted to hold this service in person again and look forward to worshiping with Baber African Methodist Episcopal Church, Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and New Bethel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

Published: Feb. 6, 2023

Wednesdays in March, 6-7 pm, Fellowship Hall and Zoom (zoom.us/j/8347173468 PWD 200)

Led by The Rev. Frederick David Carr, Ph.D.

Masks are required for this event.

This March, we invite you on a Lenten journey of Transformation as we consider some of the letters of Paul from our New Testament. This class was inspired by Dr. Carr’s new book, Being and Becoming: Human Transformation in the Letters of Paul, which is available in our church library. Dr. Carr is an Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Northeastern Seminary, and he joined the Asbury First community when his family relocated to Rochester in 2019. We are excited to have the opportunity to highlight David’s work, and we hope that you will join us in March as we consider how Paul’s words may continue to invite us to transform our lives today. 
Questions and comments may be directed to Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org.

Published: Jan. 27, 2023

Wednesdays, February 1, 5, and 8; 6-7 pm in Fellowship Hall, and Zoom (zoom.us/j/8347173468)

Led by The Rev. Stephen M. Cady II, Ph.D. You may have heard some of the rumblings about The United Methodist Church splitting — or more aptly, splintering. You may know that this stems from decades of debate concerning the full inclusion of our LGBTQ+ siblings in Christ. And perhaps you would like to feel a bit more informed on this topic, as it continues to be news-worthy — even outside the context of United Methodism. All are invited to join us for the first three Wednesdays in February as we highlight some of the conflicts and challenges facing The United Methodist Church today. We will spend one week looking at the history of what brought us to this point, one week highlighting what is actually happening right now, and one week thinking about what The United Methodist Church might look like in the future. We hope you will join us for these compelling conversations.

You may reach out to Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org with any questions and comments.

Published: Jan. 27, 2023

Sunday, February 12, 12 pm, 1040 Welcome Hall

The Youth of Asbury First will once again be selling soup on Super Bowl Sunday to raise money for their 2023 summer mission trips. This year, our high school youth will be traveling to Tucson, Arizona to have an immersive service-learning experience on our country’s southern border. Our middle school will once again be volunteering with our Vacation Bible School program, and with other local mission agencies. Following their week of service, our middle school youth will travel to Niagara Falls, Canada for an overnight of fun and fellowship. To help defray the costs of these trips, our youth have made soup to sell to our congregation. You can show your support — and enjoy a delicious meal — by purchasing a quart of soup for $10 from our youth on Sunday, February 12.

Questions and comments may be sent to Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org.

Published: Jan. 27, 2023

Sunday, February 12, 9:45-10:45 in Fellowship Hall

Led by the youth and adult mission trip participants 2022 marked the first time in three years that our high school youth were able to embark on a summer mission trip. We spent a week working in Northeastern Kentucky helping to repair homes, and learning more about the Appalachia region. We are looking forward to sharing our experiences with Asbury First, and hope that you will join us in Fellowship Hall on February 12.

Please contact Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org with any comments or questions.