Published: March 8, 2024

Robin Manley, our Community Outreach Center Social Worker, will be leaving her position at Asbury First in order to begin a new position.

Robin will continue to serve our Rochester community as she transitions to offering counseling and therapy services in her new role.
We congratulate and are excited for Robin! Her departure is also, of course, a huge loss for Asbury First. Robin has made immeasurable contributions to the mission and work of the Community Outreach Center.

On Robin’s last day, March 15, we will be celebrating her work during our regularly scheduled breakfast in the COC, 7 - 9 am. Please join us to thank her for her deep investment in our church, ministries and community — and to wish her well!

Published: March 8, 2024

We invite you during this Holy Week to join us for these livestream and in-person worship experiences! 

Join us for some much-beloved services, such as a re-enactment of Christ's last night and Envisioning the Passion, along with a special Easter Sunday Sunrise Service in the Asbury First Community Garden.

Palm Sunday | Sunday, March 24

• 9 am* SERVICE — Traditional service celebrating Palm Sunday
• 11 am* SERVICE LS — Traditional service celebrating Palm Sunday 

Maundy Thursday | Thursday, March 28

• 7 pm* — Silent meditation
• 7:30 pm* SERVICE LS — Worship begins with communion and a candlelight re-enactment of Christ's last night, ending with the placement of the cross on the East Avenue lawn by our Christ-figure.

Good Friday | Friday, March 29

• 12 pm* SERVICE LS Envisioning the Passion — Holy Week- themed art and choral music. 
• 5–7 pm Good Friday Family Night — A come-when- you-wish child-friendly event.

Easter Sunday | Sunday, March 31

• 8 am SERVICE in the Community Garden 
• 9 am* SERVICE — Traditional service celebrating Easter Sunday
• 11 am* SERVICE LS — Traditional service celebrating Easter Sunday

*Childcare is available at these services

LS services will be livestreamed

Published: March 8, 2024

The 9 am Sunday Worship Service will now meet in the Sanctuary instead of the Gathering Center. This change will extend to the foreseeable future.

Church is wherever God’s people are, no matter how high the ceiling, how soft the seats, how dazzling the stained glass, we're just glad to share in worship with you. Thank you for living, loving, and serving with us! 

Published: March 8, 2024

If you're going to be at one of our many extra-curricular events at Asbury First and are handy with a phone camera, we'd love to promote the many fun ways we live, love, and serve!

Send your selfies, group shots, or artistic masterpieces to David at communications@asburyfirst.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Of course, if you have ideas for us that you'd like to share, send those too! 

Published: March 1, 2024

If you would like to purchase altar flowers in memory, honor, or celebration of a loved one, CLICK HERE to visit our website. Credit, Debit, or Check are all acceptable forms of payment.

If you would prefer to pay offline, forms will be available at the Welcome Desk on Sunday, March 3. Checks should be made payable to Asbury First United Methodist Church Altar Guild and delivered to the church office, attention of Beverly Schuman.

Published: March 1, 2024

March 14 is Pi Day (3.14...) and in honor of this numerical coincidence, our youth will be selling Pies following our worship services on Sunday, March 10 in the Welcoming Hall. This year, we will have a focus on pizza pies, but we still plan to have a selection of dessert pies available for purchase as well.

Pizza pies are $10 - $12

Dessert pies are $15

100% of proceeds support our youth missions

Published: March 1, 2024

Saturday, March 16, 9am lend us your hands for our annual cleaning of the Asbury First campus grounds! We will meet to pick up twigs, rake leaves, and clear away the detritus of winter. Meet from 9 am to 1 pm. No green thumbs required!

Contact David Strong with questions at dstrong@asburyfirst.org

Published: March 1, 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!

The bibliocart on March 3 will focus on Lent, Easter and Women’s History.

Published: March 1, 2024

One of the central tenets of United Methodism is holy conferencing. Each year, clergy and laity from all of our Upper New York churches gather together in Syracuse to fellowship and to make decisions for the church. All members of The United Methodist Church are invited to submit petitions and resolutions to this annual conference. This year, a team of members from Asbury First have put together a resolution to prohibit firearms from church property. Below is a link where you can read the resolution; and, if you would like, you may add your name as a supporter of the resolution. All signatories received by March 10 will be included in the submitted resolution to our Upper New York Annual Conference.

CLICK HERE TO READ AND SIGN THE RESOLUTION

Published: March 1, 2024

UMCJustice.org recently published a thought-provoking article on The United Methodist Church's response to the violence in the Middle East as viewed through the lens of the Holy Season of Lent. If you're looking for ways to engage personally in the call for peace, the end of the article lists four powerful ways to promote a ceasefire and de-escalation in this conflict. 

CLICK TO READ THE ARTICLE

Published: March 1, 2024

Friday, March 15 at 7:30 PM, Asbury First

ROS’s glorious, rich sonority is showcased in this program of great choral works by Aaron Copland, R. Nathaniel Dett, Randall Thompson, Jean Ford, and Norman Dello Joio with keyboard accompaniment. Opera choruses, psalms, spirituals, and a jubilant Walt Whitman setting written in the year and month of ROS’s founding, make for an unforgettable evening of music. Please visit rossings.org/road for more information.

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.