March 28, 2021 • 11 AM
all are welcome at asbury first
FIRST TIME HERE We are so glad you are joining us! If you’re out there watching, check in through the website or take a picture and post it on social media using #asburyfirstathome. Our hope is to get 
to know you better and help you find your place within our community. Additionally, drop us an email at info@asburyfirst.org and we will answer any questions you may have. Need prayer? We invite you to share with us how we can be praying for you by emailing prayers@asburyfirst.org. All prayer requests are prayed over by our Ministers and Intercessory 
Prayer Group. Children We believe children are a sacred gift. You can join us at 10 am for the Sunday morning Zoom with Paula and Holly (us02web.zoom.us/j/86857108916?pwd=aHF4TEppZERJSXZoZm
FxUHgrQ1hjdz09). We will have a segment during our live stream for Children’s Time. If there is a way our children’s ministry can be more welcoming to you and your child, please contact Paula Dugan at pdugan@asburyfirst.org. RECONCILING STATEMENT We are a reconciling congregation and seek to be a fully inclusive church, believing that all people are God’s children. We encourage full participation in our community for all, regardless of age, race, origin, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, family structure, education/economic background, and physical/mental ability. We recognize that we hold a variety of opinions. We do not seek to erase our differences, but to journey together in faith toward greater understanding and mutual respect. We believe that reconciliation to God and to one another is central to our mission and ministry. GIVE TO ASBURY FIRST There are three ways to make a gift to Asbury First. Each gift supports the everyday ministries and operations of this church, allowing us to live into our vision to Do More Good. Cash/Check—We welcome you to send a gift of cash/check in the mail. Text to Give—You may give a gift with a debit/credit card by texting the dollar amount to 206-222-1050. Online—Online giving is available on our website at www.asburyfirst.org/give. Watch and listen Tune into the live video stream of the 11 am service at www.asburyfirst.org/worship/live. To listen to the service tune into WRFZ 106.3 FM Rochester Free Radio, or call our toll-free number at 833-829-1050. A video archive of past services is also available at www.asburyfirst.org/worship/video-archive. You can also view all sermons on our YouTube channel.
Prelude

"Pièce Héroïque"— César Franck
Welcome
Call to Worship
Based on Psalm 118
All are invited to read the bold-faced type; the lay reader will read the unbolded type. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. His steadfast love endures forever. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. Open to us the gates of righteousness That we may enter and give thanks to the Lord.
11 am • March 28, 2021
The community gathers As the community gathers, may the music of the prelude draw your hearts and minds to God.
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Palm Sunday
Opening Hymn
#278 "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna"











































Words: Jeanette Threlfall, 1873; Tune: Ellacombe, 18th-c. German, arr. W.H. Monk, 1868
11 am
Scripture
Mark 11:1-11
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’†They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?†They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!†Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve
To hear the word
Prayer of Confession
God of righteousness, this day places a mirror before our faces. We sing hosannas with the crowd, yet hesitate to stand for our convictions. We dine with Christ at his table, yet hesitate to stand up to those who betray him. We see ourselves as Christ’s champions, yet shrink before the angry mob. Hear our humble prayers as we struggle to absorb the breadth of your sacrifice. Forgive our fickle faith, and heal our hesitating hearts.
Silent Confession
Word of Assurance
Hear the Good News: Jesus, the cornerstone, has become our salvation, and offers us forgiveness and fullness of grace. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Amen.
Gloria Tune: “Let All Mortal 
Flesh Keep Silenceâ€
You, creator God, have written your great name on humankind; for our growing in your likeness, bring the life of Christ to mind, that by our response and service, earth its destiny may find.
Anthem

“Throw Open the Gates†— David Lantz III; poem by Susan Bentall Boersma
 Throw open the gates, the glorious gates! Let us enter with praise to the King of all kings, by all heaven adored! Throw open the gates, the glorious gates!
Throw open the gates to the One who has come in the name of the Lord. 
Our God has made the Light of Joy to shine upon us now. Hosanna, hosanna. Hosanna sing to God on high, and in His presence bow. Hosanna, hosanna. Hosanna, hosanna!
 Throw open the gates, the glorious gates! Let us enter with praise to the King of all kings, by all heaven adored! Throw open the gates, the glorious gates! Throw open the gates to the One who has come in the name of the Lord.
Children's Time
Children of all ages are invited to join us in this special moment.
Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, 
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. 
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Hymn
#168 "At the Name of Jesus", vv. 1, 2, 4

The hymn can be found on the next page.
Sermon
Through the Gate
Call to Prayer
We lift our prayers to you, in the name of Christ our Lord. (Tom Fettke)
Pastoral Prayer
#168 "At the Name of Jesus", vv. 1, 2, 4








































Words: Caroline Noel, 1870; Tune: King’s Weston, Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1925
Introduction to
Discipleship,
Membership,
and Commitment
Our Creative God endows us with the gifts of time, talent, and treasure. Within this bulletin you will find invitations to enrich your faith journey and enhance your commitment. We invite you to prayerfully consider these opportunities. If you’re out there watching, check in through the website or take a picture and post it on social media using #asburyfirstathome. You may give a gift with a debit/credit card or by e-check by texting the dollar amount to 206-222-1050. Online giving is available 
on our website at www.asburyfirst.org/give.
Offertory


“Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle†— Craig Courtney, based on a Welsh hymn tune; text by Venantius Fortunatus (6th c.), tr. Percy Dearmer Tell how, when at length the fullness of the appointed time was come, Christ, the Word, was born of woman, left for us His Father’s home, Showed us human life made perfect, shone as light amid the gloom.
 Thus, with thirty years accomplished, went He forth from Nazareth, destined, dedicated, willing, did His work, and met His death; like a lamb He humbly yielded on the cross His dying breath.
 Faithful cross, thou sign of triumph, now for us the noblest tree; none in foliage, none in blossom, none in fruit they peer may be; symbol of the world’s redemption, for the weight that hung on thee!
 Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle; sing the ending of the fray. Now above the cross, the trophy, sound the loud triumphant lay: tell how Christ, the world’s Redeemer, as a victim won the day.
Doxology
Tune: "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence"
Unto God be praise and glory: to the Father and the Son, to th’eternal Spirit honor now and evermore be done; praise and glory in the highest, while unending ages run.
Prayer of Dedication
Holy One, in your great love you sent your own Son to teach us the ways of life and death. May our gifts and offerings reflect our gratitude for Christ’s never-failing love. Amen.
To Renew Commitment
To Disperse in Mission
Closing Hymn
#159 “Lift High the Cross†(vv. 1, 3) 
 







Words: George William Kitchin, Michael Robert Newbolt, 1916; Tune: Crucifer, Sydney Nicholson, 1916
Participants In the Service
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady 
Liturgist: Rev. Jackie Nelson
Director of Children's Ministry: Paula Dugan
Organist: Duane Prill
Soloists: Bess Phillips, Brenda Nitsch Dan McInerney, Jordan Bachmann Director of Music Ministry: Dr. Carl Johengen Audio Operator: Rick Church
Video Operator: Kenny Bailey
Graphics Operator: Jake Schwartz
Technology Support Team: Deb Bullock-Smith, Carolyn Curran, Ted Skomsky Technical Consultant: Justin Ocello
Permissions: “Throw Open the Gates†© 2011 Beckenhorst Press, Inc.; 
“Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle†© 2013 Beckenhorst Press, Inc.; Hymns © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House; OneLicense.net #A-721053. Some of the liturgical elements have been adapted from the 2021 Abingdon Worship Annual. Illustration Credits: Designed by Sarah Brubaker, Rob Petrosyan and Freepik and Vecteezy.
Benediction
Postlude
Toccata on “All Glory, Laud, and Honor†— Michael Burkhardt
Our values represent a description of our guiding principles. 
These statements are standards of behavior, which are inherent in all we do.
Open to All We believe we are all equal in God’s eyes and are all one in Christ. We extend hospitality and encourage full participation for all regardless of any perceived defining characteristic. Worship We believe we are at our best when we connect to God together through preaching, prayer, and song. 
We strive for excellence in all we do, especially in our worship experience. Community We believe we are better together; fellowship and care are keys to love and life. Outreach We believe everyone deserves hope and fullness of life. We endeavor to practice mercy and work for justice in our local and extended community. Discipleship We believe we—adults, youth, and children alike—are called to grow in our faith both as a community and as individuals through education, regular worship, meaningful fellowship, a commitment to service, 
and celebrating rites of passage together. Generosity We believe what we have is a gift from God. We share our gifts with an open heart to help meet needs 
at Asbury First, the Rochester community, and throughout the world. Stewardship We believe we must care for the human, physical, and financial resources with which we have been entrusted.
Click here for Discipleship Meetings
Click here for parables of Parenting class
challenge
HOW TO JOIN A ZOOM MEETING Click the button above for your meeting. When you open the link, you should get some pop-ups asking questions like: 1. Do you want to open and run the program Zoom? 2. Do you want to connect with your computer audio? 3. Do you want to connect with your computer video?
 Click yes to any and all of these prompts. Once you have clicked through these prompts, you should be able to see yourself on your computer screen, and you should be able to see the rest of the group that is also logged on.
 If any group would like to utilize our Discipleship Zoom (passcode 200) account to take their meetings online, please contact Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org.
Virtual meetings
Click here 
for Changing Weighs
Challenge Spend a moment this week in prayer about who God is calling you to be 
or where God is calling you to go.
For a full list of events and clickable links, visit our online calendar here.
Click here for Zoom with Paula and Holly
Check out our online Zoom meetings! There are plenty of different groups and meetings to join during the stay-at-home restrictions. From Zoom with Miss Paula and Holly to Guided Meditations, or Dynamic Disciple Challenge meetings and Sunday morning lessons, there is plenty of variety. (Click the buttons below for some of the Zoom links.)
During this season of Lent, we want to issue a weekly challenge—an action or activity—that the congregation can engage in as part of their Lenten Discipline. The goal is to connect with others and find a way to put the sermon topic into action.
Lenten
Sermon Through the Gate
Please note, the Felllowship 1/2 Hour will begin as soon as the Chancel Chats episode has finished.
Photo Parade
Submit your photos 
by April 1st to be included! 
Learn more and get the link at www.asburyfirst.org/
easterphotoparade.
One of the traditions we are missing this year is dressing up in our Easter finest while gathering together for church on Easter Sunday. If you are like us, you've been enjoying the simplicity of church from the couch in comfy pajamas. So, to take a break from the "stay-at-home" style, we invite you 
to dress in your Easter finest and take a picture! We'd love to share your photos in a special slideshow before the service on Easter Sunday as part of our Easter Finest Photo Parade.
Stay tuned after the postlude for a new episode. 
This week we focus on a behind-the-scenes look at the recent communications for the One Year of the Pandemic.
A behind-the-scenes conversation
*Come-as-you-wish events in person. 
Main worship services are live-stream only.
We invite you during this Holy Week to join us for a combination 
of live-stream and in-person worship experiences:
Maundy Thursday THURSDAY, APRIL 1 Communion at a Distance, 7 pm
In this simple, but brief service, we invite you 
to gather around a table in your home, to turn 
on the live stream, and to share an experience 
of communion from afar. If you have bread 
and juice (or wine), please use them. Good Friday FRIDAY, APRIL 2 Envisioning the Passion, 12 pm
Please join us for a service that remembers the passion of Christ through art, scripture, and music. Family-Friendly Lent Stations, 
5–7 pm, Gathering Center*
A socially-distanced, come-when-you-wish, child-friendly event with activities and prayer stations throughout the Gathering Center. Holy Saturday SATURDAY, APRIL 3 Pilgrimage and Meditation, 
8–11 am, Sanctuary*
All are invited to join us in a pilgrimage 
to and through our sanctuary this Holy Saturday. This will be a time of silent meditation, 
with guided readings and music interspersed 
in the background. Easter Sunday SUNDAY, APRIL 4 Live-stream Worship, 11 am
This Easter, again the sanctuary will be as empty 
as the tomb, but Christ will be just as alive. 
Please join us as we celebrate the Resurrection 
of Jesus Christ and the promise of new life.
Give Online at www.asburyfirst.org/GIVE, text to give at 206-222-1050, 
OR MAIL IN YOUR CHECKS TO 1050 EAST AVENUE, ROCHESTER, NY 14607
Holy Week Services