APRIL 18, 2021 • 11 AM
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
“Communion” — Louis Vierne “Andante Sostenuto” from Gothic Symphony — Charles Marie Widor
Welcome
Call to Worship Based on Psalm 4
All are invited to read the bold-faced type; the lay reader will read the unbolded type. Hear us when we cry to you, O God. Be gracious to us and hear our prayer. When we are in distress, you make space for us. You put gladness in our hearts, as with a fine feast. When we are disturbed, keep us from sin. You alone, O Lord, make us lie down in safety.
11 am • April 18, 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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Third Sunday of Easter
Opening Hymn
#306 "The Strife is O'er", vv. 1, 2, 4 Words: Anon. Latin, tr. Francis Pott, 1861; Tune: Victory, Palestrina, 1591, arr. W.H. Monk
11 am
Scripture 1 John 3:1-7
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
To hear the word
Prayer of Confession
Risen Savior, when we fail to recognize you we grow reluctant to follow in your way. We find it difficult to see your image in those who suffer today. We resist starting down the path you have shown us, until we know where it may lead. Liberate your world from fear, suspicion, and prejudice. Forgive us, Living Lord. Lead us wherever you will.
Silent Confession
Word of Assurance
Christ lived, died, and rose again for us, even while we were sinners. This is proof of God’s love for us. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Amen.
Gloria Hymnal #102, vs. 3 (alt.)
All glory be to God, all praise and thanks be given; Whose Son and Spirit reign as one in highest Heaven; Our one eternal God, whom earth and heaven adore; For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.
Anthem
“How Shall I Meet You?” — Larry Shackley; words by Paul Gerhardt, tr. Catherine Winkworth O Lord, how shall I meet you, how welcome you aright? Your people long to greet you, my hope, my heart's delight! O kindle, Lord Most Holy, your lamp within my breast to do in spirit lowly all that may please you best. Love caused your incarnation, love brought you down to me; your thirst for my salvation procured my liberty. O love beyond all telling, that led you to embrace, in love all love excelling, our lost and fallen race! You come, O Lord, with gladness, in mercy and goodwill, to bring an end to sadness and bid our fears be still. In patient expectation we live for that great day when a renewed creation your glory shall display. We welcome you, O 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
#304 "Easter People, Raise Your Voices" The hymn can be found on the next page.
Sermon
A Childish Life
Call to Prayer
Show us your vision, what is ours to do, illumined, changed, and made a new. Amen, amen. (Ashley Danyew)
Pastoral Prayer
#304 "Easter People, Raise Your Voices" Words: William James, 1979; Tune: Regent Square, Henry Smart, 1867
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
“Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee” — Peter Matthews; words by Bernard of Clairvaux (12th c.), tr. Edward Caswall, 1849 Jesus, the very thought of thee, With sweetness fills my breast. But sweeter far thy face to see,and in thy presence rest. No voice can sing, no heart can frame, nor can the memory find a sweeter sound than Jesus' name, the Savior of mankind. O hope of every contrite heart! O joy of all the meek, to those who fall, How kind thou art! How good to those who seek! But what to those who find? Ah! This nor tongue nor pen can show: the love of Jesus, what it is, none but who love him know. Jesus, our only joy be thou, as thou our prize wilt be, in thee be all our glory now, and through eternity.
Doxology Hymnal #94
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God, the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Prayer of Dedication
God of love, help us to remember that Christ has no body, no hands, no feet but ours. Teach our eyes to see the needs of our world, and train our hands to reach out in love. Amen.
To Renew Commitment
To Disperse in Mission
Closing Hymn
#672 “God Be with You till We Meet Again” (vv. 1, 2) Words: Jeremiah Rankin, 1880; Tune: God Be With You, William Tomer, 1880
Participants In the Service
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady Liturgists: Rev. Kathy Theil 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: Jake Schwartz Graphics Operators: Connor Nelson Technology Support Team: Deb Bullock-Smith, Carolyn Curran, Ted Skomsky Technical Consultant: Justin Ocello
Permissions: “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee” © 2012 St. James Music Press; “How Shall I Meet You?” © 2017 Lorenz Publishing Company; 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
"Trumpet Tune” — Paul Laubengayer
This week we started filling the beds for our new Asbury Community Garden! We are so excited for this idea to come to fruition. Look for updates in the weekly e-blast and very soon you can join our Asbury Community Garden group on Facebook for more detailed updates on plantings, work needed, and harvesting. Produce raised in this new vegetable garden will supply meals and take-home snacks at the Dining & Caring Center.
Click here for Discipleship Meetings
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.
Click here for Changing Weighs
ASBURY COMMUNITY GARDEN
For a full list of events and clickable links, visit our online calendar here.
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.)
Virtual meetings
Click here for Zoom with Paula and Holly
Click here for parables of Parenting class
S U R V E Y R E S U L T S
Thank you to all who filled out the Return to In-Person Worship Survey! We received 442 responses, which provided crucial data for our COVID-19 Re-Opening Task Force. We plan to make an announcement this Sunday about our plan for re-opening for in-person worship. Please plan to tune in to our service on Sunday for more details. In the meantime, here are some of the key takeaways from the survey:
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
Most people are not yet ready to come back. A strong minority (39%) said that they are ready to come back now. Most people will be ready soon. Nearly 2/3 (64%) of our congregation are either ready to return now (39%) or believe that they will be ready by late spring/early summer (25%). More than 1/3 (34%) are either unsure or do not think they will be ready until late summer/early fall. At this time, people prefer an outdoor worship service to an indoor service. Just over half of respondents (54%) are likely to return for indoor services, whereas two thirds (66%) are likely to return for an outdoor service. People are anxious about the safety of the community. Rise of COVID variants (27%), unknown vaccination status of others (26%), and difficulty of social distancing (23%) were the three largest areas of concern. Virtual church is here to stay. 58% of people reported that they plan to worship through the live stream either exclusively (18%) or alternating with in-person worship (40%). Fortunately, we plan to continue the live stream even after we re-open fully!
Survey Results and Re-opening Announcement this Sunday