May 9, 2021 • 9 & 11 AM
COVID-19 Guidelines Following guidance from the CDC and NYS Health Department, the services inside our sanctuary this May will have a limit of 150 people. This will allow us to maintain social distancing and keep everyone safe. Face masks are required while on campus (indoors and outdoors), and we have masks available if needed. If there are more than 150 people who come to one of the services in May, additional socially-distanced overflow seating will be provided in the Fellowship Hall for members to watch the service on a screen in community. To learn more about in-person worship, to read our FAQs, and to watch our fun "Welcome Back" video, visit www.asburyfirst.org/welomeback. 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, and they are welcome in our worship. For now, childcare will be unavailable during the 9 am in-person worship service. You can join us at 10 am for the Sunday morning Zoom with Paula and Holly. 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
Six Character Pieces — Robert Schumann (1810-1856) “Of Strange Lands and People” (Scenes from Childhood, op. 15) “Curious Story” (Scenes from Childhood) “Dreaming” (Scenes from Childhood) “Entrance into the Woods” (Forest Scenes, op. 82) “Friendly Landscape” (Forest Scenes) “Scherzino” (Album Leaves, op. 124)
Welcome
Call to Worship
All are invited to read the bold-faced type; the lay reader will read the unbolded type. Spirit of love, abide in us as we worship. Whisper your song of love into our hearts. Let love flow through every word we hear. Let grace abound in every song we sing. Spirit of power and grace, abide in us as we worship. May we abide in your love and proclaim your song of love for all.
9 am & 11 am • May 9, 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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Sixth Sunday of Easter
Opening Hymn
#400 "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" Words: Robert Robinson, 1758; Tune: Nettleton, anon. American, 1813
9 am & 11 am
Scripture John 15:9-17
(Jesus said,) "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another."
To hear the word
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, we come in search of love, hoping to learn how to love as you love. Help us to see others with the clarity of your vision. Help us to forgive and to accept forgiveness, as fully and confidently as you forgive. Grant us grace to abide in your love each and every day.
Silent Confession
Word of Assurance
Hear the good news: God’s steadfast love is with us, embracing us with forgiveness and grace. 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.
Hymn
#454 "Open My Eyes, That I May See" (v. 2) Words and Music: Clara Scott; Tune: Open My Eyes Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear; and while the wave-notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear. Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see. Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Scripture Acts 10:44-48
While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.
Anthem
“Sing a New Song to the Lord” — David W. Music; words by Timothy Dudley-Smith, based on Psalm 98 Sing a new song to the Lord, he to whom wonders belong; rejoice in his triumph and tell of his power, O sing to the Lord a new song! Now to the ends of the earth see his salvation is shown; and still he remembers his mercy and truth, unchanging in love to his own. Sing a new song and rejoice, publish his praises abroad; let voices in chorus, with trumpet and horn, resound for the joy of the Lord! Join with the hills and the sea thunders of praise to prolong; in judgment and justice he comes to the earth, O sing to the Lord a new song!
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.
#560 "Help Us Accept Each Other" (vv. 1, 2, 4) Words: Fred Kaan, 1974; Tune: Acceptance, John Ness Beck, 1977
Sermon
A Perfect Circle
Call to Prayer
We come believing, your words receiving. Lord, show us what you'd have us do. Teach us how to live, spur our hearts to give. You know our yearning, our hearts now turning. Lord, hear us when we pray to you. (Ashley Danyew)
Pastoral Prayer
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
“Know That God Loves You” — Carson Cooman; words from Psalm 37 and Romans 8 Know that God loves you. God’s command is this: “Love one another as I have loved you.” For neither death nor life, nor present nor future, shall separate us from the love of God.
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 abundance, pour out your Holy Spirit on our gifts and on all of us gathered here. May we abide in your love, that many will come to know the breadth of your compassion and care. 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. Jackie Nelson, Rev. Kathy Thiel Director of Children's Ministry: Paula Dugan Organist: Dr. Carl Johengen 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: “Sing a New Song to the Lord” words © 1973 Hope Publishing Co., music © 2005 GIA Publications, Inc.; “Know That God Loves You” © 2013 St. James Music Press; 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
Pasticcio (1956) — Jean Langlais
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
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
Learn more at www.asburyfirst.org
Show your support for:
MAY SCHEDULE: (5/9, 5/16, 5/23) 9 am Service — In-person INSIDE (limit 150) Request: We encourage those interested to choose one or two Sundays to attend. 11 am Service — Live-stream Only SUMMER SCHEDULE: (5/30 through 9/5) 9 am Service — In-person OUTSIDE — Weather Permitting Only 11 am Service — Live-stream Only
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
W E L C O M E B A C K
Help us honor all the amazing mothers out there, whether they are still with us or not. Please share a picture of your mother!! #asburyfirstmoms