TO UNITE IN FAITH TO DO MORE GOOD TO JOIN A COMMUNITY TO MAKE CHANGE TO CELEBRATE DIVERSITY
To worship with us
August 8, 2021 • 11 AM
COVID-19 Guidelines Following the updated guidance from the CDC and NYS Health Department and monitoring the Delta variant in our community, face masks are required. Out of an abundance of caution, we will require that everyone attending service and activities wear a mask at all times. This includes both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. To learn more about the new policy or to read our FAQs, visit www.asburyfirst.org/news/2021/7/covid-update-delta-variant/. 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. During the summer, the 9 am outdoor service will include 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
“Beach Spring” — arr. Wilbur Held “Land of Rest” — arr. Wilbur Held “Simple Gifts” — arr. Wilbur Held
Welcome
Call to Worship
All are invited to read the bold-faced type; the lay reader will read the unbolded type. O God, who is greater than the most powerful forces in this world, Enable us to be still and know that you are God. O Lord, who answers out of the whirlwind of everyday life, Be with us to strengthen, comfort, and guide us in the midst of the storm. O still, small voice, speak to us this hour That we might become makers of your peace.
11 am • August 8, 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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Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Opening Hymn
#361 "Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me" Words: Augustus Toplady; Tune: Toplady, Thomas Hastings
11 am
Scripture 1 Kings 19:4-8
But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.
To hear the word
Prayer of Confession
O God of the still, small voice, quiet our inner spirit. Help us to focus upon you, and to hear your voice within. There are so many other voices demanding our attention. But we cannot attend to them without you. In weakness, be our strength; in poverty, be our wealth. In depression, be our joy; In apathy, be our love.
Silent Confession
Word of Assurance
We cannot sing Love's song, O Lord, unless it be your voice singing in us. We give you thanks that you can take our hearts and mouths and make your praise and thanksgiving a reality here and now. 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
“He Comes to Us as One Unknown” — Charles H. H. Parry; words by Timothy Dudley-Smith He comes to us as one unknown, a breath unseen, unheard; As though within a heart of stone, or shriveled seed in darkness sown, A pulse of being stirred, a pulse of being stirred. He comes when souls in silence lie and thoughts of day depart; Half seen upon the inward eye, a falling star across the sky Of night within the heart, of night within the heart. He comes to us in sound of seas, the ocean's fume and foam; Yet small and still upon the breeze, a wind that stirs the tops of trees, A voice to call us home, a voice to call us home. He comes in love as once he came by flesh and blood and birth; To bear within our mortal frame a life, a death, a saving Name, For ev'ry child of earth, for ev'ry child of earth. He comes in truth when faith is grown; believed, obeyed, adored: The Christ in all the scriptures shown, as yet unseen, but not unknown, Our Savior and our Lord, our Savior and our Lord.
Children's Time Recorded Live August 5, 2020 Vacation Bible School Children's Choir
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
#358 "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind" (vv. 1, 4–5) Words: John Greenleaf Whittier; Tune: Rest, Frederick Maker
Sermon
Calling All The Messengers
Call to Prayer
Lord, listen to your children praying; Lord, send your Spirit in this place. Lord, listen to your children praying; send us love, send us power, send us grace. (Ken Medema)
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
“God of Mercy, God of Grace” — Jerry Davidson; words by Henry Francis Lyte God of mercy, God of grace, show the brightness of thy face; Shine upon us, Savior, shine, fill thy Church with light divine; And thy saving health extend, unto earth’s remotest end. Let thy people praise thee, Lord, be by all that live adored; Let the nations shout and sing glory to their Savior King; Let all be below, above, one in joy, and light, and love.
Doxology Hymnal #95
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
Gracious God, whatever measure of grace and giftedness we have been given is enough. Help us always to share ourselves with you and with the world you have placed in our 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: Mike Mullin Liturgist: Rev. Rachel Dupont Director of Children's Ministry: Paula Dugan Organist: Duane Prill Soloists: Bess Phillips, Heather Watras, Jonathan Ivers, Jordan Bachmann Audio Operator: Rick Church Video Operator: Kenny Bailey Graphics Operator: Connor Nelson Technology Support Team: Deb Bullock-Smith, Carolyn Curran, Ted Skomsky Technical Consultant: Justin Ocello
Virtual meetings
Permissions: “He Comes to Us as One Unknown” words © 1973 Hope Publishing Company; “God of Mercy, God of Grace” © 2000 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 and Freepik and Vecteezy.
Benediction
Postlude
"Foundation” — arr. Wilbur Held
Check out our online Zoom meetings! There are plenty of different groups and meetings still going as we make our way back together. For a full list of events with links, visit our online calendar at www.asburyfirst.org/events.
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.
Our values represent a description of our guiding principles. These statements are standards of behavior, which are inherent in all we do.
MASKS
Though we had to brave the rain and wear masks once again, it was truly a blessing to be together for Tent Sunday last week. Given the last year and a half, I never want to take for granted the gift that it is to look one another in the eye. To that end, we have been working to carefully plan for our safe return to worship this fall.
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
For those who might have missed it, during the service on Sunday we announced our plan to begin the fall (starting on September 12) with just one service at 11 am. It will be both in-person and live-streamed. To be clear, we view this as a temporary step toward a return to multiple services. However, with the uncertainty regarding the new COVID variant as well as continued apprehension by many about returning to in-person worship, we felt this would be a prudent first step. Our hope would be to reassess after a couple of months and put forward a more permanent worship schedule at that time. Through September 5, we will continue to enjoy our summer worship schedule with outdoor services at 9 am (weather permitting) and the live-stream-only service at 11 am. We will provide more information in the weeks to come regarding Sunday School, childcare, and updated worship protocols. Thank you for your patience. In response to the Delta variant, we are again asking all people to mask while on our campus, indoors and outdoors, regardless of vaccination status. We are grateful for your grace and patience as we attempt to navigate our safe return.
WORSHIP THIS FALL
WORSHIP AND MASK UPDATE