All are welcome at Asbury First. Please join us in celebrating our 200th Anniversary!
September 6, 2020 • 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. We will have a segment during our live stream for Children’s Time. We will also be holding a special Zoom meeting (https://zoom.us/j/8347173468) with Paula and Holly on Wednesdays at 11:30 am to keep connected. 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.
14th Sunday after Pentecost
Prelude
Preludes on “Lasst Uns Erfreuen” — Hal Hopson/Benjamin Culli
Welcome
Call to Worship
All are invited to read the bold-faced type; the lay reader will read the unbolded type. O come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into God’s presence with thanksgiving. For we are God’s people, the flock that God shepherds. Let us sing from our hearts! We bring our whole selves to the worship of God!
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11 am • September 6, 2020
The community gathers As the community gathers, may the music of the prelude draw your hearts and minds to God.
Opening Hymn
#62 “All Creatures of Our God and King” (vv. 1–4) Words: Francis of Assisi, ca. 1225, trans. William Draper (alt.); Tune: Lasst Uns Erfreuen, 17th-c. German
11 am
Scripture Psalm 104
Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a tent, you set the beams of your chambers on the waters, you make the clouds your chariot, you ride on the wings of the wind, you make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers. You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken. You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke they flee; at the sound of your thunder they take to flight. They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys to the place that you appointed for them. You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, giving drink to every wild animal; the wild asses quench their thirst. By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the earth, and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart. The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. In them the birds build their nests; the stork has its home in the fir trees. The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the coneys. You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. (continued on next page)
Prayer of Confession
O God, forgive us for those times we blame you for our troubles. Our hearts are full of sorrow for the havoc we have wreaked. We have not paid enough attention to joy. We have not welcomed you fully into our lives. Forgive us. We live most fully when we accept your forgiveness, grace and love.
Silent Confession
Word of Assurance
Hear the Good News! God loves you unconditionally and God forgives you for everything you have done or left undone. Thanks be to God! In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Amen.
Gloria Hymnal #102, Tune: “Now Thank We All Our God”
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.
To hear the word
You make darkness, and it is night, when all the animals of the forest come creeping out. The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. When the sun rises, they withdraw and lie down in their dens. People go out to their work and to their labor until the evening. O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it. These all look to you to give them their food in due season; when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. Then you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground. May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works—who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!
Anthem
“My Lord, What a Mornin’” — Spiritual, arr. John W. Work (Refrain:) My Lord, what a mornin’, my Lord, what a mornin’, My Lord, what a mornin’ when the stars begin to fall. You’ll hear the trumpet sound to wake the nations underground, Looking to my God’s right hand, when the stars begin to fall. (Refrain) You’ll hear the sinner cry to wake the nations underground, Looking to my God’s right hand, when the stars begin to fall. (Refrain)
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
#68 “When in Our Music God Is Glorified” (vv. 1-3,5) Words: Fred Pratt Green, 1971; Tune: Engelberg, Charles Villers Stanford, 1904
Sermon
Music of the Heart
Pastoral Prayer
To Renew Commitment
Invitation 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
“The Lord Is Kind and Merciful” — Carl Johengen; words from Psalm 103, adapted by Fred R. Anderson The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and full of compassion. Bless the Lord with all my being, all within me bless God’s name. Bless the Lord and so remember all God’s mercy to proclaim: Who forgives all your transgressions and with mercy gently heals; Who redeems you from destruction and with goodness kindly deals. Working for those in oppression, God’s own love and justice prove. Slow to anger, full of mercy, steadfast love our sins remove. As the heavens are high above us, vaster still God’s love has been. As the east from west is distant, so God puts away our sin. As a father loves his children, God’s compassion follows us. Though we flourish and then wither, God remembers we are dust. Though the wind blows o’er our living, sweeping all our works away, God’s own covenant is stronger, loving us beyond that day. Unto all who keep the statutes, steadfast in God’s holy way; Unto all who still remember God’s commandments to obey; To our children’s children ever, God’s own righteousness extends; As it was in the beginning, God’s love lasts and never ends.
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
Accept our gifts of time, talent and treasure as signs of our renewed commitment to you, God of our hearts. Use our gifts to comfort the bereaved, calm the anxious, feed the hungry, and nourish all people. Amen.
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
Permissions: “The Lord Is Kind and Merciful” words © 1986 Fred R. Anderson; from Singing Psalms of Joy and Praise. Used by permission. “My Lord, What a Morning” © 1964, Theodore Presser Co. Hymns © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House; OneLicense.net #A-721053. Some of the liturgical elements have been adapted from the 2020 Abingdon Worship Annual. Illustration Credits: Designed by Sarah Brubaker and Freepik, and Sarah Brubaker and Vecteezy.
Benediction
Postlude
Voluntary on “Engelberg” — Robert Hobby
Participants In the Service
Preacher: Rev. Kathy Thiel Liturgist: Rev. Jackie Nelson Director of Children’s Ministry: Paula Dugan Organist: Duane Prill Soloists: Bess Phillips, Susan Huppé, Dan McInerney Director of Music Ministry: Dr. Carl Johengen Audio Operator: Rick Church Video Operator: Kenny Bailey Technical Consultant: Justin Ocello
Between 1820 and 1830, how many ministers were appointed to First Church? (Bonus: See if you can name them)
BICENTENNIAL TRIVIA
From last week: The house known as 1050 was originally named what? A. The 35-room Wilson Soule House was built in 1890-92 for the heir of the Hop Bitters fortune at a cost of $250,000 (more than $6 million in today’s money). It was bought by George Eastman for $100,000 in 1894 after the untimely death of Wilson Soule. Eastman used it for a time while his own grand home was being constructed just down the street.
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 Bicentennial Bible Challenge meetings and Sunday morning lessons, there is plenty of variety. For a full list of events, and clickable links, visit www.asburyfirst.org/events. HOW TO JOIN A ZOOM MEETING Follow the link: zoom.us/j/8347173468 for the main meetings, and us02web.zoom.us/j/338565981 for “Changing Weighs," and us02web.zoom.us/j/868571089 16?pwd=aHF4TEppZERJSXZoZmFxUHgrQ1hjdz09 for the Sunday morning Zoom with Paula and Holly. 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 account to take their meetings online, please contact Rev. Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org.
Virtual meetings
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
40
Jeff Fraser
166
#asburyfirstathome
UNITED KINGDOM
Email Check-ins
We are connected more than we think! Here are some numbers from last week that show our global reach.
People Watching Together
10
If you’re watching at home, make sure to take a picture and post it with the tag #asburyfirstathome. Here are a few more posts and submitted pictures from last week.
JAPAN
Hong Kong
109
Which equals approximately:
Viewers Watching
Callers listening live on our toll-free number
Dave and Laurie Kennedy
Devices watching:
Viewers watching on youtube live
States reached nationally including New York
416
social media post
910
Still better together
NETHERLANDS
Canada
4
Singapore
Cities reached globally including Rochester
Text Check-ins
Terrie Nichols
7
27
1
Martha and Ron Caldwell
Viewers Connecting
Live Stream Check-ins
18
Countries reached Globally including the U.S.