All are welcome at Asbury First. Please join us in celebrating our 200th Anniversary!
OCTOBER 4, 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.
Prelude
“We Place Upon Your Table, Lord" — arr. Childs “We Place Upon Your Table, Lord” — arr. Powell Chorale and Variations on “O Bread of Life from Heaven” — Raymond Haan
Welcome
Call to Worship (Psalm 19)
All are invited to read the bold-faced type; the lay reader will read the unbolded type. The heavens are telling the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of God’s hands. Day and night, in an endless cycle, show the steadfastness of God’s love. The warmth of the sun upon the earth reflects God’s light. The law of God is perfect, and revives the soul. God’s word brings wisdom, making wise the pure of heart. The heavens are telling the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of God’s hands. Come! Let us worship the living God.
18th Sunday after Pentecost
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11 am • October 4, 2020
The community gathers As the community gathers, may the music of the prelude draw your hearts and minds to God.
Opening Hymn
“All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly” (The Faith We Sing #2126) Words: Sylvia Dunstan; Tune: Holy Manna, William Moore
11 am
Scripture Matthew 21:33-46
“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.’ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.
To hear the word
Prayer of Confession
Jesus, we are here to work in your vineyard. We want to work in your fields, and make disciples throughout the world. Cornerstone of our faith, do not abandon us when our weakness causes us to fall short. Bring us into your kingdom, that we might taste the sweetness of your mercy.
Silent Confession
Word of Assurance
The one who created us never stops seeking us, beckoning us into union with Christ. Turn to God and receive acceptance in Christ’s name. 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.
Anthem
“My Song Is Love Unknown” — John Ireland, arr. James Kirkby My song is love unknown, my Savior’s love to me; Love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be. O who am I, that for my sake my Lord should take, frail flesh and die? He came from His blest throne salvation to bestow; But men made strange, and none the longed for Christ would know: But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed, who at my need His life did spend. Here might I stay and sing, no story so divine; Never was love, dear King! never was grief like Thine. This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend.
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
#368 “My Hope Is Built” Words: Edward Mote, 1834; Tune: The Solid Rock, William Bradbury, 1863
Sermon
For a Time
Choral Response
To Renew Commitment
To Celebrate Communion
The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
The Lord's Supper
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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
“At the Table of the World” — Carl Johengen; words by Brian Wren At the table of the world, some have plenty, some have none. At the table of our God, all are plentifully fed. (Refrain:) Blow among us, Spirit of God, fill us with your courage and care! Hurricane and Breath, take us on a journey of love! At the table of the world, some have honor, some have scorn. At the table of our God, all are welcomed and acclaimed. (Refrain) Set the table of our God in the Church and in the world, Till the children, fed and loved, taste and see that life is good. (Refrain)
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: “My Song Is Love Unknown” © 2014 St. James Music Press; “At the Table of the World” music © 1993 World Library Publications, words © 1989 Hope Publishing Company; “All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly” words © 1991 G.I.A. Publications Inc. 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
“Now the Silence” — Walter Pelz
Participants In the Service
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady Liturgist: Rev. Kathy Thiel 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 Technology Support Team: Deb Bullock-Smith, Carolyn Curran, Ted Skomsky Technical Consultant: Justin Ocello
BICENTENNIAL TRIVIA
In what year did Asbury and First combine?
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 (password is "200"), 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
From last week: One of the two large gifts that made the building of our present sanctuary possible was made by Thomas J. Watson. Who was he, and what was his connection to Asbury? A. Thomas J. Watson was the CEO of IBM from 1914 to 1956. In 1941 he pledged $25,000 of IBM stock to the building of the new sanctuary, in memory of his parents who had been members of Asbury since 1900. The church sold the stock in 1953 for $164,987.
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
Viewers Watching
Devices watching:
2
Cities reached globally including Rochester
States reached nationally including New York
People Watching Together
#asburyfirstathome
Callers listening live on our toll-free number
32
UNITED KINGDOM
France
985
We are connected more than we think! Here are some numbers from last week that show our global reach.
12
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.
Email Check-ins
112
Live Stream Check-ins
Al and Mary Mizell — Hollywood Hills UMC
Text Check-ins
25
Viewers Connecting
UNIQUE DEVICES watching on youtube live
JAPAN
Finland
Still better together
Which equals approximately:
194
Countries reached Globally including the United states
11
social media posts
471
5