All are welcome at Asbury First. Please join us in celebrating our 200th Anniversary!
October 11, 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. 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. 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 Carl Johengen, Piano
”Sicilienne” from Pélléas et Mélisande — Gabriel Fauré “Arabesque No. 1” — Claude Debussy
Welcome
Call to Worship (Psalm 106)
All are invited to read the bold-faced type; the lay reader will read the unbolded type. Give thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is good! God’s steadfast love endures forever. Who can utter the mighty doing of the Lord? Who can declare all the praises of God? Let us gather to give thanks to God’s holy name. Together let us glory in praising God.
19th Sunday after Pentecost
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11 am • October 11, 2020
The community gathers As the community gathers, may the music of the prelude draw your hearts and minds to God.
Opening Hymn
#160 “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart” (vv. 1, 3, 5) Words: Edward Plumptre, 1865; Tune: Marion, Arthur Messiter, 1889
11 am
Scripture Exodus 32:1-14
When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” Aaron said to them, “Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a festival to the Lord.” They rose early the next day, and offered burnt offerings and brought sacrifices of well-being; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.
To hear the word
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, we recall not only our own sins, but the sins of our ancestors in the desert. Too often we have forgotten you, our Savior, and the great deeds you have done for us. Turn our hearts back to you, and nourish us with your forgiveness. Help us to be transformed by your mercy and compassion.
Silent Confession
Word of Assurance
Friends, hear the Good News: God’s grace is freely given to all God’s children. Rejoice in the power of love such as this. 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
“When God Restored Our Common Life” — American hymn tune, arr. Roger Price; words by Ruth Duck (1992) When God restored our common life, our hope, our liberty, at first it seemed a passing dream, a waking fantasy. A shock of joy swept over us, for we had wept so long; the seeds we watered once with tears sprang up into a song. We went forth weeping, sowing seeds in hard, unyielding soil; with laughing hearts we carry home the fruit of all our toil. We praise the One who gave the growth, with voices full and strong. The seeds we watered once with tears sprang up into a song. Great liberating God, we pray for all who are oppressed. May those who long for what is right with justice now be blest. We pray for those who mourn this day, and all who suffer wrong; may seeds they water now with tears spring up into a 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.
Hymn
#428 “For the Healing of the Nations” (vv. 1, 3, 4) Words: Fred Kaan, 1965; Tune: Cwm Rhondda, John Hughes, 1907
Sermon
Idol-ness
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
“All Manner of Thing” — Sarah MacDonald; words by Julian of Norwich (1342-ca.1416) All manner of thing shall be well. And thus our good Lord answered to all the questions and doubts that I might make, saying full comfortably: I may make all thing well, I can make all thing well. I will make all thing well, I shall make all thing well. And thou shall see thyself that all manner of thing shall be well.
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
Compassionate God, we give you thanks for your abundant love and nourishing grace. Bless our gifts, that they may become signs to others of your love and grace. 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: “When God Restored Our Common Life” music © 2010, St. James Music Press, words © 1992 G.I.A. Publications, Inc.; “All Manner of Thing” © 2019, 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 2020 Abingdon Worship Annual. Illustration Credits: Designed by Sarah Brubaker and Freepik, and Sarah Brubaker and Vecteezy.
Benediction
Postlude
“Marche Gothique” — Théodor Salomé
Participants In the Service
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady Liturgist: Rev. Jackie Nelson 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
Who was the longest-serving pastor in our history?
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 Mike Mullin at mmullin@asburyfirst.org.
From last week: In what year did Asbury and First combine? A. The legal document merging the Asbury Society and First Methodist Episcopal Church of Rochester is dated February 7, 1934; the document from the Resident Bishop formally acknowledging the union is dated February 11, 1934.
Virtual meetings
We are connected more than we think! Here are some numbers from last week that show our global reach.
28
TV APP
People Watching Together
5
Devices watching:
525
States reached nationally including NY
How viewers watch by device type
Cities reached globally including Rochester
215
Still better together
Viewers Connecting
1,085
Live Stream Check-ins
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
Desktop
53
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.
Viewers Watching
Mobile
social media posts
8
Which equals approximately:
Text Check-ins
Countries reached Globally including the United states
#asburyfirstathome
125
Evelyn Munger
Dick Butler