All are welcome at Asbury First. Please join us in celebrating our 200th Anniversary!
October 18, 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. 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
"Fantasy for Organ in C major", Op. 16, FWV 28 — César Franck
Welcome
Call to Worship
All are invited to read the bold-faced type; the lay reader will read the unbolded type. Friends, we are loved by God. The ruler of heaven and earth knows us by name. God hears and answers our cries for help. God shows compassion and mercy to all. Let us praise and magnify our great and awesome God. Let us worship the one whose image is imprinted within us.
20th Sunday after Pentecost
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11 am • October 18, 2020
The community gathers As the community gathers, may the music of the prelude draw your hearts and minds to God.
Opening Hymn
#103 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” (vv. 1-3) Words: Walter C. Smith, 1867; Tune: St. Denio, Welsh Melody arr. John Roberts, 1839
11 am
Scripture Exodus 33:12-23
Moses said to the Lord, “See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.” The Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.” And the Lord continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
To hear the word
Prayer of Confession
O God, our God, you have shown us your ways. You have promised to walk with us. But we have not always been faithful. Lover of justice, forgive us when we fail to live in your image. May the convictions of our faith be displayed in our actions, Actions of kindness, compassion, and mercy.
Silent Confession
Word of Assurance
Our God is a God of mercy, showing kindness and compassion to all. When we call on God, God hears and answers us. 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
“Lead Me, Lord” — Samuel Wesley; words from Psalms 4:8 and 5:8 Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness; make thy way plain before my face. For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.
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
#351 "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior" (vv. 1,2,4)
Words: Fanny Crosby, 1868; Tune: Pass Me Not, William Doane, 1870
Sermon
Enough is Enough
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
“Cleft for Me” — Mark Hayes; words by Augustus Toplady Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee; let the water and the blood, from thy wounded side which flowed, be of sin the double cure; cleanse me from its guilt and power. Not the labors of my hands can fulfill thy law's demands; could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow, all for sin could not atone; thou must save, and thou alone. Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling; naked, come to thee for dress; helpless, look to thee for grace; foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die. While I draw this fleeting breath, when mine eyes shall close in death, when I soar to worlds unknown, and see thee on thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.
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, all that we have and all that we are belong to you. May others come to know your goodness and love, through our generosity. 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: "Lead Me, Lord", public domain; “Cleft for Me” © 2014 SoundForth, a division of the Lorenz Corporation. 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
“Fanfare in D Major” — Nicolas Jacques Lemmens
Participants In the Service
Preacher: Rev. Jackie Nelson Liturgist: Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady 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: Kenny Bailey Graphics Operator: Connor Nelson Technology Support Team: Deb Bullock-Smith, Carolyn Curran, Ted Skomsky Technical Consultant: Justin Ocello
BICENTENNIAL TRIVIA
On the front face of the pulpit, there is a carving depicting what Bible story?
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: Who was the longest-serving pastor in our history? A. Weldon Crossland was the longest-tenured senior pastor (27 years) and Susan Shafer was the longest-tenured minister overall (34 years).
Virtual meetings
We are connected more than we think! Here are some numbers from last week that show our global reach.
10–15
People Watching Together
10
Cities reached Globally including Rochester
Social media posts
2
Viewers Connecting
Devices watching:
34
459
Still better together
Countries reached globally Including United States Japan
1
Callers listening live on our toll-free number
Elizabeth Woolever — Confirmations of Julie Woolever, 1986 (top), and Alison Woolever, 1991
300+
935
5–9
2–4
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
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.
0
Viewers Watching
Live Stream Check-ins
135
States reached Nationally including New York
E-Mail Check-In
Avg. WKly Devices
UNIQUE DEVICES watching on youtube live
Which equals approximately:
3
204
#asburyfirstathome
Text Check-ins
33