DECEMBER 27, 2020 • 11 AM
All are welcome at Asbury First. Please join us in celebrating our 200th Anniversary!
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.
First Sunday after Christmas
Prelude
“Variations on “Coventry Carol” — arr. Lasky/Barr Theme-Trio-Epilogue-Berceuse-Dirge-Battaglia
Welcome
Call to Worship
All are invited to read the bold-faced type; the lay reader will read the unbolded type. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them has light shined. The light shines in the darkness. And the darkness did not overcome it. For Christ is born in Bethlehem. Come, let us adore him.
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11 am • December 27, 2020
The community gathers As the community gathers, may the music of the prelude draw your hearts and minds to God.
Opening Hymn
#220 "Angels from the Realms of Glory" Words: James Montgomery, 1816; Tune: Regent Square, Henry Smart, 1867 Words: Charles Wesley, 1746; Tune: Darwall’s 148th, John Darwall, 1770
11 am
First Reading
"Remembering That It Happened Once" — Wendell Berry
Carol
#221 "In the Bleak Midwinter" (v. 1) Words: Christina Rossetti, 1872; Tune: Cranham, Gustav Holst, 1906
Second Reading
“You are Holy" — Lucien Deiss
To hear the word
#221 "In the Bleak Midwinter" (v. 4) The carol is found on the previous page.
Scripture Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
#224 "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice" (v. 1) The Carol is found on the next page.
Third Reading
“Shall I Tell You Who Will Come?” — traditional Spanish Carol
#224 "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice" (v. 4) The Carol is found on the next page.
Fourth Reading
“Christmas Returns” — Howard Thurman
#224 "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice" Words: 14th cent. Latin, trans. John Mason Neale; Tune: In Dulci Jubilo, German melody Words: Charles Wesley, 1746; Tune: Darwall’s 148th, John Darwall, 1770
#240 "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" (vv. 1, 3) Words:Charles Wesley, 1734; Tune: Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn, 1840 Words: Charles Wesley, 1746; Tune: Darwall’s 148th, John Darwall, 1770
Fifth Reading
"Amazing Peace" — Maya Angelou
#249 "There's a Song in the Air" (vv. 1, 2) Words: Joseph G. Holland, 1874; Tune: Christmas Song, Karl P. Harrington, 1904
Children's Time
Children of all ages are invited to join us in this special moment.
#238 "Angels We Have Heard on High" (vv. 1, 2) Words: Trad. French carol; Tune: Gloria, French carol melody, arr. E.S. Barnes, 1937 Words: Charles Wesley, 1746; Tune: Darwall’s 148th, John Darwall, 1770
Pastoral Prayer
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
“What Sweeter Music” — Ralph Vaughan Williams, arr. Mark Schweizer; words by Robert Herrick What sweeter music can we bring than a carol for to sing the birth of this our heavenly King? We see him come, and know him ours, who with his sunshine and his showers Turns all the patient ground to flowers. So we will see him, and bequeath this holly and this ivy wreath, to do him honor, who's our King, and Lord of all this reveling. Dark and dull night, fly hence away, and give the honor to this day That sees December turned to May. The darling of the world is come, and fit it is to find a room to welcome him. The nobler part of all the house here is the heart. Awake the voice! Awake the string! What sweeter music can we bring To sing the birth of this our heavenly King?
Sixth Reading
“Love Does That” — Meister Eckhart
#242 "Love Came Down at Christmas" Words: Christina Rossetti, 1885; Tune: Gartan, Tard. Irish melody
Seventh Reading
"On a Christmas Night" — Langston Hughes
#251 “Go Tell it on the Mountain” The carol is found on the next page.
Eighth Reading
“Untitled” — Macrina Wiederkehr
#251 "Go Tell It on the Mountain" Words: John Work, Jr., 1907; Music: Spiritual, arr. William Farley Smith Words: Charles Wesley, 1746; Tune: Darwall’s 148th, John Darwall, 1770
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: “What Sweeter Music” © 2013 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
“The Work of Christmas” — Howard Thurman
Postlude
"In Dulci Jubilo" — arr. Michael Bedford
Participants In the Service
Liturgists: Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, 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: Kenny Bailey Graphics Operators: Jake Schwartz Technology Support Team: Deb Bullock-Smith, Carolyn Curran, Ted Skomsky Technical Consultant: Justin Ocello
BICENTENNIAL TRIVIA
From last week: How much did the Asbury Society pay in 1860 to purchase the St. John’s Church on the corner of Main and Clinton? A. The Asbury Society bought the church and property at the corner of Main and South Clinton from Hiram Davis for $7,000.
Virtual meetings
Rochester had been incorporated as a town how many years prior to the establishment of the First Methodist Church of Rochester?
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.
Our values represent a description of our guiding principles. These statements are standards of behavior, which are inherent in all we do.
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.
The Joy of Christmas Giving program is an opportunity for us to ensure that more of Rochester’s most vulnerable receive the support they need, we are inviting the congregation to consider donating to this fund, in lieu of donating to our individual Asbury First-afiliated outreach ministries. We’d like to be a part of mediating the current crisis around evictions, and believe we can do it with your help! Click here to learn more.
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
Click here to sign up.
In 2021, we are inviting everyone to join us in signing up for a Disciple class so that we can delve deeper into our faith and strive to become dynamic disciples. The Disciple Bible Study is a 34-week study with 17 weeks focused on the Old Testament and 17 weeks focused on the New Testament. Whether you have read the Bible or not, this is a great way to engage our scriptures in a community seeking to deepen their discipleship.