E-Newsletter of Asbury First
A church is more than the building, and the members of Asbury First are proving this time and again. We aim to keep connected with a weekly e-newsletter that will highlight the unique stories of our amazing community.
Celebrating Youth Sunday!
June 11, 2020
This Sunday is Youth Sunday! Thanks to all of the amazing youth for working hard to create a virtual version of a beloved tradition. From the prelude and scripture reading to the anthem and pre-recording the Senior Sermons in the sanctuary, the youth worked at a safe distance to put together this week's service. We can't wait for all the fantastic contributions and to hear the voice of our youth through the Senior Sermons!
Here are a few screen grabs from the many virtual meetings we have had as a church during these isolating times.
Above and below: Anna Clark, Owen Cole, Madison White, Payton Shafer, and Jessica Schwartz pre-recorded their Senior Sermons in the sanctuary prior to Youth Sunday. Thanks to all our Youth Sunday participants: Charlie Bohrer, Emily Clark, Riley Flynn, Hailey Giordano, Alex Guffey, Morgan Long, Finn Mahan, Emma McQuillan, Ben Nutter, QP Parks, Jake Schwartz, Declan Shafer, and the Youth Choir.
Asbury First is privileged to enjoy the talents of a dedicated musical staff, and perhaps now more than ever we've had a chance to experience some of them up close. Over the next few weeks we'll profile each of our soloist/section leaders, as well as our Organist Duane Prill. This week we feature baritone Jordan Bachmann.
Question: Tell us a little about your musical background? Answer: I have been actively singing and performing for the past ten years. I started out by participating in school musicals and developed a love for theater ever since. I pursued a classical voice degree at Ithaca College (where Carl Joehngen, who you may know, was one of my professors!). I finished my degree at SUNY Geneseo. I still perform in musicals around town all the time. Q: When did you join the Asbury First musical staff? A: I joined the staff in Fall of 2018 as the Bass Section Leader. Q: Tell us about an experience at Asbury First that has really stuck with you: A: My first Christmas Eve service with Asbury First was truly magical. I was still quite new to the church, but it was wonderful to be a part of a huge history of tradition. I also really loved my first Good Friday service, which was musically invigorating, as well as singing the Vaughn William's Fantasia on Christmas Carols. Q: Do you have a favorite musical moment, either here at Asbury First or elsewhere? A: My favorite show of all time is Les Miserables, and there are multiple moments in that score that give me chills, whether I am performing them or in the audience. Q: What do you do when you're not singing at Asbury First? A: I work as a 401k Analyst at Paychex full time. I love playing all sorts of games and raising two little bunnies! Q: Tell us what's been helping you stay sane while sheltering at home: A: I have been attempting a daily yoga routine to keep moving! Otherwise, a good mix of movies, games, and walks have been helpful and entertaining during this time we find ourselves in.
Featuring Baritone Jordan Bachmann
Get to Know Asbury First's Musical Staff
COMMUNITY PROFILE
You may remember our fantastic mascot from the 2019 Power of Small Things VBS—the Minion! Our happy Minion has been making the rounds recently and paying visits to a few of our kids to spread the love during a time of social distancing. If you want a visit from the Minion, contact Paula Dugan at pdugan@asburyfirst.org.
Visits from the Asbury First Minion!
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
Got Talent? We want to see it. Can you juggle, dance, play an instrument, sing and hula hoop at the same time? If yes, join our Asbury First VTS (virtual talent show). All ages and all levels of talent are welcome to participate. Let's make some videos and hopefully we'll make some smiles. Here's what you need to do. 1. Practice! 2. Record yourself performing your God-given talent. 3. Upload your landscape video (less than 5 minutes long) by submitting a form here by June 21st. (To make a landscape video with your phone, turn your phone horizontal when recording.) 4. Join us as we watch our Virtual Talent Show on the live stream Wednesday, June 24th. If you have questions about the requirements above or are unsure how to record yourself please email Jeff Dugan at duganjl92@gmail.com. As long as you have a smartphone or laptop with a camera he should be able to help!
Left: Storehouse Co-Chair Wendy Cohen bagged up all the baby clothes for Baby Love. Below: Clothing for a young mother and her 10-month-old son, who are starting over new in Rochester.
Asbury Storehouse Update
On March 16, 2020 a decision was made to temporarily close the Asbury Storehouse in light of the concerns of the growing pandemic. This was to ensure the safety of our volunteers as well as our shoppers. There were pages of appointments that had to be cancelled and that happened thanks to Tom Brazda.Our volunteers were notified that we would be closed until further notice. Signs were put up and the acceptance of donations was halted. Little did anyone realize that mid-June would be here and the Storehouse would still be closed to volunteers and shoppers. In the past few weeks, some agencies and individuals that were in need of some emergency assistance have contacted the Storehouse. One call came from one of our volunteers who is also employed at Jordan Health Center. She had a gentleman, who had been living out of his car, who would be moving into a studio apartment and was in need of clothing, sheets, hygiene items, a blanket and some household items. Another was an email from a social worker at Baby Love, an agency that assists pregnant women and new mothers. With other agencies also closed, Baby Love was in need of some infant clothing and receiving blankets for their expectant or new mothers. We were fortunate to have just heard from a very generous donor, who while self-isolating, had been making receiving blankets to donate to the Storehouse. Along with infant clothes from 0-9 months, 40 of those receiving blankets were also given to Baby Love. Other appeals have come from a young mother who needed clothing for herself and her 10-month-old son. Keeping Our Promise Rochester had a family who had recently been resettled in Rochester and needed clothes for family members. Still another request came from Jordan Health for a family with three children in need of clothing. Wendy Cohen, co-chair of the Storehouse, has gone over to the Storehouse, gathered and bagged items and found a way to get items to the caseworkers in a contactless way. The Storehouse’s generosity has been much appreciated by all. We do not know when the Storehouse will reopen but we know it will sometime in the future. What we do know is that shoppers will need to be helped differently. Masks will be donned by volunteers and shoppers, hand sanitizer will be a must for all, and less people will be allowed in the Storehouse at one time so that we are all able to maintain proper social distancing. Even with a pandemic, we know there is still a need for clothes and household items by many in our community.
OUTREACH
By Cindy Connell, Storehouse Co-Chair