Thursday, May 21, 2020
Weekly Framework
When fear of failure really takes over, you begin to avoid taking risks - because every risk includes a possibility that you will fail, that you will lose face, that you will embarrass yourself or people will laugh at you.  When this happens, you may miss out on some of the most amazing blessings in your life. What can we do with our fear of failure?

Thursday's Devotional
From United Methodist Church of the Resurrection's GPS Guide for the Unafraid series

Psalm 73 reflected a spiritual puzzle. People who completely ignored God seemed to be having success-no troubles at all (verses 3-5). If that was the case, maybe serving God was futile (verses 11, 13). Daniel 8's apocalyptic vision pictured an evil power (probably, originally, the oppressive Greek king Antiochus IV Epiphanes). Three times it said he would "succeed," but only in the short term. In the end, "he will be broken-and not by a human hand." 

For reflection:
* For this psalmist, it was "the prosperity of the wicked" that nearly caused him to give up faith in God. At what times in your life, if any, has the "success" of the wicked led you to ask, "Does the Most High know anything?" (v. 11) Whose position, possessions or prospects do you envy? How much does it matter to you how "success" is reached?
* If the evil power in Daniel 8:12-25 was Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the "daily sacrifice" likely referred to that king sacrificing a pig on the Temple altar in Jerusalem, deliberately trying to discredit Israel's God. He was arrogant about his power- "in his own mind, he will be great." But his army and title did not dethrone God. Can you think of other evil forces (e.g. Hitler's "thousand-year Reich") that crumbled after seeming success? Can you trust, as James Russell Lowell wrote in "The Present Crisis," that "behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own"?

O Lord,
give me more and more of your eternal perspective on success. Keep my steps from slipping at the times when I see the apparent success of the wicked.
Amen. 



If you have a prayer request, send it to the prayer team at prayer@asburylv.org.

For SPARK (3-4yr olds)

For BLAST (PreK- 5th grades)

Following Jesus is a bit like running a tough race. The twists and turns on the course a runner faces are like the hard things that happen to us. Just like a runner gets tired and has to push on, we have to keep going even when we'd rather give up.

With an adult's permission, challenge yourself to run around the block. If that feels fairly easy, challenge yourself to run around the block again. 

Ask God to help you push forward with determination. 

He will help you even when it gets tough.
 

Videos for this week (new for 5/17):

Our first Zoom meeting is tomorrow!
Join Aaron, Rich, Erin, and Beth for these chances to share your joys, your challenges, and anything else that's on your mind during these crazy times.
Links to the meetings will be emailed to those who are registered.

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
Friday, May 22
8 PM - 9 PM

COLLEGE-AGED STUDENTS
Tuesday, May 26
8 PM - 9 PM

YOUTH-AGED STUDENTS
Friday, May 29
8 PM - 9 PM

Registration is required - visit  asburyym.org/zoomin to sign up.

Don & Adele Bush celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this Saturday, May 24!  You can help them celebrate by sending a card to:

Don & Adele Bush
4031 Coffeetown Road
Coplay, PA 18037-2131

Asbury will be assisting the Sixth Street Shelter by collecting needed supplies for the Shelter. Donations are being collected from
4:00 - 6:00 PM on Friday, 5/29 and from 10 am - noon on Saturday, 5/30 in the church's upper parking lot. For the safety of all,
social distancing with be practiced during this time.

Items currently most in need of are:
Paper towels
Laundry detergents (no perfume or dyes if possible)
Mops (prefer Libman Wonder twist mops, they last us a lot longer)
Brooms
Hand soap
Baby wipes (sensitive skin if possible)
all-purpose cleaners
dish washing liquid
Windex glass cleaners
Stove top cleaner for electric range
Oven cleaners
Diapers (sizes 2,4, 5 & 6)

A full list of needed items can be found at  The Sixth Street Shelter website or you can shop  their wish list at Amazon.
Items listed may be out of stock. Substitutions are welcome and are gladly accepting donations shipped directly to the shelter location. 

Any questions, please contact Debbie Holt at 610-392-4802 or Jenn Springer at 610-395-7812.


Asbury's building is now closed indefinitely. When the time comes to re-open, rest assured we will send that communication as far in advance as possible (and very ready to celebrate gathering again!).



For the safety of all, and to keep Asbury's building virus-free, access to the building is now limited to office and custodial staff only. All other key cards have been deactivated. Should you need to gain access to the building, please contact Israel Olivieri, Business Manager, at  iolivieri@asburylv.org.



In the midst of a challenging time, we still have much to celebrate! Thanks to your amazing generosity, we have reached our goal for the Capital Campaign of $350,000 as of April 19, 2020! Praise God!! Thank you to all who supported this important initiative; and continue to watch for updates on project progress in the coming months.

Get information about and past updates on the Capital Campaign at asburylv.org/capitalcampaign.



For those wishing to support COVID-19 relief, we encourage you to consider giving to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) Advance. 100% of donations to the Advance go to COVID-19 relief, as UMCOR's administrative costs are paid through connectional giving.



Summer Camping registration is underway! Camps realize that the future is full of uncertainties and are considering alternative plans, including some offering full refunds if camps are cancelled. Visit the individual camp sites to learn more about their camps and their policies related to COVID-19:
Gretna Glen: Main Site | COVID-19 Response  
Pocono Plateau: Main Site | COVID-19 Response
Camp Innabah: Main Site | COVID-19 Response



Catch up on past announcements, devotionals, and resources at  asburylv.org/coronavirus.

All updates regarding Asbury's response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) will also be shared at that page; as well as via email blast and on our social media feeds ( Facebook and  Twitter).



Please know that during the time that the office is closed, all calls to Asbury are being received by our answering service, as there is no one available in the office to take your call. Any messages you leave with the answering service are forwarded to us and we will relay your message to the appropriate staff member to respond to you as soon as possible.



Asbury is  now a drop-off site for home-sewn masks for Lehigh Valley Health Network. The collection bin is located at the doors by the upper entrance to the building. If you're able to sew masks, but not able to deliver them,  email Pastor Barbara to get connected with a helper. We do not have supplies available to offer; but could help coordinate a pickup for an order you place at a local fabric or craft store that's offering curbside pickup.

Instructions:



St. Luke's is also collecting personal protective equipment (PPE). Learn more about the items they're accepting and their drop-off locations (their Care Now urgent care locations in Allentown, Whitehall, Bethlehem, and more)  on their website.



Cancelled/Postponed Events
Include, but not limited to:
AIM Yard Sale (cancelled)
Reschedule dates (if applicable) will be communicated when available.
No physical meetings are being held at Asbury or off-site; but please check with your group/Circle leader to see if there are plans for your group to connect online.


I f you are experiencing loneliness, or spiritual and emotional distress during these challenging days, or if there's someone you're concerned about, please reach out to Pastor Barbara at  blee@asburylv.org .



We know that these stressful times have and will cause hardships for some in our community. The following groups, recommended by Asbury in Mission (AIM), have resources available for assistance if you or someone you know has a need:

Kingdom Life Family Center Food Bank
4333 Lime Kiln Rd, Orefield, PA 18069
1401 Linden Street, Allentown, PA 18102

AIM also reminds us that while volunteer opportunities are few due to the current crisis, our mission partners can still be supported financially. Learn more about all of our AIM mission partners at  asburylv.org/aim.

If you are in a position to donate to the food banks, please be aware of the following information about donations:
Kingdom Life Family Center in Orefield wants people to make an appointment to drop off food on a Tuesday morning.  Call 610-398-0111
Salem United Methodist Church in Allentown, Food bank can take donations in the morning by appointment only.  Call Rev. Navin Satyarvata 610-432-2577
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