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Thanks to those of you who sent in prayer requests during the live stream this morning. We've forwarded them on to our prayer team!
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Church Council will be hosting a meeting via Zoom on Sunday, June 7, at 11:30 AM to share updates on Asbury. Watch for meeting details in the daily email update this week!
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As Pastor Barbara referenced in worship, in this video interview, Mark and Deidre Zimmerman, Asbury mission partners in Nepal, share about the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation in their country. Their friend Rev. Gareth Wardell is the interviewer.
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We appreciate your ongoing support of Asbury, and your generous contributions have allowed us to continue to worship and minister together.
We realize that your personal financial landscape may have drastically changed in these few short weeks; but if you are able to continue to financially support the ministries of Asbury, please prayerfully consider doing so.
We strongly encourage you to give online through PushPay, our online giving portal, at asburylv.org/give, but you can also mail your weekly envelopes or a check in to the church office.
Your contributions will continue to help support the worship and ministries of Asbury. Additionally, we are retaining our commitment to compensating our staff at this time.
Thank you for your continued support!
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We encourage you to watch a condensed version of today's lesson with your child via video!
Select your child's age group:
SPARK
(3-4yr olds)
Lemonade Stand
(new for 5/24)
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BLAST
(PreK- 5th grades)
Unstuck: Don't Give Up
(new for 5/24)
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Print Resources for this week:
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We are excited to recognize the accomplishments and pray over the future plans of our high school seniors on June 7! If you're a high school senior (or a parent of one) and haven't received an email from us on how to submit your information for this celebration, please contact Aaron Forney at aforney@asburylv.org.
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 in the days leading up to the meeting to those who are registered.
COLLEGE-AGED STUDENTS
Tuesday, May 26
8 PM - 9 PM
YOUTH-AGED STUDENTS
Friday, May 29
8 PM - 9 PM
(A second session for high school seniors is being scheduled - watch for the date to be announced soon!)
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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)
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.
Did you know your
white plastic grocery bags can be turned into plastic mats for the homeless
? Asbury's Wendy Arbushites can take your unneeded bag, turn it into plastic yarn, and create a mat that will be distributed to the less fortunate among us. You can drop off your white plastic bags in the bin labeled "Plastic grocery bag collection bin" at Asbury's upper entrance.
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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:
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.
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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
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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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