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Stephanie Cramer, Asbury's part time youth director, has been appointed co-pastor of Grace-St. Paul United Methodist Church in Jim Thorpe, PA. Stephanie will be pastoring the church with her husband. Although it was only for a short time, Asbury's youth have been blessed by Stephanie's ministry. Stephanie will be leaving May 31st after she completes teaching the confirmation class.
Pastor Eric will be setting up a video conference meeting with all parents of Asbury youth next week to discuss how we will move forward with youth ministries. Please look for further details about the meeting.
Please keep Stephanie and her family in your prayers during this transition.
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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?
Tuesday's Devotional
This is the first story about Israel's King David most children learn in Sunday School. Even in sports or business, we often talk about a "David and Goliath" story when a "little guy" takes on an established power. The Philistine giant, whatever his exact size (ancient manuscripts differ), was big enough to terrify King Saul and the whole Israelite army. But he didn't scare David. For him, the size of the God he served mattered much more than the size of his enemy. (And, of course, the story goes on in verse 46 ff. to say the giant lost-badly.)
For reflection:
* When have you had to face a "giant" problem or person? Were your inner feelings (whether you showed them externally or not) more like those of Saul and the army, or like David's?What role, if any, did your trust in God play in the way you faced the intimidating situation?Did you learn anything that helps you with giant problems or persons you face today, or may face in the future?
* Goliath was no doubt a veteran fighter, but he seemed to count as much or more on insults and intimidation as on his physical skill. As the Philistine poured out scornful insults toward David, the Hebrew young man wasn't cowed or distracted. To what extent are you able to be "inner directed," rather than overly sensitive to what others (especially any giants you face) may think of you? What makes that ability important when you're tempted to feel afraid of failing?
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Lord God,
giants don't always have to be nine feet tall to feel that way to me. Teach me that you are bigger than any human "giant," and help me "cut them down to size" by trusting in you.
Amen.
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Rather have all of this week's BLAST devotionals at once? Get them here
For SPARK (3-4yr olds)
For BLAST (PreK- 5th grades)
Wouldn't it be so awesome if every time you completed a big job or task, someone handed you a beautiful jewel covered crown?
That's not the kind of crown today's verse is talking about. The crown here is life, eternal life, forever with God. When you trust in Jesus as Savior, you can keep going with determination even when things get tough. Even when we're the only doing the right thing. God promises that one day we will be with Him forever in a perfect place. And that's way better than a crown that could be stolen or lost.
Grab a large piece of paper, draw the outline of a crown and cut it out. Write out the words of today's verse on one side and decorate the other. Bring the ends together and staple to secure.
Ask Jesus to help you follow Him so that you can keep going even when it gets tough!
Videos for this week (new for 5/17):
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Don't forget to sign up for our upcoming Zoom meetings!
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.
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
Friday, May 22
Note the changed date so we don't conflict with the Freddy Awards!
8 PM - 9 PM
COLLEGE-AGED STUDENTS
Tuesday, May 26
8 PM - 9 PM
YOUTH-AGED STUDENTS
Friday, May 29
8 PM - 9 PM
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Hand sanitizer is a great substitute when soap and water are not available; but as we enter the warmer season of the year, Asbury's Health Ministry has an important warning to take into consideration. As effective sanitizers are alcohol-based, this means that
they are also very flammable. Because of this, be sure to dry your hands prior to grilling or using a gas stove, as hands wet with alcohol could ignite when exposed to open flames. Be safe and be protected while keeping your hands clean!
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Sarah Circle
will meet at
7:00 PM
through ZOOM tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20, 2020.
PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE!!
The group will conclude their discussion of the study book
The Gifts of Imperfection
by Brené Brown with a subtitle of "Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are - Your Guide to a Wholehearted Life". The final Guideposts 9 and 10 will be the focus. This will be a group discussion as no leader has come forward at this time.
All women are cordially invited to join!
Please contact Deb McCleary (djmccleary76@msn.com) for details as to how to connect.
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.
Don & Adele Bush celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on May 24!
You can help them celebrate by sending a card to:
Don & Adele Bush
4031 Coffeetown Road
Coplay, PA 18037-2131
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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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