This Sunday, we welcome Rev. Michael Yoshii to Asbury as our guest preacher! Rev. Yoshii is a retired UMC pastor in the Cal-Nevada Annual Conference currently serving as the Co-Chair for the Friends of Wadi Foquin.

Wadi Foquin is a Palestinian Muslim village in the Bethlehem District of the West Bank. The partnership was started in 2009 with participation centered in the Cal-Nevada Annual Conference. Rev. Yoshii was one the conveners for Israel-Palestine Task Force for the California Nevada Annual Conference in 2006, and also the United Methodist for Kairos Response (UMKR) in 2010. UMKR was convened as a response to the international call for solidarity by Palestinian Christians in the Kairos Palestine document. Rev. Yoshii first visited the West Bank in 2006 through a conference convened by Rev. Sandy Olewine, former General Board of Global Ministries liaison to Israel/Palestine.  

For this Sunday's worship, Rev. Yoshii will share spiritual reflections on what he has witnessed in ministry regarding Israel/Palestine over the past 15+ years with particular emphasis on Friends of Wadi Foquin -- and ways the congregation can be involved. We encourage you to read the resolution he has co-written for our conference.

Please join us after worship with Rev. Yoshii for a deeper dive into the ministry of Friends of Wadi Foquin and opportunities for congregational and individual engagement through pilgrimage trips to the Holy Land/Palestine, advocacy on behalf of the village, and support for upcoming community development projects. 

Starting this Sunday, September 18, we will be moving our livestream focus from our YouTube channel to our website.

There is still a chatroom feature (when logged into your account - the same as the app account!) that we will monitor, just as we did on YouTube. Join us in the new livestream space this Sunday!

The website has a fresh look, complete with new capabilities; we have an app that has all Sunday worship resources and keeps us connected; and a new giving platform on both the website and in the app!

As you are exploring the website and the app, please contact Alaina if you come across content that is incorrect/outdated/missing, or if there is a link that does not work.

The A/V Team at Asbury is looking for more volunteers for Sunday. We need more people to add into our monthly rotation for Sunday morning worship. You will learn to run the sound board and/or the cameras for the livestream and volunteer once a month. No experience is necessary as we will train you on what you are interested in doing!

This is a great way to serve out church by helping to facilitate worship for our online community, and after a lot of great work this past summer, we have made working in the booth easier than ever! Additionally, we do many extra events throughout the year like forums, weddings, and funerals. Once trained and in the volunteer rotation, you will be able to sign up for these events and get paid! This would be a great opportunity for youth in our church.

If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Pastor Brad.

Sundays from 11:30am - 12:30pm

Starting THIS Sunday, September 18th

All children's choirs will first meet in the Chapel along with their parents before splitting up into their separate spaces. There will be donuts for all who attend - both children and parents!

Cherub Choir (K-2nd grade) has a fun and relaxed time - sharing, song teaching, pitch training, notation, tempo, and learning a song about every 4-6 weeks. The rehearsals usually end with an interactive game or a book, then close with Joys & Concerns and a short prayer. Contact Sharon Gach for more information.

Rainbow Choir (3rd-5th grade) singers learn musical notation and singing skills, plus some great songs about love and community. They also play percussion instruments like finger cymbals, xylophones, chimes, drums and more! Contact Jean Braun for more information.

Youth Choir, along with all children's choirs, will first meet in the Chapel along with their parents before splitting up into their separate spaces. There will be donuts for all who attend - both children and parents!

Youth Choir is for students in grades 6th -12th and meets every Sunday from 11:30am - 12:30pm. Choir sings in service once a month.

Youth Choir gives students the opportunity to practice singing together in a group, working more on 2-4 part harmony with the potential for more and solos. Some basic music theory is taught along with proper breathing technique. The Youth Choir also gets to put on a musical once a year in the early spring, giving youth the opportunity to sing, act, and possibly do set design.  Youth Choir at Asbury is designed to be fun and give students the chance to sing together when it may not be possible to do so through regular school or during the week.

All are welcome - the Youth Choir is a safe space for those that are looking. We hope to see you soon!

THIS Saturday, September 17

8:30am - 4:00pm

Esperanza Place – 1250 Las Juntas Way, Walnut Creek

Habitat for Humanity is having another build day at Esperanza Place and we'd like to get a group from Asbury to join in!

Every volunteer must register individually, but there will be a carpool from Asbury to the worksite. Contact Bob Hoffman if you register and want to carpool (or if you have trouble registering)!

**Note: For safety reasons, all volunteers at our sites or ReStores must be at least 16 years old. All volunteers under the age of 18 must bring a

signed minor waiver form with them to the site. Minor waiver forms are

available here.

Barbara Ernst is offering a 4-week small group beginning September 21 -October 12 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. in Room 10. The process includes focusing on a theme and journaling for a period of time followed by sharing. For Barbara, the written dialogue with God has been both enlightening and life giving, and she would like to share it with others who are seeking and ready for a new experience.  

Barbara Ernest has been practicing as a Spiritual Director for over 30 years and is ready to offer the group experience again after COVID. For more information or to sign up contact Barbara.

The musical season for adult groups begins after Labor Day in September and goes through the first Sunday in June. There are no auditions, and anyone interested in singing or playing an instrument is welcome to come to a rehearsal or contact one of the adult directors.

Note: masks are highly recommended during rehearsal (but not required).

Faith Choir

Thursdays from 7:30pm-8:30pm

Starting THIS Thursday, September 15th

Contact Jean Braun for more information.

Asbury Ringers (Handbell Choir)

Sundays from 7:00pm-8:30pm

Starting THIS Sunday, September 18th

Contact Fernanda Van Atta for more information.

Juanita Benson

Saturday, October 8th at 2pm

Asbury UMC

Reception to follow

Saturday, October 15th

7:00pm

Asbury Follies, is a fun-filled evening full of songs, skits, jokes, dances, juggling, magic --- you name it!

Start thinking about what you’d like to do for this year’s follies, and contact Martie Muldoon with your ideas, comments or questions. If you’d like to participate, but don’t know what to do, you can still sign up! All ages are welcome!

And we need audience members, too, so save the date for a wonderful evening of fun!

Saturday, October 15th

The El Camino District United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women) are coming to Asbury for their annual meeting. There will be 80 to 100 women in attendance.

Because our UWF group has not been active since the start of the pandemic, we are asking all women of Asbury to be hosts. We need greeters, set up, help in the kitchen for the morning brunch and lunch, bakers and cleanup help. 

Nancy Grover will be coordinating the lunch. Lorraine Magee and Burlyne Wilson will be coordinating the other aspects. Please let us know if you can help in any of these special ways. The district loves meeting here and we wish to be great hosts.

Sunday, September 25

12:30pm on Zoom

The Church Council will meet as a Charge Conference on Sunday, September 25 at 12:30 p.m. on Zoom for the purposes of making some minor changes to Brad’s salary compensation due to housing increases. Pastor Kathy has been authorized by our District Superintendent, Samuel Hong, to chair the meeting.

Thursday, September 15th

Friday, September 16th

12pm - 6:00pm

Asbury UMC Fellowship Hall

Share your good health by giving blood or platelets. Donating blood could save a life. To schedule your appointment, visit redcross.org to check appointment times and sign up or call 800-733-2767. When scheduling, enter Sponsor Code: ASBURY925.

Please sign up to donate today. Invite a friend, too!

THIS Sunday, September 18th

3:30pm - 5:00pm

Asbury UMC Courtyard

Please Join Us! Interfaith Interconnect is having an ice cream social in observance of UN Day of Peace. At approximately 4pm, there will be a short program. There will be time for attendees to converse with one another before and after the program.

Jack Quigley, Music Minister at Center for Spiritual Living Livermore Valley, will provide music during the event.

All are welcome. We hope to see you there!

Save the Date! Our next Religion Chat is scheduled for Wednesday, October 12 at 5 p.m. Details to follow. Note that there will not be a Religion Chat in September.

Saturday, October 1st

4:00pm - 7:00pm

Asbury UMC Courtyard

More details to come! For additional information visit their website.

If you have Capital Campaign Envelopes that you are not using, please return them to the church office or mailbox in the driveway. Contact the church office if you have any questions.

Please pray for the requests that were made during prayer time on Sunday.

If you would like to be on the email prayer chain, please contact the church office.