Weekly Framework
As humans, we tend to fear those who are different from ourselves. The differences can make us a bit uncomfortable, and that discomfort fueled by our imagination, our perception of the world, our culture and upbringing, the media, religious leaders and politicians, can lead us to be afraid. So how can we overcome the fear of others and see people as God sees them.
Monday's Devotional
Within the confines of time, the promises of Psalm 27 do not always come true. But our God is eternal, not bound by time, so we need not fear-anyone or anything. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, at the funeral of four girls killed in a church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, "Like the ever-changing cycle of the seasons, life has the soothing warmth of the summers and the piercing chill of its winters. But through it all, God walks with us. Never forget that God is able to lift you from the fatigue of despair to the buoyancy of hope." *
Questions:
* Israelites who prayed and sang this psalm saw Babylon destroy Jerusalem, saw Rome overpower their land-yet they still trusted. Christians saw Jesus crucified, the apostles Paul and Peter martyred by Rome, prayed the psalm in dim Roman catacombs-yet they still trusted. What difficulties test your trust, and seek to make you afraid? How can you trust that in the end God will always keep the promise to set you up high, safe on a rock?
* Verse 4 said, "I have asked one thing from the Lord... to live in the Lord's house all the days of my life, seeing the Lord's beauty." In his beloved book Practicing the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence wrote to God, "Thou knowest well that it is not thy gifts that I desire... but Thyself." What draws you to adore and yearn for God with anything like that kind of intensity?
* "Eulogy for the Martyred Children," in James M. Washington, ed. A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings
and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1986, p. 222.
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Lord Jesus, grow in me an ever-deepening trust in your eternal presence and power, and your great heart of love. Amen.
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This Sunday, in addition to our normal 10 AM live service, we'll be streaming an Open Door worship service at 5 PM, featuring newly-recorded music from the Open Door Band and a replay of Pastor Eric's message from the morning!
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Tips for Coping
from Asbury's Health Ministry Team
- Keep active - physically & spiritually - every day
- Live in the moment - share with others
- Get outside & let the sun lift your spirits - sit out on your lawn chair and wave to others
- Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, and don't mess with "Mr. In-between"
- Make a GRATEFUL JAR: have your family write a daily note of why they're grateful, put them into a jar, and read them together at mealtime.
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Rather have all of this week's BLAST devotionals at once? Get them here
ANNOUNCEMENT:
SPARK SACKS
and
BLAST BAGS
- small activity bags which reinforce our Bible stories and themes for the month - are available in bins at the upper entrance until Wednesday 4 PM. Stop by at your convenience!
A reminder: send in your videos to Miss Pam!
For BLAST (PreK- 5th grades)
This month is all about determination, deciding it's worth it to finish what you've started. Have you ever run a race? To get a medal you have to keep going, even when it seems like you can't go one more step.
This is true in life too. Sometimes we're tempted to quit when things get hard. But for those for follow Jesus, we receive a crown that lasts forever! Because Jesus can do anything, He can give us the power we need even when all we want to do is quit. We can keep going even when it seems impossible.
This week, we'll highlight four real life stories of determination. Read the determination story below and then unscramble the letters to reveal the name of the person who kept going. Rejected by 29 medical schools before being accepted by mistake to Hobart College, she became the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States in 1849. She opened a medical practice, served poor families, and established the first medical college for women. Who was she?
______________________ _____________________
L I B E T E Z A H B A L W L L C K E
Ask God to help you run the race or finish what you start, even when it seems impossible.
llǝʍʞɔɐlq ɥʇǝqɐzᴉlƎ :ɹǝʍsu∀
Videos for this week:
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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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