|
Asbury Sunday Worship:
9:00 & 11:00 am:
Worship in the Sanctuary
10:00 am: Sunday School
|
Follow us on social media!
|
|
FRI DEC 2
Red Bag Drop Off. If you signed up for Red Bags KC, you can drop off your gifts anytime between 9 am - 4 pm in the Welcome Center!
SAT DEC 3
Men's Breakfast. 8 am, Cozy's Cafe, 75th & Metcalf. Email Roger Peck if you'd like to join the meetup.
SUN DEC 4
Charge Conference. After the 11 am service in Hager Hall. There will be snacks!
|
|
One of the earliest memories I have is being dropped off at Mrs. Hanna’s home daycare during the work week. She’d always greet me, and other kids my age, with a big smile and warm embrace. The day would be spent playing and listening to story time, followed by lunch and good nap. She was firm when needed, but also had an underlying gentleness, even when those in her care were being mischievous. Mrs. Hanna was the first adult I learned to trust beyond my own family. I certainly looked forward to being picked up by Mom at the end of day, but I really don’t ever recall not wanting to go to daycare.
What Mrs. Hanna was able to help me better learn is that in our own lives, we’ll encounter many different people who carry with them a sense of the sacred. These are people who enter our lives in ways big and small, sometimes for a long period of time like a teacher, or in a tiny moment like someone working at the counter, but who still demonstrate in our lives what it means to demonstrate kindness or compassion or fairness. They are reflections of God’s love in the world, and I think so many of us have those stories of ‘sacred people’ who stick with us in our memories.
In this season of Reflecting the Sacred, and on this coming Sunday, we’ll be exploring the Sacred People in our lives who are steadfast and encouraging, those who ably reflect Christ’s light and love onto the world. I think all of us have the capacity to tap into the holiness within through God’s grace, and we are invited to be inspired to see our own journey as part of a bigger calling to be sacred people who share in the presence of love.
I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday!
Peace,
Pastor Jeff
|
|
Our Charge Conference will be held on Sunday, Dec. 4 after the 11 am service
in Hager Hall. It should be under an hour. We’ll have snacks on hand!
|
|
Advent Musical Meditation
|
You are invited to a half-hour lunchtime meditation each Thursday throughout Lent.
These meditations will feature the reading of scripture, poetry, prose, or prayer, a piano performance by Pastor Kim of hymns beautifully arranged by various composers, and a time for meditation in silence. All are welcome to attend - or live stream us on our website!
|
|
|
Let Us Wrap
Your Christmas Gifts!!
The Asbury Youth and their parents are fundraising for our 2023 youth mission trip by wrapping Christmas gifts. We'll have all the supplies to gift wrap your items, including an assortment of paper, bags, and tags for adults, youth, and kids.
We'll be wrapping gifts on Sunday, December 18, and they can be picked up that evening or anytime that week. We will have a sign-up sheet in the Welcome Center the next few weeks, or you can contact our Director of Family Ministries, Heather Jackson, to sign up. Suggested donations for each size gift are: $4 for small, $7 for medium, $10 for large.
*If you want them wrapped in a specific/special paper, please provide that paper.
|
|
Connectors Sunday School Class
If you are looking for a lively place to discuss various issues about your faith, the Connectors would love to have you join us. We meet in Room 363 at 10 am on Sunday mornings. Our topics for December include:
December 4 - Ja Morris will lead us in a discussion about secondary education in Kansas City, Missouri. Ja is a teacher at Cristo Rey High School (211 Linwood Blvd, KCMO). Ja is going to talk with us about the Corporate Work Study Program at his school, which allows all students to have an opportunity to try out different work environments while they are pursuing their high school education.
December 11 - Elaine Hager will lead us in a discussion about the Jewish faith to help us learn about the guiding principles of other faiths.
|
|
Upcoming Musical Concerts
Bach Aria Soloists Annual Holiday Concert:
Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 pm at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in KCMO
- Bach Aria Soloists, which features our own Elizabeth Suh Lane on violin and soprano Lindsey Lang, is holding a holiday concert on Sat. Dec. 10. Tickets are available at bachariasoloists.com. All are welcome to attend!
Asbury Christmas Cantata: Sunday, December 11 at 9 & 11 am in the Sanctuary
- Come join us at 9 & 11 am on Sun. Dec. 11 to hear our Chancel Choir perform their Christmas Cantata, “The Promise of Light” by Joel Raney. Want to sing with us? Come join us for our last rehearsal at 6:30 pm in the MSR on Wed. Dec. 7!
Asbury Christmas Carol Concert at Lakeview Village:
Monday, December 12 at 7 pm at the Heritage Activities Center
- Featuring Rev. Daekyung Kim, Piano, and Lindsey Lang, Soprano. All are welcome to this free concert!
|
|
Year-End Giving
End your year with impact! Explore charitable giving and tax-savings strategies by checking out these links from Dan Clevenger, Director of Generosity and Stewardship:
Want to fill out your 2023 Estimate of Giving to Asbury online? Click on this link!
|
|
Do you have an event you would like to be listed on the calendar? Please call the church office or email Phyllis Williams at phyllisw@visitasbury.org. For inclusions in the Alive Newsletter, please contact Sharlynn Verner at sharlynnv@visitasbury.org.
|
|
HOLIDAY OFFERING UPDATES
Thank you to everyone for your generosity with our holiday offerings. We have collected $3049 for our Thanksgiving offering to benefit the Emergency Services arm of the Veterans Community Project (VCP), and $475 for United Methodist Student Sunday, which benefits United Methodist students through the Gift of Hope Scholarship.
If you haven't yet had a chance to give and would like to, you may call the church office at 913.432.5573. Thank you!
|
|
Reverse Advent Calendar
Everyone's had one of those chocolate countdown calendars to Christmas at one time or another, right? Well, here's a new idea - a REVERSE Advent Calendar!
Let's give gifts of food to our hungry neighbors. Starting on December 1, add a food item to a box every day through December 17. Then, we'll donate our gifts to the Asbury Food Pantry during the Family Ministries' Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 18!
Click here for a printable calendar: Advent Calendar. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call the church office at 913.432.5573. Thank you so much for your generosity!
|
|
Unwrapped Gifts for Santa Fe Trail Students
|
By visiting this online link, you can sign up to purchase gifts for children in need at our local school, Santa Fe Trail.
You can add your name one time or several! The gifts can then be brought to the Welcome Center this Sunday, December 4. Gifts are to be unwrapped as the families will be given wrapping supplies.
Thank you for your generosity!
|
|
It's Time to Give H.U.G.S.
There is a snowman in the narthex, and he's very COLD and he wants HUGS.
Will you help him stay warm by bringing him some Hats, Underwear, Gloves, and Socks? You can hang them on him (like ornaments!) anytime between now and December 12.
Whatever our snowman gets he will share with our friends at Lazarus Ministries to help others who are in need. If you would rather make a monetary donation, please make a check out to Asbury United Women in Faith and put HUGS on the memo line. Thank you, everyone!
|
|
Red Bag Sponsors - THANK YOU!
We have had a great response for our adoption of foster and at-risk kiddos for Christmas! On Christmas morning, 24 children will wake up with large stuffed Red Bags waiting for them under their trees. Thank you to all of our generous sponsors!
If you haven’t brought your bags to church and plan to do so, please deliver them by 9:30 am this Saturday. Patti Rumsey will be checking in all bags and Pastors Jeff and Daekyung will load them on the bus and transport them to Olathe. You are welcome to deliver your own bags too!
|
|
IHN Hosting Begins on Christmas
This year we will have the opportunity to share our holiday spirit with our IHN guests from Christmas Day to New Year’s Day! We realize that many of our volunteers will be traveling and have guests during this week, but also know that those who can help will step up for our situationally homeless guests.
Please stop by the table in the Welcome Center beginning week and see how you can be a part of this life-changing ministry. Sign-ups will be for Set-up on Friday, December 23 at 10 am, Laundry, and Take-Down on New Year’s Day at 1 pm . Of course we will need cooks and volunteers for all seven days. Please sign up if you can!
|
|
- Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT)
- Text the word 'Give' to 913-774-6060
-
Online through Easy Tithe (click here)
|
|
|
and 0.5% of your purchase price
will be donated back to Asbury!
|
|
This Advent, Asbury's Family Ministries invites everyone to partner with us to help provide food for the Food Pantry for the holiday season with a Reverse Advent Calendar.
Use the printable list to add one item a day, beginning December 1, to a box. Then on December 18, bring your box full of food to the Family Ministries Christmas Pageant in Hager Hall. If you have questions or need assistance, you can contact the church office at 913.432.5573.
|
|
Family Ministries Christmas Pageant:
Sun. Dec. 18 @ 10 am
We hope that everyone will save the date and plan on coming to support all the children and youth who are participating in the Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 18 at 10 am in Hager Hall!
|
|
Healthy Habits: Creating a Mental Health Toolbox
in a Post-Pandemic World
Sunday, January 22 at 10 am in Hager Hall
Family Ministries invites all to join us in Hager Hall as Skylar Bellinger, Sara Whelan, and Erin Major provide resources and help our kids, youth, and parents create a mental health toolbox. There will be hands on activities as well as free resources.
We are still finalizing our plans, so stay tuned for more details!
|
|
Kids' Hour - Sundays at 10 am in the Children's Wing (3rd floor east)
|
|
Kids’ Hour is designed with kids in mind and uses crafts, music, games, and kid’s books to encourage kids to learn about the Bible, live out principles of faith, and lead in and outside the walls of the church.
We've designed it to be interactive and full of movement, so come check out our way of creating space for kids to be kids! The following playlist includes some stories we've been reading and songs we've been learning.
|
|
Kids Sing - Sunday, December 11 at 11 am
All kids PreK - 5 grade are invited to join the Kids Sing on Sunday, December 11 during the 11 am service. The final Rehearsal will be during the Children's church time at the 11 am service on Sunday, December 4. If you haven't yet made any of the rehearsals, you can still participate by coming to this last rehearsal!
|
|
Paper Bag Pageant - Saturday, December 24 at 4 pm
An Asbury tradition returns this Christmas Eve! After two years of having the paper bag pageant online, we are excited to return to an in-person service.
Even though this service is geared toward children, we encourage all to join us for this fun, sweet, and interactive telling of the Christmas story. Invite your grandkids, nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors to join the fun at 4 pm on Christmas Eve.
|
|
Be sure to stay up to date on all things Children's Ministry by following
to be added to the children's ministry email list.
|
|
Youth Coffee & Convos:
Sundays at 10 am in the Youth Lounge
|
|
Youth Group:
Community - Sundays at 6 pm
|
|
All 6th-12th grade youth are invited to meet in the Youth Lounge (3rd floor west) for a time of connecting and enjoying some food and beverage, while diving deeper into some familiar Bible stories.
|
|
All 6th - 12th grade youth are welcome to join youth group this Sunday in the youth lounge on the 3rd floor west. We’ll have a meal together and have some fun. We’ll also talk about the importance of community as a way to teach students about the importance of understanding justice, and the value of embracing diversity in our lives so that we can provide a sacred and welcoming environment for all youth.
|
|
Youth Christmas Party: Sunday, December 11 from 6:00-7:30 pm in Hager Hall
All 6th-12th grade youth are invited to come to Hager Hall for the Youth Christmas Party on Sunday, December 11. There will be food, fun, games, and a white elephant gift exchange. We ask that gifts be limited to $7.
|
|
Stay up to date on all things youth on our Facebook page! You can also email
|
|
Thank you to everyone who helped decorate the church for Christmas last Saturday!
It was a lot of fun, our kiddos enjoyed helping out,
and we loved hearing Pastor Kim lead us in some Christmas songs!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|