Each week, there will be a hidden "Easter egg" somewhere in the Asbury Articles to make sure you're paying attention ;)

AND at the end of each month, we'll have trivia at the bottom of the newsletter to test your knowledge of what you've read that month in the Asbury Articles! Your prize? Bragging rights!

Asbury follows the guidance of the Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) regarding indoor masking.

When the ACPHD strongly recommends masking for all, Asbury will require masks be worn at all indoor events. Masks are now highly recommended (but not required) in worship, as required masking mandate was lifted on June 25 by ACPHD.

When ACPHD relaxes indoor masking recommendations, Asbury will follow suit and require masks for those not fully vaccinated. Sunday School teachers and nursery staff will continue to wear masks when children less than 5 years old are present indoors.

Getting vaccinated and boosted is also another way we can love our neighbor and do no harm. People are always welcome to mask if that is their preference. Group leaders or groups may decide to implement a mask mandate in their group to protect their members in need of greater protection.

Register by July 18th

Music Camp is coming! We'll learn about music through singing, instruments, and play. Campers will have the opportunity to perform for each other, residents at Heritage Estates Senior Living, and the Asbury community during the Sunday worship service.

For additional information, contact Fernanda.

It's July, which means it's time for Asbury's annual campaign (along with other churches in Livermore) to provide backpacks filled with school supplies to students in need within our schools!

The school district's Child Welfare and Attendance specialists have determined how many of which kind (elementary or middle/high) of backpack are needed at each school, and Asbury will help deliver filled backpacks the week before school starts.

Our VBS Food Truck has re-routed to a weekend of celebrating community for everyone of all ages to participate.

We'll work in the Fertile GroundWorks garden, eat lunch, swim, have a hot dog dinner and campfire, and camp out on Asbury's property! We'll wake up on Sunday morning to breakfast before worship at 10am.

Following worship at 10am, we'll have lunch, a shave ice food truck, a giant waterslide, games, science, and arts & crafts with space to do art from home in the fellowship hall!

Sign up to participate and/or to provide food for the various meals! Make sure to include how many people are in your party. You are welcome to invite family, friends, and neighbors to join in the fun.

If you would like to make a donation to our program, please make it to our Serving Others With Love summer project: Fertile GroundWorks. You can also drop it off to the church office or offering boxes labeled "Fertile GroundWorks."

In-person or Zoom

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church

1315 Lomitas Ave., Livermore, CA

Keeley Center, Borromeo Hall

There is ample parking in adjoining lot; enter the driveway at east entrance. Masks are required.

Topic: How does your community welcome children/youth into the faith? What rite of passage ceremonies are traditional in your culture?

Speakers: Pastor Kathy La Point-Collup, Asbury United Methodist Church; and a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church faith formation team

Doors and Zoom room will open at 6:40pm.

All are welcome! Please feel free to invite others to attend.

Additional resource: June 8 Religion Chat video on the same topic with speakers Karan Saini, Sikhism; and Trish Munro, Judaism; Saini's slideshow presentation

Early this coming Sunday morning, July 10th, the following eleven youth, young adults, and adults will be driving north to Smith River, CA for a week of serving with Sierra Service Project:

Brad Biggerstaff, Kelly Gully, Kelli Walter, Tony Gnecco, Emily Bennett, Dylan Bennett, Emily Gnecco, Alex Lobao, Zack Lobao, Alexa Hart, and Spencer Haugen.

This is the first time since 2019 that SSP will be in-person, so they are all excited to be going! Please keep them in prayer this coming week as they travel, serve, and build community with other churches.

If you would like to send mail (no food, please) to them -- they LOVE having to sing for their mail! -- the address for the week is:

[Volunteer's name]

C/O Sierra Service Project

General Delivery

Crescent City, CA 95531

Rewarding work, Christian camaraderie, and making a difference – the perfect formula for a successful mission trip. Last week, a team from three East Bay churches (Asbury UMC, Lynnewood UMC in Pleasanton, and San Ramon Valley UMC in Alamo) traveled to Paradise, California to help with rebuilding from the Camp Fire.

The Camp Fire in November 2018 was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. The fire burned over 150,000 acres and more than 18,000 structures - and tragically, 85 people died. The towns of Paradise, Concow, Magalia and Butte Creek were largely destroyed.

The team worked on three new homes being built by Hope Crisis Response Network, spending much of the week on interior and exterior painting.

The team especially enjoyed meeting two of the homeowners, Deb and Annette. Their stories of escaping the fire, the subsequent struggle for stability and the prospect of a new home were so compelling. Now, three and a half years later, they are approaching a new normal. They shared their plans for decorating the homes and for the special touches they envision adding.

When not working on the houses, the team shared great food and reflection time. They shared new bits about their lives and retold the familiar ones with equal gusto, laughing again at moments they have shared together over the years. This reflection time was a chance to consider the meaning of their work and to reaffirm their Christian values.

The rebuilding in Paradise will continue for several more years. And the team will be back again. The survivors need them.

The Asbury Men's Bible Study meets every Thursday at 7:45 a.m. via video conferencing.

We have begun a study of comparative religion, a very relevant topic in today's diverse world. Next week’s topic will be "Sacred Signs, Analogues, and Sacraments.”

Whether or not you have been attending, you are welcome to join us. There is no homework. Contact Art Molvik if you would like to join this group and get the link.

The first person to tell Pastor Kathy the topic of the Interfaith Interconnect Religion Chat for July gets to choose a hymn for any given Sunday.

We need more of your smiling faces to be greeters for Sunday mornings!

Think back to when you enter a building the first few times and how helpful and inviting it feels to have someone there to greet you with a smile and guidance on where to go. Or even when the place is no longer new, think about how warm it feels to see that familiar smile when you walk through the doors.

Sign up to be a Sunday morning greeter and help make Asbury the warm, inviting, welcoming place that is it!

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.