In ThIs Issue

On Holy Ground, 4

Outreach News, 6

Pledge Update, 7

Holy Thursday, 8

Retreats, 9

New Members, 10

Talent Show, 12

Asbury First United Methodist Church NewsletterMay 2015 • Vol. XLIX No. 4 • www.asburyfirst.org

TheVisitor

2

staffSenior MinisterMinister for Faith Formation – Hospitality & Membership Care Minister for Outreach & Com-munity Connection Music Administrator; Assistant OrganistDirector of MusicChildren’s Ministry DirectorChildren’s Ministry AssistantDirector of Youth MinistriesFinancial AdministratorAdministrative AssistantProperty Care ManagerDining & Caring CenterDirectorCommunications DirectorOrganistDirector, Children’s MusicDirector, Youth MusicDirector, Bell ChoirDirector, Asbury Singers Director, Youth Theater

Unless otherwise noted, photos are by Greg Francis.

Cover: Bonnie and Dan Matthaidess at the Seder celebration held on Holy Thursday, April 2. More photos on page 6.

Please send all submissions, questions, comments, or concerns to Mary Van Keuren at mvankeuren@asburyfirst.org or (585) 271-1050.

Deadline for next issue: Friday, May 1

The Rev. Susan ShaferThe Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady II

The Rev. Lawrence Hargrave

David Strong

Dr. William WeinertPaula Dugan

Jessica Burdick-GiordanoMike Mullin

Richard MoncriefMelody Guadagnino

Ken CarrMichele Cooley

Mary Van KeurenDuane Prill

Bozena GranatCarol Lamica

Elizabeth ChurchBrian BohrerLarry Dugan

The VisitorVol. XLIX no. 4

(USPS 558-470)is published 10 times a year, monthly with combined issues for November/December and July/August, by

Asbury First United Methodist Church.

Periodical postage paid at Rochester, N.Y.

POSTMASTER: Send addresses changes to

Asbury First UMC Visitor1050 East Ave.

Rochester, N.Y. 14607-2239(585) 271-1050

Emeriti StaffRev. Dr. Theodore Weeden, Sr., Pastor EmeritusDr. Roger Wilhelm, Director of Music Emeritus

Marian R. Craighead*, Organist Emeritus

*deceased

Mission stateMentThrough worship, education, outreach, and care, we develop disciples of Jesus Christ who live and proclaim the Gospel

and thereby work to transform our culture.

inCLUsiVitY stateMentAsbury First United Methodist Church prayerfully strives to live in its community with open hearts, open minds, and open doors. Affirm-ing that each person is of sacred worth, we seek to be a fully inclusive church, believing that all people are God’s children, created in God’s im-age, loved and blessed equally by God. It is our purpose to be a Recon-ciling Congregation. This means extending hospitality and encouraging full participation of all, regardless of age, race, national origin, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status or family structure, education or economic background, and physical or mental ability. We recognize that we hold a variety of opinions. We do not seek to erase our differences, but to journey together in faith toward greater understanding and mutual respect. We believe that reconcilia-tion to God and to one another is central to our mission and ministry.

Traditional Worship in our Sanctuary

8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday mornings

Chancel Worship with Holy Communion

10:00 a.m. Sunday mornings

Listen live on WYSL 1040 AM or 92.1 FM

11:00 a.m.-noon Sunday mornings

Watch live at www.asburyfirst.org

11:00 a.m. Sunday mornings

Watch past services in our video archive

at www.asburyfirst.org any time!

FiVe WaYs to Worship at asbUrY First

sign Up For oUr e-neWsLetterTo receive our email newsletters, with news of upcoming services, classes, and other events at Asbury First, go to www.asburyfirst.org and scroll to the bottom of the home page, where you’ll see a sign-up window. Or, if you have a smartphone, scan this QR code to take you directly to a sign-up page.

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AFUMC news

The Great Heart of LoveA Pastoral Reflection

Pastoral & Staff AchievementsRecently, several members of the Asbury First staff were

honored in signifant ways. Their accomplishments hint at

the broad range of skills they have each brought to their

work at Asbury First.

Asbury First senior minister, the Rev. Susan S. Shafer has been chosen as the

guest preacher at the memorial service

during the 2015 Upper New York An-

nual Conference, to be held May 27-30

in Syracuse. In an article on the UNYAC

website, Susan is quoted as saying “I am

very honored. I hope to bring a fresh word

of faith. I hope that my preaching can honor the families of

the loved ones who have passed away. In remembering, we

can be inspired again.” The article notes that Susan is the

first ordained female senior minister in Asbury First’s history,

and that “she is known for her compassionate care to mem-

This is a great season in our midst! The “alleluias” of Easter continue to ring in this Eastertide: the

warmth of the past Sunday as we celebrated the gift of the Rev. Lawrence Hargrave’s presence and ministry; the fun of children (and maybe two adults) rolling down the hill outside the church with the jazz musicians playing from their hearts and souls. This is a great season which we all have come to with such anticipa-tion ... spring (finally! maybe?) INDEED. My eyes may be like yours that are wide open to the changes, and my heart, and maybe yours, sings with gratitude to God’s ever-creating Spirit among

bers facing challenging times, guiding many individuals and

families through the cycle of life – from births to baptisms,

weddings, personal crises, and end-of-life care.

Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity

School in Rochester announced in

March that Asbury First’s recently-

retired pastor for outreach and com-

munity connection, the Rev. Lawrence Hargrave, was one of two individuals

receiving the 2015 CRCDS Distin-

guished Alumni/ae Award (the other is

Dr. Sally Dodgson). According to the CRCDS website, “the

Distinguished Alumni/ae Award honors alumni/ae whose

service to God, the church, CRCDS and the community is

distinguished and worthy of accolade. Both Dr. Dodgson

and Rev. Hargrave have served the church, CRCDS, and their

communities tirelessly and enthusiastically over the years.

us. Often, when my heart sings, I look for words to express joy and gratefulness and find my own lacking, so I turn to several favorite books of prayer that seem to express my feeling far better than I ever could.

It was my privilege to be given one of Bishop Ralph Spaulding Cushman’s books of prayers and poems. It is a treasured devotional for me. In the quiet of this spring night, the sun having warmed the earth this day so that the tulips are an inch above the ground, the cardinal has been singing to a mate in this late evening, the candles on a timer have begun to glow ... and in solitude here are his words:

“O, it is lovely, Lord.This world of Thine,

Continued on page 5

Filling with ecstasyThis heart of mine!Call of the autumn

Or call of the spring,Call of the voices

That echo and sing;Sing in the colors

That flame from the sod,Singing the love

Of the great heart of God.Voices are calling,

O hear, soul of mine,Voices are calling,And voices divine;Open thine ears

To the whispers above,Voices that call

From the Great Heart of Love.”

In this Eastertide and unfolding spring, what a thought to think of: God as the “great heart of love.” O what a world this is, in

the sense of these new seasonal beginnings that call us each to recognize our thirst for God’s manifest presence in our midst. It is a hunger, gnawing at our hearts.

“Where are you, Mighty One?What is this whispering Voice,

Insistent, sweet and low?It must be God,

That Thou art nearer,Yea, nearer than we know.

O, in my hungry heart,I pray it may be so!”

May this prayer of the day and night speak to your ecstasy in this springtime … may this prayer express your longing for the very presence of God to speak in your heart and soul! May we all listen … look … see … and find our hearts inspired!

Susan

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on holy groundCreated by the Center for Spiritual Life, On Holy Ground highlights opportunities for spiritual growth and renewal.

LabyrinthWednesday, May 13

5:00-7:00 p.m.

Join us for this reflective peaceful practice designed to help you reconnect with God and your spiritual self.

In the February issue of The Visitor, we featured a meth-

od of praying called the daily examen, a way of reviewing one’s day in the presence of God. In this issue, we take a further look at this practice, and what we can expect to happen as a result of it. The following excerpt is from Linda Douty’s book Rhythms of Growth: 365 Meditations to Nurture the Soul (Upper Room Books, copyright 2014).

The time comes when, rather than merely reading words about the true self, we take on the task of becoming intimately acquainted with the true self. As the saying goes, ‘If you want to quench thirst, you must lay aside the books that explain thirst, and take a drink!’

That’s the point of employing the Daily Examen ... Let’s review the practice. At the close of each day,

• We no longer have to pretend to be better or worse than we are.

• We sense our divine DNA (made in the image of God).

• We become increasingly honest and humble.

• We cease trying to prove that we’re important.

• We have less need for pat an-swers, embracing mystery and uncertainty.

• We continue to awaken to who we are as ‘participants of the divine nature’ (2 Pet. 1:4)

• We begin to live out of the natural flow of grace coming from our spiritual core.

Reflect: Are you ready to commit to this practice of discovery? Antici-pate the adventure of appreciating and loving yourself as God loves you.

Sensible Shoes, by Susan Garlough Brown, is a compelling nar-rative weaving together the lives of four women as they are drawn into a spiritual journey at a retreat center. Readers will gain a new understanding of spiritual practices and receive support in exploring their own spiritual journey. In September, Brown will visit Asbury First to share her insights into faith and

spirituality.

Sensible Shoes is available at our library and we invite you to check out a copy in prepa-ration for Brown’s visit. Let your friends know of this opportunity and save the date: Saturday, September 19, 2015, for a morning session, lunch, and afternoon session with Susan Garlough Brown.

SAVE THE DATE FOR “SENSIBLE SHOES” AUTHOR VISIT

reflect slowly on these questions:

• What felt life-giving to me today?

• What inspired me today?

• What moved me to smiles or tears today?

• When did I lose track of time?

• What felt depleting or drain-ing to me today?

• What piqued my curiosity today?

• Where did I notice my shadow self today?

As the answers to these ques-tions evolve into a picture of how we’re wired, divine grace enables us to accept who and what we are. Armed with that acceptance, we can expect the following things to emerge slowly:

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WORSHIPworship schedulesUndaY serViCe tiMes8:30 a.m. – Traditional Worship10:00 a.m. – Chancel Worship with Holy Communion11:00 a.m. – Traditional Worship

sUndaY apriL 26Fourth Sunday of EasterJohn 10:11-18Rev. Susan S. Shafer, preacher

sUndaY MaY 3Fifth Sunday of EasterJohn 15:1-8Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, preacher

sUndaY MaY 10Children’s Musical

sUndaY MaY 17Ascension SundayPsalm 1Mike Mullin, preacher

sUndaY MaY 24Memorial Sunday/PentecostActs 2:1-21Rev. Susan S. Shafer, preacher

sUndaY MaY 31Trinity SundayJohn 3:1-17Guest preacher

In addition to their individual ministries, both Dr. Dodgson

and Rev. Hargrave have uniquely served CRCDS both as staff

and as dedicated volunteers who have continually sought to

support the good work of CRCDS and expand its reach and

impact in the broader community.”

Children’s Ministry Assistant Jessica Burdick-Giordano, meanwhile, was

the recipient in March of a Golden

Apple Award from WROC TV (Channel

8 in Rochester). The award is given out

regularly to teachers who are nomi-

nated for the honor by their students.

The video aired on News 8 on March

25, and can be seen on the WROC news site and Asbury

First’s Facebook page. The accompanying story states, “Jessi-

ca Burdick’s knowledge of history is excellent. But what she’s

known for at Rush-Henrietta Senior High is the relationships

she develops with students. Sophomore Romeo Yotat says

Ms. Burdick’s class is always fun. He gives her the credit for

improving his grades. ‘She’s one of the best teachers I’ve

ever had. She always has a smile in the classroom and that

just makes my day all the time’.”

Come Garden With Us!Attention gardeners: the spring clean-up

will be on Saturday, May 2. This past dif-

ficult winter was particularly hard on our

campus, so we need all the help we can

get to restore it to its usual beauty. Please

join us at 8:30 a.m. for a morning of work,

fellowship, and fun. Plan to meet the Gar-

den Committee members at the east end of the Education Wing.

We’ll get acquainted, tour the gardens, and then dig in! For more

information, contact Jeanne Ristau at 223-4356.

Church Women United NewsMay Friendship Day will be on Friday, May 1 this year at Web-

ster Presbyterian Church, 550 Webster Road, 14580. There will

be registration/dinner (catered by Tasteful Connections) at 5:30

p.m., and the program will start at 7:00 p.m. The speaker is Rev.

Dr. Eileen Borduin Vanderzwan, who will speak on “The Journey

of the Caregiver.” Registrations are $12 and must be made by

April 23. Send your check to Church Women United, 644 Titus

Ave., Rochester, NY 14617.

in CommunityOur Living

Births & BaptismsGod has sealed you unto

love and grace divine

Stella Ruth Eggimandaughter of Scott and Lauren Eggiman, born on March 24,

2015. The proud grandparents are Janie and Tom Eggiman.

Aurora Lynn Mullindaughter of Mike and Nadia

Mullin, born on March 31, 2015.

DeathsMerciful God, we entrust to Your

never-failing care and love. We offer our prayers and sympa-thy to the family and friends of

Al Froelicherwho died on March 18, 2015.

We offer our prayers and sympa-thy to the family and friends of

Jerry Bockwho died on March 19, 2015.

We offer our prayers and sympa-thy to the family and friends of

Lauretta Conwell

who died on March 19, 2015.

We offer our prayers and sympa-thy to the family and friends of

Anna Henningwho died on March 20, 2015.

We offer our prayers and sympa-thy to Joan Phillips on the death

of her brother Allen Peterson

on March 21, 2015 in Ball Ground, GA.

We offer our prayers and sympa-thy to Betty Little on the death of

her husbandEugene Little

on March 30, 2015.

We offer our prayers and sympa-thy to Bess Phillips on the death

of her daughter Peggy O’Neill

on March 31, 2015.

We offer our prayers and sympa-thy to the family and friends of

Merlynn Burchett who died on April 6, 2015.

AFUMC news, continued from page 3

6

outreach news

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Sarah Kennedy, Asbury First member and Ohio Wesleyan University student, recently sent us her reflection on her trip to Project Chacocente:

The chaplain’s office at Ohio Wesleyan University offers students the opportunity to participate in service trips over spring break. After applying for a trip headed to Nicaragua, I was selected to join a team of seven other OWU students and two faculty members to volunteer at Project Chacocente.

Although this is a place near and dear to the hearts of many in our congregation, I was a little skeptical, having never been there myself. What if my experience was drastically different from that of the people I love and trust here at my Asbury First home? When I arrived however, my fears were set at ease. The first two days of my trip were spent painting ceiling beams, sifting sand for

UMYF, simply because of the non-religious group I was with, the trip was incredible. The people of Chacocente understood when our entire team came down with traveler’s sickness, and they went out of their way to make us as comfortable as possible. Even though that was an unfortunate occurrence, the experience of getting sick in an unfamiliar place taught me more than staying healthy would have. The families of Chacocente were truly glad that we had given

AFUMC Member Travels to Project Chacocente

Sarah Kennedy (standing, second from right) and her group in Nicaragua.

The Harvest Home Coalition of Churches, which includes Asbury First and other Monroe County houses of worship, has received the go-ahead from Flower City Habitat for Humanity to build the Roger Cross House in the JOSANA neigh-borhood. The house will be built in memory of Roger Cross, founder of the local Habitat chap-ter. By participating in this important outreach opportunity, Asbury First will help give a family in Rochester “A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out.” As-bury First’s participation will include fundraising and supplying volunteers to build a home for a family in need. The JOSANA neighborhood is

located in the northwest quadrant of Rochester, and includes roughly 30 blocks bounded by Lyell Avenue, Brown Street, Wilder Street, and Child Street. An ethnically diverse area that has experienced severe poverty, it has been the fo-cus of previous outreach efforts by Asbury First, notably in past Great Weeks of Service.

Construction on the Roger Cross House is ex-pected to start in August, 2015, with a holiday dedication at the end of the year. Look for more details in future issues of The VisiTor newsletter and the Sunday bulletin.

Habitat for Humanity Update

cement, and digging a latrine for a home being built for a Chacocente schoolteacher. The Project families came to teach us what to do and work alongside us – but mostly to laugh good-naturedly at our construction incompetence and weak Spanish skills. We made friends quickly and spent our water breaks making dumb jokes in crude Spanish. After a day of illness (because going to Nicaragua and not getting sick seems to be difficult for some delegations), we finished the week at Chacocente Christian School, where I met children I’ve heard stories about for many years. I joined in on an English class, played intense games of tag and basketball at recess, and was attacked by six first graders, all wanting to be the one to get the larger half of my lap.

While the experience was different than any mission trip I have ever taken through

our time and money to be able to be with them, even for such a limited time. And I am so glad to have been able to give. If things go well, maybe I will lead the OWU trip back next year. Whatever happens, I now know that Project Chacocente will be as near and dear to my heart as it is to many of yours, and that I can proudly say that this is an organization worth supporting in any way possible.

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You did it, and we thank you!beCaUse oF the generositY oF oUr Friends and MeMbers, asbUrY First’s CaMpaign to FUnd the 2015 annUaL operating pLan (aop), “Making VisibLe the inVisibLe,” Was a sUCCess.

the aop represents all money received and spent by the church in a given year. it’s much like your own budget: just as you determine how much you can spend on groceries, gas, and other expenses based on your income, so asbury First must plan for all the expenses that result from the many ministries of a large, vibrant church community.

Without your pledges, our leadership team would not be able to determine how much is available to spend on worship, education, outreach, and membership care throughout the year.

hoW do giFts arriVe?

pLedge driVe Fast FaCts

DESIGNATED (i.e., meant for a particular ministry, such as the Storehouse or the music pro-gram) AND UNDESIGNATED

GIFTS TO THE AOP.78 new adult pledgers

average pledge

number of pledgers who made use of our easy and secure online pledge form

1 2 3

4 5 6

$2,385 5115% of gifts from EFT

(electronic fund transfer) and online giving

50% of gifts from envelopes/Sunday collection

10% of gifts from proceeds from the transfer and sale of

stocks

25% of gifts via mail

2014 $1,081,535

2015

482house-holds

685people

$1,101,180

hoW ManY partiCipated?hoW MUCh Was pLedged?

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• Photo Essay: Holy Thursday 2015 •

In the Shadow of the CrossA reflection by Nancy DavidowOn my knees with head bowed,a prayer of grace, strength and powerto meet the honor in this sacred hour.The burden – heavy.The pace – steady.With knees trembling, and back aching,to think our Savior endured much pain simply given for our gain!Now, beneath the cross, in the still of the night, wind rustling the leaves on site, rain drops falling.I hear God’s calling.These are MY tears, to dispel your fears,with you I’LL stand in carrying out MY plan.

Asbury First entered into the latter half

of Holy Week this year with something old –and something new.

“Something new” was a Seder celebration in Fel-lowship Hall led by Mike Miller, a local member of the local Jewish community. The Seder is commonly celebrated in Jew-ish households at Passover in commemoration of the eman-cipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Jesus and his apostles were celebrating the Passover themselves on the original Holy Thursday night, and thus it reminds us of our own spiritual roots in the Hebrew faith.

Asbury First’s Seder, hosted by the youth, included the Youth Choir, directed by Carol Lamica, singing Dayenu, an ancient song long associated with Passover.

After the Seder, the congregation moved to the Sanctuary for “something old” –

Asbury First’s traditional Tenebrae service. Conducted in a nearly dark church, the service featured individuals portraying the apostles who read the passion story by candlelight, and, when finished, ran from the room, to symbol-ize the flight of the apostles on Jesus’s last night.

As the passion narrative was read, a figure dressed in white portraying Christ (this year, it was AFUMC member Nancy Davidow) knelt in front of a large wooden cross on the altar. As the readers finished, men dressed as Roman soldiers entered and escorted the Christ figure, carrying the heavy cross, to the East Avenue lawn, where it was implanted in the ground. The service ends with the congregation praying silently around the cross, then leaving quietly. It is a powerful and moving service.

Then he came to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and

taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed

into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.’

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Spiritual Retreats“ N ow, O my G o d , l e t yo u r eye s b e o p e n a n d yo u r e a rs

a t t e n t i ve t o p raye r f ro m t h i s p l a ce .” – 2 C h ro n i c l e s 6 : 4 0

Spiritual Retreats

Men, join us for our annual spring retreat at Camp Casowasco from Friday evening, May 1 to Sunday morning, May 3. We will be staying in

the beautiful mansion, Galilee Lodge, on Owasco Lake. We gather to sing, pray, hike, worship, and have discussions. This year’s theme will be

centered on the movie It’s a Wonderful Life and an accompanying book titled 52 Little Lessons from It’s a Wonderful Life, by Bob Welch. This is a

chance to relax, reflect, and renew one’s spirit. The cost is $156.50 per person for 2 nights and 4 meals. You can bring your own sleeping bag or

pay $8 for Casowasco to supply linens for your bed. If interested, please contact Bruce Thompson at brucerthompsonmd@mac.com or Glenn

Peck at gpeck1@rochester.rr.com.

Men’s retreat

photos courtesy of Glenn Peck

Women’s retreat

Walking

SimplyWith Christ

• Saturday-Sunday, June 13-14

• Camp Asbury, Silver Lake, N.Y.

• $90/person (due by June 1 to the church office) – in-cludes Saturday lunch and dinner; Sunday breakfast.

• Single or double rooms available.

• A weekend of serenity, stress relief, stretching, silence, songs, sharing, smiles, and Scripture focused on the theme of “Walking Simply with Christ.”

• Register by contacting Melody Guadagnino in the church office at (585) 271-1050 x103 or mguadagnino@asburyfirst.org.

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Introducing Asbury First’s newest members. We’re so glad you’ve become part of our faith family!

Welcome our

New MembersNew Members

Photographs courtesy of Kelly Mueller

Damian Vicary, Patrick Vicary, Jayne Mallwitz-

VicaryThe Vicary family lives in Rochester, where Damian is a chemical engineer/technology manager at Lonza and Jayne works as a broker with White Glove Realty. Their son Patrick is in fifth grade.

Kelly Keeney & Ryan Ferguson

Kelly and Ryan live in Web-ster, and are getting married this coming October. They are both employed as physician’s assistants at Rochester General Hospital.

Holly & Ryan TemmingRochester residents Holly and Ryan have two children, Sophia (third grade) and Chloe (pre-K). Holly is a stay-at-home mom, with previous experience in music and health-care management, and Ryan is director of sales for Goldwell New York.

Trudy Starr & Jeffrey Quartley

Trudy and Jeffrey live in East Rochester, and were married on April 24, 2015. Jeffrey is a production manager with Ranger Design and Trudy is a CPA with Insero and Co.

Annie & Greg ShafferAnnie and Greg live in Roch-ester. Greg works at the Simon School at the University of Rochester, and Annie is a is a stay-at-home mom. They are the parents of Nathan (pre-K) and Ryan (first grade). They are looking forward to volunteer-ing as a family.

Jeanne YoungJeanne lives in Rochester, and works for the Penfield Central School district as a speech language pathologist. She is particularly interested in serv-ing others through Asbury First’s outreach ministries.

Claire WebsterClaire joins us from the Uni-versity of Rochester, where she is a junior with a double major in political science and religion. She’s involved in the Protestant community at U of R, and serves on the steering commit-tee that plans fellowship events on campus.

David KlipinskiDavid is retired and lives in Rochester.

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Nicole HerndonNicole lives in Rochester, and is currently attending St. John Fisher College as a psychol-ogy major. She is interested in horse back riding, and has ex-perience at her former church with the youth group.

Danyelle & Eric Hildreth

Danyelle and Eric live in Pitts-ford with their children, Mal-lory and Ethan. Eric is a senior product manager with Hubbell, Inc., and Danyelle works in marketing and social media.

Kathy RhodeKathy lives in Rochester, and is a software test manager for Kodak Alaris. Her interests include skiing, snowshoeing, reading, knitting, and sailing. She is also interested in writ-ing.

Ann MarkeyAnn, who lives in Rochester, is an administrative assistant with Universal Medical Imag-ing. She has also worked in the publishing industry as an editor, and in international sales. She’s intrested in reading, kayaking, yoga, and travel.

Name(s):

Address:

Phone:

Email:

∆ Enclosed is my/our gift to The Reverend Susan S. Shafer

Endowment in the amount of $

∆ My/Our gift to The Reverend Susan S. Shafer Endowment

will be a pledge of $ , with a payment of

$ (weekly/monthly/quarterly/yearly).

circle one

∆ Please contact me to discuss my gift.

Please refer to me/us/my family in the following way on the list of

donors:

u T h e R e v e r e n d S u s a n S . S h a f e r u

Pastoral Care Endowment

u T h e R e v e r e n d S u s a n S . S h a f e r u

Pastoral Care EndowmentThis endowment offers a unique opportunity to honor Susan’s compassionate ministry at

Asbury First, and to ensure that the outstanding level of pastoral care that she has estab-

lished will endure for generations to come. Many members and friends have already re-

sponded generously. If you have not yet made a commitment please prayerfully consider

doing so now by clipping this coupon, or visit www.asburyfirst.org for an online pledge

card. If you have questions, please contact the Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady at (585) 271-1050 or

scady@asburyfirst.org or Robert Schuman at (585) 248-9673.

More new members!

12

registration Form – Fifth annual talent showName___________________________________________ Phone________________________________________

Email _____________________________________

Briefly describe your act: _________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

(If performing a piece of music, please list title and composer)

Materials/props you will bring: ____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

Tech resources required: CD Player ____ Piano ____ Electric Cord ___ Amp ____

Microphone(s) ______ (# of mics) _______ Other __________________________________________

Do you need piano accompaniment? Yes ___ No ___ If yes, please attach a copy of the music to this form,

and you will be contacted about your performance.

This intergenerational talent show is produced by our youth and directed by Brian Bohrer. If you

would like to perform, fill out the registration form and return it to the church office or to the

Welcoming Hall registration table by Sunday, April 26. The rehearsal will be on Saturday, May 3 from

12:00-3:00 p.m. You must attend the rehearsal with your act fully prepared in order to be included on

the program. Questions? Please contact Brian Bohrer at tenorbri@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

Ready for your Curtain Call?Save the date for Asbury First’s Fifth Annual

Talent ShowSaturday, May 9

6:00 p.m. dinner (please bring a dish to pass)

6:30 showFellowship Hall

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childrens & youth ministry newsConfirmation Sunday

On Sunday, May 17, during the 11:00 a.m. worship service, we will be wel-coming another class of eighth grade confirmands into full membership into Asbury First United Methodist Church. Over the course of the year we have had the opportunity to study, to question, and to experience the many different facets of the United Methodist faith tradition. The purpose and focus of this process is to help our

confirmands take responsibility and ownership of their bap-tismal vows – which for most were originally spoken by their parents. By being confirmed, these youth are affirming their faith and expressing their desire to take on the responsibility to continue to study and live out their faith. They are acknowledg-ing that they don’t yet have it all figured out, but that they now have the knowledge and tools to ask the tough questions and seek out the difficult answers. We look forward to celebrating our confirmation journey with all of you on May 17, and then continuing our journey together in the days and years to come! – Mike Mullin

On April 1, some of the senior high youth enjoyed a chilly spring raft trip at Pennsylvania’s Pine Creek Gorge in Tioga State Forest – the “Grand Canyon” of PA. (l to r): Brian Carter, Andrew Kennedy, Connor Nelson, Emma VanDerlinn, Richard Benjamin, and Arianna Ernsthausen enjoy a lunch break. Photo by Jim Carter.

Let’s hear it for our acolytes and crucifers! Week in and week out, the acolytes and crucifers support our worship services through their pres-ence and assistance. Here, Evan Alaimo, Jack Dugan, Philip Slattery, Richard Benjamin, and Peter Carter wait “backstage” before an Easter service. Photo by Paula Dugan.

Music by Allen PoteLyrics and Narration by Tom S. Long

sunday, May 10 during the 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. services

Three little trees dream of what they will become when they grow up in this adaptation of a beloved folk tale.

The Tale of the

Three Trees

The Children of Asbury First Present Their Spring Musical

14

library news

Children:The Lion Who Stole My Arm, by Nicola Davies.Zoologist Nicola Davies presents an illustrated novel for young readers that proves you don’t need two arms to be strong. Author Davies perfectly merges a heart-pounding adventure with an important message about conservation. This 96-page story is especially for ages 7-10.

Ivan: the Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla, by K.A. Applegate.Captured as a baby, Ivan was brought to a Tacoma, Washington mall to attract shoppers. Gradually, public pressure built until a better way of life for Ivan was found at Zoo Atlanta. From the Congo to America, and from a local business attraction to a national symbol of animal welfare, Ivan the shopping mall gorilla traveled an astonishing distance in miles and in impact. This is his true story for ages 4-8.

The Blessing Cup, by Patricia Polacco.When Anna’s family leaves Russia for America, they bring a tea set and its blessings. A source of heritage and security, the tea set helps Anna’s family make friends. A cup from the tea set – The Blessing Cup – became an anchor of family history, and remains a symbol of lasting love more than a century later. Ages 4-8 will enjoy this story of a magic tea set.

Youth:Fast Times in Palentine, by Pamela J. Olson.When the author traveled to Palestine in 2003, she found herself thrown into the realities of Palestinian life. Fast Times in Palestine is Olson’s powerful, deeply moving account of life in Palestine – both the daily events that are universal to us all (house parties, concerts, barbecues, and weddings) as well as the violence, trauma, and political tensions that are particular to the country. Fast Times in Palestine is a gripping narrative that challenges our ways of thinking – not only about the Middle East, but about human nature, cultural identity, and our place in the world.

Books for all ages and on all topics can be found in the church resource library, open when the church is open. The following books have been selected as featured books for May and are available in the library’s collection of books for children, youth, and adults.

City of God: Faith in the Streets, by Sara Miles.This book is an account of venturing beyond the borders of religion into the unpredictable territory of faith. It is a beautifully written personal narrative, rich in complex, real-life characters, and full of the “wild, funny, joyful, raucous, reverent” moments of struggle and faith that have made Miles one of the most enthralling Christian writers of our time.

Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson.Winner of the 2014 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, author Woodson tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse. Suggested age range is ages 10-14. Woodson’s collection of childhood memories provides insight into her perspective of America.

Adult:God For Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Lent and Easter, edited by Greg Pennoyer.God For Us, with beautiful full color artwork, explores the meaning of Lent, its importance in spiritual formation, its significance in preparation for Easter, and the holy season of Easter.

Parenting:Getting Past What You’ll Never Get Over, by John Westfall.There are some things in life that we must learn to live with because they will never truly go away. John F. Westfall leads readers beyond their hurts and into a life of confidence, freedom, and secure joy. Sharing stories with wisdom, humor, and vulnerability, he shows how to move forward beyond fear, regret, guilt, anger, and bitterness into a life worth living.

A Moment’s Peace, by Elizabeth Irving.Designed for those who may only have ten minutes a day to call their own, this guide provides busy moms with skills and techniques to create their own sense of peace. The step-by-step plans incorporate relaxation techniques, hints for developing family rituals, instructions for breathing, and body awareness skills that lay the groundwork for peaceful moments.

April25 Romans 3:19-3126 Romans 4:1-2527 Romans 5:1-2128 Romans 6:1-2329 Romans 7:1-2530 Romans 15:1-13May1 1 Corinthians 12:1-312 1 Corinthians 14:1-403 1 Corinthians 15:1-114 1 Corinthians 15:12-345 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

13 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 14 Acts 1:1-2615 John 15:18-16.4a 16 John 16:4b-3317 Ezekiel 1:1-2818 Ezekiel 2:1-1019 Ezekiel 3:1-27

6 Romans 8:1-177 Romans 8:18-398 Romans 12:1-219 2 Corinthians 1:1-1110 2 Corinthians 2:12-3:1811 2 Corinthians 4:1-1512 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10

20 Ezekiel 34:1-3121 Ezekiel 36:1-3822 Ezekiel 37:1-2823 Joel 2:28-3:2124 Acts 2:1-1325 Acts 2:14-4726 Galatians 1:1-2427 Galatians 2:1-2128 Galatians 3:1-2929 Galatians 4:1-3130 Galatians 5:1-2631 Galatians 6:1-18

Scripture reading suggestions courtesy of the American Bible Society, www.americanbible.org.

15

the last word

Saying Goodbye to Clifford

The Dining Center has developed a reputation

for inclusiveness, consistent with our church values. Guests, volunteers, and staff alike are accepting of those who have challenges. We encourage, smile, and offer kindness to a soul who may be rebuffed and rebuked after leaving our little haven. Over the years I have been aware of the importance of pets in many of our guest’s lives. Pets offer a chance to bond, and of course the unconditional acceptance that can be missing from a lonely life. The following is Christine’s story.

Back in 2010, Christine was feeling depressed and gaining weight. A lady in her building had just obtained a dog named Clifford. Christine offered to assist her with walking him. Once she started walking him she explains:

“We started spending time together each day, I fed him breakfast: pancakes, sausage, the works. I rearranged my whole apartment to make sure he had room to play. He was an outside kind of dog so we went for rides constantly. Around Thanksgiving time, I babysat Clifford while his owner went south to visit family. When she came back to pick him up, he started whining. He didn’t want to say goodbye. The next day when I dropped him off after our walk he started crying again. He was missing me. That Christmas, my neighbor wished me a Merry Christmas by telling me Clifford was now mine! I was in disbelief. I finally had my own dog. I had always wanted one. Our journey together had begun. This was in 2011. Ever since then we have been bouncing around from apartment to apartment. We finally found

Rochester Highland Apartments and realized that this was our forever home. Clifford got me to exercise, which helped my anxiety, weight, and depression go down. As I felt anxious, Clifford became more aware and alert and protected me from harm. Now, he is registered as a full-fledged service dog. He has a backpack and an official uniform.

This past year he injured his paw. I took him to a vet and this is when I found out he had cancer. That is where things started taking a downward spiral. The vet has been very supportive guiding me through this sad process. My primary care physician has been helping me with vet bills, the HOPE Foundation for Dogs and All4Pets organization, who help people who can’t afford vet care, have stepped in to help, and they are going to help with cremation. I will not be able to keep his ashes as that will cost $135.00 which I do not have. I will not let Clifford suffer when the time comes. My therapist is working with me to be ready for that day.

Clifford and I have a new friend. I rescued PJ from South Avenue Towers in February. Peanut Jackson (PJ for short) is working and

training with Clifford to be my new service dog. My therapist is going to put me in a program to help me do well with PJ, who is a mixed-breed pit bull. PJ has already picked up a lot of Clifford’s traits, and it seems that the transition is working. A little of Clifford’s soul is going into PJ. They are very good friends. They have shown me that you can get along with any dog, any time. The puppy has greatly uplifted Clifford’s spirits.

It is very difficult to say goodbye. Clifford is my best friend, son, only family, and the only thing I could

trust. I have a difficult time trusting people. He made me feel safe and respected. I can sleep a little bit better knowing that Clifford is there.”

Christine knows that the time will come when Clifford will not be at her side. She is preparing for this. She has been coming to the Dining Center for about a year now and likes it. She feels safe and welcomed. Clifford has sampled our sausage and reportedly loves it. He calmly sits in her Jeep and waits for her with PJ. She told me she has met some great people here but always returns to her best friends. I have met both PJ and Clifford and can confirm that they are lovely dogs.

We all need some one to make us feel special. We are proud to help Christine through this transition, mostly by just listening. I think she knows that she, Clifford and PJ are special to us too. It will be hard to say goodbye.

Editor’s note: as we were going to press with this issue, Michele Cooley reported to us that Christine’s devoted service dog, Clifford, had passed away peacefully.

1 by Michele Cooley 2

Christine with PJ (left) and Clifford (right).

PERIODICAL

1050 East AvenueRochester, NY 14607-2293

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Talent ShowSaturday, May 96:00 p.m. dinner

(please bring a dish to pass)6:30 p.m. showFellowship Hall

The Youth of Asbury First Present the Fifth Annual