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Teaching Pastors Mark Moore and Eric Yeakel
OFFICE HOURS
8 AM to 4 PM, M—F 1533 Springhouse Road
Allentown, PA 18104 Phone: 610-398-2577
Fax: 610-366-1108 www.asburylv.org
Asbury United
Methodist Church
@asburyumclv
SUNDAY SERVICES
TRADITIONAL WORSHIP 8:00 AM in the Sanctuary
CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP 9:30 AM in the Sanctuary
TRADITIONAL WORSHIP 11:00 AM in the Sanctuary
OPEN DOOR WORSHIP 11:00 AM in the Wesley Center
In all aspects of our lives, we will strive to be disciples
of
Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
faith in action… imagine your life changed.
The Vine
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2, 2
012
SUNDAY MORNING CHILDCARE
During our 9:30 Sunday School time, we have separate
infants/one-year olds, and two year old
childcare classes. During our 11:00 Services, we have childcare
available for infants through PreK.
PASSIONATE
WORSHIP
Our Vision Statement
SHARING THE GIFT OF MUSIC
Youth are invited to share musical selections during the
preludes on Christmas Eve. Youth through Grade 5 will participate
at the 3:00 PM service and youth in Grades 6-12 will participate at
the 7:00 PM service. Please contact Carol Lenhart (610-398-1205 or
[email protected]) to volunteer.
Do you like to hear the bells as they ring prayers and praise in
worship? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ring those
bells? Two new bell choirs will begin regular Wednesday evening
rehearsals on January 17, 2013. One choir is for adults and the
other is for youth in Grades 8 through 12. Experienced ringers and
new ringers are welcome. Please contact Carol Lenhart (610-398-1205
or [email protected]) to save your place at the bell table.
EXPECT A MIRACLE Who is the focus of our Christmas celebrations?
Santa Claus or Jesus? Too often, we view God like a magical Santa
Claus deity. We believe that God exists to grant our wishes. We
just have to name it, claim it, and we will get whatever we wish
for.
This is not the God we see in Jesus. Jesus was not the Messiah
most people were expecting and hoping for. Many people of the
Jewish faith in first century Palestine expected a revolutionary
who would restore the Davidic Kingdom. Many believed the Messiah
would overthrow the Roman occupation of their land. Jesus did not
fulfill that expectation. He resisted the world’s obsessions with
wealth, pleasure, power, and recognition. He came to “preach good
news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners and recovery
of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed, and to proclaim
the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19). He did not condemn
but defended the sinner. Jesus was the embodiment of God’s values
and priorities.
Christmas is about a miracle and God birthed this miracle
through Mary’s womb. Today, God still births miracles through
ordinary people like you and me. We just need to be willing to
dream God’s dream and then act on God’s vision. Are you willing to
dream God’s dream and then act on God’s vision? Please join us in
worship this Advent as Pastor Mark and I look at how God can use
you and me to birth a Christmas miracle.
Pastor Eric
HELP ASBURY CHURCH DEMONSTRATE RADICAL HOSPITALITY BECOME A
GREETER!
Additional greeters would be helpful at all services, but are
especially needed at the 8:00 AM service. Christmas Eve is also a
great opportunity to welcome visitors to our church. Many greeters
are needed to accommodate all the services. This could be an
opportunity to see if greeting is for you. For further information
contact Anita Quayle at ([email protected] or 610-861-9203).
ALTAR FLOWERS FOR 2013 The flower chart to sponsor altar vases
for 2013 is now posted next to Room 218 on the upper level near the
center staircase. Please add your name and phone number next to the
date that you wish to sponsor and you will be contacted prior to
that date for your dedication. The cost for sponsorship is $45.00
for the two altar vases. Con-tact Nancy Chestnutt (610-432-1486)
with questions.
tel:%28610-398-1205mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
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THE JUBILATION RINGERS will present their annual Christmas
concert, Ring and Sing Christmas, on Sunday, 12/9, at 4:00 PM in
the Sanctuary. Tickets are $10.00 and are available by mail. Forms
are available in the back of the Sanctuary and at the Welcome
Desks, and can also be downloaded from Asbury’s website
(www.asburylv.org). SUMMER HARMONY CHRISTMAS CONCERT with guest
choirs, including Asbury’s Chancel Choir, will be held at First
Presbyterian Church of Allentown at 7:30 PM on Friday, 12/14.
Tickets cost $15 (a portion of which benefits the Chancel Choir)
and may be purchased in the church office, or by emailing Sara
Brown ([email protected]) before 12/7.
ONLY 15 BAGS OF PECANS REMAIN! To purchase a 16 oz. bag of
pecans fresh from South Carolina, stop by the church office during
business hours. Cost is $10.00.
FAMILIES ON THE GROW invites all families to join them for an
afternoon of Christmas caroling on Saturday, 12/8. We will meet at
Asbury at 1:30 PM near the lower level Welcome Desk. For more
information, please contact Paul Wood ([email protected] or
610-437-1862). CHRISTMAS OUTREACH: Are you interested in providing
gifts for a needy family or individual this holiday season? Stop by
the Community Room to adopt an individual and/or family. We also
need individuals to assist at the sign-up table between services on
12/2 & 12/9. It only takes 15 minutes per shift and is a great
way to contribute to the outreach program! Contact Marc & Betsy
Dobbs for further information (610-841-0471). MINI GOLF: Asbury
will hold its 8th Annual Indoor Miniature Golf event on 2/2/13.
Mark your calendar! We are always looking for more people to
construct golf holes. If you are an individual, family, or
organization, we would love to have you join us. If interested
contact Dick Black (610-967-5532).
SUSANNA CIRCLE will meet at 7:00 PM on Monday, 12/10, at Peggy
Connell's home, 937 Bridle Path Road, Allentown. (Call 610-432-2884
for directions.) Judy Ehninger will lead us in a Christmas
devotion. Peggy and Don Connell will share their recent surgical
mission trip to the beautiful Galapagos Islands. Join us as we
celebrate the season! All women are welcome! DORCAS/MARTHA CIRCLE
will be entertained by the Asbury Pre-School children at their
meeting on Thursday, 12/13, at 9:15 AM in the Parlor. This month
the Circle will be collecting $1.00 candy bars wrapped in Christmas
paper for Linkage, and small bags of snack food for Daybreak. If
the Parkland School District has a weather delay the Circle will
NOT meet. All women are welcome PRAYER AND SHARE TOGETHER: Asbury
regularly hosts two Christian support groups for Lehigh Valley
women: one for women with loved ones who are struggling with
emotional issues such as depression, anxiety, bipolar; and another
for those who are afflicted themselves. Next meetings for both
groups: Tuesday, 12/11, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in Room 208. Call
Linda Curry Bartholomew (610-395-8756) for information. EMERGENCY
HELP AVAILABLE: In the event of an emergency (such as a power
outage), Asbury has taken steps to become a shelter for members of
the congregation. We have shower and kitchen facilities, camp pads
and internet connections. The church answering service will be
prepared to help with any information you may require and will
arrange to have someone meet you at the church. STAMP MINISTRY: As
you open your Christmas cards this year, please remember to save
the stamps for Asbury’s Stamp Ministry, a mission program of the
UMW. Cut out the stamp, leaving at least ¼” border, and drop them
in any of the collection containers throughout the building. Do not
cut too close, or paper clip the stamps! For more information,
contact Jan Kuhns (610-965-9262).
RADICAL HOSPITALITY Congregational Life & Care
Prayers of Our Congregation “Breathe on me, breath of God, Fill
me with life anew, That I may love what thou dost love, And do what
Thou wouldst do.” Lyrics by Edwin Hatch 1878
For those who are sick or in the hospital Lord, we ask your
mercy and healing for all those currently hospitalized or recently
discharged, especially Clyde B, Carolyn G., Susan J., Doris G.,
Eugene L. and Bonnie R. Jesus, we ask you to have mercy on all
those in pain, both physical and mental and grant them your
peace.
For those who need your special help
We ask healing for Carlen B.’s mother as she recovers from
surgery. Please be with Sadie G.’s mother, Michele, who is having
therapy. We ask comfort for Tiffany’s cousin, as his mother passed
away. We thank you for continued improve-ment in Kevin T. who
sustained a severe head injury over 2 weeks ago and is starting to
respond to his family. Oh Lord, we ask for healing for Maggie N.’s
cousin, Sam, who has been diagnosed with leukemia. We lift up Ann
S. for your healing touch.
For our congregation Lord, we thank you for this season of
renewed commitment
to your church and your service.
For the world, its people and its leaders Remind our leaders,
Lord, to look to your example.
For our children Lord, protect the little ones, the innocents,
from all harm.
For those who mourn Lord, we ask your mercy and comfort for the
families of all those who have passed from our lives into your
arms, especially the family, friends and classmates of 6 year old
Juliana Eberharter and her father Charles (Chris) who died in a car
accident.
With thanksgiving for our joys We thank you for so many
blessings, for healing, for the
love of family and friends, for the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit.
For the missions we support We pray for the Jewels of Hope
ministry for orphans of
AIDS victims, that the ministry may continue to receive the
funding and support it needs to provide education and nurture for
these children in South Africa.
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CHANGE FOR CHANGE this month is designated for Meals on Wheels
of Lehigh County, a non-profit organization that delivers
nutritious meals to 350 clients each weekday on 33 delivery routes.
More than 130,000 meals are delivered each year. Their clients are
seniors or adults with disabilities who are homebound, and unable
to cook or shop for themselves. Please place your contributions in
the containers at the rear of the Sanctuary or in the Wesley
Center.
INTENTIONAL FAITH DEVELOPMENT
For those of you reading this before Sunday, don’t forget our
annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser with the Advent Celebration on
Saturday, 12/1! Students, we're still looking for hands, so sign up
now at www.asburyym.org. The money raised from this fundraiser will
help to support the 2013 High School Work Week to West Virginia ~
please spread the word to make people aware of this great cause!
Dates for the 2013 West Virginia High School Work Week are in!
We'll be returning to Barbour County for the 20th year from July
14-20. Mark the dates on your calendar and start to pray for the
trip and the family that we'll be working with (which we won't know
about until spring). Finally, thanks to everyone who has helped
with the Girls' Group Bucket Brigade! We'll be accepting donations
up through this Sunday morning (12/2) and then buckets will be
assembled to be delivered to the Stafford Township Storm Relief
Center in Manahawkin, NJ.
Contact Aaron Forney in the church office (610-398-2577 or
[email protected]) for information on all Youth Ministry
activities and opportunities.
YOUTH
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED by Ev-erlasting Life Ministries to help
with Christmas Dinner on Saturday, 12/15, at Bethany E. C. Church,
224 N. 6th St., Allentown. Needed are servers, baked goods, cash
donations, and un-cooked turkeys. (Turkeys can no long-er be cooked
in the home.) If you can help, please call their office
(610-776-4009). This ministry is one that we support through Asbury
In Mission (AIM).
Your gift to UMCOR US Disaster Re-sponse, Hurricanes 2012,
Advance #3021787, will help UMCOR to be with storm survivors over
the long term of their recovery.
ASBURY ENDOWMENT FUND Retirement funds present new
opportuni-ties for giving to the Asbury Endowment Fund. You may
want to name the Asbury Endowment Fund as the final beneficiary of
your individual retirement account (IRA) or other retirement funds,
in the event that you and your other named beneficiaries die before
all of the funds have been dis-tributed.
RISK-TAKING MISSION
AND SERVICE
Asbury In Mission (AIM)
EXTRAVAGANT
GENEROSITY
THE SEASON OF GIVING
This holiday season, we thank everyone who has supported Asbury
this past year with their time, talent and financial contributions
and look forward to support from all of our members in the year
ahead. If you need a convenient way to make regular offerings or if
you plan to make an additional gift before the end of the year, we
en-courage you to check out our electronic giving options. As the
pace of life speeds up, especially around the holidays, you may
find electronic giving a most welcome way to make contributions.
Visit www.asburylv.org or contact the church office (610-398-2577)
for more information.
CHILDREN
Faith & Fun Alive Sunday School Today the children are
decorating their rooms for Christmas and enjoying some homemade
cookies! Thanks to the parents and TMT for planning and the
goodies!
Christmas Birthday Party for Jesus This year we are having one
HUGE Birthday Party for Jesus! All children ages PreK/4’s through
5th Grade are invited to join us on Friday, 12/21 from 6:00 to 8;30
PM for a combo Faith & Fun Alive and Kidz Klub PARTY! Invite
your friends, and invite your parents to help us. We need lots of
volunteers! Join in the fun for dinner, story-telling, making
Crismon crafts for your tree, singing, games & sports, and of
course a big Birthday Cake for Jesus. Sign up in the Community Room
or outside the WC. Email Linda to sign up or volunteer. Contact
Sarah Kinzel, Pam Unrath, or Wendy Wright for information or to
volunteer. Come celebrate the birth of Jesus! Thanks to both our
teams for planning this awesome event.
“And Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in
bands of cloth, and laid Him in a manger.” Luke 2:7
Contact Linda Arleth in the church office (610-398-2577 or
[email protected]) for information on all Children’s Ministry
activities and opportunities.
Please pick up an Advent Prayer Calendar and join in giving the
gift of prayer this holiday season. They are available at the
Welcome Centers and on the tables in the Narthex. Also available in
the same locations are free Advent Devotional booklets. Take some
time to prepare for the coming of the Christ Child by spending time
in prayer and meditation during this hectic season.
ADULTS
http://www.asburylv.org
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Ou
r Sta
ff
Mark Moore, Senior Pastor [email protected]
Eric Yeakel, Associate Pastor [email protected]
Glenn Asquith, Director of Pastoral Care
[email protected]
Laurie Wallace Theisen, Director of Lay Ministries
[email protected]
Linda Arleth, Director of Children’s Ministries
[email protected]
Aaron Forney, Director of Youth Ministries
[email protected]
Tom Gibson, Business Administrator [email protected]
WEEK
LY CA
LENDA
R
LEAH KUHNS
Leah is an active Missions volunteer, and has participated in
trips to South Africa & Cook-son Hills, Oklahoma. She cooks for
Daybreak once a month and is a “Keep In Touch” visitor. She helps
with many UMW events, is an active member of the Dorcas/Martha
Cir-cle, and also volunteers for the Food Bank. In 2010, she
received an “Unsung Hero” award from the Lehigh County Office of
Aging. Thanks, Leah!
Sunday, December 2 / 1st Sunday in Advent Wednesday, December 5
(continued)
8:00 a.m. Worship Celebration - Sanctuary 5:00 p.m. Karate-
FH
9:15 a.m. God's Rainbow Sunday School- 200 5:30 p.m. Wednesday
Dinner- WC
9:30 a.m. Worship Celebration - Sanctuary 6:00 p.m. Karate-
FH
9:30 a.m. Sunday School All Ages 6:00 p.m. Advent Study- 217
11:00 a.m. Worship Celebration - Sanctuary 6:00 p.m. Joyful
Noisemakers- 108
11:00 a.m. Open Door Community Worship- WC 6:00 p.m. Rainbow
Singers- 106
12:30 p.m. UMW Christmas Tea- FH/223 6:30 p.m. Chili Cook-off
Planning- Aldersgate
12:30 p.m. Bucket Brigade Assembly- WC 7:00 p.m. Advent Study-
offsite
1:00 p.m. Church of God- 106/108 7:00 p.m. Karate- FH
2:00 p.m. Cub Scout God & Family- 215 7:00 p.m. Youth Choir-
106
6:00 p.m. Asbury Basketball- WC 8:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir-
102
6:30 p.m. Cub Scout Committee- 215
6:30 p.m. SNL/JHE- YL/FH/108 Thursday, December 6
6:30 p.m. Advent Study- 217 9:00 a.m. Zumba- FH
7:00 p.m. Dig Deep- 106 9:30 a.m. Advent Study- offsite
12:15 p.m. Advent Study- 215
Monday, December 3 6:00 p.m. Parkland Service Unit 722- FH
10:30 a.m. Pastoral Care- Aldersgate 7:00 p.m. Open Door Worship
Rehearsal- WC
5:00 p.m. AFC Basketball- WC 7:00 p.m. Church of God Bible
Study- 106
5:30 p.m. Brownie Troop 6027- 108 7:00 p.m. NARANON- 108
6:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 12- FH/106 7:00 p.m. Journeys- 202
6:30 p.m. Sr. High Girls Group- YL 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir-
102
6:30 p.m. Sr. High Guys Group- 208
6:30 p.m. Girl Scouts- 108 Friday, December 7
6:30 p.m. Jubilation Ringers Rehearsal- Sanctuary 7:00 a.m.
Advent Study- Aldersgate
7:00 p.m. Monday Night Men- 215 6:00 p.m. Preschool Cookies
& Milk with Santa- WC
7:00 p.m. Preschool Board- Aldersgate 6:30 p.m. Advent Study-
Aldersgate
7:30 p.m. Praise Band 6:30 p.m. Cub Scout Pack 12- FH
Tuesday, December 4 Saturday, December 8
9:00 a.m. Zumba- FH 12:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 12 Training-
FH/106/108
9:00 a.m. Marketing Team- 108 1:30 p.m. Family Caroling– Wesley
Center Lobby
9:30 a.m. Advent Study- Aldersgate 5:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 12
Lock-In– Lower Level
9:30 a.m. AGO Board of Directors- 106 6:00 p.m. Henritzy Class
Party- Parlor
12:30 p.m. Program Staff- Aldersgate
6:00 p.m. Girl Scout Leader Meeting- Parlor Sunday, December 9 /
2nd Sunday in Advent
6:15 p.m. Brownie Troop 6926- 219 8:00 a.m. Worship Celebration
- Sanctuary
6:30 p.m. LV Walk Now for Autism- 217 9:15 a.m. God's Rainbow
Sunday School- 200
6:30 p.m. UMW Board- 106 9:30 a.m. Worship Celebration -
Sanctuary
7:00 p.m. Mark Moore Bible Study- 108 9:30 a.m. Sunday School
All Ages
7:00 p.m. Summer Harmony- FH 11:00 a.m. Worship Celebration -
Sanctuary
7:00 p.m. Asbury Volleyball- WC 11:00 a.m. Open Door Community
Worship- WC
7:30 p.m. O. A. - 204 1:00 p.m. Church of God- 106/108
8:00 p.m. Worship Ministry Team- Aldersgate 2:00 p.m. Cub Scout
God & Family- 215
4:00 p.m. Jubilation Ringers Concert- Sanctuary
Wednesday, December 5 6:00 p.m. Asbury Basketball- WC
9:00 a.m. Prayer Group- 231 6:30 p.m. Serendipity Small Group-
208
9:00 a.m. Keep in Touch- Aldersgate 6:30 p.m. SNL/JHE-
YL/FH/108
10:00 a.m. Mark Moore Bible Study- 108 6:30 p.m. Advent Study-
217
1:00 p.m. AA (open)- 108
