The
Circuit Rider
Asbury United Methodist Church Newsletter – Published Monthly
OCTOBER – 2011 90 Church Avenue, Forestville, Connecticut 06010 Volume 18, Issue 10
Dear Friends,
As we look to October, the change of seasons is in full swing: leaves are already turning color, and even though there are still warm days ahead, evenings have that cool air about them. There is no denying it, autumn is about us. I keep hearing it said, “Where did summer go? It flew by!” Don’t we always say that at this time of year? The truth is, this summer season had the same number of days that it always had and the next one will too – even though it feels like this one was … just … too … short. In a continually changing world, some things will not change even though it may feel otherwise. With all that is uncertain that lies ahead of us, perhaps we can find comfort in these predictable and changing seasons, whether or not we are ready for change!
The news of the world confronts us with uncertainty a lot lately: jobs, social security for the next generation of retirees, Iraq and Afghanistan, the 2012 election, to name just a few. I don’t know about you, but it’s going to take more than the predictability of the seasons for me to find comfort as I read the daily news. I’m reminded of Psalm 121:
I lift up my eyes to the hills–where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip–
he who watches over you
will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches
over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you–the LORD is your shade
at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you
from all harm–
he will watch over your life;
The LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Where does our help, comfort, assurance and certainty come from these days? Just as it did so many years ago to the Psalmist, it will come from the Lord. God’s caring shield upon our lives is never changing, always present. As the leaves change color and the temperature has a chill to it, as the events of the world continue to come to us in shocking detail, know that God is still with us … God will always be with us! Praise God!
Blessings,
Pastor Laura
Asbury United Methodist Church
OCTOBER – 2011 The Circuit Rider Page 2
For OCTOBER
Worship Leaders
2nd…….....….Bonnie Maskery
9th…...……….….Nick Roberts
16th.………….….…..Ken Clark
23rd…..…………..Marilyn May
30th……...…Karna Baumberger
8:30 am service – Carl Aspland
Greeters
2nd…...Mike & Wanda Nestico
9th.Stan & Audrey Kasakowski
16th.…..Wayne & JoAnn Bacon
23rd…..….……..Geri Beveridge
30th…….…The Amadio Family
Fellowship Hour
2nd.………………………TBA
9th…...Duncan & Marilyn May
16th.………….…..Kate Bechert
23rd…..……...Michelle Voisine
30th…….…The Amadio Family
Ushers
Wayne Fuller, Bonnie Emery, Chad Lockhart, Dennis Floyd, and Roy DiYulio
Communion Stewards
Treaty & Wayne Fuller
October Altar Guild
Judy Staub
October Birthday Caller
Eula Foster
The deadline for the
October Circuit Rider is
November Circuit Rider is Sunday, October 16th.
Please leave all articles in the mailbox in the church office
or e-mail them to:
OCTOBER
10/01 Diana Bouchard
Verna Pekrul
Carly Rogers
Molly Rusgrove
10/02 Hector Martinez
Dorothy Papile
Richard Kirschner
Melissa Gray
Tyler Voisine
10/03 Bryant Lishness
10/04 Laurie Landeen
Gail Hyde
10/05 Alethea Therrien
D'Anna France
Lori Trafton
Isaiah Sanchez
10/06 Ruby Harper
Heather Baker
10/07 Donald Tilley
Michael Pierce
Katharyn Schaffrick
10/08 Caleb Tye
Mernie Whitcomb
10/09 Cristina Landeen
Michael Pinette
Mary Gibson
Lindsey Majors
10/10 Wanda Nestico
Jon Hazelton
David Pelletier
10/11 Tidus Root
10/12 Ann Morin
Nadine Charest
10/13 Deborah Caves
Linda Decker
Jennifer Fiorini
Paul McBaine (Valliere)
10/14 Stacey Anderson
Kathy Marshall
Joshua Fiorini
George Hubbard
10/15 Zachary Martin
10/16 Jay Jones
10/17 Daniel Donovan
Douglas Shea
Christopher Swanson Cyr
10/18 Edward Coloske
10/19 Laurel Staub
Scott Labadia
Nick Roberts
10/21 Francine Boucher
Ayden Mahaney
10/22 Wesley Porrini
10/23 Kathy Soucy
Donald Puppel
10/24 Matthew Baumberger
Bill King
Julie Clement
10/25 Donna Szydlo
10/26 Jan King
Cheyenne O'Donnell
10/27 Betty Topalian
Timothy Jose
10/28 Melissa Rindfleisch
10/29 Michael Kirschner
10/30 Andrew Barnaby
10/31 Wayne Devino
Jordyn Newton
Asbury UMC Fundraiser at Wendy’s of Bristol
1247 Farmington Ave, Bristol
October 11th
November 8th
December 13th
5:00 – 7:00 pm
Remember: no shopping, cooking or clean-up. Just come to Wendy’s and use the drive through or COME IN and enjoy the fellowship. Ask to have your receipt put in the Asbury UMC basket, and help us pay down the mortgage!
And don’t forget to purchase your Wendy’s Scrip Card from Christian Outreach during Fellowship Hour and support the many Mission projects at Asbury!
Asbury United Methodist Church
OCTOBER – 2011 The Circuit Rider Page 3
FAMILY PAGE
Please keep these people in your prayers……
Al Bingham, Edie Nelson, Sue Bromirski, Arlene Chabot, Elsie Lyons, Mae McCabe, Edward Coloske, Shelly Pierce, and others who have needs of which we may not be aware.
PRAYER CHAIN
If you wish to relate prayer needs to the chain, please call Phyllis Petit at 589-6059 or Mernie Whitcomb at 583-5373. Please keep your call brief, and be aware of the privacy rights of the person(s) for whom you are requesting prayers.
DEATHS
Former member of Asbury, John Grosvenor Dawe passed away Tuesday, August 30th. He is survived by his wife Madeline, and children, Jim Dawe, Shirley Seeley Vanderziel and Jane Pornbida Portillo. Cards of condolences may be sent to:
Mrs. Madeline Dawe
38511 Via Escarlata
Murrieta, CA 92563
Dear Friends of Asbury,
Thank you for the spaghetti dinner. The greetings and cards were very special and needed at this time. Thanks again for all of your prayers.
Love,
Mae McCabe
Asbury Friends,
Thank you for the support letter and cards. It was a long six weeks, but I’m doing fine now. Special thanks to Pastor Laura for her visit, the sunflower plant and phone call. I appreciate your thinking of me.
Don Mazerolle
To Our Asbury Family:
Thank you hardly seems sufficient to express our feelings of gratitude, but we are going to attempt it…so thank you for the prayers, the cards, the hugs, the kleenex, the visits and of course, in full Methodist fashion, the delectable yet nourishing food we received throughout our recovery. You each have helped us not just to tread water, but to walk on it!!
With much love,
Michelle, Tyler,
Allen, Amber and Casey
(Voisine in case you forgot!!)
Dear Members of Christian Outreach,
Your committee is well named. You do reach out to all members. I thank you for reaching out to Bob. We both appreciated your efforts on his behalf.
May God Bless You All,
Marian Conrad
Dear Friends of Asbury and Members of Senior Fellowship,
You have brightened the lives of not only Bob, but also of me. You have remembered him in cards on special occasions and other times. Mail was a happiness for Bob – he felt people thinking of him. And that mattered a lot.
And thank you for all the decorations and gifts you sent him. I can’t thank each of you in person, but you are all in my prayers.
Bless You!
Marian Conrad
Dear Asbury Family,
I apologize this letter has taken me so long to send. Now, with summer classes over and fall classes beginning, I would like to thank everyone for the scholarship. It was so very helpful as just one text was almost $200.00! I am ever grateful and plan to study hard! Here’s to a great school year for all! Thank you very much!
Sincerely,
Janelle Sanchez Gonzalez
To my Asbury Family,
Where did this summer go!
I want to thank you for the camp scholarship award that I received this year. I was able to go back to Camp Tekoa in Hendersonville, N.C. I had a wonderful time there. I met up with friends from last year and made a lot of new friends. I really enjoy the experiences I have at camp.
Thanks again,
Stephanie Achilli
Asbury church family of 5 plus one cat looking for a 1st or 2nd floor apartment to rent. They need 3 bedrooms in the Stafford/CHMS bus district and parking for three vehicles. Looking for a 6 month to 1 year lease with rent no more than $800.00 a month. If you or someone you know can help, please call Jay or Jen Burrow at 860-940-4587 or 860-944-2372 respectively.
SAVE THE DATES!
Monday, Oct. 17th and
Tuesday, Oct. 25th
at 6:00 pm
Come down to the church and help us make apple pies to sell at the Yankee Peddlar Fair.
No experience necessary, just a desire to have some fun.
Asbury United Methodist Church
OCTOBER – 2011 The Circuit Rider Page 4
Victorian Holiday Tea
Prospect United Methodist Church will be hosting its annual Victorian Holiday Tea this year on December 10th at 4:00 PM. Sessions Hall will be transformed into an English Manor setting to recreate the holiday social events that were common in the Victorian era. Servants will surround you with an array of assorted scones, sweet breads, sandwiches and sweet delectables as you sip your tea, listening to musical entertainment for the evening.
The event is open to men, women and children of all ages. Proper attire and tea hats are encouraged. We are expecting to sell out of tickets quickly so don't be left out in the cold, get your reservations in early. Tickets are $15.00. To make reservations please contact Mrs. Hudson at (860)214-4663.
The Education Committee would like to thank the members of Asbury for making Rally Day such a huge success.
A reminder that the committee meets the second Sunday of each month following the worship service. The next Education meeting will be held on Sunday October 9th.
Meet The Teachers
For The 2011/2012 School Year
Cradle Roll
Mernie Whitcomb
Phyllis Petit
Nursery
Jennifer Perry
3 & 4 Year Old Class
Stacey Anderson
Stephanie Achilli
Kindergarten & 1st Grade
Roxanne Pierce
Wilda Gibson
2nd & 3rd Grades
Mary Gibson
Tom Eston
4th & 5th Grades
Lenny Cannon
Jessica Demarest
6th & 7th Grades
Geri Beveridge
Laurie Landeen
MYF
Michelle Voisine
Casey Voisine
One Room Teachers
Lenny Cannon
Heidi Borkowski
Jennifer Mahaney
Adult Education
Jim Bechert
Debbie Bechert
Mernie Whitcomb,
Pastor Don Rackliffe,
Pastor Laura Galbraith
Bulletin Boards
Pat Sallstrom
Education Chairperson
Stacey Anderson
Education Superintendent
Harriet Donovan
The MYF will be holding it’s first meeting on Sunday, October 9th. Please check the MYF Bulletin Board in Wesley Hall for times and details.
Connecticut District
United Methodist Women
Fall Gathering & Luncheon
October 15, 2011
9:00am - 2:30pm
Cost: $8.50
Bloomfield UMC
297 School St.
Bloomfield CT 06002
Theme: Love in Action: Advocating For All God's Children - Raising awareness
about human trafficking
Speaker: Jessica Penaranda
Safe Horizon
To reserve your seat contact:
Gail Dixon at 860-242-5641
Deadline for reservations
October 8, 2011
If you need a ride contact:
Denise Krom: 860-919-7360
Asbury United Methodist Church
OCTOBER – 2011 The Circuit Rider Page 5
A new women’s group is forming at Asbury United Methodist Church. This group will have social, service and fellowship components, but we need you to help determine its’ course!
“Come and See” what it is all about on Thursday, October 6th at 6:00 pm at the parsonage on 28 Cozy Lane. Please bring a salad or dessert to share. The main course will be provided. See Pastor Laura or Stacey Anderson for more information.
The Trustees received notice that the solar energy electricity generation program that was approved and pending installation has been cancelled due to bankruptcy of Solendra, the manufacturer of the solar arrays we were to have placed on Wesley Hall. It is uncertain why this occurred because the company was funded through the federal government and we expect to hear more about the solar array supplier as time passes.
The only good news here is that it did not cost us anything other than the time the Trustees spent on this. Another sad aspect is that we will not realize the $2,000 to $4,000 savings per year on our $7,000 electric bill.
Editor’s Note: A big thank you to Mark Hultman for all his time and effort researching this project.
FRIENDLY REMINDER
We do not have storage space to accommodate donations furniture and other items between tag sales. Please do not leave furniture or other items in the church without having first asked if it can be put to use. Unfortunately, items that are left anonymously or without prior arrangements with a group or individual to receive them will be removed from the property.
Please come out and help us get ready for winter on November 12th at 8 am. Bring your rakes and we will plan on starting at 8 am with a goal of being completed by no later than noon. However, judging by the great turnout we’ve had in the recent past, we will probably be done earlier!
CHRISTIAN OUTREACH
October 2011
Soup Kitchen
Thank you to Geri Beveridge and our ACCT friends from Asbury who served at the Soup Kitchen on September 13th. The Girl Scouts have volunteered to prepare and serve the meal on October 11th. Again, thank you to everyone who assists in this extremely worthy community outreach service.
Gift Cards available
at the Scrip Table
Stop on by and see
how you too can support Mission Outreach work
at Asbury…
Thank you to all who continue to support the Scrip Card program here at Asbury. Gift cards are available to purchase each Sunday. Use the gift cards to do your shopping instead of cash or credit. The church receives a bonus for each card sold. Stop on by the Scrip table in Wesley Hall for a list of cards available.
Food Bank at both
the Salvation Army and
Zion Soup Kitchen
The non-perishable food drive for Bristol Food Banks is on-going at Asbury UMC. Please see the container on the stage for donations. The Food Banks in Bristol are becoming dangerously low. Thank you to all who donate food for this very worthy and needy cause.