The
Circuit Rider
Asbury United Methodist Church Newsletter – Published Monthly
May – 2013 90 Church Avenue, Forestville, Connecticut 06010 Volume 20, Issue 5
Dear Friends,
We recently spent some time with the District Superintendent, Rev. Ken Kieffer, in discussion around the topic as to how we open the doors of Asbury to the community. Drawing new members into Asbury is not about “acquiring” new workers for the Sunday School or support for the church budget! It’s about sharing the Good News that we have on our hearts! It’s about creating space for others to enter into relationship with Jesus Christ. Are you ready to share the Good Gift that we have? That Good News that we celebrate each time we enter the space that is Asbury?
Over a year ago, the United Methodist Church embarked on a new endeavor, “Vital Congregations,” as a means to feed our congregations and energize us so that we can truly be places where others will want to enter and grow in their faith. A part of the process is to gather members of the congregation to engage in a goal setting process. Following Rev. Kieffer’s visit, I know that the time is right for Asbury to take a look at who we are, what we are doing and what we need to do, in order to open the doors of the Gospel to others who are searching for a place to belong. I know I’ve put this off, allowing other commitments to get in the way, and I – we – can’t do it any longer!
I’ll be calling on some of you to join in the discussion and I am hoping that there are others who will volunteer to be a part of the process. As we organize, would you consider the following:
What can I do to help open the doors of Asbury so that others will come to know
Jesus in a new and wonderful way?
God bless,
Asbury United Methodist Church
May – 2013 The Circuit Rider Page 2
Worship Leaders
For April
5th.….…...... ….JoAnn Bacon
12th….....…………....Ken Clark
19th...... …Jim Bechert
26th………..….Bonnie Maskery
8:30 am service – Carl Aspland
Greeters
Greeters are needed
for the Month of May. Please sign up in Wesley Hall.
Fellowship Hour
Coffee Hour Hosts and Hostesses are needed
for the Month of May. Please sign up in Wesley Hall.
Ushers
Wayne Fuller, Bonnie Emery, Dennis Floyd, Don Mazerolle, Chad Lockhart, Dick Peterson,
Roy DiYulio
Communion Stewards
Treaty & Wayne Fuller
May Altar Guild
Betty Hussey
May Birthday Caller
Geri Beveridge
Asbury UMC Fundraiser at Wendy’s of Bristol
1247 Farmington Ave, Bristol
Tuesday, May 7th
from 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Remember: no shopping, cooking or clean-up. Just come in to Wendy’s 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!
Don’t Forget: You must eat in Wendy’s dining room for your receipt to be eligible for the fundraiser.
MAY
1 Marion Mullins
Jennifer Burrow
2 Bruce Wazorko
4 Kevin Fuller
Todd Hasler
Donna Adams
Dawn Hazzard
Christy Bolduc
Stephanie Clark
Ava Grennan
6 Amy Majors
7 Dan Fasci
Pamela Clark
Brian Hagan
9 Virginia Jacobs
Megan Kirschner
Bea Trafton
Erik Johnson
Shane Heinzman
11 Deanna Keddy
Alexander Corvo
Ryan Corvo
12 John Ingellis II
Jim Doncet
Aiden Lockhart
14 Ruby Irish
15 Scott Colapietro
Jennifer Charette
17 Alvina Getchell
Lauren Kirschner
18 Arthur Decker
20 Bruce Parsons
Bradley Pinette
Sharon Scott
22 Skylee Henry
23 Jay Martin
Harriet Donovan
Daria Avery
Nathan Butler
24 Daniel Martin
Christine Ripa
Margaret Ruel
Jean Lunn
Rebecca Hoge
26 Theresa Spaulding
27 Karen Fiorini
Raymond Pratt
Ben Burrow
28 Elene M. Myers
29 Lynda Martin
Ernest Szydlo III
Billy Cranford
31 Ellie Hudson
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE
Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to the church lawn and enjoy the parade with your Asbury family. Don’t forget to bring your appetites to the United Methodist Men’s Hot Dog and Soda Sale, and finish it off with a wonderful dessert from the Ruth Circle’s Bake Sale.
Ruth Circle would love to include your special baked goodie in their sale. If you can help, bring your baked item to the church no later than 10:00 am on the day of the parade.
The deadline for the
June Circuit Rider is
Sunday, May 12th.
Please leave all articles in the mailbox in the church office or e-mail them to: .
Asbury United Methodist Church
May – 2013 The Circuit Rider Page 3
FAMILY PAGE
Please keep these people in your prayers……
John Krom, Gladys Carron, Bev Lovell, Barbara Emanuelson, Betty Topalian, Howard Bradley, Dan Fasci, Bea Trafton, John Fraas, Arlene Chabot, Elsie Lyons, Edward Coloske, Bob Pullen 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 860-589-6059 or Mernie Whitcomb at 860-583-5373, or e-mail Pastor Laura. Please keep your call brief, and be aware of the privacy rights of the person(s) for whom you are requesting prayers.
Are you or a loved one graduating from school? We’d love to put it in June’s Circuit Rider. Please contact the church office at 860-584-0529 or e-mail Melissa at with the person’s name and where and when they are graduating.
Dear Asbury Family,
A very belated thank you to all of you who help to brighten my life. From the beautiful poinsettia to the “chock-full” of fun things that Amy Majors delivered in my Christmas stocking, and the cards the Senior Group sends, and a very special card from the Outreach Committee. I am truly blessed!
Mernie and Phyllis visit often, as does Eula. I don’t deserve all these treats, but I truly appreciate them.
God Bless You All,
Marian Conrad
Dear Asbury Church,
We can see why Dad was so drawn to your fellowship. Having spent a few short days with you has shown us more than we knew about our father, and the relationship he had with God. It’s one thing for an individual to talk about himself (which Dad did so often), but it’s something else to hear the same words from another. You’ve painted a portrait of a man well-deserving to be in heaven, and we thank you for giving him the means to express his generosity and sincerity in working through the church.
He loved his Asbury family, and it warms our hearts that you took such care in providing a service he surely was smiling upon. We were deeply touched by the numerous stories, the cards, and flowers…and, of course, that fellowship Dad adored.
Thank you for comforting us in our loss, and strengthening our pursuit to have as much of an impact as Mark M. Hultman had in this life to be deserving of the next.
Sincerely,
Daryl & Joanna Hultman
Dear Asbury,
I want to thank Pastor Laura for her prayers and for everything she did for me. Thank you also to the Seniors for the cards they sent, and the visits from Mernie Whitcomb and Phyllis Petit. Thank you also to Lorna Baxter, Edie Nelson, the ushers at church, and Christian Outreach. And a special thank you to my daughter, Donna Szydlo.
Betty Topalian
Asbury Parishioners and Friends,
Thank you for your thoughtfulness, special wishes, support and prayers during my Mom’s recovery from a fall.
God Bless You All,
The Family of Betty Topalian
Thank you all for participating in the annual Easter bake sale, and assisting with the Easter Egg Hunt. It was once again a huge success this year raising over $200.00.
Blanket Sunday will be held on Mother’s Day, May 12th. Children’s Sunday and Teacher Appreciation Day will be held on June 17th.
Asbury United Methodist Church
May – 2013 The Circuit Rider Page 4
Ruth Circle would like to thank everyone who attended the “Oldies” night on April 13th with Al Goodwin and Tom Zagryn. What a fun time we had strolling down memory lane with the oldies, and sharing fun facts on Lake Compounce bands and places in Bristol.
We made just over $500.00 in profit, which was donated to the Current Expense Fund at Asbury.
Dear Asbury UMC,
On behalf of Ghana Mission – Project Dorcas and the New York Annual Conference, we would like to express our deep appreciation for your January 2013 gift in the amount of $1,022.
Your support of the work of the New York Annual Conference and Ghana Mission – Project Dorcas are greatly appreciated. This donation is an expression of your caring spirit and understanding of the connectionalism of The United Methodist Church. Your donation represents an investment in the future of our community – helping to make an impact on the most critical needs. Together we are working to make ours the most vital, caring community it can be.
To find more information about Ghana Mission – Project Dorcas, please visit our Web site at: www.nyac.com/donations.
We are more grateful than we can express for your gift, and we look forward to your continuing support.
Sincerely,
The New York Annual Conference
To Mrs. Marilyn Bechert,
On behalf of Prudence Crandall Center, I wish to thank you for your donation of baby items. We realize that there are many organizations to choose from when making donations such as this, and we truly appreciate that you have chosen the families served by Prudence Crandall Center.
Many of the people in our program leave their personal belongings behind when they flee unsafe environments. In-kind gifts, such as yours, give us the ability to help meet their needs and provide them with a few of the comforts of home during a difficult period of transition. Contributions are distributed based on individualized needs and your donation will undoubtedly ease someone’s hardship.
Prudence Crandall Center touched the lives of nearly 8,000 people last year alone through our Emergency Shelter, 24/7 hotline, transitional and supportive housing programs, intervention, children service, court advocacy and community education and prevention programs. This work could not be done without kind-hearted people like you. Thank you again for thinking of us and providing your support.
With sincere appreciation,
Arlene Greco
Director of Development
"God's given me so much" Mark Hultmanwouldsay,
and he'd count his blessings each and every day.
He came back to Asbury in September, '05,
to partake in a celebration where he came alive.
Many of hisfriends were already there, and his Mom too,
he thoughtit felt right, and he knew what todo.
With gusto and vigor, Mark rejoined the church,
no soul-searching needed, he had ended his search.
Quite soon he became a pillarof Asbury,
joining membership and choir, to the delight of many.
He became head of trustees, just right for the part,
and hosted the AACTChristmas party, something he enjoyed fromthe heart.
Mark did so much more, he was thoughtful and kind,
let's take solace in knowing him, he was a rare find.
We know that you have beenbrought home byGod,
to treasureHeaven's time with your Mom and your Dad.
Asbury will miss you Mark Hultman indeed,
our hearts are broken, to all of us, Godspeed.
Submitted Anonymously
A Statement of Faith and a Creed crafted from the Book of Romans by the Disciple 1 Bible study class.
(special thanks to Norm and Pat)
Through faith in Jesus Christ we receive God's grace without judgement.
Freed from sin by the Holy Spirit we are able to fulfill God's law to love one another.
God is love and treats the chosen and unchosen the same.
Belief in Jesus saves us.
We can live peacefully through Jesus.
We will be raised from death because Jesus died and was resurrected.
Love one another and we fulfill the law.
Asbury United Methodist Church
May – 2013 The Circuit Rider Page 5
SENIOR FELLOWSHIP
Ten Commandments
Submitted by Edie Nelson
Some people have trouble with all those 'shall's' and 'shall not's' in the Ten Commandments. Folks just aren't used to talking in those terms. So, in middle Tennessee they translated the 'King James' into ' Jackson County ' language....(posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Gainesboro , TN ).
(1) Just one God
(2) Put nothin' before God
(3) Watch yer mouth
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meetin'
(5) Honor yer Ma & Pa
(6) No killin'
(7) No foolin' around with another feller's gal.
(8)Don't take what ain't yers
(9) No tellin' tales or gossipin'
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff
Now that's plain an' simple.
Y'all have a nice day now ya hear!
Senior Fellowship
Activities for May
2nd – Daffodil Trip – Hubbard Park
Lunch – Out at Spartan II
9th – Craft Day with Pat Sallstrom
Lunch - Out
16th – Capital Visit with Chris
Wright, Lunch - Out
23rd – Card Game, Lunch - Pizza