Announcements

For the week of June 16th:

Spiritual Growth:

Summer Sunday School Elective - The Gospel According to...Classic Rock (June 16 & 30); Pixar Films (July 7, 14, & 21); Les Miserables (Aug. 4, 11, & 18) All classes will meet at 10 AM in the Assembly Room, #108. This summer, come explore faith and spirituality through the lens of popular culture!

Children's Summer Sunday school continues every Sunday during the summer in room #107. Children of all ages will combine for Cokesbury's "One Room Sunday School."

Attention Parents & Grandparents...Along with summer Sunday school, another great way to keep your kids reading and learning Bible stories over the summer is to sign them up for our Summer Reading Program that highlights the books in our own Asbury Children's Library (Room #109). It's simple...just sign up down by the Children's Library, keep track of the books you read using the sheet provided, and look forward to recognition and reading prizes during the Christian Education Assembly on August 25. For more info, contact John Tindall

Asbury Celebrates Committee - June's theme in the Hospitality Center is "Outreach".

Pray Together - Who: You and whomever the Lord leads to come that day. When: Thursdays 1 PM. Where: 3rd floor in the Friends through Fellowship Room across from Laura's office. Why: When we pray together we clarify our desires and more easily hear God’s guidance. How: We use scripture and conversational prayer format to pray for Asbury, others, and ourselves. More information: contact the church office.

From the Artist in Residence - Growing up as a Christian, I have always been fascinated by the cross as a symbol of God's love through the self-giving act of Jesus. For lent this year, I have chosen three recent expressions of this powerful image to hang in the parlor. Look for "Surely the Presence" drawing on Hymn 328. It is printed on kozo paper from Japan giving it a warmth of expression. Your responses are welcome.

The second image in a series of three, "Resurrection Crossing" is now on view in the parlor. It joins "Surely the Presence" which went up last week. "Resurrection Crossing" began as a rough cross form which expressed the pain and suffering of Jesus. As I worked, the colorof the cross changed from brown to red and the background changed to the colors of Easter morning. The window is a fixed point through which the cross exists both there, and moving through time to be here now among us. Let me know if it has meaning for you.

The new cross image in the parlor this morning, "The Expanding Story", is a visual parable. Pieces of the love of Jesus come into the world through shared kindness and compassion. The cross breaks apart but remains visually complete. It is one of three cross images in the parlor all printed on kozo, or mulberry fiber paper which comes from Japan. For more details or comments, contact me. Kathy, Artist in Residence.

Outreach:

The Communion Offering for June is Kits for Conference. The Mission Kit offering helps with the shipping of the kits, the donation to UMCOR for toothpaste for the health kits, the cost of buying canvas bags for school kits, buying supplies to finish partial kits and supplies for special kits during OBIB.

Mercy House - Shelving is needed to organize things in the storage units that the Stones so willingly give us. Household goods are always welcome.

Share the bounty of your pantry - Contribute food items to the collection box outside the Parlor. For June: Canned Vegetables. All All food is donated to First Church of Nazarene, Patchwork Pantry, Blessed Sacrament Food Pantry, Salvation Army, and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank on a rotating basis.

Kits for Conference -Please turn in all completed health kits no later than June 16th so they can be boxed for Annual Conference. We may assemble health kits on Weds June 12 at 4:30 PM in the Outreach room. Items still needed: toothbrushes, hand towels, metal nail files, and finger nail clippers. Please put items in the turquoise bin in the parlor or the Outreach room by June 12th.

Blood Drive today! We will be having a Blood Drive with Virginia Blood Services on Sunday, June 16th from 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM. Celebrate Father's Day with the Gift of Life! Sign up sheet is in the parlor to reserve your time.

Out of the Building into the Burg Please pick up preordered shirts in the parlor. There are approximately 50 light blue t-shirts in sizes youth large through adult XL available at $14 for one or 2 or more for $10 each. The sale of these shirts will go to support OBIB project costs. Please write checks out to Asbury UMC and write OBIB in the memo. If you need smaller youth sizes or 2XL or larger sizes or want a different color those shirts will be ordered when we have at least 12 screen print t-shirt orders. These shirts will probably cost more. Questions: contact Doreen DeVore at 433-8086.

OBIB Kit Assembly - We are collecting standard size (30" to 32" square) flannelette receiving blankets to make birthing kits during Out of the Building into the Burg. UMCOR has listed birthing kits as a priority item for Haiti and other developing countries. Please put the receiving blankets in the turquoise bin in the parlor before June 23rd.

OBIB Music Camp: Campers (K-5) and helpers are needed for the Music Camp (M-F from 9:30 AM - noon at Asbury) planned for Asbury’s Mission to the ‘Burg from June 24th-29th. Please contact Laura.

OBIB Wednesday Night Fellowship Meal - Please join us for dinner on June 26th at 5:30 PM for a classic American meal...hot dogs, baked beans, & apple pie!

Out of the Building into the Burg sign up sheets for various projects are also in the parlor. We will be doing construction, soup kitchens, the arts and mission camp for children, gardening, visitation etc during the week of June 24-29.

Vacation Bible School Volunteers are needed for Fun Fair 2013 on July 8-12. Sign up now in the church parlor.

VBS Registration - Sign your kids, grandkids, & neighbors up now for Vacation Bible School! Look for the registration forms in the parlor.

Fellowship:

LIFE Groups have begun! It’s not too late to join a group! You can join a group at any time! This small-group ministry, Biblically rooted and Wesleyan inspired, will offer opportunity to build deeper relationships, grow in discipleship, and live as transformed followers of Jesus Christ. Each group of 10-12 people will meet weekly (at a time and place they choose) for about 90 minutes and will include time for worship, prayer and Bible study, sharing of joys and burdens, as well as fellowship and mentoring. We will grow in love and care for one another and be fruitful in our mission and ministry as we invite others to become part of a LIFE Group so they, too, might encounter Jesus. You can sign up on the Life Groups page of this website!

Joy Group News - Please join us for our monthly luncheons with guest speakers on the second Thursday of the month in Slaven Hall. The Joy roup is organized by Seniors. It is open to all members of the church. Upcoming luncheons: July 11th: Allen Litten, a photographer at the Daily News-Record, will tell us highlights of his life and career at the local newspaper; August: Vacation. See you in September!

Wednesday Night Fellowship Meals Good food, great fellowship, supportive community, make them a part of your week. Join us each Wednesday for our Fellowship meal at 5:30 PM in Slaven Hall. Cost: $5 per person or a maximum of $20 per family.

Do you like your Sunday Morning Coffee? Volunteers are needed to prepare and clean-up Sunday morning refreshments on Sunday. Sign up on the poster board in the Hospitality Center.

Hope for Men - Calling all men. Join us at the Aroma Grill (Walmart Shopping Center) each week on Thursday, for lunch and a short teaching from scripture by Pastor Bob. Arrive at noon or shortly after, and be on your way before 1 PM. The cost of the meal is $8 per person which includes the buffet, beverage, taxes and gratuity.

Summer Music Opportunities - In Search of…Vocal and instrumental soloists and small ensembles for worship on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 - 7 PM; Vocal and instrumental soloists and small ensembles for Sundays at either 8:30 or 11 AM throughout the summer; Helpers for the Music Camp (M-F from 9:30 AM - noon at Asbury) planned for Asbury’s Mission to the ‘Burg from June 24th-29th; Helpers for the Arts & Mission Camp (M-F from 9:30 AM - noon at Asbury) on August 12th-16th. Please contact Laura either at lbdouglass@asburyumc.cc or 271-1558. Sign-up forms are posted on the Music Ministry bulletin on the 3rd floor outside the Choir Room.

Church Picnic - Mark your calendar now for a Summertime Church Picnic to welcome Pastor Steve Hay and family on Sunday July 14th at 5 PM at Purcell Park Shelter 2 (Kids Castle). We'll be serving pit cooked chicken BBQ with all the fixings and desert will homemade ice cream! Come early as there will field games for all ages and stay late for fellowship and more fun.

For Your Information:

Altar Flowers - Are you interested in having flowers put on the altar in memory of a loved one? You can arrange it through the church office at 434-2836. The process is very simple and you can take the flowers after the last service, if you like.

A simple and convenient way to give - This fall, consider signing up for electronic giving. Asbury relies on the financial support of the congregation and electronic giving offers an easy way to give on a recurring basis. Please contact the church office for details. Thank you!

Have you turned in your Financial Giving Commitment card? If you haven't turned in a commitment card for 2013, there are blank ones available in the narthexes or by calling the church office. Commitment cards are a crucial part of our 2013 financial year, and we would appreciate it if all active members would make a commitment.