progressive and inclusive christianity practiced and ......practicing what we preach dear asbury...
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Alive! Progressive and Inclusive Christianity Practiced and Preached April 2016
5400 W. 75th St. Prairie Village, KS 66208 913-432-5573 www.visitasbury.org
Practicing What We Preach Dear Asbury Friends,
Several years ago, there was a television show called "The Moment," where people were given a second chance. These were people living ordinary lives, with established jobs and families. They were given the opportunity to pursue a dream that they have once had – a kind of "second chance" in life. But pursuing something new, meant letting go of what had been.
In one of the Easter stories, the resurrected Jesus tells one of the witnesses, "Do not cling to me." This is another story of second chances – new beginnings – where someone has to let go in order to experience something new.
When we begin this four weeks sermon series in worship on Saturday, April 9, we will reflect on what it means to let go of what has been in order to experience God's resurrection power. These "Stories of Second Chances" will inspire us to practice what we preach…
Blessings,
Rev. Gayla Rapp Senior Pastor
We are thrilled to be hosting these two big events in April at Asbury!
An Evening with Bill Hancock • Monday, April 25 | 7 p.m. | Sanctuary Bill Hancock, executive director of the College Football Playoff, will share his story of how a person can recover from tragedy and loss, and then find peace and stability. In Bill’s book, “Riding with the Blue Moth,” he writes about how he utilized a 2,747-mile journey across the United States on bicycle to confront the grief of losing his son, head on. This became a journey in discovery as well as one of recovery.
Taxes, Politics & Faith Forum • Thursday, April 28 | 7 p.m. | Hager Hall Join us as we discuss how Kansas budget choices and tax policy will impact the most vulnerable populations, and how we can advocate and take action from a faith perspective. Bonus: Insights into Kansas politics and what is at stake in the 2016 election. At the forum, we will hear from the following individuals.
Duane Goossen | former Kansas Budget Director & current Kansas Center for Economic Growth Senior Fellow
Sam Zeff | KCUR Education Reporter & Co-Host of Statehouse Blend political podcast
Rabbi Moti Rieber | Executive Director of Kansas Interfaith Action
Asbury UMC’s Church &
Society Committee
Invites All to Attend the
Taxes, Politics,
Stories of Second Chances April 9 & 10: Thomas
(John 20:24-28) April 16 &17: Peter
(John 21:15-19) April 23 & 24: The Bent Over Woman
(Luke 13:10-17) April 30& May 1: Zacchaeus
(Luke 19:1-10)
Porter Park Play Day: All children (and parents) & youth are invited to join us from 10-10:50 a.m. this Sunday, April 3, at Porter Park (Tomahawk & Roe) for a Sunday School Play Day. Dress in your play clothes, bring a frisbee or ball to toss around, enjoy being outdoors in God’s creation—together! Coffee, juice and donuts will be provided!
ASK Project | Gun Safety Event: All parents and caregivers are invited to join Dr. Denise Dowd, Children’s Mercy Pediatrician, M.P.H. in Hager Hall on Sunday, April 10, at 10 a.m. to learn more about the ASK Campaign. Caregivers will learn how to ask other parents about guns in their home and gun safety. Dr. Dowd is a nationally recognized speaker and commentator. Children ages PreK-6
th grade will have a special event to attend that day from 10-10:50 a.m. in the MSR!
Cherub Choir: All children ages 3 years-kindergarten are invited to join Ms. Heather on Sunday, April 10, at 11 a.m. in room 304 (the rainbow handprint room) as we sing, play instruments, and learn about God’s love for us. Children will be returned to the Welcome Center or nursery (if requested) by Children’s Church time. Please contact Ms. Heather, [email protected], or Leighann Prothro, [email protected]. The Cherub Choir will lead worship on Mother’s Day, May 8, at 11 a.m. worship!
SAVE THE DATE! VBS and GodSquad! week: Mark your calendars for July 17-22 for some summer fun! ALL children ages 3 years-4
th grade (beginning school year 2016-17) are invited to
“ride the waves” at VBS this year (hint-hint). All kids entering 5th
-7th
grade (school year 2016-17) are invited to be part of GodSquad! week.
Vacation Bible School 2016 Dates: Sunday, July 17-Thursday, July 21 Ages: Children ages 3-4th grade (fall 2016) Cost: 1 Child: $20, 3+ Children: $45 Register & Learn More: Online at visitasbury.org under the “events” tab!
GodSquad! Week 2016 Dates: Monday, July 18-Friday, July 22
Ages: 5th-7th graders (fall 2016) Cost: $15 per Tween
Register & Learn More: Online at visitasbury.org under the “events” tab!
Serving Communion: Following 11 a.m. worship on Sunday, April 3, join us in the Welcome Center to deliver communion to our friends at Lakeview Village and Santa Marta. We will have lunch (bring some money) and head out from there. Youth will be back at the church no later than 2:30 p.m.
Celebrate!: Youth will meet at 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 10, to celebrate a great Sunrise Service! Come prepared to have fun and bring $10 for an entry fee. Youth can be picked up at the church between 6:45-7 p.m.
Article Deadline: Please submit articles by Wednesday, April 21, for the May Alive newsletter. All articles should be sent to [email protected].
Asbury 101: Lunch & Conversation
If you are newer to Asbury, and would like to learn more about the ministries here and the United Methodist Church as a whole, we invite you to a lunch and conversation on Sunday, April 10, following 11 a.m. worship in room 208. This will be a great time to meet with Rev. Gayla and other visitors. If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact Eva Hedtke, [email protected].
ACC Bids & BBQ The Annual Bids & BBQ to benefit the Asbury Children’s Center will be the evening of Friday, April 22. Dinner will be from 5-6:30 p.m., and the auction will start at 6:30 p.m. New additions this year include more menu choices and greater emphasis on the live auction. If you have items to consider for the live auction or other questions, contact Roger Peck, [email protected].
Stephen Ministry Q&A Have you ever wondered. . .
•What is Stephen Ministry? •Why we have it at Asbury? •Who are the Stephen Ministers?
Then we invite you to dessert and Q&A session to learn more on Thursday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m. in Hager Hall. Please RSVP and request childcare by calling the church office or contacting a UMW Circle by Monday, April 4. This is sponsored by the Asbury UMW.
On Sunday, April 10, at 10 a.m. in Hager Hall, all are invited to hear Children Mercy's Dr. Denise Dowd, MD, MPH, and pediatrician, speak about the ASK Project in conjunction with the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence. The ASK Project equips parents and caregivers with tools to open the conversation with other parents about having guns in the home, and how to keep all children safe while playing at another families house.
How Do Theological Worlds Collide with the Gospels?
How does your understanding of God work in the world? Join Rev. Nick Warner as he facilitates a class on the five “Theological Worlds” (the world of wonder and mystery, the world of social justice, the world of self-actualization, the world of salvation, and the world of persevering) and how the gospels inform our understanding of God at work in the world! This class begins Sunday, April 17 and goes for three weeks, ending on Sunday, May 1, in Hager Hall at 10 a.m. To sign up, email or call Phyllis Williams, [email protected] or 913-432-5573.
Gayla Rapp, Senior Pastor Lee Johnson, Associate Pastor Leighann Prothro, Director of Children & Youth
Lindsey Lang, Director of Music Eva Hedtke, Director of Communications
Visitasbury.org /AsburyUMCPrairieVillageKS @VisitAsbury
Asbury Program Staff
Quick Highlights •Cross-Lines Spring Dig Plant Sale: Support our friends at Cross-Lines by ordering your plants from their annual sale. Pre-orders are due by Monday, April 11. Visit Crosslines.org for an order form. They can also be picked up in Asbury’s wire racks. The actual plant sale will be at Shawnee Presbyterian Church (6837 Nieman Road) on Thursday, April 28 • 8 a.m.-7 p.m. | Friday, April 29 • 8 a.m.-7 p.m.. | Saturday, April 30 • 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
•Holy Happy Hour & Eats: Join your Asbury friends for fellowship, eats and treats on Thursday, April 28, at Blue Moose , 4161 W. 71
st street. Holy Happy Hour begins at 5:30 p.m. Feel free to contact Margie Pryor,
[email protected] or 913-526-8866, or Marcy Hoctor, [email protected], with questions!
•Thank you for your continued support of the Asbury Memorial Garden. In April, Pat McKarnin made a contribution to the Memorial Garden in memory of her husband, Carl. The Garden's flowers and trees have been trimmed and are about to produce Spring blooms. Come see and sit on one of the benches and enjoy the Garden's beauty. If you are interested in putting your “green thumb” to use or would like to order cards or prints, please contact Kathie White, 913-362-5827. If you would like to donate and sponsor a month in 2016, sign up on the calendar by the Chapel.
Looking Back
The One Great Hour of Sharing special offering that was take the weekend of March 5 &6 raised $1048. This offering supports the administrative costs involved in providing disaster relief both globally and locally for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Because of this offering, 100% of gifts designated for emergency situations will go directly to help families recover and communities rebuild when natural and human-caused disasters are overwhelming.
Looking Ahead
Team Santa Fe Trail: Asbury members have been faithful supporters of our neighborhood school, Santa Fe Trail Elementary, for many years in many ways. On-going projects include:
• Preparing Back Snacks each week during the school year
• Providing sacks of groceries during the summer when the Back Snack program is not available
• Brightening the holidays through thoughtful Christmas gifts.
We will continue our strong support of these programs, but are exploring other options to help the kids and teachers at SFT like
• Hosting a short and simple class reward party
• Becoming a "lunch buddy" or mentor
• Providing a treat for teachers during conference days.
Love kids? Believe that education is the hope for their future? Team SFT is the place for you. Contact Donetta Shaner.
Sunday, April 3: Mission Trips Presentation at 10 a.m. in the MSR. John Mullin was awarded the first scholarship from the mission trip scholarship funds raised by the “Upon This Rock” capital campaign. As part of the recipients’ accountability, they are asked to share their experience with church members. John will be doing that during a special presentation emphasizing the value of mission trips. He will be joined by Kevin Moriarty, a Church of the Resurrection member, who led their recent trip to Haiti. In addition, seasoned participants of the annual mission trip to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Illinois will share their experiences. This year’s trip is set for June 12-17. We hope you will join us.
Saturday, April 9 & Sunday, April 10: Special offering for the UMC’s Native American Ministries
Thursday, April 28: Lunch & Learn about Cross-Lines hosted by Elizabeth Circle
If you have any questions about Mission opportunities or how to get involved, please contact the Asbury Mission Team Chair Donetta Shaner, [email protected]