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90 Church Avenue, Forestville, CT 06010 | 860-584-0529 | 1
The Circuit RiderAsbury United Methodist Church Newsletter
Serving God in the community for over 150 years
DECEMBER 2014 | VOLUME 21 |
OUR STAFF
Pastor The Rev. Laura L. Galbraith
Secretary & Newsletter Editor Melissa Gray
Custodian Bruce Lauzier
Music Director Michael Coderre
Organist Jana Ros
Bell Choir & Children’s Choir Kristen Russo
Nursery Coordinator Kate Bechert
CONTACT INFO
Office: 860-584-0529Fax: 860-584-0520 (call first)Dial-A-Prayer: 860-584-0520Parsonage: 860-261-4131Pastor e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Web Page: www.asburyumcforestville.com
December 2014
Dear Friends,
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.” John 3: 16 The Message
The joy of the season brings with it much to do and much to consider. There is baking to be done, ornaments to be hung, calls and cards to be shared, and family and friends to welcome and visit. And … just a little shopping for sure. It is indeed a joyous time. Our sanctuary will once again be beautifully decorated and the children will draw us into the season with their annual Christmas pageant on December 21. There is much to do and much to enjoy: we are blessed.
Christmas affords us a beautiful opportunity to consider God’s amazing love for each and every one of us! In the midst of celebrations and gift giving and receiving, I hope we can all take a moment to receive the most blessed gift of all time: the gift of Jesus Christ in our lives. Faithful ones, take time in these coming weeks to consider once again, what this gift means to you. God’s love, never-ending, always-present is with us in the life of Jesus Christ and nothing can change that.
If you will be traveling, may you have safe travels and a warm welcome upon your arrival. If you will be in town, I look forward to seeing you and sharing some Christmas joy. Wherever we are, near or apart, may we be drawn together by God’s blessed love in Jesus.
God bless,
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D E C E M B E R W O R S H I P A S S I S T A N T SDecember 7
Worship Leaders 10:00 a..m. Norm FusaroGreeters............................. Joyce PullenFellowship Hour................. Eula FosterAltar Flowers...................... Laureen Landeen The Taylor Family December 14
Worship Leaders 10:00 a..m. Mal Cummings Greeters............................. Claudia Peterson Ruby HarperFellowship Hour................. Harriet Donovan & Stacey RichAltar Flowers The Emery Family December 21
Worship Leaders 10:00 a..m. Christmas PageantGreeters............................. Pat SallstromFellowship Hour................. Gardner Wright & Heidi BorkowskiAltar Flowers...................... Christmas Poinsettias
December 24
Worship Leaders 5:30 p.m. TBD
December 28
Worship Leaders 10:00 a..m. JoAnn BaconGreeters............................. The Whillock FamilyFellowship Hour................. The Taylor FamilyAltar Flowers...................... OpenAltar Guild
Tammy Buonafede Birthday Caller
Claudia Peterson
Soup Kitchen
Disciple / Confirmation Class 8:30 a.m. Worship Leader
Carl Aspland
Ushers
Wayne Fuller, Bonnie Emery, Dennis Floyd, Don Mazerolle, Dick Peterson, Roy DiYulio
D E C E M B E R B I R T H D A Y S
3 Dianne SmithBill McBaineBridget Cook
4 Jessy SanchezRyan Partiss
6 Kelly GugliettaLorrie BarnabyAllison Rusgrove
7 Gayle Van Buren 8 Geri Beveridge 9 Eula Foster10 Edward Coloske
Mark Vose11 Julie Schilling12 Melissa May
Molly Anderson13 Jane Foster
Donna AchilliKim SiversGabrielle Raymond
14 Kaylee PinetteKelly Bolduc
15 Andy AnnelliKeith SauerAnthony AgventNatalie Newton
16 Douglas Henry17 Chad Lockhart
Edith NelsonJessy Page
18 Justin Marshall19 Emma Avery
Kaleb Hudson20 Paige Buckley21 William Bechert
Kara Cranford22 Ethan Buckley24 Sondra Clement
Jennifer Cannon25 Todd Komanetsky26 Houston Vaughn
28 Colin CummingsWayne BaconJacqui DenskiChristopher WeyrauchBenjamin Eachus
29 Andrew AudibertRoy DiYulioMichael Charest
30 Kim BechertShari Pettignano
31 Karren GraysonRonald Archambault
90 Church Avenue, Forestville, CT 06010 | 860-584-0529 | 3
In Our Thoughts and Prayers… Betty Topalian, Carl Aspland, Mary Corvo, Paula Modeen, The Milavsky Family, Barbara Emanuelson, Bea Trafton, Elsie Lyons, Edward Coloske, and others who have needs of which we may not be aware.
If you wish to be listed in the bulletin and newsletter for prayers, please call the church office at 860-584-0529 or e-mail us at: [email protected].
If you wish to relate prayer needs to the prayer chain, please call Phyllis Petit at 860-589-6059 or Mernie Whitcomb at 860-583-5373, or e-mail Pastor Laura at [email protected]. Please keep your call brief, and be aware of the privacy rights of the person(s) for whom you are requesting prayers.
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Justin and Christina Derench joined the Asbury Family on Sunday, November 16th. They make their home in Bristol.
Cameron George Derench was baptized on Sunday, November 16th. His parents are Justin and Christina Derench, and his aunt is Jennifer Mahaney.
Russell Modeen passed away on October 19th. A funeral service was held at Asbury on October 25th
George Milavsky passed away on October 22nd. A funeral service was held at Asbury on October 24th.
Long time member Arlene Chabot passed away on October 30th. A funeral service was held at Asbury on October 30th.
Evelyn Lishness passed away on October 28th. A funeral service was held at O’Brien Funeral Home on October 28th.
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90 Church Avenue, Forestville, CT 06010 | 860-584-0529 | 5
Thank you LettersDear Asbury Family, Thank you all for your prayers, cards and calls. Thank you Eula Foster and Helen Fraas for all you did for me. And thank you to Pastor Laura for her visits.
Best wishes to you all,Alvina Getchell
Dear Asbury UMC, The reception was great in honor of my sister, Arlene Chabot. Thanks to everyone who helped with all the sandwiches and desserts and setting up the beautiful table.
Norman & Dorothy Peterson
Dear Friends:
Your generous donation to the Church World Service Blankets+ Program tells people in crisis, “You’re not alone. Someone cares.”
We are deeply grateful for your support. Because of your compassion:
Families who have lost their homes to tornadoes, floods, earthquakes and other disasters are getting help with blankets, emergency food and shelter – and with rebuilding their lives and livelihoods.
People struggling against crushing poverty and harsh climates are learning sustainable farming practices that will help them keep food on the table – and take it to market.
Vulnerable children have access to clean, safe water and the nutritional food essential to growth, development and life itself.
On behalf of all the people who feel more hopeful and less alone because of your generosity, we thank you.
Rev. John McCulloughPresident and CEO
Church World Service
From Our Committee Heads
The Education Committee would like to thank Pat Sallstrom and Willie Gibson on the coordination of the Children’s Halloween Party. A great time was had by all!
A big thank you to our Roast Pork dinner workers – from the potato peelers to the cooks: Bob, Norm and Tom, to our set-up crew, servers, Troop 29, to the basket fillers and those who stayed to the very end scrubbing pots and putting it all away. Thank you! The dinner was a huge success and that wouldn’t have happened without all of you. A special thanks to our guest dishwasher, Wayne Bacon. And to those who invited your friends and family to come and dine together, thanks!!
Gardner and Heidi would like to thank everyone who visited the Auctioneer’s Gallery and the Yankee Peddlar Fair. It was our first year chairing this room, and thanks to all of you who donated your gifts and time it was very successful.
Stacey Rich would like to thank everyone who made donations, worked, cooked and contributed to make the Peddlar’s Grille a huge success. Many delicious meals were served to happy customers. Happy Holidays!
Geri Beveridge thanks the Membership Committee and everyone who helped with the planning and reception that honored our 50 year members on Sunday, November 30th.
Asbury’s Apple PiesApple pies - Is there a FUNdraiser that has more fun than our apple pie makers?? For two nights we enjoyed each other’s company while we peeled, trimmed, mixed and rolled, filled, crimped, and bagged just over 200 pies.
They are now for sale, frozen and un-baked. You just have to buy one, bake and serve. Smile at the compliments and say "Oh yes, I baked this pie".
Thank you to everyone who came and helped. As much fun as we had, a lot of work got done, and it is a great source of income for Asbury.
The Christmas Volunteer Committee at Zion Lutheran Church is again this year serving Christmas ham dinner at the church as well as delivering meals to residents throughout the community. They need several volunteers to help with the preparation of food in the morning and packaging of meals for delivery. A few servers will be needed to assist while meals are packaged as well as serving meals at the church. They also need drivers to deliver meals throughout the city. If you are interested in volunteering, please call Paul Eckstrom at 860-583-6060.
The Plainville Choral Society presentsDECEMBER SONG
Dec 5 & 6 at 7:30pmAt Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 355 Camp Street, Bristol
Tickets: Advance $12 Door $15 Refreshments to followFor more information contact Mal Cummings at 860 747-5695
DECEMBERGod’s Word:
Offering Us True Joy 1 Mark 12.35-44 2 Mark 13.1-23 3 Mark 13.24-37 4 Jeremiah 10.1-16 5 Jeremiah 23.1-8 6 Nehemiah 8.1-18Second Sunday of Advent 7 Zephaniah 1.1-18 8 Zephaniah 2.1-15 9 Zephaniah 3.1-20 10 Zechariah 1.1-21 11 Zechariah 2.1-13 12 Zechariah 9.9-17 13 Zechariah 10.1-12Third Sunday of Advent 14 Isaiah 35.1-10 15 Isaiah 56.1-8 16 Isaiah 57.1-21 17 Isaiah 60.1-22 18 Malachi 2.17—3.12 19 Malachi 3.13—4.6 20 Micah 5.2-15Fourth Sunday of Advent 21 Luke 1.1-25 22 Luke 1.26-56 23 Luke 1.57-80 24 Luke 2.1-20Christmas Day 25 John 1.1-18 26 John 1.19-34 27 Luke 2.21-40 28 Luke 2.41-52 29 Luke 3.23-38 30 Psalm 81 31 Psalm 84
Zion Lutheran Church
Congratulations to Heather VonHagen who won 1st prize for originality recently at the Forestville Pumpkin Festival for her
pumpkin carving of Asbury (pictured above).
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Daily Bible Reading Guide
December 25th
Merry
Christmas!
From Church World
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We make fun of Methodists for their blandness, their excessive calm, their fear of giving offense, their lack of speed, and also for their secret fondness for macaroni and cheese.
But nobody sings like them. If you were to ask an audience in New York City, a relatively Methodist-less place, to sing along on the chorus of "Michael Row the Boat Ashore," they will look daggers at you as if you had asked them to strip to their underwear. But if you do this among Methodists, they'd smile and row that boat ashore and up on the beach! And down the road!
Many Methodists are bred from childhood to sing in four-part harmony, a talent that comes from sitting on the lap of someone singing alto or tenor or bass and hearing the harmonic intervals by putting your little head against that person's rib cage.
It's natural for Methodists to sing in harmony. They are too modest to be soloists, too worldly to sing in unison. When you're singing in the key of C and you slide into the A7th and D7th chords, all two hundred of you, it's an emotionally fulfilling moment. By joining in harmony, they somehow promise that they will not forsake each other.
I do believe this: People, these Methodists, who love to sing in four-part harmony are the sort of people you can call up when you're in deep distress.
*If you're dying, they will comfort you.
*If you are lonely, they'll talk to you.
*And if you are hungry, they'll give you tuna salad.
*Methodists believe in prayer, but would practically die if asked to pray out loud.
*Methodists like to sing, except when confronted with a new hymn or a hymn with more than four stanzas.
*Methodists believe their pastors will visit them in the hospital, even if they don't notify them that they are there.
*Methodists usually follow the official liturgy and will feel it is their way of suffering for their sins.
*Methodists believe in miracles and even expect miracles, especially during their stewardship visitation programs or when passing the plate.
*Methodists think that the Bible forbids them from crossing the aisle while passing the peace.
*Methodists drink coffee as if it were the Third Sacrament.
*Methodists feel guilty for not staying to clean up after their own wedding reception in the Fellowship Hall.
*Methodists are willing to pay up to one dollar for a meal at the church.
*Methodists still serve Jell-O in the proper liturgical color of the season and think that peas in a tuna casserole adds too much color.
*Methodists believe that it is OK to poke fun at themselves and never take themselves too seriously.
And finally, You know you are a Methodist when:
It's 100 degrees, with 90% humidity, and you still have coffee after the service.
You hear something funny during the sermon and smile as loudly as you can.
Donuts are a line item in the church budget, just like coffee.
When you watch a Star Wars movie and they say, "May the Force be with you," you respond, "and also with you."
And lastly, it takes ten minutes to say good - bye!
Asbury’s Christmas Pageant will be presented by our Sunday School
classes on December 21st during the 10:00 a.m. worship service.
Parents: Just a reminder that there is a dress rehearsal on Saturday,
December 20th from 9:30 – 10:30 am
F E L L O W S H I PSave The
December 2 @ 5 pm – Wendy’s Fundraiser December 6 @ 5 pm – AACT Christmas Party December 21 @ 10 am – Christmas Pageant December 24 @ 5:30 pm – Worship Service @ 11 pm – Worship Service December 25 Office Closed January 1 Office Closed
Senior Fellowship
December 4 – Senior Christmas Card Exchange and lunch out
December 11 – Christmas Luncheon at Manor Inn
December 18 – Birthdays, Bingo and Elect Officers
December 25 – No Meeting - Christmas
Garrison Keillor On MethodistsSubmitted by Harriet Donovan
Stephen Ministersare here for you.
They will provide one-to-one Christian care for adults facing a crisis or life challenge (e.g. bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, convalescing, separated, divorced, dealing with a job loss, spiritual concerns, etc.). Stephen Ministry care is FREE and it’s CONFIDENTIAL!
What Do Stephen Ministers Do? Pray Listen Explore Feelings Share Christ's love Maintain confidentiality Attend to the care giving
process and leave the results to God
Walk with people who are journeying to wholeness
This is a ministry of Presence and Companionship
If you, (or someone you know) are going through a difficult time and think you could use a Stephen Minister, please contact Pastor Laura Galbraith at 860-584-0529.
90 Church Avenue, Forestville, CT 06010 | 860-584-0529 |
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We are looking for individuals and/or families to light the candles on the advent wreath for the Sundays leading up to Christmas and for the services on Christmas Eve.
We need individuals and/or families for both the 8:30 and 10:00 am services on: December 7th December 14th and December 21st. We will also need people for both the 5:30 and 11:00 pm services on Christmas Eve. If you can help, please call the church office at 860-584-0529.
Christmas Eve Services
Advent Volunteers
Wednesday, December 24th5:30 pm and 11:00 pm
At the 5:30 pm service there will be a carol sing, and the Bell Choir will play special music.
Join us at the 11:00 pm service where we will listen to the Chancel Choir and welcome the birth of Jesus at midnight.
Order Your PoinsettiasFor Our Christmas Altar
In Memory of:___________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
In Honor of:___________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Given by:___________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
___I plan to take it sometime after the 11 pm service on Dec. 24th
___Please deliver it to a homebound person
For All Groups and
Wendy’s of Bristol1247 Farmington Ave, Bristol
Tuesday, December 2nd
Tuesday, January 6th
from 5:00 – 7:00 pm Stay and enjoy fellowship or get take out and help to pay down the parsonage mortgage. Ask to have your receipt put in the Asbury UMC basket! We receive 20% of all sales made!
Don’t forget to tune in to WFSB Channel 3 to check for any delays or cancellations of Asbury functions and services.
A Note from Walter BruceAs part of my ongoing Tai-Chi education for my senior friends, I would like to share some information about Falls & Fall Prevention. Falls can cause moderate to severe injuries, such as hip fractures and head traumas, and can increase the risk of early death. Fortunately, falls are a public health problem that is largely preventable.
One out of every three older adults (those aged 65 or older) falls each year. Although falls can happen anywhere, well over half of all falls happen at home. Falls at home often happen while a person is doing normal daily activities. Many falls are linked to a person's physical condition or medical problems, such as a chronic disease.
Besides the Tai Chi program, I have ordered and received information from the CDC about fall prevention. I would like to encourage our seniors to obtain a pamphlet as soon as possible, to see what fall risks are, and what measures they can take to protect themselves and their loved ones. Pamphlets can be found in the Narthex. My sole purpose in procuring these pamphlets is to help my senior friends to help themselves, or for their loved ones to learn how to help protect their senior loved ones and family members.
An emergency window was opened again. Please remember that these windows should only be opened in an EMERGENCY. It costs the church $100.00 to reseal them after they have been opened. Every emergency window in every room is clearly marked with a sign.
Please complete this form and return it to the church office or place it on the offering plate by December 14th along with your contribution. A suggested donation of $10.00 is requested. Please make checks payable to AUMC.
Christmas Caroling January 4, 2015
Our nursing home residents are visited by so many different groups of carolers on the weekends before Christmas, we’re going to be different again this year! We’ll gather the Sunday after New Year’s and we’ll visit as we always do, singing favorite carols and maybe some other music as well. Join at the church at 1:00 and we’ll pick up song books and carpool, ending at the parsonage for hot chocolate and munchies.
A.A.C.T. Christmas Party
The annual Christmas party sponsored by AACT will be held at the parsonage starting at 5 pm on Saturday December 6th. For this event, attendees are requested to bring a main dish, salad or dessert and also, for those who wish to participate, a $10 grab bag gift. Beverages, eating utensils and napkins will be provided.
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If you are Looking for a Church Home…We hope that you will find it here at Asbury. If you would like to discuss church membership, please speak to Pastor Laura Galbraith or call the office at 860-584-0529.
The deadline for the January Circuit Rider is Sunday, December 14th.
Please leave all articles in the mailbox in the church office or
e-mail them to: [email protected].
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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
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6:15 PM Girl Scouts
7:30 PM NA
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9:00 AM Crochet Class
5:00 PM Exercise Class
5:00 PM Wendy’s
6:00 PM Stephen Ministry
6:00 PM Bell Choir
7:00 PM Boy Scouts
8:00 PM AA
3
5:30 PM Disciple
6:00 PM Girl Scouts
6:30 PM Tai Chi
7:30 PM Chancel Choir
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9:00 AM Bible Study
10:15 AM Seniors
5:00 PM Exercise Class
6:00 PM Girl Scouts
6:00 PM TOPS
6:30 PM Boy Scouts
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5:30 PM Tai Chi
6:00 PM Girl Scouts
BEHS Pasta Dinner
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5:00 PM AACT Christmas Party
BEHS Pasta Dinner
7 Communion Nametag Sunday, One Room Sunday School
9:00 AM Sunday Morning Study Group
11:30 AM Christian Outreach
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6:15 PM Girl Scouts
6:30 PM Church Council
7:30 PM NA
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9:00 AM Crochet Class
3:30 PM Soup Kitchen
5:00 PM Exercise Class
6:00 PM Bell Choir
8:00 PM AA
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5:30 PM Disciple
6:00 PM Girl Scouts
6:30 PM Tai Chi
7:30 PM Chancel Choir
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9:00 AM Bible Study
10:15 AM Seniors
5:00 PM Exercise Class
6:00 PM Girl Scouts
6:00 PM TOPS
6:30 PM Boy Scouts
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5:30 PM Tai Chi
6:00 PM Girl Scouts
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8:00 AM UM Men
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9:00 AM Sunday Morning Study Group
11:30 AM Education
Circuit Rider Deadline
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7:30 PM NA
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9:00 AM Crochet Class
5:00 PM Exercise Class
6:00 PM Stephen Ministry
6:00 PM Bell Choir
8:00 PM AA
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5:30 PM Disciple
6:30 PM Tai Chi
7:30 PM Chancel Choir
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9:00 AM Bible Study
10:15 AM Seniors
5:00 PM Exercise Class
6:00 PM Girl Scouts
6:00 PM TOPS
6:30 PM Boy Scouts
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5:30 PM Tai Chi
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9:00 AM Sunday Morning Study Group
11:30 AM Membership
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6:15 PM Girl Scouts
7:30 PM NA
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9:00 AM Crochet Class
5:00 PM Exercise Class
6:00 PM Bell Choir
8:00 PM AA
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5:30 PM Worship Service
11:00 PM Worship Service
ChristmasEve
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ChristmasDay
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9:00 AM Sunday Morning Study Group
11:30 AM Membership
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New Year’sEve
“SCRIP CARDS, GET YOUR SCRIP CARDS”
A S B U R Y U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H C A L E N D A RDECEMBER
Worship Services at 8:30 and 10:00 AM Fellowship Hour at 11:00 AM
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90 Church Avenue, Forestville, CT 06010 | 860-584-0529 |
The Holidays are coming, please remember SCRIP CARDS while planning your shopping.
Scrip Cards support Asbury UMC
Spend $100.00 on Groceries and Asbury UMC gets $4.00
- just by shopping with a Scrip Card!
Spend $100.00 at Home Depot and Asbury UMC gets $4.00
– just by shopping with a Scrip Card!
Go out to eat with friends and Asbury UMC gets $5.00
– just by paying with a Scrip Card!
Shop for Christmas and Asbury UMC gets $9.00
– just by paying with a Scrip Card!
Give a Scrip Gift Card as a present and Asbury UMC gets $4.00
– just by purchasing a Scrip Card!
SCRIP CARDS – a WIN WIN!
See the Scrip Table in Wesley Hall every Sunday for Details!
Ask Amy Majors [email protected] or visit shopwithscrip.com for more info
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