NEWSLETTER

Summer 2011

The Body Of Christ Given For You by Pastor Eric

John Wesley once said that “it is the duty of every Christian to receive the Lord’s Supper as often as they can.” Obviously Wesley thought Holy Communion was very important. But what makes Holy Communion so special? More specifically, what makes Holy Communion special in the United Methodist Church? We know that all Christian denominations observe the sacrament of Holy Communion, but they have various beliefs regarding communion. So what does the United Methodist Church believe? The United Methodist Church believes that Christ is present in ways we cannot explain. In Holy Communion we don’t simply remember what God has done for us in the past; we experience what God is doing here and now. Wesley said it was a channel for the Grace of God to be given to God’s children. Grace is the undeserved favor or love of God. Since Grace is an undeserved gift from God, we are all welcome at the table because none of us can do anything to deserve it. We experience this Grace in five ways during Holy Communion. First, Holy Communion is a place of forgiveness. We come forward and remember that God has forgiven our sins, no matter what they are, through Christ. Therefore, wherever we have been in life is not important, it can and will be forgiven through Christ. Second, Holy Communion provides nourishment for our spiritual journey. We need food and drink for our physical bodies and divine grace for our spiritual bodies. The bread and wine provide the spiritual nourishment of grace. Third, Communion is transformative. We come forward to surrender more and more of ourselves and we are then progressively shaped into the image of Christ. It is a means to help us move on to perfection. The fourth way we experience grace through communion is that it’s a time of reconciliation between us and God and us and others. We come to the table together and realize that we are bound to those with whom we share the meal. This reconciliation is not just between us in this church. The reconciliation is between all of us in the world that come to the table. It is the sharing of the same meal with our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. Finally, communion propels us into mission. The grace that we receive is to be used in the world toward conditions of justice and peace. We are charged to continue Christ’s work of redeeming the world. In his book What’s So Amazing about Grace?, Philip Yancey reflected upon the lives of people who came forward to receive communion. He wrote, "I knew the stories of some of the people standing before me. I knew that Mabel, the woman with white hair and bent posture who came to the senior's citizen center, had been a prostitute in her early life. My wife worked with her for seven years before Mabel confessed the dark secret buried deep within. Fifty years ago she had sold her only child, a daughter. Her family had rejected her long before, the pregnancy had eliminated her source of income, and she knew she would make a terrible mother, so she sold the baby to a couple in Michigan. She could never forgive herself, she said. Now she was standing at the communion rail, spots of rouge like paper discs pasted on her cheeks, her hands outstretched, waiting to receive the gift of grace. 'The body of Christ broken for you, Mabel." This is an example of what is so special about Holy Communion. It is our spiritual lifeline. We must have a constant supply of divine presence, love and power if we are to live in faith.

one community . . . encountering Christ . . . empowered to serve

INSIDE

Childrens Ministry

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Mailbox

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Graduating Seniors

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Heritage Sunday

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Family Album

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Vol.  17     No.  5    

STAFF    Editor.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  DAVID  TELLIER    UMW  News  .  .  .  .  .  .  FAYE  RENTSCHLER    A.I.M.  News  .  .  .  .  .  .  DICK  MCCREIGHT  Photography  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  CAROL  COLLINS    

DICK  MCCREIGHT    

MICHELLE  HEISLER  Printing.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  SARA  BROWN  Mailings  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  SHERRY  MINICH    

JUDY  WHITBY  

Business    Administrator.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  TOM  GIBSON    Pastors.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  MARK  MOORE    

ERIC  YEAKEL    

The   Cross   &   Flame   is   published   nine  times   per   year   by   Asbury   United  Methodist  Church.    

General  Information  –  Asbury  UMC:  Ph  –  610.398.2577  Fax  –  610.366.1108  E-­‐mail  -­‐  info@asburylv.org    

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September D E A D L I N E Hardcopy:     July  31  E-­‐mail:     Aug  7  

Data  Entry.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  SUE  DYMOND  Proofreading  .  .  .  .  .  .  THOMAS  BRIGGS  

Children’s Ministry News by Linda Arleth

Kids – Join us each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for Faith and Fun Alive!! For the summer, children ages 3-5th grade will first meet in Fellowship Hall for Large Group time. Then we will split into two groups 3 yrs.-Kindergarten and 1st – 5th grades. Younger group will go to Room 221 and older group to Room 219. Parents should pick up their children in the rooms. Starting September 18 (Fall Kick-off day) kids will promote to new classes in the upstairs Education Wing. More info to follow. Kidz Klub will be held Wednesdays, July 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Meet and pick up in the Wesley Center. Kidz Klub is for kids PreK / 4 – 5th grades. Light dinner and activities each week. Contact Linda Arleth to sign up kids or volunteer to help. Signup sheets will be outside the Wesley Center and in the Community Room. VBS is Aug. 1-5. Come to “Shake It Up Café” and learn God’s Recipes for Life. Registration forms available online, at Welcome Centers, and in the church office. Contact Linda Arleth for info or to volunteer! Lots of volunteers needed! Youth & Adults – We are in need of Summer Sunday morning teachers to lead small group activities. We are also in need of teachers for Sunday mornings for the Fall. Contact Amy Wood or Linda Arleth in the church office to volunteer. Blessings for a fun and safe summer

P.E.P. CLUB BUS TOUR TO HUNTERDON HILLS

PLAYHOUSE 2011 CHRISTMAS MUSICAL

Wednesday, Nov 9

Cost: $82.00 ( includes: transportation, lunch, show

and tips)

Bus will leave from the back parking lot of the church at 10 a.m.

There are seats still available for this trip and anyone

wishing to join us is welcome. All ages are welcome to join us

Please contact: Shirley Offutt at 610-437-6503

for reservation and menu selection

 

 

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Dear Friends at Asbury: I would like to thank everyone for making my 60th birthday the best birthday ever. Thank you for the cards, gifts of food donated to the food bank, and for your generous monetary donations to the Allentown Rescue Mission, the Lehigh Valley Council of Churches, and to the Nets Project in my honor. I cannot think of any gift better than knowing others benefitted so much, unless, of course, it is being blessed with so many wonderful friends. Love, Sarah Fullton Dear Asbury, Thank you so much to everyone who donated to the 2011 Lehigh Valley Walk Now for Autism Speaks! Asbury was well represented, through walkers, donors, and a very generous contribution through the Change for Change Campaign that ran in April. We greatly appreciate all of the support from the Asbury congregation. Our 2011 Lehigh Valley Walk so far has raised over $470,000 and we are continuing to accept donations through August. Together, we are making a difference and will hopefully solve the puzzle of autism! Thank you again. Nancy & Sheri Miltenberger Dear Friends, On behalf of the Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank, we thank you for your recent donation of $5.00 and 62 bags of food. Because of your caring and sharing, hungry people of our community are being fed. For every dollar we receive, we can purchase 6 pounds of food through Second Harvest Food Bank. Again, thank you for your donation. Sincerely, Esther A. Stahl AAFEB Corresponding Secretary

 

 

 

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VICTORIA BUSER Parkland High School Future Plans: Attend Juniata College to play field hockey and study psychology Asbury Activities: Youth group, bell choir Favorite Asbury Memories: West Virginia Work Week, retreats, Night on the Move, Lock-ins

Favorite Scripture Passage and/or Christian Song Lyrics : For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:11-13

HANNAH GOLDNER Parkland High School Future Plans: Penn State Main Campus Asbury Activities: Sunday School Teacher, West Virginia Work Week Favorite Asbury Memories: West Virginia Work Week Favorite Scripture Passage and/or Christian Song

Lyrics: “Do not fear – only believe.” – Mark 5:36. Marvelous Light by Charlie Hall Who Am I by Casting Crowns

STEPHANIE HANDWERK Emmaus High School Future Plans: Bloomsburg University – Early Elementary Education to become a Kindergarten teacher Asbury Activities: Teach 5th Grade Sunday School Favorite Asbury Memories:

Youth Group, Impact, and Alive trips Favorite Scripture Passage and/or Christian Song Lyrics : John 3:16; Mighty to Save

EMILY HESS Emmaus High School Future Plans: Stroudsburg University – Secondary Education in History Asbury Activities: Bells, choir, Sr. High Girls Group, 5th grade Sunday School teacher, youth group Favorite Asbury Memories:

West Virginia and Senior High Girls Group Favorite Scripture Passage and/or Christian Song Lyrics : Matthew 17:20, Philippians 4:13, and Hebrews 13:5, All Because of Jesus

ALLISON HUTTON Parkland High School Future Plans: Penn State University – Mathematics Major Asbury Activities: Sr. High Girls Group, Acolyting, Bell Choir, Youth Group Favorite Asbury Memories: West Virginia Work Trip,

Capture The Crayon

SONYA JOSEPHSON Northern Lehigh Future Plans: To attend Penn State University – main campus and major in Actuarial Science and become an Actuary Asbury Activities: Youth Group Favorite Asbury Memories:

Retreats in middle school Favorite Scripture Passage and/or Christian Song Lyrics: Proverbs 3:6 “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight

2011 GRADUATING SENIORS

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MATTHEW KACYON Whitehall High School Future Plans: Temple University – Study Film/Editing & Interactive Media, Participate on Cross Country and Track Team Asbury Activities: Sunday School, Troop 12 Favorite Asbury Memories:

Candlelight service at Christmas, TGIF Favorite Scripture Passage and/or Christian Song Lyrics: Silent Night

KATIE LANTAFF Parkland High School Future Plans: East Stroudsburg University – Spanish Education Major, International Studies Minor Asbury Activities: Acolyte, Bell Choir (Grades 5-9), Retreats, Summer Camp Favorite Asbury Memories: Mr. Kelly’s 4th Grade Sunday

School, Penny Drive, Impact 2010, and Mr. Kelly’s Band! Favorite Scripture Passage and/or Christian Song Lyrics : Lifesong by Casting Crowns

EVAN OLPHIN Whitehall Future Plans: Lehigh Carbon Community College and then Kutztown University for Graphic Design Asbury Activities: Mostly volunteering with greeting, communion steward,

Allentown Fair Parking and CROP Walk for Hunger Favorite Asbury Memories: TGIF; Night on the Move; Sunday Night Basketball; Alive Youth Retreat; Twice in Ocean City, MD; Fair Parking; and Vacation Bible School helper

HANNAH SYMONS Parkland Future Plans: Bloomsburg State University - majoring in Speech/Language Pathology Asbury Activities: Attending worship, attending summer camp at either Innabah or Pocono Plateau every year

since middle school Favorite Asbury Memories: Playing games in Sunday school Favorite Scripture Passage and/or Christian Song Lyrics A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back-Proverbs 29:11

KYLE TELLIER Emmaus Future Plans: Math Education Asbury Activities: Acolyte, Lock-in, TGIF, Night on the Move Favorite Asbury Memories: Pocono Plateau, TGIF, Alive Favorite Scripture Passage

and/or Christian Song Lyrics: I Will Rest in You by Jaci Velasquez KELSEY CZYZYK Parkland High School Future Plans: Environmental Engineering at Villanova University Asbury Activities: Sr. High Girls Group, Bells, Retreats Favorite Asbury Memories: West Virginia, when the Chinese buffet was open junior year

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HAYLEY WALCZER Northwestern Lehigh Future Plans: George Mason University – Double Major in Theatre/Communications – Public Relations, Career: Advocate – Media Outreach

Asbury Activities: Choirs, Bell Choir, Dramatic Projects

and Readings Favorite Asbury Memories: Pocono Plateau; Joyful Noisemakers Favorite Scripture Passage and/or Christian Song Lyrics: All in All

DUSTIN WINGATE Parkland Future Plans: Stony Brook University – Journalism with a concentration in broadcasting, News Anchor for NBC Asbury Activities: West Virginia Work Week Favorite Asbury Memories:

Poncho Song with Sarah Hess on West Virginia trip Favorite Scripture Passage and/or Christian Song Lyrics: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” – Philippians 4:13

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Email: info@nacciprinting.com

To All Contributors to the Cross & Flame Please accept my apologies if you submitted an article for this issue and it doesn’t appear. My computer crashed at the end of May and I wasn’t able retrieve any e-mails that were sent prior to June 8. Thanks for your understanding, Dave Tellier Editor, The Cross & Flame

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Heritage Sunday Celebrated at Asbury On June 12, Asbury celebrated Heritage Sunday, commemorating our 90th Anniversary, Confirmation Sunday and Pentecost. As part of the special worship service, some of Asbury’s long-time members escorted the 19 confirmands as they officially joined the church. Confirmations are traditionally done on Pentecost Sunday, celebrated as the date the church was born 2000 years ago. 92 persons who have been members of Asbury for at least 30 years were recognized with corsages of different colors, symbolizing the length of their membership."

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IRTHS 5/8 Jackson Allen Stolarik, son of Michael & Kim 6/11 Seth Alan Craven, son of Brent & Emily Craven BAPTISMS 5/15 Michelle Violet Patton 5/22 Tyson Louis Stephenson 5/29 Eliza Jane Kratzer 6/12 Jordan randall DEATHS 5/13 Doris L. Cathers  

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