September 1, 2024

Asbury Sunday Worship:

9:00 & 11:00 am: Worship in the Sanctuary

10:00 am: Sunday School

11:00 am: Live-Streamed Worship

Youth Sunday

We are so incredibly proud of our young people and the way they led both worship services last Sunday. Youth, you are amazing!!!

Register for "Putting Your House in Order" by Sept. 6

Registration is open for the fall edition of Putting Your House in Order, the popular program from Kansas Methodist Foundation (KMF). If making estate plans and putting your affairs in order has been on the to-do list, then make 2024 the year to get it done! Register by Friday, Sept. 6 by clicking here.

Putting Your House in Order is a three-part series that covers 1) Estate Planning, 2) Legacy Giving, and 3) Memorial Planning. Each hour-long Zoom session provides useful information and needed resources to guide you in putting your plans in place. We will discuss wills versus trusts, durable powers of attorney, advanced health care directives, legacy giving, endowments, how to document important personal and family information, and other items to assist your successors.

Contact Dan Clevenger at 913-432-5573 or DanC@visitasbury.org with any questions!

Northeast Kansas District Serve Day: Saturday, September 7

On Saturday, September 7 from 9 am to noon, United Methodists from all over the Northeast Kansas District are invited to The Hub Argentine for a District Serve Day!

We will have opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to serve. If you are able, please sign up by September 1 at this link: click here.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you all on September 7!

Second Sunday Singers - Begins Sunday, September 8

Starting in September, the Chancel Choir will sing at the 11 am service every second Sunday - and we would love for you to join us!

If you are looking for an opportunity to sing with less commitment, this is for you! Interested singers may attend the choir rehearsal in the MSR at 6:30 pm the Wednesday prior to the second Sunday of the month for approximately 45 minutes, and then show up on Sunday morning at 10:30 am to sing in worship. It's that easy! Contact Lindsey Lang at lindseyl@visitasbury.org with questions.

Fall Kickoff: Sunday, September 8

Asbury friends, you’re ALL invited to come out and have fun on Sunday, September 8 from 4-6 pm to celebrate all that happened over the summer, while looking forward to a new season of ministry, fun, and friendship. 

We'll have bounce houses for the kids, and ice cream, bingo, and prizes for all ages! Bounce houses outside in the parking lot; bingo and ice cream inside Hager Hall. Bingo will begin around 4:30 pm. Family Ministries has partnered with United Women in Faith for this FREE inter-generational event, and all are welcome. Bring your friends and family!

Banned Book Club Returns on Tuesday, September 10!

Banned Book Club will return on Tuesday, September 10 at 6:30 pm in the Parlor. We will feature two books at our next discussion:

Sold by Patricia McCormick 

Flamer by Mike Curato (graphic novel)

You are welcome to read one or both! 

Questions? Contact Pastor Jeff at jeffp@visitasbury.org.

Bids & BBQ: Friday, September 13

The Asbury Children's Center will be holding its big annual fundraiser, Bids & BBQ, on September 13 at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center. Tickets are on sale now!

They will be holding a live auction at the event as well as an online silent auction the week before. We could use donations! Services, goods, collectibles, event tickets, etc. - all of these items have been featured in the past and have been quite popular. If you would like to donate something to put in the auction or donate money towards the event, please contact ACC Director Ann Porter at annp@visitasbury.org. Thanks!

Dine Around is Back! Dessert Party Kick Off: Monday, September 30

Do you enjoy food and fellowship? Want to get to know some more people at Asbury? Then join us for "Dine Around!"

Participants will be placed into a group of 6-8 people of all ages: including young adults, seniors, singles and couples. This is a great way to meet new people and stay connected with friends!

You can choose to host a group in your home, or to eat in homes or in restaurants. Just fill out a short form, and we'll match you up with people who have similar interests. Then on Monday, September 30, we'll host a kickoff at 6:30 pm in Hager Hall, where you bring a dessert to share, meet your group members, and decide the best times for your group to have dinner together! We'll provide childcare for the kickoff party.

Groups will meet about 4-5 times throughout October 2024-May 2025. The deadline to sign-up is Friday, September 27. Questions? Contact Pastor Jeff at jeffp@visitasbury.org.

Get Ready To Vote on November 5!

Do you need to register to vote? Have you changed your name? Have you moved? Go to KSVotes.org to register or update your registration. In fact, it's a good idea ALL voters should double check their registration. Deadline is October 15. 

And, at the same time, you can also apply for a mail-in ballot (VBM). VBM also known as advance ballot and absentee ballot. Voting by mail is simple and easy, but you do need to request a ballot be mailed to you each election.

Questions? Contact Julia Cotter, Asbury Voter to Voter Ambassador Team Leader, at juliaacotter@gmail.com or 913-660-8160.

Travel More to Japan Begins September 12

Travel More is back with a Trip to Japan this September! We'll kick it off with dinner at a Japanese restaurant on September 12. Check out the itinerary below!

• Week 1: Eating Dinner (Going Dutch) - Thursday, September 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Jun’s in Prairie Village
• Week 2: Visiting a Buddhist Temple - Saturday, September 21 at 10:00 a.m. to noon at Kansas Zen Center in Lawrence (We'll leave Asbury at 8:45 a.m. Please let Pastor Daekyung know if you want to carpool.)
• Week 3: Watching the Animated Movie “My Neighbor Totoro” (1988) - Saturday, September 28 at 4:30 p.m. in the Asbury Parlor
• Week 4: KC Japan Festival - Saturday, October 5 at Johnson County Community College (Click here for more information. There is no group visit scheduled.)  

As always, we’ll begin Week 1 with a small icebreaker, by looking up one interesting thing about Japan and sharing that with our companions over lunch. No books to read. We’ll just get to feel, learn, and celebrate different cultures! Please email Pastor Daekyung (DaekyungK@visitasbury.org) or call the church office at 913-432-5573 by Thursday, September 5 if you’re interested in joining this trip.

2nd Annual Boarding School Remembrance

The Great Plains Conference’s Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) invites you to an event honoring Native Americans who endured the trauma and indignity caused by parochial boarding schools as children.

This second-annual gathering is scheduled for 10:00 am Saturday, Sept. 28 — the National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools — at St. Paul United Methodist Church (1144 M St) in Lincoln, Nebraska. Click here for more information.

2024 OIMC Immersion Experience

The OIMC Immersion Experience scheduled for October 2-6, 2024, will provide history, context, and unique perspectives on Native peoples in The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference and their involvement with The United Methodist Church.

In addition, the Native communities will proudly share their traditions and culture throughout the event. Click here for more details.

3rd Quarter Ministry Grant Applications Due September 1

The Asbury Endowment Committee is excited to announce the offering of Asbury Ministry Grants for the 3rd quarter! The application deadline for the third quarter is September 1.

Asbury endowed funds are underwriting grants of up to $1000. Individuals, committees, and small groups are encouraged to use these grants to sustain, enhance, or create mission and ministries within the Asbury faith community. Grants will be offered quarterly throughout the year.

Application and instructions can be found by clicking here. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Clevenger, Director of Generosity and Stewardship, at 913-432-5573 or at DanC@visitasbury.org. 

Help Serve Lunch at Lazarus Table on Saturday, September 21

We need 8 people to either help serve lunch or assist in the Lazarus Boutique on Saturday, September 21 from 10 am - 1 pm at Lazarus Table (Linwood United Church, 3151 Olive, KCMO, 64109). Come out and help with a wonderful mission opportunity!

Lunches are served 'restaurant style,' so kitchen volunteers can assist with hosting, greeting, plating, and/or serving. Lazarus Boutique volunteers serve as personal shoppers to guests, assisting people one on one in finding clothing, hygiene items, linens, or other household goods they may need.

Click here to sign up online, or call the church at 913-432-5573 to sign up. Thank you!

Saturday Volunteers for the Food Pantry

We have an opportunity for a new resource for the Pantry: donations from the local Costco in Lenexa!

To acquire these donations, we're particularly looking for one or two people who are available on Saturday mornings from 9:30-10:30 am, who could pick up items including deli, bakery, and produce from the Lenexa Costco and deliver them to Asbury.

Low time commitment needed - even once or twice a month would be a big help! Bonus points if you have access to a truck to help load larger items. Please contact Roseann Sanders, Director of the Asbury Food Pantry, at roseann.sanders@gmail.com or 913-593-7177 if you are interested in helping out. Thank you! 

Fall Kickoff: Sunday, September 8 from 4-6 pm

Come out and have fun on Sunday, September 8 from 4-6 pm to celebrate all that happened over the summer, while looking forward to a new season of ministry, fun, and friendship.

We'll have bounce houses for the kids, and ice cream, bingo, and prizes for all. Family Ministries has partnered with United Women in Faith for this FREE event, and all are welcome!

Family Ministries Book Club: Tuesday, September 17 at 7 pm

Our next Family Ministries Book Club is Tuesday, September 17. We will be discussing Tales of Two Americas: Stories of Inequality in a Divided Nation (click here for link).

You are invited to select 100 pages of stories, essays, or poems from this collection to discuss on September 17. 

Kids Hour: Sundays at 10 am

Kids' Hour is a great way for kids to make friends and build community while learning Bible stories. Kids (PreK - 5th grade) are invited to join the fun of exploring Bible stories through weekly rotations such as art, music, games, cooking, drama, science, and videos. 

Children's Church: 11 am after the Children's Time

Kids PreK - 3rd grade are welcome to join us for Children's Church after the Children's Moment at the 11 a.m. service in the kids' wing (3rd floor east). We might make a craft, play a game, watch a movie, or learn a new song and dance. No matter the activity, kids will have fun learning and growing together!

Sunday Nursery Hours: 8:30 am to 12:30 pm

9 am: The nursery is open for children who need it, up to 3rd grade.

11 am: The Nursery is open on Sundays for children aged infant through 5-years-old (if they haven’t started Kindergarten yet). Children who have started Kindergarten are encouraged to join Children's Church.

Save the Date for Kids Sing!

Kids' Sing Rehearsal begins Sunday, September 29 during the 11 am service. The kids will offer their song in worship at 11 am on Sunday, October 20.

Coffee and Convos

10 am in the Youth Lounge. Join us for treats and discussion!

Youth Group

No Youth Group due to Labor Day weekend.

Enjoy your holiday!

Sunday, September 22: Youth Group Night at Power Play (5:30-7:30 pm)

Unlimited play on arcade games and indoor attractions plus an all you can eat pizza buffet!

Cost is $25 per person and we need to RSVP to Main Event by Tuesday, September 17. Please RSVP to Heather Jackson at heatherj@visitasbury.org. We will load the buses and leave from the church at 5:30 pm.