TH SUNDAY IN LENT-UMCOR S UNDAY MARCH - Church

Asbury United Methodist Church

Worship Booklet 1401 CAMDEN AVENUE · SALISBURY, MARYLAND 21801 · 410-749-2131 · WWW.ASBURYWEB.ORG

Sermon Series:

Gifts of the Dark Wood

Sermon:

The Gift of Getting Lost

Scriptures for Next Sunday:

Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33

Music for Next Sunday :

8:00 a.m./EMA Worship: Dr. Michael Stefanek, Organ/Piano

8:45 a.m./CAYR Worship: Praise Band

11:00 a.m./FESTIVE Worship: Vocalists, Dr. Michael Stefanek,

Director/Organ/Piano

We welcome all to worship and thank you for choosing Asbury Church.

Please remember to silence your cell phone.

4TH S UNDAY IN LENT -UMCOR SUNDAY MARCH 14 , 2021

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P RAYER LIST Please pray for the families experiencing loss or illness, and for the following:

Abdullah Almutairi

Ron Ardis

Garrett Bailey

Fred Batie

Beard/Price Family

Robin Beattie

Ian Beckerman

Rodney Beebe

Josh and Rachel Birch

Will Bloxom

Howard Bozman

Krista Bozman

Ruth Campbell

Aria Carey

Peg Castagnola

Lauren and Lorie Cataldi

Eric Chatham

Sylvia Chiofolo

Pat Cooper

Shirley Cropper

Kathy Donovan

Tucky Franz

Henry Gibson

Bill and Lynn Goldfarb

Lisa Gordy

Ron Gordy

Bill Green

Eileen Haley

John Hall

Wayne Hawkins

Baby Julian &

the Helton Family

Liz Hickman

Beth Hillman

Joe Hogan

Steve and Beverly Janso

Andi Stover Kennington

Pam Kondoff-Micallef

Claudia Macauley

Elizabeth Madruga

Marilyn Mann

Baby Owen & the

McPhail-Drollette Family

Karen Meredith

Mezick Family

Ed Moore

Leslie Nielsen

Al Olinde

Laura Panagoulis

Rosamond Panda

Teresa Peters

Mary Powell

Kara Press

Harry “Hank” Rhodes

Fran Rickman

Darin Ruark

Leya Schiller

Jason Spence

Sisters of the Spirit

Rev. Lawrence Staton

Esther Stevenson

Cathy Stratton

Phil and Brady Suchman

Vanessa

Pheobe Wall

Layla Warner

Wendy Williams

Junior Rodriguez-Zamudio

Penny Ziegler

Active Military

Veterans

Our Schools and Children

Immigrant Families

LGBTQ Community

Victims of all Violence

Cure for Coronavirus

All who are Lonely

Healthcare Workers

Racial Justice

Faith in a Secular World

Servants in Fellowship

March:

Jean Laws (Chair)

Norma Dobrowolski

Brenda Martin

Klaudia Thompson

The Prayer Group at Asbury continues to pray weekly for the many concerns lifted up to them

confidentially. Please keep this prayer ministry in your thoughts and consider joining with them for

healing and peace for all. If you need prayer during the week, please contact Pastor Tom, Heather or

Genevieve at the church, or Carol Bisker at (410) 749-3563.

Please let us know if prayers are no longer needed for anyone on the Prayer List. We try to keep as up-to-

date as possible.

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E ARLY MORNING A SBURY (EMA)

8:00 AM Reflective Worship in the Sanctuary

Lay Reader: Vic Laws

Head Usher: Rick Bisker / Sound: Gary Tyler

Designates your invitation to stand

Prelude Prelude in C Major, BWV 545 J. S. Bach

Dr. Michael Stefanek, Organ

Welcome and Announcements

Passing the Peace of Christ

Greeting:

One: For God so loved the world;

All: The sparrows, the mountain lions, the fish and the people.


All: In success and failure, in sickness and health.


All: Enough to become one of us, enough to suffer along with us, enough to offer

new life for us.


All: Let us worship God!

Apostles’ Creed, No. 882

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus

Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the

Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he

descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is

seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and

the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of

saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Opening Prayer:

Eternal God, holy and faithful, you, do not limit us to the stories by which the world

knows us. Or by the stories that we tell ourselves. Give us courage to defy all

expectations, especially our own, and in your love, help us become all of who we are.

We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

[Cont’d on next page]

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First Lesson, Numbers 21:4-9 [Scriptures found on pages 10-11]

One: This is the Word of the Lord.

Many: Thanks be to God.

Second Lesson, Ephesians 2:1-10



Musical Reflection Jesus Paid It All Mark Hayes

Dr. Michael Stefanek, Piano

Gospel Lesson, John 3:14-21

One: This is the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ.


Prayer of Confession:

Holy One, we confess that we fall short. We have strayed from the path. We have

sinned by giving fear too much time in our lives. We have failed by digging in rather

than going with the flow. We have come up short by holding on too tight when what

we need to do is let go. Forgive and restore us, O God. For if we lean into you, then

you dwell with us, no matter how sure or unsure we are. You are with us when we

are uncertain about whether or not we are worthy of love. You are with us always,

forgiving and restoring us to wholeheartedness. Thanks be to God! Amen!

Sermon The Gift of Getting Lost Pastor Tom Pasmore

A Time of Reflection

Prayers and Concerns

The Lord’s Prayer [See back page]

Offering

Offertory Devotion David Ritter


Presentation Hymn Be Present at Our Table Lord

Be present at our table, Lord; be here and everywhere adored; thy creatures bless, and grant

that we may feast in paradise with Thee.

Sending Forth

Postlude Fugue in C Major, BWV 545 J. S. Bach


[Cont’d from previous page]

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C OME AS Y OU A RE (CAYR)

8:45 AM Praise and Worship Service in Fellowship Hall

Lay Reader: Sammy Pasmore

Sound: Fred Webster




Opening Songs Desert Song Praise Band

Grace Like Rain

Centering Time There’s A Path Praise Band



Children’s Message Heather Harman

Prayers and Concerns John Marshall


Offering Our Gifts

Offertory God Only Knows Praise Band










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Sending Forth

Closing Song There’s a Path Praise Band

Sermon Notes: ________________________________________________________________________________________

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Interested in a ministry, but not sure if it’s for you? Or maybe unsure just what you’re

interested in? Talk to Kristen Wall-Love, our Director of Spiritual Formation & Membership.

We have lots of ministries serving lots of different interests. Let Kristen find one for you, or go

to a meeting and experience it for yourself. Get involved! You’ll be glad you did! Call the

church office at 410-749-2131 or email Kristen at [email protected]

WITH YOUR COMMUNITY & CHURCH


FESTIVE WORSHIP AT ELEVEN

11:00 AM Worship Service in the Sanctuary Lay Reader: Emily Saulsbury

Head Usher: George Whitehead / Sound: Rick Holloway

Crucifer: Cameron Mason


Prelude Prelude in C Major, BWV 545 J. S. Bach




Processional Hymn God is Here Traditional

Chamber Choir

Dr. Michael Stefanek, Director

Centering Time There’s A Path Sung by Chamber Choir

Greeting:


All: The sparrows, the mountain lions, the fish and the people.


All: In success and failure, in sickness and health.


All: Enough to become one of us, enough to suffer along with us, enough to offer

new life for us.


All: Let us worship God!

Opening Prayer:

Eternal God, holy and faithful, you, do not limit us to the stories by which the world

knows us. Or by the stories that we tell ourselves. Give us courage to defy all

expectations, especially our own, and in your love, help us become all of who we are.

We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.




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Music Reflection Jesus Paid It All Mark Hayes


Children’s Message Heather Harman


One: This is the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ.












Prayers and Concerns


Offering

Offertory For God So Loved the World Joseph Martin

Chamber Choir

Dr. Michael Stefanek, Director

For God so loved the world, he gave his priceless pearl. For God so loved the world, he gave his

only Son. Love came that none should die. Christ came a sacrifice that who so ever believeth in

him, would have eternal life. For God so love the world, he gave his only Son. For God so loved

the world. For God sent not his Son to the world to condemn the world, but that the world

through him might live. For God so loved the world.

Presentation Hymn, No. 94 Be Present at Our Table Lord

Be present at our table, Lord; be here and everywhere adored; thy creatures bless, and grant

that we may feast in paradise with Thee.



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Sermon Notes: ________________________________________________________________________________________

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Sending Forth

Choral Benediction There’s A Path Sung by Chamber Choir

Postlude Fugue in C Major, BWV 545 J. S. Bach


May your Spring bring

new warmth , blessings and

possibilities to your life!


SCRIPTURES

Numbers 21:4-9 Good News Translation (GNT)

4 The Israelites left Mount Hor by the road that leads to the Gulf of Aqaba, in order to go

around the territory of Edom. But on the way the people lost their patience 5 and spoke against

God and Moses. They complained, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this desert,

where there is no food or water? We can't stand any more of this miserable food!” 6 Then

the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many Israelites were bitten and

died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and

against you. Now pray to the LORD to take these snakes away.” So Moses prayed for the

people. 8 Then the LORD told Moses to make a metal snake and put it on a pole, so that anyone

who was bitten could look at it and be healed. 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a

pole. Anyone who had been bitten would look at the bronze snake and be healed.



Ephesians 2:1-10 New Living Translation (NLT)

2 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in

sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the

unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us

used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By

our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead

because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s

grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated

us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can

point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness

toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift

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from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast

about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do

the good things he planned for us long ago.



John 3:14-21 New International Version (NIV)

14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted

up. 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him

shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn

the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but

whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the

name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people

loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates

the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But

whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they

have done has been done in the sight of God.

One: The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.


1. Reread the Scriptures for this week.

2. When in your life have you felt lost?

3. How did you respond to that feeling?

4. What changes did your response introduce into your life?

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S T . P ATRICK ’ S D AY


This year, St. Patrick’s Day will be observed on Wednesday, March 17.

Although the holiday originally started as a Christian feast day celebrating the life of St.

Patrick and the spreading of Christianity to Ireland, today, it is a day of revelry and a

celebration of all things Irish. Don’t forget to wear green!

St. Patrick’s Day is officially observed on March 17 each year, though celebrations may not be

limited to this date. The significance of March 17 is that it’s said to be the date of St. Patrick’s

death in the late 5th century (circa A.D. 493).

*In the years when St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday or during Holy Week, the Almanac keeps

it there and treats it as a secular holiday only. Churches may transfer this to another date,

however, for the feast day. Or, cities may change their official celebration date.

Who was St. Patrick’s? Was he a real person?

Saint Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. He is

credited with successfully spreading Christianity throughout

Ireland—hence the Christian celebration of his life and name.

Was There Really a St. Patrick?

Definitely. However, there are many legends about him that mix with

the truth. Did he play a large role in spreading Christianity to

Ireland? Yes, absolutely. Did he really drive all the snakes out of

Ireland? Probably not, since snakes weren’t native to Ireland to

begin with!

A Young St. Patrick Finds God

The man who would eventually become St. Patrick was born in Britain (part of the Roman

Empire at the time) as Maewyn Succat in the late 4th century. His family was Christian, but

it’s said that Maewyn himself was an atheist throughout his childhood.

That would change at age 16 (around A.D. 400), when Maewyn was kidnapped from his home

on the west coast of Britain by Irish pirates, who proceeded to carry him off to Ireland and force

him to work as a shepherd herding sheep. After six years, he escaped his captors, walking

nearly 200 miles through the Irish landscape and convincing a ship to carry him with them

back to Britain. This harrowing experience certainly had an effect on Maewyn, who was

convinced it was the Lord who protected him and delivered him safely home.

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St. Patrick Spreads the Gospel

Upon returning home, Maewyn received his call (in a dream) to preach the

Gospel—in Ireland, of all places! He spent the next 15 or so years in a

monastery in Britain, preparing for his missionary work. When he became a

priest, his name was changed to Patricius, and he returned to the land of his

captors to begin his teachings.

Although some Christians already lived in Ireland at the time, the country was

largely pagan, so spreading a foreign religion was not an easy task. Patricius

traveled from village to village to share the teachings of the Lord, and was

successful enough to eventually found many churches there.

Why is the shamrock associated with St. Patrick’s Day?

We wear a shamrock on St. Patrick’s Day because, legend says, St. Patrick used its three leaves

to explain the Holy Trinity in his teachings. (The Trinity is the Father, the Son, and the Spirit

as three divine persons who are one divine being [God].) The truth of the St. Patrick legend,

however, is in question, as there is no direct record that the saint actually used the shamrock as

a teaching tool.

Note: The symbol of St. Patrick is a three-leaf shamrock, not a four-leaf clover. However, long

before the shamrock became associated with St. Patrick’s Day, the four-leaf clover was regarded

by ancient Celts as a charm against evil spirits. In the early 1900s, O. H. Benson, an Iowa

school superintendent, came up with the idea of using a clover as the emblem for a newly

founded agricultural club for children in his area. In 1911, the four-leaf clover was chosen as the

emblem for the national club program, later named 4-H.

St. Patrick’s Day Facts

Blue was the color originally associated with St. Patrick, but green is now favored.

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in the American colonies was held in New York City on

this day in 1762.

St. Patrick’s Day is the traditional day for planting peas, even in the snow!

Cabbage seeds are often planted today, and old-time farmers believed that to make them

grow well, you needed to plant them while wearing your nightclothes! . No PJs required!

May your troubles be less

And your blessings be more

And nothing but happiness

Come through your door

https://www.almanac.com/plant/peas

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A SBURY NEWS

EASTER LILIES: Easter lilies will be placed on the altar fro Easter Sunday. If you wish to

donate a lily in memory and/or in honor of family and friends, please fill out a order form and

return it with payment ($8.00 each) to the church office by March 22. Forms are available in

the Welcome Centers. Thank you!

YOUTH GROUP RETURNS THIS SUNDAY!

Sunday, March 14th we will have our first in-person youth group gathering since November! We

are planning on meeting upstairs in the youth room (aka the “Video” room)

Middle School Youth Group - Sunday 1:45-2:45 pm

High School Youth Group -- Sunday 3:00-4:00 pm

(On the dates when ASP is serving at the Christian Shelter, we will either cancel Youth Group

and serve together, or have a modified/smaller group - right now a very limited amount of

people can serve at the Christian Shelter at a time.

EASTER EGG HUNT - SUPPLIES NEEDED!

The High School Sunday School class needs your help collecting items for the annual Easter

Egg Hunt! Items must fit inside a plastic Easter Egg (individually wrapped candies, stickers,

small toys, etc.). There will be drop-off boxes at the Welcome Centers on Sundays, or you can

also drop items off at the church office during the week. Thank you for your help!

FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY: You are invited to learn how to sharpen your money

management skills with Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. Learn about budgeting

and developing a sense of financial peace once you know how to use your budgeting tools. There

is a membership/materials fee for this class of $130. Our FPU class will meet here in the

Library for 9 Wednesday evenings, 7:00 - 8:30 pm beginning March 17, 2021. You can try it for

14 days for free. Go to fpu.com/1134010 and register.

LENTEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL: The season of Lent is a time of deep self-reflection where we

examine our hearts and faith walk closely. There is a daily devotional available in hard copy in

all the welcome centers and on the church website. Click the button below if you would like the

electronic version. This devotional dovetails with our worship series, "Gifts of the Dark

Wood." While the daily devotional is mostly for individual growth, there is also a small group

discussion based on our Lenten worship series for community based growth and interaction.

These sessions will be on Wednesdays during Lent on zoom from 7:00 - 8:30pm.

Email [email protected] to get the link to join. Many blessings on the journey!

LENTEN RECITALS AT ASBURY: We welcome you to watch a variety of meaningful music

programs made available on the homepage of the Asbury church website (asburyweb.org) on

Wednesdays. These videos will also be uploaded to YouTube for later viewing. Schedule: March

17: Asbury Woodwinds directed by Alan Selser; March 24: Veronica Tomanek, Director of

Music/Organist at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church joined by members of St. Alban’s choir, SU

student vocalists, and Dr. John Wesley Wright.

http://fpu.com/1134010

mailto:[email protected]

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A SBURY NEWS

GIVING FOR LENT: Giving alms (money or goods offered freely to the poor) is one of the pillars

of Lent and an ancient practice in the Church. Jesus proclaimed in the Gospel of Matthew

25:31-46 that giving to the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, imprisoned is giving to him and is the

key to entering his kingdom. (Excerpt taken from Kristen Wall-Love’s devotional). There are

Lenten envelopes in the pews and chairs for you to give over and above your regular giving

during the season of Lent to help provide for our ministries. God loves a cheerful giver.

(2 Corinthians 9:7)

HYDE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION AVAILABLE ON-LINE: The Hyde Scholarship is presented

each year to one or sometimes two graduating seniors who meet specific criteria. Applicants

must be a member of Asbury UMC and a graduate of a Wicomico County public high school

with good academic standing, and have been accepted to a 2 or 4-year college. They must also

meet Sunday School attendance requirements, and be active in other church-related activities.

The application is available on the church website and is due by Tuesday, April 1, 2021. The

scholarship(s) will be presented at a later date.

OPPORTUNITY SHOP SPRING HOURS: Doing some spring cleaning? The Opp Shop would love to

have your stuff! The shop is now accepting all seasonal decor, spring clothing in all sizes and

houseware items. Donations should be in gently used, good condition, and tax receipts are

available. Donations can be dropped off the following times:

Monday - 8:30 - 11:30 am, Tuesday - 10:00 am - 1:00 pm, Wednesday - 8:30 - 10:30 am and

Thursday - 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. Shopping hours: Tuesday and Thursday - 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.

Thank you for supporting this important ministry!

SALISBURY URBAN MINISTRY NEEDS: Lazarus Food Pantry: Ramen Noodles, Side Dishes

(potatoes, rice, noodles), cereal bars. Kids Café: Flash Cards (Math), Workbooks Grade 1-5, Snacks.

Men’s Welcome Center: Men’s Boxers (sizes large to XX-Large). SUM is seeking an Assistant

Coordinator for our Kid’s Café program. If interested, please see full job description placed at the

welcome centers.

ASP FUNDRAISER: We've all missed those sweet, delicious pancakes, and ASP has missed

having a regular opportunity to fundraise. It takes a lot of moving parts to get our teams to

Appalachia, and many hands make light work! Our ASP leadership has come up with an easy

way for you to add your hand to the mix. This beautiful rainbow of envelopes has dollar

amounts written on them stretching from $1-$100. One mission trip typically requires about

$18,000. If all 100 envelopes are filled with the amounts pledged, that would come out to

$5,050, which would go a long way towards making homes warmer, safer and drier!

You can pick an envelope on Sunday mornings during worship, or if you are worshipping from

home, you can send in your donation to the church office and the ASP team will match it up

with an envelope for you! Please be sure to mark donations as "ASP Envelope Fundraiser".

Thank you for supporting this important ministry!

*** If you would like to add a church-related announcement to the Asbury News section, please email

Lydia at [email protected] at least 2 weeks prior to the event.*** Thank You!

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DATE DAY 2021 MARCH EVENTS TIME LOCATION

16 Tue Farmer’s Market 2:30-5:30pm Parking Lot

17 Wed Financial Peace University 7:00pm Library

24 Wed Altar Guild 10:00pm Library

Pastoral Staff:

Senior Pastor:

Rev. Dr. Tom Pasmore

Pastor of Care

Ministries:

Rev. Genevieve Jones

Brown

Directors of

Ministries:

Music Ministries:

Dr. Michael Stefanek

Finance & Building:

Janice Ilczuk

Children & Care

Ministries:

Heather Harman

Adult Spiritual

Formation and

Membership:

Kristen Wall-Love

Youth & Family

Ministries:

Brooke Phulesar

Asbury Child

Development Center:

Casey Taylor, Danna

Abbott

Church Support Staff:

Administrative Office

Manager:

Lydia Childs

Administrative

Assistant:

Sheri Burchard

Maintenance Worker:

Craig Brown

Nursery Staff:

Ashlee Plotts, Joy

Bradshaw, Katie

Anderson, Ericalyn

Killip

Conference Staff:

Bishop:

Peggy Johnson

Salisbury District

Superintendent:

Christina Blake

Conference Office:

Rob Townsend

Salisbury Urban

Ministries:

Debbie Donaway

SU Campus Minister:

Mary Haggard

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father

who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy

name. Thy kingdom

come. Thy will be

done on earth as it is

in heaven. Give us

this day our daily

bread, and forgive us

our trespasses, as we

forgive those who

trespass against us,

and lead us not into

temptation, but

deliver us from evil.

For thine is the

kingdom, and the

power, and the glory,

for ever.

Ways to Give:

Drop your cash or check in the offering plate during service.

Mail to: Asbury United Methodist Church

Attn: Janice Ilczuk

Visit www.asburyweb.org and click “Give Here”.

[PayPal will keep 2.2% + 0.30 of each transaction]

Electronic Funds Transfer can be set-up with Janice Ilczuk

or through your local bank.

We have been given a unique charity link that will take you directly to

smile.amazon.com and automatically selects Asbury as the charity

recipient so that you do not have to search for us on their site. Our

direct link is: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-0607975

Please send pics of any church happenings for social media via email: [email protected]. Thanks!

http://www.asburyweb.org

TH SUNDAY IN LENT-UMCOR S UNDAY MARCH - Church

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