GOOD NEWS - May, 2010

GOOD NEWS
Asbury United Methodist Church
1809 Mississippi Blvd
Bettendorf, IA 52722
May, 2010
355-5218
www.asbury-bett.org
Asbury@netexpress.net

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday
8:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:00

WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday, 8:30 and 11:00 AM
8:30 – Traditional Service
9:45 – Sunday School
(through May 23)
11:00 – Praise Service
(changes to 10:00 May 30-Aug. 22)

“I WILL BE LOYAL TO THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH and uphold it with my prayers, my presence, my gifts, and my service.”

BY OUR PRAYERS
Please keep the friends and family on the enclosed list in your daily prayers.

BY OUR PRESENCE
March 28 Worship – 361
March 28 Sunday School – 141
April 4 Worship – 635
April 11 Worship – 280
April 11 Sunday School -129
April 18 Worship – 311
April 18 Sunday School – 126
April 25 Worship – 302
April 25 Sunday School – 127

BY OUR GIFTS
March Income $59,133.44
March Expense $56,504.96

BY OUR SERVICE
Thank you for your generous contributions to the Churches United Food Pantry totaling $228, and 56 items.
Good News Deadline
Articles for the June issue of Good News should be in the church office by Noon on Monday, May 24, 2010. Thank you!

Pastors Stephanie & Tom
Pastors Stephanie and Tom may be reached at any time at:
1123 East Columbia
Davenport, IA 52803
563-323-5837

Cell Phones:
Pastor Stephanie: 563-210-7723
Pastor Tom: 563-210-8823
They may be reached at church at 355-5218 or through their email:
pastorsr-n@netexpress.net
pastortr-n@netexpress.net

Pastoral Care Concern
If you are hospitalized and do not receive a visit from Pastor Stephanie or Pastor Tom within 24 hours, it means we have not been notified by the volunteer callers at the hospital. Please call the church or pastor at home to let us know.

Confirmation
May 2, 2010
Join Us as We Welcome
Our Confirmation Class into Full Membership

8:30 Worship Service with Reception Immediately Following in Upper Fellowship Hall

Haley Bankson Eric Hale Colin Myers
Matthew Dennis Thomas Kimler Benjamin Stelk
Sydney Dwyer Matthew Moran Katherine Urbaitis

Confirmation Reception

Everyone is Invited!

Please come to Upper Fellowship Hall after 8:30 Worship on Confirmation Day, May 2nd to honor the Confirmation students. Cake & punch will be served!

Youth News!
6th-12th Graders

Sunday, May 9th & May 23rd
Meetings may be working at a Garden Ministry site....details to be determined closer to the meeting date. An e-mail will be sent out as a reminder.

If you have a youth that is interested in attending our meetings or receiving our updates, please e-mail us so that we can include you on our updates....
www.asburyouth@netexpress.net

Ice Cream Social
Friday Night, July 9th
Mark your calendars for an upcoming fundraiser event to help with our service trip for summer of 2011. The youth will be having an ice cream social at the Friday night Bettendorf Park Band Concert held at Middle Park. Our youth and parents will be serving ice cream, baked goods and other items for a free-will donation on Friday night, July 9th.

Senior Recognition
We will be honoring all High School Seniors on May 16th at both worship services. Please let us know which service you are planning to attend and mail us your photo!

Pentecost Sunday
May 23!
At both the 8:30 and 11:00 worship services you are invited to bring a candle of light to represent the coming of the Holy Spirit and the tongues of fire. Bring one red unscented candle for your family in a glass jar or votive cup big enough to burn for the hour. There will be designated areas to put the candles. You will take them home after worship.

Senior Piano Recital!
Cresston Gackle, who has been a piano student of Marilyn Mitchem for the past 12 years, will have his senior piano recital at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 6th at Asbury.
Everyone is invited! After the program, light refreshments will be served. Please join us!

Save the Date!
Sunday, June 13th at 10:30 a.m. we will have an outdoor “Worship in the Park” service in the pavilion at Palmer Hills Golf Course in Bettendorf. This service will be very special, as it is also the retirement party for Pastors Stephanie and Tom. There will be messages from both pastors, lots of music and lunch following. Please circle the date on your calendar now and plan to attend!

Preschool Registration
Asbury Preschool is currently accepting registrations for the 2010-2011 school year. The Tuesday-Thursday class is offered for 3-4 year olds and the Monday-Wednesday-Friday class for children 4-5 years old. Please call 355-5218 for more information.

Audio and PowerPoint in Worship
We have had several calls from persons requesting to volunteer to help with the audio and/or PowerPoint presentations in the worship services. If you would like to be included in a training session to take place very soon, please sign-up in the church office or contact Bob Mattison at 332-9889 or rmattison@platinum-corp.com

Spring Clean-Up!
The Trustees are “inviting” members to volunteer for our annual Spring Clean-Up of the church on Saturday, May 8th from 9am-Noon. We have projects that can include youth as well as adults. We plan to: remove leaves etc. from the shrubs, clean windows, spread mulch and more! We will have sign up sheets at the April 25th and May 2nd services. Thank you for helping to stretch our budget!!

Common Cent$ Update
We did it!!!!!!!!!!!

$40,000+ and still counting. How you ask? 123 members increased their pledges by $39,694. Then, Marcia Wiedmeyer and her Team that have organized the Geranium Sale Fundraiser, graciously agreed to donate their proceeds to Common Cents. Marcia estimates this to be around $1,100. So now, we expect to hit $40,794! And, who knows, another few pledges may continue to come in!
On behalf of Finance, SPRC and Church Council, we want to thank the membership for taking this most important step to stabilize the budget and finances for 2010. This is a year of transition with our Pastor Stephanie and Tom's retirements followed by our introduction to new ministers, Kerrin Kirkpatrick and Emmanuel Naweji. Having our financial house in order this year is beneficial on so many fronts. Thank you to everyone who pledged and everyone who prayed that we could, would, and DID exceed the $40,000.
Larry Brandt
Common Cents Coordinator

Card Ministry
Card Ministry is celebrating its first anniversary in the month of May. During the year we’ve managed to make well over 500 cards, and we’ve sent out more than 400 of those cards. That means we have sent over 400 messages of support, condolence, encouragement or celebration to members of our church family. What an accomplishment! We’ve had a total of 26 different church members participate in our card-making sessions, and we’ve also enjoyed the help of several guests. Thank you to everyone who has helped in both big and small ways to make the Card Ministry a success. Your time, effort and enthusiasm have been so important to getting our group off the ground. To celebrate our first anniversary and assist in covering the costs of our supplies as we go forward, the Card Ministry will have samples of many of the cards we’ve made available for your own personal mailing needs. Look for the rack of Asbury Card Ministry cards in the office beginning in mid-May. If you’d like to get involved, our next meeting will be Wednesday, May 12th at 7:00 p.m. in rooms 302 and 303. We’d love to have you join us!

CONFIRMATION
In April, students shared a closing retreat and had their final Pastor interviews, as their preparation year comes to an end. Thank you to the members of Asbury who have prayed for and supported the students this year. Students will have their Confirmation group and individual portraits taken at 8:00 a.m. sharp, on Sunday, May 2nd, right before 8:30 Worship, in the Sanctuary. All students are asked to be at church on time so everyone is in the group picture!

BODY & SOUL
Body & Soul meets through May 19th from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in lower Fellowship Hall. All preschool through 3rd graders are welcome to attend anytime. Friends are always welcome! The children continue to learn how Jesus SHINES in their lives, and will share a candle-LIGHT supper of spaghetti and meatballs on our final evening. Parents are invited to stay for supper in lower Fellowship Hall.

OUR TEACHERS ARE APPRECIATED!
May 16th is Teacher Appreciation Sunday. Please keep our volunteer teachers in your prayers and give them a pat on the back often! They will be especially celebrated on May 16th in Worship and during the Sunday School hour. They are Bev Warner, Susan Moseley, Jim, Julie and Lexi Spelhaug, Jennifer Morgan, Melanie Wolfe, Kristi Berst, Tami Stelk, Julie Wilkensen, Linda Rorke, Stacy Christoffersen, Larry Brandt, John Hale, Joni Wolf, Amy Moats, Tracy Waterman, Darcy Anderson, Jennifer Edwards, Michele Beghtol, Laura Adams, Angela Hayes, Tim Hocker, Lana LaSalle, Nancy French and Jan Coffenberry.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers are needed for Story Hour and Nursery! The new Summer schedule is under construction and will begin on Sunday, June 6th. Please call Beth if you would like to be a part of these ministries. You are needed! The Story Hour schedule is being planned to include both Worship services during the Summer, but more leaders are needed. It is not difficult to do! All materials and instructions are provided, and the children are in the Library for about 40 minutes. Youth helpers are scheduled with adults. Beth is happy to talk to new leaders and explain everything involved. Please Call: 355-5218 or 787-1420.
In the Summer, the Nursery is offered during both Worship services, but not in between. If there is a special event, however, please call the office during the week to find out if the Nursery will be open during that time. If you have any questions &/or wish to talk about volunteering, please call the church office or the volunteer coordinator, Jennifer Morgan, at 823-8820.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2010
VBS will be held July 19 -23 from 9:00 a.m. until Noon for children in Preschool through 5th grade, completed. Registration will begin on the last day of Sunday School, May 23rd. The program this year is Group’s Adventure on the High Seas. Please mark your calendars and make V.B.S. at Asbury part of your summer fun! Call Beth at church or home with any questions, or to volunteer to be part of the staff! All are needed and welcome to help!

Spring Cleaning???

Remember to save some items for the annual Rummage Sale held at Asbury during the last week of July. AIM - Asbury in Mission - will be using the proceeds to fund our relief efforts in Oakville, Cedar Rapids, and anywhere that disasters happen in Iowa. Thank you for your support!

Global Ministries Committee
Nancy French, Chair

GARDEN MINISTRY SOD-BITS
The 9th year of our Garden Ministry has officially begun. I will prepare these "Sod-bits" throughout the gardening season as a means to apprise church members of what is going on in the gardens.
We are gardening 3 plots this year; the Mt. Joy plot (3/4 of an acre located near the Mt. Joy exit off of Highway 61 across from the BSA soccer fields and just north of the Valley Turf John Deere implement dealership), a new plot (about 1/2 acre) donated for our use by the Grace Evangelical Free Church located just north of the intersection of 53rd Street and Eastern Avenue, and a small plot on Rock Island Arsenal. The garden site we have gardened on Wisconsin Avenue in prior years is no longer available.
Our two large plots have been wonderfully prepared for planting through the efforts of Tony Knobbe (plowing and disking) and Frank Dolmen (power tilling).
Much effort has been expended over the last couple of weeks planting over 500 lbs. of seed potatoes and over 26,000 onion plants. Again, God blessed our Ministry by holding off the rain until we finished this planting.
Bill Cameron has graciously agreed to serve as the Ministry's Recruiting Coordinator. He has been busy making presentations to various service organizations in the area (Rotary & Optimist Clubs), area churches, and Pleasant Valley & Bettendorf high schools to recruit garden volunteers. His efforts have already been very successful as we have had a good number of volunteers involved in the planting of the potatoes and onions; e.g., 19 volunteers assisted in the planting of onions last Wednesday evening.
Mark Christoffersen will be the Site Coordinator for the Mt. Joy plot (phone no. 344-9338) and I will be the Site Coordinator for the new plot at 53rd and Eastern (to be referred to as the "Grace plot") and the Rock Island plot. (phone no. 340-6594).
With the additional garden space and additional volunteers, we are really excited about this gardening season. We pray that God will continue to bless our Ministry as we answer his call stated in Isaiah 58:10 “Feed my hungry".
Dave Phillips
Garden Ministry Coordinator

New Books in the
Church Library

EASY TO READ
(READ-TO & BEGINNING READERS)
I’m Glad I’m Your Grandma by Bill & Kathy Horlacher

JUNIORS (ELEMENTARY READERS)
(Fiction)
Judy Moody Saves the World and Judy Moody Predicts the Future by Megan McDonald
Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary
One Day at a Time by Danielle Steel
Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Cleary
Best Friends and Drama Queens by Meg Cabot

ADULTS (Fiction)
Beside Still Water – A Celebration of Beloved Psalms by Melinda Rumbaugh
The Case for Christmas by Lee Strobel
Sugar and Spice by Frances Devine
Love’s Winding Path by Lauralee Bliss
The Mockingbird’s Call by Diane Ashley & Aaron McCarver
Special Mission by Debby Mayne
A Thousand Generations by Traci Depree
Disarming Andi by Elizabeth Goddard
The Ice Cream Carnival by Janet Spaeth
Crossroads Bay by Kathleen E. Kovach
A Forged Promise by Cara C. Putma
The Best is Yet to Be by Eve Fischer
A Test of Faith by Carol Cox
Life is a Three Ring Circus by Rebecca Kelly
Into the Wilderness by Traci Depree
The Spirit of the Season by Dana Corbit
Angels Undercover by Diane Noble
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Life After Death – The Evidence by Dinesh D’souza
The Revelation, The Betrayal, and The Covenant by Beverly Lewis
How the River Runs by Anne Marie Rogers
The Last Sin Eater and Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers
DVD: The Dead Sea Scrolls

Greeters Needed
The theme for the 2010 Iowa Annual Conference is “Radical Hospitality – Offering God’s Love.” Greeters are needed to help share that hospitality and love. If you are interested, please contact Mary Smith at 515-491-4655 or 515-965-8720, or you may email her at:
lomasmith@hotmail.com

United Methodist Women
May Circle Meeting

Hannah – Rachel – Ruth Circles
Joint Meeting at 6:30 p.m., May 11
Upper Fellowship Hall

All women are welcome to attend this Spring Potluck on May 11th. Please bring a dish to share. Rachel Circle is providing the drinks, dessert, plates, napkins and silverware. If you would like more information please call Alinda Littrel at 359-3994 or 563-340-1401 (cell).
The program, “Health and Humor”, given by Regina Holly Lange, will explore what we have learned about the effects of humor (especially laughter) on our physical and mental well-being. It also will address the correct use of humor and how to incorporate more humor into our lives. And, because we will be discussing the benefits of laughter, we will “practice” it…there are jokes integrated into the program.
Ms. Lange is a Registered Nurse and holds her Master’s Degree in Nursing from Northern Illinois University. She is currently serving as Assistant Professor at Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences in Rock Island and also works in the Pediatric and Obstetrical units at the hospital. She has been speaking on this topic for over ten years. She lives in Coal Valley with her husband, Michael, and has a grown daughter living in Arizona. Regina is also active with Playcrafter’s Barn Theatre in Moline.

UMW Executive Board
There will be NO Board Meeting in May.

Dorcas Circle
DORCAS Circle will meet for quilting at 10 a.m. in the Lower Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, May 18th. Please bring a sack lunch (and a beverage if you don’t drink coffee).
***We are also looking for two volunteers, with sewing experience, to piece together quilt squares and/or to hem quilts that have been tied. These exceptionally critical tasks can be done at home at your own convenience.

Dorcas Circle Request
Several sheets have already been donated for backing our quilts. Many thanks for your generosity!
We sure could use a few more contributions of clean, plain, neutral colored queen and king sheets. These donations will be used for the backing of quilts for the needy.
Please bring your donated sheets to the church office.

Iowa Quad Cities
Church Women United
Church Women United will meet Friday, May 7, 2010 at 10 a.m. for a May Fellowship brunch. For more information, please contact Claudia Bailey at 309-269-4526. All women are invited to attend.

Christian Women’s Connection
The Davenport Area Christian Women’s Connection invites all women to The Lodge in Bettendorf on Wednesday, May 12th from 12:30-2:00pm, for their monthly luncheon. The guest speaker, Linda Dutton of Alexis, Illinois will present “Tall, But Still Growing”. Music will be provided by vocalist Jane Reidenhawer.
The cost for the luncheon is $11.00, which includes tax and gratuity.
For reservations & complimentary childcare, please contact Claudia Bailey at 563-269-4526, by April 12th,

Afghan Ministry
Needs Your Help!
We now have afghan squares ready to be whip-stitched! You may pick up a bag in the church office. If you need direction, give me a call! It is very easy to do.
Of course, you may also continue to help by crocheting or knitting 7x7 inch squares and bringing them to the church office. Feel free to take whatever yarn you like from the basket in the Narthex. Thank you for your help in this wonderful ministry our church provides to our members and as an outreach to our community.
Brenda Sherrick, Parish Nurse

Altar Flowers
Thank you to all who provided the beautiful assortment of Easter flowers.
There is a sign-up sheet in the East Narthex year-round for anyone who would like to provide flowers for our altar. This is a nice way to honor a loved one or to celebrate a special occasion.

Asbury Worship Services
Audio of each Asbury worship service is available to stream or download to your computer from the Asbury website www.asbury-bett.org
The audio files are posted to the site within minutes of the conclusion of each service. We post a month’s worth of services on the website for you to access. The audio links are on the front page of the website. You might also want to check out the calendar of events, updated weekly, now available online as well!
CDs of our 8:30 worship services are also available for one-week check-out in the church library. The CDs are located in the adult section, next to the check-out box.

Lost & Found
Please check your closet again to see if you have the wrong woman’s black trench coat. We know the rightful owner, and we have yours! Call the church at 355-5218 to claim! Thank you!

Exercise Class
Join our Asbury Exercise Class!! We meet each Tuesday and Thursday morning from 9:00-10:00 a.m. in Upper Fellowship Hall. This is a very fun group meeting together for health and friendly fellowship. We have lots of new participants! Please join us.
All are Welcome! Bring a Friend!

Thank You
The Asbury Foundation wishes to thank Donna Woods for celebrating her birthday through a gift to the Foundation Birthday Fund.
If you have a birthday in May and would like to be a part of this important ministry you may leave your gift (marked accordingly) in the church office or in the offering plate. For more information on the Birthday Fund or the Asbury Foundation, please contact the church office. Thank you!

Asbury Angel Network
We would like all members of Asbury to know that we have an Angel Network Fund. This fund is available immediately to help any member of Asbury that needs assistance. We are ready to provide financial help or food from the Bettendorf Food Pantry.
If you need assistance, please contact either of our pastors or our parish nurse, Brenda Sherrick. These requests will be kept confidential.

Lenten Offering
THANK YOU to all who participated in Church and Society Commission's Bettendorf Food Pantry Lenten project. It was a huge success. A total of $801.29 was collected and 295 items were donated to the pantry. The money and items donated were very much appreciated.

Food Pantry
Asbury Church & Society Commission would like to help supply the Bettendorf Food Pantry with needed items. The Food Pantry currently has a good supply of canned items and frozen meat, so the real need is for hygiene and paper products. The items needed most at this time include:
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper
Tissues (Kleenex)
Liquid Dish Soap
Hand (bar) Soap
Laundry Soap
Shampoo
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Please help us stock the Food Pantry with these important items! You may bring them to the Food Pantry Baskets located in each narthex. There are also special offering envelopes available for monetary gifts to purchase the needed items. Please put your gifts in the offering plate at worship, turn into the church office, or send by mail.
Thank You!
Asbury Church & Society Commission
Jerry Roskens, Chairman

Moon Walk 2010
It’s Not Too Late to Sign-Up!!
Participation Registration Forms are still available in the church office! Please complete the information requested and leave the form on the Parish Nurse desk or in my mailbox. You will also find a personal mileage log with the exercise “Conversion to Miles” chart attached to the form.
Moon Walk is an 8-week competition that began on April 16th and will continue through June 11th. I am your Team Captain and will be responsible for calculating and turning in all of the participant results each week. Please report to me (either by phone or e-mail at asburynurse@netexpress.net ) your total miles for the week each Friday.
All Asbury members and friends are welcome to sign up! The Moon Walk is a fun way to start exercising or to reinforce the importance of daily exercise to our health maintenance and disease prevention.
Let’s Walk to the Moon!!!
Brenda Sherrick, Parish Nurse

Helmet Safety for Children
Warm, wonderful weather is here and it is time to bring out the bike! Bicycle riding is an excellent form of exercise for young and old. How do you get your reluctant child to wear a helmet? Here are some helpful tips. Among them, peer pressure is one of the most important!

Establish the helmet habit early – when your children get their first bikes. If they learn to wear helmets whenever the ride, it will become a habit for a lifetime.

Let them pick out their own helmet. If they make the decision they are more likely to buy into the idea.

Wear one yourself. Provide a role model for your kids; they learn best by observing you.

Encourage their friends to wear helmets. Peer pressure can be used in a positive way if several families in the neighborhood start making helmet use a regular habit at the same time.

Talk to your child about why you want them to protect their head.

Don’t let them ride their bikes unless the wear a helmet. Be consistent.

Plan bicycle outings together when all family members wear their helmet.

Enjoy the relaxing and beneficial effects of riding a bike. Cycling is a good time to enjoy nature and wheel away all the worries of your day!
Brenda Sherrick, Parish Nurse

Please Keep in Your Prayers….

Kathy Clifford, Bob Dover, Virginia Duffy, Dale Hankins, Herb Hengst, Susan Moats, Derald Montgomery, Bob Stahl, Thelma Stewart, Rob Tyler, Cynthia Vaughan

John Beams (Harold Hoffman’s friend)
Alyssa Bennett (Sue Moats’ daughter)
Wendy Black (Joey Arney’s niece)
Bobbi Boore (Thiara Smith’s friend)
Frank Brokaw (Jack & Ruth Baylor’s friend)
Delvecchio Family (Mindy Lank’s friends)
Joe Deschepper (Craig Douglas’ brother-in-law)
Barb Douglas (Craig Douglas’ sister)
Craig Douglas (Debbie Douglas’ ex-husband)
Gordon Dyer (Kathy Cameron’s brother)
Jim Fleming (Doris Meier’s friend)
Ashley Gillette (Kay Parch’s daughter)
Arnold Hicks (Our House Preschool teacher’s son)
Bruce Hopp (Jan Westercamp’s brother-in-law)
Silas Cole Jackson (Celeste HudsonQuartell’s great grandson)
Jesse (Deanne Graber’s nephew)
Pat Jessen (Heather Dennis’ mother)
Sue Lank-Voyles (Mindy Lank’s mother-in-law)
JoAnn Munson (Barb Nelson’s sister)
Mary Jo Myers (Linda Rorke’s mother)
Ray Ney (Theona Fahl’s friend)
Hunter Peterson (Terri Law’s nephew)
Maxine Rayburn (Marla Johnson’s friend)
Jean Richards (Jana Richards’ grandma)
Steve & Nancy Riedl (Wolff’s daughter & son-in-law)
Bradley Riner(Johanna Brenner’s niece’s husband)
Reba Ripley (Pritchard’s & Wolfe’s friend)
Jordin Roberts (Leona Gailbreath’s great-granddaughter
Rev. Bob Ruppert (former Asbury pastor)
Sandy (Billy Murphy’s friend)
Jo Sapp (Jan Westercamp’s sister-in-law)
Keith Schmidt (Alinda Littrel’s friend)
Marilyn Seibel (Barb Brethauer’s friend and Kristi & Brittney Halverson’s grandma)
Nicki Simpson (Linda Martell’s cousin)
Gina Sloss (Al & Hue Sloss’ daughter)
Marie Stapleton (Loraine Stahl’s sister-in-law)
Paul Stobaugh (Jean Bowrey’s brother-in-law)
Wendy Syverud (Wolfe Family’s friend)
Kari Teagarden (Moran Family’s friend)
Brian Turnmeyer (Dean & Joey Arney’s nephew)
Barbara VanVooren (Carole Bondi’s friend)
Harley Ward (Pam Campbell’s father)
Shirley & Paul Whitbeck (Doris Meier’s friends)
Libby Woodward (Dave & Sharon Phillip’s friend)

Our brothers and sisters at care centers or who are shut-in.
Thoughts of Sympathy
Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob and Kay Basham & family on the death of Bob’s mother, Irene, on March 23.
The family & friends of Robert Andrus, on March 25.
John Watson & family on the death of his wife, Sybil, on April 22.

Prayers for Our Military

Clayton Westercamp, Kandahar, Afghanistan
(Dan & Jan Westercamp’s son)
Keith Philips, Fort Bragg, NC
(Deborah & Paul D’Camp’s nephew)
Capt. Adrienne Stahl and Major Brian Stahl, both at Langley AFB, VA
(Bob & Loraine Stahl’s grandchildren)

Tasteful Treasures
Cookbook
Asbury United Methodist Women are proud to offer their cookbook, Tasteful Treasures. This is a collection of recipes from all of the cookbooks created by our Asbury United Methodist Women throughout the years. Recipes from the “Fashion & Salad” luncheon programs are included. At the end of the book is an index of all the contributors, so glance back to remember members and friends from the past, present, and those who have moved away. The cookbook is available in the church office for a suggested price of $17.00 per book. Proceeds will go to different missions, which is the main focus of United Methodist Women. We know you will enjoy seeing all the names, recipes, and memories of our UMW who have been members for many years.
Thank you for your support
of UMW missions!

Fellowship With a Purpose
On the first and third Friday mornings of each month church members meet to help clean the first floor of the church. Cleaning and coffee time take approximately 2 hours.
Anyone interested is welcome with “open arms” to help beginning at 8:30 a.m. with coffee break and fellowship at 9:00. Call Bob Reiter (332-5898) or Dale Seebach (359-0566) if you have questions.

UMCOR Needs:
10,000 Health Kits
Asbury’s Global Ministries is asking for your help!
UMCOR needs health kits to send to Haiti.

Place these items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag:
· 1 hand towel (15”x25” up to 17”x27”, No kitchen towels)
· 1 washcloth
· 1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket size)
· 1 nail file or fingernail clippers
(no emery boards or toenail clippers)
· 1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
· 1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, adult size)
· 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages (Band-Aids)
· PLEASE INCLUDE $3 FOR TOOTHPASTE & POSTAGE
(Toothpaste is being purchased in bulk by UMCOR Sager Brown so the product does not expire before they are sent.)

BRING COMPLETED HEALTH KITS TO THE CHURCH!
Our Asbury Family has always been generous!
Blessings to all who help! Thank you!!

THE VANDALETTES
Duo-Piano Recital
A Program of Music & Drama For All Ages!
2:00pm, Saturday, May 8th
River Music Experience
131 West 2nd Street, Davenport

Thea Leclair owned a double-grand Pleyel piano, of which only 9 were ever produced. This is the beginning of a project to restore the piano to its original state and ready it again for performances. Donations will be accepted during this event. PLEASE come and support these young performers from the Performing Arts School in Dixon, IL and this important restoration project.

Table Talk
As I write my next to the last newsletter article, I wonder what could I possibly say. I heard Paula Poundstone on NPR today talking to a Baseball radio reporter. She asked him. “Is there really anything more to say about baseball?” I have been wondering the same thing about the vast topics of religion that I have been obsessively talking about for the last 26 years. Is there anything more I have to say?
Something compelled me 28 years ago to leave my house, my secure job, my friends and neighbors (I had great neighbors by the way and one of them appears in church here quite often and it warms my heart beyond measure) and run away with my eight-year-old son to Denver, CO. to go to seminary. I had secured a job, sight unseen, that is, they hired me sight unseen. That something that was so insistent, so compelling, so irresistible was the Holy Spirit.
Now that Spirit is calling me to something else. It is not quite as clear as the vision I had of being a pastor, but then the vision of being a pastor and the actual reality of being one are also quite different. I am still pretty uncertain about the future, but I anticipate it as joyously as I did that first call so long ago. Every day it becomes a bit clearer and I look forward to a time of lively creativity as plans for playing the harp, story telling, and writing become more distinct each day. We don’t know where we live or how the patterns of our daily life will unfold. We don’t know if anyone will be foolish enough to hire us to do some part-time job even upon seeing us. But, I do know one thing for certain, there will be peace, joy and new life, for the Spirit that delivers these gifts will be alive within us. As I look back over the last four years I remember many gracious and kind acts done to and for us. I do want to thank so many of you who were caring, thoughtful and considerate. There were many generous acts of kindness, and we are most thankful.
I want to especially thank Gail Baldwin. What a joy she has been to work with - never a complaint or a difficult moment and always a smile and a cooperative spirit. Michael Reese and Joe Buck also have been great, talented and offered such wonderful expertise. Patty, Caron, Brenda and Beth have been so very helpful and reliable and fun. But more importantly they have been trustworthy and a great support. I am particularly happy to have Tina and Peter Wiklund working with our youth. Their love and dedication is most admirable. Ron is so helpful and will always do whatever we need. Often he even anticipates it before we think of it ourselves. Sherri is just an angel! I could go on and on but can’t mention every leader in the church. Just know we are filled with appreciation. We will be on vacation the first two weeks of May, back for three, gone to conference and back for one our two more Sundays, depending on the conference moving dates. Until then we cherish our time together and anticipate the future with zeal.
In holy wonder,
Pastor Stephanie

Dear Friends at Asbury,
I’ve been following with some interest the correspondence in the Quad City Times concerning the question as to whether or not Jesus was a socialist. It is a pretty silly debate. The question tries to impose a modern understanding of politics and economics on the ancient world. Socialism arose in the late 18th Century as a response to the often oppressive and exploitive conditions of the working classes because of the Industrial Revolution. It is ludicrous to try and impose our understandings of Capitalism or Socialism upon the agrarian and pastoral world in which Christianity arose.
Of course, if we were to examine the ideals of socialism we might understand it as a response of compassion for those who suffer. From this perspective we might also see that the ministry of Jesus and of the early church were also characterized by compassion. Jesus’ life and work cannot be defined in political or economic categories. Rather, it needs to be understood theologically. Our faith proclaims that Jesus embodies the nature and character of God and from this point of view it is God’s love, mercy and compassion that is witnessed in Jesus’ life. Jesus was not a Socialist. Nor was he a Capitalist. He was not a Democrat or a Republican. He was not for or against taxation. Rather he was for giving to God what is God’s and, by the
way, that’s everything. Beyond our creedal statements of belief about who Jesus is the most we can say is that he cared. He cared about the sick. He cared about the lost. He cared about hungry and homeless and those who were in prison. Jesus cared, and he cared because God cares.
So, it seems to me, if we are to be the church and if we are to be followers of Christ, we must care. And, we must practice caring not just in our thoughts, but also in our behavior. Shouldn’t we care if there are people in our world who suffer, and shouldn’t our lives be devoted to care for the suffering? Shouldn’t we care about this world that is a Divine gift to us? Shouldn’t we practice our care in a meaningful way?
Just as Jesus cannot – and should not – be categorized in political or economic terms neither should we, his disciples, be so categorized. We may have our various political and economic persuasions, but these are but tools that allow us to participate in the body politic of our society. These are tools through which we express our care for one another and the world. First and foremost, though, we must care. We must care that there is suffering and we must practice our care. We are called to live a life of compassion for that is the kind of life Christ opened to us.
Peace & fire,
Pastor Tom