March 8, 2026
9 & 11 AM WORSHIP
Participants In the Service
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Michelle Bogue-Trost Reader: Chris Haag Liturgist: Rev. Kathy Thiel Musician: Dr. Carl Johengen
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Third Sunday in Lent
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PRELUDE WELCOME *CALL TO WORSHIP (found on the facing page) *OPENING SONG: #138 "The King of Love My Shepherd Is", vv. 1, 2, 3, 6 PRAYER OF CONFESSION (found on page 4) *PASSING THE PEACE SCRIPTURE: John 4:5-42 (found on page 5) SERMON PRAYER LORD'S PRAYER Our Father (or Our God), 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, forever. Amen. INVITATION TO DISCIPLESHIP AND ENGAGEMENT OFFERING OURSELVES TO GOD'S PURPOSES *CLOSING SONG: #127 "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" *BENEDICTION POSTLUDE
As the community gathers, may the music of the prelude draw your hearts and minds to God. (* Please rise in body or in spirit.)
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PRELUDE: “Adagio in G minor” — Tomaso Albinoni, arr. S. Drummond Wolff INTROIT Still, still with thee, when purple morning breaketh, when the bird waketh and the shadows flee: Fairer than morning, lovelier than the daylight, dawns the sweet consciousness: I am with thee. (Words: Harriet Beecher Stowe; Tune: Consolation, Felix Mendelssohn) *CALL TO WORSHIP Jesus waits beside a well in the heat of the day. We come as we are — thirsty and searching. He asks for water and begins a conversation across difference. Nothing in us is beyond God’s reach. He speaks of living water that becomes a spring within. Give us that water, O God. Those who encounter him leave changed, carrying good news. Let your life flow through us. *PROCESSIONAL HYMN: “Gather Us In”, vv. 1, 2, 4 *WELCOME *GATHERING HYMN: #127 "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah", vv. 1, 2 PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of living water, we admit how often we try to satisfy deep thirst with what does not endure. We guard our stories, hide our questions, and keep parts of ourselves at a distance. Yet you meet us in truth, not rejection. You speak to what is real in us. Let your living water reach the places where we are weary or dry. Let your truth free us for deeper life. Amen. SILENT CONFESSION WORDS OF ASSURANCE Christ speaks to us knowing our full story and does not turn away. Grace meets us in truth and offers living water. We receive that gift and are made new. *RESPONSE You, Creator God, have written your great name on humankind. For our growing in your likeness, bring the life of Christ to mind that by our response and service earth its destiny may find. (Words: Fred Pratt Green; Tune: Picardy, French carol melody) SCRIPTURE: John 4:5-42 (Common English Bible) Jesus came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, which was near the land Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus was tired from his journey, so he sat down at the well. It was about noon. A Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me some water to drink.” His disciples had gone into the city to buy him some food. The Samaritan woman asked, “Why do you, a Jewish man, ask for something to drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (Jews and Samaritans didn’t associate with each other.) Jesus responded, “If you recognized God’s gift and who is saying to you, ‘Give me some water to drink,’ you would be asking him and he would give you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you don’t have a bucket and the well is deep. Where would you get this living water? You aren’t greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave this well to us, and he drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks from the water that I will give will never be thirsty again. The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will never be thirsty and will never need to come here to draw water!” Jesus said to her, “Go, get your husband, and come back here.” The woman replied, “I don’t have a husband.” “You are right to say, ‘I don’t have a husband,’” Jesus answered. “You’ve had five husbands, and the man you are with now isn’t your husband. You’ve spoken the truth.” The woman said, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you and your people say that it is necessary to worship in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you and your people will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You and your people worship what you don’t know; we worship what we know because salvation is from the Jews. But the time is coming—and is here!—when true worshippers will worship in spirit and truth. The Father looks for those who worship him this way. God is spirit, and it is necessary to worship God in spirit and truth.” The woman said, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one who is called the Christ. When he comes, he will teach everything to us.” Jesus said to her, “I Am—the one who speaks with you.” Just then, Jesus’ disciples arrived and were shocked that he was talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” The woman put down her water jar and went into the city. She said to the people, “Come and see a man who has told me everything I’ve done! Could this man be the Christ?” They left the city and were on their way to see Jesus. In the meantime the disciples spoke to Jesus, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” Jesus said to them, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.” The disciples asked each other, “Has someone brought him food?” Jesus said to them, “I am fed by doing the will of the one who sent me and by completing his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘Four more months and then it’s time for harvest’? Look, I tell you: open your eyes and notice that the fields are already ripe for the harvest. Those who harvest are receiving their pay and gathering fruit for eternal life so that those who sow and those who harvest can celebrate together. This is a true saying, that one sows and another harvests. I have sent you to harvest what you didn’t work hard for; others worked hard, and you will share in their hard work.” Many Samaritans in that city believed in Jesus because of the woman’s word when she testified, “He told me everything I’ve ever done.” So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. Many more believed because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this one is truly the savior of the world.” For the Word of God in Scripture. For the Word of God among us. For the Word of God within us. Thanks be to God. ANTHEM: “Sicut Cervus” — Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525-1594) (Sung in Latin): Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus. "As the deer longs for springs of water, so longs my soul for you, O God" (Psalm 42:1) CHILDREN'S TIME: Children of all ages are invited to join us in this special moment. LORD’S PRAYER Our Father (or Our God), 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, forever. Amen. *HYMN: #138 "The King of Love My Shepherd Is", vv. 1, 2, 3, 6 SERMON CALL TO PRAYER Come, then, children, with your burdens, life’s confusions, fears and pain. Leave then at the cross of Jesus; take instead the kingdom’s reign. Bring your thirsts, for God will quench them; God alone will satisfy. All our longings find attainment when to self we gladly die. (Words: Marva Dawn; Tune: Beach Spring, arr. Dale Wood.) PASTORAL PRAYER INVITATION TO DISCIPLESHIP AND ENGAGEMENT: We are delighted you have joined us and ask that you sign and pass the ritual of friendship pad from the center aisle down the pew. Offering Ourselves to God's Purposes: We invite you to prayerfully consider making a gift to support the everyday ministries and operations of this church, allowing us to live into our vision to Do More Good. There are multiple ways to make a gift to Asbury First: Cash/Check—We welcome you to send a gift by check in the mail or place your cash/check gift in the offering plate as it is passed to you. Text to Give—You may give a gift with a debit/credit card by texting the dollar amount to 206-222-1050. Online—Online giving is available on our website at asburyfirst.org/give. Venmo—To give a gift through Venmo, send to “@givingasburyfirst” or scan the QR code to the right. OFFERTORY: Juli Elliot & Jordan Bachmann, soloists “My Spirit Longs for Thee” — Philip Godfrey; words by John Byrom (1692-1763) My spirit longs for thee within my troubled breast, Though I unworthy be of so divine a guest. Of so divine a guest unworthy though I be, Yet has my heart no rest unless it comes from thee. Unless it comes from thee, in vain I look around; In all that I can see no rest is to be found. No rest is to be found but in thy blessed love: O let my wish be crowned, and send it from above. *DOXOLOGY: (Tune: Picardy) God Creator, God Redeemer, God the Spirit, now to thee Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving and unwearied praises be, Honor, glory, and dominion and eternal victory. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION God who gives living water, we offer these gifts from lives that have known both thirst and grace. Use them to welcome the overlooked, to create spaces of belonging, and to share the good news that your love meets people where they are. May what we give help others draw from your life-giving well. We ask it in the name of the One who leads us through this Lent. Amen. *RECESSIONAL HYMN: #178 "Hope of the World" *BENEDICTION *BENEDICTION RESPONSE: Amen. (Franklin Ritter) POSTLUDE: Chorale Prelude on “O Lamm Gottes unschuldig” (O Innocent Lamb of God) — Johann Pachelbel
SCAN TO GIVE VIA VENMO
ALTAR FLOWERS The flowers on the altars are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Lib Spencer and Paul Berg from the Berg family; and in loving memory of Sally Wing by her husband Robert and family. If you would like to place flowers on the altars, please contact Jeanne Ristau at (585) 223-4356, preferably two weeks ahead of requested date. Prayers and Concerns We offer our prayers and concerns for all those who are ill at home, hospitalized, or in hospice care. Our hearts and prayers are with Kay Layton and her family as they grieve the death of Gary Layton, who died on February 18. A memorial service is being planned and details will follow soon. We want to be able to visit and pray with those who are in the hospital. If you know someone who is in the hospital and would like a pastoral call, or if you yourself are in the hospital or have a date for surgery, please call Rev. Kathy Thiel who will be most glad to be with you in that moment. (585) 271-1050 x106.
Permissions:
“Sicut Cervus” public domain; “My Spirit Longs for Thee” © 2010 St. James Music Press; Hymns © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House; OneLicense.net #A-721053. Illustration Credits: Designed by David Stith
These persons have shared their gifts today for the glory of God. If you felt moved by what they offered, why not take a moment following worship to let them know. If you feel moved to participate with your gifts in worship, please contact Andrew Hunt at worship@asburyfirst.org.
Celebrations and concerns
The Lenten banners hanging on the chancel pillars were generously created by Rev. Linda Clemow.
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Michelle Bogue-Trost Liturgists: Rev. Kathy Thiel, Rev. Pat Dupont, Mike Mullin Reader: Chris Haag Organist: Duane Prill Sanctuary Choir Section Leaders: Juli Elliot, Brenda Nitsch, Dan McInerney, Jordan Bachmann Director of Music Ministry: Dr. Carl Johengen Crucifer, Acolyte: Martha Neubert, Bennet Marsiglio Altar Guild Team: Cindy Malone, Martha Tuke, Ellen Williams Head Usher: Dennis Roote, Tommy Johnson, Jr. Production Director: Kenny Bailey Production Suite Team: Rick Church, Joe Blakely Technology Support Team: Dave Rice, Kenny Bailey, Dave Berg, Larry Dugan, Rick Church
Meetings & Rehearsals MARCH 8 – MARCH 15
For a full list of events with links, visit our online calendar at asburyfirst.org/events or call the church office at (585) 271-1050
FOR ZOOM ADDRESSES, SEE KEY BELOW
SUNDAY
9 am
Worship Service – In-Person in the Sanctuary
Childcare – 1040, 1st Floor, Education Wing
9:30 am
Asbury Orchestra Rehearsal – 1040, Wesley Hall
9:45 am
Adult Sunday School – 1040, Fellowship Hall and Zoom #
As the Spirit Moves Us – 1040, Smart Room and Zoom^
10 am
Sanctuary Choir Warm Up – 1040, Sanctuary
11 am
Children's Sunday School – 1040, 2nd Floor, Ed. Wing Prek – 2nd grade – Room 206 3rd – 5th grade – Room 201
Worship Service – In-Person and Livestream
12 pm
Lunch – 1010, COC Dining & Caring Center
6th – 8th and 9th – 12th grade Youth Groups – 1040, Fellowship Hall
Pie for Pi Day Fundraiser – 1040, Welcome Hall
2 pm
ACT Rehearsal – 1040, Fellowship Hall
MONDAY
Library Work Day – 1040, Library
Monday Morning Crew – 1040
5:30 pm
ACT Rehearsal – 1040, Sanctuary
TUESDAY
8:30 am
Lectio Divina – Zoom #
Tuesday Morning Women's Fellowship – Zoom #
2:15 pm
Disciple III Bible Study – Zoom #
3 pm
Companions in Christ – 1050, Pastor Michelle's Office
Gentle Yoga – 1040, Gathering Center
WEDNESDAY
7 am
Breakfast – 1010, COC Dining & Caring Center
Men's Fellowship Group – Zoom #
Wednesday Morning Study Group – 1010, Red Room and Zoom *
4 pm
Grief Group – Library, 1040 and Zoom &
5 pm
Hallelujah Kids Choir – 1040, Room 201
Community Dinner – 1040, Gathering Center
6 pm
Wednesday Evening Programming – 1040, Wesley Hall and Zoom #
Wesley Singers & Ringers – 1040, Room 201
7:30 pm
Sanctuary Choir – 1040, Wesley Hall
Red Room: * zoom.us/j/8924819492 PW: 578697 Smart Meeting Room: ^ zoom.us/j/6174865464 PW: Disciple Other Spaces and Zoom-only: # zoom.us/j/8347173468 PW: 200 Grief Group: & zoom.us/j/8173087397 PW: 624424
THURSDAY
8 am
Spiritual Perspectives – Zoom ^
Morning Prayer – 1040, Sanctuary
Asbury First Civics Team – 1010, Red Room and Zoom *
1 pm
UR Well Clinic – 1010, COC
FRIDAY
Disciple V Bible Study – Zoom #
Asbury Women's Art Class – 1040, Room 205
1:15 pm
Disciple IV Bible Study – Zoom #
7 pm
Cinderella – 1040, Sanctuary
SATURDAY
SUNDAY (3/15)
Grief Group – In-Person and via Zoom (see page 9 for Zoom link)
Fascinator Making Event & High Tea Party! Join us for Fascinator Making & a High Tea Party! We had so much fun last year that we are doing it again! Sunday, March 22 from 12:30 to 2pm in Fellowship Hall. We'll provide the supplies along with food and tea (or lemonade) for a high tea party. The cost for a fascinator or corsage is $15 each and kids fascinator or boutonniere is $10 each. We will have sign-up sheets in coffee hour over the next two weeks or please email Christina Kirivong at programs@asburyfirst.org to sign up. All are welcome!
Monday, March 16, from 7 to 8 pm in the Red Room or via Zoom* (see zoom key on Page 9), join the Banned Book Club for a discussion of Jodi Picoult's Nineteen Minutes, a poignant novel exploring the 2007 shooting at Sterling High in New Hampshire, and the intersection of bullying with school shootings. Email programs@asburyfirst.org for more details.
Lenten Book Study: Prayer in the Night We continue our Lenten Study of Prayer in the Night, by Tish Harrison-Warren, during our 9:45 am Sunday school hour (3/08) and 6 pm Wednesday evening programming (3/11). Both of these times will be open for in-person and Zoom participation. All are welcome to join. Contact Mike Mullin mmullin@asburyfirst.org for a full reading schedule.
Banned Book Club
Asbury Orchestra rehearsals commence Asbury Orchestra has begun rehearsals to prepare for our next appearance in 11 am worship on Sunday, April 19. New members are welcome! Players of band or orchestral instruments at any level of experience are invited to join the fun. Rehearsals are Sunday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 am in Wesley Hall. Contact Laurie Kennedy at lkennedy@asburyfirst.org for more information.
If you are experiencing grief and would like a place to talk about it and share with others, you are welcome to attend in-person or via Zoom on Wednesday, March 11 , from 4 to 5 pm. All are welcome, whether your grief is new and raw, or seasoned and familiar. Please join us. Contact Rev. Kathy Thiel with questions at (585) 271-1050 x106 or kthiel@asburyfirst.org.
FIRST TIME HERE We are so glad you are joining worship today, whether in person or online. Please sign in on the red fellowship pad and pass it down your pew. Our hope is to get to know you better and help you find your place within this community. You can also drop an email to info@asburyfirst.org. If you’re participating offsite, check in through the website or take a picture and post it on social media using #asburyfirstathome. ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL Large print bulletins and hymnals are available from the ushers. A hearing loop is available for those who have hearing aids with T switches, and you may also request earphones from the ushers to aid you in hearing the service. The screens located in the sanctuary now display the service stream to aid in visibility. Please help us welcome differently-abled worshipers and visitors by not interacting with or distracting service animals. Need prayer? Share your prayer requests by filling out one of the prayer cards found in the pews or by emailing prayers@asburyfirst.org. All requests are prayed over by the Ministers and Intercessory Prayer Team. Children Children are a sacred gift, and they are welcome in worship. Children will be invited forward during worship for a Children’s Time. Following this, children age 4 through 5th grade are invited to go with the children’s educators for Sunday School or return to their caretaker for the remainder of the service. RECONCILING STATEMENT Asbury First is a reconciling congregation and seeks to be a fully inclusive church, believing that all people are God’s children. Read a full statement at asburyfirst.org/about-us/#reconciling-statement. GIVE TO ASBURY FIRST Your generous gifts support everyday ministries and operations, allowing this church to live into the vision to Do More Good. Cash/Check—We welcome gifts by check in the mail or a cash/check gift placed in the offering plate as it is passed to you. Text to Give—You may give a gift with a debit/credit card by texting the dollar amount to 206-222-1050. Online—Online giving is available on the website at asburyfirst.org/give. Venmo—You may give a gift through Venmo by finding “@givingasburyfirst” or by scanning the QR code to the right. Watch and listen The livestream of the 11 am service is found at asburyfirst.org/live-stream. Listen live on WRFZ 106.3 FM Rochester Free Radio, or call this toll-free number: 833-829-1050. The video archive of past services is at asburyfirst.org/archive.
Asbury First United Methodist Church 1050 East Ave, Rochester NY 14607 (585) 271-1050 asburyfirst.org
Staff Emails are typically first initial then last name @asburyfirst.org. (ex. mboguetrost@asburyfirst.org) Rev. Dr. Michelle Bogue-Trost — Senior Minister, x125 Rev. Kathy Thiel — Minister for Congregational Care, x106 Position funded in part by the Rev. Susan Shafer Pastoral Care Fund Rev. Patrick Dupont — Minister for Outreach, x136 Michele Layher — Storehouse Coordinator Mike Mullin — Minister for Discipleship and Youth, x105 Dr. Carl Johengen — Director of Music Ministry, x134 Position funded in part by the Helen Fultz Music Fund Duane Prill — Principal Organist, x100 Position funded in part by the Craighead Fund David Strong — Assistant Organist Holly Temming — Operations Manager; Director of Children's Music, x114 Dan McInerney — Operations Associate Deb Bullock-Smith — Director of Operations, x117 John Ormsbee — Financial Controller, x107 Johnny Colón — Director of Property Care, x123 David Stith — Director of Communications, x109 Jordan Cole — Hospitality Coordinator
Give Online at www.asburyfirst.org/GIVE, text to give at (206) 222-1050, VENMO VIA THE QR CODE, OR MAIL IN A CHECK TO 1050 EAST AVENUE, ROCHESTER, NY 14607 Facebook and instagram: @asburyfirstumc
Holy Week at Asbury First is just around the corner with a series of much-beloved services beginning with Palm Sunday, then a special candlelight Maundy Thursday service with communion and a reenactment of Christ's last night, a our traditional Good Friday “Envisioning the Passion” service, along with a special 7 am Easter Sunday Sunrise Service in the Asbury First Community Garden. For more information, visit asburyfirst.org/holy-week
Love God and Neighbor. Live Fully. Serve All. Repeat.
*GATHERING HYMN: #127 "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah", vv. 1, 2
*HYMN: #138 "The King of Love My Shepherd Is", vv. 1, 2, 3, 6
*RECESSIONAL HYMN: #178 "Hope of the World"