A Publication of the
"I have such gratitude for the hundreds of people who have faithfully brought this Community Outreach Center to fruition."
SOCIAL HOLINESS
Grace and Peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ! It is hard to believe that our Community Outreach Center at Asbury First United Methodist Church is approaching the one year anniversary of opening its doors to our volunteers, neighbors and community. It has been a long journey and we are on our way to embodying the Outpost of the Kingdom of Heaven that God calls and empowers us to be! The work our volunteer leaders and teams have done in re-imagining and relaunching our on-campus ministries in our new space is astonishing to me. Such thought and care has been put into every aspect of how best we can serve together and compassionately welcome our neighbors. That said, we recognize that this is only the beginning! Like the good Methodists we are, we know that we are striving ever onward towards perfection. We know that God’s sanctifying grace continues to work in us, drawing us closer and closer to Christ, pushing us further and further from where we are most content and comfortable. The Community Outreach Center will necessarily change and I am excited to see where God will lead us. The Continuing Our Way Forward document, our vision for the outreach ministries of Asbury First for the next 5 years, sets a number of goals. They include: (1) renewing and deepening our commitment to justice work focused on systemic solutions to poverty, (2) continuing to unify our ministries, moving from a mindset of five distinct efforts to one Center, and (3) exploring outreach ministry beyond service provision that pursues closer relationships with God and each other, community building, and opportunities for personal transformation among both guests and volunteers. I was privileged to take part in a 12 week Minister’s Training Cohort this Fall particularly about ministry with the poor and have some new ideas about how we might begin to take steps towards these goals. More on that in the future! The rest of this publication is made up of reflections from our staff and volunteers on their faith and work in the Community Outreach Center. May God speak through their testimonies as we move into the future of our Asbury First outreach ministry together. As we look back on the last year, I pray that we can also look hopefully into the future. In a recent sermon I quoted Asbury First member David Carr saying, “as Christian believers we are less ‘human beings’ and more ‘human becomings.’” I think the same is true of our ministries and church. May we embrace our becoming! In Christ, Rev. Pat Dupont
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"I have experienced our neighbors forming a community and feeling welcome and safe in the space that we have all created together."
ON LOVE By Jeanne VanVoorst his morning I read a depressing New York Times article about asylum seekers in an old, decommissioned school building on Staten Island being hassled by their neighbors with loud noise and signs saying: “We don’t want you here.” I was heartsick. This afternoon the Storehouse, the clothing program of the Community Outreach Center, hosted ten asylum seekers in an effort to help them clothe their children for school and find a few things for themselves. We had tried before to host them, but the plan had fallen through. Today, Ginnie, a retired Spanish teacher, arrived at the Holiday Inn where our asylum seeking neighbors are living to find only one mom waiting. Undaunted, she sent word to the organizers to inform the other moms of the opportunity. In no time we had ten visitors divided into two groups. The plan had come together in just two days. Everyone whom we asked to clerk (assist with shopping) or to interpret jumped on board, which meant we had a clerk and an interpreter available for each of our shopping neighbors. There are always limits to what we are able to provide, but over and over today I watched clerks and translators find something a little special to offer. The best part of The Storehouse is that these people who need so much are not given only whatever it is we think they need. They come to our boutique and make choices. It reminds me of an old song that says, “Hearts starve as well as bodies. Give us bread but give us roses.” Each time I work at the Storehouse, I watch clerks scurry around offering possibilities and then being delighted when one of their offerings sparks joy in a neighbor. There is certainly joy in the found treasure, but also joy in the shared moment. As clerks we are touched by these people, certainly by their gratitude, but most of all by their growing comfort at being welcomed in and treated with dignity. Today when our visitors had left on the Holiday Inn shuttle, we all glowed with that sense of making a difference. We glowed because we helped an anxious mom relax about sending her children to school, because we cheered for a great looking dress on a mom as she stepped out of the dressing room, and because we provided a comfortable pair of shoes one mom tried on and chose not to take off. And we laughed together. Another day, we gently guided fire victims who had been up since 4:00 AM when an angry former neighbor firebombed their building. We could relax when we finally saw them smile; we moved them a little closer to feeling normal and whole. We meet these people as neighbors, deserving of the very best we can give them, and they leave knowing that today they mattered to us. As I watched our faces at the end of today, I saw the same joy in each volunteer that I always feel driving away. We were exhausted but also exhilarated. "My heartache from this morning was gone. In its place was a new connection to everyone there: Love." ON YEAR ONE By Robin Manley ur first year in the Community Outreach Center has created multiple experiences for me. The Dining & Caring Center in particular has grown a great deal since it first opened on Easter Sunday of 2023. I have experienced our neighbors forming a community and feeling welcome and safe in the space that we have all created together. As I learn more and more from our neighbors, I realize how rare the services we provide have become post COVID and how much more they are needed. I am glad that we are able to provide assistance with these needs. People frequently tell us how thankful they are for the services we provide: a hot filling breakfast, showers, laundry, bicycle repair, clothing and haircuts. The biggest strength that I have witnessed is the relationships that have developed between staff, volunteers and neighbors that visit the center. Anytime we can help anyone meet any need they are having, it is a valuable strength accomplished. I hope to see the Center continue to grow, blossom, and nurture our neighbors. I recently became aware that it’s harder for our neighbors to find food and other needed services over the weekend. Maybe in the future we could minimize some of our neighbors' barriers by extending our days and/or hours. Perhaps we could provide them a stable space that could assist with services during these times when services are less available. The Community Outreach Center has provided some very valuable services and has done a great deal to help our neighbors in times of great needs. It is my wish that we can continue to stay as strong as we are, grow our numbers, and assist as many neighbors as we possibly can. ON SHARING By Martha Hunt “That there be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” – I Corinthians 12: 25-26 he Asbury Storehouse is a place that I was very familiar with before I began volunteering there. My Mother and a few friends helped to launch this outreach program when I was a teenager. Housed at first in a closet, it has grown substantially over the years. I knew it was a place to share clothing and home goods with those who had a need. After volunteering for 2 years, I now have a clearer understanding of all the sharing that takes place there. Yes, we definitely share donations of clothing and home goods but there is so much more. Volunteers, shoppers, staff and visitors all participate. Much time and talent is shared daily by volunteers and staff to help the Storehouse run in a clean, organized and welcoming manner. “Welcoming” is a key word here. Volunteers from all different backgrounds/religious affiliations work together - many hearing about the Storehouse from friends. Clothes are sorted and readied for selection. Excess goods are shared with other organizations. Businesses are contacted and often share items that we need. Volunteers shop at yard sales and bargain stores for dishes, glassware, sheets, etc. Public donations are retrieved from our parking lot shed. There is always an atmosphere of openness to any new idea that will improve this ministry. We share love by seeing each other as fellow Children of God – remaining fully present in our time together. Creating a safe space and actively listening to the many stories that are told, both in the storage and sorting rooms as well as on the shopping floor. Sharing compassion for stories of loss due to a fire or the death of a loved one. Empathy for the challenges of caring for a baby born with special needs or the fear that comes when a diagnosis of major illness is received. Sharing joy when a new apartment (or a new country) has been found to call home – even big hugs when the perfect coat is found on the rack! Finally, there is the sharing of 1010 East Avenue itself. It is a building that holds years of memories for many; Sunday School lessons, lifelong friendships, weekend retreats, RAIHN, celebrations in the red room, hospitality given and received during meals in the dining room. I have been uplifted by many people’s reactions when they first visit: surprise, joy, tears, grateful thanks. A beautiful building has been transformed with thoughtful care into the Community Outreach Center - a place for our Outreach Ministries to share and support each other. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” – I Corinthians 15: 58 ON OPPORTUNITY By Robert Saturno s a person with developmental disabilities, it has always been a challenge to find employment that is not only enjoyable, but had opportunities for growth and that offered a challenge. In the past, jobs have been difficult to find. The jobs I have had in the past were lackluster at best, as they never truly went out of there way to work with me within my capabilities and ignored any request for growth. Moreover, past employment opportunities kept me isolated from the community, making it impossible to work on my social skills and really connect with the people I served. Overall, when it came to employment, I truly felt I would never be able to find a job, let alone a career, as those doors were never open to me. With all of this in mind, I saw myself become more closed off and agitated. Dejected, I had come across a volunteer opportunity at Asbury Church for dishwashing. I decided to take a chance, not realizing it would change my life for the better. Struggling with finding a job and maintaining my independent living, volunteering at the church opened up the door for me. Not only could I now support myself with a paid job position, but I had truly found a place in the community. I no longer felt like an outcast and isolated. This position, this career, has truly opened doors for me that I have never had; it was a welcoming environment that tailored the job to me and what I was able to do. I am able to work on my work skills with assistance from my job coach and from my coworkers, giving me the life experience I was looking for. Furthermore, I am able to grow within a company for the first time since I started working, learning more tasks than I ever have and being challenged. Throughout my time working so far, I have learned valuable work skills like working on a team and being flexible. I am thankful for the opportunity to work at Asbury Church for the opportunities it has given me, however, I am truly thankful for how it has impacted my sense of community. Where I once was tucked away in a small kitchen corner, I am now able to communicate with everyone who comes down for breakfast and listen to their stories, always trying to put a smile on their face. It feels good to help out the community and I really feel like I am making a difference. This job has also impacted my sense of community outside of work, as I have proactively sought out other volunteer positions and will help out individuals I see struggling outside of the church. This job means the world to me and is one of a kind. I feel myself grow every day, not only as an employee, but as a person. For the first time in my life, I feel connected to the community around me and that I am working to make a difference. ON FAITH By Dana Cardona ne aspect of my faith is the belief that God designed us to live in an eternal cycle of love and glorification, uniting Himself with all of His creations. For me, the story of the Garden of Eden hints that when we listen to messages that say God does not really love all of us or that God is withholding good from us, evil and suffering creep in and spread. Another aspect of my faith is the belief that we are all made in the image of God. This divine imprint endows humanity with an innate sense of love and justice. Witnessing others, regardless of their faith, diligently working to assist others reinforces my belief in the greatness and benevolence of our Creator. At the core of my faith lies the Gospel, a message of radical love and grace. The story of the Gospel is a direct counter to messages that God doesn’t really love us. My faith grows with deliberate and frequent study of Scripture and contemplation of Christ's boundless love, which encompasses all, including myself. Whenever I glimpse, as described in Ephesians, "the width and length and depth and height... the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, "I am moved to worship and praise Him. I experience an inner transformation, as though a tightly clenched part of my being is gradually pried open (albeit, sometimes painfully). I shed preconceived notions and embrace a broader perspective. This happens again and again and fuels my faith and grows my capacity to love others. Another funny thing about faith: when I follow Christ with my actions, even when my emotions don’t align, my faith also grows! This area is a work in progress for me because it's easy to be distracted and overwhelmed with life. It’s hard to integrate Christ in daily mundane activities or interactions. It can also get complicated because by doing “good” we can be tempted to construct our self-worth based on our performance or our ability to please other people. However, when I’m able to frame following Christ as (1) how the Creator designed me to be and (2) a reaction to and reflection of the overwhelming unearned love I receive from Him, I’m able to experience the joy and fulfillment of eternal life and being a part of building the Kingdom of God. I feel very fortunate to be a part of a faith community that makes it so easy to follow His steps, wherever you are in life. As a volunteer in our Sunday meal program, all I do is come and interact with my neighbors and pitch in with whatever needs to be done for a couple of hours. Everything is organized, planned, prepped and cooked by a thoughtful and skilled team. I am able to join, in a small way, living out my faith in action, following Christ and loving others. ON COMMUNITY By Erica Coburn or much of my life, my community was large. It included friends from different parts of the cities where my immediate family lived, plus extended family to whom we were close. Beyond this, I have always been committed to and have enjoyed working and volunteering in neighborhoods outside my own. When my family moved to Rochester from Philadelphia 5 years ago, my community changed in a very drastic way. (This was expected, but still so very challenging!) Since that time, I’ve been fortunate to develop a solid support network here, but I have still missed the valuable personal relationships and perspectives that are nurtured through community involvement. Since April, as I’ve been volunteering as a breakfast greeter at the Community Outreach Center, I have finally been feeling that the community that I am seeking is here. My Friday morning greeter shifts at the Community Outreach Center are among the highlights of my weeks. Our neighbors often thank the security staff and I as they are on their way in or out of the Center. I thank them too; not just as a response, but because I very genuinely mean it! It is such a privilege to spend time there and to get to know our extraordinarily interesting mix of neighbors. In addition, as I do in worship on Sundays, I feel God’s presence at the Community Outreach Center consistently and repeatedly. I feel it in the presence of our neighbors who come in to have breakfast with us on Fridays. Some of them are facing extraordinary challenges, yet they walk through those doors with beautiful smiles on their faces and are kind to us. Every time. I see it in the support that everyone at the Community Outreach Center provides to each other. All of us who are a part of the life of the Center – neighbors, volunteers, and staff all look out for each other. We check in on each other and value creating an environment that is welcoming, inclusive and comfortable. I love walking through the dining room on Friday mornings to see the way that the community of neighbors takes shape. Some people know each other; others don’t. Some people sit by themselves and grace is allowed for that. Others have known each other for a long time and sit and talk as they eat. Many arrive at the Community Outreach Center on Friday mornings on their own, and many leave talking with someone else on their way out of the building. When I leave the Center and drive back home to my suburban neighborhood, I often still think of my interactions on East Avenue. While my time with the neighbors at the Outreach Center is limited, they are an important part of the community that I have found here in Rochester. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Community Outreach Center community and for the neighbors, volunteers, and staff there who exude genuine kindness, compassion, and grace for one another. ON-WARD So many individuals cross our threshold in search of warm clothes, a hot meal, or a fresh start, and we aim to be open to the myriad ways we can love in the coming year. In whatever way service resonates with you, let your skill find purpose at Asbury First. Below are a few ways you may be able to contribute: 1. Volunteer - fill out an interest form on our website to get signed up. 2. Donate - give online or check out our list of needed items on the Asbury First website. 3. Join us for a meal - come by and share a meal with our neighbors at the Dining & Caring Center, Wednesday through Friday and Sundays. 4. Pray - regularly hold the center, our volunteers and neighbors in prayer. 5. Tell your friends! SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION
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"My heartache from this morning was gone. In its place was a new connection to everyone there: LOVE"
"I had truly found a place in the community. I no longer felt like an outcast and isolated."
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"I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Community Outreach Center community and for the neighbors, volunteers, and staff there who exude genuine kindness, compassion, and grace for one another."
"I am able to join, in a small way, living out my faith in action, following Christ and loving others."
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Interested in volunteering or just want to learn more? Scan the code to take the first step.
See For Yourself. Monthly, every 2nd Tuesday, join us for what we call 1010 Tuesdays. Meet us at 1010 East Ave at 8am for a simple breakfast, a brief tour of the facility, and a chance to talk with the director of The Community Outreach Center, Rev. Pat Dupont. Reserve your spot today by scanning the QR code or visit us on the web at asburyfirst.org/1010Tuesdays
Breakfast Wednesday–Friday, 7 - 9 am Lunch Sunday, 12 - 1 pm Laundry Wednesday–Friday, 7 - 9 am Make appointment in person one week in advance Showers Wednesday–Friday, 7 - 9 am Bicycle Repair Thursday 7:30 - 11:30 am May-September Clothing & Household Goods By appointment: Referring agency or case manager call (585) 271 1050 x 137 UR Well Clinic By appointment: call 585-271-1050 x100 Community Garden & Grocery Bag Ministry Food distributions through partner programs
Bicycle Repair Thursday 7:30-11:30 AM May-September Clothing & Household Goods By appointment: Referring agency or case manager call (585) 271 1050 x 137 UR Well Clinic By appointment: call (585) 271 1050 x 100 Community Garden & Grocery Bag Ministry Food distributions through partner programs
Accessing Community Outreach Center Services
1010 East Avenue 585-271-1050 x1010 www.asburyfirst.org/coc
ACCESSING COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER SERVICES 1010 East Avenue 585-271-1050 x1010 www.asburyfirst.org/coc Breakfast Wednesday-Friday, 7:00-9:00 AM Lunch Sunday, 12:00-1:00 PM Laundry Wednesday-Friday, 7:00-9:00 AM Make appointment in person one week in advance Showers Wednesday-Friday, 7:00-9:00 AM Bicycle Repair Thursday 7:30-11:30 AM May-September Clothing & Household Goods By appointment: Referring agency or case manager call (585) 271 1050 x 137 UR Well Clinic By appointment: call (585) 271 1050 x 100 Community Garden & Grocery Bag Ministry Food distributions through partner programs