Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

Today marks the first day of school for many within our community. This past Tuesday, Amanda and I took Hannah and Noah to the "Meet the Teacher" event at Dommerich Elementary in Maitland. They had the opportunity to meet their kindergarten teacher, explore their classroom, interact with classmates, and tour some of the campus. It was a wonderful day, and as a family, we are eagerly anticipating the experiences that today and the upcoming year will bring. I ask for prayers for all those involved in this new school year – including students, families, and school staff. May this year surpass all expectations!

During last Sunday's worship services, I unveiled an exciting "Big Announcement." The announcement pertained to new community groups initiated by our vision team. These groups have been designed to help us grow in our relationship with God and connect deeply with each other (as I emphasized during Sunday's message – we are made for community, both with God and each other). These groups will consist of anywhere from 3 to 12 people and will meet about every two weeks. Meetings will take place in homes, coffee shops/restaurants, or on the church campus.

Pastor Will and Teresa Cunningham will delve deeper into the specifics of these community groups during this upcoming Sunday's worship services. We hope to have you join us in person or virtually, either at the 9:30am (contemporary) or 11am (traditional) services. The Sunday bulletin will contain specific details regarding the groups, including dates, times, and biographies of the facilitators. Additionally, we will start sign-ups on Sunday, with the groups officially commencing during the week of September 10.

We live in a world that's getting more and more divided, and we're often feeling more alone. That's why being part of a community is so important, now more than ever. I'm excited about these new community groups. I genuinely believe that God will use them to bring a breath of fresh air.

Blessings,

Chris

p.s., This Sunday we welcome another new member. Please join me in welcoming Nikki Reynolds from the 9:30am service to our church family!