Asbury United Methodist Church, Springfield, Missouri

10/07/2026

10/03/2026

October Worship Dates

October 4: “Now then, get ready!” (Joshua 1); World Communion Sunday
October 11: “What do these stones mean?” (Joshua 4)
October 18: “It was God who fought for you.” (Joshua 6)
October 25: “Choose this day whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24); Commitment Sunday

Please note: the previously published October 6 prayer service has been postponed until 2027. Our next special prayer service will be Quiet Christmas on December 8.

10/01/2026

Now then, you and all these people,
get ready to cross the Jordan River
into the land I am about to give to them…
- from Joshua 1:2

God’s people were about to enter the promised land. For years (an entire generation) they had been wandering in the wilderness. They waited. They grumbled. They obeyed…and they disobeyed. They worshipped God…and they worshipped other idols. They lived in anticipation…and they lived in discouragement. Why was it taking so long to enter the land God had been promising for all these years? Why aren’t things going the way they wanted? It has been a long and wearying journey. But now, in the next chapter of their story, God is telling them, “Now then…get ready.” God is about to lead them into the Promised Land and God has chosen Joshua to guide them.

This is exciting! At long last what was far off had now arrived. It is time. But the next steps will take courage.

Like the Israelites, we sometimes wander and wonder (and grow weary) in the waiting for the next step God has in mind. We experience this as a church at times, too. We go through the motions of ministry, of doing good things, of hoping and of discouragement. In our October sermon series, Moving Forward: Courage to take the next step we will travel with the Israelites as God leads them into the Promised Land. We pick up their story in Joshua 1 and will follow them as God expands their territory. Their next steps required trust and action. They had to push past yesterday’s struggles, grief, and stagnation to pursue the new things God had in store for them.

Friends, Asbury is in such a moment. God is saying to us, “Now then, get ready!” Get ready to take that courageous step into something new. Get ready to focus and align your efforts. Get ready to be refreshed. Get ready to reclaim your purpose. Get ready to meet new people and to expand your reach. God has kingdom work for us to do!

This is exciting!

In Christ,

Pastor Rachel

09/23/2026

Putting Your House in Order: Message and Related Workshop

Sunday, September 27, 2026 9:15am worship; 10:30am workshop

Guest Leader: Rev. Laura Murphy
Sign up to participate in the Workshop
To find out more, flyers will be available in the Fellowship Hall at Asbury.

We welcome Rev. Laura Murphy to the pulpit and the classroom on Sunday, September 27th. Rev. Murphy serves as Director of Development at the Missouri United Methodist Foundation. During worship that day she will be presenting to us a message about Six Words that Shape a Legacy. After worship she will lead a workshop about Putting Your House in Order, connecting how our stories greatly impact our legacy and what we leave behind to others.

09/21/2026

More Asbury Connections:

Here are some dates to add to your calendar to connect with your Asbury friends. These are great opportunities to invite guests to join the fun.

Saturday, September 26 at 6:00. A free concert of the Galloway Chamber Orchestra at the new Hatch Auditorium at the Library Center on S. Campbell.

Saturday, October 17 at 5:00. Around the campfire for hotdogs and s’mores!

November-Mosaic Theme. Watch for more details.

December 20 meet at 1:15 for Caroling, then back to the church for dinner.

09/19/2026

Tis the season for mums! Chrysanthemums, that is.

Orders for chrysanthemums to adorn our altar on World Communion Sunday (October 4th) will be taken until Sunday, September 27th. The mums are $8.00 each & will come from a local grower. Orders must be paid for at the time they are placed and no late orders will be accepted after the September 27th deadline. Order forms will be available in the church bulletin, from our ushers, or in the church office. Mums may be purchased in honor or memory of a loved one or given to the glory of God.

09/17/2026

Asbury men are invited to get together for breakfast at 7:30am this Friday morning. We’d love to see you there and to hear your thoughts about ways we can build a ministry that supports you.
Cedars Restaurant
3322 S Campbell Ave

09/16/2026

Save These Dates!

September 18-Men’s Breakfast at 7:30 am
September 27-Putting Your House in Order speaker during worship and workshop 10:30-12:00
October 4-World Communion Sunday
October 13-Prayer Service at 6:30 pm. More details to come!
October 31-Trunk of Treat 4-6 pm
November 1-All Saint’s Sunday
November 22-24-Decorate for Advent
November 29-5th Sunday Potluck, the first Sunday in Advent and poinsettia orders start
December 8-Quiet Christmas service at 6:30 pm
December 20-Christmas Musical at 9:15 service
December 24-Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols at 8:00 pm
December 27-Breakfast Church and Carol Sing at 9:15 am

09/14/2026

Men’s Breakfast

Friday, September 18—7:30 AM

Cedars Restaurant—3322 S Campbell Ave

Asbury men are invited to get together for breakfast. Eating good food is fun, and so is hanging out with friends. We’d love to see you there and to hear your thoughts about ways we can build a ministry that supports you. Contact person is Tom Stone; he can be reached via the church office.

09/10/2026

United Women in Faith Sunday will be celebrated on Sunday, September 13. Our speaker will be Meleah Spencer, CEO of The Kitchen, Inc. since 2017. She was named one of the 2025 Most Influential Women by Springfield Business Journal. The Kitchen, Inc. provides services key to ending homelessness with connection to more resources that will allow those who’ve been homeless to achieve housing stability.

On UWF Sunday we’ll continue two of our traditions. We will combine honoring our church family/friends while raising money for mission work by selling our Corsages for Mission., and we will present Special Mission Recognition (certificate and pin) to someone who served in a special way.