Starting on Sunday, June 7th, Anne Ashley UMC will be open for worship in a modified manner. In following state guidelines, we can only gather with 25 people in our building. Those who attend must wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines of being at least 6 feet apart (although immediate family members will be allowed to sit together). If more than 25 people attend, we are looking to show the service simulcast in our social hall. For those uncomfortable coming to our facility, we are working to offer a “live stream” of the service that will be viewable on Anne Ashley’s YouTube channel or via Facebook.
The guidelines for worship will be strictly enforced.
These guidelines will included:
- All who are present must wear masks at all times throughout the church building.
- We will have hand sanitizer for everyone to use as they enter the building.
- Everyone must maintain a minimum of 6' distance from each other. (Excluding immediate family members).
- There will be ushers to seat worshipers.
- No handshakes or hugging.
- There will be a plate to place you offering as you enter the sanctuary. No offering plates will be passed.
- There will be no communion
- Music will be played but we will only have worship leaders sing.
- Hymnals and Bibles will be removed from the pews. You may bring your own Bible if you wish.
- A maximum of 25 people will be allowed in the Sanctuary. We will have overflow in the Fellowship Hall where the service will be live streamed. (Seating will be available, at least 6' apart.
These guidelines are handed down from the state as well as the WPAUMC regarding safe practices. You can view them HERE.
Our utmost priority is to keep all who participate in Anne Ashley church activities, safe and healthy. We must all do our part to adhere to safety guidelines for our own health as well as the health of others.
We will be constantly evaluating this situation and may make adjustments going forward as we feel necessary.
This Week's Sunday Morning Message
From Pastor Keith
Acts 1:1-11
A Letter From Our Pastor...
To the Anne Ashley Family,
I usually think of myself as an “outside of the box” thinker. However, recently, I’ve been looking for a box to get inside of. On April 1st, I participated in my first ZOOM Video Conference Call with the Administrative Council of our congregation. After our call, Pastor Dave called to tell me that I periodically zoomed in on my upper lip (that’s not an April Fools joke). I wish I had an elaborate plan to share with you about how Anne Ashley UMC will be on the cutting edge of ministry in a time such as this. The fact that you are reading this in a mailed letter should alert you to the fact that we (and I) aren’t on the cutting edge. To be honest, I’m not sure we have to be. I’m hoping that this time away will lead us all to ask some important questions about the Christian faith and our participation in it. Questions such as, “How do I connect with God apart from Sunday services” and “How do I show love to others when I can’t physically be with them?”
Yes, the facility of Anne Ashley UMC will be closed until the end of April (with the exception of Bountiful Blessings which will continue with additional safety procedures). Yet, the church will continue to be open through the personal prayers, worship, and the giving of its people. The celebration of Jesus raising from the dead is not only an annual tradition—It is a daily hope! A hope that is desperately needed in the time(s) we are in. We are working to put together some messages and possible worship services to be seen via the internet. Pastor Dave and I will continue to send out letters and make phone calls. Yet, we are asking that you also send out letters and call people during this time apart. Set time apart for yourself to read Scripture and pray. Sing hymns and practice developing a thankful spirit. You can continue worshiping through tithes and offerings by mailing your contribution to the church. Perhaps, all of our participation in Sunday services have prepared us for this time!
I miss seeing you all. I miss hearing your voices as we sing together. I miss us all being together taking Holy Communion. Yet, just think how great it will be when we are together again. Imagine the stories we will tell about how God got us through this difficult season. Until that day, “set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 1-2, NIV).
In Love,
Pastor Keith
Videos of Encouragement During These Trying Times
We will be posting videos of encouragement regularly to our video page during this time of crisis. When hope that you will find comfort in them and they help you draw near to the lord.
Online Bible Study
Some context for you...
"From the time of King Ahab’s father Omri, Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel (1Ki 16:24). Scripture says that when Israel was exiled, foreigners settled in the land, mixed with remaining residents, and mixed their foreign gods with the true God of Israel (2Ki 17:23 – 35; cf. Ezr 4:9 – 10). Nehemiah reports Samaritan opposition to his plan to strengthen Jerusalem (Ne 4:2).Samaritans and Jews were hostile toward each other’s holy sites. Jews insisted that Jerusalem was the proper place for the temple; Samaritans insisted that it was Mount Gerizim (Josephus, Antiquities 13.74); the extant form of the Samaritan Pentateuch even includes the demand to worship at Gerizim in the Ten Commandments!"
The Jews though true worship could only happen in/at the Jerusalem temple and the Samaritans thought it was at Mt. Gerizim.
Questions to reflect on...
What is true worship according to Jesus?
And where can true worship happen?
Operation Christmas Child Virtual Thank You
Click
HERE to see a Virtual Thank You from Samaritan's Purse.
A Special Report From
Operation Christmas Child 2019
Click
HERE to see a detailed report of where the 2019 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes were delivered.
About Our Pastor
We are please to announce that Reverend Keith Kaufold has been appointed to be the new pastor at Anne Ashley UMC. Anne Ashley will join a charge which includes 8th Avenue Place, West Homestead, and New Day Swissvale.
Keith is the founding pastor/director of Eighth Avenue Place in Homestead. He is married to Monica and they have two beautiful daughters, Malea, 6 ,and Jessa, 1. Throughout his adolescence, Keith was involved with Homestead Park UMC and transferred to Christ UMC- in Bethel Park while a teenager. Keith re-awoken to God’s love while working at Jumonville for a six-year period and sensed a God’s call to ordained ministry while dean of HOPE Camp working with at-risk youth. In 2008 through 2012, Keith was a volunteer chaplain in Allegheny County Jail, visiting inmates and teaching addiction recovery. Although in active ministry for 11 years, Keith was ordained an elder in 2011 and has served congregations in McKeesport, Millvale, Aspinwall, and the Steel Valley area. Keith’s passion is to see the reality of Jesus take precedence in people’s lives, leading to community engagement and transformation. It is Keith’s desire to see the body of Christ join together across racial and socio-economic lines and “live out” life together depending upon the Spirit of God.
Keith graduated from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary with both a Master of Divinity and a Master in Sacred Theology degree. He has recently graduated from California University of Pa with Master in Social Work and is a Licensed Social Work in Pennsylvania.
