ASBURY FIRST MONDAY READER | JUNE 9, 2025

CONTENTS: PENTECOST 2025 | OFF-MONROE PLAYERS TO BENEFIT

THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER

PENTECOST 2025

BY REV. PAT DUPONT

Just after this reading, the scriptural account goes on to say: 

"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…”

In the Pentecost story, the Holy Spirit shows up in a very dramatic way. The Spirit stirred hearts and the Church was born as early disciples committed themselves to community care.

The same Spirit that moved amongst those early believers is moving in the world today. Hearts are being stirred, lives are being devoted to community care, the Church is being constantly reborn.

The work we do in the Community Outreach Center and in partnership with other organizations serving Rochester and the world is one example of this activity. Speaking truth to power in advocacy efforts as/alongside vulnerable people is another. People of faith are currently rallying against policies that threaten to increase the suffering of our most marginalized neighbors:

• Groups of clergy and faith leaders have faced arrest on three different occasions in recent weeks for praying for the poor in the Capitol Rotunda. Drawing attention to the harm that will be done by the tax and spending bill currently being considered in Congress, the Rev. Dr. William Barber III points out that “Congress starts each day with its own prayers to the Almighty even while preying on the poor.” He and his colleagues have been repeatedly gathering outside the Supreme Court and marching on the Capitol – and their numbers are growing. 

• Many Christian organizations are sponsoring a vigil and processional titled “A Pentecost Witness for a Moral Budget” in Washington on June 10th. Our own United Methodist General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society, Bishop Julius C. Trimble, recently encouraged United Methodists to attend.

The Spirit is stirring. People of Faith are being swept up in its movement. As servants. As neighbors. As advocates. As activists. In a quiet moment this week (maybe during our Thursday Morning Prayer gathering) I invite you to listen and reflect:

Where is the Pentecost Spirit leading you? How are you being empowered and driven to community care?

In the Spirit,

Rev. Pat Dupont

Minister for Outreach



For those looking to continue in the spirit of Pentecost this week, join us for the following:

• Morning Prayer Service: Thursday, June 12 at 9:30 am in the Meditation Chapel (Asbury First Sanctuary)

• Freedom Church of the Poor Pentecost Service: Friday, June 13 at 9:30 am in the Dining & Caring Center (COC, Lower Level)

OFF-MONROE PLAYERS TO BENEFIT THE

COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER

The Off-Monroe Players will bring their signature charm and energy to the stage, performing selections from their repertoire of Gilbert & Sullivan productions. Known for their infectious enthusiasm and commitment to having fun on stage, OMP promises an afternoon filled with beautiful music, clever wit, and the kind of spirited performance that has kept audiences coming back for three decades.

What makes the Off-Monroe Players truly special is their approach to theater. For over 30 years, this remarkable group has focused on one simple goal: having fun while bringing Gilbert & Sullivan's timeless works to life. They have been performing the same 13 (plus) shows over and over for more than 30 years, accepting any and all who wish to join. But instead of getting tired of a show, they keep coming back to what they characterize as a "little extended family".

Don't miss this opportunity to support the Community Outreach Center while experiencing the magic that has made the Off-Monroe Players a treasured part of the Rochester community for three decades. Admission is "pay-what-you-can" and all proceeds will be donated to the Community Outreach Center.