ASBURY FIRST MONDAY READER | OCTOBER 19, 2026

CONTENTS:

THE NEW SANCTUARY SOUND SYSTEM IS UP AND RUNNING
by DAVE RICE

BEER STEINS, BERETS, AND BILLS GEAR: TIM MAHAN'S RECIPE FOR A MEMORABLE DINNER PARTY

We’re pleased to share some good news: the new speaker installation in our sanctuary is complete, finishing ahead of our original end-of-October schedule. Every key technical milestone has been reached:

• Installation of the new speakers
• Updated wiring infrastructure
• Speaker configuration based on a 3D acoustic model of the sanctuary
• Final listening tests in the sanctuary space

The new speakers made their debut during worship on Sunday, October 18th. Any additional fine-tuning based on that first Sunday will take place during the week of October 19th.

We’re very excited about this upgrade, and we truly appreciate the congregation’s patience throughout the process. We’re confident the results will provide an exceptional listening experience for both the spoken word and the music we share in our sanctuary.

We’d Love to Hear from You

Over the coming weeks, the system will continue to be monitored and tuned. If you have feedback on your listening experience, please let us know, and be sure to mention where in the sanctuary you were sitting. That detail helps us make precise adjustments.

To share your feedback, email Deb Bullock-Smith at dbullocksmith@asburyfirst.org.

Dining In for Outreach is one of the major fundraisers for Asbury First’s outreach ministries, and for congregant Tim Mahan it has also become a way to build community. In the first episode of the Dining In for Outreach podcast, Tim shared how he and a group of friends turned their dinner into a highlight of the season.

Join forces. Tim and his wife Johanna, along with the Giordanos, the Whites, and others, were all hoping to invite the same circle of friends. Instead of hosting three small dinners, they combined resources into one big event. They also held a few planning get-togethers, which Tim says were fun in their own right.

Pick a theme. After a first year of grilling, lasagna, and barbecue, the group took things up a notch with a different cuisine each year. German night featured schnitzel, specialty sausage, red cabbage, German potato salad, and Riesling. French night included a wine and cheese pairing station with Burgundies and Bordeaux.

Dress the part. Guests are told the theme ahead of time so they can come in costume. German night brought out lederhosen, a dress from Germany, and a Dortmund soccer jersey. For the French dinner, the hosts bought berets for everyone. This year’s theme is a Bills tailgate, so guests can dig out their favorite Bills or NFL gear. Table-jumping, Tim says, is probably off the menu.

Set up stations. Rather than one long table, the group sets up three or four spots where guests can sit, then move around during the meal.

Plan for every diet. The first big dinner offered three or four entrees, including vegan and gluten-free options, so everyone could enjoy the meal.

Connect before the dinner. If you’re new to hosting, Tim recommends reaching out to your guests in advance. You’ll learn about dietary needs, and guests will feel more at ease walking into a new home.

For Tim, the dinner is about more than raising money for a great cause. It gives his group of friends, who are at similar stages of life, a regular way to come together.

Click here to listen to the full conversation on the Dining In for Outreach podcast, and join us for the Celebration on November 8!

Would you like to submit a story for inclusion in a future Monday Reader? Please do! 
We'd love to hear from you. Email David Stith at dstith@asburyfirst.org to get started.