ASBURY FIRST MONDAY READER | MARCH 31, 2025

CONTENTS: HOLY WEEK AT ASBURY FIRST | LENTEN DEVOTIONAL WEEK 4

We invite you during this Holy Week to join any or all of these livestream and

in-person worship experiences! Join us for a series of much-beloved services beginning on Palm Sunday, including a remembrance of Christ's last night and a unique Good Friday “Envisioning the Passion,” along with a special Easter Sunday Sunrise Service in the Asbury First Community Garden.

Palm Sunday | Sunday, April 13

9 am* SERVICE — Traditional service observing Palm/Passion Sunday

11 am* SERVICE LS — Traditional service observing Palm/Passion Sunday 

Maundy Thursday | Thursday, April 17

7 pm* — Silent meditation

7:30 pm* SERVICE LS — Worship centers on the last night of Jesus’ life, with communion and an extended candlelit meditation. The service ends with the procession of the cross to the East Avenue lawn.

Good Friday | Friday, April 18

12 pm* SERVICE LS Envisioning the Passion — Holy Week-themed art and choral music. 

5–7 pm Good Friday Family Night — A come-when-you-wish child-friendly event.

Easter Sunday | Sunday, April 20

8 am SERVICE in the Community Garden (Freedom Church of the Poor)

9 am* SERVICE — Traditional service celebrating Easter Sunday

11 am* SERVICE LS — Traditional service celebrating Easter Sunday

*Childcare is available at these services

LS services will be livestreamed

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL – WEEK 4:

NEW EARS TO HEAR

You remember Zaccheus was the unethical tax collector, not respected by the people. One day Jesus passed through the crowded town, and everyone wanted to see Him. Zaccheus had climbed up a tree for a vantage point and who was it that Jesus says He is going to have dinner with, but Zaccheaus! Jesus associated with all people (even tax collectors) and this opened the eyes of the crowd. I reviewed the Zaccheus story with the children and climbed up a tree (actually a ladder) while they sang their song. 

“Zaccheus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he. He climbed up in a Sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see. And as the Savior passed that way, he looked up in the tree and he said, “Zaccheus, you come down. For I’m coming to your house today; for I’m coming to your house today.”



One of the children was to play the part of Jesus and to call Zaccheus down from the tree. I was Zaccheus up a ladder/tree. The young man clearly and loudly cried out, “Bonnie, you come down.” Everyone laughed at his mistake, but he touched something deep within me.

There was an inner voice that said, Bonnie, it’s time to come down from your perch of self-imposed over-commitment. It is time to align your living with your values, not from that high place looking down but from that place where Jesus promises life over death now.

This was life-giving, a turning around, a turning toward wholeness that has stayed with me. Resurrection for sure! 

Reflections: 

• What is aligning with your values and is life-giving? Give thanks for it.

• What is not life-giving? Are there adjustments, changes to be made? How will you be held accountable for these changes?

• Donna Shaper writes, “Rest is a form of resurrection. It is rising above the ‘stuff’ long enough to breathe. Mature people can rise. We can breathe. We don’t take the ‘stuff’ as seriously as we take Jesus’ promise of life over death.” Does this strike a chord with you? How?

• If Jesus came to your house today, what would you like that conversation to be like? Would you be more of a talker or listener?