Asbury Memorial

Welcome to the website for Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church.  We are glad you’ve taken a moment to learn about our church and the various things we do here in Asheville and beyond.  We are the oldest Methodist church in western North Carolina, dating back to the time when our congregation was founded in 1801 by the first Methodist bishop in America, The Reverend Francis Asbury.

Back then, Asheville was still a part of the frontier, and our church sits on land that has never been bought or sold because it was deeded to be a “church and burying ground forever” by the pioneer Daniel Killian who is buried on our church grounds.  Bishop Asbury was a frequent guest at Daniel Killian’s cabin and he is remembered for his preaching from a prominent rock as his pulpit in nature in proclaiming the good news of the gospel.  Like Bishop Asbury, we too strive “to live to God, and to bring others to do so,” as he was fond to write in his journal.

Please join us for our worship service each Sunday at 11:00 am in the sanctuary.  There is parking available at the front off Beaverdam Rd.  that is reserved just for our visitors, and if you need to park elsewhere nearby, you may be able to find parking along Kimberly Ave. or across the street from the church in the YMCA parking lot.  Come and see what God is doing here at Asbury Memorial UMC!

Christmas Mission Opportunities

• Our annual Mitten Tree will be up in the sanctuary during Advent. We invite you to put gloves, mittens, scarves, hats, or blankets on it—anything to keep people warm. They will be given to a local charity.
• We will have our giving opportunity for children at Ira B. Jones Elementary School again this year. There will be cards on the church tree for you to take. Please to be sure to indicate the number of the card you take on the sheet provided. There will be clothing cards and wish-list cards available. We will also be gathering boxes of non-perishable food to help see the children’s families through the Christmas break. Thanks for your continued help with the Missions Committee projects!
• The offering received during our Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service will be given to the ABCCM Fuel Fund to help the needy pay for their heating costs. Please give generously.  If you would like your offering to go to Asbury instead, please be sure to mark your check or envelope accordingly.

Join us for worship on Sundays beginning on December 2nd as we celebrate the holy season of Advent.  Advent is the Latin word that means “coming.”  It is a four-week season just before Christmas when we prepare our hearts, our minds, and our world for the coming of Christ.  In the words of the famous hymn from centuries ago, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”