FROM STAFF REPORTS

NORTH SHELBY – On March 17-18, Asbury United Methodist Church is hosting an Open House Weekend and inviting the community to join in celebrating the grand opening of its new sanctuary.

The event begins on Saturday, March 17, with a pancake breakfast at 9 a.m. followed by #AsburyEggstravanza complete with an Easter egg hunt, kiddie rides and carnival games—and it’s all free and open to the public.

On Sunday, March 18, Asbury invites the community to join its congregation for worship at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. and then stay to purchase lunch from one of five well-known area food trucks: Off the Hook, iCantina, City Bowls, Eugene’s Hot Chicken, and Dreamcakes.

Asbury’s Senior Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Kip Laxson, says Open House Weekend is one of the biggest events in church history, and Asbury is pulling out all the stops.

“We can’t think of a better way to celebrate this momentous occasion than to invite our community to join us,” Laxson said. “Asbury is a growing, thriving church, and we’ve outgrown our current space. Our new sanctuary doubles the size of our church, and we will have room for everyone to come and worship—no matter who you are or where you’re from.”

During Open House Weekend, attendees can also participate in one of Asbury’s most impactful mission initiatives: Brown Bag.

This is the seventh year Asbury has packed lunches for Birmingham students in need, and to date, more than 40,000 students have received lunches to sustain them during spring and fall breaks, when school-provided meals are unavailable.

Brown Bag contributions from Asbury’s church family have totaled more than $500,000.

“Feeding the hungry is reason enough to participate year after year, but we also do it because we have to live for Christ and this is one way we can send the heart of Asbury to those who need it most,” Missions in Action Committee and Organizer Ralph Ritter said.

On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m., volunteers are needed to unpack boxes of food, stuff the bags and load trucks that will deliver the lunches to area schools.

Information about Asbury’s new sanctuary and tours of the church facility will be available on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.

Visit Asburyonline.org/openhouseweekend for details.

The church is located at 6690 Cahaba Valley Road.