Asbury Church

04/14/2026

This past week, Pastor Scott shared a story, of a community not far from where we call home....At Campton Elementary here in New Hampshire, a Deaf first grader was struggling with isolation. Instead of expecting him to adapt in silence, the entire school—students, teachers, staff—chose to change. They learned ASL so he could belong; the only deaf child in the district. Just a community quietly rearranging itself around the one who needed love the most.

The story was shared alongside the story of Jesus appearing to two followers, on the road to a small town named Emmaus. They "Had Hoped" that Jesus was the answer... Aloong the way, Jesus showed up...no spotlight. No performance. (Luke 24:13-35)

That’s the Easter story in real life. The promise that hope rises in the ordinary places. The promise that Jesus shows up on the road beside us, oftentimes as a stranger...

When we say “we had hoped…”, stories like this remind us: hope isn’t gone. It’s growing—one act of compassion at a time.

Seven-year-old Ben O'Reilly is deaf and has other special needs. His aide said he felt isolated at school until an act of kindness from his fellow classmates...

04/13/2026

Asbury Church in Chesterfield is named for Francis Asbury, one of the earliest and most influential Methodist bishops in America. He traveled thousands of miles on horseback, visiting towns, villages, and farmhouses to share a simple, practical message of God’s love, forgiveness, and hope. His preaching wasn’t lofty or distant — it was grounded in everyday life, calling people to a faith that shaped how they lived, cared, and showed up for one another.

That message resonated because Asbury met people where they were, offered belonging in a scattered world, and believed God’s grace was for everyone...Everyone!.

Our congregation — founded in 1795 as the first Methodist society in New Hampshire was visited by Asbury and grew from that same spark and spirit of connection and courage. We too gathered in homes, barns, and fields before the church hammered its first nail into our current building. From the start we believed faith wasn’t just something you held; it was something you lived together.

So when people ask why we keep the name Asbury when so few remember this man, our answer is simple: because it still calls us to our purpose. The name reminds us to welcome all, to be a community that shows up for one another, and to live a faith that is active — expressed in compassion, justice, and love for our neighbors. We are reminded that it is not our tradition, or even the brick and mortar that matters. Instead what matters is meeting a world that can feel disconnected, and encouraging community as a lifeline.

We invite you into something deeper — a place to connect, to be known, to ask questions, to find support, and to walk alongside others. You’re welcome to join us in the sanctuary, but you’re just as welcome to join us in the ongoing work of building a community where grace, hope, and love take root – feel free to connect in whatever way works for you.

(If you are interested; we gather at 11am each Sunday)

04/12/2026

A special afternoon was had as Asbury and The Chapel worshipped and fellowshipped together.

Imagine if the future of the church isn’t about doing more… but doing it together…Imagine churches choosing connection over isolation. Different buildings, different histories, different personalities—but one shared mission.

It means we don’t each have to carry everything alone. We share leadership. We share ideas. We show up for one another. And in doing so, we often discover something surprising—we’re stronger, more creative, and more faithful together than we ever were apart.

It’s not always easy. It asks us to loosen our grip on “ours” and rediscover “ourselves” as part of something bigger. But somewhere in that shift, the church starts to look a little more like the early community of faith—people gathered not around preference, but around purpose.

Maybe this isn’t less church…Maybe it’s more.

Thank you Munsonville for hosting! Next time lunch is on us..

04/11/2026

Just a reminder that Asbury will be worshiping at The Chapel by the Lake in Munsonville (One of our ‘sister’ churches!).

Come and worship with us at 10:30, and stay for a fellowship pot luck lunch. We will be back to regular worship next Sunday!

The Chapel is located on Granite Lake at 529 Granite Lake Road in Nelson NH

04/07/2026

Easter has come and gone… so what now?

At Asbury, we don’t leave Holy Week behind—we carry it with us. One of the ways we hope you’ll do so is the remembrance of the music shared as worship and prayer over the week. We hoped to blend music—ancient, modern, quiet, and unexpected—to create space for something deeper to take hold in us.

Space to slow us down, soften our hearts, and remind us that resurrection is something still unfolding in us.

We cannot rush past it. We invite you to stay with the music, and listen as you can. Here are some of the tracks used this year.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/25s4ewnkNm1fxzCSPVGrfE?si=mn1SbxslQGqRVP8EeU1NIg&pi=6tP03ye4T_qcT

Playlist · Scott Masters · 10 items

04/04/2026

Good Friday is not a celebration. It is a pause; a moment to sit with the weight of love that does not turn away… even when it costs everything.

Tonight we remembered the story—of betrayal, silence, suffering, and a cross.
And somehow, even there, grace was at work.

04/03/2026

Tonight at 7PM, Chesterfield Church will hold a Good Friday service shaped for those who need a quieter space in a noisy world. This gathering leans into the reflective heart of Good Friday—unhurried, honest, and spacious enough for whatever you bring with you at the end of a long week.

We’ll move through the Passion story with scripture and moments of stillness, retelling the powerful moments of Jesus’ last evening; in simple terms. After each reading, a piece of everyday music will help us linger with what we’ve heard. Some songs will be familiar, others unexpected, but each one is chosen to help us listen more deeply—not to explain the story, but to let it speak in its own way. It’s part vigil, part meditation, part gentle invitation to slow down.

In years past, this evening included song titles from Johnny Cash to Aerosmith to Sacred Hymns and everything in between. There’s no pressure to respond in any particular way. Theres no sermon. You don’t need to arrive with the “right” emotions or the “right” understanding. Just come as you are, settle into the quiet, and let the story unfold around you and within you. Its about 45 minutes that frames this holy weekend in a powerful.

If you’re longing for a moment of depth, stillness, or simply a place to breathe, we’d love to have you with us tonight.

The Asbury Church Family.

04/02/2026

“Reports of our demise have been greatly exaggerated.” — Mark Twain

Last week we shared a post marking the 6-year anniversary of COVID. We remembered how the church had to close for a time, how life shifted for all of us, and we honored those we lost.
Some folks read that and thought… we were closing.

Au contraire, mon frère. — Bart Simpson

Asbury is alive and well… and still making a little holy trouble.
We’re gathering every Sunday at 11:00am, doing our best to be the hands, feet, and voice of faith in the world around us. From right here to Keene, Claremont, Jaffrey, and beyond—we’re small, but we show up… and it matters.

“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” — Book of Micah 6:8

If you’ve been wondering… come see for yourself (All are welcome)

Join us for Easter, or just walk in any Sunday at 11:00am.

03/28/2026

This Sunday starts Holy Week, and we invite you to step into one of the most meaningful and holy moments of the year. Throughout the upcoming week we will be hosting multiple gatherings with the Easter Story at their center.

Everything begins this Sunday with Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday begins with celebration and quickly moves into the deeper tension of the week. We remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem—the hope, the energy, the waving branches—and we also begin to hear the story of the passion that unfolds. It is a day that holds both joy and honesty, reminding us how quickly expectation can give way to something more complex, and how God meets us in both. We gather Sunday at 11:00am.

Later that week is our Celebration of Good Friday. Held at 7:00pm April 3rd,together we will experience a quieter, more contemplative service. Through a blend of sacred and secular music, candlelight, and the unfolding story of the crucifixion, we create space to reflect deeply on the weight and meaning of the cross. This is often one of the most powerful services of the year.

Everything reaches it pinnacle on as we gather Easter Sunday (April 5th) at 11:00am, where we share in the joy and surprise of resurrection.

Finally not wanting the week to end too quickly… on the Sunday after Easter, April 12th, we take a moment not to rush past the story, but to reflect on it more fully. Together we will join with one of our sister churches - The Chapel on the Lake In Munsonville at 10:30am, on the Sunday after Easter, we will offer a service titled “The Week that Was”.

For a final time we will step back through Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the crucifixion, and the resurrection—considering not only what happened, but why it still matters today.

This is a meaningful opportunity for those who may be traveling during Holy Week, or for anyone who wants to linger a little longer in the story. This service will combine the services of The Chapel by the Lake and Asbury Church and a fellowship luncheon will follow after worship!

Wherever you find yourself this season—curious, reflective, joyful, or somewhere in between—you are welcome here. Regardless of what community you call home…We hope you’ll join us for part or all of the journey….and any of the above services.

Grace and peace,
The Entire Asbury Church Family

03/22/2026

Six years ago, the world changed in ways we could never have imagined.

We at Asbury decided we would close our church to worship gatherings indefinitely. We also chose to give free rein to the food pantry to do whatever they needed to protect their service. The volunteers became angels among us.

We remember the quiet streets.
The distance between us. Making our own facemasks. The lines at the supermarket and shelves without. Learning Zoom. Washing Amazon packages. The uncertainty that seemed to stretch endlessly ahead.

We remember the dark: We prayed for loved ones lost (3000 in NH, 76 in our neck of the woods alone). We experienced heartbreak over moments missed, goodbyes spoken through screens instead of held hands and the ugly ways we treated division and forgot how to be civil.

We also remember the light; We remember neighbors checking in on neighbors. Healthcare workers, teachers, and caregivers showing up again and again. We remember courage, creativity, a kind of love that refused to be quarantined and creating fresh expressions of grace.

Six years later, we are not the same; and probably won’t ever be again. In all that has changed, May we continue to be a people who remember, who care, and who show up—for each other and for the world God so deeply loves. Maybe we also continue learning how to be the best versions of ourselves.

AND WHY NOT VISIT US SUNDAYS AT 11AM!?!