Asbury United Methodist brings spirituality to the streets in annual block party – Frederick News Post (subscription)

God is in the neighborhood.

This was the message written across the navy blue t-shirts of worshippers at Asbury United Methodist Church who, on Saturday, brought God into the streets of their neighborhood for the fifth annual Asbury United Methodist Block Party.

Tented booths lined the streets, some offering face painting and temporary tattoos while others were stacked with brochures and information from social service agencies and community groups. Music sounded down the block, inspiring impromptu dancing among some of the throngs of participants. Others slurped snow cones or chowed down on the free hot dogs offered from a truck stationed in the Mountain City Elks Lodge parking lot.

Kay Gant gratefully accepted a purple snow cone delivered to her seat at one of the booths.

When its hot like this, theres nothing better, she said.

As she surveyed the scene of activities before her, Gant recalled similar gatherings held during her childhood years. Gant, now 70, grew up on West All Saints Street, and has attended Asbury United Methodist for so long I cant remember.

It used to be, everybody and anybody who lived on this street went to either the baptist church or to Asbury, she said. It was a whole community, this block.

Decades later, many of the neighbors she grew up with have died, or moved away. What was once exclusively an African-American neighborhood, the result of segregation, now has more white people than black, Gant said.

To Reginald Davis, another longtime local resident and Asbury parishioner, the change brought about by time and new residents wasnt necessarily better.

As far as Im concerned, I had more fun in the segregation days than I do now, Davis, 89, said. We were closer then, everybody sitting out and talking together, having fun, sharing food. Everybodys more scattered now.

Gant also acknowledged how the strong black identity that once characterized the neighborhood has weakened. But she didnt think it had been lost altogether.

Those of us who are still around, we stay connected, she said.

Events like the block party helped to resurrect the longstanding traditions of years past, she added.

It preserves our history, she said. And it allows people to see that, at the end of the day, if you believe in God, things will work itself out.

The Rev. Mark Groover, pastor at Asbury, hadnt been around long enough to remember the so-called good old days. Groover became church pastor a year ago, and Saturday was his second year attending the block party, he said.

Even as a relative newcomer, Groover highlighted the churchs 200-year-history as the backbone of its mission and the inspiration for the block party event.

Were a church for the community, in the community, he said. We want to maintain that presence, let people know were here for them.

Sisters Jaiden, Zen and Jasmine Nuako were unfamiliar with both the church and the community before Saturday. The trio, from Bowie, were among the lineup of musical performances scheduled for the event.

Their group, Sonata, drew a captive audience to the parking lot as the threesome sang in harmony, a melody interspersed with rap and hip-hop dance moves.

We all have different styles, but we come together in harmony, which is what our name means, explained Jasmine, 14, the oldest of the three. We have different inspirations, different personalities.

Jasmine named The Walls Group, a contemporary gospel band, as her musical inspiration. Zen, the rapper and hip-hop artist, said she preferred singer-songwriter India Arie.

But both were looking forward to exploring the activities offered at the block party, snow cones included.

Follow Nancy Lavin on Twitter: @NancyKLavin