Dear People of Ascension,

For more than a year, a committee on reopening the church has been meeting to talk about when and how we will gather in person again. It has been a winding road, and I don't think any of us imagined when we started that the process would take as long as it has. We have moved gradually, opening first for our Wednesday evening service and then for 9 AM on Sundays. And now, finally, we have a plan for returning to in-person worship on Sundays at 11 AM.

Starting Sunday, September 12, we will gather in the church to celebrate the Eucharist together at 11 AM! The choir will be present, and able to make glorious music together. We are monitoring the news of the Delta variant closely, and our plans will probably evolve over the next month, but we will ask everyone to wear a mask whether vaccinated or not. We hope to serve tea and lemonade outside in the front garden following the service.

We have also agreed on a plan for livestreaming the services and are in the process of ordering the equipment and upgrades that we need. We want to make sure that those who don't yet feel comfortable in person are able to join us online.

When we began thinking about reopening, I imagined that Covid would be behind us, and we would have the kind of grand service that we all remember so fondly. That is not what will happen on September 12. This changing virus is still with us, and we must still pay attention to keeping each other safe. We will be feeling our way, responding to public health concerns and also to what feels appropriate to who we are now as a community. There have been some gifts from this difficult time that we want to bring with us into the future, as well as losses that we need to grieve. I am so grateful for the miracle of vaccines, which make our gathering possible.

As the details of our reopening solidify, you will be hearing more about them. But for now, please save the date and plan to join us! I look forward with all my heart to seeing you in person and celebrating together at God's table.

Blessings,

Liz

If you do not have a device with a camera, you can still join with your phone by dialing the following number: 929-205-6099, and enter the meeting ID: 322 793 633.

All of our online services, with their links, can be found on our public calendar, and are listed below.

Click this link to read up on some best practices for Zoom meetings.

Praise to the Lord,

the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise him,

for he is thy health and salvation!

Join the great throng,

psaltery, organ, and song,

Sounding in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord,

who o'er all things he gloriously reigneth,

Born as on eagle's wings,

safely his saints he sustaineth!

Hast thou not seen

how all thou needest hath been

Granted in what he ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord,

who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;

Surely his goodness

and mercy shall ever attend thee;

Ponder anew

what the Almighty can do,

Who with his love he befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord,

oh, let all that is in me adore him!

All that hath life and breath,

come now with praises before him;

Let the Amen

sound from his people again,

Gladly for ever adore him.

Celebrant:   Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Wisdom has built her house,

she has hewn her seven pillars.

She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,

she has also set her table.

She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls

from the highest places in the town,

“You that are simple, turn in here!”

To those without sense she says,

“Come, eat of my bread

and drink of the wine I have mixed.

Lay aside immaturity, and live,

and walk in the way of insight.”

Fear the Most High, you that are God’s saints, *

    for those who fear God lack nothing.

The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *

    but those who seek God lack nothing that is good.

Come, children, and listen to me; *

    I will teach you the fear of God.

Who among you loves life *

    and desires long life to enjoy prosperity?

Keep your tongue from evil-speaking *

    and your lips from lying words.

Turn from evil and do good; *

    seek peace and pursue it.

Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

O pastor animarum

et o prima vox

per quam omnes

creati sumus,

nunc tibi,

tibi placeas

ut digneris nos liberare

de miseriis

et languoribus nostris.

Oh shepherd of souls

Oh first voice

By which we all

Have been created

May it now

Please you

To consider freeing us

From our misery

And our pain.

Karitas

habundat in omnia,

de imis excellentissima

super sidera

atque amantissima

in omnia,

quia summo regi osculum pacis

dedit.

Love

abounds in all,

from the depths exalted and excelling

over every star,

and most beloved

of all,

for to the highest King the kiss of peace

she gave.

God of heaven and earth, through Jesus Christ you promise to hear us when we pray to you in faith with thanksgiving.

We pray for one another, for our families and friends, through whom we learn to love and to be loved. Thank you for all who care for us. ​Give us grace to serve Christ by serving our neighbors and our community, loving others as he loves us.

Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us. We pray for all affected by COVID-19: for the frightened and the sick, for the dying and those who mourn; for all who have lost jobs and livelihood as a result of this pandemic; for all healthcare workers and all whose labor supports our common life; for those developing and distributing vaccines, for those charged with making decisions about public health and public policy.

We thank you for the unfailing love you hold out to everyone in Jesus Christ. Comfort and heal those in sorrow, need, sickness or any other trouble, especially Robert, Ed, Janet, Ellen, Joseph, Brielle, Lucas, Holly, Allejandro and Jesus, Nancy, Barbara, Dorothy, Stewart, Patricia, Judith, Harold, Hannah, Jurek, Alice, Michael, and Todd. Give them courage and hope in their distress, and bless those who minister to them.

We remember with gratitude your many gifts to us in creation and the rich heritage of this land. Help us and people everywhere to share with justice and peace the resources of the earth. Give wisdom to those in authority among us and to all leaders of the nations. Today we remember particularly the people of Haiti, all impacted by the floods in Germany, Belgium, China, and India, and the Dixie fires in California. We pray especially for those seeking to end white supremacy and establish racial justice.

We pray for your Church throughout the world, thanking you for all who serve Christ and his kingdom. By your Spirit strengthen your people for their work and witness in the world. Unite us in your truth and love, that we who confess your name may also reflect your glory.

We remember with thanksgiving all who have died in Christ, especially Barb Holub, Patricia Chinery Whalen, Nancy Landau, and the deceased members of the Carr family: Zack, Annabel, Mary Sue, Zack, Jr., and Peter. We rejoice at the faithful witness of your saints in every age, praying that we may enter with them into the unending joy of your heavenly kingdom.

Priest Merciful God, you look with compassion on all who turn to you. Hear the prayers of your people.

God of all mercy,

we confess that we have sinned against you,

opposing your will in our lives.

We have denied your goodness in each other,

in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that enslaves us,

the evil we have done,

and the evil done on our behalf.

Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will. Amen.

 Our Father, who art in heaven,

     hallowed be thy Name,

     thy kingdom come,

     thy will be done,

          on earth as it is in heaven.

 Give us this day our daily bread.

 And forgive us our trespasses,

     as we forgive those

          who trespass against us.

 And lead us not into temptation,

     but deliver us from evil.

 For thine is the kingdom,

     and the power, and the glory,

     for ever and ever. Amen.

New songs of celebration render

to him who has great wonders done;

awed by his love his foes surrender

and fall before the Mighty One.

He has made known his great salvation

which all his friends with joy confess;

he has revealed to every nation

his everlasting righteousness.

Joyfully, heartily resounding,

let every instrument and voice

peal out the praise of grace abounding,

calling the whole world to rejoice.

Trumpets and organs set in motion

such sounds as make the heavens ring:

all things that live in earth and ocean,

make music for your mighty King.

Rivers and seas and torrents roaring,

honor the Lord with wild acclaim;

mountains and stones look up adoring

and find a voice to praise his Name.

Righteous, commanding, ever glorious,

praises be his that never cease;

just is our God, whose truth victorious

establishes the world in peace.

Please check us out at ascensionnyc.org/give to find out how easy and secure it is. Click the envelope on the right to go the Ascension Website for more information and to give, whether a one-time donation, pledge payment, or make a new pledge.

(If you experience any issues with Abundant Giving, please email us at websexton@ascensionnyc.org)

A Note about Using Abundant Giving: When you donate and pledge through the Abundant Giving app or go through the website, you need to direct your donation to the correct category. There are multiple categories to choose from:

These categories change as we update categories during the year. (An example would be when we delete the Easter flowers category after Easter and add Christmas flowers for the weeks leading up to Christmas.)

To donate through your app or the website, click the link above. The next screen will prompt you: "How Much Do You Want To Give?" Next to that, is a drop-down list of categories. Offering plate is always listed first. Click on the little arrow and the list will appear. Click on which ever category you want your donation to be credited. It is important to identify which category you are donating to so that your year end statement will be correct.

You should have received your year-end statement for 2020. Please review it carefully and contact the parish office immediately if there are any issues.

In order to enhance the Zoom functioning for Evening Prayer, we have upgraded the Zoom link.

Please use the new link below. (The old link will no longer work!)

Meeting ID: 880 1981 1224

Passcode: 773437

Dial by your location

    +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

    +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

    +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

    +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

    +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 880 1981 1224

Tuesdays and Fridays - The Church is open for prayer and meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m. Open Church will begin with Noonday Prayer, led by Brother Andrew, OSF.

Volunteers Needed for Open Church! We would like to start opening the church from Noon to 3, Monday through Friday, but we need volunteers to make that happen. If you would like to volunteer, please call or email the parish office (212-254-8620; info@ascensionnyc.org)

Our target date to return to in-person 11:00 a.m. services is Sunday, September 12. Stay tuned for more detailed information and protocols.

Please know that we WILL continue online services!

Racial Justice Discussion Group - Our next meeting will be Thursday, August 12, at 6:30 PM.

Dial by your location

    +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

    +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

    +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

    +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

    +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 993 3293 9318

Fraudulent emails, Facebook accounts, instagram and Messenger accounts are on the rise! These annoying and scary intrusions into our lives go by many names, but most commonly they are referred to as spoofing, phishing, or cloning. They usually start out friendly enough - enough to lure you in - but sooner or later they will ask you for money.

It seems there is little you can do to stop someone from spoofing your account, but you can be smart about it if you are on the receiving end. Here are some things you should know and look out for:

Join us each weeknight at 5:30 for Evening Prayer & discussion. Click this link to join: ascensionnyc.org/eveningprayer. To call in (voice, no camera), dial 929-205-6099; the meeting ID is 770 597 201.

Sunday – August 15 – Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday Service, (Zoom) 11:00 a.m.

Meditation with Prayers & Music (Facebook.com/AscensionNYC)

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m. 

Church open from prayer and meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Church open from prayer and meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Food Pantry (12 West 11th St.) 8:30 a.m.

Sunday – August 22 – Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

In-Person Holy Eucharist (Parish Hall) 9:00 a.m.

Sunday Service, (Zoom) 11:00 a.m.

Meditation with Prayers & Music (Facebook.com/AscensionNYC)

The Church of the Ascension -- Fifth Avenue and Tenth Street

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