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“God is our Mother as truly as he is our Father; and he showed this in everything, and especially, in the sweet words where he says, ‘It is I,’ that is to say, ‘It is I: the power and goodness of fatherhood. It is I: the wisdom of motherhood. It is I: the light and grace which is all blessed love. It is I: the unity. I am the sovereign goodness of all manner of things. It is I that make you love. It is I that make you long. It is I: the eternal fulfilment of all true desires.”
Julian of Norwich, Showings
Dear People of Ascension,
I write to you on the Feast of Julian of Norwich, the 14th century anchoress and theologian. She lived in hard times: plague and war, social upheaval, fear and terrible suffering. Her vision of God’s love pierces through her time and our time; perhaps her most famous words are “all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.”
Julian is known too for her gender-expanding understanding of God; besides the quote above she also says, “Our beloved Mother Jesus can feed us with himself. This is what he does when he tenderly and graciously offers us the blessed sacrament, which is the precious food of true life.” Her feast (May 8) always falls around Mother’s Day and invites us to meditate on both imagery and experience of God our Mother.
Mother’s Day is complicated for many, of course, and not all our biological mothers exemplify such tender, generous love. We give thanks for those who do, and for all the people in our lives- women and men; family of blood or choice; friends, strangers and of course the earth herself- who have touched us with the “light and grace which is all blessed love.” Knowing our failures of love as well as love’s gratitude and joy, we hope for the healing of which Julian speaks with such holy confidence.
We pray that we too may offer that nurturing, fierce and life-giving love to others in whatever relationships we find ourselves, expressing God’s longing for the world and each creature in it.
Julian says, “Love is our Lord’s meaning. And I saw very certainly in this and in everything that before God made us, he loved us, which Love was never abated and never shall be.”
May that mothering love sustain and guide you,
Liz
| | Services at Church of the Ascension | | |
Regular Service Schedule
SUNDAY
9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Side Altar)
11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist w/ Music
(Church & Livestream)
6:00 p.m. Meditation & Sacrament (Church)
WEDNESDAY
6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist (Church)
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Evening Prayer Every Weekday Evening
via Zoom
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 880 1981 1224.
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Is there a problem with the live stream?
If you notice a problem with the livestream (such as it's not listed, the sound isn't working, the camera isn't on) contact our livestream team (Local Live) right away - that's the best and fastest way to get it resolved. You can email them at Support@locallive.tv or call them at (877) 355-6225.
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Long Term Prayers
Pray for: Allejandro and Jesus, Barbara, Brielle, Dorothy, Elaine, Ellen, Hannah, Judith, Jurek, Lucas, Luz, and Stewart.
Please keep these people and intentions from our long-term prayer list in your own prayers. We hope to keep our intercessions in the liturgy both faithful and fresh, as we persist in prayer for those who need it.
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Prayers! Did you know you can submit your prayer requests online? Go to ascensionnyc.org/prayers and type in your prayer request. Be sure to add them. Requests submitted by noon on Thursday will be included in the Sunday bulletin. (Any requests after that will be included in the following Sunday bulletin.) | |
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
If you are attending any of our services online, we invite you to use this prayer at communion.
In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.
| | | | Garden Party! This Saturday, May 10, from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Ascension invites all to celebrate our newly restored tower. Come daydream with us and learn ways you can support our historic landmark at the heart of Greenwich Village. We will gather in the garden with refreshing snacks, collect ideas for the future of our garden, and offer tours of the church by members of our community. Family, friends, and all are welcome! | | Ascension Forum this Sunday, May 11 - For more than a year, we have been using adapted texts approved by General Convention that seek to make the language of our Eucharistic Prayers from the BCP more inclusive. How has it been to pray those texts? Join us after the 11 am service to discuss your experiences with these adapted liturgies. | |
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Kairos Palestine Discussion Group at the Church of the Ascension, Our next two sessions will be Tuesday, May 13 & 20, from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Join us for this dive deep into the text, section by section, drawing from the study plan developed by the Presbyterian Church (USA). This week we will discuss sections 2, 3, & 4, on pages 15-20. Please read them ahead of time.
The 248th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of New York passed a resolution recommending parish study of the 2009 Kairos Palestine Document, titled "A Moment of Truth: A word of faith, hope and love from the heart of Palestinian suffering." The document is both a call for justice and a profound ecumenical theological statement. We were privileged to host one of its authors, Fr. Fadi Diab, at the Church of the Ascension last month. You can pick up a copy of the Kairos Palestine study guide at church, or to read it online, check out our eBulletin for a link to the full document online.
You must register in order to get the Zoom link. To register, check out our eBulletin or email/call the church office: info@ascensionnyc.org/212-254-8620.
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You are not forgotten! Reaching Out to Our Palestinian Siblings in Christ - When Fr. Fadi Diab was here at the beginning of Lent, he mentioned that our Christian siblings in Palestine have felt forgotten and deserted, not only by the world but by the church. When asked what we could do, he suggested a simple ministry of being in contact with individuals by WhatsApp; to hear their stories, develop relationships and let them know they are not alone. If you would like to participate in this ministry, please contact Br. Andrew who will coordinate with Fr. Fadi. If you do not already have WhatsApp you can download it for iOS, Mac or PC at www.whatsapp.com/download.
| | Racial Justice Discussion Group - Our next will meet on zoom Thursday evening, May 15, at 6:30pm. We’ll revisit ideas that have surfaced in the works of some of the authors we’ve studied, as they appear in the questions below. Please explore these questions between now and then – or just join us and be a part of what will surely be some lively discussion! |
- Organized religion, do you want to know what new thing God has in mind for you in the 21st century? Those of you who have barricaded yourselves in homogenous enclaves of fear, do you want to be well? Catherine Meeks “The Night is Long but Light Comes in the Morning”
- How should Christians encourage one another to be bold in faith? In patriotism? Edited by Allen Shin and Larry Benfield “The Crisis of Christian Nationalism”
- Where can you have an impact in the area of race relations? Mark Bozzuti Jones “Face to the Rising Sun: Reflections on Spirituals and Justice”
- How do we really know that God cares, when Black people are still getting killed? How long do we have to wait for the justice of God? Kelly Brown Douglas “Resurrection Hope: A Future Where Black Lives Matter”
- If you know God has more love, more freedom, and more life in store for us, and you want to be part of making that dream real, what will you do? Stephanie Spellers “The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline and New Hope for Beloved Community”
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Ascension Church is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Racial Justice Discussion Group
Time: May 15, 2025 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87102788084
Meeting ID: 871 0278 8084\
| | Are you interested in being confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church? If you are- or you’d just like to learn more- please speak with Mother Liz about preparations for taking this step when Bishop Heyd visits Ascension on Ascension Day (May 29 this year). | | Save the Date - Ordination to the Diaconate | | The NYLC Sacred Sites Weekend will be happening on Saturday, May 17 (12:00pm - 5:00pm) and Sunday, May 18 (1:00pm - 5:00pm) and once again, the Church of the Ascension will be taking part. We are looking for volunteers, especially from our Docents and Open Door Guilds, to help greet visitors and assist with showing people around the church sanctuary. If you are available on either, or both days, please contact Tom Rice at rockcent@aol.com. | | |
Save the Date
Diocesan Celebration of Ministry Honoring Bishop Glasspool
A Journey of Faith and Service
Saturday, May 31, 10:30 am
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
1047 Amsterdam Avenue, New York NY
Join us as we give thanks for the faithful and inspiring ministry of The Right Reverend Mary Glasspool, Bishop Assistant of the Diocese of New York, as she prepares for her retirement on June 30, 2025. We will honor her 45 years of service in ordained ministry, her unwavering commitment to God’s people, and the love and wisdom she has shared throughout our diocese.
Eucharist service will be followed by a reception. Click here to RSVP.
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Your Pantry Needs You!
Ascension Outreach Inc. needs additional volunteer participation. The program is robust and developing in some great ways- and we need more hands-on help. Won’t you consider helping strengthen our service to our neighbors?
Friday opportunity: 3 to 4 pm the day before pantry, we set up the parish hall for pantry service.
Saturday opportunity: 8 to 9:30 am on the first and third Saturday of each month (except July which is 2nd and 4th Saturday because of the holiday).
Upcoming Dates: May 3 & 17, June 7 & 21
If you have questions or wish to join us, please contact Fr. Ed: fatherchinery@ascensionnyc.org – or – 732-910-7017 (c)
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Open Church Schedule
Open Church - Mondays through Fridays, Noon to 3pm (except as mentioned above). If you would like to volunteer for this ministry, please contact Gretchen Dumler or contact the church office (info@ascensionnyc.org or 212-254-8620.
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Easy Way to Give & Support Church of the Ascension! Your generous gift is a meaningful way to support the ongoing mission and ministries of Church of the Ascension. Your contributions play a crucial role in maintaining the church's facilities, supporting our growth in faith, organizing our service and witness, and developing our sense of community. Use this QR code to make a one-time or recurring gift to the church... It's quick and easy. Your generosity and kindness are deeply appreciated!
To pay your pledge, please continue using Abundant (ascensionnyc.org/give)
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Sunday – May 11
Holy Eucharist (Side Altar) 9:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist (Church) 11:00 a.m.
In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday)
Ascension Forum (Parish Hall)
Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.
Monday – May 12
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Lectionary Bible Study (Zoom) 6:30 p.m. (for more information, contact Sybil at srpiccone@yahoo.com)
Finance Committee Meeting (Zoom) 6:45 p.m.
Tuesday – May 13
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Kairos Palestine Discussion (Zoom) 6:30 p.m. Registration Required
Wednesday – May 14
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Holy Eucharist (Church) 6:00 p.m.
Needlecraft Guild (Hybrid) 6:30 p.m.
Thursday – May 15
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Racial Justice Discussion Group (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.
Friday – May 16
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Food Pantry Set up (Parish Hall) 2:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Saturday – May 17
Food Pantry (12 W. 11th St) 8:30 a.m.
The Food Pantry operates on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. For food assistance or to volunteer, please contact Fr. Ed (fatherchinery @ascensionyc.org).
Ordination of Deacons (Cathedral of St. John the Divine) 10:30 a.m.
Sacred Sites Open House (Church) 12:30 p.m.
Sunday – May 18
Holy Eucharist (Side Altar) 9:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist (Church) 11:00 a.m.
In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday)
Ascension Forum (Parish Hall)
Sacred Sites Open House (Church) 1:30 p.m.
Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.
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If you need information to connect to one of our Zoom events please call the church office at 212-254-8620 or email us at info@ascensionnyc.org
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