Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour this Saturday night!

Dear People of Ascension,

This weekend, we celebrate the festival of All Saints, even as we look towards Election Day next Tuesday. I cannot help thinking about how these two events inform each other. It is a time when scripture reminds us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, deeply interconnected in the living body of Christ, members of the whole community of creation, and especially called to be faithful followers of Jesus in our own moment and place.

Do you feel them near you as you cast your vote? Who is in your great cloud of witnesses, the saints whose examples inspire you, whose prayers you know support you? Is it a parent who took you to the polls for the first time? A teacher or friend who called you to stand up for democracy, justice and freedom? The heroes of the civil rights movement, known and unknown, who risked their lives that they and others might vote? Ancestors who were not able to vote- because of discrimination based on race, or sex, or national origin? Forebears in faith who witnessed to liberty for the oppressed and justice for all?

Or, do you feel the presence of the saints who will come after us? This year I went to the polls with my 18 year old daughter, a first time voter. I felt the shared responsibility of seeking to create a more just world, for her generation and many generations to come. I am so aware that my vote affects people I love and people I will never know; those with whom I agree and with whom I differ sharply; our fellow citizens and others all over the world; human and more than human.

Perhaps you sense the presence of those with whom we share our life, both near and far, as you cast your ballot. A friend in the UK wrote this week to offer me good wishes for our elections. She said "The world awaits breathless and heart beating; we are all Americans now." Of course, in the communion of saints, the influence and responsibilities are mutual. A great cloud of witnesses, indeed.

May you be strengthened and comforted by the communion of all the saints, as you do what is yours to do, in love and prayer, in these momentous and challenging days.

Liz

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

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

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Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

#287 For all the saints, who from their labors rest (Sine Nomine)

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,

who thee by faith before the world confessed,

thy Name, O Jesus, be for ever blessed.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might:

thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;

thou, in the darkness drear, the one true Light.

Alleluia, alleluia!

O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,

fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,

and win, with them, the victor’s crown of gold.

Alleluia, alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!

We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;

yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.

Alleluia, alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,

steals on the ear the distant triumph song,

and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.

Alleluia, alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west;

soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest;

sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.

Alleluia, alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;

the saints triumphant rise in bright array;

the King of glory passes on his way.

Alleluia, alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,

through gates of pearl streams in the countless host

singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

Alleluia, alleluia!

Presider Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Psalm 34:1-10, 22 (St. Helena Psalter)

I will bless God at all times, *

   and praise shall ever be in my mouth.

I will glory in the Holy One; *

   let the humble hear and rejoice.

Proclaim with me the greatness of God; *

   let us exalt God’s Name together.

I sought, and God answered me *

   and delivered me out of all my terror.

Look upon the Most High and be radiant, *

   and let not your faces be ashamed.

I called in my affliction and God heard me *

   and saved me from all my troubles.

The angels encompass those who fear God, *

   and God will deliver them.

Taste and see that God is good; *

   happy are they who trust in the Most High!

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.

O God, you will ransom the life of your servants, *

   and none will be punished who trust in you.

Reader: Gretchen Dumler

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

The Rev. Elizabeth G. Maxwell

Click here to read the Renewal of Baptismal Vows. The vows are also found on page 292 of the Book of Common Prayer.

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

Let us now praise famous men,

And our Fathers that begat us.

Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms,

Men renowned for their power.

Leaders of the people

By their counsels and by their knowledge.

Such as found out musical tunes,

And recited verses in writing:

All these were honoured in their generations,

And were the glory of their times.

And some there be which have no memorial;

Who are perished, as though they had never been.

Their bodies are buried in peace;

But their name liveth for ever more.

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.

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, Mary and Tom, Ellen, Joseph, Brielle, Lucas, Holly, Allejandro and Jesus, Nancy, Barbara, Dorothy, Stewart, Patricia, Judith, Marco, Tina, Hannah, Jurek, Alice, Stacy and Jonathan, Michael, Seth, Tom, Mike, Jennifer, Liz, Abigail, Zakaria, and Jocelyn. 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. We pray for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, those affected by hurricane Zeta, and by the fires in the western states. We pray for all laboring to end ​racism and white supremacy and establish racial justice in our country. We pray for all seeking elective office, for all who vote, and for the integrity of our electoral process. Give wisdom to those in authority among us and to all leaders of the nations.

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 pray for all affected by COVID-19: for the frightened and the sick, for the dying and those who mourn. We pray for all who have lost jobs and livelihood as a result of this pandemic. We pray for all healthcare workers, especially Scarlett, Madonna, Trudie, Nancy, Anna, Sarah, Endine, Terese, and AJ, for all whose labor supports our common life; for those developing treatment and a vaccine, for those charged with making decisions about public health and public policy and for all who are reopening, that they may care for one another in wisdom and safety.

We remember with thanksgiving all who have died in Christ and those whose faith is known to you alone, especially Brendan M. Burns, Sherrie Irene Kesselman, Sally Littlefield, Andrew Stegen, Milton K Siler, Jr., Lauretta Feldman, Walter Wallace, Jr., the more that 225,000 Americans who have died of COVID-19, and those we remember on the All Saints Memorial list. 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.

We offer you our other prayers, and our thanksgivings for all the blessings of this life.

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

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.

Celebrant Let us pray for our departed loved ones, whose names are listed here.

Eternal Lord God, you hold all souls in life: Give to your whole Church in paradise and on earth your light and your peace; and grant that we, following the good examples of those who have served you here and are now at rest, may at the last enter with them into your unending joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Russian Orthodox Chant

May Almighty God, to whose glory we celebrate this festival of all the Saints, be now and evermore your guide and companion in the way. Amen.

May God, who has bound us together in the company of the elect, in this age and the age to come, attend to the prayers of his faithful servants on your behalf, as he hears your prayers for them. Amen.

May God, who has given us, in the lives of his saints, patterns of holy living and victorious dying, strengthen your faith and devotion, and enable you to bear witness to the truth against all adversity. Amen.

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.

#293 I sing a song of the saints of God (Grand Isle)

I sing a song of the saints of God,

patient and brave and true,

who toiled and fought and lived and died

for the Lord they loved and knew.

And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,

and one was a shepherdess on the green:

they were all of them saints of God and I mean,

God helping, to be one too.

They loved their Lord so dear, so dear,

and his love made them strong;

and they followed the right, for Jesus’ sake,

the whole of their good lives long.

And one was a soldier, and one was a priest,

and one was slain by a fierce wild beast;

and there’s not any reason no, not the least,

why I shouldn’t be one too.

They lived not only in ages past,

there are hundreds of thousands still,

the world is bright with the joyous saints

who love to do Jesus’ will.

You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea,

in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea,

for the saints of God are just folk like me,

and I mean to be one too.

Go to ascensionnyc.org/give to give online

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.

Our parish can only continue its mission and ministry because of the generosity of parishioners, visitors, and friends of the parish and we are working hard to make our online giving as easy and seamless as possible.

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

Pour yourself a cup of coffee, tea, or your favorite juice, grab a slice of banana bread, piece of fruit, or a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, and feel free to "hang out" with us online to chat!

For Your Daily Prayers - "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) During this time of global crisis and personal anxiety, we offer you this prayer form to include in your daily prayers.

In-Person Midweek Eucharist begins Wednesday evening, November 4 at 6:00 p.m. As we take our next step toward reopening the church during this time of pandemic we are opening the church on Wednesday evenings for in-person Eucharist. Click here to read more.

The Church is open for prayer and meditation on Tuesdays and Fridays from 12-3 pm. Masks, contact information and use of hand sanitizer is required for all guests. We are very excited about opening our space again. The garden is open every day from 9-5, and is a lovely place to enjoy quiet and the beauty of creation.

is available on our Facebook page:

Stay Connected in Prayer. Join us each weeknight at 5:30 for Evening Prayer and discussion. Click here to join. To call in (voice, no camera), dial 929-205-6099; the meeting ID is 770 597 201.

Holding on to Hope - A National Service for Healing and Wholeness - Live from Washington National Cathedral - Sunday, November 1; 4:00-5:30 pm. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will lead a live-streamed prayer service from Washington National Cathedral on All Saints Sunday. In the midst of a pandemic, racial reckoning, and a historic election, the live-streamed service will gather Americans for prayer, song, lament, hope, and a call to love God and neighbor. The event will be simulcast in English and Spanish.

Join us live on our webpage or on our Facebook page. Consider hosting a watch-party and inviting friends and neighbors to join you online for the service.

A Season of Prayer for an Election- From October 27-November 4, the Episcopal Church invites us to a novena for our national election. A novena is an ancient tradition of nine days of devotional prayers, often with a specific intention. In this case, we will pray for discernment in voting and for the well-being of our nation. You can sign up to download materials in English or Spanish and to receive daily emails here; ​let us join in prayer with others all around our church. Together, let us offer to God our fears and frustrations, our hopes and dreams for our country, our communities and ourselves.

Early Voting in NYC - New York voters can also vote before Election Day. The early voting period runs from Saturday, October 24, 2020 to Sunday, November 1, 2020, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.

For a list of dates, times and locations, go to vote.nyc/page/early-voting-information

Click here for details and how to join.

Including a video presentation on Resolutions. PLUS: Information on the Proposed Mechanism for Electronic Voting for Voting Delegates

Saturday, November 7, 2020

The Convention Day Bishops’ Addresses/Elections/Resolutions/Budget

Upper West Side Open Hearts Initiative (UWSOHI) - Many of you will perhaps have heard or read about the ongoing controversy on the Upper West Side this summer over the city housing homeless individuals in the empty hotels in the upper 70s near Amsterdam and Broadway in order to protect them from Covid by reducing crowding in the normal shelters. The Upper West Side Open Hearts Initiative is a group that formed in that neighborhood to support the men who are housed in the hotels and to push back against the active and vocal group that is trying to remove them from the neighborhood completely.

UWSOHI is organizing an effort to help kit the men out with supplies for when they move into permanent housing. If you would like to contribute to that effort, the details of how to do so are below. You can order the wish list for one full (or parts of a) supply kit on Amazon at the link below, and it will go a long way to helping them be ready when they are assigned long term housing. A full complement of supplies cames to around $325 total.

Click here to purchase portions of, or a full kit. In Amazon, when you go to shipping, select the UWS OpenHearts Housewarming option and it will be shipped to the home of the person who is doing the organizing. For privacy’s sake, you will not see that address, but it will go to them, and they will in turn take it to the Lucerne or the Belleclaire.

Is God calling YOU to run for Vestry? Are you interested in exploring your own faith leadership in the church? Serving on Vestry is an opportunity to provide spiritually grounded leadership with an emphasis on our church's finances and property management. Vestry members are baptized members of the parish who regularly attend worship and have contributed financially to Ascension regularly over the past 12 months. Vestry meets the evening of the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Please contact the Nominating Committee or Mtr Liz if you would like to discern this ministry or know someone you would like to nominate.

General Convention Task Force Survey - The Task Force on Theology of Social Justice Advocacy invites Episcopalians to participate in a survey, “Social Justice and the Episcopal Church: A Call for Stories”. The members of the Task Force would like to gather stories and deeper perspectives to support their work on behalf of the Church and invite Episcopalians to consider sharing their experience by completing the survey, Click the link to read more about it an to take the survey. Deadline, November 5

Sunday Paper Junior - The lectionary, our yearly schedule of Bible readings, carries us through Jesus’s life and teachings. The Church of The Ascension subscribes to the Sunday Paper Junior and we offer it to you and your family as a fun, creative way to study the lessons each week. Click here to access this week's paper. Please feel free to print out the pages each week and use as you desire. Check out this section each week for the current Sunday Paper Junior!

Subscribe to the AscensionNYC podcast and have our weekly sermons delivered to the device of your choice! While we have been posting recordings of sermons preached at Ascension services since February 2015, many have asked how they can listen to them on the go. Now you can subscribe to the AscensionNYC podcast to have the latest sermons and other audio content from the Church of the Ascension automatically downloaded to your phone, tablet or computer. Follow this link

to choose how you'd like to receive AscensionNYC in the podcast app you use; we’re being added to more and more directories each week!

You can also go to our website to listen to recent sermons by clicking here or going to our website.

Give while shopping - We all seem to be relying on online shopping more and more these days. The AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5 percent of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the nonprofit you choose. Even these small sums can add up for us. Click here to find out how.

Special Organ Prelude (Zoom) 10:50 a.m.

Church Service (Zoom) 11:00 a.m.

Coffee Hour

Meditation with Prayers and Music (Available on our Facebook page)

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

Lectionary Bible Study (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.

(Speak to Sibyl Piccone if you are interested in this group)

Church Open for Prayer and Meditation* (Church) 7:00 a.m. - 7:p.m.

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

EfM (Zoom) 6:00 p.m.

Building & Grounds Meeting (Zoom) 12 Noon

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

In-Person Evening Eucharist (Church) 6:00 p.m.

To reserve your spot, click here - email or call us (212-254-8620)

Needlecraft Guild (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.

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

Church Open for Prayer and Meditation* (Church) 12 noon - 3:00 p.m.

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

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

Speak to Fr. Ed if you are in need or would like to volunteer.

Diocesan Convention (Zoom) 11:00 a.m.

Rehearsal for Sunday Service (Zoom) 2:00 p.m.

Church Service (Zoom) 11:00 a.m.

Ascension Forum

Meditation with Prayers and Music (Available on our Facebook page)

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

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