This Week at Ascension + October 26, 2022

"Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." - Psalm 96

Wednesday, October 26

Alfred the Great,

King of the West Saxons, 899

Evening Prayer at 6:00 p.m. via ZOOM

In-person and Live-streamed Said Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Unction will be offered for those who desire it.

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

Image: Eighteenth-century portrait of Alfred by Samuel Woodforde

Friday, October 28

Commemoration of St. Simon

and St. Jude, Apostles

In-person Said Mass at 12 noon.

Sunday, October 30, 2022

The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer via ZOOM

9:00 a.m. In-person Sung Mass

with Organ and Hymns

11:00 a.m. In-person & Live-streamed

Solemn High Mass

The 11 a.m. Order of Worship may be found here.

Click to join us VIA YOUTUBE or VIA FACEBOOK LIVE

Image: Illuminated Manuscript from Antiphoner: Historiated initial O, showing Christ,

with orb and apostles, speaking to Zacchaeus in a tree. Germany ca. 1490,

Victoria and Albert Museum, London

From the Interim Rector

When I was a kid growing up, the most devastating words I ever heard were: “I’m disappointed in you.” Those words created wounds that have left scars because, I think, we always want to please our parents. Dad would have turned 100 last Saturday, and Mom would have been 97 this year. I know that they didn’t say that to hurt me. They said those words because they cared for and about me.

In our Eucharistic Prayer D (p. 373), we say, “You formed us in your own image, giving the whole world into our care, so that, in obedience to you, our Creator, we might rule and serve all your creatures.” If there is such a thing as an ecumenical Euchristic Prayer, it would have to be Prayer D. It is drawn on a prayer of Saint Basil the Great (330-379), who was Bishop of Caesarea. It was in widespread use because of its roots, its broad appeal to Eastern and Western Christians. A group of American Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant scholars gathered to study and develop a prayer that denominations might approve and use in common.

Now, there are folks who deny that we should be responsible for what happens with God’s creation. That seems to stand in diametric opposition to what this eucharistic prayer says, and what we have learned from one of the creation stories in Genesis. 

Just as we are called by God to care for each other, we are also called to be responsible for the decisions we make concerning the resources of creation and our use of them. So far, we haven’t found any other planet where we might live. I think that our call to be stewards of creation is unambiguous. I think we have to be concerned with the decisions we make, thinking about how future generations may be affected.

Our call to be stewards is about those things that are given into our care. Whether we’re talking about people close to us, strangers to us, or far away from us, our obligations are the same. Whether we’re talking about recycling, reducing use of consumables, or redeploying materials for a new use, our obligations are the same. Whether it’s concern over pollution or resource consumption, our obligations are the same. If we do what we can, maybe we won’t come face-to-face with God and hear, “I’m disappointed in you.”

—Fr. Heard

All Saints' Day

Tuesday, November 1: Said Mass at 12 Noon

All Souls Day

Wednesday, November 2: Requiem Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Solemnity of All Saints

Sunday, November 6 at both 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses

Organ Recital* at 3:30 p.m., Choral Evensong & Benediction at 4 p.m.

*This is the next in the series of performances of the Complete Organ Works of César-Auguste Franck (1822-1890) in the observance of the bicentennial of his birth.

Preparing for Our Final Journey

“You only are immortal, the creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth we shall return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” All of us go down to the dust, yet even at the grave, we make our song: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.” – BCP p. 499

On two Sundays, at 10 a.m. on November 13 and 20, we will gather in the Undercroft (aka: the AA Room) to delve into topics that many wish to avoid and some ignore altogether. Last Will and Testament, Advance Directives, Durable Power of Attorney, and Healthcare Proxy are documents that can make our transition from this life to the next easier for those who care for us and follow us. In addition, there are approaches we can take with our financial resources to be sure that our wishes are followed. Barbara Susman will give us insights into the what, why, how these instruments can do for us and those we leave behind. Fr. Heard will take us through considerations for funeral options, including how we convey our desires for our final rites.

Two New Christian Ed Opportunities 

Mark your calendars for two new opportunities to learn about Anglo-Catholicism in November. Medievalist Richard Kieckhefer will lead two discussions. Both will take place on Zoom at 7 pm.

November 8: From 'Amazing Grace' to 'All Things Bright and Beautiful': Hymns of the Evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics

November 15: Notable Anglo-Catholic Churches of England and America  

Have questions? Please reach out to Mtr. Murphy-Gill via email or by calling the church.

Thanksgiving dinner

After an absence of several years, the Vestry would like to restart our Thanksgiving Dinner neighborhood outreach. In order for this to happen, we need volunteers to take roles welcoming, serving our guests, as well as cleaning up. Please use this link to indicate your willingness to assist with serving Thanksgiving Dinner to our neighbors. This will not be a sit down dinner. There is still concern about flu, pneumonia, and Covid, so we’ll be filling clamshell boxes for take-out.

Save the Date:

Advent Quiet Morning, December 10

Mark your calendars! Take a break from the holiday rush in December for a quiet morning. Our theme will be Waiting. More details to follow. If you would like to help with this Advent half-day retreat, please talk to Mtr. Murphy-Gill.

Parking Sticker Update

On 6 and 13 November, Ken Cozette will be in the narthex to deliver new parking stickers after the 9 & 11 a.m. Masses. If you requested a sticker, please be sure to stop by and see him to claim your sticker. Any that remain unclaimed after 13 November will be mailed. Please put your sticker on the lower left of the rear window on the driver’s side. Old stickers will no longer be valid after November 30.

Bible Study Fridays at 10 am on Zoom

Our conversation about the Book of Revelation continues this Friday on Zoom at 10 am. This is a joint bible group with nearby St. Chrysostom’s and an excellent chance to grow in faith and fellowship. Weekly attendance is not mandatory, and so if you’re thinking about just dropping by, please do and see what we’re all about! 

Have questions? Please contact Mtr. Murphy-Gill. 

Prayer Requests

Organ and Choral Repertoire for October 30, 2022

For our prayers: Julia, Jean Simon, Burton Nelson, Winslow, Pablo Illás,

Victor Fernandez, Claire Green, Beth Hall, Sue Lenz, Brenda Martins, Lee Gould,

Gertrude Isaac, Marty Stenson, Steve Dionne

Requiescat in pace: Carol Kohn, 10/17/2022; James Budzban, 10/23/2017;

The Rt. Rev. James Winchester Montgomery, 9th Bishop of Chicago, 10/23/2019;

Delores Peter, 10/23/2018; David L. Brooks, 10/25/2008; Jean D. Gehrke, 10/26/2007;

Robert A. White, 10/27/2018; Rachael Ann Bottorff Patterson, 10/28/2012

Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them;

May their souls and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.



Vestry of Church of the Ascension

Ken Kelling, Sr. Warden; LaVerne Rollé Saunders, Jr. Warden;

Ian Barillas-McEntee, Jim Lo Bello, Ken Cozette, Marlea Edinger, Sean Hansen, George Pineda, Joshua Simpson, Sam Sommers, Clerk, Enrique Vilaseco

Susan Schlough, Treasurer

[email protected]

Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG, Parish Office

[email protected]

Approved minutes of Vestry meetings are always available online to parishioners who request the link. If you would like Internet access to these Vestry Minutes, please email the Parish Office and request the link. Once you access the web page, you can read all recent Vestry meeting minutes.

The link remains live indefinitely. Any parishioner who has the link will not need to request a new link from month to month.