Ascension Happenings January 11, 2026

Happenings at Ascension!

January 04, 2025

www.AscensionEpiscopalChurch.org

Welcome Guest Priest,

The Rev. Sutton Lowe

We would like extend a warm Ascension welcome to the Rev. Sutton Lowe. He will be preaching and celebrating with us at both services today. Fr. Sutton started his time at St. John the Divine as a Summer Seminarian in 2022. He returned to join the staff full-time in 2023. Sutton serves as both Curate and Director of Youth Ministry. He attended seminary at Duke Divinity School in North Carolina and holds a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University. He and his wife, Marleigh, have one daughter.

Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting will be held on January 25th, 2026. It will be a potluck lunch, followed by a meeting which will welcome our newest vestry members, say good-bye to those who are exiting, confirm by nomination our Council Delegates, discuss upcoming budget and hear the yearly reports. This is a crucial information meeting. Please make an effort to attend, this is a great time to ask questions and hear information about the future of Ascension.

Annual Meeting Potluck Lunch

Please bring a dish to share to the Potluck Lunch that will precede the Annual Meeting. All of lunch will be provided by you, so please bring meat dishes, casseroles, salads, sides, whatever your heart desires. We thank you for sharing your culinary treats with your Ascension family.

Tuesday Bible Study

The Tuesday Bible Study which meets at 6:30pm is studying The Letter to the Hebrews using N.T. Wright's "Hebrews for Everyone" 20th Anniversary Edition beginning Tuesday January 13. All are welcome and encouraged to attend even if you don't have the book: in-person in the library or by using this Zoom Link.

Giving Statements

I know we are all excited to file our taxes and I have had several inquiries about giving statements. Please know the bookkeeper is hard work and you will be mailed a statement by January 24th. If you have not received your final statement by then, please let us know and we will be happy to provide you with a copy. Thank you.

Stephen Ministry Celebrates 50 years

The Stephen Ministry celebrates 50 years with it’s conference on Saturday, January 24, 2026. It is being held at St. John the Divine and they have cordially invited members of Ascension to attend. It fills up fast, usually over the Christmas holiday, so sign-up fast. The website has a schedule of topics that will be discussed as well as options for ordering a boxed lunch. You may go to the their website (stephenministries.org) and click on the learn more button on the home page under the 50th anniversary banner, or use this LINK. About a week before the conference, registrants will receive via email a map noting parking options at St. John the Divine.

Stay Alert

The office has received a couple of strange emails claiming to be from "Fr. Desmond". This happens occasionally with scammers and fraudsters. If you get a communication from "Fr. Desmond" that seems suspicious, if it is asking for personal information, or requesting funds, DO NOT respond to it, just delete it and let Sam in the office know.

Baptisms

Epiphany is a wonderful time to celebrate baptisms. If you, your child, or someone you know is ready for Baptism or would like to learn more, please contact Fr. Desmond. The baptism application can be found on the website or you can have it sent to you; then fill it out and return it by mail, email, or dropping it in the plate. Ascension will be honored to welcome you to a life of grace through Christ our Lord.

Announcements

We are looking for individuals who will give the announcements on Sunday mornings at the 10:30 service. Simply go to the lectern during the announcement portion of the service and give a brief synopsis of what is going on in Ascension life. You do not need to read the bulletin to the congregation, just highlight upcoming events and deadlines.

Pictures

Many of you take wonderful pictures of Ascension life. As we move forward in building a profile, we would like to share all the things, special and everyday that we do here at Ascension. Please send any pictures you take of church life to: photos@ascensionepiscopalchurch.org.

It is great to have them all in one place!!