Ascension Happenings January 18, 2026

Happenings at Ascension!

January 18, 2025

www.AscensionEpiscopalChurch.org

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.

Diocesan Council Delegates

Each year at the Annual Meeting, we elect FOUR Delegates and TWO Alternates to attend the Diocesan Council at which the diocese discusses changes, budgets, improvements, and issues. This incredibly informative meeting keeps us in the loop about all the ongoings in the diocese. This year the 177th Diocesan Council meeting will be held February 27-28 at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center in the Woodlands. Please let us know if you would like to attend.

Burn Palm Crosses for Ash Wednesday Services

Please bring your palm crosses to church through February 15th and place them in the collection basket, or bring them to the burning on Shrove Tuesday (02/17).

Shrove Tuesday

Join us on February 17th for Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Supper at 6:30pm, Pancakes and Bacon!! We need a team of volunteers, but if you can’t make it you can always help by dropping off Orange Juice, Bacon, or Fresh Fruit. We'd greatly appreciated. Following the meal, we will have the Burning of the Palms, for the ashes on Ash Wednesday, under the bell. You don’t have to sign-up to attend, but we want to make sure we have pancakes for all, so if you're coming and bringing your family and friends let us know by signing up HERE!

Ash Wednesday

We will celebrate with three services on Ash Wednesday, on February 18. We will have a service with the school at 8:30am, and services at noon and 7:00pm. Invite your friends to celebrate with you as we enter the Lent season.

Lenten Soup Suppers

The Lenten Soup Suppers are a wonderful Ascension pastime. We will serve soup, and have a Lent lesson. Traditionally, we have asked ministries to provide the soup for the evening, but individuals and families can step up too. Please see the dates below and let Samantha know which date you or your ministry would like to serve.

February 25 _______________________________

March 4 _______________________________

March 11 _______________________________

March 18 _______________________________

March 25 _______________________________

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.

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!!