This Week at Ascension + June 30, 2021
"Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." - Psalm 96
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This evening,
Wednesday,
June 30
Saint Peter &
Saint Paul,
Apostles
6:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
In-person &
Live-streamed Mass
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Sunday, July 4, 2021 + The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
10:00 a.m. In-person & Live-streamed Mass
Image: Christ in the home of his parents (or The Carpenter's Shop), 1849-1850, Sir John Everett Millais
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A parish vocation to priesthood
O God, you led your holy apostles to ordain ministers in every place: Grant that your Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may choose suitable persons for the ministry of Word and Sacrament, and may uphold them in their work for the extension of your kingdom; through him who is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Collect for the choice of fit persons for the ministry, BCP p. 256
Dear people of Ascension,
Individual people have vocations to priesthood. And some parishes have unique vocations to support those persons in their priestly calls and vocations. Ascension has been and, I believe, continues to be one such parish. Some of us can name many priests whose calls arose at Ascension or who include Ascension when naming influences on their priestly formation.
This is not meant to be a trip down memory lane. I'm testing your commitment to this parochial vocation now. In the past 18 months or so, five separate Ascension young adults have talked to me about a sense of calling to priesthood. Then there's Christopher Poore, in Virginia Seminary's MDiv program, and Joshua Heath, contemplating ordination as he continues PhD studies at Cambridge University. Both touch base and remind me of Ascension’s importance to them.
There’s also, of course, Fr. George Arceneaux. He’ll celebrate a final mass with us (for now) this coming Sunday. We'll have a chance to say goodbye to him and his wife Fiona Chisolm at the coffee hour to follow. Combining comments from a number of you that correspond to my own thoughts: Fr. Arceneaux has been faithful, enthusiastic and curious, eager to get to know us and our Anglo-Catholic ways, and all in pandemic conditions. He's been with us only eleven months, only four as priest, and yet he's blessed us and helped to sustain us in such peculiar times.
Please join me in prayers that Fr. Arceneaux and his faith and priesthood will have been and will continue to be blessed because of his time, worship, service and fellowship with us at Ascension. And please pray that Ascension’s vocation – our vocation – to support and form those called to priesthood will remain robust.
Patrick +
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In case you're curious ... Fr. Arceneaux and Fiona are moving to Madison, Wisconsin, and he has accepted a full-time curate's position at St. Mark's Church, Milwaukee! (Yes, a long commute but not uncommon for those north of the border.)
Can you help with the Arceneaux-Chisolm farewell coffee hour Sunday? If so, please contact Bonnie Scott or Joey Keegin, who have agreed to host and orchestrate it.
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Speaking of vocations ... please keep in prayers as well Bishop Daniel Martins, who retires today from his ministry as Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield. Bp. Martins was elected and consecrated to ministry and leadership in southern Illinois in 2011. You may read about the Diocese of Springfield here. Keep in prayers as well Bishop Martins' wife Brenda and their family. The Martins' permanent home in retirement will be here in Chicago. We hope to see them soon and often at Ascension.
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Yes, a rosary as well on Sunday, July 4, immediately following the mass at the shrine of Mary. Sergio Carlos and Samuel Sommers will co-lead the Glorious Mysteries. Rosaries and booklets (with instruction) can be provided.
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Yes, pantry@ascension will be up and going this coming Saturday morning, July 3. Deacon Charles Farrell aims to re-integrate more volunteers starting this month. Returning volunteers and those who've not previously been involved are welcomed to contact Deacon Farrell to explore possibilities for helping out.
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AA Returns to Ascension
The Wednesday evening AA group that has long met at Ascension was enjoying energetic renewal and growth prior to the pandemic lockdown. Meetings had to be suspended. I'm thrilled to report that they'll resume July 14. My thanks to Br. Nathanael in the parish office, who has kept in touch with the group's contact person and will be of help in preparing for the resumption of the meeting. For those interested, specific information will be posted on the Chicago AA website, when available soon.
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Thanks to all who proposed, showed up for, contributed to and collaborated to host a lovely, lively, congenial PRIDE-honoring coffee hour and fellowship in the Our Lady of Victory garden this past Sunday, June 27.
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Artwork Notes
I mainly choose the bulletin artwork based on a combination of a connection to one of the appointed Scripture texts (usually the gospel) and my own admittedly subjective and usually-traditional tastes. Sometimes I choose an image that I or others may find provocative. The image for Sunday may qualify ... It's alternatively known as Christ in the House of His Parents or The Carpenter's Shop. Now in the permanent collection of the Tate, London, the 1850 painting was widely criticized when first displayed. My own appreciation for it greatly increased after reading a critique of it, The Family of Jesus Portrayed in a Controversial Way, in this 2017 blog by Canadian author Mary Lou Driedger. At their best, both the artwork images and notes like this enrich rather than diminish our experiences of the mass. - Fr. Raymond + |
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A final vocation-themed note ...
... a literal note, shown below, arrived in the mail a few days ago, from a grateful student preparing for ordained ministry at General Seminary in New York. He was responding to 2020 year-end gifts that the Vestry had made both to General and to Nashotah House (in Wisconsin). Please keep in prayers not only those wondering about a call to ministry but those already on the sometimes long and complicated journey in anticipation of it.
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(The same document was shared in last week's newsletters and in the bulletins for Sunday, July 13.)
Please be familiar with this revised guidance if planning to participate in person at Ascension for mass and fellowship.
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A first for Ascension: Qigong
Local Qigong practitioner and teacher Sue Ziang is also a personal friend. She's been looking for a space to offer group instruction in Qigong ( CHēˈɡäNG) and I've made arrangements for her to use St. Michael Hall on Saturday mornings, 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., beginning Saturday, June 26. Participants will be asked to make a donation ($20 suggested), a part of which will be given to the church. Ascension members may not be Sue's primary target audience, but she will warmly welcome anyone who shows up, including any of us, regardless of Qigong familiarity or experience. You may view Sue Ziang's website here. - Fr. Raymond +
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Organ Repertoire for July 4, 2021
The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
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VOLUNTARY
Variations on God Save the King WoO 78
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
At the Entrance Procession
Hymn 636 FOUNDATION
At the Offertory
Hymn 671 NEW BRITAIN
At the Communion
Hymn 566 THE CHURCH'S DESOLATION
At the Retiring Procession
Hymn 439 WONDROUS LOVE
ORGAN
Variations on America [1891]
Charles E. Ives (1874-1954)
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About our 2021 Repertoire
As I develop a long-range plan for repertoire each year, I choose a theme or area of emphasis, often complete works or a complete large-scale work by one composer. During 2021, organ music by women composers and African-American composers is being and will be featured in voluntaries and recitals throughout the year. There are some little-known gems waiting to be discovered, as well as music by major composers, with whom works for the organ are not generally associated. Enjoy!
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From Benjamin Rivera
Greetings!
In keeping with Diocesan guidelines, we have had a live vocal presence since Holy Week. Recent updates to this guidance will allow us to celebrate Pentecost, Holy Trinity, and Corpus Christi with an in-person quartet, supplementing our (now usual) recorded music. I am grateful that we are able to move forward safely, if slowly, and I pray that choral and congregational singing aren’t too far off.
Peace and good health,
Benjamin
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The Treasurer and Bookkeeper continue to limit time in the parish offices. All checks received at Ascension via the United States Postal Service, not always a reliable service in our area, will be bank deposited approximately every 3 weeks. You may contact the Treasurer by email anytime at Finance@AscensionChicago.org.
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Ascension Connections
(with your click and God's help)
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Meeting ID:
792 031 7452
Password: 1133
Join-by-Phone Option: (312) 626-6799
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Weekly Ascension Schedule
For connections:
except for Morning Prayer,
SUNDAYS
9:30 a.m. Virtual Morning Prayer
10:00 a.m. Live-Streamed Mass
11:00 a.m. Virtual Coffee Hour
MONDAY-FRIDAY
6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer via Zoom
WEDNESDAYS
6:30 p.m. Low Mass
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Please give generously as you are able.
Treasurer Susan Schlough has asked me to remind you of Ascension's ongoing expenses at this time. To the extent that you are able, payment on your pledges or the offering of Holy Day or other special gifts will be greatly appreciated. You may still write a check and mail it to the church, or online payment is possible through the buttons at various places on our website. Thank you!
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For our prayers: August 'Augie' Alonzo, Jim Berger, David Byerly, Steven Wallis, Sarah Ponder, Taffy Wehe, Carnola Malone, Marvin Files, Amy Peterson, Stephanie, Gwen Clark-Mason,
Barbara Wischmeier, The Rev. Canon Paula Clark, Lee Gould, Maria, Beth Hall, Alfred Raby, Claire, Inez Bahena, Gina
Birthdays: David DeWitt Jones, 6/28; Michael Malone, 6/29
Requiescat in pace:
Joseph R. DuciBella, 6/29/2007; Robert M. Susman, 6/30/2018; Mary Frances Green, 7/1; Raymond Mulcare, 7/1; Elizabeth Josephine Smith, 7/1; Bernard Markwell, 7/2/2003
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.
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The Rev. Patrick Raymond, Rector
Susan Schlough, Treasurer
Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG, Parish Office
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Vestry of Church of the Ascension
Cheryl Peterson, Sr. Warden; Kenneth Kelling, Jr. Warden; Kelly Colomberti, Marilyn Evans, Lynette Hector, Jim Lo Bello, George Pineda, David Reeves, Samuel Sommers, Enrique Vilaseco, Amber Zelazny
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.
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