Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Church of the Ascension

in the City of New York

12 West 11th Street, New York, NY 10011

212-254-8620 | info@ascensionnyc.org | ascensionnyc.org

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Schedule Reminder:

This Sunday, September 10, we go back to our regular worships schedule:

9:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist – Side Altar

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist with Music

6:00 p.m. – Meditation & Sacrament

Summer Office Hours End.

Dear People of Ascension,

It is not yet Welcome Back Sunday (that will be September 24th this year), but things are already moving quickly here at Ascension as we take leave of summer. And what a summer it has been! Wildfire smoke from Canada brought us an orange sky and air quality alerts. Even now, in September, we are experiencing the extreme heat of the Climate Crisis. The Episcopal Church’s September/October focus on the Care of Creation has never felt more urgent.

So often people reference Genesis 1: 26 — Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth — as a way to justify the damage we have done to our planet. They pretend that God ordained humans to rule over creation, so it’s okay that we act as if the Earth is our property to plunder and use up. This could not be more false.

How can we shift our mindset to be one of partnership and mutuality with creation instead of one of dominance? Our experiences of climate change in the past 10 years clearly call us to a place of humility — to the understanding from recent experience that the Earth will still be here and do what she needs to do to recover, even if we are not.

Where have you been able to be enjoy nature this summer?

What changes have you seen in our local environment?

What small steps have you been able to take to help alleviate the crisis on our warming globe?

There will be a march here in New York City on the afternoon of Sunday September 17th calling for an end to the use of fossil fuels. This march was planned to coincide with the General Assembly at the United Nations from Sept 19-26. Please find more details below in this email and please make plans to join the march!

In peace, Posey

Services at Church of the Ascension

Regular Service Schedule

SUNDAY

9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Side Altar)

11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist w/ Music

(Church & Livestream)

6:00 p.m. Meditation & Sacrament (Church)

WEDNESDAY

6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist (Church)

Evening Prayer Every Weekday Evening

via Zoom

Join us each weeknight at 5:30

for Evening Prayer & discussion.

Click this link to join: ascensionnyc.org/eveningprayer.

To call in (voice, no camera), dial 929-205-6099; the meeting ID is 770 597 201.

How to Watch Online

Join us for Coffee Hour

In the Parish Hall or Front Garden

after the service.

Prayers! Did you know you can submit your prayer requests online? Go to ascensionnyc.org/prayers and type in your prayer request. Be sure to add them. Requests submitted by noon on Thursday will be included in the Sunday bulletin. (Any requests after that will be included in the following Sunday bulletin.)

A Prayer for Spiritual Communion

If you are attending any of our services online, we invite you to use this prayer at communion.

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

Open Church Schedule

Open Church - Mondays through Fridays, Noon to 3pm. If you would like to volunteer for this ministry, please contact Gretchen Dumler or contact the church office (info@ascensionnyc.org or 212-254-8620.

Have a Care!

And now that we are back to activities that feature maskless eating and drinking (looking at you, coffee hour), it’s probable that some participants will later test positive. If you do, we ask that you think about whom you might have been close to for more than 10 minutes. If that’s the case, give them an email or call.

Announcements

Artisan’s Fair, September 10 - There will be Knitted and Crocheted dresses, jackets, sweaters, hats, scarves, gloves, leg warmers, jewelry, fine tatted lace, and more, all in the latest styles and colors – made with care by Jeanette Marie. For the quality-conscious and workmanship-savvy Ascensioners. Not your average crafts show. So save the date: September 10th, 2023, and join us after the 9:30 am and 11 am services that day. We'll be waiting for you!

Welcome to Our Seminarian and Deacon Postulant! Please join us in welcoming Larisa Shaterian, a third-year MDiv student at Union Theological Seminary, and Cindy McCloskey, a third-year deacon postulant in out diocese.

Larisa Shaterian is a third year MDiv student at Union Theological Seminary. With roots in the San Francisco Bay Area, she's spent roughly half of her adult life in NYC and half in the Bay Area. She has studied acting Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, lived in a Palestinian refugee camp in Bethlehem, has a degree in Folklore, and wishes she had a degree in horticulture. She is a cradle Episcopalian. The story about Jesus that comes close to describing her faith is the Road to Emmaus. She is happy to be one of your seminarians and is looking forward to worshiping with you and getting to know you!

Cindy McCloskey was born in Western New York and raised in the small village of Arcade.

Retiring in 2001, after 20 years in IT at various financial institutions, she earned a B.S. in Psychology and worked as an Academic Advisor. she has served at the Church of the Ascension in Staten Island in just about every capacity you can imagine: Chalice Bearer, Acolyte, Reader, Vestry Member, Vestry Clerk, Parish Administrator, Lay Eucharistic Minister, ECW, outreach, etc. She began discerning the Diaconate in 2017 and truly believes this is where God wants her to be.

Beware of Smishing! Text scams are methods that cyber criminals use to trick recipients into giving away personal or financial information by sending fake or spoofed SMS messages12345. They often impersonate well-known or trusted entities and create hypothetical situations to manipulate unsuspecting people34. These text scams are called smishing or SMS phishing.

There really is no way to prevent or block these (criminals can be so inventive!) - the best defense is education. Many of you caught on right away that this was a scam, basically because the text just didn't feel right. That's you first and best clue... if it just seems a "bit off", don't do it. And know that the clergy (or staff) will never send an email or text asking you for money or gift cards.

If you get a smishing text, please contact the parish office and let me know the phone number it is coming from (not the name associated, but the actual number), as well as the actual message.

Click here to watch a short video explaining Smishing.

Final Parish BBQ of the Season, Wednesday, September 13, at 6:45 PM - Please join us for our final summer BBQ. We'll provide items to grill, both meat and vegetarian; please bring your favorite picnic sides and desserts to share! We'll start right after the 6 PM Eucharist and will grill in the back garden but eat in the front.

Parish Safety Task Force Request for Assistance - Are you certified to perform CPR in an emergency? Our parish Safety Taskforce is moving steadily forward in an effort to increase overall preparedness. This will ultimately include on-site first response capacity for addressing emergencies both minor and major, as well as all varieties of relief from occurrences such a fire or natural disaster, inclement weather, or even a violent person trying to gain entrance. As a first step, we’re hoping to identify and/or recruit trainees who will enable us to offer CPR and AED should the need arise. We’ll be doing this and more to increase awareness and participation in relief efforts as the program year here at Church of the Ascension proceeds. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact Madonna Stack-Barker m.stack@rcn.com or Fr. Ed fatherchinery@ascensionnyc.org. Thank you.

Sunday, September 24th is Welcome Back Sunday! The Ascension Choir will be back with us and we'll enjoy a special coffee hour after the 11 am service. We'll also have a chance to learn more about what's planned for the fall. Whether you've been away this summer or not, it will be a great day to welcome each other and the new fall season.

Season of Creation 2023

September Through October 3

SEASON OF CREATION PRAYER

Creator of All, from your communion of love life sprung forth like a mighty river and the whole cosmos came into being. On this Earth of overflowing love, the Word was made flesh and went forth with the life-giving waters proclaiming peace and justice for all creation. You called human beings to till and keep your garden. You placed us into right relationship with each creature, but we failed to listen to the cries of the Earth and the cries of the most vulnerable. We broke with the flowing communion of love and sinned against you by not safeguarding the conditions for life. We lament the loss of our fellow species and their habitats, we grieve the loss of human cultures, along with the lives and livelihoods that have been displaced or perished, and we ache at the sight of an economy of death, war and violence that we have inflicted on ourselves and on the Earth. Open our ears to your creative, reconciling and sustaining Word that calls to us through the book of Scripture and the book of creation. Bless us once again with your life-giving waters so that the Creator Spirit may let justice and peace flow in our hearts and overflow into all creation. Open our hearts to receive the living waters of God’s justice and peace, and to share it with our suffering brothers and sisters, all creatures around us, and all creation. Bless us to walk together with all people of good will so that the many streams of the living waters of God’s justice and peace may become a mighty river all over the Earth. In the name of the One who came to proclaim good news to all creation, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Green Tip: Mom's Clean Air Force - Find out how you can get involved in New York State. Mom's Clean Air Force is working on issues where you live.

Across the country the support local projects that help reduce air pollution, fight climate change, and improve the health of our children and families. Click here to find your state chapter and learn how you can make a difference locally.

March to End Fossil Fuels, Sunday, September 17 - Thousands of people from around the country and around the world will be gathering to demonstrate our passion for changing public policy around fossil fuels, to protect people and planet. Please join us for the March, which begins at approximately 1 pm. We will gather at Broadway between 53rd and 54th St, and will end up near the UN on the East Side, around 1st Ave and 40th St. Bring good shoes, water, snacks, sun protection, and any colorful clothing or signage of your choice! To register to attend, please click here.Once you’ve registered, you will automatically receive updates on the March as the day approaches.

St Thomas Church has offered their narthex (and coffee hour!) starting at 12:30 as a place to gather if you are early, since they are right down the street. The faith group contingent is 4th in line to step off, so please do come to Broadway as close to 1 PM as possible. You will know you are in the right place when you see these banners that were specially designed for the faith groups marching. Father Ed and Mother Posey helped paint them on Tuesday night at the art gathering at First Presbyterian.

Support Church of the Ascension

Easy Way to Give & Support Church of the Ascension! Your generous gift is a meaningful way to support the mission and ministries of Church of the Ascension. Your contributions play a crucial role in maintaining the church's facilities, supporting religious education, organizing charitable initiatives, and supporting our sense of community. Use this QR code to make a one-time or recurring gift to the church... It's quick and easy. Your generosity and kindness are deeply appreciated!

Please note that to pay your pledge, please continue using Abundant (ascensionnyc.org/give)

Is Your Pledge Up to Date?- We hope that you will have a chance to get away this summer for some rest and recreation! But meanwhile, Ascension is still here, with bills to pay. We depend on your pledges all year round, so please, if you are able, keep your pledge up to date. In fact, our budget is stretched thin this year, and if you are able to stretch your pledge a bit, we would be very grateful. If you have yet to pledge for 2023 it's not too late! If you need a pledge card or more information, please speak to the clergy or a vestry member. To donate or pay your pledge online, go to ascensionnyc.org/give. Thank you very much for your support and generosity!

The long-awaited repairs to the wood and brownstone of our Fifth Avenue tower are proceeding right on schedule and, unbelievably after all the years of studying and planning, the work is due to be generally finished by the fall. Which means that payments to the architects and contractor are coming due, starting now. The Church of the Ascension is the recipient of a $300,000 matching grant from the Manton Foundation. The key word here is “matching.” And our generous donors have indeed pledged to match the grant. In general, the wardens and vestry requested pledges that could be paid in full by the first quarter 2024. Now would be a good time to start paying pledges. Remember, when you pay by check to put “Tower Brownstone” in the memo line. If you pay through Abundant, select Manton matching grant” from the drop-down menu. Finally, if you have not pledged, we hope you will consider a gift. The Manton match and pledge payments do not cover the entire cost of the job. With this work on the tower, our Fifth Avenue façade is gradually being restored to its 1841 look and our garden and entrance are becoming safer places to enjoy.

How You Can Help

Help Asylum Seekers - Our friends at Judson Church (239 Thompson St.) have created a respite and mutual aid center for asylum seekers who have been bussed to New York from Texas. They are open every Monday from 10 am to 7 pm. You can help by volunteering time (Spanish speakers and those with medical, legal or social work training especially welcome), or by donating supplies. They need new (or like new) winter coats (men’s, women’s, & children’s), underwear (boxers preferably), and backpacks.

To learn more about volunteering, please contact the Rev. Micah Bucey at micah@judson.org. Donated supplies can be brought to Ascension, marked "mutual aid for migrants" and we will see that they get to Judson. Thank you!

This Week at Ascension

Mask wearing is now optional inside the church and masks are available in the narthex for anyone who wants one. Hand sanitizer stations are also available for your use. If you are not feeling well, please stay home and watch us via our livestream.

Sunday – September 10

Holy Eucharist (Church) 9:00 a.m.

Holy Eucharist w/ Music; (Church & Live Stream) 11:00 a.m.

In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday)

Join us for Coffee Hour following the Service

Artisan’s Fair (Parish Hall) After the 9 & 11 a.m. serivces

Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.

Monday – September 11

Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.