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 | www.ascensionnyc.org
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Dear People of Ascension,
In the last few days I have been in several conversations about grace. It's a word we use a lot in church, but what does it mean? Does it have to do with forgiveness? Existence? Sustenance? Mercy? Change and renewal? We read that it is the gift of God's goodness, before and beyond our capacity to earn or create- but also a quality we receive, and can offer in our relationships with one another. And of course, in a secular sense, it is a fluid, joyful, elegance of movement. Perhaps the grace we experience bodily can fruitfully inform our theology.
Denise Levertov's poem below helps me imagine what opening more fully to grace might be like. Wishing you a grace-filled Lent,
Liz
The Avowal
As swimmers dare
to lie face to the sky
and water bears them,
as hawks rest upon air
and air sustains them,
so would I learn to attain
free fall, and float
into Creator Spirit’s deep embrace,
knowing no effort earns
that all-surrounding grace.
- Denise Levertov
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Services at Church of the Ascension |
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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)
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Evening Prayer Every Weekday Evening
via Zoom
Join us each weeknight at 5:30
for Evening Prayer & discussion.
To call in (voice, no camera), dial 929-205-6099; the meeting ID is 770 597 201.
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How to Watch Our On Line Services |
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From your computer, laptop, pad, smart phone, or other device, click this link:
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Click this link for the bulletin & hymns.
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Say Thank You. If you watch our services online you may notice in the lower left-had corner you'll see the name of our producer, Jasmine B. She has been our producer a little over a month now and is doing a great job! Next time you're watching, be sure to give her 5 stars!
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Join us for Coffee Hour
In the Parish Hall (at least until the weather warms up again)
after the service.
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How to Add Prayer Requests Online for Sunday Service - Go to Ascensionnyc.org/Prayers and type in your prayer request. Be sure to add them before the end of the sermon. |
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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.
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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. |
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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.
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Lenten Day of Service, March 18- LAST CHANCE! Please join our friends at the New York Haiti Project at the Church of the Good Samaritan, 1858 Hunt Ave. in the Bronx, to help pack food for Haiti. We have time slots available between noon and 2:00 p.m. Bon Samaritan is a couple of blocks from the 2 train, and we will travel together. Come and enjoy Haitian food and music while doing some much needed service!
Please let us know today if you are coming emailing Mother Liz. If you wish to come but have not been able to contact Mother Liz, please show up at the Parish Hall no later than 10:15 Saturday morning - we will leave at 10:30 sharp. |
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Lenten Book Study- Entering the Passion of Jesus: A Beginners Guide to Holy Week by Amy-Jill Levine. Our Lenten forums meet after the 11 a.m. service each Sunday. We are reading Jewish New Testament scholar Amy-Jill Levine's Entering the Passion of Jesus: A Beginners Guide to Holy Week. The book is widely available and offers a compelling lens for deepening our understanding of our faith. This week we continue with chapter 4. All are welcome whether you have done the reading or not! Please join us. For more information, please speak to the clergy.
To access the forum via Zoom, click here.
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The Episcopal Diocese of New York Apologizes for the Endurance of Slavery, Saturday, March 25, 12 Noon, at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine. The Bishop of New York Invites you to join him and the people of the Episcopal Diocese of New York in a solemn Service of Apology for the participation and complicity of the diocese and its members in the Transatlantic Slave Trade and in that trade’s continuing aftermath and consequences. Read the flyer here.
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Lenten House Eucharists Return! There is one slot remaining for March 28 - if you are interested, please call the Parish Office at 212-254-8620. |
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Lenten Devotional Books - The 2023 Lenten devotional is available in the back of the church. Please take the opportunity to pick up your copy and use it as a daily reader during the Lenten season. The devotional is made up of 40 personal reflections from members of the parish and clergy at Ascension. Suggested donation: $5, or more if you are so moved, to help defer the costs to produce it
You can read the daily meditations here. |
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The Reconciliation of a Penitent (commonly called Confession)- A traditional saying about confession for Anglicans is “all may, none must, some should.” If you are curious about this sacrament, or to make an appointment, speak to any of the clergy or call 212-254-8620. |
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Can you watch with me? We will keep the vigil before the Blessed Sacrament Maundy Thursday into Good Friday at the Altar of Repose in the All Saints Chapel. We start following the Maundy Thursday service on Thursday, April 6, at 9:00 pm and continue until the Good Friday service at 12 noon on Friday, April 7. This can be a wonderful time of deep quiet and meditation on Christ's love for us. If you would like to spend an hour (or so) in prayer and reflection, please sign up on the sheet in the Parish Hall to come, or simply come to the chapel and watch with us. (even if the signup sheet is full, you are very welcome to join the watch.) |
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Ten Minutes / Forty Days - Led by choir member and Parishioner James Donegan, and inspired by the Hero's Journey, this spiritual-but-not-religious quest draws inspiration from numerous traditions and texts. Structured similarly to The Thirty Minute Life Change, but packaged for a briefer period of spiritual observance and reflection.
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Lent Madness
32 Saints but only one will be the winner...
Who will win the Golden Halo?
A fun and engaging way to learn about the inspiring, quirky, wildly diverse men and women on the church’s calendar of saints. Follow along with the chart posted in the Parish Hall or visit www.lentmadness.org to download your own chart or keep track online. May the Saints preserve us! |
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Schedule of Services
Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday
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Palm Sunday - April 2
The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ
9am Holy Eucharist
11am Blessing of the Palms & Procession
Festal Eucharist with Choir and dramatic reading of the Passion
6pm Meditation & Sacrament
In Holy Week – April 3, 4, & 5
Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday
6pm Holy Eucharist at Main Altar
With Lay Preachers
Maundy Thursday - April 6
7pm Holy Eucharist with Full Choir
With Washing of Feet, Stripping of Altar, Procession to the Altar of Repose, and Watch with the Blessed Sacrament
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Good Friday - April 7
12 Noon The Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
with Choir, Veneration of the Cross and Communion from the Reserve Sacrament
Great Vigil of Easter – Saturday, April 8
8pm The Great Vigil of Easter
with Full Choir, Lighting of the New Fire, Holy Baptism and the first Eucharist of Easter
Easter Sunday, April 9
Day of Resurrection
9am Holy Eucharist
11pm Festal Eucharist with Full Choir
6pm Meditation & Sacrament
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Musical Notes - Music for this Sunday - Beginning at 10:55 the Prelude will be the magnificent choral prelude of Bach, Kyrie Gott, Heiliger Geist (Lord Have Mercy, Holy Ghost). Picking up on the psalm of the day, our Offertory Anthem will be American composer Virgil Thomson’s The Lord My Shepherd. During Communion the choir will sing a short but deeply felt anthem by Henry Purcell, Lord, Thou Knowest the Secrets of our Hearts. Finally, the meditative Postlude will come from France, Louis Marchand’s Tierce en taille. |
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Easter Flowers Subscription - To include the names of loved ones in the Easter Flower Memorial & Thanksgiving list on Easter Day, April 9, please submit your names one of the following ways:
- Go to forms.office.com/r/U9r1A8hXuQ and fill out the online form.
- Complete the paper form found in your bulletin and drop it in the offering plate. (Due to the timeliness of this, please do not mail them in as they may not make it in time.)
- Email or call the church office (info@ascensionnyc.org or 212-254-8620) with the names.
To make a donation towards the Easter flowers, please go to Abundant.co/ascensionnyc/give, or give by check (make checks payable to Church of the Ascension.) Please do not use the Abundant app to submit names. |
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Parish Directory Updates - If you think your directory information is missing, out of date, or missing information, please, please follow this link to submit your information: forms.office.com/r/3sM0fjxbTs. A new directory will be printed for distribution in Eastertide. The deadline to submit information will be Palm Sunday, April 2. |
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Visit the Jewish Museum with the Episcopal-Jewish Relations Committee of the Diocese- 10 am, Tuesday March 21. Following our forum about Christian responses to the rise in anti-Semitism, this is an excellent opportunity to learn more about Judaism and Jewish history. Please click here for more information and to register! |
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20's & 30's Group Dinner, Thursday March 23 at 6:30- The 20's/30's group returns! All who are in this age group are welcome to join Mtr. Liz and Fr. Ed for food and conversation in the rectory parlor. (Enter through the parish hall; there is a group using that space but it is fine to walk through and come into the rectory through the library and its hobbit door). The menu includes coconut curry with lentils and spinach, rice and a (TBA) dessert. Your contributions are welcome as well. Our only agenda is enjoying each others' company, eating and talking. Please let us know if you are coming! You are welcome to bring friends. We plan to hold these dinners on the 4th Thursday of every month, and we really look forward to seeing you there! For more information, please speak to the clergy. |
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Interested in the Diaconate? If you have ever wondered if you might have a call to be a deacon and want to learn more about this ordained ministry, you are invited to an informal talk with Deacon Denise LaVetty, Director of Diaconal Formation and Transition, Monday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m.,via Zoom. Email lavetty@icloud.com to RSVP and receive the Zoom link. Click here for more information. |
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Have you made your pledge for 2023? Thanks to all who have pledged to support Ascension in the coming year. If you have not yet pledged, please prayerfully consider doing so. We need everyone's participation, and depend on your commitments for our budget planning. When you pledge online you must make a new commitment for each new year. Thank you for your generosity and care for our church!
To make or pay your pledge online, please check us out at Ascensionnyc.org/Give to find out how easy and secure it is to give. You can also download the Abundant app for iOS or Android. When donating, please choose whichever purpose you intend for your contribution.
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The Scaffolding Rises! The work is starting! Ascension is making badly needed repairs to the wood and brownstone of our tower. An astonishing amount of the cost is in the scaffolding, so while it’s up, we want to complete the whole job. Thanks to a generous matching grant of $300,000 from the Manton Foundation, we are almost there. Please consider helping us finish this critical work. Every dollar you give is really a two-dollar donation. |
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Help Us Repair & Restore
Our Tower Brownstone
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Ascension is making urgently needed repairs and restoration on the historic masonry & copings of our tower brownstone. We have received a generous matching grant from the Manton Foundation for this important work. Now we need your help make our space secure for the next generation!
Every dollar you give will be matched up to $200,000. You can pledge to this campaign online at ascensionnyc.org/matchinggrant, or scan the QR code above, or contact the parish office at 212-254-8620. Payments can be made by check payable to the Church of the Ascension (remember to put “Tower Brownstone” in the memo line) or online through Abundant ( Ascensionnyc.org/Give – select “Manton Matching Grant” from the drop-down menu). If you have any questions about this campaign or the tower, please call the parish office.
Thank you for your generosity!
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Partner with Episcopal Relief & Development to provide support to people affected by the deadly earthquake along the border between Turkey and Syria. Visit episcopalrelief.org today to make a contribution to the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Response Fund. |
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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!
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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.
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Sunday – March 19 – Fourth Sunday in Lent
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
Ascension Forum (Parish Hall) After 11:00 service
Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.
Monday – March 20
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Lectionary Bible Study (Zoom) 6:30 p.m. (for more information, contact Sybil at srpiccone@yahoo.com)
Tuesday – March 21
Interfaith Trip to Jewish Museum; 10:00 a.m.
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday – March 22
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Holy Eucharist (Church) 6:00 p.m.
House Eucharist (Robin Clements) 7:00 p.m.
Thursday – March 23
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
20’s & 30’s Group Dinner (Parlor) 6:30 p.m.
Friday – March 24
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Saturday – March 25
Diocesan Service of Apology for Slavery (Cathedral of St. John the Divine) 12 Noon
The Food pantry operates on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. For assistance or to volunteer, please contact Amy Shaw at amyqshaw@gmail.com.
Sunday – March 26 – Fifth Sunday in Lent
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
Ascension Forum (Parish Hall) After 11:00 service
Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.
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If you need information to connect to one of our Zoom events please call the church office at 212-254-8620 or email us at info@ascensionnyc.org
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212-254-8620 | info@ascensionnyc.org | www.ascensionnyc.org
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