This Week at Ascension + October 19, 2022

"Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." - Psalm 96

Wednesday, October 19

Henry Martyn, priest and missionary

to India and Persia, 1812

Evening Prayer at 6:00 p.m. via ZOOM

In-person and Live-streamed Said Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Unction will be offered for those who desire it.

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

Photo Credit: St John's College, University of Cambridge

Sunday, October 23, 2022

The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer via ZOOM

9:00 a.m. In-person Sung Mass

with Organ and Hymns

11:00 a.m. In-person & Live-streamed

Solemn High Mass

The 11 a.m. Order of Worship may be found here.

Click to join us VIA YOUTUBE or VIA FACEBOOK LIVE

Image: Church Interior with the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, 1653,

oil on panel, Dirck van Delen, The Clark Art Institute, Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts

From the Curate

What do stewardship and a church nursery have in common? Plenty! Stewardship isn’t always about pledge cards (though, they are still incredibly important as they give us the opportunity to reflect on what we are able to offer financially—not just a practical discipline for the health of the church but, indeed, a spiritual one as well). In the broadest terms, stewardship is about the allocation and care for our resources as individuals and as a community—yes, money, but also time, social capital and networks, property, talents, personnel, even brain space!

You’ve no doubt heard the oft-repeated phrase “time, talent, or treasure.” It’s a popular framework for stewardship for a reason: it’s easy to remember (thanks, alliteration!) and accounts for the wide swath and variety of resources available to each and every one of us. 

So, what do stewardship and a church nursery have in common? In an act of stewardship of its resources, the church designated a space to be a nursery. In an act of stewardship, toys and soft furnishings were purchased and donated to make the room safe and fun for small children. It is thanks to stewardship that we are making progress toward being a welcoming church to families with small children (and the small children themselves!). 

This past month, I’ve been interviewing potential nursery attendants in hopes to hire someone to staff the nursery every Sunday. In order to abide by diocesan policies (and good common sense) for keeping children safe, whenever children are here to use the nursery, we will need an additional volunteer from the church. With a rota of 4 to 8, volunteers will only have to be available for nursery coverage once a month at the most. 

As you’re reflecting this stewardship season on how you will give of yourself in the coming year, consider the nursery and what you can offer to make Ascension more welcoming to families with small children. I look forward to hearing from you about what you can do.

—Mtr. Murphy-Gill

All Saints' Day

Tuesday, November 1: Said Mass at 12 Noon

All Souls Day

Wednesday, November 2: Requiem Mass at 6:30 p.m.

 Cards inviting your memorials for the All Souls' Day Necrology will be placed in the bulletins on Sunday, October 16 & 23. You may also use this link to share names, or call the parish office. To be included in print bulletins, names must be shared by

5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26. 

Solemnity of All Saints

Sunday, November 6 at both 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses

Open House Chicago was a very successful event for Church of the Ascension. We had over 500 visitors who really seemed to enjoy themselves. Fifteen parishioners volunteered their time to serve as hosts and docents. Thank you to all who participated. Jay Jacot shared his vast knowledge with the visitors, David White presented three organ demonstrations and Cynthia Perrizo filled in where needed. A number of visitors remarked that we were very welcoming. They ooh’ed and aah’ed over our stunning church. They appreciated the architectural exhibit that was set up in Michael Hall. They liked the coffee and cookies, too. Some visitors said they plan to come back to attend church.

From the Rector Search Committee

The Search Committee has completed writing the documents that will go onto the Diocesan website that is set up for candidates looking for a position. The documents first get approval by the Vestry before they go to the diocese. The Vestry meets this Thursday, Oct. 20, to formally approve them (hopefully). The Profile will be on Ascension’s website, so you’ll be able to see it there. It did take us awhile, but we wanted to get it right.

Preparing for Our Final Journey

“You only are immortal, the creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth we shall return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” All of us go down to the dust, yet even at the grave, we make our song: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.” – BCP p. 499

On two Sundays, at 10 a.m. on November 13 and 20, we will gather in the Undercroft (aka: the AA Room) to delve into topics that many wish to avoid and some ignore altogether. Last Will and Testament, Advance Directives, Durable Power of Attorney, and Healthcare Proxy are documents that can make our transition from this life to the next easier for those who care for us and follow us. In addition, there are approaches we can take with our financial resources to be sure that our wishes are followed. Barbara Susman will give us insights into the what, why, how these instruments can do for us and those we leave behind. Fr. Heard will take us through considerations for funeral options, including how we convey our desires for our final rites.

Two New Christian Ed Opportunities 

Mark your calendars for two new opportunities to learn about Anglo-Catholicism in November. Medievalist Richard Kieckhefer will lead two discussions in November. Both will take place on Zoom at 7 pm.

November 8: From Saving Grace to Smells & Bells: Hymns of Evangelicals and

Anglo-Catholics

November 15: Notable Anglo-Catholic Churches of England and America  

Have questions? Please reach out to Mtr. Murphy-Gill via email or by calling the church.

Bible Study Fridays at 10 am on Zoom

Our conversation about the Book of Revelation continues this Friday on Zoom at 10 am. This is a joint bible group with nearby St. Chrysostom’s and an excellent chance to grow in faith and fellowship. Weekly attendance is not mandatory, and so if you’re thinking about just dropping by, please do and see what we’re all about! 

Have questions? Please contact Mtr. Murphy-Gill. 

Prayer Requests

Organ and Choral Repertoire for October 23, 2022

For our prayers: Jean Simon, Burton Nelson, Winslow, Pablo Illás,

Victor Fernandez, Claire Green, Beth Hall, Sue Lenz, Brenda Martins, Lee Gould,

Gertrude Isaac, Marty Stenson, Steve Dionne

Birthdays: Bram Bassford, 10/16; Jim Drury, 10/17; Charles Michael Clark, 10/17;

Scott Knitter, 10/18; Taylor Payton Mays, 10/22/2012

Anniversaries: Mtr. Meghan Murphy-Gill, priesthood, 10/16/2021;

David & Jenna Jones, marriage, 10/16/2010

In thanksgiving for the marriage of Nicholas Cast & Holly Hagerty, 10/15/2022

Requiescat in pace: Carol Kohn, 10/17/2022; Romulo Garza, 10/12/2022;

Dorothy Murray, 10/17/2019; Margaret Leonard, 10/20/1990; Mary Potter, 10/21/1980

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.



Vestry of Church of the Ascension

Ken Kelling, Sr. Warden; LaVerne Rollé Saunders, Jr. Warden;

Ian Barillas-McEntee, Jim Lo Bello, Ken Cozette, Marlea Edinger, Sean Hansen, George Pineda, Joshua Simpson, Sam Sommers, Clerk, Enrique Vilaseco

Susan Schlough, Treasurer

Finance@ascensionchicago.org

Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG, Parish Office

Office@ascensionchicago.org

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.