This Week at Ascension + October 18, 2023

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

Wednesday, October 18

Commemoration of Saint Luke, Evangelist

In-person and Live-streamed

Said Mass at 12 p.m.

There is NO 6:30 p.m. Mass this Wednesday.

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

In the Evening

Wednesday, October 18th

Celebration of New Ministry & Institution of

The Rev. Charles Everson

6:30 p.m.

Church of the Atonement

5749 N. Kenmore, Chicago

All are invited to attend.

The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24A)

Sunday, October 22, 2023

7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer via ZOOM

9 a.m. Sung Mass

11 a.m. Solemn Mass -

In-person & Live-streamed

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

Image: The Tribute Money, (c.1610-1615) Peter Paul Rubens, oil on wood panel,

The Legion of Honor, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

Click to join us VIA YOUTUBE

or VIA FACEBOOK LIVE

Monday, October 23

Commemoration of

Saint James of Jerusalem,

Brother of Our Lord, Martyr

Said Mass at 12 p.m.

From the Curate

“I will give you the treasures of darkness

and riches hidden in secret places,

so that you may know that it is I, the LORD,

the God of Israel, who call you by your name.”

—Isaiah 45:3

This verse from the passage of Isaiah that we’ll hear on Sunday strikes me as especially poignant. The full chapter falls right in the middle of the first half of Second Isaiah, written during the Babylonian Exile to encourage the scattered Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Isaiah speaks of the inexhaustible power of God (“I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, . . .”) as well of his love, nearness, and longing to draw his people even nearer still (I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know me. . . I arm you, though you do not know me,”).

The poignancy of this verse is in how it reminds us how and where we can encounter intimately the God who loves us, abides with us, and calls us each by name. God is deeply present even and especially in the darkness we all experience, both personally and globally, and in the secret places of our hearts in prayer. Of this, we cannot lose sight. If you need reminding of God’s nearness in the shadows, simply recall the glory of God in the Cross. Jesus shows us how to boldly face the darkness, to seek the treasures of God by surrendering ourselves to that perfect offer of divine love.

Often, “thoughts and prayers” are criticized as not enough in response to disturbing events. But I offer that it is the only place to start. For in those secret places, by making ourselves present in prayer to God’s abiding presence, we can learn how God is asking us to respond and be empowered to do so. So, keep praying, beloved, so that you may know God who calls you by name.

—Mtr. Murphy-Gill

Open House Chicago Report

Open House Chicago, a city-wide event sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Center, took place this past weekend. Church of the Ascension was one of the 170 sites featured. We provided each visitor with a beautiful brochure describing our fine art, designed by James Baran, David Robertson and Jay Jacot, we set up architectural drawings provided by Jay Jacot, we offered three organ demonstrations by David White, we gave visitors the opportunity to watch an Ascension choir rehearsal directed by Benjamin Rivera and we welcomed our visitors with coffee and cookies. A total of eleven parishioner-docents were available to talk with our guests and answer questions.

Though the turnout was less than last year’s total of 500, 346 people visited our site

over the two-day event. The lower count was definitely affected by the bad weather on

Saturday.

Thank you to all the parishioners who contributed to the success of this event.

—Jay Jacot and Cynthia Perrizo, co-chairs



Above: Andrew Smith tells about Ascension Masses held in a roller rink after the Chicago fire.

Stewarding our Finances 

“Nobody is so poor he has nothing to give, and nobody is so rich he has nothing to receive." - Pope John Paul II 

This week the Ascension’s stewardship committee would like to invite you to reflect on a few questions regarding how each of us can financially share with our community, locally and globally. Each of us has monetary resources, and the range of those resources is broad. But, as the parable of the Widow’s mite (Mark 12:41–44, Luke 21:1–4) shows, the financial gifts we give have a spiritual significance in our daily lives.

Weekly Questions:

• How do you steward your finances? What is one additional step you could take in stewarding your finances?
• How do you think Ascension stewards its finances? What’s one way you’d like to see Ascension steward it’s finances differently?

We invite you to submit your answers to this weeks stewardship questions via this google form.

“Giving is more than a responsibility – it is a privilege; more than an act of obedience – it is evidence of our faith.” – William Arthur Ward

What is our Rhythm of Prayer?: A Conversation on Weekday Liturgies at the Church of the Ascension 

Sunday, October 22 following both the 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. Masses & on Zoom following Online Evening Prayer on Thursday, October 26 

During the pandemic, the Church of the Ascension’s weekday liturgies were drastically altered. While some liturgies were suspended, others went exclusively online and have seen an increased participation. The parish was able to pivot and develop a weekday worship schedule in response to the limitations of COVID, however, it's now time to revisit the parish’s weekday rhythm of prayer and liturgical schedule. Please join Fr de la Torre for a conversation on how we might expand and strengthen our weekday liturgies based on previous practices at the Ascension and from what we have learned from gathering online. There will be three opportunities to join the conversation: Sunday, October 22, after both masses and Thursday, October 26, after online Evening Prayer on Zoom.



Announcing Ascension’s Fall Formation Program

In honor of the season of harvest and plenty, our fall formation and Christian Ed programming will include three consecutive weeks of conversation around food and faith. A tasty lunch will be provided for each gathering. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend for some delicious discussions.

Sunday, October 29 

Following the 11 a.m. Solemn Mass

Let Us Break Bread Together Week 1: The Extraordinary in the Ordinary, 

A Conversation with Mother Murphy-Gill, author of The Sacred Life of Bread

Copies of Mtr. Murphy-Gill's book will be available for $10 which will go to Ascension's monthly food pantry.

Sunday, November 5 

Following the 11 a.m. Solemn Mass

Let Us Break Bread Together Week 2: Food and Hospitality in the Old Testament

Sunday, November 12 

Following the 11 a.m. Solemn Mass

Let Us Break Bread Together Week 3: Eating Rituals in the New Testament



Did you know that you can donate flowers for Sunday’s Mass? 

Donations may be given in memory of a departed loved one or in thanksgiving for a birthday, anniversary, or an important milestone. Flowers may be donated at the High Altar, the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Shrine of St. Michael, and the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. If you’re interested in donating flowers, please see the sign-up sheet in its new location: on the table in the back of the church closest to the door. 

Winter Coats Needed

With temperatures dropping, migrants newly arriving in the city are in much need of warm coats. Consider this your cue to rummage through your coat closets and discern what you no longer need. We can take coats of all sizes and for all genders.

To arrange a drop off, please contact Liz Kohlbeck, coordinator of Chrys’ Closet at 920-254-4735.



Prayer Requests

Do you have a need for special prayer in your life? Whether your prayer needs are because you have an upcoming surgery, an ill family member, or you’re just feeling particularly lonely lately, Mtr. Murphy-Gill would like to know.

We’ve created a way for letting us know about your requests for prayers in a way we hope makes it easy for you to reach out, though you can always call the church or reach out to one of the priests personally. 

Share your prayer requests here.

For our prayers

Robert Pischke, Ruby Woods, Earmy Nailor, Derek Petite, Florence Jones Clanton, Michael Curry, David Schrader, Stuy Peabody, Robert, DeDe Frank, Leslie Smebak Gormley, Pam and Hap Hopper, Mike Vales, Jim Drury, Russell Staufenbiel, Patricia Spencer, Rachel Smolinski, Sarah Reece Glanman, The Quevedo family, Suzanne Dines, Lee Gould, John Schram, Gertrude Isaac, MB Hwang, Juanita Malone, Oksana, Tyler, David S. Jones, Richard Francis Tracz, Natalia & Victor, Dorothy, Victor Fernandez, Claire Green, Beth Hall, Sue Lenz, Brenda Martins 

Birthdays

Abraham Bassford, 10/16; Jim Drury, 10/17;

Scott Knitter, 10/18; Holly Hagerty, 10/19

Anniversaries

Nicholas Cast & Holly Hagerty, Marriage, 10/15/2022;

David & Jenna Jones, Marriage, 10/16/2010;

Mtr. Meghan Murphy-Gill, Priesthood, 10/16/2021

Requiescat in pace

Thomas Wikman, Arthur Taylor III, James Delano Abbott,

Dorothy Murray, Margaret Leonard, Mary Potter

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.



Organ and Choral Repertoire for October 22, 2023

Between Masses, please don’t forget that The Choir of the Ascension has recorded upwards of 60 tracks that you can listen to anywhere you have an internet connection. They can be found here: https://soundcloud.com/choir-of-the-ascension

Weekly Ascension Schedule

For connections:

via Zoom (click here)

SUNDAYS

7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer via Zoom

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

11:00 a.m. In-person and Live-Streamed Solemn High Mass

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

MONDAY-FRIDAY

8:00 a.m. Morning Prayer via FACEBOOK LIVE

6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer via Zoom

WEDNESDAYS

6:30 p.m. Said Mass

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

Wardens and Vestry of Church of the Ascension

LaVerne Rollé Saunders, Sr. Warden;

SeniorWarden@AscensionChicago.org

David Reeves, Jr. Warden;

JuniorWarden@AscensionChicago.org

Ian Barillas-McEntee, Jim Lo Bello, Ken Cozette, Marlea Edinger, Sean Hansen,

David A. Robertson, Elizabeth Simpson, Joshua Simpson, Samuel Sommers, Clerk



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.