This Week at Ascension + September 13, 2023

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

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Commemoration of Cyprian,

Bishop and Martyr of Carthage, 258

Evening Prayer

at 6:00 p.m. via ZOOM



In-person and Live-streamed

Said Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Unction available for those who wish it.

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Holy Cross Day

[Exaltation of the Holy Cross]

Said Mass at 12:00 p.m.

Friday, September 15, 2023

Requiem Mass

A Solemn Requiem Mass

for the repose of the soul of parishioner

Robert L. Browning will be celebrated on

Friday, September 15, 2023 at 11 a.m.

The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 19)

Sunday, September 17, 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 Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (1556) Jan van Hemessen,

University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor, MI

Click to join us VIA YOUTUBE

or VIA FACEBOOK LIVE

From the Curate

I’ve been spending a lot of time pondering resurrection this week for two reasons: one, tomorrow, September 14, we will reflect on the power of the Holy Cross in our noon mass. And two, on Friday, we will celebrate the life of Robert Browning with a funeral mass as we recall God’s promise that death does not have the last word.

Tomorrow we will ponder the power of the cross from our vantage point of knowing Christ’s resurrection. But even from that perspective we still must acknowledge that resurrection has a context and that is the cross. Jesus shows us the path we must walk and what we must walk toward. Not riches and all that we associate with worldly success—power, influence, prestige—but quite the opposite. The way of the cross is, as my spiritual director reminds me again and again, the way of downward mobility. And that is a hard message when our world is eager to say otherwise: To get ahead is the goal, not self-giving love. And it doesn’t matter who or what you damage in the process. 

But we as Christians attempt that walk even though we know we often fail. But for each step backward, we can still diligently take steps forward in love, thanks to the resurrection, joining with others in prayer, being fed each week by the eucharist, and giving of ourselves in kindness and generosity. 

If schedules and life obligations permit, I do hope to see you at these two eucharists later this week.

—Mtr. Murphy-Gill

Update on St Michael Hall Shop

This past weekend many more migrants arrived in Chicago. Blessedly, those who are coordinating relief efforts in the city are in regular communication with Liz Kohlbeck, coordinator of the shop currently in St. Michael Hall, and Ascension is a known resource. That means, with the influx of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, many goods were cleared out over the weekend and Liz has put out a call for the following items: 

Towels

Blankets

Pillows

Yoga Mats 

Warm clothing in all sizes (like sweatshirts, hoodies, athletic pants)

Suitcases

Any help you can offer is much appreciated. You can get in touch with me by calling the church or emailing if you need more information or by reaching out to Liz directly (‭920-254-4735‬) to coordinate a drop off of donations.

From the Treasurer



The Diocese has obtained a new sales-tax-exemption form that now expires in 2028. If you make a purchase for the church and plan to request a reimbursement, please use the updated form to receive a sales tax exemption. 

Paper copies of the form are available in the Treasurer's mailbox at church.

Electronic copies may be requested by email to the Treasurer or to the Office.

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

Florance Jones Clanton, Michael Curry, David Schrader, Sty Peabody, Robert,

DeDe Frank,Leslie Smebak Gormley, Pam and Hap Hopper, Mike Vales, Jim Drury, Ann Griffin, Russell Staufenbiel, Patricia Spencer, Rachel Smolinski,

Sarah Reece Glanman, Sgt. Manuel Arroyo, The Quevedo family, Suzanne Dines,

Lee Gould, John Schram, Gertrude Isaac, Thomas Wikman, 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: Timothy Kowalski, 9/10; John Lawler, 9/14; David Schrader, 9/15;

Christopher Raymond, 9/15

Requiescat in pace:

Philip J. Reinert, 7/31/2023; Robert Browning, 8/21/2023;

James Albert FitzSimmons, 9/10/1991; Robert Taylor, Priest, 9/16/1999;

Annamae Drury, 9/16/2009

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 September 17, 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.