This Week at Ascension + August 30, 2023

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

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Commemoration of Margaret Ward,

Margaret Clitherow, and Anne Line, Martyrs

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

[Photo by Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P. of the English Martyrs triptych by Geoffrey Webb in the Church of St James, Spanish Place in London]

Saturday, September 2

is Food Pantry

We will again gather to assemble bags of shelf-stable groceries and personal items for our neighbors in need. We begin filling bags in St. Michael Hall at 9 a.m. and start distributing them at 11 a.m. We need the most help between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., but welcome your help for however long you are able to stay.

Come be the hands, heart, and feet of Christ in our own neighborhood, following in the wake of the Cross, and enjoy some fellowship as well.

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 17)

Sunday, September 3, 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: Get Thee Behind Me Satan, James Tissot (1836-1902) from series The Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, Brooklyn Museum, NY

Click to join us VIA YOUTUBE

or VIA FACEBOOK LIVE

From the Interim Rector

Our worship life, as Episcopalians, is governed by our Constitution and Canons and our Book of Common Prayer (BCP). As part of our ordination rites, bishops, priests, and deacons say,

 “... do solemnly declare that I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation; and I do solemnly engage to conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of The Episcopal Church.”

The ‘doctrine, discipline, and worship’ is what holds us together in difficult times, becomes a source of rejoicing in joyful times, and is there for us every time in between. There was a movement in the 1960s that sought to create a similar rite for laity, to replace confirmation. (I’m not sure whether it not being adopted was a good thing or not.)

One of the remarkable things about our BCP is the way it holds us all together. You can go to an Episcopal Church almost anywhere and be comfortable and be able to participate. You can even go to other countries and find very similar worship styles. 

It is the shape of our liturgies that imprint on us; it is the reliable, repeatable actions our worship patterns that anchor us. Being careful to live within the BCP makes what we do accessible to newcomers. It appears that our reverent form of worship is what is bringing the younger generations back to churches. I don’t mean just Anglo-Catholic expressions of The Episcopal Church. It is a secret that we’ve kept since the 16th century, and it’s time to not keep it anymore.

As my time with you draws to a close, I want to share my report to the vestry with you. You may read it here.

May you live and love as Christ’s hands and heart in our broken and hurting world. May you always know God’s presence and rest in the assurance of God’s love for you.

—Fr. Heard

From the Curate

The “shop” serving refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers in St. Michael Hall is well under way as we open our doors for a second week. Many have asked about donating items and your time. While we are still working out the details for how to receive donations, we will happily accept gently used clothing and household items. Please contact Mtr. Murphy-Gill (mmurphygill@ascensionchicago) about a good time to drop off items. Things you may consider donating include:

• Warm jackets, gloves, hats, and scarves for all ages, all sizes, and all genders for the approaching cooler weather
• Gently used clothing
• New, unopened underwear 
• Dishes, pots and pans, and utensils
• Suitcases are a hot commodity for families still moving between shelters
• Diapers, formula, and gently used baby items for expectant parents
• Clean, gently used bedding
• New pillows
• Books and toys for children to keep them entertained and occupied while their parents shop on Wednesdays. 

Helpers are also needed for sorting, stacking, refolding, rehanging, and rearranging. You can come for 30 minutes or 3 hours whenever you’re available. Again, contact Mtr. Murphy-Gill with your availability and she’ll get you set up with the coordinator of this ministry. 

Finally, if you are a Spanish speaker, it is always helpful to have people around able to translate during shop hours, Wednesdays from 11 am - 3 pm. If you find yourself with even a half hour to offer during these hours, we’d love to see you. 

Thank you for all your support for this ministry. It is already making a difference in the lives of hundreds of new Chicagoans. 

—Mtr. Murphy-Gill

1125 N La Salle Update

From the looks of it, the vacant former convent seems quiet and forlorn. What isn’t apparent is the activity and thoughtful work going on quietly “behind the scenes.”

The Sub-Committee for 1125 was formed at the February 2023 Vestry Meeting. Ken Kelling and Jay Jacot volunteered, with David Robertson representing the Vestry and Mike Vales serving in his capacity as chair of the Building and Grounds Committee.

Focusing at this early stage on the structure itself, a detailed Building Inspection was completed by CBI Inc. last winter. This study identified various mechanical and safety issues while recognizing the building’s beauty and potential. We have just completed a baseline structural inspection by Cordogan Clark & Associates, Architects & Engineers, led by their principal John Clark and senior structural engineer Wai Chiang. Their conclusions were positive concerning the building’s basic integrity: This was very encouraging in helping us understand the 100+-year-old building’s capacity for significant renovation/repurposing for any program to be decided in the future.

An essential part of the programming effort is hearing from you, our parishioners. As you may recall, our Senior Warden issued a call this summer for the entire congregation to tell us what they think could be done with the building. Questions and additional ideas about 1125 should be directed to the Senior Warden, LaVerne Saunders at: [email protected]

In ongoing efforts, Ken has been busy cataloguing the considerable library remaining in the building and Jay is preparing measured drawings of the structure.

Thank you for your patience as we progress, and know that progress is being made.

Father de la Torre will soon be with us to contribute to the all-important decisions about how the former convent will enrich our church life in the future.

Blessings,

The 1125 Sub-Committee



Reception for the Heards'

Last Sunday at Ascension

Thank you to the Hospitality Committee for the wonderful reception. And thank you to James Baran for these great photos. You may see more here.

Save the Date

The institution of The Rev. Carlos de la Torre as the

18th Rector of Church of the Ascension

Friday, September 29, 2023

(The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels) at 7 p.m.

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, Fr. Heard and 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

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, Andrew Abbott, 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

Robert Paul Wallace, 8/31; Daniel Vargas, 8/31; Dennis Wentz, 9/1

Requiescat in pace:

Dorothy Murphy, 8/20/2023; Robert Browning, 8/21/2023; Paul Nicholson, 8/13/2023;

Olga Jonasson, 8/31/2006; Harry William Knitter, 9/1/2011

Also, we have been informed of the death of former parishioner Philip J. Reinert.

Philip died suddenly at his home in St. Charles, IL on July 31, 2023 at the age of 80.

The Funeral was held on Thursday, August 10, at 11 a.m. in the Laird Funeral Home, Elgin, IL.

Burial followed the service at Mount Hope Cemetery.

His obituary may be found here.

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 3, 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;

[email protected]

David Reeves, Jr. Warden;

[email protected]

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

[email protected]

Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG, Parish Office

[email protected]

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.