This Week at Ascension + March 12, 2025

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

Stations of the Cross &

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

March 14, 21 & 28, April 4 & 11

at 6 p.m.

Following Stations & Benediction a vegetarian soup and bread supper will be offered in Wheeler Hall.

The Second Sunday

in Lent

March 16, 2025

7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer via Zoom

9 a.m. Sung Mass

10:15 a.m. Confession available

11 a.m. Solemn High Mass *

Image: Mosaic of broody hen and chicks, Altar of Dominus Flevit, Mount of Olives

11 a.m. Bulletin here

*Click to join us VIA YOUTUBE

or VIA FACEBOOK LIVE

Weekday Mass Schedule

12 p.m. on Monday & Friday

8 a.m. on Tuesday & Thursday

6:30 p.m. on Wednesday

View the Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Live-stream Mass here

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

Weekday Offices

7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer via Zoom

6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer via Zoom

From the Rector

"Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.'” Luke 13:32

No matter where you turned in first century Jerusalem, the Romans were everywhere. From appointed political officials and government approved religious leaders, to the coins in your purse engraved with Caesar's face, to roaming Roman soldiers and military outposts -- the Romans were everywhere you looked. These vivid signs served as a daily reminder to those in Jerusalem that they were not only under the occupancy of the Roman Empire, but that they were not Roman citizens. 

So when we hear our Lord call Herod, one of Caesar's appointed government officials, a "fox" we are witnessing a mad man in action. Every non-Roman citizen knew their status, better yet their lack of status, under the Roman Empire. To make matters worse, our Lord doesn’t only criticize an appointed Roman official, but he dares to do so out loud in front of religious leaders, for anyone and everybody to hear. However, in our Sunday Gospel we will not only hear our Lord denounce one of Caesar's appointed officials, but we will hear him denounce the city of David: “Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!”

The linking of Caesar and Jerusalem reminds us that no one is truly blameless or victimless -- especially when we as a people are forced to deal with great turmoil and chaos. Yes, there might be varying degrees of culpability, especially for Herod-like characters in our day, and yet all of us are in need of our Lord's casting out and healing today and tomorrow. All of us are in need of the work our Lord completed on the third day: the Day of Resurrection. All of us are in need of our Lord’s love, mercy, and grace in our present time of need. 

Fr. de la Torre

Lenten Faith Formation:

The Pastoral Offices: Unction, Reconciliation, and Burial

March 16, 23, & 30 at 12:45 p.m.

The Church's Pastoral Offices impart a unique sacramental grace, providing counsel and strength for the Christian journey. Please join us for a three-week series as we explore their theological, pastoral, and liturgical framework. A hearty lunch will be provided. 

March 16 - Unction and Ministration to the Sick and Dying 

Presentation by Father Petite

March 23 - Reconciliation of a Penitent (Confession) 

Presentation by Father Poore

March 30 - Burial of the Dead 

Presentation by Father de la Torre



The Annunciation of the Lord

Tuesday, March 25

8 a.m. Low Mass

6 p.m. Evening Prayer 

7 p.m. Sung Mass with Schola



"I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever"

2025-26 Columbarium Expansion 

Following Mother Murphy-Gill's congregational survey and presentation last year, the Columbarium Sub-Committee is finalizing construction plans for an interior extension of Ascension's Columbarium. As previously announced, this will be located in place of the north confessional booth and consist of 25 niches and beautifully match the current woodwork. 

Interest expressed in this project makes it a priority for the Wardens and Vestry, particularly as the columbarium niches in the garden are fully committed. We have a solid budget, builder, and construction plan for this project to begin in January 2026 and be completed that spring/early summer.

The one-time total fee is $3,500. Alternatively, this can be paid over several months, securing final payment by December 2025 for the construction to begin. The quoted fee includes use of niche (each niche holds up to two urns), all future engraving costs, and the offering of a Low Mass of Requiem. 

For Vestry to move along into the next phase of this project, we ask interested parties to contact Jay Peterson (co-chair), David Robertson (Senior Warden) or Vickie Dvonch (Junior Warden) with inquiries.

Fascinating Flowers: A Flower Arrangement Workshop

Saturday, March 29

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

Followed by a luncheon until 1:15 p.m.

Would you like to take a "hands-on approach" to creating simple but stunning floral arrangements for our church on Sunday morning? If this thought encourages your creativity and challenges your artistic interests, then mark your calendar for our Spring Flower Workshop on Saturday, March 29. Ana Nicol, a member of the Ascension Flower Guild and florist at a downtown shop, will train us in basic floral structure and provide professional tips to build our skills in creating flower arrangements for Ascension's Altar and shrines. 

This is an opportunity for Flower Guild members and others in the congregation to experiment with some new (and maybe old) flower arranging techniques. We will be creating flowers for Laetare Sunday so there will be lots of pink colors involved. If you wish to participate in our Spring Flower Workshop, please RSVP by completing our online registration form: https://forms.gle/uPPin1S4ERMpvN118

I hope to see you on March 29th — and bring a pair of sharp scissors or clippers so we have enough tools for everyone!

Cheryl Peterson

New Online Coffee Hour Sign-Up Sheet

If you're looking for a way to give back and support Ascension's robust parish life, we hope you'll consider serving as a coffee hour host. With our new online sign-up sheet, it's now easier than ever to sign-up for coffee hour: https://tinyurl.com/y66pztfz. A hard copy continues to be available in Wheeler Hall, and will be updated and reprinted every week to prevent accidental "double bookings."

So, what does hosting coffee hour entail? We ask that you set-up, provide and prepare snacks, and clean up Wheeler Hall. You can provide any food items you wish and there are always pastries available in the freezer for easy thawing. Coffee and cold beverages are provided by the church. Reimbursement funds are available for coffee hour expenses, but please make sure to provide a receipt in order to complete a reimbursement request. 

If you have any questions about hosting coffee hour, please speak to Father de la Torre or Hospitality Committee members Josh or Ellie Simpson, LaVerne Saunders or Carol Noren. They will be glad to help and guide you.



The Prayers of the People

As part of our Sunday offering of the Mass, we bring to God our petitions and thanksgivings. As a community, we do this by bidding the parish’s intentions in the Prayers of the People. If you wish to have someone added to the Prayers of the People, please email Father de la Torre or the Parish Office.

Lord, hear the prayers of thy people; and what we have asked faithfully, grant that we may obtain effectually, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.



THE PARISH PRAYER LIST

For our prayers

Terry Gregoris, Roséo Soria, Herm Laninga and the Laninga Family, Mark Shuldiner, Seán Hansen, Arlina Perez, Bekah Hurty, Samuel Gibbons, Nate Cole, Ed Blatz, Bonnie Joseph, Kelly Callahan Turcy, Kristin Harrison, Lois Peterson, Fredo Caliva, Ruby Woods, Grace Ellen Rivera, Malcolm Wood, Carolyn Wiggins, Marlea Edinger, Elizabeth McLaughlin, MB Hwang, Juanita Malone, Richard Francis Tracz, Victor Fernandez, Claire Green, Beth Hall, Brenda Martins

Birthdays

Luis Vargas, 3/9; Mary Jane Kowalski, 3/11

Requiescat in pace

Steven Cooksey, Muriel Jones; Rev. Dr. Martin Marty, 2/25/2025; Matt Laninga

Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them;

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.



Organ and Choral Repertoire for

March 16, 2025

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

Ascension Connections

(with your click and God's help)

Our website home page --

often with up-to-date info/links.

Participate in Ascension masses at our YouTube Channel. (Look for other connections options soon.)

Our Facebook page:

Videos, upcoming events and more.

Weekly Ascension Schedule

For connections:

via Zoom (click here)

SUNDAYS

7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer via Zoom

9 a.m. Sung Mass

11 a.m. Solemn High Mass

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

MONDAY-FRIDAY

7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer via Zoom

6 p.m. Evening Prayer via Zoom

Weekday Low Mass Schedule

12 p.m. on Monday & Friday

8 a.m. on Tuesday & Thursday

6:30 p.m. on Wednesday

View the Wednesday Mass here

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

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.