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This Week at Ascension + June 4, 2025
"Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." - Psalm 96
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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
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From the Rector
In 1949, Charles Williams, a British poet, novelist, and playwright, published “The Descent of the Dove: A short history of the Holy Spirit in the Church.” In his book, Williams surveys the work and witness of the Church, highlighting pivotal moments in its two thousand year history. Celebrating the Church’s great accomplishments, and lamenting its woeful failures. The motivating force behind Williams’ book was not a publishing deal, but his faith in and hope for the Church — his conviction that the Church has been guided, protected, and reformed by the Holy Spirit.
The Church’s broad, diverse, and at times complicated history shows us that the Church is not simply a human institution or an untouchable syndicate, but a vessel that is constantly being saved, sometimes from itself, and made new by the Holy Spirit. This historical and theological conviction led Williams to a simple and poignant thesis: the descent of the Dove, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church, was intended for the Church’s contrition, humility, and doctrine.
Even amidst its greatest turmoils, the Church has always found its way and prospered because of the work of the Spirit. Operating in and among the people of God, who, week after week, have gathered in grand churches and small rooms, like the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost, to offer their prayers and praise, joys and sorrows, and bread and wine to the living God. Please join us this Sunday for our celebration of the Day of Pentecost — the fiftieth and last day of Easter — as we welcome to the pulpit our new priest affiliate, Father Peter Lane. Come, Holy Spirit, our souls inspire!
Fr. de la Torre (b. 1959)
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Ascendit Deus in jubilatione
On Ascension Day, a new parish titulus was dedicated and blessed at our evening Solemn High Mass. The titulus’ text is the emblematic Ascension Day psalm verse: Ascendit Deus in jubilatione (God is gone up with a merry noise). The stenciling and gold-leaf work was completed by Andrew and Kelsey McClellan from Heart and Bone Studios. Next time you enter the nave from the narthex, make sure to look up.
O God, whose blessed Son has sanctified and transfigured the use of material things: Bless and hallow this inscription which we offer in honor, praise, and glory of our Lord's Ascension, that all who behold it with devotion may have strength and courage to follow him; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Spring Faith Formation
Nicaea: The First 1700 Years
“We believe,” with these words, Sunday after Sunday, we proclaim our Catholic faith as found in the words of the Nicene Creed. This year marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea which, among its various accomplishments, produced the Church’s central creed. Please join us for our Spring formation series after the 11 a.m. Solemn High Mass as we explore the council’s historical and theological developments. A hearty lunch will be provided.
June 1 - The Council of Nicaea
Presentation by Dr. Erin Walsh
Assistant Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature at the University of Chicago Divinity School
June 8 - We believe in one God; one Lord, Jesus Christ
Presentation by Fr. Christopher Poore
June 15 - We believe in the Holy Spirit
Presentation by Fr. Carlos de la Torre
For those who have wanted to join our formation offerings from home, you now have the chance to sit in on our Sunday formation offerings! Please join us on Zoom at 1 p.m. by clicking here. If a passcode is requested, type in "1133." Please note, as this is a new venture for us and we presently lack the proper equipment, Zoom participants will not be able to ask questions nor will classes be recorded. We look forward to having people join in-person and on Zoom.
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Ascension at the Orchestra
Friday, June 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
We're excited to announce this year's parish outing to the Grant Park Music Festival on Friday, June 13. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. and will feature Gustav Holst's The Planets. As an added bonus, our own Benjamin Rivera is serving Assistant Chorus Director. Parishioners are encouraged to bring personal lawn chairs -- a few picnic blankets will be available. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided by the Rector.
A designated lawn area will be reserved by a member of the parish to ensure we sit together. For those interested in arriving as a group, please promptly meet at Ascension at 5:30 p.m. Whether you plan to get there on your own or wish to travel in a group, please RSVP for our outing by contacting Adam Bronson at adambronson14@gmail.com or 214-738-2131
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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.
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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.
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Seán Hansen, Michael Barclay, Susann Mose, Billy Smith, John and Mary Romberger, Rob Bonhivert, Cathy Baily, Clarissa Galaviz, Alfredo Caliva, Nate Cole, Ed Blatz, Jamil Khoury, John Barry, Abbas Chinoy, Marilyn Fairchild, Lynn Wilber, Joseph Isaac, Jim Drury, Samuel Gibbons, 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
James (Jim) T. Wilson, 6/2; Pedro Illas, 6/4;
Anniversaries
The Rev. Dr. Carol Noren, UMC Diaconal Ordination, 6/4;
Requiescat in pace
Marco Mendez, Joanna Khoury, Lee Gould, Luis Mendez, Sharon Schuman;
William Brewster Stoskopf, Priest, 11th Rector, 6/2/1951; Donald C. Rubino, 6/4/1992;
Edgar F. Wells, Priest, 6/7/2020
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.
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Organ and Choral Repertoire for
June 8, 2025
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ORGAN
Choral varié sur le thème du Veni Creator, op. 4 [1930]
Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)
Opening Hymn
Hymn 504 VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS
The Pentecost Sequence (11 a.m.)
Choral setting
At the Offertory
509 NUN DANKET ALL (9 a.m.)
NAPHILL (desc. DW) (11 a.m.)
At the Communion
508 NOVA VITA (9 a.m.)
229 CORNISH (11 a.m.)
Closing Hymn
516 DOWN AMPNEY
ORGAN
Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist à 5 BWV 671
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(1756-1791)
Missa brevis in C major
“Sparrow Mass”, K. 220
William Byrd
(c. 1540-1623)
Veni Sancte Spiritus à5
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
(c. 1525-1594)
Confirma hoc Deus à5
Jacobus Gallus
(1550-1591)
Factus est repente
The Gregorian Chant Propers from Graduale Romanum
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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
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Ascension Connections
(with your click and God's help)
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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
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The Rev. Carlos de la Torre, Rector
cdelatorre@ascensionchicago.org
Wardens
David A. Robertson, Sr. Warden
drobertson@ascensionchicago.org
Victoria Dvonch, Jr. Warden
vdvonch@ascensionchicago.org
Vestry
Ken Cozette, Ellie Simpson, Samuel Sommers (Clerk), 2026
Nancy Pardee, Jay Peterson, DiAnne Walsh, 2027
Jim Drury, Alexis Sarkisian, Andrew Smith, 2028
Susan Schlough, Treasurer
Finance@ascensionchicago.org
Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG, Parish Office
Office@ascensionchicago.org
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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.
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