THIS WEEK AT ASCENSION + September 30, 2020 |
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"Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." - Psalm 96
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You will be able to see how many spots, if any, are still available.
The full schedule for Sunday, including virtual worship and connections,
may be found below.
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This evening, September 30
Commemoration of St. Jerome,
Priest & Monk of Bethlehem, 420
Evening Prayer 6:00 p.m.
Low Mass, 6:30 p.m.
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Sunday, October 4
Patronal Feast of St. Michael and All Angels (transferred)
Virtual and In-Person Schedule
with links for virtual worship and in-person reservations
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Virtual Worship & Fellowship
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. Live-Streamed Mass
10:15 a.m. Virtual Coffee Hour
11:00 a.m. In-Person Mass - Reservation Required: Click here
Image: embroidery on Ascension's
St. Michael cope
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Dying and grieving in the time of pandemic
“In the midst of heartbreak we are alone, unable to reach out and comfort those who mourn, standing a careful six feet from each other.” - CNN Health
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Dear People of Ascension,
The news feature from which the quote above was taken might seem timely for some or many of us at Ascension this week. Or maybe I should write ‘timely for some or many of us who will not be at Ascension this week ...’
Requiem masses for Sr. Barbara Louise, OSA, and longtime parishioner John Mulcare will take place, respectively, on Friday and Saturday. Requiring reservations for a parochial funeral seems off-putting enough. And now, adding proverbial insult to injury, I must let you know that the limited seating is now mostly taken for both masses.
Assuming you already understand by now about limited seating and reservations, let me explain the added limitations posed by both funerals and weddings. Immediate family members (and, in the case of Sister Barbara, Mother Judith, OSA) are informed of how many spots are available and asked to give us a list of those they’ve welcomed who are able to come. We can only offer to others whatever spots remain, if any.
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All of this administrative detail, bother and disappointment has the added pox of further obscuring all that we are fundamentally missing at this time with regard to death and grieving. Diminished or nonexistent now are so many of the ways that we normally gather, grieve, remember, pray and connect in conjunction with dying, death and funerals: the reunions, hugs, wakes or visitations, beloved song, food and drink, storytelling, laughter, commiseration and more.
Citing a secular news source at the top may seem odd. I suppose I did so in part because reading it both made me more aware of my own experiences now related to death, loss and grief, and the feature also reminded me that I am/we are not alone in these experiences.
We are not alone is, of course, a bedrock feature of my faith, and, I trust, of yours. Whether or not your 'on the list' for Friday or Saturday, please pray. If you have a related concern or need to talk or share a sorrow or question, please call.
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With regard to the Friday, October 2, Requiem Mass for Sister Barbara Louise, OSA ...
To learn if there are remaining spots at the mass, click here.
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With regard to the Saturday, October 3, Requiem Mass for John Mulcare
To learn if there are remaining spots at the mass, click here.
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Paloma McDonnell and Trevor Peterson were joined in Holy Matrimony on Saturday, September 19, in a 2 pm ceremony in Ascension's Our Lady of Victory garden. COVID-19 restrictions limited attendance to immediate family, but you can't always measure a wedding by the number of participants. The robust and joyful noises of the garden reception were still being heard nearby (at the Ascension rectory) late into the evening. Please keep Paloma and Trevor in thanksgiving and prayers. |
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I publish the Banns of Marriage between Shane Patrick Gormley and Leslie Gurina Smebak, who will be joined in Holy Matrimony on October 17, here at the Ascension. I bid your prayers for them and their marriage. If any of you know cause, or just impediment, why these two persons should not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, you are to declare it. This is the first time of asking.
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Thanks in advance to our diocesan convention delegates!
Join me in thanking Ken Kelling, Laverne Saunders and Bonnie Scott for agreeing to serve at this year's Diocese of Chicago Convention, November 21. (Today is the deadline for certification of delegates!) Move information on our delegates and the convention will be provided at the date nears.
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Dear friends,
This Sunday marks the observance of our Patronal Feast and the traditional start of the “choir term.” Beginning with the 9 AM Zoom Mass, we will use the following template going forward, which might be helpful for you to reference:
The vocal music for the 9 AM Zoom Mass will include the five Gregorian Propers, selections from the Mass Ordinary, a hymn at the Offertory, and a solo or choral number at the Communion.
The 11 AM in-person Mass will include the Propers and a solo or choral number at the Communion, all coming through a speaker in the loft.
All vocal music will be sung live remotely or from recordings of our Choir, Choirmaster, and Organist.
While we are still unable to offer in-person vocal music, we hope that these virtual appearances of our musicians will continue to be a blessing.
Peace,
Benjamin
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Sunday's Organ Repertoire |
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Opening Voluntary
Fantaisie pour la Fête de Saint-Michel [1919]
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
At the Offertory
Improvisation on CAELITES PLAUDANT
Closing Voluntary
Festival Toccata
for St. Michael's Day [1914]
Percy Fletcher (1879-1932)
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I regret having to remind you that visits to Ascension, other than for urgent or essential matters or for brief personal devotion in the church, are to be avoided. Any (other) visit should be arranged in advance with Br. Nathanael Rahm Thank you for your understanding. |
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Due to COVID-19, Church of the Ascension’s Treasurer and Bookkeeper are limiting the amount of time they spend working in the parish offices. All checks received at Ascension via the United States Postal Service, not always a reliable service in our area, will be bank deposited approximately every 4-6 weeks. They will next be here Tuesday, October 6, for several hours beginning by 10 a.m. You may contact the Treasurer by email anytime at Finance@AscensionChicago.org.
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Ascension Connections
Below
(with your click and God's help)
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Meeting ID:
792 031 7452
Password: 1133
Join-by-Phone Option: (312) 626-6799
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Weekly Ascension Schedule
For connections:
via Zoom (click here)
except for Morning Prayer,
via Facebook (click here).
SUNDAYS
8:30 a.m. Virtual Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. Live-Streamed Mass
10:15 a.m. Virtual Coffee Hour
11:00 a.m. in-person mass
MONDAY-FRIDAY
6:10 p.m. Evening Prayer via Zoom
WEDNESDAYS
6:30 p.m. Low Mass
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Yes, but I still haven't Zoomed ... |
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Please give generously as you are able.
Treasurer Susan Schlough has asked me to remind you of Ascension's ongoing expenses at this time. To the extent that you are able, payment on your pledges or the offering of Holy Day or other special gifts will be greatly appreciated. You may still write a check and mail it to the church, or online payment is possible through the buttons at various places on our website. Thank you!
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For our prayers: Charley Taylor, August 'Augie' Alonzo, Jim Berger, Ethel Martin, Dean Pineda, Charlene MacDougal, Marty Stenson, David Byerly, Bonnie Joseph, Catriana Patriarca, Robert Devens, Richard Laibly, Nicholas Carl, Sara, the Howard family, Owen Raymond, Diane Burnett, Sandra, Rhea, the Friedman family, Doreen Rao, Steven Wallis, Chuck Kohn
Birthdays:
Michael J. Vales, 10/4; Ralph Vara, 10/4; Richard William Connaughton, 10/5; Deacon Charles F. Farrell, 10/7; Edmund Sebkowski, 10/8; David Alan Robertson, 10/10
Marriage:
Paloma McDonnell & Trevor Peterson, 9/26,2020;
Ted & LaVerne Saunders, 10/7/1989; Jim & DiAnne Walsh, 10/9/1976
Requiescat in pace: Adelle M. Norén, 10/7/2003; Gladys Schlough, 10/8/2009
For the Departed: Marcella Marszalek, Catherine Bednar
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.
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Oops! Sorry!
Once again the church webcam is down, this time intentionally, as we need the related technology for live-streaming. We intend to reinstall the 24/7 webcam in coming weeks (or months).
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In anticipation of our Sunday celebration of the Solemnity of Michaelmas ...
Some will already know the traditional prayers to St. Michael, below; others may appreciate being introduced to them. Following the prayers: my favorite artistic depiction of St. Michael, 'The Angel Michael binding Satan,' by William Blake, 1805, in the Collection of the Fogg Musuem/Harvard Museums.
- Fr. Raymond +
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
O glorious prince St. Michael,
chief and commander of the heavenly hosts,
guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits,
servant in the house of the Divine King
and our admirable conductor,
you who shine with excellence
and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil,
who turn to you with confidence
and enable us by your gracious protection
to serve God more and more faithfully every day. Amen.
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The Very Rev. Patrick Raymond, Rector
Susan Schlough, Treasurer
Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG, Parish Office
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