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Dear People of Ascension,
As many of you know, this past weekend the clergy and (most of) the vestry went on retreat at Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, NY. We made some plans for the year ahead and had a chance to discuss the search for a new Music Director and the upcoming parish bicentennial in more depth than a regular vestry meeting allows. We told stories of our spiritual journeys, meditated on Psalm 23 together and had a chance to simply hang out. We were nourished by the regular rhythm of monastic worship and excellent, plentiful meals from the monastery chef.
It was warm and cozy inside and bracingly cold outside under brilliant blue skies. I ventured out (it’s all about the gear) to walk down to the frozen river in the snow, following someone else’s tracks like the page in Good King Wenceslaus. The beauty and the deep, peaceful quiet are restorative for me. I’m grateful. I’m thinking about how to continue to attend to what nourishes me in the coming season.
This Lent, what soul-restoring practices will you undertake? The traditional disciplines of prayer, fasting and alms-giving (see Matthew 6:1-6) are interesting jumping off places. Perhaps you will explore new ways to pray: taking a daily prayer walk, writing a daily psalm, attending to beauty, joining our online Evening Prayer, using our parish Lenten devotional or some other reading.
Fasting may mean giving up meat or alcohol for a season or maybe letting go of social media or shopping. It could also involve intentional care for your body: sleep, nourishing food, healthy movement; or for the body of the earth: reducing waste or carbon, or boycotting companies or products that do harm to people or the planet.
Alms-giving certainly includes offering our money to support people in need and life-giving work. It could also mean a practice of connection: giving your energy to serve in our food pantry or accompany asylum seekers in the court system. Maybe it’s a personal connection you’re called to tend to: a need to forgive or ask forgiveness, an act of kindness and care, a note to someone you who has been on your mind.
Whatever your personal Lenten practice this year, I pray it will deepen your awareness of God’s love and grace, and your own love for God, your neighbors and yourself. And I look forward to seeing you at Ascension as we journey through Lent together.
Peace,
Liz
| | Services at Church of the Ascension | | Do you like to color? Especially for children and their families- we have copies of “the Sunday Paper” a cartoon version of our gospel each Sunday, along with crayons and clipboards available from the ushers. Please ask for one if your child would enjoy this during the service. | | | |
Newcomers’ Brunch, This Sunday, February 15, in the Parlor.
Whether you have been coming to Ascension one day or fifty years, we invite you to join us for a festive brunch following the 11 am service. The newest members of our community are our guests of honor and everyone is invited. Come and welcome each other, enjoy some delicious food and conversation and learn about the life of our parish. Please RSVP to the Steve Hubbard so we know how much food to prepare. We are excited to see you there!
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Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner,
Tuesday, February 17; 6:30 p.m.
Join us in the Parish Hall for our annual – and delicious – Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner, followed by the burning of the palms in the garden immediately following. Please feel free to bring your palms from past years.
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Ash Wednesday Schedule
8:00 a.m. - Ash Wednesday Service with Imposition of Ashes
9:00 to Noon - Ashes to Go in the Front Garden
12:00 noon - Ash Wednesday Service with Imposition of Ashes
1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Ashes to Go in the Front Garden
7:00 p.m. - Ash Wednesday Service with Music & Imposition of Ashes
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Regular Service Schedule
SUNDAY
9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Side Altar)
11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist w/ Music
(Church & Livestream)
6:00 p.m. Meditation & Sacrament (Church)
WEDNESDAY
6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist (Church)
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Evening Prayer Every Weekday Evening
via Zoom
Join us each weeknight at 5:30
for Evening Prayer & discussion.
Click this link to join: ascensionnyc.org/eveningprayer.
To call in (voice, no camera), dial 929-205-6099; the meeting ID is 880 1981 1224.
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Long Term Prayers
Pray for: Pray for Allejandro and Jesus, Barbara, Brielle, Dorothy, Elaine, Ellen, Hannah, Judith, Jurek, Lucas, Stewart, Jen, Bishop Gretchen, Alice & the Kisiya family, Jennifer, Rural and Migrant Ministry, and New York Haiti Project and the St. Luke’s Episcopal School in Martel. We remember all who have been killed by ICE, or died in custody this year: Alex Pretti, Renee Good, Keith Porter, Heber Sanchaz Dominguez, Victor Manuel Diaz, Parady La, Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, Geraldo Lunas Campos.
Please keep these people and intentions from our long-term prayer list in your own prayers. We hope to keep our intercessions in the liturgy both faithful and fresh, as we persist in prayer for those who need it.
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Prayers! Did you know you can submit your prayer requests online? Go to ascensionnyc.org/prayers and type in your prayer request. Be sure to add them. Requests submitted by noon on Thursday will be included in the Sunday bulletin. (Any requests after that will be included in the following Sunday bulletin.) | |
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
If you are attending any of our services online, we invite you to use this prayer at communion.
In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.
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2026 Blessed Absalom Jones Celebration, Saturday, February 14, 10:30 a.m. - This service honors the legacy of the Reverend Absalom Jones, the first Black priest ordained in the Episcopal Church, whose groundbreaking ministry paved the way for a more diverse and inclusive priesthood. To register, click here.
Cathedral of St. John the Divine
1047 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025
The Rt. Rev. Matthew F. Heyd, Celebrant
The Rt. Rev. Carlye J. Hughes, Bishop of Newark, Preacher
The service will be streamed live on the Cathedral Website (stjohndivine.org), on the Cathedral YouTube Channel and on the Cathedral Facebook page, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
| | Lenten Forums: Amy-Jill Levine returns with The Sermon on the Mount. Please join us on Sundays in Lent following the 11 am service for a lively study of the Sermon on the Mount featuring both a book and videos by New Testament scholar Amy-Jill Levine. This is a wonderful way to deepen our understanding of some of Jesus’ most profound teachings and ponder their place in the gospel of Matthew, which we are reading this year, as well as in our lives. The book, Sermon on the Mount, a Beginner’s Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven, by Amy-Jill Levine, is available online; each session will begin with a video presentation from Dr. Levine. | | |
Who Will Win the Golden Halo? You may have noticed the colorful poster hanging on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall, which means that Lent Madness 2026 is almost here! Participating in this annual tradition is a fun way to get to know new and familiar saints, and we are offering a chance to compete against your fellow parishioners for a prize by selecting your "Faithful Four" and the ultimate winner of the "Golden Halo." Pick one saint from each of the four quadrants on the chart, then pick the final two, and finally make your choice for the overall winner of the Golden Halo. Take a look at the poster and make your selections on the ballots provided at church from now through Ash Wednesday. For more information, go to lentmadness.org, and speak with John Grimes or Isabel Spencer for more details on the selection process.
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Lenten House Eucharists - This is an annual tradition at Ascension during Lent. Eight parishioners have offered to host in their home this year and the signup sheets are posted on a board in the Parish Hall. Take a look and see if one of the dates and locations will work for you. Please be sure to fill out the sheet legibly and provide a way to contact you. The number of attendees is set for each home so please don’t add additional lines. For further information or to sign up if you can’t do it in person, please contact Br. Andrew, Parish Administrator.
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Lenten Offerings Around the Diocese:
Ash Wednesday Action - On Ash Wednesday at 3 pm, join Bishop Matthew, Bishop Shin, Bishop Provenzano, and Dean Varghese as we gather faith leaders at 26 Federal Plaza to surround the federal building as an appeal to ICE to remember our shared humanity. You can sign up to participate here.
Reclaim our Shared Humanity: Text Meditations & Book Study:
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Daily Spiritual Meditations via text. You can sign up here.
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Weekly Online Book Study using For A Time Such as This: An Emergency Devotional on Thursdays at noon beginning on February 19. Register here.
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Book Study on White Christian Nationalism. The Anti-Racism Committee and the diocesan Young Adult Network are hosting a Lenten study on the dangers of white Christian nationalism. There will be two study tracks:
- Six-week book study curriculum using "The False White Gospel."
- Discussion Curriculum for the ChurchNext “Exploring Christian Nationalism With Jim Wallis” course. Click here to access the resources and learn more.
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Giving Liberates the Soul of the Giver- Our annual pledge drive has concluded, but it's not too late to pledge!
The materials are in the back of the church; please take them if you are interested. We would love for everyone to pledge! If you are not able to make a regular commitment, we warmly invite you to give as you are able, one time or whenever you are here.
We need your help and are grateful for the support of everyone in our community! Thank you for your generosity, and may it be liberating for your soul!
To pay your pledge, please continue using Abundant (ascensionnyc.org/give)
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Immigration Legal Support Fund – Recently our diocese announced a new Immigration Legal Support Fund to support immigrant families in our congregations and neighborhoods throughout the Diocese of New York. The Legal Fund will help those navigating immigration under urgent and vulnerable circumstances to access legal resources. We're starting with a $50,000 contribution from the Bishop’s discretionary funds. Help us to match this amount to keep families together. With your support, we can do more so that no one faces the system alone. Your contribution makes possible same-day response, family preparedness, limited-scope appearances, and urgent filings. You can contribute here. To learn more about the Immigration Legal Support Fund Click here.
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Your Pantry Needs You!
Ascension Outreach Inc. needs additional volunteer participation. The program is robust and developing in some great ways- and we need more hands-on help. Won’t you consider helping strengthen our service to our neighbors?
Saturday opportunity: 8 to 9:30 am on the first and third Saturday of each month.
Upcoming Dates: February 21, March 7 & 21
If you have questions or wish to join us, please contact Fr. Ed: fatherchinery@ascensionnyc.org – or – 732-910-7017 (c)
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Open Church Schedule
Open Church - Mondays through Fridays, Noon to 3pm (except as mentioned above). If you would like to volunteer for this ministry, please contact Gretchen Dumler or contact the church office (info@ascensionnyc.org or 212-254-8620.
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Sunday – February 15 Last Sunday after Epiphany
Holy Eucharist (Side Altar) 9:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist with Music (Church) 11:00 a.m.
In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday)
Newcomers Brunch (Rear Parlor) Following 11:00 service
Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.
Monday – February 16
Church and Parish Office Closed for Presidents’ Day
Lectionary Bible Study (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday – February 17
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner (Parish Hall) 6:30 p.m.
Followed by burning of the palms in the garden and Compline
Wednesday – February 18 – Ash Wednesday
All Ash Wednesday Services are with imposition of Ashes
Ash Wednesday Service (Church) 8:00 a.m.
Ashes to Go (Front Garden) 9:00 a.m. —Noon
Ash Wednesday Service (Church) 12:00 noon
Ashes to Go (Front Garden) 1:00 p.m. —6:00 p.m.
Ash Wednesday Service with Music (Church) 7:00 p.m.
Thursday – February 19
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Racial Justice Discussion (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.
Friday – February 20
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Saturday – February 21
Food Panty (12 W 11th St) 8:30 a.m.
The Food Pantry is on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. For food assistance or to volunteer, please contact Fr. Ed (fatherchinery@ascensionyc.org).
Sunday – February 22 First Sunday in Lent
Holy Eucharist (Side Altar) 9:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist with Music (Church) 11:00 a.m.
In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday)
Ascension Forum (Parish Hall) Following 11:00 service
Ecclesia in the Bowery (2nd Ave. and 10th St.) 2:00 p.m.
Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.
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If you need information to connect to one of our Zoom events please call the church office at 212-254-8620 or email us at info@ascensionnyc.org
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