This Week at Ascension + April 28, 2021

"Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." - Psalm 96
Wednesday, April 28
St. Mark the Evangelist (transf.)

6:30 p.m. Live-streamed Mass

Sunday, May 2
The Fifth Sunday of Easter
The Crowning of Mary &
The Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary

9:30 a.m. - Morning Prayer via ZOOM
10:00 a.m. Live-streamed Mass

Following the mass (about 11:15 a.m.)
Virtual Coffee Hour via ZOOM



Image: detail from the Crowning of Mary Rosary Window, Church of the Ascension
 

The Mass for The Feast of the Ascension
(7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 13th) will be both In-person and Live-streamed. Registration information will be included in next week's May 5th edition of the newsletter.
Bishop-elect Paula Clark will be unable to join us,
but Father Shane Patrick Gormley
has agreed to be our guest preacher that evening.

Note: After clicking on the link, you will be able to see how many spots, if any, are still available for a particular mass.

When you register online, you will be sent an email confirming your online registration. This same link will also have a
blue CANCEL THIS RESERVATION tab.
Please note: if you have not yet taken part in an in-person mass, please click here to see some basic information that you will want to know before registering, upon arrival and during and after the mass.

From the Society of Mary
The Merry Mary Month of May

“She, being the mother of him who is our Life, became the Mother of Life; she was the Gate of Heaven, because he, born of her, opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. Alleluia.” – Edward Bouverie Pusey

Dear fellow Ascension Members,

Catholic Christians have long considered May to be the month of Mary. The May crowning of a statue is a beautiful way to honor Mary, the Mystical Rose. The Church of the Ascension has a rich history of Marian devotion. The statue at the Lady shrine was a gift to the parish from Father Larrabee in 1922. Around 1926, the rector, Father Stoskopf, offered some insight for the meditation which accompanied the recitation of prayers:

"We can say our Rosary and be thinking of our joys and sorrows, and these are distractions; we can say our Rosary and be thinking of our Lord’s joys and sufferings, and such meditation is the highest form of personal prayer. It is this essential meditative character of the Rosary that makes it perhaps the best of all private devotions–the Divine Office of the Laity." (From History of the Church of the Ascension Chicago, Illinois, 1857-1982, George C Giles, Jr.)

The Anglican Society of Mary is a devotional society dedicated to Mary, Help of Christians. Its worldwide membership is not confined to any specific denomination, although it is Anglican based. Members of the Society keep a rule of life that includes traditional Marian devotions such as the Rosary and the Angelus, and participation in Mass on major Marian feasts. Local groups gather for prayer and fellowship, study, or pilgrimages. 
The Rosary will follow Mass this first Sunday of the month. You are invited to participate. Anyone with interest in the Society of Mary, the Rosary, or devotion to Mary may contact us. We hope to hear from you.

George Pineda and Samuel Sommers, members of the Vestry and of the Society of Mary.

O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today!
Queen of the angels, Queen of the May.
From Deacon Meghan Murphy-Gill
Deacon Meghan Murphy-Gill
Last Thursday, I had the privilege of co-facilitating with Jr. Warden, Ken Kelling, a conversation about how Ascension welcomes and affirms (or not) the presence of its LGBTQ+ members and visitors. We largely heard from members — both those who identify as LGBTQ+ and those who do not — about what it would mean to them were Ascension to more publicly express an affirming position and the form that affirmation could take. The conversation was honest, open, and certainly a holy one as a multiplicity of experiences and ideas were expressed. Because participation and positive sentiment were so plentiful, the group has decided to convene for more conversation, open to all members of Ascension, sometime in mid-May. In the meantime, if you have questions or remarks, please share them with Ken via email. We look forward to continuing this important discussion.

My husband, Andrew, and son, Albie (Albert), were able to attend Ascension last Sunday. Albie was especially thrilled to tour the sacristy with sacristan Thom Ehlen. Andrew and Albie have recently split their time between Atonement, close to our home, and St. Augustine’s, Wilmette, the congregation that sponsored my ordination, so it was so wonderful to have them join us for Mass. Our present restrictions prevented introductions Sunday, and I’m looking forward to the blessed day when we can gather, greet each other face to face, and enjoy proper introductions and visiting.

This coming Sunday, May 2, Deacon Charles Farrell will take part in the mass. He wants to make sure he's not forgotten at Ascension, and he values his ministries here! When not at Ascension, he is mainly serving at Church of the Atonement. He and I have been collaborating on the monthly deacons' schedule.

From the Rector
I'm grateful for an opportunity to take a break with Brooke, starting today and through next week. (After weeks of calculations, we recognized that we'd never stop if we waited for perfectly safe conditions.) Pastoral matters in my absence may be addressed with any member of the parish clergy or (for referral) to the staff.

It's been awhile since I provided a family report and can share some interesting and positive developments.
  • Grace turned 18 three days after Easter, is one course and five weeks away from high school graduation and plans to enroll at DePaul University in the fall -- wondering about pre-med, psychology and police forensic programs. She is working part-time at Whispers, the coffee and smoothie operation in the triangle park at the east end of Maple Street, near Gibson's.
  • Owen has been blessed with a remarkable recovery from his August 2020 accident, but continues to undergo physical therapy to optimize his capacities. He leaves for Taipei in August for a 9-month intensive Mandarin language immersion program.
  • Eliot left Lisbon for a vaccination here in the US and to surprise Grace for her 18th birthday.
  • Brooke supports us all, both those of us in the rectory and those more far-flung.
  • We are all gratful for support and prayers.
Organ Repertoire for the Fifth Sunday of Easter,
May 2, 2021
ORGAN
Antiennes pour la Sainte
Vierge Marie [1920]
I. Maestoso; II. Tranquillo;
III. Très lent, sans rigeur
Marcel Dupré (1886-1971)

Hymn at the Offertory
843 DAILY, DAILY
 
ORGAN
Alleluia sur l'antienne
du Magnificat [1951]
Rolande Falcinelli (1920-2006)
About our 2021 Repertoire
As I develop a long-range plan for repertoire each year, I choose a theme or area of emphasis, often complete works or a complete large-scale work by one composer. During 2021, organ music by women composers and African-American composers is being and will be featured in voluntaries and recitals throughout the year. There are some little-known gems waiting to be discovered, as well as music by major composers, with whom works for the organ are not generally associated. Enjoy!
Choir of the Ascension:
Now on Soundcloud!
Please visit SoundCloud and listen to our playlist! There are currently 40 tracks, and several more will be added each month.

Benjamin Rivera, Choirmaster

Forward Day by Day

Copies of the May-June-July 2021 Forward Day by Day: Daily Devotions for Disciples are now available by emailing the parish office. We have both regular and large print editions while supplies last.

You may also find them on the Forward Movement website.
Other than for urgent or essential matters or for brief personal devotion in the church, visits to Ascension are presently to be avoided. Any (other) visit should be arranged in advance with Br. Nathanael Rahm. Thank you for your understanding.
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. You may contact the Treasurer by email anytime at [email protected]. 
Ascension Connections
(with your click and God's help)
Participate in Ascension masses at our YouTube Channel. (Look for other connections options soon.)
Meeting ID:
792 031 7452
Password: 1133
Join-by-Phone Option: (312) 626-6799

Weekly Ascension Schedule

For connections:
via Zoom (click here)
except for Morning Prayer,
via Facebook (click here).

SUNDAYS
9:30 a.m. Virtual Morning Prayer
10:00 a.m. Live-Streamed Mass
11:00 a.m. Virtual Coffee Hour

MONDAY-FRIDAY
6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer via Zoom

WEDNESDAYS
6:30 p.m. Low Mass
Yes, but I still haven't Zoomed ...
For the Novice, Newbie, or tech-challenged: It may be easier than you know. We've simplified instructions on the sheet that you can view by clicking here. Please know that you can block your camera (and don't need one to start with), and you could join our Scripture study or Virtual Coffee Hour, for instance, without having to say a word. Give it a try.
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!
THE PARISH PRAYER LIST
For our prayers: August 'Augie' Alonzo, Jim Berger, David Byerly, Steven Wallis, Sarah Ponder, Taffy Wehe, Carnola Malone, Marvin Files, Amy Peterson, Stephanie, Gwen Clark-Mason, Barbara Wischmeier
 
Birthdays: Bob Rogers, 4/26; Amber Zelazny, 4/26; Burton Nelson, 5/1
Anniversaries: Arthur & Jeanne Kreymer, marriage at Ascension, 4/25/1992

Requiescat in pace:
Dan Reeves, 4/26/2015; Dow John Harter, 4/29/2006

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.

The Rev. Patrick Raymond, Rector

Susan Schlough, Treasurer

Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG, Parish Office
Vestry of Church of the Ascension
Cheryl Peterson, Sr. Warden; Kenneth Kelling, Jr. Warden; Kelly Colomberti, Marilyn Evans, Lynette Hector, Jim Lo Bello, George Pineda, David Reeves, Samuel Sommers, Enrique Vilaseco, Amber Zelazny

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. In addition, if you click on the subscribe button at the top right, you will be given email notice whenever a new set of approved minutes is added. The link remains live indefinitely. Any parishioner who has the link will not need to request a new link from month to month.