THIS WEEK AT ASCENSION + September 23, 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 23
Mass on the Eve of
Our Lady of Walsingham
Evening Prayer 6:00 p.m.
Low Mass, 6:30 p.m.
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Sunday, September 27
17th Sunday after Pentecost
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:
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"How to navigate the new reality"
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Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen. Book of Common Prayer, p. 816
We believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church ... The Nicene Creed
Dear People of Ascension,
A remark by Bishop Lee about “how to navigate the new reality” was quoted in a September 13 Chicago Tribune feature about the impact of the pandemic on religion in general and houses of worship in particular. The story as a whole reminded me that we at Ascension have not been alone over the past six months in the basic contours of our experiences and decisions as a congregation.
The Tribune story also quoted the Rev. Fulton Porter, Rector of St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Chicago. I was led by his inclusion and remarks to wonder about the well-being of all of the 100 + congregations and ministries of our diocese, spread out from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. This, in turn, led me to recognize that an update on a few notable developments in our diocese may be in order.
You may feel tempted to scroll past news below that can seem remote from your connection to Ascension. Please remember, though, that the notion of being catholic – or, if you prefer, Catholic – suggests our essential connection in faith to those outside of our own parochial circles.
Please do take to heart, as you are able, the news of our diocese below. And please do pray for the Church.
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“YES! You may all raise your hands at once!”
Deadlines and Appeals for the
November 21 Diocese of Chicago Convention.
Ascension delegates for the one-day virtual convention have yet to be identified. The September 30 deadline for certification and registration is fast approaching! I like to mix up veteran and new delegates to represent us. Don’t be shy if you’re interested. Let me know by phone or email.
Leadership for a variety of diocesan roles is also annually elected at the diocesan convention. And the leadership and faith of the diocese as a whole is represented by resolutions brought to the convention through a sorting, editing and consolidating process. Deadlines for both nominations and resolutions are also September 30.
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Sale of the diocesan center?
In a pastoral/leadership letter last week, Bishop Lee announced a decision by the Diocese of Chicago’s Bishop & Trustees to prepare for the sale, in 2021, of our diocesan center, also known as St. James Commons, at 65 E Huron. If you’ve been around the Diocese of Chicago for any length of time, you no doubt know that the diocesan center is located on prime real estate near North Michigan Avenue, that the question of a sale has been explored for decades and that the matter is complicated by the extensive sharing of diocesan center facilities with St. James Cathedral. The photo at the bottom of the collage below, for instance, was taken at a reception inside and outside of St. James Commons following a diocesan-wide Confirmation a few years ago.
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A New Dean for the Chicago North Deanery. My three-year term as Dean of the Chicago North Deanery is coming to an end, and Bishop Lee will appoint a new Dean at the November 21 (virtual) diocesan convention. My role in this process was to take counsel among the northside clergy and provide some suggestions to Bishop Lee. I’m grateful for the two excellent colleagues who have agreed to be considered. If you’re not aware, a principal ministry of a dean is to be the bishop’s eyes and ears in a region of a diocese and to foster collegiality, resource-sharing and at least a minimum of social warmth among the clergy (and sometimes the lay leaders). Congregations and ministries of the Chicago North Deanery are shown below.
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In-Person Flowers!
Yes, there will be flowers on the altar for our return to in-person masses, and we'll be needing an in-person flower guild to be revived and contributions to purchase the flowers. To dedicate flower arrangements, please contact Br. Nathanael in the Ascension church office.
High Altar-$50 Mary shrine - $30
St. Michael Shrine - $30
Our Lady of Walsingham shrine - $30
The Flower Guild also welcomes volunteers to purchase (you will be reimbursed) and arrange flowers for each week on a rotating basis with other volunteers. It is a fun and rewarding way to serve God and His church. Please contact me to get involved or ask a question. (My name below is hyperlinked to my email.)
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Bonnie Scott and Joey Keegin were joined in Holy Matrimony this past Saturday afternoon, September 19, in a simple outdoor service at Promontory Point Park on the South Side, with immediate family in attendance. They were to have been married at an Episcopal church in Nashville on September 12, with Bonnie's grandmother, the Rev. Donna Scott, presiding, and they are now looking forward to a larger celebration and renewal of vows when circumstances permit. Please keep Bonnie and Joey in your prayers. |
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Paloma McDonnell and Trevor Peterson are to be joined in Holy Matrimony this coming Saturday in a ceremony in Ascension's Our Lady of Victory garden. COVID-19 restrictions will limit attendance to immediate family but all are welcomed and encouraged to give thanks with and pray for Paloma and Trevor. |
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The requiem mass for Sr. Barbara Louise, OSA, will take place on Friday, Oct. 2, 11 a.m. Seating will be subject to a list still being compiled by Mother Judith Marie, OSA. Next week's newsletter will include some treasures from the archives that feature Sr. Barbara and are being assembled by our Archivist Carol Noren.
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The requiem mass for former parishioner John Mulcare, who died March 17, has been set for Saturday, October 3, at 11:00 a.m. At last check, the family's 'guest list' will preclude any opportunity for reservations, but we will have more exact information in next week's newsletter.
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Sunday's Organ Repertoire |
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Opening Voluntary
Entrée CFF 37 [ca. 1850]
César-Auguste Franck (1822-1890)
At the Offertory
Improvisation on WONDROUS LOVE
At the Communion
Improvisation on SCHMÜCKE DICH
Closing Voluntary
Allegretto comme Offertoire CFF 41
(Cinq Pièces, 1863)
César-Auguste Franck
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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
In Thanksgiving
Birthdays: Marjorie Lofgreen, 9/20; Thomas Patrick Johnston, 9/20;
Michael Paul Clark Jr. 9/20; J. Patrick Donnell, 9/20; Lindsay Hammer, 9/21;
George Dante M. Pineda, 9/22; Ellie Roberts, 9/24; Judy Mintel, 9/26
Requiescat in pace: Gertrude Stentiford, Religious, 9/25/1983
Prayers for the recently departed: Sr. Barbara Louise OSA, 8/11/2020;
Wayland Rogers, 9/9/2020; Marianne Boe, 9/3/2020; Dolores Soria, 9/12/2020
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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If you conclude that the poem below seems random, I'll readily agree! But I also know all you true Ascension geniuses out there will appreciate the poetic genius and timing.
- Fr. Raymond +
Genius
by George Bilgere
It was nice being a genius
worth nearly half-a-million dollars
for the two or three minutes it took me
to walk back to my house from the mailbox
with the letter from the Foundation
trembling in my hand. Frankly,
for the first minute
I was somewhat surprised at being a genius.
I’d only published a few small things at that point.
I didn’t even have a book.
I was just a part-time lecturer
at a small mid-western college.
But early into the second minute
I had fully embraced the fact of my genius.
I mean, these people know what they’re doing, right?
Who am I to tell the Foundation its business?
And I was already practicing the kind of modest,
Hey, it’s no big deal tone of voice I’d be using
on the phone for the rest of the day
as I called all my friends, and especially
my enemies, to treat them to the good news.
But when I opened the letter
and saw it was merely a request
for me to recommend someone else to be a genius,
I lost interest and made myself a ham sandwich.
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The Very Rev. Patrick Raymond, Rector
Susan Schlough, Treasurer
Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG, Parish Office
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