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“I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8: 38-39
Dear People of Ascension,
We often read this passage at funerals and rightly so. In the face of the grievous separation of death, we need to be reminded that God is with us and with those we love and miss, holding us together in the embrace of the everlasting arms. Paul sets us in the context of the entire cosmos, affirming that God’s powerful grace will never let us go.
But sometimes, we feel even more unsettled and unmoored by the challenges of living. Paul might ask today, “What can separate us from the love of Christ? Can hardship, or distress, or persecution? Can white supremacy, political corruption or violence? Can our own blindness and complicity, or the hurtful behavior of others? No, in all these things, we still belong to God, through Christ who loves us.” We still belong and are loved.
As Christians, we commit our lives to this faith, but often we struggle to trust and act upon it. Paul speaks to this earlier in this passage, when he says, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” Can you imagine that underground river of the Spirit, praying though we feel lost, sustaining us when we are overwhelmed, drawing us to God and connecting us with the whole communion of saints? What is it like to rest in prayer too deep for words, too deep for conscious knowing?
What might you do differently if you, like Paul, were convinced that nothing can separate you from God’s love, not only in an ultimate sense but in the daily challenges of life?
May our faith and courage grow, by the intercession of the Spirit.
Liz
| | 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. | | | |
Regular Service Schedule
SUNDAY
10:00 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: Allejandro and Jesus, Barbara, Brielle, Dorothy, Elaine, Ellen, Hannah, Judith, Jurek, Lucas, Stewart, Jen, Bishop Gretchen, Alice & the Kisiya family, Jennifer, Ketty, Sara, William Wynter, Eric, Rural & 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, Geraldo Lunas Campos, Victor Manuel Diaz, Heber Sánchez Domínguez, Parady La, Luis Beltrán Yáñez-Cruz, Luis Gustavo Núñez Cáceres, Lorth Sim, Jairo Garcia-Hernandez, Alberto Gutierrez-Reyes, Emmanuel Clifford Damas, Pejman Karshenas Najafabadi, Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal, Royer Perez-Jimenez, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Guerrero. We pray especially for a just peace in Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, Cuba, and in our own country.
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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Summer Cookout, this Wednesday, July 29– We continue our summer tradition of a cookout the last Wednesday of the month! The church provides items to grill, both meat and vegetarian; please bring your favorite picnic sides and desserts to share! The Parish BBQ’s begin right after the Wednesday evening Eucharist (around 6:30pm), Additional date is August 26. Come join us!
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Coffee Hour Hospitality for Sunday Coffee Hours – Please consider serving all folks, including angels, this summer as a coffee hour host. It's very easy to do - just pick a date, sign up, and bring a sweet baked item on your Sunday. Everything else will be provided, and the sexton staff helps with setup and breakdown. Any questions, call or text 917-509-3117 or ask a clergy person for assistance.
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,
for by so doing some people have shown hospitality
to angels without knowing it. - Hebrews 13:2
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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: July 25.& August 1,15 . Please note the date changes for July. If you have questions or wish to & join us, please contact Fr. Ed: fatherchinery@ascensionnyc.org, or 732-910-7017.
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Open Church Schedule
Open Church - Mondays through Fridays, Noon to 3pm. 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 – July 26
Holy Eucharist with Music (Parish Hall) 10:00 a.m.
In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday)
Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.
Monday – July 27
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday – July 28
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday – July 29
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Holy Eucharist (Church) 6:00 p.m.
Summer Cookout (Front Garden) 6:30 p.m.
Thursday – July 30
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Friday – July 31
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Saturday – August 1
Food Pantry (12 W 11th Street) 8:30 a.m.
For food assistance or to volunteer, please contact Fr. Ed (fatherchinery@ascensionyc.org).
Sunday – August 2 – In the Parish Hall
Holy Eucharist with Music (Parish Hall) 10:00 a.m.
In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday)
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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