Pentecost Sunday May 24, 2026

The Church of the Ascension

in the City of New York

12 West 11th Street, New York, NY 10011

212-254-8620 | info@ascensionnyc.org | ascensionnyc.org

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“How is it that we hear, each in our own languages?…in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” (Acts 2:8. 11b)

Dear People of Ascension,

One of my favorite moments in our Pentecost service is the reading of this latter verse in many different languages spoken by members of our congregation. I love hearing the diverse sounds connected to the lives of our parishioners, expressing something about God’s wonderful works. I cherish my own experiences of learning to speak another language, realizing that a new language opens a portal to a whole world. Even learning to say “thank you” in the tongue of a place where I am traveling feels like an important way to honor another culture and community.

The Pentecost account plays upon the story of the Tower of Babel from Genesis: a tale in which humans, having only one common language, plan to build a great tower reaching to heaven. God judges their arrogance, scatters them throughout the earth and confuses their speech into many different tongues. Pentecost is in some ways the reversal of Babel: it gathers many into one. But rather than restoring a single language, it enables understanding across difference. Each speaks their own language; the miracle is that each hears in their own language also.

What would it mean for you to speak of God in your own language? It might literally be a language in which you learned to pray, or the first language you spoke. It might be a way of speaking from your heart, or a language formed by place- by pine trees or seashore or desert wind, or a particular city scape. It might be the way you speak to dearest friends or family, the tongue of your own far country, the vernacular of coming out, or of profound shared experience with those you trust.

What do you have to say about your experience of God in that most familiar heart language? With what tender care and respect might we hear and understand each other’s testimony, each in their native tongue?

In these days when so much contempt is leveled at difference- whether it be of language and culture, of faith tradition or ethnic background- Pentecost points to the blessing of many tongues and the gifts of speaking and understanding in our languages, enabled by the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit’s deep peace to you all-

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.

To watch our services via Live Stream

go to Ascensionnyc.org/Webcasts,

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)

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.

How to Watch Online

Long Term Prayers

Pray for: Pray for Allejandro and Jesus, Barbara, Brielle, Dorothy, Elaine, Ellen, Hannah, Judith, Jurek, Lucas, Stewart, Jen, Alice & the Kisiya family, Jennifer, Ketty, Sara, Rural & Migrant Ministry, New York Haiti Project and the St. Luke’s Episcopal School in Martel. We pray for 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, Royer Perez-Jimenez, Emanuel Cleeford Damas. We pray for peace in Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, Venezuela, Haiti, 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.

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.

Announcements

Church and Parish Offices

will be closed

Monday, May 25

for Memorial Day.

Please join us for a festive reception following the 11 am service this Sunday in honor of our baptizand, Mirrielees, and of Dr. Dennis Keene on this, his final Sunday as our Director of Music.

Thank you to our Choir- This Sunday we say farewell to our wonderful choir until next fall. We are so grateful for all that they add to our life and worship

Welcome to the newest member of Christ’s one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church! On Sunday we rejoice in the baptism of Mirrielees Carol Stapley-Brown. “Sustain her, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give her an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. Amen!”

In Many Tongues- Deepest thanks to all who are contributing to our Pentecost tradition of telling one verse of the story of the Spirit's coming in multiple languages – and especially to Vin Knight for organizing this.

Adora Agim-Staudenmeier: Ibo

Robin Clements: Latin

Daniel Cole: Indonesian

Matt Curran: German

Dorothy DeCrescenzo: French

Marjorie Kouns: Mandarin

Barbara Matovu: Luganda

Yunjeong McSeol: Korean

Terry Rogers: Spanish

Theo Schneider: Greek

20s/30s Dinner Thursday May 28; 6:30 p.m.; in the Parish Hall. All young adults are warmly invited to join for delicious food and lively conversation. Please RSVP to the parish office so that we know how much food to prepare (and any dietary restrictions you have). Feel free to bring friends- we look forward to seeing you!

SUMMER SCHEDULE BEGINS ON SUNDAY,

JUNE 7!

Beginning in just 2 weeks we will start our summer schedule. That means, one 10:00 a.m. service in the morning! Our 6:00 evening service will continue unabated.

Church Club of New York Annual Meeting (with Eucharist & BBQ Reception) Wednesday, June 10, at Church of the Ascension. The Annual Meeting is an opportunity to come together as a community to celebrate the past program year,. After the meeting, all Ascensionites are invited to join for a festive BBQ reception, which does require a ticket. You can register here.

The schedule for the evening is as follows:

6:00 - Eucharist

6:45 - Annual Meeting in the Nave

7:15 - BBQ Reception

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)

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.

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: June 6 & 20. Please note the date changes for April. If you have questions or wish to join us, please contact Fr. Ed: fatherchinery@ascensionnyc.org, or 732-910-7017.

Support Church of the Ascension

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.