Second Sunday in Lent - March 1, 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

View as Webpage

Dear People of Ascension,

This Sunday our lectionary offers the first of four sacred conversations from the gospel of John- extended dialogues between iconic characters and Jesus. We start with the story of Nicodemus, a religious leader intrigued with Jesus’ teaching and works.

Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night. This detail is not incidental. Despite his status and learning, his relative power and privilege- or maybe because of them, Nicodemus is fearful about being seen with Jesus. He doesn’t want his curiosity known. But he is looking, longing for something and Jesus stirs and sharpens that longing.

He says to Nicodemus, “No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Jesus continues with the imagery of new birth- “born from above”, “born of water and Spirit”, “born of Spirit”, and it confounds Nicodemus. He is stubbornly literal: “how can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”

Typically, Jesus does not answer the “how” question but instead provokes our imaginations. “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

It seems that the Spirit-wind is blowing in, around and through Nicodemus. It shakes up fixed ideas and habits, opens him to uncomfortable questions. It moves him through the shadows, into new territory and tentative, scary action. This is not the last time we will meet Nicodemus in John’s gospel. In chapter 7, when some of his fellow Pharisees want to arrest Jesus, he will argue for fairness and a proper hearing. After the crucifixion, at considerable risk to himself and by the light of day, he will join with Joseph of Arimathea to receive Jesus’ body and anoint it for burial.

We do not see exactly how it happens, but we do see that Nicodemus has been changed.

How is the Spirit blowing in your life this Lent? Where do you hear the whispers, sense a stirring in the shadows, see the movement of new life? In this season may we make space for uncertainty and curiosity. May we allow for even tentative steps towards our heart’s desire. May we open to the winds 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.

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, 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.

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

This Sunday, March 1 We Welcome Our Guest Preacher and Forum Leader, The Rev. Canon Tanya Wallace! Mother Tanya is the newly appointed Canon for Lay and Clergy Formation, the person on Bishop Heyd’s staff responsible for shepherding people through the ordination process and for developing programs and practices to help all of us grow and deepen in our faith and vocations. But for us at Ascension, she is an old friend; Mother Tanya was ordained at Ascension, where she served as Curate in the early 2000’s. In fact, she helped to shape the work of our own discernment committee, which continues to this day. It will be a great joy to welcome Mother Tanya back to Ascension! Don’t miss it!

This Sunday's Forum will be a conversation with Canon Tanya about her new role. What is a Canon for Formation?

Next Week we will return to Amy-Jill Levine's 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.

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.

People Who Lunch, Wednesday March 4; 12:30 p.m. - Are you at home during the day or working near the church? Please join us for lunch on the first Wednesday of every month for some simple food and good conversation. Please let us know you are coming (info@ascensionnyc.org or 212-254-8620) so we know how much food to prepare! (You are also welcome to bring your own lunch if you prefer; we will have coffee, tea and water on hand.) We hope to see you there!

Lenten Offerings Around the Diocese:

Reclaim our Shared Humanity: Text Meditations & Book Study:

Daily Spiritual Meditations via text. You can sign up here.
Weekly Online Book Study using For A Time Such as This: An Emergency Devotional on Thursdays at noon beginning on February 19. Register here.
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.

Are you thinking about baptism for yourself or your child? The Easter Vigil (Saturday, April 4 this year) is a wonderful, ancient service that includes baptisms and baptismal renewal. If you are interested, please speak to the clergy.

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: March 7 & 21

If you have questions or wish to join us, please contact Fr. Ed: fatherchinery@ascensionnyc.org – or – 732-910-7017 (c)

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.

This Week at Ascension

Sunday – March 1 – Second 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

Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.

Monday – March 2

Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.

Lectionary Bible Study (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.