Dear People of Ascension,

As I write to you, I am anticipating a few days of all church all the time. Thursday evening is of course our parish feast, the Feast of the Ascension. I am looking forward to welcoming the Rt. Rev. Mary Glasspool, our Assistant Bishop, a good friend and wonderful liturgical presence, to our parish. And I am also excited to be able to present Stephanie Appiah, Kristina Jones, Andrew Lin and Gabrielle Werffeli to be confirmed, and Gregory Tomaini to be received into the Episcopal Church. We have had wonderful conversations as they have prepared. Their faith, curiosity, and energy for ministry is infectious and inspiring, and they are a blessing to our parish and the various places in which they serve.

Ascension Day is also a time to celebrate our life together as a parish, and to think about how this particular liturgical observance, in which Jesus departs from his disciples in order to be present with them in a mysterious new way, speaks to who we are and what we are called to do together. We will certainly do that in the service- and we will keep celebrating with a reception following. While I realize that you will read this reflection after the service has already happened, I invite your musings about the many meanings of our Feast and their invitations for our life together.

On Saturday comes an event about which we have been praying for many months: the consecration of the Rev. Matt Heyd as Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of New York. The theme of the consecration is "Many Threads, One Fabric". It lifts up not only Matt's new ministry but the many diverse ministries of our diocese as well. I expect that it will be joyous, profound, colorful, and a bit wild- a memorable experience of worship and community. Those of us who attend will share our reflections at our forum this Sunday after the 11 am service.

Both of these occasions invite us to deeper reflection on our calling, our ministries, and the community we are building together. I hope you will participate in both of them as you are able, in person or online- and keep both our own beloved Church of the Ascension and our new Bishop Coadjutor and the whole diverse, messy and amazing diocese of New York in your prayers.

Peace,

 

Liz

Say Thank You. If you watch our services online you may notice in the lower left-had corner you'll see the name of our producer, Jasmine B. She has been our producer a little over a month now and is doing a great job! Next time you're watching, be sure to give her 5 stars!

(depending on the weather)

How to Add Prayer Requests Online for Sunday Service - Go to Ascensionnyc.org/Prayers and type in your prayer request. Be sure to add them before the end of the sermon.

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.

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.

And now that we are back to activities that feature maskless eating and drinking (looking at you, coffee hour), it’s probable that some participants will later test positive. If you do, we ask that you think about whom you might have been close to for more than 10 minutes. If that’s the case, give them an email or call.

Musical Notes - The choir has this Sunday off…BUT, our wonderful Lucia Bradford will shine forth with a famous Spiritual arrangement by Hall Johnson: Witness. Organ pieces will include works by Bach and Andre Campra.

You are warmly invited to the Ordination and Consecration of the Bishop Coadjutor, The Rev. Matthew Heyd. Saturday, May 20, at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine. Procession begins at 10:15 a.m. Please plan to be seated by 10 a.m. All are invited – general seating is open.

The Service will be streamed live on the Cathedral’s YouTube Channel

Please visit the Consecration Website for more details.

Ascension Forum This Sunday, May 21 will be a time to reflect on the consecration of the Bishop Coadjutor, which will have happened the day before. Those who attend will have a chance to share their thoughts and those who are not able to attend will get to hear all about it! Please join us after the 11 am service.

20's/30's Dinner this Thursday, May 25 at 6:30- All Ascensionites in their 20's and 30's are invited to gather for food and conversation this coming Thursday (and every 4th Thursday) in the rectory parlor. The menu is still under construction but it includes strawberry rhubarb crisp! Your contributions of sides, beverages and other inspirations are welcome. If you can, please call the parish office (212-254-8620) or email info@ascensionnyc.org to let us know you are coming so we can prepare accurately. Friends are very welcome! We look forward to seeing you!

In Many Tongues- Do you speak a language other than English? Will you be in church next Sunday, May 28? One of our Pentecost traditions is telling one verse of the story of the Spirit's coming in a wide range of languages. If you are willing to participate, please let Mother Liz know by Wednesday of this week (egmaxwell@ascensionnyc.org). We will rehearse briefly next Sunday before the 11 am service. Thank you!

Images of Pentecost- Forum Next Sunday, May 28- How do you think of the Holy Spirit? Wind? Fire? Water? A bird? How do you think of the first community of disciples when the Spirit came upon them? Please join us following the 11 am service next Sunday for a forum let by Mother Posey, exploring images of Pentecost in art.

Ascension History Project (AHP) will meet Tuesday May 30th from 6pm to 7pm (via Zoom). Please email Maurice Seaton if you will attend: mjseaton@yahoo.com A Zoom link will be sent the day before the meeting.

Visit the Jewish Museum with the Episcopal-Jewish Relations Committee of the Diocese- 10 am, Tuesday May 30. Following the enormous success of our first visit earlier this year you are invited to join us for a visit to the Jewish Museum, followed by lunch and discussion at the Church of the Heavenly Rest. Please click here for more information and to register!

Fierce Consciousness: Surviving the Sorrows of the Earth and Self- join us Thursday, June 1 at 7 pm in the Ascension parish hall for a book reading and discussion with author Trebbe Johnson about practices for engaging with the challenges of our daily lives and our ailing planet in ways that give new joy and meaning to daily experience. Trebbe is the author of four previous books, a wilderness rites of passage guide and the founder of the global community Radical Joy for Hard Times, devoted to finding and making beauty in hurt places. Please join us for a stimulating and inspiring conversation! Click here for more information.

The Scaffolding is Up! The work has started! Ascension is making badly needed repairs to the wood and brownstone of our tower. We need your help to complete the funding for this project- thanks to a generous matching grant of $300,000 from the Manton Foundation, we are almost there. Every dollar you give will be matched up to $300,000.

If you have not yet pledged or given to this project, please consider doing so. If you can stretch your pledge to help complete the expanded goal, please do so! We are very grateful for your generosity! You can pledge to this campaign online at ascensionnyc.org/matchinggrant, or contact the parish office at 212-254-8620. Payments can be made by check payable to the Church of the Ascension (remember to put “Tower Brownstone” in the memo line) or online through Abundant (Ascensionnyc.org/Give – select “Manton Matching Grant” from the drop-down menu). If you have any questions about this campaign or the tower, please speak to Mother Liz or one of the Wardens. Thank you!

Help Asylum Seekers - Our friends at Judson Church (239 Thompson St.) have created a respite and mutual aid center for asylum seekers who have been bussed to New York from Texas. They are open every Monday from 10 am to 7 pm. You can help by volunteering time (Spanish speakers and those with medical, legal or social work training especially welcome), or by donating supplies. They need new (or like new) winter coats (men’s, women’s, & children’s), underwear (boxers preferably), and backpacks.

To learn more about volunteering, please contact the Rev. Micah Bucey at micah@judson.org. Donated supplies can be brought to Ascension, marked "mutual aid for migrants" and we will see that they get to Judson. Thank you!

Mask wearing is now optional inside the church and masks are available in the narthex for anyone who wants one. Hand sanitizer stations are also available for your use. If you are not feeling well, please stay home and watch us via our livestream.

Holy Eucharist (Church) 9:00 a.m.

Holy Eucharist w/ Music; (Church & Live Stream) 11:00 a.m.

Ascension Forum (Parish Hall/Hybrid) After coffee hour

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

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

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Lectionary Bible Study (Zoom) 6:30 p.m. (for more information, contact Sybil at srpiccone@yahoo.com)

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

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

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.

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

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

20’s & 30’s Group (Rear Parlor) 6:30 p.m.

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

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Holy Eucharist (Church) 9:00 a.m.

Holy Eucharist w/ Music; (Church & Live Stream) 11:00 a.m.

Ascension Forum (Parish Hall/Hybrid) After coffee hour

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

The Church of the Ascension -- Fifth Avenue and Tenth Street

Clergy | Staff | Parish Leadership