This Week at Ascension + June 2, 2021

"Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." - Psalm 96
New this week: Pre-registration for mass is suspended for now.
Registration at mass will continue for now.
Please read the feature and follow the link below.
Wednesday, June 2
Commemoration of
The Martyrs of Lyons

6:30 p.m. Live-streamed Mass
Sunday, June 6
The Second Sunday after Pentecost: Corpus Christi

9:30 a.m. - Morning Prayer via ZOOM
10:00 a.m. In-person & Live-streamed Mass


From the Rector
More change! Singing, Registering, Masks
Dear People of Ascension,

   Thank you for continuing to keep track of ongoing changes as pandemic restrictions ease. For Sunday's Corpus Christi celebration and beyond ...

  • Fully vaccinated worshipers are welcomed to sing with masks on. Pre-recorded hymns are phased out; live hymn-singing returns.

  • All worshipers in the pews are asked to remain masked for now (except when receiving Communion), as we consider guidance from diverse sources with regard to easing this restriction.

  • An garden reception is planned after Sunday's mass. All taking part are asked to continue observing reasonable safety and social distancing practices.

  • Pre-registration online is suspended for now, effective immediately. We will discontinue the system that has been in place since September 2020. However ...

  • Registration will continue, however, for now: in person, in the narthex, when you arrive for mass. 

  • Members and regular newcomers will be placed on a pre-printed checklist ‒ no form to fill out; an usher will simply check off your name as you arrive, whenever you are here for a mass.

  • Those not on the members/regulars list will be asked to provide name(s) and contact information. 

  • Clergy, lay ministers, musicians, tech ministers and ushers assigned for a mass no longer need to register for that mass. We already have contact information and know who is scheduled for what masses.

  • We will continue this registration practice through June, in the event that there is a need for pandemic-related contact tracing. For July, I/we will re-evaluate.

   Lately I’ve been thinking about a standardized parish survey from several years ago. Results suggested that Ascension members have little interest in change or tolerance for it. With this as background, I’m particularly in awe of your many adaptations over the past 15 months. Thank you, and bless you. 


PS Not to press my luck but for your sake: changes, already in place or anticipated may be viewed in the document linked here. Thanks again for taking note.

Year's end for Seminarian Bonnie Scott
Church of the Ascension friends, 
 
It has been such a privilege to serve as this year’s seminarian. Even in such a strange pandemic year, it has been wonderful to deepen my connections at Ascension—a place I have come to see as my spiritual home. I am grateful to everyone who welcomed me into my role this year and supported me in preaching, serving at the altar, participating in the young adults group, and all my other involvement at Ascension.

Although my year as seminarian is coming to a close, I have another year in my MDiv program at the University of Chicago Divinity School. Father Raymond and I are in conversation about how, during the coming year, I may continue to contribute to Ascension's ministries. I look forward to continued fellowship with you all and end my seminarian year with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation. 
 
Blessings, 
Worship & Fellowship Notes for Corpus Christi
As with Trinity Sunday, we'll be blessed at our Corpus Christi mass with a fuller (vaccinated) choir and congregational hymn singing. The Corpus Christi liturgy will also include a procession inside the nave, as we hear this traditional (and sublime to my ear) setting of Thomas Aquinas' Sacris Solemniis. It is one of several devotional texts that Aquinas wrote for Corpus Christi, and from it come the several well known settings of the Panis angelicus.

Yes, food and fellowship, too!
Thanks to George Pineda and a few newcomer-volunteers, a reception in the Our Lady of Victory garden will take place following Sunday's mass. Extra help will no doubt be appreciated. Contact George by email if you're willing and able to roll up your sleeves.
Please note that the Rosary traditionally prayed at Ascension on the first Sunday of the Month will be shared instead this month on Sunday, June 13, following the end of the 10:00 a.m. mass. The live-stream for the mass on YouTube and Facebook will remain live for the devotion led and shared at the Shrine of Mary in the church.
Pantry@Ascension, Saturday, June 5 Last week's newsletter (May26) featured Deacon Charles Farrell's updates on our pantry ministry, including moves toward re-incorporating more volunteers. To read Deacon Farrell's letter, please click here for the link to last week's newsletter and scroll down.
The Music Cure
 The recently formed Misalliance Repertory Theater invites you to enjoy an audio recording of The Music Cure (here on Soundcloud or here on Spotify), directed by Ascension parishioner and former Warden Gary Alexander. Want to know more?
The Music Cure: An inept politician unwittingly engulfed in a financial scandal. A weary doctor attempting to help his anxiety-prone patient. A world-renowned concert pianist called to the rescue. Enjoy G. B. Shaw’s wacky and little-known gem, The Music Cure, in this radio play from Misalliance Repertory Theatre. Directed by Gary Alexander, this fast-paced, music-filled romp features Matt Gall, Doug MacKechnie, Kate Young, musical accompaniment by Tom Bachtell, and sound effects/audio editing by George Zahora. Shaw himself stated that The Music Cure was “a piece of utter nonsense” and “not a serious play.” Nonetheless, it is filled with Shaw’s biting wit, brilliant language, and keen-eyed critical characterization of the privileged British ruling class.  


Organ Repertoire for June 6, 2021
The Second Sunday after Pentecost: Corpus Christi

ORGAN
Le Banquet Celeste [1928]
Olivier Eugène Messiæn (1908-1992)
 
Entrance Hymn
SCHMÜCKE DICH

The Gospel Sequence
LAUDA SION SALVATOREM
(harm. David White)
 
Hymn at the Offertory
DIVINE MYSTERY
(descant: David White)
 
FOR BENEDICTION:
O Salutaris ST. VINCENT
Tantum ergo ST. THOMAS
 
ORGAN
XVIII: Offrande et Alleluia final
[Livre du Saint-Sacrement,1985]
Olivier Eugène Messiæn
About our 2021 Repertoire
As I develop a long-range plan for repertoire each year, I choose a theme or area of emphasis, often complete works or a complete large-scale work by one composer. During 2021, organ music by women composers and African-American composers is being and will be featured in voluntaries and recitals throughout the year. There are some little-known gems waiting to be discovered, as well as music by major composers, with whom works for the organ are not generally associated. Enjoy!
From Benjamin Rivera

Greetings!

In keeping with Diocesan guidelines, we have had a live vocal presence since Holy Week. Recent updates to this guidance will allow us to celebrate Pentecost, Holy Trinity, and Corpus Christi with an in-person quartet, supplementing our (now usual) recorded music. I am grateful that we are able to move forward safely, if slowly, and I pray that choral and congregational singing aren’t too far off.

Between Masses, please don’t forget that our choir has recorded upwards of 60 tracks that you can listen to anywhere you have an internet connection. They can be found here: https://soundcloud.com/choir-of-the-ascension

Peace and good health,
Benjamin
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. You may contact the Treasurer by email anytime at Finance@AscensionChicago.org. 
Ascension Connections
(with your click and God's help)
Participate in Ascension masses at our YouTube Channel. (Look for other connections options soon.)
Meeting ID:
792 031 7452
Password: 1133
Join-by-Phone Option: (312) 626-6799
Weekly Ascension Schedule

For connections:
via Zoom (click here)
except for Morning Prayer,
via Facebook (click here).

SUNDAYS
9:30 a.m. Virtual Morning Prayer
10:00 a.m. Live-Streamed Mass
11:00 a.m. Virtual Coffee Hour

MONDAY-FRIDAY
6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer via Zoom

WEDNESDAYS
6:30 p.m. Low Mass
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!
THE PARISH PRAYER LIST
For our prayers: August 'Augie' Alonzo, Jim Berger, David Byerly, Steven Wallis,
Sarah Ponder, Taffy Wehe, Carnola Malone, Marvin Files, Amy Peterson, Stephanie, Gwen Clark-Mason, Barbara Wischmeier, The Rev. Canon Paula Clark, Lee Gould
 
Birthdays: LaVerne Saunders, 5/30; Kelly Colomberti, 6/1; Jim Wilson, 6/2;
Trevor Taylor, 6/2; Angela Caldwell, 6/3; Pedro Illás, 6/4; Judith Cook, 6/4
 
Ordination Anniversaries:
The Rev. Shane Patrick Gormley, Diaconate; 6/2; The Rev. Dr. Carol Norén, UMC Diaconate, 6/4

Requiescat in pace: William Brewster Stoskopf, 11th Rector, 6/2/1951;
Paul James Wilbur, 5/31/1979; Donald C. Rubino, 6/4/1992

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.

The Rev. Patrick Raymond, Rector

Susan Schlough, Treasurer

Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG, Parish Office
Vestry of Church of the Ascension
Cheryl Peterson, Sr. Warden; Kenneth Kelling, Jr. Warden; Kelly Colomberti, Marilyn Evans, Lynette Hector, Jim Lo Bello, George Pineda, David Reeves, Samuel Sommers, Enrique Vilaseco, Amber Zelazny

Approved minutes of Vestry meetings are always available online to parishioners who request the link. If you would like Internet access to these Vestry Minutes, please email the Parish Office and request the link. Once you access the web page, you can read all recent Vestry meeting minutes.
The link remains live indefinitely. Any parishioner who has the link will not need to request a new link from month to month.