Dear People of Ascension,

I came upon this poem a few weeks ago on a morning when I really needed it and was grateful. Revisiting it, I was struck again by its resonances and its testimony: the warmth and light of this spring-like day; the fragility of life; the gifts of Black History Month; the sheer joy of being alive in this body, even though sometimes it's hard. What will you testify to?

Liz

testify

i stand before you to say

that today i walked home

& caught the light through

the fence & it was so golden

i wanted to cry & i lifted

my right hand to say thank

you god for the sun thank

you god for a chain link fence

& all the shoes that fit into

the chain link fence so that

we might get lifted god thank

you & i just wanted to dance

& it feels good to have food

in your belly & it feels good

to be home even when home

is the space between metal

shapes & still we are golden

& a man who wore the walk

of hard grounds & lost days

came toward me in the street

& said ‘girl what a beautiful

day’ & i said yes, testify

& i walked on & from some

place a horn rose, an organ,

a voice, a chorus, here to tell

you that we are not dead

we are not dead we are not

dead we are not dead we are

not dead we are not dead

we are not dead we are not

dead

yet

Click this link for this Sunday's bulletin & hymns.

In addition to being in-person in the church, we are happy to provide two additional ways you can watch our services online and participate in the worship:

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.

If you're present in-person, please join us for coffee hour in our heated tent in the front garden (weather permitting.)

If you watched us via Zoom, then just remain online (or grab a cup of coffee first!) If you watched via the webcast, grab that coffee and click the Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday link.

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.

Our cameras and sound go live anywhere between 20 and 30 minutes before the service. Please be aware that sounds and conversations are picked up and broadcast during the pre-service time.

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)

6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist (Church)

Masks must be worn at all times while indoors

A 6' distance must be maintained at all times while indoors

Vaccination is strongly encouraged.

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 770 597 201.

Open Church - Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Noon to 3pm. If you would like to volunteer for this ministry, please contact Sirkka Kyle or contact the church office (info@ascensionnyc.org or 212-254-8620

A word about paper. Apparently copy paper - especially the beige color we use for bulletins - is the latest victim of the supply-chain crunch. Our normal brand is just not available and what is available is over 3-times the cost. So for the duration, we are switching to plain white 20lbs paper for our printing needs.

Recently some parishioners received a fake text (or email) that appeared to be from a member of the clergy or parish lay leaders. If you received such a message, do not reply, just delete it or move it to your spam folder. What is Phishing? Unscrupulous people send out an email or text pretending to be someone you know and trust. Usually they ask for money or to buy gift cards for some urgent need they are experiencing.

How to recognize Phishing –The first thing you’ll notice is that it doesn’t “sound” like the person you know. Their phrasing and choice of words are just a little “off”. Second, if you look closely at the sender’s actual email address or phone number it will be something strange and will not be any contact information you know for this person. What to do? The most important thing is do not reply. The best thing to do is to delete it or move it to your junk/spam folder. If you receive a Phishing text or email feel free to let the parish administrator know (212-254-8620 or apjones@ascensionnyc.org). Check out bit.ly/2TJwAYx for more tips.

A Celebration of Blessed Absalom Jones; Saturday, February 12 - The celebration of the Holy Eucharist begins at 10:30 a.m. will be held at St. Philip’s Church, Harlem, 204 West 134th Street, Manhattan. The service will held in-person at the church and simultaneously accessed via Zoom. In-person attendance will be limited to 185 people who will be required to provide proof of vaccination and be masked.

Bishop of New York

Presider

Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church

Preacher

Click here for more information

A Memorial Service for Archbishop Desmond Tutu; Sunday, February 13, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine. Online and In-Person (In-person seating extremely limited). In honor of his legacy and memory, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine will host a memorial service for the global community in honor of the Most Rev. Desmond Tutu (1931-2021). Click here for more information.

Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church

Preacher

Bishop of New York

Presider

Dean of the Cathedral

Welcome and Introductions of Speakers

Racial Justice Group, Thursday, February 17 at 6:30pm - We are continue reading Resurrection Hope: A Future Where Black Lives Matter by the Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas. Dr. Douglas is President of Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary, Canon Theologian at the Washington National Cathedral, and a leading authority on womanist theology and racial justice. The author of many books, she wrote this deeply personal one in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, responding to conversations with her son about how to persevere in hope for a just future.

For this session, read chapters 2-3, pp.56-136. Please join us!

Join the Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 822 0773 6415

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Meeting ID: 822 0773 6415

[New Date] Needlecraft Guild—Due to Ash Wednesday the Needlecraft Guild’s March meeting will be moved to Wednesday, March 9, 6:30 p.m.

Are you interested in learning American Sign Language (ASL)? Brother Andrew, OSF, is starting a class on Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm. This is a basic, introductory course and no prior knowledge of ASL is needed. Space is limited so if you are interested, please reach out to him at apjones.nyc@gmail.com.

Monday Evening Lectionary Bible Study -- Join us Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. This is an opportunity to read and discuss the readings for the upcoming Sunday. If you are interested in joining, please contact Sibyl Piccone.

Reparations Committee Fellowship - The Reparations Committee of the Diocese of New York invites applications for a yearlong paid fellowship to assist in their work to establish a fund for reparations. Please click here to view/download details, including application information.

Haiti Project: Suffering Produces Perseverance. Following the recent 5.3 magnitude earthquakes in Haiti, We have an update from Fr. Sam on how things are faring at the school in Martel. Click here to read his newsletter.

Holy Eucharist (Side Altar) 9:00 a.m.

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

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. If interested, please contact Sibyl Piccone

Reopening Taskforce (Zoom) 4:00 p.m.

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

EfM (Zoom) 6:00 p.m.

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

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

Midweek Eucharist (Church) 6:00 p.m.

Vestry Meeting (Hybrid) 6:45 p.m.

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

Racial Justice Discussion Group (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.

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

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

Food Pantry (12 W 11th St.) 8:30 a.m.

Holy Eucharist (Side Altar) 9:00 a.m.

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

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

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