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IMMIGRATION CONSULTATIONS – 1ST SUNDAY EACH MONTH
Attorney Lucelia Justiniano will be available for immigration consultations at Ascension on the 1st Sunday of each month. Important: Please bring any relevant immigration documents and arrive on time. To schedule a consultation, visit:
https://calendly.com/juslaw/consulta-de-inmigracion-con-abogada-lucelia-justiniano
Please share this information with anyone who may find it helpful.
PILATES CLASS – MONDAYS 6:00 P.M.
Join us for our weekly Pilates class every Monday at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. This is a great opportunity to start or continue your Pilates journey in a welcoming and supportive environment. We focus on fundamentals at a steady pace, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced participants. Bring a yoga mat and be part of our community! For questions, contact Marcia at marcia.noble27@gmail.com.
BOOK CLUB – WEDNESDAYS 10:00 A.M.
Greetings Fellow WAMmers,
On October 1 we will continue reading Miracles and Wonder by Elaine Pagels. All are welcome to join us!
COMPLINE SERVICE
Join us every Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. via Zoom for a time of prayer and reflection.
Meeting ID: 970 3440 1298
Passcode: compline
SUNDAY RIDES TO CHURCH
If you are willing to provide transportation to and from church for seniors or others who are not able to drive themselves but would still like to attend in person please let Rev. Javier, Rev. Tracey or Deacon Rosa know. We have a few Ascension family members who would like to attend but cannot do so because they do not have reliable transportation.
GODLY PLAY 10:00 AND 12:00
The Holy Family- Our Godly Play lesson this week focuses on the Holy Family--Mary, Joseph and Jesus, along with the Angels, Shepherds, Magi and animals present at Jesus' birth. The Holy Family holds deep significance in Godly Play as the matrix from which new life comes. Christ's incarnation changes everything, particularly the way we understand ourselves, each other, the Creator, and the world around us.
BE A VOICE IN OUR WEEKLY COVER LETTER
Do you enjoy reading the cover letter each week? Our cover letters are a unique opportunity to reflect on either an event or a reading that has touched us in our collective lives. We are looking for volunteers to help write the weekly letter. If you would like to help please see or contact Rev. Tracey (tforfa@ascensionmd.org) and she will be happy to help get you signed up.
SUPPORT FOR FEDERAL WORKERS
If you are a federal worker who has been impacted in any way by the recent reductions or layoffs or other changes that have been happening in the government, or if you know someone who has been, and you would like support or someone to talk to, or have a special need please feel free to reach out to Rev. Tracey (tforfa@ascensionmd.org) or Rev. Javier. Both Ascension and the Diocese of Washington are working to find ways help federal workers navigate through these difficult times.
BIBLE STUDY (ENGLISH) – MONDAYS AT 7:00 P.M.
Join us every Monday at 7:00 p.m. for an engaging time of study, reflection, and fellowship. All are welcome—whether you’re new to Bible study or have been attending for years. Come grow in faith and understanding together with our church community.
ALTAR FLOWERS
If you would like to donate flowers for the altar:
1. Write your name on the flower calendar in the Narthex.
2. Make your donation – payable to Church of the Ascension – and indicate what you would like printed in the Announcements.
If paying on REALM, please email Jesse and Julie to let them know you made your donation and what you would like printed in the Bulletin.
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS, SUNDAY OCTOBER 5
In observance of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, we will be blessing your feline, avian, canine, bovine, equine, porcine, reptilian, and arachnid friends at a 5:00 p.m., Sunday, October 5. Please invite your friends to bring their pets too!
TRIP TO PINE RIDGE RESERVATION
Ascension is partnering with St. Peter’s, Poolesville, to arrange a youth/work trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation which we have supported monetarily over the past couple of years. The organizers are hoping to get at least 14 people to participate and if not enough youth sign up there will be room for interested adults as well. If you are interested please contact Rev. Tracey (tforfa@ascensionmd.org) or Angelique Cooper, our Youth Group Leader.
KEEPING OUR PRAYER LIST CURRENT
Each week we offer special prayers for those who are facing a wide variety of life events including illness. Lifting up members of our community in prayer is a powerful way to care for them. The Ascension staff works hard to make sure that our prayer list remains current and that Ascension’s clergy can keep track of each person on the list to know whether they need pastoral care or support.
To do so we are in the process of reviewing our prayer list and transferring some of the names on the current prayer list to the extended prayer list. We are also trying to match the name of the person on the prayer list with the person who requested that the name(s) be added. Please be patient with us as we work through this process. We hope to get it all correct but anticipate that we may have a mixup or two. Thank you for helping us with this important part of our church prayer life!!
INTERESTED IN CONFIRMATION OR RECEPTION?
Are you interested in either being confirmed into the Episcopal Church or if you have already been confirmed in another faith being received into the Episcopal Church? Confirmation in our church is a sacramental pastoral rite consisting of a reaffirmation of baptismal vows, with a blessing and the laying on of hands by the bishop. If you are interested please let Padre Javier or Rev. Tracey know. Classes begin at Ascension today, Sunday September 28th, at 9:00 a.m. in the library and will be held each week through November 2nd. This year’s confirmation and reception service will be held at the National Cathedral on November 15th at 10:00 a.m. where our Bishop will confirm and receive those who wish to formally join the Episcopal Church.
BAINBRIDGE FUNERAL SERVICE
There will be a funeral service for Kathy Bainbridge this coming Saturday, October 4th. at 11 a.m. Graveside service follows at Parklawn Cemetery at
1 p.m.
REIMAGINING INTERGENERATIONAL MINISTRY
Interested in deepening inter-generational connections at Ascension? The Diocese of Washington will offer a class on the subject November 8 at
St. Andrews Episcopal Church
4512 College Ave
College Park, Maryland 20740
See details below. If you would like to carpool, please text Megan Didavi at 703-626-7199. Reimagining Intergenerational Ministry 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Nov. 8, 2025 Join this diocesan School for Christian Faith and Leadership sponsored Leaning Day to explore intergenerational ministry. Participants will hear from EDOW congregations that are finding creative ways to reimagine Sunday School and cross-generational learning and worship. And, guest speaker, Sarah Bentley Allred will share about the expansive possibilities for meeting current generations where they are. Learn more Copy this link into your browser.
https://edow.org/event/reimagining-intergenerational-ministry/
FIRST YOUTH GROUP MEETING IS SUNDAY SEPT 28TH!
Our first Youth Group of the 2025-2026 school year is Sunday Sept 28th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. We will kick off the year with a cookout at the Lalmansingh house. All in grades 6th and up (including alumni) are welcome. Come enjoy food, formation, and fun!
Future dates… 2025: October 5 & 19, November 2 & 16, December 7 & 212026: January 11 & 25, February 8 and 22, March 8 & 22, April 19, May 3 & 17, and June 7
Contact Angelique H Cooper (angel.givehope@gmail.com) or Anika Lalmansingh (anika.lalmansingh@gmail.com) if you have any questions or you wish to help in any way.
EQUITY & JUSTICE RESOURCES
FROM THE NATIONAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Here are some ways we can connect with fellow Episcopalians on issues of the day through our national church.
The Episcopal Public Policy Network's weekly prayers for public policy and witness are published online each week. We can use these weekly prayers to seek God's guidance for grounding and to discern how each of us can respond to truth in the face of untruths; create space for grief in the face of denial of equity and justice; and free space in our souls for hope. Access the prayers for the weeks of August 15, August 22, August 29, and September 5.
Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN) Action Alerts: We can join the active ministry of public policy advocacy by taking action with EPPN Action Alerts. Let’s join our voices with Episcopalians across the church as we aim to influence the legislation and policy of the U.S. government on critical issues. Sign up online.
Episcopal Public Policy Network/Office of Government Relations weekly calls, 1:00 –1:30 p.m. Thursdays: We can stay updated about the policies and legislation the Episcopal Church is advocating for with Congress and the administration. These calls give an overview of the political environment and legislative outlook, advocacy tips, and an opportunity to ask questions. Register here.
Reach out to Ascension’s Equity & Justice Committee at ascensionaejc@gmail.com for more information.
Parish Work Day. OCTOBER 11 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
There are 3 areas we need to cover - Ascension House, First Floor and Under Croft, and the order of urgency is:
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Ascension House. We have two areas that were used as storage and need to be cleaned out. 99% of the items need to be taken to Shady Grove Transfer Station. THIS IS AN EXTRA URGENT AS IT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT AS A FIRE HAZARD.
· We need a few 3-4 trucks to accomplish this task and at least 5 folks willing to get dirty to haul stuff from the attic and 2nd floor to the vehicles. We could probably do a chain of folks to take stuff out. It’s a small area with a lot of stuff. Masks are recommended, lots of dust and dirt.
- The Altar Guild will do the Sanctuary and the Sacristy
- The Main Church needs a thorough cleaning -
- Cleaning under pews
- The pews
- The books need to be dusted
- The area where the books are stored need to be dusted and washed
- The floor needs to be washed
- The area at the back of the church needs to be cleaned
The following area’s will be visible to our visitors on Oct 23 and really need to be addressed now:
- The Narthex needs to be cleaned, and floor needs to be cleaned around the walls
- The stairs going to the Undercroft need to have a good cleaning around the edges along with the landing.
- The vestibule on the lower level needs a good cleaning. Especially behind the doors and along the walls.
- The Undercroft needs to be swept and any crud on the walls needs to be cleaned plus we need to give an extra look at the small restroom in the undercroft. This will need a scrub brush.
- The windows in the undercroft need to be washed including the ones in the Atrium doors going toward the back parking lot.
THIS ITEM CAN BE ON HOLD TEMPORARILY IF NECESSARY
- The Storage area in the Undercroft needs to have everything pulled out and examined and items pitched that are no longer working or no longer needed.
- Some might go to Good Will
- The Floor will need to be cleaned with some type of cleaner/bleach
The goal is to complete items 1-8 on October 11th and item 9 if we have time and energy. We will need to complete item 9 ASAP. This area may require a couple of trucks for hauling to Shady Grove Transfer Station.
IF YOU OR YOUR GROUP HAVE ITEMS STORED IN THE STORAGE AREA IN THE UNDERCROFT PLEASE MARK YOUR ITEMS AND THE ORGANIZATION SO THEY ARE NOT DISPOSED OF.
Please bring cleaning rags and buckets and maybe dust mops and brooms. I’ll have cleaning products and gloves for everyone to use
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