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The Transfiguration, watercolour, William Blake (1757-1827), date of work unknown, Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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Sunday, March 3
The Last Sunday
after the Epiphany
8am Said Mass
(Rite I)
9am Sung Mass
11am Solemn High Mass
Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
An English Mass
(1955)
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The Rosary
will be prayed at the Shrine of St. Mary the Virgin following the 11:00 a.m. Solemn High Mass
3:30 p.m.
Organ Recital by David White
4:00 p.m.
Evensong and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
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This Week at Ascension + February 27, 2019
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From the Junior Warden
From the Rector
Stations of the Cross
Ascension Connections Upcoming Events
Last Week's Sermon
Bp. Anderson House Spring Benefit
Sharing Lunch, Sharing Blessings
Ascension Book Group
This Sunday at Ascension
The Parish Prayer List
Approved Vestry Minutes Online
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Pondering
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy way and defend thee;
Surely his goodness and mercy shall ever attend thee;
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
Who with his love doth befriend thee.
Hymn 390, vs. 3
Dear People of Ascension,
At a recent planning meeting with Fr. Raymond and Senior Warden Cynthia Perrizo, we noted that many of the issues that have consumed a lot of time and resources at Ascension over the last few years have been addressed: major buildings-and-grounds work has been completed (though, there is always still more to do!); we've reached a consensus on management of the parking lot; there is a stabilization in staff and lay leadership; we've started to rebuild trust and friendliness in the congregation.
We've even begun to cross the significant threshold of welcoming the ministry women clergy.
None of the work surrounding these issues is complete, but with many of them off the front burner, as it were, it does give us a little bit of space and time to take stock of who we are and to contemplate what God might have in store for the Church of the Ascension. The "vision thing," as a former president called it.
Ascension is blessed with a multitude of gifts (financial wealth, beautiful and worshipful liturgy, commitment to Anglo-Catholic tradition, the talents and dedication of its staff and all of those who call this parish their home). Keeping all of that in mind, how can we help this parish to thrive? How can we most effectively share those gifts with our parish family, the neighborhood, the diocese, the wider church?
With a liturgical season of self-examination and discernment on the horizon, perhaps part of our Lenten discipline can be to "ponder anew what the Almighty can do" here at Church of the Ascension. How might we, corporately and individually, play a part in bringing a clearer vision into focus? In coming weeks, or at anytime, please share your thoughts with me, with Senior Warden Cynthia Perrizo, or with any of our Vestry members listed below.
In Him,
Gary Alexander, Junior Warden
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(Pictured from L. to R) Sr. Warden Cynthia Perrizo, Marilyn Evans, Cliff Green, Lynette Hector, Patrick Johnston, Kenneth Kelling, David Reeves, DiAnne Walsh, Amber Zelazny, and Treasurer Susan Schlough
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I'm presently away and traveling.
But a few notes from the road ...
Regarding the Vestry ...
+ Thanks to Junior Warden Gary Alexander
for today's letter.
+ You'll note that our 2019 Vestry roster does not include Jim Drury. He's asked the Vestry to accept his resignation due to some household developments that had already hampered his Vestry participation for a few months. Jim had one year left on his term, and the Vestry has not yet addressed the question of filling his term. Please join me in thanking Jim for the wisdom and care he devoted to the Vestry during the two years he was able to serve.
+ Many thanks to Susan Schlough for agreeing to continue her service as Treasurer.
+ At our February 19 Vestry meeting our main work was orientation. We reviewed primary Vestry responsibilities. Susan Schlough introduced how our monthly financial statements are prepared and communicated as well as providing an overview of our fiduciary policies and our audit process. We also looked at and began to discuss, the many areas of parish life and mission that require or may benefit from Vestry leadership in 2019. Here's the chart that we used as a springboard for conversation and that we'll be looking at again in coming meetings.
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Remember! Nursery care at Ascension resumes this coming Sunday, March 3!
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+ Please join me in welcoming Joy Haataja as nursery care provider.
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+ For parents of infants and/or toddlers: before bringing your child to the nursery, you'll need to fill out a 'Church Nursery Information Sheet' linked here or available in paper form in a binder in the nursery.
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This Sunday, if you haven't already done so, please bring your palms from past years' Palm Sunday processions.
They'll be burned next Tuesday to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday liturgies.
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Ash Wednesday - March 6
Said Masses with Imposition of Ashes
at 7:30 a.m. and 12:05 p.m.
Solemn High Mass with Imposition of Ashes
at 7:00 p.m.
A security guard will be on the premises from 6:00-9:30 p.m.
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Lent will soon be upon us. Ash Wednesday is one week away. It has long been a tradition here at Church of the Ascension to pray the Stations of the Cross at 6:30 p.m.on the Fridays of Lent. Moving from Station to Station (there are Fourteen,) we stop at each for a short Meditation and Prayer.
If anyone would be interested in serving as an acolyte at the Stations, there will be a short training session this Sunday, March 3, in the church following the Rosary
. (About 12:40 p.m.) The only '
qualification
' needed is to be able to walk and carry a candle or the Cross. Please see me on Sunday or call 224.422.9623. ~ Jim Lo Bello
Note: Stations of the Cross & Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, 6:30 p.m. on these Fridays of Lent 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29, 4/5 and 4/12.
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ASCENSION CONNECTIONS UPCOMING EVENTS
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Dame Myra Hess Concert at the Chicago Cultural Center,
Wednesday March 13
An Evening at Shaw Chicago,
Details of the upcoming events will follow in next week's TWAA
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BP. ANDERSON HOUSE SPRING BENEFIT
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SAVE 20% ON BISHOP ANDERSON HOUSE SPRING BENEFIT TICKETS
Healing One-Healing the World,
our spring benefit, comes to the Chicago Cultural Center on Sunday, May 19, 2019, 5 to 8 p.m. Featuring spectacular views of Millennium Park, specialty drinks and dining, and a Teddy Bear surprise, this is always an evening to remember.
This year we celebrate the successful completion of our Campaign for the next 70 years, and are honored to present the Marion Faldet Volunteer of the Year Award to our very special guests, Dr. Toyin Falusi Adeyemi and Rev. David O. Kyllo.
Save $25 per person today. Price per ticket now through March 15 is $125.
Purchase now.
After March 15, ticket price per person will be $150.00.
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SHARING LUNCH, SHARING BLESSINGS
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Please mark your calendar for our next meeting on
Wednesday, March 13th.
Since this will be our first meeting during the season of Lent, we will gather to sample a variety of vegetarian dishes. More details about these tasty items will be forthcoming in the future. We will be sure to include some yummy mashed potatoes for all of you who especially love them! And we will share stories of our favorite Ascension and Lenten traditions. Comments or thoughts can be given to Cheryl Peterson, 773-322-7995.
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The Ascension Book Group will meet on Sunday, March 3, 2019 between the coffee hour and Evensong to discuss the first part of Pillars of the Earth. Refreshments will be provided. For questions contact Ken Kelling at (773) 853-2337 or [email protected].
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The
Sunday Lectionary readings
,
Schedules of Acolytes, Lectors & Ushers
as well as Hymnody, Motets and Organ Voluntaries for
Sunday, March 3, 2019
may be found by clicking
here
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The Lector's Pronunciation Guide may be found
here
.
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Please remember these people in your daily prayers
Geoffrey Wainwright, Fr. John Graham, Dorothy Murray, Mary Lou Devens, Michael Milano, Thomas Holden, Brenton Boitse, Charley Taylor, August 'Augie' Alonzo, Kenvert Samuel, Ted Long, Jim Berger, Ethel Martin, Rachel Barton Pine, Demos Kukeas, Norb Bragiel, Yuka Asai, Dean Pineda, Fred Malek, Pastor Fred Overdier,
Kristen Halvorsen, Helena Wilson
Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord: and let light perpetual shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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APPROVED VESTRY MINUTES ONLINE
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The Approved Minutes of Vestry meetings are now available online to parishioners who request the link. If you would like Internet access to the Approved Vestry Minutes, please email the
Church Office and request the link.
Once you access the web page, you can read all recent Approved Vestry Minutes. In addition, if you click on the subscribe button at the top right, you will be given email notice whenever a new set of Approved Minutes is added.
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Things to Think
by Robert Bly
Think in ways you've never thought before. If the phone rings, think of it as carrying a message Larger than anything you've ever heard, Vaster than a hundred lines of Yeats.
Think that someone may bring a bear to your door, Maybe wounded and deranged; or think that a moose Has risen out of the lake, and he's carrying on his antlers A child of your own whom you've never seen.
When someone knocks on the door, think that he's about To give you something large: tell you you're forgiven, Or that it's not necessary to work all the time, or that it's Been decided that if you lie down no one will die.
- from Eating the Honey of Words, Harper Collins, 1999
Manuela Olten, from the children's book,
Mom, there's a bear at the door,
Eerdmans, 2016
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STAY CONNECTED
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