This Week at Ascension + August 4, 2021 "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." - Psalm 96

Please note updated pandemic-related guidance provided in this newsletter, below.

This evening, Wednesday, August 4 Commemoration of Nicodemus (transf.) 6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer via ZOOM 6:30 p.m. In-person & Live-streamed Mass Click to join us VIA YOUTUBE Click to join us VIA FACEBOOK LIVE The Order of Worship for the Mass may be viewed here. Image: Christ being carried to the sepulcher, Antonio Ceseri, 1880

The Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ Friday, August 6 In-person mass at Noon Looking ahead on the parish calendar, the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as the Feast of the Assumption and the Dormition of Mary, Mother of God, will be celebrated at the 10AM Solemn High Mass on Sunday, August 15.

Sunday, August 8, 2021 The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost 9:30 a.m. - Morning Prayer via ZOOM 10:00 a.m. In-person & Live-streamed Solemn High Mass Click to join us VIA YOUTUBE Click to join us VIA FACEBOOK LIVE The Order of Worship for the Mass may be viewed here. Image: Christ with the Host, Paolo da San Leocadio (1447–1520) 

From the Rector

Triage Dear people of Ascension, Triage, as you're likely aware, is best known in the context of hospital emergency rooms. The word comes from a French term meaning to 'sort out and prioritize.' Triage is also apt in parish ministry. Orderly plans for a day give way, and rightly so, when an urgent pastoral need arises. When more than one pressing pastoral need arises, and a hungry soul rings at the door asking for food, and there's a sermon to be written, and one's bishop has called -- triage. Triage comes to mind now in conjunction with this newsletter. I value starting our weekly newsletter with one main message and one main theme. Today, I admit, I'm having trouble sorting out and prioritizing. A number of significant matters, some time-sensitive, rightly clamber for our attention. I trust that you know triage from the undulation of circumstances, needs and opportunities in your own lives, and I trust that you'll know, in what follows, what to take to heart, what to respond to, and what to forget or leave to another time. Fr. Patrick Raymond, Rector

Triage (Also from the Rector)

Bishop Chilton Knudsen to serve as Assisting Bishop

In a special weekend edition of the Ascension newsletter sent this past Saturday, July 31, I explained that the consecration of Bishop-elect the Rev. Canon Paula Clark is being indefinitely delayed due to her ongoing recovery from an April 2021 brain hemorrhage. Here's a link to that parish newsletter regarding Bishop-elect Clark: it includes a link to a related video made available on the Diocese of Chicago website a week ago today (after our newsletter was sent to you).

Yesterday, August 3, the diocese announced that the Rt. Rev. Chilton Knudsen has agreed to serve as Assisting Bishop, beginning sometime in October. Bishop Knudsen served as Bishop of Maine for a decade, until her 'retirement' in 2007. As relevant to her qualifications in terms of episcopal leadership here and now, she was ordained in the Diocese of Chicago in February, 1981, by then Suffragan Bishop the Rt. Rev. Quentin Primo, Jr. and served a number of parishes in our diocese before being named diocesan Director of Pastoral Care by then diocesan Bishop the Rt. Rev. Frank Griswold. Since retirement, Bishop Knudsen has continued her energetic episcopal ministry in numerous dioceses, including, most recently, the Diocese of Washington (where she worked closely with Canon/Bishop-elect Clark). The Diocese of Chicago announcement about Bishop Knudsen's upcoming ministry may be viewed here. The corresponding announcement from the Episcopal Diocese of Washington (no doubt synchronized!) may be read here. The Wikipedia article linked here gives more background information on Bishop Knudsen's diverse ministries.

Updated Pandemic Guidance

I won't cover all of the ground, already familiar to all of us, that has led to a need for continued changes in guidance and practices in response to pandemic conditions and safeguarding health for all. But ... Please read Ascension's updated guidance here. The guidance provided is in three categories in three columns: Revised, Continued and Eased. Here you may read the summaries of two very different leadership conversations I shared on Monday and Tuesday of this week with parish clergy and staff, lay leaders and any interested members. The conversations confirmed my sense of the complexity of our circumstances and our weariness with the pandemic but as well the enthusiasm and hope widely felt for Ascension's future, including convictions about commitments in the weeks, months and year to come.

At risk: pantry@ascension Deacon Charles Farrell has made smart and necessary changes nearly every month throughout the pandemic to keep our first-Saturday-of-the-month pantry ministry going. He's recently expressed some concerns to me about re-building the pantry's volunteer corps and our need for additional parishioner leadership at this time and going forward. Deacon Farrell's dilemma with regard to the pantry is partly due to his additional assignment as Deacon at Church of the Atonement and his demanding 'day job' as Executive Director for Business Development at the University of Illinois, Chicago, where he is responsible for a number of multi-million dollar programs and where his COVID-related decisions and challenges dwarf ours here at Ascension. Our immediate need is for some hands-on help before and during the pantry ministry for this coming Saturday, August 7. If you may be able to help, click here to contact Deacon Farrell. In hopes of some clarity about short- and long-terms plans for the pantry ministry, I will be talking with the Wardens about a time in coming weeks for a more deliberate conversation involving all interested persons. Please let me or Deacon Charles or either of our Wardens know if you'd like to take part.

Less at-risk .. but still in need of your help: Sunday Coffee Hours Meet Ascension newcomer Sean Hansen. He's got a lot on his mind ... In September, Sean will begin MDiv studies at Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston. His is discerning ministry as a priest and in due time may look to Ascension for support in his ordination process. Sean also recently agreed to assist with organizing Sunday coffee hours at Ascension, along with George Pineda. But Sean doesn't know too many of us yet. He will no doubt be relying on your initiative to take an occasional Sunday to provide the coffee, snacks and fellowship that so many of us appreciate (though without always appreciating what it takes ...). Don't be surprised to see Sean, George or me circulating at coffee hour with a clipboard and sign-up sheet and looking for you. Or you could save yourself the trouble of feeling stalked and just send Sean Hansen and/or George Pineda an email, letting either or both of them know: "Sure, I'd love to take one coffee hour every six weeks or so. Thanks for the opportunity!"

Father Petite's sermon for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, 7/25, may be read here.

Father Raymond's sermon for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, 8/1, may be read here.

Attention Knitters, Crocheters, and Crafters: Save the date!   Would you like to have your crocheting or knitting projects help a mariner celebrate Christmas while away from their loved ones?    Joanne Bartosik, Senior Manager of Development and Christmas at Sea, is giving an overview of the Christmas at Sea volunteer programs on Wednesday, September 15, at 12:00 noon Eastern time via Zoom, hosted by the Diocese of Northern Indiana. Everybody interested in learning more about Christmas at Sea, or making items for the program, is invited to join us.    More information will follow. Any questions may be directed to Beth Hall at meclh@comcast.net     Click to learn more about Christmas at Sea and how you can help. Click to read more about Seamen’s Church Institute.

Organ Repertoire for August 8, 2021

ORGAN Partita: Sei gegrüßet, jesu gütig BWV 768 I. Chorale: Variations II-VI and XI Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)   At the Entrance Procession Hymn 577 UBI CARITAS (MURRAY)   At the Offertory Hymn 335 I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE   At the Communion Hymn 323 JESU, DU MEIN HIRT   At the Retiring Procession Hymn BLÆNWERN   ORGAN Fugue in G BWV 577 Johann Sebastian Bach

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 Dear friends, Our vocal music has returned to its usual (pre-COVID) summer format: -congregational Mass Ordinary, hymns, and service music -chanted propers, solos, and/or motets sung by the Schola If you haven’t attended a summer Mass for a while, you may not be aware that many of these Masses feature a quartet or quintet of mixed voices. We hope you’ll join us in the building, or online if you’re unable to attend in person. Peace be with you! Benjamin 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

Ascension Connections (with your click and God's help) Our website home page -- often with up-to-date info/links. Participate in Ascension masses at our YouTube Channel. (Look for other connections options soon.) Our Facebook page: Videos, upcoming events and more. Click to join us for the Daily Office, Virtual Coffee Hour, Scripture Study, Vestry Meeting, other. 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, Steven Wallis, Sarah Ponder, Taffy Wehe, Amy Peterson, Stephanie, Gwen Clark-Mason, The Rev. Canon Paula Clark, Lee Gould, Maria, Beth Hall, Claire, Inez Bahena, Gina, Catherine C., Steven Upmeyer, Sue Lenz, Ted Long, Ted Saunders, Ben, Br. Tommy Mandri BSG Births: Wren Joaquin Peterson, 7/21/2021, born to Paloma and Trevor Peterson and to grandparents Cheryl and Jay Peterson Birthdays: Jeanne Kreymer, 8/2; Dan Lara, 8/4; Kenneth Francisco Greene, 8/5; Kasandra Soucie (Cassie) Zelazny, 8/6/2019   Requiescat in pace: Mary Lou Devens, 8/5/2020, Abbott Butler, 7/14/2021 Lois Kimani, mother of Julie Kimani, 7/31/2021; Peter Folger Stetson, 8/2/2021 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 PRaymmond@ascensionchicago.org Susan Schlough, Treasurer Finance@ascensionchicago.org Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG, Parish Office Office@ascensionchicago.org

Reach Out To Us ‌ ‌

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.