Dear People of Ascension, 

Every morning I get a poem-a-day in my email. Most of them don't have explicitly religious themes, but the one today, new to me, did. It goes like this:

The Miracle of Giving

Twice Christ took the bread apart

with his human hands that he used for

such tasks, once with fish and once with wine,

the grain a pattern of tribute, distribute,

as he worked the division of himself into

feeding others with his body, taken but not taken,

there but not there, it was two times

two times two. Ever body got some body

who will feed them even when there seem hardly

enough to go around. When I hungered the word

fed me. Even so, so many others hungered

he needed a hundred more human hands.

That was when I said here take mine.

D.A. Powell

This struck me as amazingly apt in this season when we are struggling with the sheer magnitude of suffering and need in the world, and also are called to ponder our stewardship commitments, and also invited to remember gratitude and grow in generosity. It spoke to me of several simple and salutary spiritual practices: to do some act of service and kindness, however small. To notice with gratitude how I am being fed. To step up, if possible on the edge or just over my comfort zone. To tend to my body's needs and joys.

What practices nourish you in these days? May we continue to feed each other and so find miracles.

Blessings,

Liz

Join us for Coffee Hour

In the Parish Hall

after the service.

This Sunday we welcome The Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer, Guest Preacher and Forum Leader. Dr. Breyer is the Executive Director of the Interfaith Center of New York and a priest of our diocese. She has been a leader in work on immigrant rights, interfaith dialogue and activism, and Christian peacemaking, so her visit is incredibly timely! Please welcome her to Ascension.

Church Club of New York at Ascension, Annual Bishop's Forum, Tuesday, November 14; 6:00 p.m. – You are invited to attend the Annual Bishop’s Forum in the Parish Hall on the 14th. Bishop Allen K. Shin will speak on the changing landscape of ministries in the Episcopal Diocese of New York. The evening will begin with Holy Eucharist in the church at 6:00 p.m, with the program and reception to follow in the Parish Hall at 7:00 p.m..

If you would like to attend as a guest of the Church Club of NY:

• Click here to register
• Click the "Register" button, then
• Select "Church of the Ascension Parishioner (not yet a Church Club member)"
• Then complete the registration.

Racial Justice Discussion Group; Thursday, November 16; 6:30 p.m. – we’ll screen a 27-minute interview with writer Ta-Nehisi Coates in which he shares observations from a recent trip to Palestine and Israel through the lens of his own experience as a Black American Discussion will follow. Check our eBulletin for the Zoom link – or contact the Parish Office at info@ascensionnyc.org.

Ascension Advent Calendar returns- looking for photographers! For the last several years, our Advent practice at Ascension has included sharing a scripture and an image for every day of the season. There are still a few slots left! It's easy- let Mother Liz know you want to participate, and she will send you a scripture for one of the days in Advent. You then send back an image, not necessarily illustrating the text, but responding to it in some way. We will share the images on our social media every day from Sunday, December 3 (Advent 1) through December 25. It's a great- and simple- way to prayerfully prepare for Christ's coming! If you're in, please let Mother Liz know as soon as possible.

Episcopal Charities Tribute Dinner, Tuesday December 4- Episcopal Charities fundraising dinner for the outreach programs of the Diocese of New York is held in one of the most elegant dining rooms anywhere- the Cathedral of St. John the Divine! Ascension will once again have a table for ten. The full cost of tickets is $750, or $400 for young professionals (under 35). The church will pay up to $500 of full price tickets or $300 for young professionals, so those attending will pay $250 or $100. It's a fun evening for a great cause. If you want to attend, please speak to Mother Liz.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry calls for an immediate ceasefire.

"You may know me as the pastor who is always talking about love, and I am. But today I am mindful that the urgency of love—true, sacrificial love that respects all of humanity—is not just a good feeling, and it is not easy. We are called to a love that demands much from us. We are called to a love that tells the truth. Today I raise my voice for love because more than 10,000 people have died in Gaza, including more than 4,000 children."

You can read his full letter here.

The Episcopal Public Policy Network also sent an action alert calling for a ceasefire. If you haven't already contacted your elected officials, here is a link to do so.

Bishop Andrew Dietsche, Bishop of New York, responds to the bombing of the Episcopal Hospital, Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza. Bishop Dietsche had recently sent a letter to the diocese urging support for the hospital. After the bombing of the hospital, the need is even greater.

"We would suggest that this does not lessen the importance of contributing to their work, but increases it, as their work has never been more needed. We will know more about the damage to the hospital and loss of life in the days to come. The two most immediate Episcopal institutions doing the work of our church in the Holy Land are the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (through which one may give to support the Ahli Arab Hospital) and Episcopal Relief and Development."

To read the Bishop's full statement, click here.

Resources from The Episcopal Church:

The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations has a number of resources for taking action for peace in Israel and Gaza, supporting humanitarian aid efforts, and prayer and reflection regarding the war. They are updated periodically. You can find them here.

The long-awaited repairs to the wood and brownstone of our Fifth Avenue tower are proceeding right on schedule and, unbelievably after all the years of studying and planning, the work is due to be generally finished by the winter. This means that payments to the architects and contractor are coming due, starting now. The Church of the Ascension is the recipient of a $300,000 matching grant from the Manton Foundation. The key word here is “matching.” And our generous donors have indeed pledged to match the grant. In general, the wardens and vestry requested pledges that could be paid in full by the first quarter 2024. Now would be a good time to start paying pledges. Remember, when you pay by check to put “Tower Brownstone” in the memo line. If you pay through Abundant, select Manton matching grant” from the drop-down menu. Finally, if you have not pledged, we hope you will consider a gift. The Manton match and pledge payments do not cover the entire cost of the job. With this work on the tower, our Fifth Avenue façade is gradually being restored to its 1841 look and our garden and entrance are becoming safer places to enjoy.

Help our immigrant neighbors! The Judson Memorial Church Radical Hope Mutual Aid Center, a Monday refuge for migrants, is looking for small- and medium-sized men’s jeans, sweats, long-sleeved t-shirts, and zip-up jackets (but not pea coats). (The men go to places where day-laborers gather for work, and the kind of work for which they are hired needs shorter jackets.) Drop-off at 243 Thompson St. 9-5 (ring the doorbell) or leave in the basket in our parish hall. Thanks for your help!

Sunday – November 12

Holy Eucharist (Church) 9:00 a.m.

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

In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday)

Join us for Coffee Hour following the Service

Ascension Forum (Hybrid) after 11:00 service

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

Monday – November 13

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. (for more information, contact Sybil at srpiccone@yahoo.com)

Finance Committee (Zoom) 6:45 p.m.

Tuesday – November 14

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

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

Church Club of NY (Church/Parish Hall) 6:00 p.m./7:00 p.m.

Wednesday – November 15

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

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

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

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

Thursday – November 16

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

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

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

Friday – November 17

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

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

Saturday – November 18

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

The Food Pantry operates on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. For assistance or to volunteer, please contact Fr. Ed (fatherchinery @ascensionyc.org) or Amy Shaw (amyqshaw@gmail.com).

Sunday – November 19

Holy Eucharist (Church) 9:00 a.m.

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

In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday)

Join us for Coffee Hour following the Service

Ascension Forum (Church & Live Stream) after 11:00 service

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

In this time of seasonal weather changes, as happens every year, we are all becoming more mindful of even small changes in how we feel. As such, we ask that you give careful consideration to public health best-practices. And in light of the increase in Covid infection rates, please feel free to use a mask when you attend worship services, particularly if you could be considered at higher risk of infection.

If you have any question, or need assistance of any kind, please don’t hesitate to contact the parish office or your clergy members. Remember, we’re better together! Because together we can and do make a difference!