"
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
." - Psalm 96
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THIS WEEK AT ASCENSION + JULY 29, 2020
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The Commemoration of
Mary and Martha of Bethany
This evening, July 29
Evening Prayer 6:00 p.m.
* note the new starting time *
Low Mass, 6:30 p.m.
Via Zoom, connect below
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9th Sunday after Pentecost
August 2 (Proper 13)
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. Live-Streamed Mass
10:15 a.m. Scripture reflection
11:00 a.m. Virtual Coffee Hour
ALL VIA ZOOM
(See connection information below.)
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Feeding of the Five Thousand
, image from the
‘Beautiful Hours’ devotional book by Herman,
Paul and Johan Limbourg, ca. 1405-1409
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Re-Opening Update from the Wardens & Rector
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Yesterday’s re-opening task force meeting included time to note our achievements-to-date and also to size up challenges that remain before safely re-opening Ascension for in-person worship. We came to the difficult realization that we will not be prepared to safely re-open on Sunday, August 16, as we’d hoped. (We will, nonetheless, celebrate the Feast of the Assumption on the 16
th
, as planned.)
Examples of matters now requiring our further attention include:
- the mass itself – schedule, sacristy protocols, choreography that will be sparer and require social distancing among the ministers, and adaptation and deployment of live-streaming technologies;
- identifying and mastering a simple-to-use reservation system to keep us within safe occupancy limits and allow for follow-up communications, if needed, for our health’s sake;
- trainings: clergy and lay ministers, ushers/greeters, tech team, cleaning volunteers;
- sanitation protocols including use of restrooms;
- our Vestry’s certification to our Bishop that we’ve credibly addressed his guidance; and
- adequate preparation of parishioners who wish to take part.
Yes, but when will we open?
Our task force as a whole rallied around the wisdom of one member who suggested we let you know that:
- the task force will continue to meet not less than every other week;
- we will continue to work hard in between meetings;
- we will open when we are prepared to do so and then only if public health guidance indicates that it will (still) be safe to do so; and
- We aim to give notice and ample information two weeks in advance of the target re-opening date to all wanting to take part.
How can I help?
Clearly we have work to do, prior to and then routinely after re-opening. If you can be of assistance and haven’t previously shared your willingness to do so, please let us know.
We share the disappointment and uncertainty that many of you must feel now. We continue to ask for your prayers. And, as always, we welcome your comments or questions, addressed to any or all of us.
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My homily for the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, a week ago today, July 22, included a reflection from a fellow rector in our diocese about the first Sunday back together for worship since pandemic restrictions began in March. A number of you have told me that you found that message particularly meaningful, and it seems right to share it, and to share it immediatly following the disappointing news that the Wardens and I conveyed above.
If interested, you may read the 7/22 homily here.
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Ministry Leadership
for the Year Ahead
Mid-summer is often a time when I am wondering how a parish's ministry will look, and how it may take on a new or improved look, in the year ahead. Hard as it is to forecast anything about the year ahead that we now contemplate, I've been amazed and pleased by a number of recent opportunities that have come our way, including:
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- Bonnie Scott, a relative newcomer to Ascension and second year MDiv student at the University of Chicago Divinity School, offering to do an internship here in the coming academic year.
- George Arceneaux, newly ordained as (transitional) Deacon, resuming a conversation we'd begun, before pandemic struck, about serving at Ascension.
- Gary Alexander, agreeing to occupy the coach house during the uncertain year ahead AND in exchange to devote his considerable skills and love of Ascension to our website, social media and technology.
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Photos above are from the Saturday, July 25, ordination as Deacon of George Arceneaux IV,
at the Church of St. Paul and the Redeemer, Hyde Park, Chicago.
Above left:
with his wife, Fiona Chisolm (a professional french horn player).
Above right:
No, George did not faint! Nor did the Bishop strike him! That's the Prostration -- signifying one's obedience to the Church as represented in the authority of one's Bishop -- common to (but not universal in) Episcopal Church ordinations.
Lower left:
The Holy Spirit surely alighted on Deacon Arceneaux. In this case, I superimposed some clip art ...
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+ The big and best news in our household this summer is that Brooke and our daughter Grace are now back in Chicago and with me at the Ascension rectory full-time. COVID-19 caused great uncertainty about the viability of the performing arts high school Grace had been attending in Utah (a commitment that also required Brooke to live there ...). Also, separation was no fun anyway. We're beyond grateful to be under one roof again. Grace anticipates finishing high school in the year ahead at Fusion Academy, Lincoln Park. The school offers a highly versatile curriculum and also excels at both in-person and virtual learning.
+ Our son Owen continues social distancing from his six roommates at an off-campus home near the University of California Santa Cruz. He was unable to make it to Okinawa for a third summer, but continues related research remotely. He will graduate with a history degree this fall.
+ Our son Eliot's far-and-wide globetrotting (a quarter million miles of air travel in 2019) was mostly grounded by the pandemic, though he's still getting around as safely as possible and more than the rest of us. He's been with us in Chicago quite a bit lately and is sorting out options for coming months.
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Let there be Light! (A lot of it ...)
The LED re-lighting project that had been substantially finished just before the end of 2019 is now, we believe, completely done! One cause for the project delay: a long wait for delivery of the special down-light bulbs for the six pendant fixtures in the church. These are the lights by which those in the pews can read ... or not! The new bulbs are not, in fact, as blinding as appears in the photo. They are about the same color and intensity as those we previously used, but they throw the light over a much wider area. They should also last 10 years rather than 10 months. Now if only we can get some of you in the pews to verify the results ...
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I regret having to remind you that visits to Ascension, other than for urgent or essential matters or for brief personal devotion in the church, are to be avoided. Any visit should be arranged in advance with Br. Nathanael Rahm Thank you for your understanding.
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The Our Lady of Victory Garden
is, however, open and especially beautiful now. The garden gate on LaSalle is open daily from no later than 9:00 a.m. until late afternoon or early evening. Please feel free to come for a visit and a prayer. No prior arrangement is necessary. In any case, enjoy the photo below ...
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Due to COVID-19,
Church of the
Ascension’s Treasurer and Bookkeeper are limiting the amount of time they spend working in the parish offices
. All checks received at Ascension via the United States Postal Service, not always a reliable service in our area, will be bank deposited approximately every 4-6 weeks.
They will be here this coming Tuesday, August 4, for several hours beginning by 10 a.m. You may contact the Treasurer by email anytime at
Finance@AscensionChicago.org
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Dear friends,
Did you know...
...that every Sunday ‘Zoom' Mass features
all five chanted propers
?
...that every Sunday ‘Zoom' Mass features
a hymn at the Offertory
?
...that every Sunday ‘Zoom' Mass features
a vocal solo with organ accompaniment
at the Communion
?
...that all of the music mentioned above is
provided by your very own Ascension
staff musicians, including David White, myself, and members of the Choir
?
If you’ve been reluctant to tune in for one reason or another, perhaps it’s time to reconsider. It would be great to sing with you and for you across time and space.
Benjamin
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T
his Week's Featured Chorister
Amy Johnson,
mezzo-soprano
Year of my first service at Ascension
: 2017
One or two of my favorite Mass settings/motets that I’ve sung at Ascension
: Haydn
Nicolaimesse
and MacMillan
Sedebit Dominus Rex
The thing I love most about singing at Ascension
is the true appreciation and enthusiasm for what the choir does. I have always felt like our work is valued and positively contributes to the worship environment.
What else do I do outside of Ascension?
I work in food service as the front of house manager for a locally owned cafe and bakery. I enjoy a variety of artistic endeavors, particularly special effects makeup and watercolors. When I’m not at work, I’m usually at the gym or playing games with friends.
Next week’s Featured Chorister will be this Sunday’s soloist, Ian Prichard
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Sunday's Organ Repertoire
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Opening Voluntary
Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ
BWV 1096
Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ
BWV 1100
Johann Sebastian Bach
(1685-1750)
At the Offertory
Hymn 453 JACOB'S LADDER
Closing Voluntary
Toccata in C
BWV 564
Johann Sebastian Bach
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Ascension Connections
Below
(with your click and God's help)
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Meeting ID:
792 031 7452
Password: 1133
Join-by-Phone Option: (312) 626-6799
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Weekly Ascension Schedule
for the (stay-at-home) time being
All connections are
via Zoom (click here)
except for Morning Prayer,
via Facebook (click here).
SUNDAYS
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. Mass
10:15 a.m. Scripture reflection
11:00 a.m. Virtual Coffee Hour
MONDAY-FRIDAY
6:10 p.m. Evening Prayer via Zoom
WEDNESDAYS
6:30 p.m. Low Mass
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WEEKDAY MORNING PRAYER
Join us for Morning Prayer, Mondays through Saturdays at 8:00 a.m. on Facebook Live. We've created
a dedicated group as part of Ascension's Facebook page here
where you can find these videos. (Or navigate from the Ascension Facebook page by clicking on "Groups" at the left side of the screen.) Pray with us while watching live or while visiting the videos later. If, having seen these, you find that you'd like to officiate, please reach out to
Br. Jonathan Wheat, SMJ
(pictured here) or
MB Hwang
.
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Mondays-Fridays, 6:00 p.m.
Please note the addition of
Evening Prayer on Fridays!
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Yes, but I still haven't Zoomed ...
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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!
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Ascension Prayer List as of July 22
For all matters related to our experiences of and responses to the coronavirus pandemic; for the sick, the dying and the dead. For frontline responders and workers. For the fearful, for all whose livelihoods are now at risk, for healing of our deep divisions as a nation over policies and understanding, especially at this time with regard to questions of schools, from preschools to universities.
For positive outcomes, wherever possible, from ongoing protests in many cities of our nation, and for peaceful resolutions with regard to escalating tensions between federal and state authoritie
s.
For our prayers
: Charley Taylor, August 'Augie' Alonzo, Jim Berger, Ethel Martin, Dean Pineda, Carnola Malone, Charlene MacDougal, Mary Drell, Jim Lo Bello, Mary Lou Devens, Marty Stenson, Donna Neglia, Jessica, Maxim, Ted Long, Ken Kelling, Beth Hall, David Byerly, Nicholas Carl, Sal Martinez, Salem, Marta Alverado, Marco Patricio, Leigh McDonald, Bonnie Joseph, Ricardo Avila, Angie West, Gabriel Monpetit, Mike Lazos, Catriana Patriarca
In Thanksgiving
:
Birthdays
: Gary Gehrke, 7/27; Claire Green, 7/28; Mateo Rivera, 7/29; Andrew Wallace, 7/30
Ordination
: The Rev. George Arceneaux,
Transitional Deacon
, 7/25/2020
Anniversary
: Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG,
Life Profession of Vows
,7/31
For the Departed
: Mark Galliher, 7/26/2018; Charles Duran Pineda, 7/29/2017;
Michael Berkshire, 7/31/1997
Veronica Perez, Jeanette Perez, Dean Steigauf, Father Larry [HIGHman] Heiman, C.PP.S.,
Lydia Gonzalez, Marcus Merge
All who have died due to complications of COVID-19
For all law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
For all who have been unjustly killed as a result of law enforcement misconduct.
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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Not sure how I recently heard the King's Singers' recording of a track titled
The Rose
(about which I can find nothing more), but the impression left by the words seems worth worth sharing especially in the context of emotional barrenness that many are feeling in present circumstances. -
Fr. Raymond
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Some say love, it is a river,
that drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor,
that leads your soul to bleed
Some say love it is a hunger,
an endless aching need
I say love it is a flower and you its only seed
It's the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance
It's the dream afraid of waking
that never takes a chance
It's the one, who won't be taken
who cannot seem to give
And the soul afraid of dying
that never learns to live
When the night has been too lonely
and the road has been too long
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong
Just remember in the winter,
far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun's love,
in the spring becomes the rose
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Hey, I may as well add that the rose of love hasn't yet fully bloomed in the new configuration of Ascension rectory pets. Poppy, our youngest cat, is at least curious about the newcomer and shows it by trying out hide-and-seek. Cleo, the older cat, is clearly not ready for change or new friends. Maggie the border collie is continuously puzzled that these furry fellow creatures simply won't act more like sheep!
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The Very Rev. Patrick Raymond,
Rector
Susan Schlough,
Treasurer
Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG,
Parish Office
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