First Sunday of Advent - November 27, 2022

The Church of the Ascension

in the City of New York

12 West 11th Street, New York, NY 10011

212-254-8620 | info@ascensionnyc.org | www.ascensionnyc.org

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"They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!" (Isaiah 2: 4b-5)

Dear People of Ascension,

As I write, we have just heard news of the second mass shooting in less than a week, this time in a Walmart in Chesapeake, Virginia. The grief for the lives lost and traumatized survivors, the rampant hate enacted against the LGBTQ+ community (following as it does attacks on Black people in a grocery store, Jews at prayer, elementary school children and so many others), our seeming inability to deal with our national gun idolatry and the way that all this is fueled by politicians and people who claim to speak in the name of Christ- all these things leave me enraged and heartsick.

This Sunday, we begin Advent- always a season that seems to speak particularly to my condition and surely does this year. Advent is full of paradoxes- crisis and possibility, hope and profound challenge, watching and preparation, yearning and mystery. We see with deepening clarity the brokenness of the world; we wait with longing for the coming of the holy one- in our hearts, our communities and the whole aching creation. We ground ourselves in the grace we know in Jesus and we open ourselves to a wholeness that is yet to come. We cry “How long, O Lord?”, or maybe just “How?” We gather in community to comfort and encourage each other. We pray and work for the kin-dom of God.

Through it all, the words of the prophets ring with visionary power. The passage from Isaiah above comes from our first lesson for this Sunday. Could anything be more relevant to this present moment? Isaiah offers us imagery into which we can pray and live- weapons of destruction turned to the nurturing work of growing food; hearts and minds and policies turned from violence and hate to the study and practice of peace.

For me, this visionary text and many of the others we hear in Advent both heighten tension with the world as it is and fuel hope for what might be. Together let us grieve and rage as we need; let us also dream and listen, pray and act. May we indeed walk together in the light of God's wisdom and justice. As we prepare the way for the Coming One, may we find healing for our hearts and our world.

Liz

How to Watch Our Live Stream Services

Click this link for this Sunday's bulletin & hymns.

How to Watch Our On Line Services

From your computer, laptop, pad, smart phone, or other device, click this link:

Ascensionnyc.org/Webcasts

Say Thank You. If you watch our services online you may notice in the lower left-had corner you'll see the name of our producer, Jasmine B. She has been our producer a little over a month now and is doing a great job! Next time you're watching, be sure to give her 5 stars!

How to Add Prayer Requests Online for Sunday Service - Go to Ascensionnyc.org/Prayers and type in your prayer request. Be sure to add them before the end of the sermon.

A Prayer for Spiritual Communion

If you are attending any of our services online, we invite you to use this prayer at communion.

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

Join us for Coffee Hour

in the Front Garden (weather permitting)

after the service.

Regular Service Schedule

Sunday

9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Side Altar)

11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist w/ Music

(Church & Livestream)

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

Wednesday

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

Evening Prayer Every Weekday Evening

via Zoom

Join us each weeknight at 5:30

for Evening Prayer & discussion.

Click this link to join: ascensionnyc.org/eveningprayer.

To call in (voice, no camera), dial 929-205-6099; the meeting ID is 770 597 201.

Open Church Schedule

Open Church - Mondays through Fridays, Noon to 3pm. If you would like to volunteer for this ministry, please contact Gretchen Dumler or contact the church office (info@ascensionnyc.org or 212-254-8620.

Our Mask Policy

As the COVID numbers drop and the city and state relax restrictions, we no longer require attendees to wear a mask – although we do strongly encourage everyone to be masked when indoors, and to be sensitive to the concerns of others. Clergy, servers, and choir will remain masked during services.

Announcements

Sleepers Awake! Prepare ye the way of our God! Join us after the 11am service this Sunday for an Advent Wreath Making Workshop - Greens, wreath forms, and candles will be provided. It’ll be fun… More fun if YOU’RE there!

On Saturday, December 3, the Diocese will elect a Bishop Coadjutor who will become our next diocesan Bishop. Please join in prayer with our clergy and lay delegates (David Cholcher and Elizabeth Adams, alternate) as they represent us at this special convention.(You can watch new videos for the candidates here.)

Loving God, giver of every good gift, Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds and hearts of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese, that we may receive a faithful pastor who will care for your people and your world, preach good news and witness to the resurrection. We pray in the name of Jesus, our true Shepherd. Amen.

Help Us Repair & Restore Our Tower Brownstone

Ascension is making urgently needed repairs and restoration on the historic masonry & copings of our tower brownstone. We have received a generous matching grant from the Manton Foundation for this important work. Now we need your help make our space secure for the next generation!

Every dollar you give will be matched up to $200,000. You can pledge to this campaign online at ascensionnyc.org/matchinggrant, or scan the QR code above, or contact the parish office at 212-254-8620. Payments can be made by check payable to the Church of the Ascension (remember to put “Tower Brownstone” in the memo line) or online through Abundant (Ascensionnyc.org/Give – select “Manton Matching Grant” from the drop-down menu). If you have any questions about this campaign or the tower, please call the parish office.

Thank you for your generosity!

From The Rev. Posey Krakowsky - Day of the Dead Quilt - Speaker/Author/ Art Historian Dennis Raverty recently wrote an article about The Day of the Dead quilt, which I made for my husband in 2005. The article was published in The Living Church this month. (For a link to the article, click here.)

Spirit Driven Stitching: Quilts by Posey Krakowsky: On View at the Heavenly Rest Undercroft Gallery (1085 5th Ave, New York, NY), through December 31; There will be a special opportunity for Ascensionites to see and talk with Mtr. Posey about the quilts on Monday, November 28, from 6:45 to 8:45. If you can, please call the Parish Office to let us know you’re coming. The Rev. Posey Krakowsky, Priest Associate at Ascension, is also an artist, theologian, and writer. A lifelong fiber artist, Posey's specialty is quilting, but she also knits, weaves, paints, sews, and works with beads. Posey's quilting pieces are multi-layered and rich and take months to complete. Of her work Posey says, “We are Spirit-driven beings on an earthly, incarnate journey. God walks beside us every step. The ways we use our hands inform our hearts, our minds, and our souls: leading them deeper and deeper into Love.”

To watch Episcopal Journal's interview with Mother Posey, click here.

Episcopal Charities Tribute Dinner, Tuesday December 6- Episcopal Charities fundraising dinner for the outreach programs of the Diocese of New York returns in person this year. It 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 $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.

Ascension Forum: Traditional Icons & the Mystery of the Incarnation – Join us on Sunday, December 11 after the 11:00 service as Dr. Dennis Raverty, PhD, Art Historian leads us in a discussion of icons and the mystery of the incarnation. This forum can be attended via Zoom as well. Please check out our eBulletin, or contact the church office, to get the link.

How You Can Help

Help Asylum Seekers - Our friends at Judson Church (239 Thompson St.) have created a respite and mutual aid center for asylum seekers who have been bussed to New York from Texas. They are open every Monday from 10 am to 7 pm. You can help by volunteering time (Spanish speakers and those with medical, legal or social work training especially welcome), or by donating supplies. They need new (or like new) winter coats (men’s, women’s, & children’s), underwear (boxers preferably), and backpacks.

To learn more about volunteering, please contact the Rev. Micah Bucey at micah@judson.org. Donated supplies can be brought to Ascension, marked "mutual aid for migrants" and we will see that they get to Judson. Thank you!

This Week at Ascension

Anyone entering the church is encouraged to wear a mask. Please utilize the hand sanitizer stations.

Sunday – November 27 – First Sunday of Advent

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

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

Monday – November 28

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