Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 18, 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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"The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, 'Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven.'" (Isaiah 7:10)

Dear People of Ascension,

Sometimes what looks like a pious response turns out to be... not so much.

In this text, which comes from the first reading for this Sunday, Ahaz, king of Judah, replies, "Oh, I couldn't possibly put God to the test!" His reasons have everything to do with seeking political advantage and not much to do with faith. God, impatient with Ahaz, says, "I'm going to give you a sign anyway: Look! The young woman is with child and will bear a son and will name him Immanuel."

We now see why we read this scripture on the fourth Sunday of Advent; obviously it's a passage Christians have interpreted as pointing to the birth of Jesus, and it is quoted as such by Matthew (who loves to use the Hebrew Bible in this way). In its original context, though, it speaks not of a single extraordinary birth, but of a very ordinary one (note that the Hebrew word is "young woman", not "virgin") that nonetheless signifies that God is present. It challenges the fear and functional atheism beneath the king's seeming concern not to bother the divine.

As we prepare for Christmas in our complicated, difficult and precious world, I wonder if we are open to signs of God with us, small, insignificant and ordinary though they may be. I wonder if we too are functional atheists- not really expecting that the coming of the holy one makes any difference in our lives and our world. I know I struggle sometimes with how God is present in the midst of everything- perhaps you do too.

This Advent and Christmas may we take the risk of opening our hearts and minds to God with us: loving us, holding us, changing us. What signs of new life are coming to birth even in difficult, dangerous or deadeningly commonplace times? Where is the Spirit stirring? What difference does it make? Might you be a sign of trust, hope, joy or love to those you meet?

Blessings, dear friends-

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 Parish Hall (at least until the weather warms up again)

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.

Christmas Schedule

Christmas Eve, Dec. 24

Family Service, 5:00 p.m.
Prelude Music for Christmas, 9:30 p.m.
Festival Eucharist, 10:00 p.m.

Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Holy Eucharist & Hymns; 11:00 a.m. (Since Christmas is on a Sunday, there are no other services on that day.)

1st Sunday after Christmas, Jan. 1

Holy Eucharist, 9:00 a.m.
Lessons and Carols, 11:00 a.m.
Meditation & Sacrament, 6:00 p.m.

Livestreams of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and 1st Sunday after Christmas (11:00 a.m.) services can be accessed at Ascensionny.org/webcasts

Last Chance for Christmas Flower Offering- Help us decorate the church for Christmas with flowers and greenery. Please submit your memorials and thanksgivings to the Parish Office. To submit names:

Go to the electronic form at forms.office.com/r/qxhnFMcrym. (Using the electronic form significantly streamlines the process for the office.)

Go to the electronic form here. (Using the electronic form significantly streamlines the process for the office.)
Email the office. or
Call us at 212-254-8620

Names must be received by Monday, December 19. To make a donation, please go online to our Abundant Giving page to make your donation and designate your memorial names and thanksgivings.

Announcements

Come One Come All for the Greening of the Church! Join us today after the 11am service. We’ll be “greening the church”, which involves setting up pine trees on either side of the high altar, decorating various spaces with pine rope, hanging some wreaths, and adorning the pulpit and baptismal font with evergreens! Your kind assistance will be most appreciated!

Bishop Coadjutor Elect: The Rev. Matthew Heyd - This past Saturday in a special convention at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in Manhattan, the Rev. Matthew Foster Heyd, the rector of the Church of the Heavenly Rest in Manhattan, was elected Bishop Coadjutor-elect of the Diocese of New York.

To be complete, the election must now receive the consent, delivered to the Presiding Bishop, of a majority of Bishops of the Episcopal Church exercising jurisdiction, and the consent of a majority of the standing committees of the dioceses of the Episcopal Church, delivered to the Standing Committee of the Diocese of New York.

The consecration of the Bishop Coadjutor is scheduled for Saturday, May 20th at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine.

For extensive information about the Bishop Elect and the full slate of candidates, please visit bishopsearch.dioceseny.org.
To hear The Rev. Matthew Heyd's address to the convention, please visit vimeo.com/777677636.
To see the tabulation of voting, please click here.

Good and gracious God, we stand on the threshold of a new time for our diocese. As we cross that threshold hand in hand in thankfulness with our new Bishop-elect, Matthew Heyd, pour upon us an abundance of your grace and guidance that together we may seek to be about building your Beloved Community in this place. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have you seen our Ascension Advent Calendar? – Check us out every day on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ascensionnyc) for a daily Advent visual meditation.

Tuesday, December 13- “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” - Psalm 34:8a (photo Jimmy Amodeo)

Have you made your pledge for 2023? Thanks to all who have pledged to support Ascension in the coming year. If you have not yet pledged, please prayerfully consider doing so. We need everyone's participation, and depend on your commitments for our budget planning. Thank you for your generosity and care for our church!

To make or pay your pledge online, please check us out at Ascensionnyc.org/Give to find out how easy and secure it is to give. You can also download the Abundant app for iOS or Android. When donating, please choose whichever purpose you intend for your contribution.

New Office Phones! On Monday, December 19, the office will be installing a new phone system. We do not anticipate any difficulties in this process but please be patient as we install and get to know the new system. If for any reason you are not able to get through, please email us at info@ascensinnyc.org.

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!

Spirit Driven Stitching: Quilts by Posey Krakowsky: On view at the Heavenly Rest Undercroft Gallery (1085 5th Ave, New York, NY), through December 31; 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.

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 – December 18 – Fourth Sunday of Advent

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

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

Greening of the Church – after the service

In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday)

Join us for Coffee Hour following the Service

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

Monday – December 19

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