|
“Not here for high and holy things we render thanks to thee,
but for the common things of earth, the purple pageantry
of dawning and of dying days, the splendor of the sea,
the royal robes of autumn moors, the golden gates of spring,
the velvet of soft summer nights, the silver glistering
of all the million million stars, the silent song they sing,
of faith and hope and love undimmed, undying still through death,
the resurrection of the world, what time there comes the breath
of dawn that rustles through the trees, and that clear voice that saith:
awake, awake to love and work! The lark is in the sky,
the fields are wet with diamond dew, the worlds awake to cry
their blessings on the Lord of life, as he goes meekly by.
Come, let thy voice be one with theirs, shout with their shout of praise;
see how the giant sun soars up, great lord of years and days!
So let the love of Jesus come and set thy soul ablaze,
to give and give, and give again, what God hath given thee;
to spend thyself nor count the cost; to serve right gloriously
the God who gave all worlds that are, and all that are to be.”
Geoffrey Anketel Studdert-Kennedy
Dear People of Ascension,
This is our opening hymn for this Sunday, apt for our fall stewardship campaign as we commission our canvass callers. It’s one of my favorites, with its celebration of the common- and wondrous! things of earth and its call to join with the stars, the lark and the dew drops in praising and emulating God’s infinite generosity.
The text was written by the Anglican priest and poet Geoffrey Studdert-Kennedy, who served as a chaplain at the front during World War I and received the Military Cross for "the greatest courage and disregard for his own safety in attending to the wounded under heavy fire.” His experiences in the trenches made him a pacifist and Christian socialist; much of his ministry after the war was devoted to care for poor working people and veterans.
Many of Studdert-Kennedy’s poems are rather ironic and grim, so it’s striking that this one is so full of praise. In what must often have been a challenging life I hope he found deep solace in the splendor of the sea, the soft summer nights and beauties of autumn. What is clear is that the love of Jesus set his soul ablaze with the joy of self-giving service. This stewardship season, may it be so for us too.
Blessings,
Liz
| | Do you like to color? Especially for children and their families- we have copies of “the Sunday Paper” a cartoon version of our gospel each Sunday, along with crayons and clipboards available from the ushers. Please ask for one if your child would enjoy this during 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 880 1981 1224.
| | | |  | | |
Long Term Prayers
Pray for: Allejandro and Jesus, Barbara, Brielle, Dorothy, Elaine, Ellen, Judith, Jurek, Lucas, Stewart, Jen, Bishop Gretchen, Alice & the Kisiya family, Jennifer, Ketty, Sara, William Wynter, Eric, Eileen, Rural & Migrant Ministry, all detained at Delaney Hall, all refugees and asylum seekers, and New York Haiti Project and the St. Luke’s Episcopal School in Martel. We remember all who have been killed by ICE, or died in custody this year: Alex Pretti, Renee Good, Keith Porter, Geraldo Lunas Campos, Victor Manuel Diaz, Heber Sánchez Domínguez, Parady La, Luis Beltrán Yáñez-Cruz, Luis Gustavo Núñez Cáceres, Lorth Sim, Jairo Garcia-Hernandez, Alberto Gutierrez-Reyes, Emmanuel Clifford Damas, Pejman Karshenas Najafabadi, Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal, Royer Perez-Jimenez, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and Joan Sebastian Guerrero. We pray especially for a just peace in Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, Cuba, Ethiopia, and in our own country.
Please keep these people and intentions from our long-term prayer list in your own prayers. We hope to keep our intercessions in the liturgy both faithful and fresh, as we persist in prayer for those who need it.
| |
Prayers! Did you know you can submit your prayer requests online? Go to ascensionnyc.org/prayers and type in your prayer request. Be sure to add them. Requests submitted by noon on Thursday will be included in the Sunday bulletin. (Any requests after that will be included in the following Sunday bulletin.) | |
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.
| | |
VoteFest and Episcopal Charities Day of Service, Next Saturday, October 17 at Ascension: Please join us next Saturday for two activities to support and encourage voting in the midterm elections. From 11am-1pm, Climate Families is sponsoring a postcard writing event in the parish hall. This is a kid-friendly event and will include pizza and art-making as well as postcards to voters. At 1:30, Episcopalians from around the Diocese are gathering at Ascension to head down to VoteFest in Washington Square Park. This event, an offshoot of the No Kings Marches, will include art and community building, as well as developing ways to support early voting and protect our elections. All are welcome!
| | |
Please join us for a special English Tea Party themed coffee (tea) hour to officially welcome Dr. Alex Little to Ascension! Come enjoy assorted tea sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and preserves, macarons, and more… plus tea and bubbles! Looking forward to seeing lots of you there!
We are also looking for volunteers to help pour coffee/tea and assist with setup and breakdown. Please text Matt Vermedahl at 917-703-1585 if interested.
| | 20’s & 30’s Dinner, Thursday, October 22; 6:30 p.m. All Ascensionites in their 20's and 30's are invited to gather for food and conversation on Thursday, October 22 (and every 4th Thursday) in the Parish Hall. The menu is forthcoming, but your contributions of sides, beverages and other inspirations are welcome. If you can, please call the parish office (212-254-8620) or email info@ascensionnyc.org to let us know you are coming so we can prepare accurately. Friends are very welcome! We look forward to seeing you! | | |
Funeral Service for Janet Fisher will be held Saturday, October 24 at 11:00 a.m., with reception to follow in the Parlor. All are welcome.
“Rest eternal grant to her O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon her.”
| | Next Sunday, October 25, Special Coffee Hour in memory of Hannah Lubbert– Please join us for a special coffee hour provided by Hannah’s family | | |
Next Sunday’s Forum, October 25: Being Human in the Age of AI. This is the second of three forums on Artificial intelligence (AI), led by Clay Williams. Our final forum will be November 8.
Clay Williams has a PhD in computer science and an MA in theology. His doctoral work used AI in computational models of the immune system. Clay brings these interests together to offer insights into how AI works, contrast AI with human thinking, and help spiritual communities reflect theologically on the place of AI in our world. We continue the discussion on Oct. 25, & Nov 8.
| | |
Tuesday Zoom Small Group, Our next Small Group call will be Tuesday, October 27, 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. Join us as we read and discuss Rowan Williams’ Being Christian: Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, and Prayer. All are welcome! To join, contact Yunjeong at yjseol726@gmail.com. Join the conversation on Zoom at //us06web.zoom.us/j/83695829125. We will meet every Tuesday (except October 20).
| | Open Church Ministry – Do you have some free time and want to meet interesting people from the neighborhood, congregation and world? If so, consider volunteering with the Open Door team. We have a need for people to spend as little as 1 shift (1 1/2 hours each) per month or more, during the hours of 12-3p.m. Monday- Friday to keep our church doors open. We welcome people to our space, answer questions about the Church and our activities, and are available as they walk around, sit, or pray. Sometimes you get to enjoy hearing a Voices of Ascension concert rehearsal or organ practice as an added bonus! Training with be provided. If interested in exploring further, please contact Madonna Stack Barker at (m.stack@rcn.com) or the Church office (212-254-8620 or info@ascensionnyc.org). | | |
Flower Subscriptions for All Saints Days – If you would like to include names on the list of those we remember on All Saints Day Please email the names to the Parish Office (info@ascensionnyc.org) or fill out the form found in the Narthex and place in the offering plate. All names must be received by Sunday, October 25. to contribute toward the cost of the All Saints flowers. You can give in any of the following ways:
- Check: payable to Church of the Ascension (memo: All Saints Flowers)
- Zelle: send to info@ascensionnyc.org (memo: All Saints Flowers)
- Abundant Giving: select All Saints Memorial from the dropdown menu
| | |
Immigration Legal Support Fund – Recently our diocese announced a new Immigration Legal Support Fund to support immigrant families in our congregations and neighborhoods throughout the Diocese of New York. The Legal Fund will help those navigating immigration under urgent and vulnerable circumstances to access legal resources. We're starting with a $50,000 contribution from the Bishop’s discretionary funds. Help us to match this amount to keep families together. With your support, we can do more so that no one faces the system alone. Your contribution makes possible same-day response, family preparedness, limited-scope appearances, and urgent filings. You can contribute here. To learn more about the Immigration Legal Support Fund Click here.
| | |
Your Pantry Needs You!
Ascension Outreach Inc. needs additional volunteer participation. The program is robust and developing in some great ways- and we need more hands-on help. Won’t you consider helping strengthen our service to our neighbors?
Saturday opportunity: 8 to 9:30 am on the first and third Saturday of each month.
Upcoming Dates: October 17 & November 7 & 21. If you have questions or wish to join us, please contact Fr. Ed: fatherchinery@ascensionnyc.org, or 732-910-7017.
| | Support Church of the Ascension | | |
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.
| | |
Sunday – October 18
Holy Eucharist (Side Altar) 9:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist with Music (Church) 11:00 a.m.
In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday)
Reception to Welcome Dr. Alex Little, Music Director
Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.
Monday – October 19
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Lectionary Bible Study (Cancelled this week) 6:30 p.m.
Finance Committee (Zoom) 6:45 p.m.
Tuesday – October 20
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday – October 21
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 – October 22
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
20’s & 30’s Dinner (Parish Hall) 6:30 p.m.
Friday – October 23
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Food Pantry Delivery and Setup
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Saturday – October 24
Food Pantry (12 W 11th St.) 8:30 a.m.
For food assistance or to volunteer, please contact Fr. Ed (fatherchinery@ascensionyc.org).
Funeral for Janet Fisher (Church) 11:00 a.m.
Sunday – October 25
Holy Eucharist (Side Altar) 9:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist with Music (Church) 11:00 a.m.
In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday)
Ascension Forum: Being Human in the Age of AI
Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.
| |
If you need information to connect to one of our Zoom events please call the church office at 212-254-8620 or email us at info@ascensionnyc.org
| | | | |
