FROM REV. VINCENT BLACK

Transcription

1 FROM REV. VINCENT BLACK It is hard to believe that June is here already. On the first of June two young men who were in the initial group to live in Ascension House will be ordained as transitional deacons, Alex having completed his studies at The General Theological Seminary and Greg at Yale Divinity School. No doubt many of you will be at Trinity Cathedral to celebrate with them and the whole Church for this festive occasion. But some of you may be asking why are they being ordained deacons when they went to seminary to become priests. That is a very good question especially since we have Barb with us who is a postulant to the diaconate, a person who is training for and discerning a call to become a deacon in the Church. As many of you have heard from Barb one of the primary roles of the deacon is to call the Church to serve the world in the name of Jesus Christ. A deacon points out opportunities to serve the poor, the hurting, the wounded, and the hungry and invites the Church to look for Jesus in its neighborhood and in its people. A deacon calls the Church out on its tendency to turn inward and its inclination to become a closed and rigid social club. Although there is great debate in the Episcopal Church over the practice of ordaining people first to the diaconate and then to the priesthood when they have no intention of remaining a deacon it is the current practice in the Episcopal Church, across the Anglican Communion, in the Roman Catholic Church as well as in the Orthodox Church, in other words, in a large part of the church catholic. One of the arguments for this is that all priests and bishops should be grounded in the commitment to pastor and lead the Church through service. Continued on Page 2 Inside this Issue Message from Fr. Vincent... 1 Message from Gil Newlands... 2 Adult Formation... 3 The Shawl Ministry... 3 Community Meal... 3 The Ascension Choir... 4 Taizé Prayer Service... 4 Sydney and Alex... 4 Calendar... 5 Summer Lunch Program... 6 Building and Grounds Meeting... 6 Book Club... 6 Community Spaghetti Meal... 6 Volunteers Needed... 7 Hospitality Roster... 7 Anniversaries and Birthdays... 7 Alex and Gregory... 8 Yard and Garden Clean-up... 8 Dinner Nite Out Group... 8 Pilgrimage of Trust Frankfurter Friday Schedule Holy Eucharist 8:00 am & 10:30 am Website: Nursery 10:15 am - 12:15 pm Sunday School 10:30 am Please submit all items by June 23rd danielvanah16@gmail.com

2 FROM REV. VINCENT BLACK Continued from Page 1 The following prayer is said at the ordinations of all deacons, priests, and bishops in the Episcopal Church: O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. PAGE 2 As we enter into Pentecost I invite you to pray this prayer every day throughout the month of June and to ponder our call to serve in the name of Jesus Christ. Listen to what things God brings to your mind for the Church of the Ascension and to share them with me. I look forward to hearing from you. FROM GIL NEWLANDS, SENIOR WARDEN Senior Warden s Report In retrospect, this letter might have been more appropriate last month. I was in the Narthex the other day, and happened to notice the Memorial Plaque dedicated to those parishioners who served (or died) in World War II. When I first came to Ascension about thirty years ago, some of them were still alive; I think they have all marched off into history now. As you know, this past Monday was Memorial Day. Years ago this holiday was called Decoration Day. In many communities, citizens used this day to decorate the graves of loved ones, in particular those who were veterans. Many towns and some cemeteries had religious ceremonies to commemorate the day. I used to enjoy going to Brooklyn Heights Cemetery, where many of my family members rest, and to Riverside Cemetery, where I have through inheritance - a 12-grave plot, seven of which are occupied. Decoration Day was started by a now defunct (I believe) organization called the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) as a way of remembering those men who died in the Civil War. Eventually some southern states even had GAR posts, although it was primarily a northern organization. In its heyday, the GAR wielded great political power. No president between Grant and McKinley was elected without the backing of the GAR. But back to the plaque in the Narthex. On Memorial Day I m certain many of us gave special thought to loved ones who have gone on before us. As Christians, we hope to be re-united with them after our lives on earth are over. Before I started this letter, I re-read the beautiful words of the Rite I Burial Service in the Book of Common Prayer, especially those in the section marked Additional Prayers beginning on page 487. I suggest if you have time you do likewise. May God bless us and keep us all. Sincerely, Gil Newlands Senior Warden.

3 CHRISTIAN FORMATION FOR ADULTS RESUMES ON SUNDAY MAY 7TH, WITH LUKE FOR EVERYONE BY N.T. WRIGHT. 9:15-10AM IN ASCENSION HALL! BOOKS AVAILABLE IN THE OFFICE FOR $ NO NEED TO READ AHEAD. WE WILL READ A FEW PAGES TOGETHER EACH WEEK AND DISCUSS WHAT WE HAVE READ. NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE ON SUNDAY MORNINGS. PLEASE READ ALONG ON YOUR OWN. PAGE 3 ADULT FORMATION NO FORMATION ON PENTECOST JUNE 4TH. June 11: Luke 1:1-4, Pages June 18: Luke 1:5-25, Pages June 25: Luke 1:26-38, Pages 8-12 PLEASE JOIN US AS WE EXPLORE AND DISCUSS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND WHAT THAT MEANS. YOU CAN ALSO JOIN IN THE CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION FACEBOOK DISCUSSION. THE SHAWL MINISTRY SHAWL MINISTRY SUMMER SCHEDULE WE WILL MEET WEDNESDAY JUNE 7TH, AND WEDNESDAY JULY 5TH, AT 9:30 IN ASCENSION HALL. INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR MINISTRY. WE WILL RESUME OUR REGULAR SCHEDULE IN SEPTEMBER COMMUNITY MEAL THE COMMUNITY MEAL WILL BE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 8TH. SET UP AT 4 PM DOORS OPEN AT 5 PM SERVE MEAL AT 5:30 PM We could used help to, set up, serve, bake, or clean up! OUR DESSERT WILL BE: ICE CREAM SUNDAYS I COULD USE ONE LARGE CONTAINER OF VANILLA BREADSMITH IS NOW DONATING THEIR DAY OLD BREAD FOR OUR THURSDAY MEAL. THANK YOU BREADSMITH. YOUR BREAD IS AMAZING AND A BLESSING TO OUR CLIENTS. LET MARGIE KNOW IF YOU COULD HELP. bach2schol@hotmail.com

4 PAGE 4 THE ASCENSION CHOIR THE CHOIR WILL BE FINISHING THE YEAR ON JUNE 11TH. THANK YOU TO OUR DEDICATED SINGERS: FRAN RICHARDSON RINCY ISAACS BILL WOLLFORD JOHN MOHLAR CHRIS DEIBEL MARGIE HILDEBRANDT If you are interested in being a part of our Music Ministry, see Margie about scheduling an audition! We can always use more singers. When you sing, you pray twice!!! Taizé Prayer Service Join us for a new prayer service at 7:30 pm on the last Tuesday of every month! Next Service: June 27th CONGRATULATIONS SYDNEY AND ALEX

5 PAGE 5 June 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday am - Yard & Garden Cleanup NO ADULT FORMATION 4 10:30 am- Pentecost Service 5 6 6:30 pm - Buildings & Grounds Meeting 7 9:30 am - Shawl Ministry (Ascension Hall) 8 5:30 pm - Community Meal am- Service 9:15am-10am Adult Formation 10:30 am- Service 12 Summer lunches begin 6 pm- Dinner Nite Out (AJ's Urban Grill Westlake) Flag Day am- Service 9:15am-10am Adult Formation 10:30 am- Service Father's Day First Day of Summer 15 7 pm- Vestry 22 The Youth Group 6:30pm - 8 pm 16 6 pm - 7 pm Frankfurter Friday am- Service 9:15am-10am Adult Formation 10:30 am- Service 26 5:30 pm - Community Spaghetti Meal 6-7 pm- Book Club 7:30 pm- Taizé Prayer Service pm - 7 pm Frankfurter Friday

6 PAGE 6 SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM The Summer Lunch program begins on June 12th. Thank you to all the volunteers who will make this happen! Bldg & Grounds meeting Tuesday June 6th, 6:30pm. Book Club June 27th, last Tuesday of June, from 6-7pm. The book is The Book of Joy, Dali Lama and Desmond Tutu. Come prepared to discuss the book, having read it of course. Books are available for $10.00 in the office. As a reminder, there is a Taizé service at 7:30 on the same evening, so you might plan to attend both as your schedule permits. COMMUNITY SPAGHETTI MEAL Coordinated by Jonathan Gray MONDAY, JUNE 26TH DOORS OPEN AT 5 PM MEAL SERVED AT 5:30 PM HELPERS FOR THIS MEAL ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! Whether you come at 4:00 to set up, or later to serve, let the office know so Jonathan Gray can be notified.

7 PAGE 7 Are you willing to assist as the second person for the nursery or Sunday School? Contact David Campion: dccampion@earthlink.net or Click on the link below to access the ascension assistants for worship worksheet HOSPITALITY ROSTER June: Building & Grounds July: Parishioner Sign-up For the month of July we are looking for volunteers for Hospitality. July 2nd, July 9th, July 16th, July 23rd, and July 30th. If you are interested in helping out there is a sign up in the office (white binder on the desk), or you can Christina at christina.ferraro@gmail.com or call JUNE CELEBRATIONS BIRTHDAYS June 05: James Hendy Sr. June 05: June Madden June 09: John Welfley June 21: David Buehler June 25: Joe Kidwell June 28: William Beyer June 28: Ella Jane Fowerbaugh ANNIVERSARIES June 04: Gregory Sent & Daniel Vanah June 24: Ann & William Beyer June 24: Mary Ann & Christopher Deibel June 28: Melissa & Bret Schlosser Did I miss your anniversary, birthday, or do I have the date wrong? Please let me know, so I can update our records! danielvanah16@gmail.com

8 CONGRATULATIONS ALEX AND GREGORY PAGE 8 Alex Barton and Gregory Stark have graduated from seminary and will be ordained to the transitional diaconate on June 1st, at Trinity Cathedral. We will be presenting them each with a gift certificate toward vestments which can be quite pricey. If you would like to contribute to this gift please do so by June 11th, making checks payable to Church of the Ascension but putting Alex and Greg in the memo. We will also take a collection on June 11th, at church. YARD AND GARDEN SPRUCING The first Saturday of each month during the Spring, Summer, and Fall. Saturday, June 3rd, at 9 am & Saturday, July 3st, at 9 am Contact Joyce Knapp with any questions. DINNER NITE OUT GROUP WE WILL MEET ON MONDAY, JUNE 12TH AT 6 PM AJ'S URBAN GRILL DETROIT ROAD, WESTLAKE, PHONE: GOOD FOOD AND GOOD COMPANY. PLEASE TRY TO MAKE IT...THE MORE THE MERRIER. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. ANY QUESTIONS, CALL JOYCE OR JUNE. JOYCE: JUNE:

9 PAGE 9 Six youth fromfrom the the Church ofofthe attendedthe thecathedral Cathedral Six youth Church theascension Ascension attended Pilgrimage onmay May youth worked the Trinity Community Pilgrimage on TheThe youth worked in thein Trinity Community Garden, Garden, explored the Cathedral, attended workshops, and just had fun. explored the Cathedral, attended workshops, and just had fun.

10 PAGE Cathedral Pilgrimage - May 19-21,

11 PAGE Cathedral Pilgrimage - May 19-21, 2017 Cathedral Pilgrimage - May 19-21,

12 PAGE 12 Frankfurter Fridays are Back! Free 100% Beef Hotdogs and fun for all ages Comhole, Frisbee, Croquet, Kids Lawn 2017 Schedule 6:00-7:00p.m. June 16 June 30 July 14 July 28 August 11 August 25 *September 8 (movie night) September 22 *Please note: On September 8, we will host a movie night, plan to join us for frankfurters from 7:00-8:00 and stay for the movie and popcorn. Church of the Ascension Detroit Avenue (216)