CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION 13216 Detroit Avenue Lakewood, Ohio 44107 www.ascension_lakewood.org April, 2015 In the very first days of this month we remember and relive through the liturgies of the Church the holiest days of our year as followers of Jesus Christ. On Maundy Thursday we hear Jesus command to love one another as he loves us, showing us how to lead by serving, by ministering. In his case, he washed the disciples feet. A lowly and menial task. He told Peter that, as he our Lord and teacher does, so we must do for one another. He then gives us the gift of the Eucharist, asking us to share bread and wine when we gather together and remember his death and resurrection. And so we do on many Sundays when we gather for corporate worship, we participate in Holy Communion with God and all followers throughout the ages. On Good Friday we focus on the cross. We process down the aisle with a large wooden cross and bring it forward inviting those present to come forward to venerate the cross, to bow or touch, or kiss the cross in an act of appreciation and acknowledgement of what Jesus offers there. We then read the passion according to John and reflect on the brutal last hours of Jesus life and his painful death. On Easter we rejoice with God and all the saints of every generation that life is victorious in Jesus Christ. We proclaim life, not death to be the end of the story. We proclaim our hope that Jesus remains with us still and that we encounter him in each other and recognize him when we break bread as did the disciples on the road to Emmaus. The holiest of days and the most challenging. They are reminders that we are called to action. We are called to serve in some way. To give of ourselves for the good of the community, the Church that we might share Jesus with the world, with our world. How are you involved in this community? Do you participate in our studies? Do you serve at our community meal? Do you knit with the shawl ministry or prepare the church for worship on altar guild? Do you serve on the vestry, the finance committee, the choir? Do you serve in a role during worship or participate in cleaning the grounds? Have you offered to help with the garden, to minister with our children, to visit the sick and bring Holy Communion to those who are unable to make it to church? These holy days are a reminder that we are the Church, you are the Church, the body of Christ. Each and every one of you is needed to enable this parish to serve God as God intends. If you are not involved in some way, please pray about how you might be. If you are not sure how you might serve, please call or email me. No part of the body is not needed. When Jesus rose from the dead first he went to see his friends, he ate with them and talked with them, and comforted them. He then sent them out to continue his work, his ministry of reconciliation. No one was exempt and neither are you. This is the great equalizer, God wants us all, each and every one of us to continue the work Jesus started. What an amazing gift. The Lord is risen indeed! Inside this issue Father Vincent s Message.....1 Senior warden s Message 2 Choir, Community Meal..........3 Tech Hints, Outreach..4 Afternoon Guild, Holy Week Schedule.5 Prayer Vigil, Easter Vigil, Hospitality Roster..6 Ascension Night Out Buildings & Grounds, Shawl Ministry Celebrations:....7 Anniversaries Birthdays New Faces at Ascension...8 Photo Gallery.9-10 Snowy Sunday, Sylvia s Birthday Anna s concert Calendar.11 May NEWS IS DUE BY April 20th
News from Gil Newlands, Senior Warden: Senior Warden Report April 2015 Those of you who were at our Palm Sunday service must surely agree that it was a most beautiful and well-attended worship service. And, despite the chill in the air, we were warm inside the sanctuary thanks to our new boiler system. I ve heard several remarks about how comfortable the church is now, and the best part is that during the cold months of February and March, our heating costs have been about one-half of the amount we budgeted, based on last year s costs. It certainly seems we made the right decision to go ahead with the new heating system when we did. When the system is completed, along with some other improvements that we will be making, we anticipate we will be able reduce operating costs even more. On April 1st Margie Hildebrandt and I will be attending a meeting at the Cleveland Foodbank to learn more about establishing a Summer Lunch Program for neighborhood children. As I m sure many of you already know, the neighborhood surrounding Ascension is populated by numerous single-parent families, and the summer lunch program will serve to provide neighborhood children with a balanced no-cost lunch. The program is federally-funded, as long as the sponsor is able to provide the space. This is an excellent opportunity to provide additional outreach to our community, and I hope that some of you will be able to assist in this program. More about this later. Speaking of outreach, I was very pleased last Thursday, when following a Diocesan Council meeting, a long-time member of another parish who is prominent in Diocesan affairs approached me and said Tell me more about what you re doing at Ascension. Before I could respond, a member of the Bishop s staff answered that Ascension is a parish that really is outward-oriented, and committed to growing the parish. This individual also commented how successful we were in incorporating our young people into the service. This is certainly gratifying to hear. Finally, I want to remind you that there is a Bishop s Retreat scheduled at Grace Church, Sandusky, toward the end of the month. There will be a sign-up sheet in the office for all who are interested in attending. Sincerely, Gil Newlands Sincerely,
TIMES FOR SERVICES! Services are at 8:00 and 10:30 am unless noted Help us Grow! Be joyful in the Lord, All you lands; Serve the Lord with gladness And come before his presence With a song. (Psalm 100) We are blessed to provide vocal music for the 10:30 service. If you would like to join us, let Margie or Linda know. We rehearse at 9:45 10:15 before the service and from 12:00 12:45ish after the service! We welcome to our midst John Mohlar!!! When you sing you pray twice! Come join the fun! Community Meal The community meal this month will be on Thursday, April 9th. Our dessert this month will be a White /jello poke cake with spring sprinkles. Let Margie know if you would be willing to help out by baking! I need 3 bakers. Thanks.. Lately, we have had wonderful helpers from Ascension, St. Lukes and The Lantern. Additional helpers may always join us! As we know, many hands make work light! Margie
Tech Hints Have you checked out our website lately??????? Pretty cool! http://ascension-lakewood.org (Thanks Joe Sgambellone!) Did you know you can hear Father Vincent s sermons again? You can go to the Sermon tab. DO YOU KNOW. If there is a picture you like in the Spires, you can save it by right clicking it and then select save as picture. The computer will save it to your pictures. Outreach at Ascension Needed: If you get plastic grocery bags, our Community Meal is going to begin passing out free food from the Foodbank. Therefore we will need bags to put it in. Look for the recycling box that says COMMUNITY MEAL in the undercroft.. We could also use extra hands to pass out the food!
News for the Parish AFTERNOON GUILD Wed., April 8th at 12:00 pm Please join us for our monthly gathering. We will be meeting at MILLER S NATURE PRESERVE 2739 Center Rd. Rte. 83, in Avon It is located south of Detroit Road (or 90) on the east side of 83. Lunch is planned for noon, surrounded by 78 acres of natural beauty! Please sign up in the office or let Joyce know that you re coming. Holy Week Services Maundy Thursday, April 2 7:30 pm Good Friday, April 3 7:30 pm EASTER April 5, one service 10:30 am followed by an Easter Egg Hunt *we will be collecting plastic eggs, wrapped candy and trinkets to fill the eggs.
Keep Watch and Pray We will have a prayer vigil in the Chapel at the Altar of Repose, after the Maundy Thursday service, until midnight. If you are able to take part, please sign up in the office, To indicate what time slot you will take. EASTER VIGIL All are invited to join our bishop and 4 other parishes at Historic St. John s, Ohio City, for an Easter Vigil at 7pm on Saturday April 4th, followed by a festive reception Hospitality Roster April Vestry May Finance Committee June Ascension House July Vestry August Music If you are not a member of one of these committees, I m sure that any one of them would love help just let them know!
The second Monday of this month, April 13th, our "Ascension Night Out" dining group will meet at 6:00 at AJ s Urban Grille, 25939 Detroit Rd, Westlake, in the Williamsburg Square. A sign-up sheet will be available for you to sign in the church office or you may call Joyce Knapp at 216-521-9259. Please sign in by the Friday before the dinner. BUILDING AND GROUNDS MEETING, TUESDAY, April 7th. Shawl Ministry meeting will gather in April to continue making shawls. We will meet on the first and third Wednesdays, 4/1 and 4/15 at 9:30 am in the Guild Room. Please send corrections and additions for the Church of the Ascension Directory to Chris Deibel at c.deibel@cox.net. Thank you. To add your birthday or anniversary to these lists, please e-mail Margie at bach2schol@hotmail.com. Thank you! Many happy returns of the day to you! Happy Birthday to: Please send me your birthday if you would like it to be remembered! 04/01 Mary Staley 04/05 Maizie Gillies 04/11 Jerry Knapp 04/19 Staley George 04/28 Charlotte K. Partlow 04/30 Rosemary Ballard Happy Anniversary to: No Anniversaries reported this month. ****Please send me your Anniversary if you d like it to be included here!
New Faces at Ascension RICHARD AND BARBARA CANTRALL (Dick & Barb) After living in Arkansas for 20 years, Dick and Barb moved back to Ohio to be near family and old friends again, settling in Avon. They spent several months searching for a new church home, finally settling on Ascension. They have found a warm welcome here and are very impressed with Father Black s commitment to building the church and reaching out to those less fortunate. His sermons always provide food for thought, with the message delivered with humor, but with serious purpose, kindness and compassion. Dick has history with Ascension; he and his late wife were married here and her funeral service was here. They and their children attended church services and Sunday School. Dick and Barb are glad they chose Ascension and look forward to the future of this lovely church. Dick and Barb met in December 1991 when he was her patient at Fairview Hospital. (Barb s husband had died in 1984). They married in June, 1992 and moved to Arkansas in January, 1994, after spending a year traveling around the country in search of a place to relocate. They wanted a location with a change of seasons and mild winters, but where they could play golf pretty much year round. They found such a place in Hot Springs, AR, a beautiful, historic town with much to offer. In 2013, they decided it was time to come home. Of course, we ve not had the worst two winters since 1994! We have five children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren between us.
Celebrating the 99th birthday of Sylvia Kovar on Feb.3, 2015 then Celebrating her life on Earth on March 24th at her Memorial Service. Rest in Peace, Sylvia, as you dwell in the House of the Lord. 1916 2015 Do you have a picture of the church or a church event to share? Send it to Margie @bach2schol@hotmail.com
All ages came We colored pictures of the strings while we Waited. Lakewood High Students Played for us The kids were so attentive. Storytime! The orchestra played lullabies from around the world! Ms. Hankins is their wonderful teacher. Some of the kids got up close and helped the students play! Who knows who might find a New desire to play the violin! A stilly song to sing and move to. Nice t-shirt!!!!! Some adults came in their pjs! The LULLABY CONCERT At ASCENSION March 2, 2015
Things going on this month: April 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Shawl Ministry 9:30 am 2 Maundy Thurs. 7:30 pm 3 Good Friday 7:30 pm 4 5 One Sevice 10:30 HAPPY EASTER! 6 Ascension Night Out 6:00 pm 7 Building & Grounds 6:30 pm 8 Afternoon Guild 12:30 pm 9 Comm. Meal 5:00 pm 10 11 12 Services 8:00 & 10:30 13 14 15 Shawl Ministry 9:30 am 16 17 18 19 Services 8:00 & 10:30 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Services 8:00 & 10:30 27 28 29 30 Opportunities to help grow our church by helping with: Sunday School Community Meal Choir ECW Gardening Altar Guild Shawl Ministry Rise Up Ministry AFAC Where would you like to be?