Bishop Singh visited Ascension last Sunday. He met with the Vestry and celebrated the Eucharist at 10:00. His discussion with the Vestry was about connecting with those outside of the Church. How can we enlarge the circle? Can we open our both our hearts and our doors to others? How will they know to come to God? Each of us can rediscover our spirituality by prayer and truly listening for God's voice. Finally, considerations of Creative Mission to serve the needs of God's people can help us as our parish changes to meet the needs of the new decade; it is 2010 already ! We discussed too some of the general issues of connecting with people of various age groups and generational communications styles. This work will continue in Vestry this spring as we develop plans and directions for Ascension.

Bishop Singh's sermon echoed the need for the church to provide connections and a place where people can hear God's call and transform to meet the needs of all of God's people. We can individually change but more lasting and powerful effects can happen working together. We too were reminded of God's abundant Love as a true source for our work together.

This Sunday is one of those rare fifth-Sundays of the month. For years, a few extremely dedicated members of Ascension have served at Meal & More, Christ Church (downtown), putting together a meal for those in need. If you'd be interested in joining the group this Sunday, call the office and we'll get you connected with this outreach. Also, we will get a working-group together in early February to discuss the content and format of some of the web-communications so that we make better connection with more people. Contact Rob Phillips or Paul Schwartz if you're interested to help with that work.

This week at Ascension, Bible Study Tuesday and Thursday at 9AM will center on this lesson from the Gospel of Luke. We usually look at the Gospel for the next Sunday and discuss how it relates to our situations here in Rochester in today's world. Rev. Lumbard introduced Luke's Gospels in her sermon at 8:00 by recognizing Jesus, Son of God, as a forgiving & compassionate healer, something still needed by many today.

Luke 4:21-30

In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from the book of the prophet Isaiah, and began to say, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, 'Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, 'Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.'" And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

If you have ideas or interest in contributing to upcoming
Ascension Happenings, let us know, and we'll work them in.

Church of the Ascension
2 Riverside St.
Rochester, NY 14613
585-458-5423

Bishop Singh to Visit Ascension Sunday 1/24

Next Sunday, Rt. Rev. Dr. Price G. Singh, Bishop Rochester will be at our services and visit with us. This visit is one week following Church of the Ascension's Annual Meeting. D. Taylor was re-elected as warden. Elected to the vestry were L. Phillips, J. Crosby, J. Nash and D. Gay.

Don and Nancy led the meeting and we heard from Rev. C. Lumbard, who explained her role at Ascension for the next six months as a "coventanted supply priest" and also to provide emergency pastoral care. Don and Nancy, (as wardens) are the main go-to people for parish needs. Joyce spoke to the financial state of the parish and, all thing considered, our finances are in good shape. Don spoke about our partnership with the Diocese regarding identifying full-time candidates to be Ascension's next Rector, and how to pay them. That work will continue during the first half of 2010.

Somewhere in the midst of the warden's report, there was a voice from the back of the room that made a motion to THANK, both Don and Nancy and the Vestry and parish leaders for the GREAT JOB that they have been doing through the all the changes. This motion was quickly seconded and rousingly applauded. We have much to be thankful for.

We'd love to have a big congregation on Sunday services and to meet with the Bishop. If you think of someone who's not been to church in a while, give them a call. We can try to arrange for rides to church if there is a need. Contact Paul at 747-9119 for rides. This week's Bible Study groups will look at Luke's Gospel reading slated for this coming Sunday. Feel free to join either the Tuesday or Thursday Groups when you can. No homework, no exams, no pressure, just a chance to share your thoughts on the lessons with others. If you like to plan ahead, think about Bible Study as a way to draw closer to God during Lent.

Please pray for the people in need in Haiti and all of those who are providing help and assistance. I've seen that Wegmans has set up a way to donate at checkout and of course the Red Cross and Episcopal Relief and Development can get help sent.

Luke 4:14-21

Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Blessings and Peace, See you on Sunday !

If you have ideas or interest in contributing to upcoming
Ascension Happenings, please let me know, and we'll work them in.

Church of the Ascension
2 Riverside St.
Rochester, NY 14613
585-458-5423

Happenings at Ascension

Rev. Canon Carolyn Lombard led services last Sunday. Her sermon gave emphasis to prayer; not only saying prayers and singing praise, but actually listening as a part of prayer. By listening we may hear God's call and it can give us cause to act in godly ways.

Please continue to pray for those parishoners and family who are ill or in need of our prayers. Listen too, to see if there is something that your hear. It maybe God's response to you prayer.

We thank Angel for the wonderful Christmas Dinner and Party last Sunday. He opened up his place for us to see the fantastic collection of Santas and decorations and prepared a mighty feast after church. I've posted a few photos. Quite amazing don't you think?

Jerry Welcher announced that this coming Saturday, Jan. 16 at 9AM we'll be taking down the Creche and Wreaths and other decorations from the Advent/Christmas season. Many hands make light work. Come if you can.

Next Sunday Jan. 17 is the Annual Meeting and elections for Vestry and Warden. Also, we have a need for a clerk to the vestry. The clerk functions as notetaker and recording secretary. The clerk does not need to be elected and does not need to a voting member of the vestry. Vestry normally meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 7 to 9 pm. If you are interested in serving as clerk of the Vestry or have questions about it, call the church office and Nancy Lennox will be happy to talk with you. After the service Sunday, there will be an open meeting after church with light lunch served. If anyone would like to attend but doesn't want to drive, call Paul Schwartz 747-9119 and we'll see if we can arrange for a ride to church.

Also, it was announced that Bishop Singh will visit Ascension the following Sunday, Jan. 24. and guess what ...... there will be again be food at an informal reception for the Bishop. Same offer on rides to church.

This week the Bible Study Groups will read and reflect on the Gospel lesson:

John 2:1-11

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Do you have a pocket card to hand to a friend who asks about Ascension? Cards are available in the back of the church. Please take a few, and be ready to share. We have pocket crosses on order to hand to those who answer the call to "Come and See".. [They are little olive wood crosses made in Bethlehem. Would you like to have a pocket cross? Just write back and ask.

Blessings, See you on Sunday!


If you have ideas or interest in contributing to upcoming
Ascension Happenings, please let me know, and we'll work them in.

Church of the Ascension
2 Riverside St.
Rochester, NY 14613
585-458-5423

Ascension Weekly Update 1/4/10 (Happy New Year!)

Dear Friends,

As we welcome a new decade of our Lord 2010, let's continue to keep God and God's work for us foremost in our hearts and minds.

Call a friend and invite her or him to church next Sunday or even to one of the Bible Study times each week. For many people, all it takes to answer God's call is the voice of a friend. Won't you be that voice?

A congregation first grows individually in the heart of each faithful person,
then it can spread. If we want to grow, we must love God, love our friends and then
speak to them. God will help us share the Bread of Life.....

Events at Ascension, this week: (beyond daily snowshovelling)
Tuesday 9:00am Bible Study
Wednesday 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal
Thursday 9:00am Bible Study
Noon Ascension Women's Group
Sunday Services at 8:00am and 10:00
followed by Angel's Special Open House and Luncheon

This is Sunday's gospel lesson for first Sunday in Epiphany:
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

The Word of the Lord

Do you have a pocket card to hand to a friend who asks about Ascension? Cards are available in the back of the church. Please take a few, and be ready to share. We have pocket crosses on order to hand to those who answer the call to "Come and See".. [They are little olive wood crosses made in Bethlehem. Would you like to have a pocket cross? Just write back and ask.

Blessings, See you on Sunday!

If you have ideas or interest in contributing to upcoming
Ascension Happenings, please let me know, and we'll work them in.

Church of the Ascension
2 Riverside St.
Rochester, NY 14613
585-458-5423
ascensionroch@rochester.rr.com
www.AscensionRoch.org