Happy Easter

This Holy Week, seems to be one of the busiest weeks of 2010, not what I had expected. Anyway here is news of a Maplewood survey. Take a look if you are interested. Students at SUNY Geneseo are working to help Maplewood work on its identity. Seemed interesting. Services at Ascension are on Maundy Thursday at 7pm and Good Friday at noon. Easter Services are at 8am and 10am. Thanks go to Rev. Lumbard for putting her energy into the Lenten book study and those participants. It has been a great group for learning about how we can act and react to some of the horrible and difficult situations that we see around the world and locally. Please continue to pray for those in need and those who continue to work to show God's presence in the world. We have received the greatest gift in Jesus. See you on Easter Sunday. He is Risen.

Ascension Spring Happenings

Ascension is providing Leadership in the Church World Service Crop Walk in the Maplewood area of Rochester. We're looking to church members and neighbors and friends to take part in this event (first weekend of May). There are several Holy Week services, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. If you want to get an Easter Lily in memory of loved ones, call L. Phillips today ... absolute last chance. This Sunday the Passion will be read and re-enacted. It is a powerful story. Is there someone you know, who'd be interested to come with you this Sunday.

Cornerstone: from Luke 20:9-19

JJesus began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. And he sent still a third; this one also they wounded and threw out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.' But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, 'This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.' So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When they heard this, they said, "Heaven forbid!" But he looked at them and said, "What then does this text mean:

'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.

This week at Ascension:

Make plans to join us for Palm Sunday, March 28, Holy Week Services on Maundy Thursday, April 1, followed by All Night Watch in the Chapel, Good Friday Service at 12 noon and Easter Sunday of the Ressurrection.

If you'd like to contribute for a Memorial Easter Lily, contact L. Phillips either by email or phone. She wants to get the order in soon.

Special prayers for this week:

Lord, you have taught us to be generous like Lazarus’ sister, 
and to keep our priorities straight, like Paul. Help us to 
remember your teachings day by day, when little worries can 
overwhelm big hopes. For our prisoners, help them keep working 
on making themselves ready to face a new life outside the jail 
walls. For our volunteers, help us remember that we are part of 
that larger community of the Body of Christ, touching the World’s 
ills at many different points. Lord, help us keep faith that You 
will provide the means to continue this ministry: volunteers, 
dollars and endurance. 
We pray especially for Sister Roberta and Maryanne, who visit the 
women at the County Jail.

Blessings and Peace, See you on Sunday !
As usual, if you have ideas, special prayer requests  or interest
in contributing to upcoming Ascension Happenings,
please let us know, and we'll work them in.

Church of the Ascension
2 Riverside  St.
Rochester, NY  14613 

The Prodigal Son

Welcome Friends,
Thanks to all who worked on and attended the Spaghetti Dinner. It was great !! This week at Ascension: E. Swarts reported on a record number of Blanket for the Church World Service Drive. Ascension again rises to the occasion and over 275 blankets were donated/sponsored. Also the Peace-maker quilting group provided a quilt for Rev. Page and Rev. Harter both of whom were supply priests in the recent past and are recouperating. Also this week was the first Planning meeting for CROP walk, Lenten discussion group, Bible Study, think Spring ! Upcoming is a spring Fix-up Day. The wardens and vestry have been working on the long-range plan to submit to the Diocese. It will contain the elements of mission and partnership with the neighborhood, building use and church programs to help Ascension grow. Palm Sunday and Easter are soon upon us. In these remaining weeks of Lent, consider who you'd like to invite to church this spring. Easter service promises to have a great music from the organ and choir.
This week at the Lenten discussion, we discussed the many ways we are stewards of God's creation on Earth. Recently that has taken the popular form of being a 'green consumer'. What do you think about how we as a church could contribute to the preservation of the environment? Are there things around here that we can tend to? A special prayer for this week

Dear Lord, as we look at each other in the pews, in the neighborhoods and in
our families, in our day-to-day lives, we fall into old habits. We look on each
other from a human point of view. We judge, we envy, we fear, we despair.
Make us new through our faith, so that we can accept each other, rejoice in
others’ joys and face our fears to overcome them. Help us to Hope, Lord.
We pray this week for the volunteers who go into the jails and prisons from
Rochester Interfaith Jail Ministry, Cephas, AA, NA, Adult Children of Addiction,
and the many religious Bible Study groups.  

Here is this week's Gospel:

Luke 15:11-32

Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.

"Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"

Blessings and Peace, See you on Sunday !

As usual, if you have ideas, special prayer requests or interest in contributing to upcoming Ascension Happenings, please let us know, and we'll work them in.

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

Ascension Happenings

This week's Gospel from Luke 13:1-9

TTThere were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them--do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did."

Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

This week at Ascension:

Tuesday: Rev. Lumbard leads the noontime book discussion series looking at J. Chittester's writings and work, Library 11:30 AM

Thursday: Bible Study, Library 9AM Womens Group, Library 12noon

Saturday: Holy Eucharist/(informal)Gab Service 5PM

Spaghetti Dinner, 5PM

Sunday: Holy Eucharist Rite I, 8AM

Holy Eucharist Rite II, 10AM

Also Sunday March 7 is the Deadline for the Church World Service Blanket Collection. E. Swarts is again leading the charge on this mission for Ascension. L. Phillips is beginning to get Memorial Easter Lilies ordered. If you are interested in purchasing an Easter Lily, contact her either by phone or email. This Sunday is MEEK Food Collection as well.

Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reported on a major renovation at Maplewood YMCA. Read about it here. Also in today's news, C. Conklin is recognized by the 2010 St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee as Community Leader of the Year. Rochester St. Patrick's Day Parade is March 13.

In like a Lion ... most definitely. As usual, if you have ideas or interest in contributing to upcoming Ascension Happenings, please let us know, and we'll work them in.

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

Have a great week!