Summertime

Church of the Ascension 2 Riverside St. Rochester, NY 14613
585-458-5423; fax 585-458-7226
find a place for you and yours at:

Please help Celebrate The Season of Pentecost

and the power of Jesus to teach and change us

WE WELCOME ALL VISITORS AND SEEKERS OF GOD.

ALL BAPTIZED CHRISTIANS ARE INVITED TO RECEIVE THE HOLY COMMUNION.

LORD, LET US PRAY AND WORK TO HEAR YOUR WORD, CHANGE OUR HEARTS

AND GO FORTH TO DO YOUR WILL, EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

Dear Friends, July 12, 2010

Yesterday, we said "Hello" to the Rev. Ginny Mazzarella as she began her July and August time with us. A fine group was on hand to give her a warm Ascension "Welcome!". She reminded us on Good Samaritan Sunday that this story teaches us to depend on God to help US, as we help OTHERS. We must acknowledge that we need his help and then we must listen for God's voice in our lives.

Following the service, we moved to the lawn under the spreading beech tree, for our Annual Lawn Picnic. We ate some fine picnic food, talked and laughed, welcomed some neighbors who dropped in for the festivities, sang Happy Birthday to birthday girls and boys and had our first annual watermelon seed spitting contest! Stu Denison and Herb Morris were our Grill Masters, while many others, including Angel, Anne Schwartz, Paul Schwartz, Nancy Lennox, Don Taylor, Bill Stephens and Bob Crystal helped with set up to clean up. Big Thanks to all who attended, all who brought great food and desserts to pass, and who contributed to the cost.

As a long distance alert - next year will be the 125th Anniversary of the founding and of the ministry of Ascension. In preparation, let us draw closer to God's Spirit in the Season of Pentecost - to remind us of the power and blessing of the Holy Spirit to counsel, energize and sustain us all.. We honor our long history, but it is our future that must command our attention and energy.

Please keep in your prayers all those in need of healing, and those who serve in our military forces. Please pray that we may have a successful clergy search. Kindly also pray for the Wardens and their work in this time of search.

Your prayers will be all the more powerful when offered with others' on Sunday morning or at other services. We seek a new and strong clergy leader, and our strength in numbers at worship speaks volumes of our true intentions. Please see yourself in community with others and prepared to greet and share. All are needed, all are important!

LAST CALL - PLEASE ACCEPT THIS INVITATION - Our Sexton, Angel Perez celebrates his 50th birthday with a party this coming Saturday, July 17, 4-6 PM at the Church. All are invited to mark this half-century and say "Happy Birthday, Angel"!!!...

On July 24-25, Ascension will welcome overnight a team of youth volunteers and their advisers from St. Boniface Episcopal Church, Siesta Key [Sarasota], FL. PLEASE BE ON HAND TO SAY HELLO ON THE 25th. St. Boniface is a warm and vibrant parish with superb education, mission and music programs. Here is a link to their website: http://www.bonifacechurch.org/ The volunteers will arrive in Buffalo on the 24th, visit the American side of Niagara Falls and later that day drive here, possible enjoying a picnic on the way at an Ascension friend's home. They will be under the leadership of Suzanne Gregory, will spend the night in our building, enjoy a good breakfast Sunday morning and join us for worship at 10 AM on the 25th. Twenty-seven in number, they are coming to Rochester to work in a city High School for a week, as part of their Christian calling. A great blessing to our city and to us. Let's support them!! PS - Can you assist in greeting them with refreshments when they arrive on Sat, July 24 [timing to be yet finalized]? If you can help, please contact Dyson [317-4039 or dysongy@aol.com ] or Nancy [663-5805 or nlennox@rochester.rr.com ].

There is a new Christian TV Ministry - Local Chanel 15 Sundays 1:30-2:30 and Weds 9 - 10 AM. Program is IS IT TIME?
Call 392-0309 for information - and prayers for the ministry are sought.

Episcopal Relief & Development asks your help:
1. Please pray for the people of the Gulf of Mexico region affected by the oil disaster.
2. Give to the USA Disaster Response Fund [send checks to church office]
3. Send notes of support to residents of area - through Oil Spill Cards, PO BOX 5026, Baton Rough LA 70821-5026.

Coffee Hour is a wonderful opportunity to greet friends, old and new, and catch up on news. There are opportunities to host Coffee Hour in the weeks ahead. Won't you help this ministry of fellowship and fun? If not sure how to host the Coffee Hour, you may call Nancy Lennox at 663-5805 or Stu or Gene Denison at 663-0988. To sign up - see list in the back of the church or call 458-5423.

Please visit or call a friend who is not able to get out or whom you've been meaning to contact. There are many who would love a call and an invitation to church or an inquiry as to when you might pay a visit. With good weather, we can invite friends to accompany us to church - and take them out for brunch afterward!

Altar flowers are a ministry of beauty and love. Will you take up this ministry to the glory of God and to our spirits? To donate altar flowers, please contact Laurie Phillips, 865-2802 or email LBP@rochester.rr.com There are openings on several Sundays, including [as of yesterday] next Sunday [July 18], July 25, August 8 and 19.

Thursday Bible Study is in the Library at 9 AM. Please 'Come and See'. In this season, the lessons confirm the unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the glory of Jesus, the power of The Holy Spirit and what we are to do as disciples. There is food for thought and often refreshments to share. The study is of the Gospel Lesson for next Sunday, found below. If we wish to share our love of God, we need to know the stories of the Bible. Here is a good way to begin.

The Rochester Interfaith Jail Ministry asks your help in their work - by donating through United Way or directly by check to R I J M, 2 Riverside St., Rochester, NY 14613. This will bring books of healing and group sessions to those needing to start lives anew. Remember the Good Samaritan... Please answer this call. To volunteer, call 254-6790. The invitation to help is ongoing, so you are not late to the party!

A congregation grows like a seed, starting in the heart of each faithful person. If we want to grow, we must love God, love our friends and then speak openly to them. God will help us share the Bread of Life.....We never know how ready a friend may be to hear a word of encouragement in faith. We never know when God will bring someone to speak to us, and enrich our own life. Yesterday, a man visited us and told his story of being married in the Church in November, 1938, nearly 72 years ago. Several parishioners greeted him and he enjoyed the fellowship of our Picnic.

When we see new people on Sunday or at an event, let's introduce ourselves and make them welcome. An invitation to chat at Coffee Hour is a great ice-breaker. So is sitting with a new person and even inviting them to brunch after church. This is a part of God's work for each and every one of us.

Do you have a pocket card to hand to a friend who asks about Ascension? Cards are on the table in the back of the church. Please take a few, and be ready to share. We have pocket crosses in the table drawer to hand to those who answer the call to "Come and See"..

If you have a new or better email address for yourself, or know someone who might like to receive this weekly e-letter, please email me that information.

Blessings,

Dyson
D. Dyson Gay
585-317-4039

P.S. Would you care to make a treat for a friend or shut-in? Below is a recipe for a Simple Vanilla Pudding Trifle. If you have a recipe you would like to share, please send it in!

The Gospel for next Sunday is:
Luke 10:38-42
10:38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.

10:39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying.

10:40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me."

10:41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things;

10:42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

And, now, should you wish to try it...

A Simple Vanilla Pudding Trifle
Ingredients

1 pkg. ladyfingers or sponge cake

1/2 pt. heavy cream

6 oz. peach preserves

1 pkg. vanilla pudding mix

1 oz. rum or to taste, or cream sherry to taste

1/2 can sliced peaches, drained

1/2 pt. blueberries

2 c. whole milk

How to make Vanilla Pudding Trifle

Step1-Line bottom of the trifle bowl with 1/2 of the ladyfingers/sponge cake. Sprinkle with rum or sherry.
Step2-Prepare vanilla pudding according to package directions using 2 cups milk.
Step3- After pudding is partially cooled, put 1/2 pudding on top of preserves.
Step4-Add a layer of 1/2 fruit (peaches and berries).
Step5-Repeat using the remaining ladyfingers/cake, rum/sherry, peach preserves, vanilla pudding, and fruit. Whip the cream -- adding 1/2 ounce rum/sherry -- and frost the top of the trifle.
Step6-Garnish with remaining berries

.
Step7-Refrigerate. Can be made 1 day ahead.