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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, December 6, 2010
Yesterday, Rev. Denise, Readers and the Choir offered a Service of Advent Lessons & Carols. Special thanks to John Allegar, Organist/Choir Director!
Next Sunday, Rev. Denise will preach again, Please visit this weekly feature to reflect on her words. It is much more fulfilling to hear them in person!
We mourn the loss of Peter Wills, who died on Friday, Dec. 3. A service to celebrate his life will be held in the Church on Wed., Dec 8 at 10 AM. For more information, please see: http://www.bartolomeo.com/Obituaries/Detail.aspx?oid=1374
As we prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas, you may wish to be in church regularly; or if you are weighing whether to make God's community important in your life, to try attending for several Sundays in a row...You will find a warm greeting and become closer to God. Christmas Eve, Friday, Dec. 24, there will be a Musical Concert at 8:30 PM, with the Festal Eucharist at 9:00 PM
Please keep in your daily prayers all those in need of healing, and those who serve in our military forces. Kindly also pray for the Search Committee and their work in this time of search. To assist in your spiritual life, Forward Day by Day booklets are $.85 each in the back of the Church [Tower Room].
**** A MOST CORDIAL INVITATION ****
Next Sunday, Dec 12, after the 10 AM service, please bring family and friends to the
Annual Deck-the-Halls-Bring-a-Dish Christmas Party
If you haven't signed up, you may call 317-4039. We will celebrate with food and fun and fellowship.
As we share our blessings and break bread together at this party and throughout Advent, we remember those in less developed countries who are in need. Will you join hands in giving funds? The program is GIFTS FOR LIFE, through Episcopal Relief and Development. Your offering will be complemented by a matching gift from parish Mission Funds of up to $500. Make checks payable to Ascension, with "Gifts for Life" in the memo line. Here is a link to more information:
http://www.er-d.org/giftsforlife/
If we want to grow and share God's prosperity of faith, we must love God, love our friends and then speak openly to them. A congregation grows starting with each faithful person. God will help us share the Bread of Life.....God will help us live into our Baptismal Covenant of sharing His word and our lives and resources [which is the true Meaning 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.
Next year will be the 125th Anniversary of the founding and of the ministry of Ascension. In preparation, let us draw closer to God - and partake 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.
DON'T FORGET - The Ascension Piecemakers Quilt Group is offering a stunning queen-size quilt. This quilt would be a handsome addition to any decor! Coupons are $2 or 3 for $5. All proceeds will go to the Bell Tower Restoration Project. You can see the quilt and get more details each Sunday at Coffee Hour.
TIME TO MARK CALENDARS! There are memorable dinners upcoming.
Saturday. March 5th, 2011 SPAGHETTI DINNER
Saturday. April 30th, 2011 CHICKEN & BISCUIT DINNER
Friday. June 3rd, 2011 LOBSTER DINNER
PLEASE MAKE NOTE!!!
THIS IS BIG - FAMILIES IN OUR AREA OF THE CITY ARE DEPENDING ON US - as we plan our own holidays, let us remember those served by the MEEK food cupboard, by shopping ahead for our MEEK friends at Christmas - frozen turkeys, stuffing mixes, cranberry sauce, canned fruit, canned vegetables, jello, one-pound canned hams, cake mixes, coffee....Many of these items are on sale now and soon. Please stock up and share! MEEK distributes at least 75 food baskets at Christmas. If you can buy or store a frozen turkey, please call to advise - and receive details. Can you volunteer to help? Jan Wills - 621-3900 or Sally Green - 865-1125.
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? 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. We can invite friends to accompany us to church - and take them out for brunch afterward!
Decorative Poinsettias for Christmas are a visible ministry of beauty and love. Will you take up this ministry to the glory of God and to our spirits? To donate, please contact Laurie Phillips now, 865-2802 or email LBP@rochester.rr.com After Advent and Christmas, there are openings for flowers on Sundays upcoming.
If we wish to learn the true Meaning of Life, grow as Christians and share our love of God, we need to know the stories of the Bible. Thursday Bible Study is in the Library at 9 AM. Please 'Come and See'. In this season, the lessons prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child. There is food for thought and often refreshments to share. The study is of the Gospel Lesson for next Sunday, found below. No Bible Thumping, just good conversation!!
The Rochester Interfaith Jail Ministry asks your ongoing help - 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! Someone recently made and ongoing United Way designation for R I J M. Many Thanks!
There is God's work for each of us 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 guiding her/him in the materials, if this is their first time with 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. Here is a video of a hymn we will sing next Sunday: Hark, a Thrilling Voice Is Sounding
http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=uL1POIPq8hs&feature=related
P.P.S. Please see below for this week's recipe - Easy Plum Pudding. Why not make two and share one with a neighbor?
If you have a recipe you would like to share, please send it in!
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The Gospel for next Sunday is:
Matthew 11:2-11
11:2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples
11:3 and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"
11:4 Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:
11:5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.
11:6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."
11:7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?
11:8 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.
11:9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
11:10 This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'
11:11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he..
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And, now,
Easy Plum Pudding [Ho Ho Ho!]
Ingredients
- Pudding
- 1 cup milk
- 3 cups soft bread crumbs, (5 slices bread)
- 1/2 cup shortening, melted or canola oil to minimize sat fat
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup currents
- 1/2 cup finely chopped candied citron
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
- Amber Sauce
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine
- 1/2 cup half-and-half
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup packed brown sugar or granulated sugar
- Fresh berries and orange peel for garnish
Directions
- Generously grease bottom and side of 4-cup heatproof mold. In large bowl, pour milk over bread crumbs. Stir in shortening/oil and molasses until well mixed. Stir in remaining pudding ingredients until well blended. Pour into mold. Cover with foil.
- Place mold on rack in Dutch oven. Pour in boiling water up to level of rack. Cover and heat to boiling. Keep water boiling over low heat about 3 hours or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (If adding water during steaming is necessary, uncover and quickly add boiling water.)
- In 1 1/2-quart saucepan, mix all sauce ingredients. Cook over low heat 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Unmold pudding; cut into slices. Serve warm with sauce. Garnish with fresh berries and orange peel.
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