Epiphany

Dear Friends, January 10, 2011

Yesterday, Rev. Denise preached on contrasts in how people can react to change. Her models were the Magi and King Herod and the vastly different way that they reacted to the birth of Jesus. While the Magi welcomed the changes that this birth would bring, Herod reacted with fear. This was a particularly important message for us as we approach a year of change in leadership in our own parish. Her full sermon will be available in this blog. Please visit this weekly feature to reflect on her words.

This week celebrate the baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ by John the Baptist. It is a good time for us all to reflect on our own baptismal covenant, which we had the opportunity to renew at services yesterday. Can the Lord say of us "this is my child with whom I am well pleased"?

Angel's annual Christmas party was held yesterday. As usual, Angel honored us with his culinary talents and his beautifully decorated apartment.

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 candidates that have agreed to run for seats on the Vestry. We are blessed to have individuals willing to commit to the future growth of the Church of Ascension. To assist in our spiritual life, Forward Day by Day booklets are $.85 each in the back of the Church [Tower Room].

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.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED: With the holidays coming to an end, we need to restore our sanctuary to its "undecorated" state. This is a major undertaking involving putting the traditional Christmas decorations back in storage for another year. If you are able to help out, the job can be completed in a relatively short period of time. Those willing to lend a hand should gather at Ascension at 9 AM on Saturday, January 15th. The more helpers that show up will make the job finish quickly and with ease.

The Annual Meeting of the parish will be held on Sunday, January 16 during and after the 10 AM service. Kindly mark your calendar to be present. A strong Vestry will guide us into the important times ahead.

MAPLEWOOD CLERGY ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP EVENT: The second in a series of leadership workshops sponsored by the Maplewood Clergy Association has been scheduled. Jan Wills attended the first workshop and found it very helpful. It would be nice if we could have a few others in attendance for this one. If you can attend, please let Jan Wills know 621-3900.

"Outreach Through Relationships: This workshop will help congregations initiate new ministries which touch the lives of persons in the community and touch the hearts of those involved. Such ministries are possible with a shoestring budget."

Ecumenical Leadership Training Event on Saturday, January 22nd, from 9:30a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Snow Date: Saturday, February 5th, 9:30-12:30) Wesley United Methodist Church,2009 Dewey Avenue (north of Ridge Road). Leader: Rev. Alan Newton, Executive Minister of American Baptist Churches of the Rochester Genesee Region. Rev. Newton is a gifted trainer with a deep commitment to the ministry of lay persons and developing missional churches. The opportunity to join with other leaders from sister Maplewood Edgerton Churches will make this even better!

The Ascension Women's Group will meet again on Thursday, February 3rd. Michael from Kittleberger's Florist will be demonstrating several different live and artificial floral arrangements to brighten our homes in anticipation of Spring. Lunch will be provided. The arrangements will be given away by drawing at the conclusion of the program. Please feel free to invite a friend.

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!!!

Coffee Hour after the 10 AM Sunday service 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, 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. Thanks!

Please phone or visit 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!

To beautify our worship, in upcoming weeks there are opportunities for altar flowers. Will you take up this ministry to the glory of God and to our spirits? To donate, please contact Laurie Phillips, 865-2802 or email LBP@rochester.rr.com

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'. The season of Epiphany presents us with an exploration of the life of Christ and his teachings. 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"..

One of the hymns for this coming Sunday is "What wondrous love is this". To hear a setting of this lovely hymn, click on the following site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgwGY6xpvLI

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

Blessings,
Jan Wills
585-621-3900

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The Gospel selected for next Sunday is: Matthew 3:13-17
3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.

3:14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"

3:15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.

3:16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

3:17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."


RECIPE: If you have a favorite recipe you would like to share, please forward it to me and I will see that it is included in a future issue. In keeping with a theme of warm, cozy foods for the winter season, I am offering another soup recipe. This was Peter's mother's recipe and a favorite of Peter's.

Liver Dumpling Soup
1 stewing chicken
1 lb. beef liver or calves liver
1 medium onion
1 egg
2 Tablespoons flour
1 pkg. noodles
2 Tablespoons parsley
1 Tablespoon basil
1/2 lemon

Remove any giblets from the chicken and cook the whole chicken in a large kettle of water for about 45 minutes, until chicken is well cooked and falling off the bones. Drain and reserve the chicken broth. Let chicken cool and remove all meat from the bones. Return chicken pieces to the broth. (If you have left over cooked chicken, you can use canned chicken broth for the soup base. Add left over chicken to the canned broth).

Place liver and onion in a food processor and process in a couple of short spurts. Put processed liver into a bowl and add egg and flour. Mix well. Drop the dumpling mixture by tablespoon full into boiling water. Simmer in boiling water about 10 minutes, until cooked through. Drain off the water and add dumplings to the chicken soup. Add package of noodles and cook until noodles are tender (about 9 minutes). Add parsley and basil and juice of half of a lemon.

This is a hearty soup that is especially good on a cold, snowy winter evening.


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HAVE A WONDERFUL AND BLESSED WEEK