For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son

"Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him."

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, March 14, 2011

During the 10 AM service yesterday, our guest celebrant, The Rev. Deborah Brown, preached on the Temptation of Jesus. She pointed out that this period in Jesus’ life occurred prior to the beginning of his ministry and just following his baptism. She explored the idea that we are all faced with temptations and challenges. These challenges are not placed before us to defeat us, but rather to prepare us to face our ministry and future as followers of Christ. With faith in the Holy Spirit we can face any challenges. I requested that Rev. Brown‘s sermon be placed on our website early in the upcoming week.

Please keep in your daily prayers all those in need of healing, and those who serve in our military forces. 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.

WOMEN'S GROUP: Our next meeting will take place on Thursday, April 7th at Crescent Beach Restaurant at noon. If you are planning to attend, please notify Jan Wills at 621-3900 by April 3rd.

BLANKET DRIVE: As usual, the generous parishioners at Ascension made the blanket drive a record success. Our final total was 344 blankets. This is an outstanding accomplishment. Thank you to Ellie for her devotion to this effort.

LENTEN BOOK STUDY: The Lenten Book Study is using "The Last Week" by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. This book is a day-by-day account of Jesus' final week in Jerusalem. Sessions are held on Wednesdays at noon. It was announced that the books for this study are sold out. However, anyone interested in exploring the message in this book are encouraged to attend the sessions for an inspiring discussion of the last week of Jesus’ life before his ultimate sacrifice.

DIOCESAN SUBSCRIPTION UPDATES: A reminder: If you have not completed the individual and family information updates for the diocese, please go on the Diocese web site and update your information or get a form from Mary in the office to complete.

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. 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. We will soon be asked to sign up for Easter Lilies to be placed on the altar in memory of our loved ones. When the fliers are put in the bulletin, please turn them in as soon as possible so Laurie can order the proper amount and can submit the list of memorials to be indicated. As you fill out the sheets, please print so Laurie can use proper spellings in the bulletin at Easter. 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

EASTER LILIES: It is again time to consider providing Easter Lilies for the altar in memory of our loved ones who have passed. A reservation form was placed in the Messenger for this month and will also be appearing in the bulletins. Try to complete these forms early and submit to Laurie Phillips with the appropriate payment. You may list up to six names per lily and the cost per lily is $8.00.

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'. As we progress through the Lenten season, this is a time for careful reflection on Jesus’ teachings and how we are reflecting our faith. It is a time for repentance and planning for future devotion. There is no better way to undertake self-reflection than to base that reflection on God’s Word. 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"..

Due to continuing illness issues in the choir, John will not be making a decision on the anthem for next Sunday until Wed. evening’s rehearsal. Hopefully the weather will soon cooperate and everyone can recover from the rash of respiratory illnesses that have been a challenge in the past several weeks.

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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John 3:1-17
3:1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.

3:2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God."

3:3 Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above."

3:4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?"

3:5 Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without
being born of water and Spirit.

3:6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

3:7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.'

3:8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

3:9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"

3:10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

3:11 "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony.

3:12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

3:13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

3:14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

3:15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

3:17 "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

RECIPE: This week many of us will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday by preparing a corned beef dinner. In case you have leftovers, here is an easy recipe that will allow you to feature the left over corned beef in a slightly different presentation.
REUBIN PIE
8 oz. can sauerkraut
½ lb. diced corned beef
4 oz. shredded swiss cheese
1 cu. Milk
¾ cu. Bisquick
1/3 cu. Mayonaisse
2 Tablespoons Chili Sauce
3 large eggs
Drain sauerkraut. Treat a pie plate with Pam. Sprinkle pie plate with corned beef, cheese and sauerkraut. Beat milk, Bisquick, mayonaisse, chili sauce and eggs until smooth either in a blender or with an electric mixer. Pour egg mixture over the beef, cheese and sauerkraut in the pie pan. Bake 30 to 40 minutes at 350 degrees, until pie is set and browned on top.
This recipe is like a Reubin Quiche and will make its own crust. This is a quick and easy recipe that could fit nicely into a Saturday evening schedule allowing everyone to follow the action of March Madness.
HAVE A WONDERFUL AND BLESSED WEEK!