WELCOME TO
Church of the Ascension
2 Riverside St.
Rochester, NY 14613
585-458-5423; fax 585-458-7226
"'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only 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 7, 2011
During the 10 AM service yesterday, Rev. Denise preached on the transfiguration. More specifically, she explored the six days prior to the transfiguration. This was a time that we know nothing about. The assumption was that this was a time of waiting and restful preparation for the blessed event that was to come. She equated this time to the current time at Ascension as we patiently wait for a priest. Her challenge is to have faith in the search committee and be prepared for the "transfiguration" that will occurr with new leadership. We have a challenge ahead so we must be trusting, patient and have faith that the Lord will challenge us in the future. Rev. Denise's full sermon will be available early in the week at: http://ascensionroch.blogspot.cIom/ Please visit this weekly feature to reflect on her words.
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].
This report goes to some of our parishioners who are away for the winter months and are not able to share all of the announcements made on Sunday mornings. I therefore am saddened to report the passing of Albert Roberts this past week. Al is a long time faithful parishioner and has served Ascension in many capacities. Our prayers are with him and his family at this time.
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. As of Sunday morning we had reached a total of 336 blankets. That is an overwhelming advance over last years total. Good work all.
MISSION TRIP TO AFRICA: Marcial and his team returned home from their mission to Uganda safely. Thank you for all of your prayers. We hope that Marcial will be able to share his trip with us in the near future.
SPAGHETTI DINNER: The Spaghetti Dinner was held on Saturday evening. It was also a huge success with almost 100 served. Thank you to Stuart and Patty and all of the hard working volunteers that made this event such a huge success.
PANCAKE SUPPER: In preparation for Lent, there will be a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper held on Tuesday, March 8th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm in the great hall. This event is hosted by the Ascension Men's Club. There is no charge for this supper but donations will be welcomed. Reservations can be made on the sign-up sheet in the Narthex or by calling the Church office at 458-5423.
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES: Services for Ash Wednesday, on March 9th will be held at 9 AM and 7:30 PM. The Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes will be offered at both services.
LENTEN BOOK STUDY: The Lenten Book Study will be 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 will be held on Wednesdays at noon. If there are six or more interested, there will also be a session held at 6 pm on Wednesdays if we have six people sign up. As of Sunday morning the numbers needed for the evening session had not been reached. The series will begin on March 9th and run until April 13th. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex or you may call the Church office. Books can be purchased at the Good Book Store at a 10% discount.
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'. 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"..
This week the choir will be singing at the evening Ash Wednesday Service at 7:30 on Wednesday. The choir will be performing Farrant's "Lord for Thy Tender Mercies Sake". I encourage everyone to attend this service. To hear a performance of this anthem by the Tyler Junior College Chamber Singers from Tyler, Texas, go to the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpVL3jSz7u0
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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I AM INCLUDING TWO GOSPEL READINGS THIS WEEK. THE FIRST IS THE GOSPEL READING FOR ASH WEDNESDAY AND THE SECOND IS THE READING FOR NEXT SUNDAY:
ASH WEDNESDAY READING:
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
6:1 "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
6:2 "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
6:3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
6:4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
6:5 "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
6:6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
6:16 "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
6:17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
6:18 so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
6:19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal;
6:20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.
6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT: MARCH 13TH:
Matthew 4:1-11
4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
4:2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.
4:3 The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread."
4:4 But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
4:5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple,
4:6 saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"
4:7 Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor;
4:9 and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me."
4:10 Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"
4:11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
RECIPE: Since this week is the beginning of the Lenten season, I thought it appropriate to include a fish recipe. Many of us try to follow the tradition of eating fish on Fridays. This recipe can be made with sole, flounder, orange roughy or tilapia.
STUFFED FILLETS
6 fillets (try to select fillets that are roughly the same size)
2 tablespoons butter
1 can flaked crabmeat (drained)
1 cup finely chopped mushrooms
3/4 cup bread crumbs
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
White Sauce:
4 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1/2 white wine
In saute pan, melt 2 T. butter. Add mushrooms and crabmeat. Saute until mushrooms are tender. Add bread crumbs and mix until crumbs absorb the liquid. Place large spoonful of stuffing mix in the center of each fillet. Roll up fillets and secure with a toothpick. Place fillets in a greased baking dish and set aside.
Wipe out saute pan and melt 4 T. butter in pan. Add 2 T. flour. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Mix in wine. Pour sauce over fish and bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 30 minutes. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top and bake an additional 5 minutes, until cheese is melted. Good served with buttered rice and a green vegetable like broccoli or asparagus.
This is a good entree for a dinner party or when inviting guests. It can be prepared in advance and placed in the oven when guests arrive. That allows time to chat while the main course is baking.
HAVE A WONDERFUL AND BLESSED WEEK!
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