Alleluia, He is Risen

ALL 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, April 25, 2011

Yesterday was Easter Sunday and festive services were in order, close on the heels of the Great Vigil of Easter Service on Saturday evening. Rev. Denise declared to us "Alleluia, He is Risen" with words on the plan of Easter to banish fear and allow us to meet God face to face, remarking "You won't find Jesus in the land of the Dead." All her sermons are in the blog archive.

A special word of thanks to Rev. Denise, to the Acolyte Guild under the direction of Don and Sally Green and Dave Pomeroy, to the Altar Guild under the direction of Anne Schwartz, to the Ascension Choir under the direction of John Allegar and to our Administrative Assistant Mary Vasquez and to our Sexton Angel Perez for all their work and inspired contributions to the events and services of Holy Week. We are in debt to you all. Thank you!

Kindly keep in your daily prayers all those in need of healing, and those who serve in our military forces. And our Search Committee and Vestry. 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: May 5th meeting at noon, a presentation by the Wende Clinic on Women's Breast Health. This is the second presentation in their series on Women's Health. For this interesting program, the Group has invited the women of the Cathedral Community to participate. Also - bring a friend or relative for this event. Salad and dessert luncheon will be provided before the presentation. Those willing to contribute a salad or dessert should let Jan Wills know, 621-3900.

LAST CALL!! CHICKEN AND BISCUIT DINNER: Call Office today or tomorrow for dinner on Saturday, April 30th. The menu for this home-cooked Chicken and Biscuit Dinner includes tender chicken in gravy, home-baked biscuits, mashed potatoes, vegetable, salad, cranberry sauce and homemade desserts. The cost is $9.00 for adults, $4.00 for children aged 6 to 12; under 6 will eat free. Patty Frasca invites additional help on clean-up. If you would like to volunteer, please let Patty know, 315-986-5726 or cell 585-615-6790. Also, if you are willing to make a homemade dessert, please call her or Joan Swan.

DON'T FORGET - Our 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! Two delicious dinners upcoming....and one is just around the corner!

Saturday. April 30th, 2011 CHICKEN & BISCUIT DINNER
Friday. June 3rd, 2011 LOBSTER DINNER

PLEASE MAKE NOTE!!!

As we celebrate this season of the Resurrection, please remember those in need of our help. The MEEK food cupboard asks your continuing donations of food [put items in back of church/Tower Room], and also seeks volunteers to assist in this ministry. Please call Jan Wills 621-3900 if you can assist as a volunteer.

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!

As our beautiful spring begins, 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 Lenten season is a time for careful reflection on Jesus’ teachings and how we model our faith to family, friends and all whom we meet. God’s Word guides such a process. Much food for thought and often refreshments to share. The study is of the Gospel Lesson for next Sunday, found below.

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! We recently began doing visits to the young men ages 16-19 in the Downtown Jail. Many Thanks! Please include this ministry in your daily devotions:
Dear Lord we praise you and thank you for your compassion and love and for our redemption through your sacrifice. We who visit the jails and prisons of our world sit with men and women who are in search of redemption for themselves. Lord, help us share our faith with them that they may reach out to you, and that you might change them and give them hope.

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 is all part of "The Growing Season at Ascension"

The Season of Easter has especially beautiful music. Here is a hymn video of "This Joyful Eastertide"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6NusBw2xtM


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.

For a treat for yourself, friends and loved ones please see the recipe below for an easy Split Pea and Ham Soup. Knowing how many have some ham left from Easter, we can also make extra for someone in need of our kindness.

Blessings and all good wishes,

Dyson
D. Dyson Gay
585-671-0364
dysongy@aol.com

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Split Pea and Ham Soup

By: TEETOE from internet [edited to add more veggies and diced ham]

"This is a good way to use leftover ham, quite inexpensive, and VERY tasty. I hope that you enjoy it. Some people like to add carrots or other types of vegetables. Don't forget to serve with buttered bread toasted in the oven." Or some garlic & cheese croutons or cornbread...

Ingredients

• 1-2 cups diced onion
• 1-2 cups diced carrot
• 1-2 cups diced celery, including some minced leaves
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder or 2 or 3 cloves of garlic finely minced
• 3 Tbsp olive oil or canola oil
• 1 pound dried split peas, washed and picked over for stones, gold nuggets, etc
• 1 ham bone and 1-2 cups diced ham
• up to 8 cups water or chicken or vegetable broth; or more for a thinner soup
• pinch of Thyme
• 2 Bay leaves
• 1 pinch salt [optional] and fresh-ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a medium large pot, saute' onions, carrot, celery and garlic in oil [add garlic at end], about 5 minutes. Add the split peas, ham bone, and enough water/broth to cover ingredients; add Thyme and Bay leaves; season with pepper.
2. Cover, bring to boil, skim if you like; reduce heat and simmer until there are no peas left, just a green liquid, 1.5 hours; remove bone and harvest ham from bone, to be added to soup; add diced ham and simmer half hour additional.
3. While cooking, check to see if liquid has evaporated. You may need to add more as the soup continues to cook.
4. Once the soup is fully cooked remove from heat and remove Bay leaves; check need for sprinkle of salt, more pepper.
5. Optional - let stand so it will thicken [once thickened you may need to heat through to serve].

GOSPEL FOR NEXT SUNDAY

John 20:19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.