Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Ascension Update May 23

Dear Friends, May 23, 2011

Yesterday was a a time of becoming better acquainted with the Rev. Patricia Cashman, our new Priest-in-Charge. Her first sermon began by sharing her thanks for being with all of us. Her phrase was 'unfeignedly thankful'. Likewise, we are most grateful, as well.

Taking a passage from the Gospel of John, she reflected on our own life stories of Jesus' coming to us, in His words 'I am with you'. Our response is to live so that His will be done, always mindful of the tension between faith and fear. Ascension will discover His will; and He will give us everything we ask. [John 14:14] In learning about growth, we shall embrace growth in the spirit, growth in mission, growth in membership and growth in finances. She assured us that we are living by God's spirit and that, indeed, Jesus came to give us life.

We are off to a fine start with Rev. Pat.
But you are needed to help write our next chapter!

Please make your personal commitment to be present in person on Sunday mornings - to greet Pat, to give her your personal Welcome and to share in the promise and fulfillment of her new ministry and ours.

Rev. Pat wants to be accessible to us. Her phone number is 732-428-2000;
e-mail is patcashman2010@gmail.com ;
mailing address is The Rev. Patricia Cashman 185 Bennington Hills Court, West Henrietta, NY 14586

Thanks again to Bishop Singh, The Rev. Canon Julie Cicora, Canon Karen Hanson, the Search Committee, the Vestry and all who participated in the search process over the last many months. That work is now done, but continues anew in the ongoing ministries which you helped to make possible. Thank you!

A tip of the hat to Guest Organist, Carol Manuel, who played and accompanied the Choir yesterday. Thanks, Carol [and Bruce]!

Kindly keep in your daily prayers all those in need of healing, and those who serve in our military forces. Please note - next Sunday, May 29, we shall honor Memorial Day. Kindly provide names of Veterans, living and deceased, to the Office for inclusion in the Sunday bulletin.
458-5423 or ascension@rochester.rr.com
To assist in our spiritual life, Forward Day by Day booklets are $.85 each in the 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. 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.

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. The drawing and award will be to a lucky coupon holder in mid June.

SPECIAL REQUEST: Please remember those in need of our help. Due to the heavy winter and food price inflation, the MEEK food cupboard needs your extra financial contributions [envelopes in church] and food donations [place 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. Checks, made out to MEEK, may be handed to Jan Wills or sent to the Church Office.

A "DON'T MISS" HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON!
the Annual LOBSTER DINNER Friday, June 3rd, 5:30-7:00 PM,$18.00.
PLEASE MAKE NOTE, and tell friends!!! Call 458-5423 for reservations.

Call Mike if you can help with clean up. 645-3601

The annual Women's Club steak roast will take place on Thursday, June 2nd at

noon at the home of Jan Wills, 509 Britton Road. All women in the Church are invited

to attend; and spouses and guests are welcomed. If you plan to attend, please sign up in

the back of the church or call Jan at 621-3900. Steaks and beverages will be provided.

$5.00 will be collected to offset the cost of the steaks. Please plan to bring a dish to pass.

Friends and admirers of Barbara Robson, please note this date - On June 4th at 11:00
AM in the Church there will be a celebration of the life and ministries of Barb, who died in Florida late in 2010.
It will be a time to share reminiscences and to lift up her many accomplishments among us, as friend,
Vestry member, Warden, host of many gatherings and events and fine leader for so many years.

There will be two events on Sunday, June 12 featuring the new Eucharistic setting by Karen Noble

Hanson, Canon and CIO of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester.

*The Eucharist at Christ Church Rochester, at 141 East Avenue at Gibbs will start at 10:45

a.m. All are welcome. The Jazz Group includes Trombonist Greg Lecewicz and his Metro Connection Jazz

Group from Sarasota, Florida (by way of Poland), Rochesterians Geoff Smith (Bass), Mike

Van Allen, (keyboard), Jennifer Tierre (vocalist) and Sarasota residents, Chuck

Par, (percussion), Jim Earp (Trumpet) and Tom Ellison (sax, reeds), formerly

from Rochester. Presented in Sarasota, Florida in February, the setting includes

the "Creed", Sanctus, Agnus Dei, Lord's Prayer, Gloria and several other pieces.

The Creed has been sung throughout the Unitred States, including Trinity Wall Street in the Easter

season of 2010.

*Later that day, the music of the setting will be the basis of a Jazz Concert at St. Paul's Church, 25 Westminster Road at East Avenue at 3:45 PM. This concert will also include traditional Jazz.


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 unfolds, please phone or visit a friend 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'. This 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:

Jesus, our Brother and Savior, you explained that the Father did works through

You. Give us the grace to be instruments of Your peace, bringing solace and

wisdom to those we visit in jail and prison. We pray this week for the ministry

of Step by Step of Rochester, bringing Your love to women in jail in Monroe

County and the Southern Tier.

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 service, if this is a first or second 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 offers beautiful music to lift our hearts. Here is a video of

an Easter service in Bosnia-Hercegovina

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yG-etMaAp8&feature=related



In the next day or two, Paul Schwartz will post this e-letter on our blogspot.

http://ascensionroch.blogspot.com/

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.



Here, below, is a recipe for an on-the-grill vegetable treat for yourself, friends and loved ones,

[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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.

Grilled Zucchini and Yellow Squash

Ingredients

  • 2 zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut into ~1/4 inch slices
  • 1 yellow/summer squash, halved or quartered lengthwise, then thinly sliced
  • 1 medium or 2 small ripe tomatoes cut into small pieces
  • olive oil to drizzle
  • 4 or 5 dabs of butter
  • 3-5 cut up fresh basil leaves [or dried if no fresh], to season, not dominate
  • 2-3 sprinkles of salt
  • fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced; or couple shakes garlic powder

Directions

  1. Preheat grill for medium heat.
  2. Place the zucchini, yellow/summer squash and tomato on doubled large sheet of aluminum foil.
  3. Season with salt, pepper, garlic and basil; drizzle olive oil over top and dot with butter..
  4. Seal vegetables in the foil, seam at top.
  5. Place the foil pack on the preheated grill, and cook 20 minutes, until vegetables are tender.

.



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GOSPEL FOR NEXT SUNDAY

John 14:15-21

Jesus said to his disciples, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

"I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them."

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HAVE A BLESSED WEEK AND SEASON OF EASTER!

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