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, May 16, 2011
Yesterday was a a time of eager "Hellos" and fond "Goodbyes", as Rev. Denise introduced the Rev. Patricia Cashman, our new Priest-in-Charge, during the services, and Wardens Don Taylor and Nancy Lennox gave Rev. Pat a further Welcome at the Coffee Hour Reception following the 10 AM service.
Rev. Denise was warmly honored for her work with us since last September by the beautiful quilt presented by The Ascension Piecemakers and by heartfelt remarks of Warden Nancy. At the Coffee there was a palpable spirit of great welcoming, appreciation and thanksgiving, not to mention an elegant buffet of finger food and much cake! [Thanks, Nancy and assistants!] As it is said - "You had to be there!"
Rev. Denise's final sermon was preached on "Community Life", a tribute to the parish, in which she charged us to "Trust the Spirit to guide you into all truth. Remember your baptismal covenant that calls you to be faithful in the apostle’s teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and in the prayers." Please visit our blogspot to reflect on the entire text of her remarks.
http://ascensionroch.blogspot.com/
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.
Thanks to Bishop Singh, The Rev. 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!
Kindly 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. 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 augmented financial contributions 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.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEAFOOD 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
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 [and we dry out!], 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'. 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; many of us, and many of those whom we visit in prison have had difficulties in our lives, and some have suffered from abuse and neglect. Help us all to remain true to Your Word through any suffering we feel. Especially help those who are being punished by society for crimes, for their pain can hinder their resolve to improve themselves and to return to our community healthy and ready to participate. Be with us all Lord and help us to focus outward, to You and our neighbors..
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
The Cambridge Singers, under John Rutter, singing his Gaelic Blessing, yesterday's anthem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD6bmFvj4Bg In the next day or two, Paul Schwartz will post this e-letter on our blogspot.http://ascensionroch.blogspot.com/
Our hearts go out to Paul and to Anne upon the death of Paul's mother yesterday. 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 treat for yourself, friends and loved ones, Please see the recipe below for a tasty potato side dish for grilling season [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
***************
Potatoes-on-the Grill [also good above a campfire bed of coals]
Ingredients
6 or so medium red potatoes, rinsed and prepped, not peeled, sliced not over 1/4" thick
1 large or 2 medium onions [approx 1/3 of the amount of potatoes] slivered, or sliced and shredded
1 clove garlic minced or a couple shakes of garlic powder
Olive Oil to drizzle
teaspoon or two of parsley, chopped or dry, or chopped chives or dillweed to taste
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
aluminum foil
Assembly
On double foil that can be closed tightly, to retain heat and moisture, place potatoes, onions and garlic.
Drizzle Olive Oil over above. Season with parsley, etc. and salt and pepper.
Close packet tightly with folded seam 'up' [steam will find an escape route!]
Grilling
Place on medium grill for 20 minutes to cook; if grill is too hot, the bottom will slightly char -
to some this is a bonus!.
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GOSPEL FOR NEXT SUNDAY
John 14:1-14
Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it."
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