This Week at Ascension + May 3, 2023

"Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." - Psalm 96

Wednesday, May 3

Elisabeth Cruciger,

Poet and Hymnographer, 1535

Evening Prayer at 6:00 p.m. via ZOOM

In-person and Live-streamed

Said Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Unction will be available for those who wish it.

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

The Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 7, 2023

(May Crowning of the Blessed Virgin)

7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer via ZOOM

9 a.m. Sung Mass

11 a.m. Solemn Mass -

In-person & Live-streamed

The 11 a.m. Order of Worship may be found here.

Image: Detail from Church of the Ascension Rosary window, The Coronation of the Virgin Mary

Click to join us VIA YOUTUBE

or VIA FACEBOOK LIVE

And in the Afternoon

3:30 p.m. Organ Recital, David White

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750)

Toccata in e minor BWV 914

BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ (1890-1959)

Vigilia HV 382

CHARLES-ARNOULD TOURNEMIRE (1870-1939)

Prélude, Phantaisie, et Carillon

 pour le Couronnement de la Sainte Marie

The Recital and Evensong Order of Worship may be found here.

Following at 4 p.m.

Evensong and Benediction

George Dyson (1883-1964) Evening Service in C minor

David R. White (b. 1959) Alma Redemptoris Mater [2017]

ORGAN Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) Toccata à Julio Perceval [1947]

Church of the Ascension preparing and eating dinner

with residents at St. Leonard’s House 

This past Sunday, we were so blessed to have many hands make light work of several dishes prepared for, served, and eaten with those at St. Leonard's House. Together we made shepherd's pie, pasta salad, Greek salad, and a trifle for dessert. We had a lot of fun and a few tears in the process (those darn onions) of preparing the food. Afterward, we ate our paper bag lunches before packing all the food into the cars.

We had an incredible amount of interest! So many hands, and unfortunately, we were asked only to bring 12 people to St. Leonard’s House. Since we had more than 12 volunteers, a few stayed behind after assisting with preparing the meal because we had such a great turnout. (Thank you, Ascension!)

We had several cars on standby to drive people and food to St. Leonard’s House, and we rented one additional Uber to travel there. Wes Smedley blessed us with a tour of the classes, including an amazing construction classroom, an industry-level cooking classroom, and a technology literacy classroom. They also offer courses that enable folks to get their high school equivalency (which they’re always interested in additional teachers and tutors to assist with). We also learned that the classes are open and free to anyone with any history with the law, not just residents, which is a super cool ministry available to the community!

Wes also told us about a large project St. Leonard’s Ministries is undertaking. They’re currently remodeling their space to provide additional dignity to those who come to live at the facility, specifically by giving each their own space instead of shared space during the first 6-9 months as a resident. It’s a large project that they are continuing to fundraise for, costing about $2 million. They hope to complete construction and fundraising in the following year.

After the tour, we returned to the dining room, where folks took turns serving the food and eating with the residents as people filtered in and out. We were truly blessed by the presence of the various residents during the dinner meal. We encourage you to talk with those who joined to make this dinner possible and hear the stories of the amazing people we ate with.

Finally, we (Clarissa and Ellie) would like to thank everyone who chipped in to make this possible by shopping, cooking, driving, serving, eating, donating, and more!

For everyone’s enjoyment we’ve collected an album of photos from throughout the day! If you have some you’d like added, or a story you’d like included please reach out to Ellie at elizabeth.roberts@gmail.com. Thank you! 

Want to learn more about St. Leonard’s, check out their website. Additionally, we can put you in touch with the folks there if you’d like.

Food Pantry, Saturday, May 6

We will again gather to assemble bags of shelf-stable groceries and personal items for our neighbors in need. We begin filling bags in St. Michael Hall at 9 a.m. and start distributing them at 11 a.m. We need the most help between 9 & 11 a.m., but welcome your help for however long you are able to stay.

Come be the hands, heart, and feet of Christ in our own neighborhood, and enjoy some

fellowship as well.

Help us wish parishioner Robert Browning Happy 95th Birthday

TODAY, Wednesday, May 3. He would very much enjoy receiving birthday cards for the occasion.

His current address is:

Robert Browning

Carlton At the Lake

725 West Montrose Ave., Room 218B,

Chicago, IL 60613

Enquirer's Class

Continuing on 7 May, we have an Enquirer’s Class meeting at 12:45 p.m. in the Library This is an opportunity for anyone exploring joining Church of the Ascension and The Episcopal Church to learn more about us, our history, polity, and liturgy. It is also an opportunity for others who would like to reaffirm their commitment to the church. The culmination of the class will be Confirmation, Reception, or Reaffirmation by our bishop at her visitation on 18 May, the Feast of the Ascension. Please speak to either Fr. Heard or Mtr. Murphy-Gill if you are interested.

Prayer Requests

Do you have a need for special prayer in your life? Whether your prayer needs are because you have an upcoming surgery, an ill family member, or you’re just feeling particularly lonely lately, Fr. Heard and Mtr. Murphy-Gill would like to know.

We’ve created a way for letting us know about your requests for prayers in a way we hope makes it easy for you to reach out, though you can always call the church or reach out to one of the priests personally. 

Share your prayer requests here.

For our prayers: Cynthia, Julie Jones, Daniel, James Christiansen, Nikki Shaw, Lee Gould,

John Schram, Gertrude Isaac, Thomas Wikman, MB Hwang, Luis & Rocio Hernandez,

Juanita Malone, Oksana, Eric Magnuson, Mary W., Tyler, David S. Jones, Richard Francis Tracz, Thom Racina, Robert Browning, Natalia & Victor, Dorothy, Victor Fernandez, Claire Green,

Beth Hall, Sue Lenz, Brenda Martins

Birthdays: Robert Browning, 5/3; The Rt. Rev. William D. Persell, 5/6

Requiescat in pace: Rose Ann Ninth, 4/20/2023; Roy Johnson, 5/5/1995

Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them;

May their souls and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Prayer for the Rector Search Committee

Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for The Church of the Ascension that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.



Organ and Choral Repertoire for May 7, 2023

Between Masses, please don’t forget that The Choir of the Ascension has recorded upwards of 60 tracks that you can listen to anywhere you have an internet connection. They can be found here: https://soundcloud.com/choir-of-the-ascension

Weekly Ascension Schedule

For connections:

via Zoom (click here)

SUNDAYS

7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer via Zoom

9:00 a.m. In-person Sung Mass

11:00 a.m. In-person and Live-Streamed Solemn High Mass

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

MONDAY-FRIDAY

7:30 A.M. Morning Prayer via FACEBOOK LIVE

6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer via Zoom

WEDNESDAYS

6:30 p.m. Said Mass

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

Wardens and Vestry of Church of the Ascension

LaVerne Rollé Saunders, Sr. Warden;

SeniorWarden@AscensionChicago.org

David Reeves, Jr. Warden;

JuniorWarden@AscensionChicago.org

Ian Barillas-McEntee, Jim Lo Bello, Ken Cozette, Marlea Edinger, Sean Hansen,

David A. Robertson, Elizabeth Simpson, Joshua Simpson, Samuel Sommers, Clerk



Susan Schlough, Treasurer

Finance@ascensionchicago.org

Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG, Parish Office

Office@ascensionchicago.org

Approved minutes of Vestry meetings are always available online to parishioners who request the link. If you would like Internet access to these Vestry Minutes, please email the Parish Office and request the link. Once you access the web page, you can read all recent Vestry meeting minutes.

The link remains live indefinitely. Any parishioner who has the link will not need to request a new link from month to month.