This Week at Ascension + April 12, 2023

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

Wednesday in Easter Week, April 12

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 Second Sunday of Easter

April 16, 2023

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: The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, Hendrick ter Brugghen, 1588-1629

 Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

Click to join us VIA YOUTUBE

or VIA FACEBOOK LIVE

The Choir of the Ascension Sings

THE GREAT PASCHAL VESPERS

Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 4 p.m.

The 4 p.m. Order of Worship may be found here.

Click to join us on Wednesday VIA YOUTUBE

or VIA FACEBOOK LIVE

Daily Masses in Easter Week

Monday and Tuesday at 12 p.m.

Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. (in person and live-streamed)

Thursday and Friday at 12 p.m.

From the Interim Rector

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

What a joyous celebration of Jesus’ resurrection we had, both at the Great Vigil of Easter and on the Sunday of the Resurrection. It was a perfect way to end our forty day journey through the wilderness of Lent.

Holy Week afforded us the opportunity to walk with Jesus in his passion. The Triduum, the Three Days, makes it possible for us to share in Jesus’ experiences. For example, in the Maundy Thursday washing of feet, we could take the roles of both the disciple and teacher. I was heartened by the number of you who were willing to be vulnerable to others. Good Friday brings us the Johannine crucifixion narrative and veneration of the Cross. Holy Saturday offers us time for living into the loss of our teacher, a time to sit at the tomb. 

In the Great Vigil of Easter, we recount the history of our salvation as beloved people of God. It is an event that culminates in the first proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection. That could have been complete in itself, but a visit from the Chicago Fire Department on Saturday night just added a certain je ne sais quoi to the night.



The liturgies of Holy Week required dedicated work from many groups. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all who made this all happen: Ushers, Lectors, Organist and Choirmaster, Choristers and Soloists, Altar Servers, Tech Ministers, Flower Guild, Hospitality. I’m sure I’ve forgotten some. There are also a number of folks that don’t fit into any of those categories whose assistance was so important. This doesn’t take into account those whose efforts went above and beyond. We have a great team and I’m grateful to have been a part of this year’s celebration.

—Fr. Heard

Our gratitude for acolyte Andrew Smith for cleaning and polishing not one but two thuribles and getting them to shine like few remembered seeing them shine before!

From your dedicated gifts, flowers were everywhere for Easter.

More pics of the Easter Flowers 2023 may be viewed here

Many thanks to

George Pineda,

DiAnne Walsh,

Ellie Simpson, Dan Stell, and Chris Raymond who provided a wonderful Vigil reception.

More pics of the Easter Vigil 2023 reception may be viewed here.

Message from the Warden

Blessings! 

A heartfelt thank you to all who helped make our Holy Week a success. I am afraid to name all who participated because I know I will forget someone. So thank you to all

A reminder: Brother Michael Francis will photograph those who wish a photo for the updated Ascension Directory, this Sunday, April 16, 2023, before and after 11:00 a.m. Mass. If an additional date is needed AND Bro. Michael Francis can accommodate same, it will be scheduled. Peace!

—LaVerne Saunders

To read a copy of Mtr. Murphy-Gill's Good Friday sermon click here.

Enquirer's Class

Beginning on 16 April, the Second Sunday of Easter, we will have an Enquirer’s Class, meeting at 12:45 p.m. We’ll meet for four successive Sundays. This will be 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 will also be 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.

St. Leonard’s House Visit to Take Place Sunday, April 30

Thanks to the outpouring of support and willingness to commit, this date is now confirmed! Please join us to prepare a meal and serve a meal at St. Leonard’s, where recently incarcerated men and women are being empowered to live whole lives. We will need people to help prepare the food as well as bring it and serve it to residents at St. Leonard’s. 

If you haven’t already signed up and want to help, please sign up using this link or speak to Ellie Simpson or Clarissa Galaviz. These two will be coordinating the outing and will have more information as the date draws nearer.

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: For our prayers: Cynthia Perrizo, James Christensen, 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, David Schrader, Victor Fernandez, Claire Green, Beth Hall, Sue Lenz, Brenda Martins

Birthdays: Jean Judson, 4/12; Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG, 4/13

Requiescat in pace: J. Mark Baker, 4/5/2023; Bob West, 4/5/2023;

Thomas Kelly Rogers, priest, 4/9/1983; Mary Lillian Grimm, 4/9/2008;

Alice Lord Wheeler, 4/10/1896; Maria Devens, 4/10/2013;

Charles ‘Charley’ Morgan Taylor, 4/10/2021; David Squire Belding Sr., priest, 4/11/2014;

George Whitman, 4/15/1993



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 April 16, 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.