This Week at Ascension + October 11, 2023

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

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Commemoration of Philip,

Deacon and Evangelist

Evening Prayer

at 6:00 p.m. via ZOOM



In-person and Live-streamed

Said Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Unction available for those who wish it.

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23A)

Sunday, October 15, 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 uninvited wedding guest, Vincent Malo (1602-1644), oil on panel,

Brukenthal National Museum, Sibiu, Romania

Click to join us VIA YOUTUBE

or VIA FACEBOOK LIVE

Plan Ahead

Wednesday, October 18th

The Commemoration

of St. Luke the Evangelist

12 p.m.

In-person and Live-streamed Said Mass at 12 p.m.

There will NOT be a 6:30 p.m. Mass that evening.

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

In the Evening

Wednesday, October 18th

Celebration of New Ministry & Institution of

The Rev. Charles Everson

6:30 p.m.

Church of the Atonement

5749 N. Kenmore, Chicago

All are invited to attend.

A message from the Rector

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” These are our Lord’s closing words in our Gospel passage for Sunday. In which he shares a parable about a king’s wedding feast, a parable filled with graphic and violent allegorical events, and concludes by our Lord urging his followers to be ready because even they won’t be exempt from God’s judgment. Our Lord’s final request can lead one to conclude that he is casting a warning, especially with the mention of the “outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” However, this entire parable, from beginning to end, functions not to frighten us but to encourage us towards a vigorous effort to live the Christian life.

A life that seeks our Lord’s fortitude, guidance, and wisdom. A life that attempts to graft unto itself our Lord’s very own life and teachings. A life that recognizes the beauty and brokenness of this world. And as we hear news of violent and deadly encounters in Israel and Palestine, as our own city faces violence and death, we can easily fall into despair but we can also seek counsel in our Lord’s words. 

While most of us have not been chosen to participate in remeding conflicts here or abroad, as Christians we are all called to follow our Lord. But our Lord is often found, as Archbishop Rowan Williams puts it, “in the chaos and the neediness of a humanity that has forgotten its own destiny.” As Christians we are all called to do the one thing our Lord did every time he encountered human suffering: listen. This is probably the only thing all of us can do that our Lord did during his earthly ministry. As we listen to the cries of those who suffer, we may or may not be chosen or feel like we can do more than listen. Yet, if we listen attentively, we will be moved - we will be called. If nothing else, we will be called to change the way we pray and the way we view the world. And, most sacred of all, we will hear our Lord’s voice.

—Fr. de la Torre

What is our Rhythm of Prayer?: A Conversation on Weekday Liturgies at the Church of the Ascension 

Sunday, October 22 following both the 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. Masses & on Zoom following Online Evening Prayer on Thursday, October 26 

During the pandemic, the Church of the Ascension’s weekday liturgies were drastically altered. While some liturgies were suspended, others went exclusively online and have seen an increased participation. The parish was able to pivot and develop a weekday worship schedule in response to the limitations of COVID, however, it's now time to revisit the parish’s weekday rhythm of prayer and liturgical schedule. Please join Fr de la Torre for a conversation on how we might expand and strengthen our weekday liturgies based on previous practices at the Ascension and from what we have learned from gathering online. There will be three opportunities to join the conversation: Sunday, October 22, after both masses and Thursday, October 26, after online Evening Prayer on Zoom.



Announcing Ascension’s Fall Formation Program

In honor of the season of harvest and plenty, our fall formation and Christian Ed programming will include three consecutive weeks of conversation around food and faith. A tasty lunch will be provided for each gathering. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend for some delicious discussions.

Sunday, October 29 

Following the 11 a.m. Solemn Mass

Let Us Break Bread Together Week 1: The Extraordinary in the Ordinary, 

A Conversation with Mother Murphy-Gill, author of The Sacred Life of Bread

Copies of Mtr. Murphy-Gill's book will be available for $10 which will go to Ascension's monthly food pantry.

Sunday, November 5 

Following the 11 a.m. Solemn Mass

Let Us Break Bread Together Week 2: Food and Hospitality in the Old Testament

Sunday, November 12 

Following the 11 a.m. Solemn Mass

Let Us Break Bread Together Week 3: Eating Rituals in the New Testament



Winter Coats Needed

With temperatures dropping, migrants newly arriving in the city are in much need of warm coats. Consider this your cue to rummage through your coat closets and discern what you no longer need. We can take coats of all sizes and for all genders.

To arrange a drop off, please contact Liz Kohlbeck, coordinator of Chrys’ Closet at 920-254-4735.



Outreach Meeting Tonight

Following tonight’s Mass, the Outreach Committee will gather to discuss Ascension’s effort to give and serve in our community. All are welcome to attend. This is a hybrid meeting that will take place in the Library and on Zoom. 



Open House Chicago at the Ascension

October 14-15

The Church of the Ascension has been invited to participate once again in Open House Chicago. This event, Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15, is sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Center. It’s a free festival that offers access to hundreds of sites across Chicago. A complete listing can be found at here.

We have participated twice in Open House Chicago and each time we had 500 visitors. We provide explanatory signs throughout the church and a beautiful brochure describing the architecture, the stained-glass windows and liturgical art in the building. We also offer cookies! There will be several pipe organ demonstrations and the opportunity to listen to a choir rehearsal.

This is an invitation to parishioners who would like to participate in this year’s Open House Chicago at Ascension. Volunteers mainly welcome visitors and answer questions. Please contact Cynthia Perrizo at cperrizo@ascensionchicago.org or Jay Jacot at jayjacot@gmail.com if you have questions and/or would like to volunteer.

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, 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

Ruby Woods, Earmy Nailor, Derek Petite, Florence Jones Clanton, Michael Curry, David Schrader, Stuy Peabody, Robert, DeDe Frank, Leslie Smebak Gormley, Pam and Hap Hopper, Mike Vales, Jim Drury, Russell Staufenbiel, Patricia Spencer, Rachel Smolinski, Sarah Reece Glanman, The Quevedo family, Suzanne Dines, Lee Gould, John Schram, Gertrude Isaac, Thomas Wikman, MB Hwang, Juanita Malone, Oksana, Tyler, David S. Jones, Richard Francis Tracz, Natalia & Victor, Dorothy, Victor Fernandez, Claire Green, Beth Hall, Sue Lenz, Brenda Martins 

Birthdays

Nicholas Cast, 10/9; David Alan Robertson, 10/10;

Michael-Francis Smith OSB, 10/13

Anniversary

Jim & DiAnne Walsh, Marriage, 10/9/1976

Requiescat in pace

Kip Kohlbeck; Gladys Schlough, 10/8/2009;

Kurt Allan Olson, Priest, 10/12/2013; James F. Maclear, 10/14/1999

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.



Organ and Choral Repertoire for October 15, 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

8:00 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.