Seventh Sunday in Easter

The Church of the Ascension

in the City of New York

12 West 11th Street, New York, NY 10011

212-254-8620 | info@ascensionnyc.org | ascensionnyc.org

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Life-giving God, Mother of all,

You brood over creation and bring all things into being; you bear us in your womb of compassion and nourish us with your great goodness; you teach us to walk in your ways and help us grow into the full maturity you intend for us.

On this Mother’s Day, we give you thanks for our mothers, and all who have shared your mothering love with us- women and men and non-binary people alike. We give thanks too for those whose paths of nurture and creativity have not included parenthood, embracing with joy their own ways of caring for others and the world.

We pray for those whose mothers have been unable to love them fully and even caused harm. We pray as well for mothers who struggle to love and care for their children.

We pray for those who are missing their mothers toIday, and for mothers who are separated from their children, whether by distance, conflict or grief; for mothers who are incarcerated and for their children; for mothers who struggle to provide for their families because of war, poverty, famine or displacement. Bless them with healing and justice.

We remember also all who yearn to be mothers but have not been able to do so. We pray for mothers whose children have died. Comfort them with your mercy, make a way out of no way and grant them peace.

Finally we pray with gratitude for our Mother Earth upon whom our life depends, from whom we draw nourishment, beauty and delight, whose creatures gladden our hearts and yours. In these perilous times, help us care for her with all tenderness, tenacity and skill, even as we have been cared for all our days. Help us grow in our capacity to love and receive love.

We pray in the name of Jesus, child of Mary.

Amen.

Services at Church of the Ascension

Regular Service Schedule

SUNDAY

9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Side Altar)

11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist w/ Music

(Church & Livestream)

6:00 p.m. Meditation & Sacrament (Church)

WEDNESDAY

6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist (Church)

Evening Prayer Every Weekday Evening

via Zoom

Join us each weeknight at 5:30

for Evening Prayer & discussion.

Click this link to join: ascensionnyc.org/eveningprayer.

To call in (voice, no camera), dial 929-205-6099; the meeting ID is 880 1981 1224.

How to Watch Online

Prayers! Did you know you can submit your prayer requests online? Go to ascensionnyc.org/prayers and type in your prayer request. Be sure to add them. Requests submitted by noon on Thursday will be included in the Sunday bulletin. (Any requests after that will be included in the following Sunday bulletin.)

A Prayer for Spiritual Communion

If you are attending any of our services online, we invite you to use this prayer at communion.

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

Ascension Forum this Sunday, May 12: “All shall be well” – a conversation with Julian of Norwich. The 14th century mystic Julian of Norwich lived in times as tumultuous as our own. She was an anchoress, committed to a solitary life of prayer and poverty, offering spiritual guidance to visitors who sought her out. She was also the author of the earliest known work in English written by a woman: Revelations of Divine Love, an account of her visions of Christ’s Passion received during a serious illness when she was about thirty. Her theology is audacious even in our day, centering all things in the love of God, which she describes as the love of a mother. Join the clergy for a conversation about some of Julian’s best known ideas and images this Sunday, which is also Mother’s Day. You may discover why she won the Golden Halo in this year’s Lent Madness!

Announcements

In Many Tongues- Do you speak a language other than English? Will you be in church Sunday, May 19? One of our Pentecost traditions is telling one verse of the story of the Spirit's coming in a wide range of languages. If you are willing to participate, please let Mother Liz (egmaxwell@ascensionnyc.org) or Vin Knight (vin@panix.com), know by this Wednesday, May 15. We will rehearse briefly on Pentecost Sunday before the 11 am service. Thank you!

Racial Justice Meeting, Thursday May 16 6:30 pm. - We will finish Cole Arthur Riley’s This Here Flesh, reading from chapter 9 (beginning at page 107) to the end. Because it is beautiful writing, we are asking everyone to choose a passage that particularly speaks to you that you might want to read aloud. Please join us- all are welcome!

Ordination of Deacons, Saturday, May 18; 10:30 a.m. – By The Grace of God and with the consent of the people, The Right Reverend Matthew F. Heyd, Bishop of New York, will ordain Cindy McCloskey to the Sacred Order of Deacons in Christ's One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave. Your Prayers and Presence are Requested. (Clergy: Cassock, Surplice, Red Stole.) View invitation here.

Coming to a Theater near You! The award-winning documentary The Philadelphia Eleven will have its theatrical release in New York City and other select theaters May 21st, 2024 at DCTV - 87 Lafayette St, NY, NY 10013. If you missed it when we showed it at Ascension- or just want to see it again- here is your opportunity! Women in many parts of the Christian church have struggled for full inclusion in the sacraments and leadership since the beginning of organized religion. But in 1974 a dramatic breakthrough of the so-called stained-glass ceiling took place that gave hope to Christian women everywhere. At a church in Philadelphia, a group of eleven women were ordained to the Episcopal priesthood in violation of the norms of the Episcopal Church – which at the time stated that only men were eligible for ordination. This is the story of The Philadelphia Eleven. Director Margo Guernsey will be present for the post-screening Q & A.

Your Pantry Program Needs You! Ascension Outreach Inc. needs additional volunteer participation. The program is robust and developing in some great ways- and we need more hands-on help. Won’t you consider helping strengthen our service to our neighbors? Friday opportunity: 3 to 4 pm the day before pantry, we set up the parish hall for pantry service. Saturday opportunity: 8 to 9:30 am on the first and third Saturday of each month. If you have questions or wish to join us, please contact Fr. Ed: fatherchinery@ascensionnyc.org – or – 732-910-7017 (c)

Sacred Sites Weekend- The Church of the Ascension will be participating in the New York Landmarks Conservancy's annual Sacred Sites Weekend on Saturday, May 18 (12:00pm - 5:00pm) and on Sunday, May 19 (1:00pm - 5:00pm). We are in need of volunteers to help greet guests when they come into the church and to answer questions about the history, art and architecture of the building. If you are available and would like to help us out, please contact either Daniel Cole (danielcoledesign@cs.com) or Tom Rice (Rockcent@aol.com) with the day(s) and times you can be there. Thank you!

Support Church of the Ascension

Open Church Schedule

Open Church - Mondays through Fridays, Noon to 3pm. If you would like to volunteer for this ministry, please contact Gretchen Dumler or contact the church office (info@ascensionnyc.org or 212-254-8620.

Use this QR code to quickly pledge or give to the Tower fund.

Remember, if you pay by check, put “Tower Brownstone” in the memo line. If you pay through Abundant, select “Manton matching grant” from the drop-down menu.

Easy Way to Give & Support Church of the Ascension! Your generous gift is a meaningful way to support the mission and ministries of Church of the Ascension. Your contributions play a crucial role in maintaining the church's facilities, supporting religious education, organizing charitable initiatives, and supporting our sense of community. Use this QR code to make a one-time or recurring gift to the church... It's quick and easy. Your generosity and kindness are deeply appreciated!

Please note that to pay your pledge, please continue using Abundant (ascensionnyc.org/give)

This Week at Ascension

Sunday – May 12

Holy Eucharist (Church) 9:00 a.m.

Holy Eucharist w/ Music (Church & Live Stream) 11:00 a.m.

In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday)

Join us for Coffee Hour following the Service

Ascension Forum (Hybrid) after 11:00 service

Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.

Monday – May 13

Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.

Debt Reduction Taskforce (Zoom) 4:00 p.m.