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

Dear people of Ascension,

In these later weeks of Eastertide, our scriptures call us again and again to meditate on the nature and necessity of love. “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?” (1 Jn. 3:17). “God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God and God abides in them.” (1 Jn. 4:16b). “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (Jn 15:12-13)

When have you experienced love, and when have you practiced it? When has it been easy, and when very difficult? What have you learned about the work of love? What helps you to persist in loving?

This poem spoke to me today about the everyday challenges of our central calling and the loving grace that made us, calls us deeper into life and sustains us all our days.

Love to you all!

Liz

The Work of Love

This is the love that works,

the kind that comes

when we see no manna in our hands

yet go on. 

It does the laundry, again,

and spoons out the soup,

repeats the same lines

when someone forgets them.

It stays quiet, or speaks up,

whatever the situation requires.

It makes a blessing out of inadequate materials.

It is what we choose when

we know that the only way up

is over rocks and through rain.

It is what we choose when

we forget something of ourselves

to remember that in someone else.

It is what we choose when

we remember that this choice

for the good and the imperfect

and the real

was already made

in creating us.

Laura Martin

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.

In place of the Forum this week we will remain in the church following the service to review fire safety/evacuation plans.

Instead of a Forum This Sunday, May 5, We will Review Fire Safety/Evacuation Plans! Ascension’s Safety Committee has been hard at work developing plans for how we might deal with a variety of possible emergency situations. One of the major ones is fire- or some other emergency that might make it necessary to get a large number of people out of the church quickly. This Sunday, May 5, we would like to try our emergency plans after the 11 am service. Please plan to stay after the liturgy if you are able and help us refine our protocols for getting folks out with grace and care. We’ll debrief afterwards. Thanks so much!

Join us for the

Feast of the Ascension

Thursday, May 9 at 7:00 p.m. 

We are delighted to welcome The Rt. Rev. Mary Glasspool, Assisting Bishop of New York, to preach, celebrate, and confirm and receive new members on our special Feast Day. The service will be followed by a joyful reception in honor of the Bishop, the confirmands and receptees, and all the people of Ascension. If you would like to help host the reception, please speak to David Cholcher. It's a wonderful celebration of our life together- don't miss it!

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)

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.

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!

A photo from Fr. Phanord showing yesterday's worship service in Martel. He celebrates the Eucharist once a month there, bringing the band and choir from Bondeau. On other Sundays they have Morning Prayer led by the laity. 

With gratitude for your support and prayers, the New York Haiti Project is requesting your impressions about our work in Martel, Haiti. Click here to begin the survey. This is completely anonymous and will require up to ten minutes of your time. To say thank you, a small group of donors will contribute $10.00 to the New York Haiti Project for every completed survey received, up to a total of $2,000.00. 

Thank you in advance for completing the survey. God bless you, and may God bless the people of Martel.

Yours in Christ,

The Rev. Sam Owen

Director

Core Values (this is what we stand for):

Love * Hope * Trust * Partnership * Service 

Mission Statement (this is why we exist)

We partner with the people of Martel, Haiti, building relationships of trust, hope and love among our communities, to work together for a better future. 

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.

Sunday – May 5

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

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

Monday – May 6

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

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Lectionary Bible Study (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday – May 7

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

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday – May 8

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

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

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

Needlecraft Guild (Rear Parlor) 6:00 p.,.

Building & Grounds (Zoom) 6:45 p.m.

Thursday – May 9 – Ascension Day

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

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Ascension Day Service (Church) 7:00 p.m.

Friday – May 10

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

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Saturday – May 11

The Food Pantry operates on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. For assistance or to volunteer, please contact Fr. Ed (fatherchinery @ascensionyc.org) or Amy Shaw (amyqshaw@gmail.com).

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.

In this time of seasonal weather changes, as happens every year, we are all becoming more mindful of even small changes in how we feel. As such, we ask that you give careful consideration to public health best-practices. And in light of the increase in Covid infection rates, please feel free to use a mask when you attend worship services, particularly if you could be considered at higher risk of infection.

If you have any question, or need assistance of any kind, please don’t hesitate to contact the parish office or your clergy members. Remember, we’re better together! Because together we can and do make a difference!