The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, June 23, 2024

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

View as Webpage

Dear People of Ascension,

This update from our vestry shares some exciting new initiatives we have undertaken this year. Please read it prayerfully and imaginatively to see if there are ways you want to participate! The vestry usually meets on the third Wednesday of the month (though this month it is the fourth Wednesday because of the Juneteenth holiday). Parishioners are welcome to attend vestry meetings when you are interested in an agenda item and are encouraged to share your ideas and questions with our wardens and vestry as well as the clergy.

Liz

Vestry Update

The vestry has been busy in our working groups, including three new formations: Filling Our Space, Inviting All, and Social Justice.

Filling Our Space focuses on finding rental income for our various spaces, such as renting the Parish Hall to the film/tv industry for staging; the sanctuary for events; the two office spaces on the 4th floor (do you know anyone looking for office space??); and weddings (working on updating the wedding tab on our website). In addition, we are creatively considering new and optimized ways to fill our spaces with parishioners and community members, such as offering a book club and more. Members include Elizabeth Adams, Gale Lynch (lynchgale@gmail.com), Phoebe Norcross, and Mike Surabian.
Inviting All focuses on ways to make Church of the Ascension even more welcoming to visitors as well as parishioners through formalizing welcome, orientation and retention practices for all who encounter the church. Additionally, we look for ways to live the “Open Door” idea for our neighbors, visitors, and parishioners through accessible opportunities for community and spiritual connection. Members include Sabra Brock (sabrabrock@aol.com), John Grimes, Zach Hennessey, Madonna Stack-Barker.
Seeking Justice focuses on identifying service and social justice opportunities and partnerships, as well as exploring ways for earth care and carbon neutrality. Currently we are exploring setting up a legal aid clinic for migrants with volunteer lawyers and others, and also working on voter registration for new young voters. Members include Kyle Cheseborough, Ned Fitch, Steve Hubbard (shubbard@nyu.edu), Andrew Lin, Richard Mitchell.

Please reach out to Gale, Sabra, and/or Steve if you are interested in helping or want more information!

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.

Announcements

This Sunday we welcome the Rev. Larisa Shaterian as our celebrant at the 11 am and 6 pm services. She will also lead a forum following the 11 am service about her experience serving as a seminarian at Ascension this past year, and the ministries she is exploring now as a newly ordained priest.

Thursday, June 27 - Church Office Closed for Computer Upgrades: Our current infrastructure is, in computer years, quite old and starting to break down. This Thursday we will be installing new equipment which will enhance and prolong our technology. Since this will cause significant downtime, the office will be closed for the day.

Parish Summer BBQ

Thursday June 27

Wednesday July 31

Wednesday August 28

Please join us for our summer BBQ's. We'll provide items to grill, both meat and vegetarian; please bring your favorite picnic sides and desserts to share! We'll start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday June 27, and right after the 6 PM Eucharist on the following Wednesday nights (July and August). We will grill in the back garden but eat in the front.

This month, the 20s/30s dinner joins forces with the parish BBQ and Ascensionites of all ages on Thursday, June 27. Please bring a dish to share! Next month we return to our regular schedule, with the 20s/30s dinner on Thursday, July 25.

This coming week the General Convention of the Episcopal Church is meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. To learn about the issues before the convention and how to follow events as they unfold, Click here. Please pray for the Bishops and Deputies gathered in convention, especially those representing the Diocese of New York.

Guest Preacher Next Sunday- We are delighted to welcome Mr. Nick Gordon to our pulpit on Pride Sunday, June 30. For the past year, Nick has served as Director of Special Projects for the Diocese of New York, and his energy, organizing skill, thoughtful leadership and compassionate heart have been felt all across the diocese. This fall he is heading to Yale Divinity School as a postulant for the priesthood; we’re thrilled to hear him preach at Ascension before he goes.

Pride Water Table Volunteers: Sunday, June 30 - Every year, Ascension serves cold water (with a twist of lemon!) to PRIDE Marchers as they pass the church. We need lots of volunteers to make this happen. If you would like to volunteer, please speak to Steve Hubbard. Ascension is a great place to watch the march, celebrate PRIDE, and serve our community!

Your Pantry 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 (except July which is 2nd and 4th Saturday because of the holiday).

Upcoming pantry dates:

July 13 – 8:30am to 9:30am

July 27 – 8:30am to 9:30am

If you have questions or wish to join us, please contact Fr. Ed: fatherchinery@ascensionnyc.org – or – 732-910-7017 (c)

No Meditation & Sacrament Service, Sunday, June 30 – Due to the high traffic volume on Pride Sunday, the Sunday evening Mediation & Sacrament service will not be held that Sunday.

Ascension Summer Schedule will begin Sunday, July 7. Starting then and continuing through Labor Day, we will have only one Sunday morning service, at 10 am. This will bring our 9 and 11 am attendees together, and hopefully the church will be a little cooler than it is at 11. The 6 pm service continues throughout the summer. We return to our regular schedule of two morning services on Sunday, September 8. See you in church!

My Son from Uganda, an article by Stanley Weinberg -- We commend to you this article by our own Stanley Weinberg, which will be published in the upcoming issue of the Episcopal New Yorker. The publication of that issue has been delayed but we wanted you to be able to see the article now. Click here to read Stanley's article.

Memorial Service: save the date. Rick Sygar, husband of our parishioner Janet Sygar, died earlier this month. His memorial service will be held here at Ascension on Saturday, September 28 at noon. Please pray for Rick, for Janet and all who mourn.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Episcopal Church’s Good Friday Offering, designated as always for the Diocese of Jerusalem. In this year of enormous need, Ascension raised $1,158, for the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza. This week we received a thank you letter from the American Friends of the Diocese of Jerusalem (AFEDJ), through whom donations can reach the many wonderful ministries of our church in the Holy Land. Thank you for your generosity! Click here to read the letter from AFEDJ.

Phishing (Smishing) Alert! Several people have reported receiving phishing texts and emails purporting to be from Mother Liz asking for assistance… they are not from her. Always check the “tone” of the message and double check the sending email address or phone number. If they don’t sound right, then delete the message or call the office to confirm.

Clergy and staff will never email or text you asking for special help... especially not in ordering gift cards.

Advocacy Needed: Stop Budget Cuts to Community Food Connections! Our neighbors at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen are asking for our help to protect City funding for essential food programs. The mayor’s proposed budget would cut this vital safety net from $57 million this fiscal year to $25 million next fiscal year, leaving countless New Yorkers without the nutrition they need and depend on. Your voice can make a real difference! Click here for more information and for links on how you can get involved.

"The world is a great stage on which God displays his many wonders"

~ St. Francis of Assisi

The back garden is full of fragrant roses and the spring greenery is starting to take over! Be sure to stop in to smell and see the delightful space. If you are interested in helping tend the gardens let our garden committee know; email Gale at lynchgale@gmail.com. We look forward to when the front gardens are free from scaffolding and will be planning a Gather & Garden Day so please stay tuned!

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 – June 23

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 (Parish Hall/Hybrid) After coffee hour

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

Monday – June 24

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