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,

I’m just back from about ten days away, including both some straight up rest (and a snowstorm) with friends and dogs and the annual priests’ retreat (some structured discussion about the diocese and also lovely opportunities to connect with colleagues and view the eclipse). As a result, I’m later than usual thanking everyone who made our Holy Week and Easter services so beautiful and meaningful.

But that doesn’t make my gratitude any less heartfelt. As you know, these liturgies are an opportunity to participate in the central story of our faith, and they are among the most rich and complicated that we ever do. Thank you, everyone who participated! Thank you for bringing your story, your life, into conversation with the story of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. Thank you for making this pilgrimage in community together, opening up connections and meanings we can never anticipate.

And thank you, especially, to those who helped to plan and lead our worship: Dr. Keene and our wonderful choir; our indefatigable MC Tom Rice; our acolytes, ushers and lectors; John Grimes and the hard-working altar guild; Gale Lynch and all who designed our gorgeous flowers; Matthew Snow whose tender art work graces our Holy Week bulletins; my wonderful clergy colleagues including Deacon Larisa who sang the Exsultet with such devotion and joy; Matt Vermedahl, David Cholcher and all who brought deviled eggs, sweets, chocolates and savories to the glorious Easter feast; our Holy Week lay preachers Isabel Spencer, Jimmy Amodeo and Maurice Seaton; Br. Andrew Jones our bulletin czar who keeps us moving behind the scenes; Kelli Long and Sajia Choudhury who kept the business of the church going even during Holy Week; our hard-working sextons Dwight Roberts and Rashean Tompkins- and no doubt others who I am forgetting. Thank you, thank you for your dedication, creativity and love of what you do!  

Easter is 50 days long- longer than Lent. That’s because resurrection is harder to grasp than disciplines, mortality and loss. May the joy of this season continue to work on you, and may you meet the risen Christ in the most unexpected places. May gratitude continue to fill our hearts.

Liz

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.

This Sunday's Forum at Ascension- Amy-Jill Levine returns! During Lent we explored the gospel of Mark with the help of a book and videos by biblical scholar Amy-Jill Levine, The Gospel of Mark: A Beginner’s Guide to the Good News. This Sunday we conclude our study of this book, picking up at the final chapter and epilogue. Please join us for a rich discussion, even if you haven’t read the chapter!

Security Tip - What to do in an earthquake

• DROP down onto your hands and knees before the earthquake knocks you down. This position protects you from falling but allows you to still move if necessary.
• COVER your head and neck (and your entire body if possible) underneath a sturdy table or desk. If there is no shelter nearby, get down near an interior wall or next to low-lying furniture that won’t fall on you, and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.
• HOLD ON to your shelter (or to your head and neck) until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around.
• DO NOT run outside until the shaking stops as many people get injured from falling debris.

Racial Justice Group- the Racial Justice group will meet on Thursday, April 18; 6:30 p.m. We will be discussing Cole Arthur Riley’s book, This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us. Please read the Preface through chapter 8 (page 106). All are welcome!

To join the Zoom meeting, click here.

Are you thinking about confirmation or being received into the Episcopal Church? Do you want to learn more about this particular way of following Jesus? On Ascension Day, Thursday May 9, Bishop Mary Glasspool will join us to celebrate our feast and confirm and receive those who desire it. To prepare, we will offer an “Episcopalian 101” series. If you are interested, or simply curious, please contact the parish office (212-254-8620 or info@ascensionnyc.org) or speak to the clergy.

Ta da ! And the winner of our Lenten Madness contest is Peter Clark, the only person correctly to predict Julian of Norwich would be crowned with the Golden Halo. 

Several entrants also picked a woman saint, but incorrectly selected Clare to make a big run. A few of us had Schweitzer in our final two, or one. Kudos to Vin Knight and Jimmy Amodeo, the only people to correctly put Henry Whipple in their final four. Actually learning more about the little-known Henry is one example of why we treasure Lenten Madness.

More fun (and education) next year!

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. 

ST. GEORGE’S CHORAL SOCIETY PRESENTS

From Across Central Europe:

Spring Concert with Organ

Sunday, April 21 at 3:00 PM

Antonín Dvořák: Mass in D, Opus 86

Krzysztof Penderecki: Agnus Dei (1981)

Zoltán Kodály: Laudes organi (1966)

Matthew Lewis, Artistic Director

David Enlow, Organist

The Church of the Ascension

Fifth Ave at 10th St, New York, NY

Tickets are $30, available online and at the door

Tickets purchased online will be held under the purchaser’s name.

stgeorgeschoralsociety.org/concerts

(this link will not be active until Monday, 4/15)

The long- awaited repairs to our tower are nearly complete. The original work has been done, and we await the special materials to replace the rods and stars that act as infrastructure for the tower- an issue that was discovered only after the workers were able to get inside the tower. We hope to finish that final project by some time in the spring. Meanwhile, our final payments to architects and contractors are coming due. We hope that all pledges will be paid by the end of the first quarter of 2024. If you have not yet pledged and are able to do so, or are able to make an extra gift, we will receive it gratefully. Remember when you pay by check to put “Tower Brownstone” in the memo line. If you pay through Abundant, select “Manton matching grant” from the drop-down menu. Thank you very much for your support!.

Sunday – April 14

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 – April 15

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 – April 16

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

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

Wednesday – April 17

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.

Vestry (Hybrid) 6:45 p.m.

Thursday – April 18

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

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

Racial Justice (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.

Friday – April 19

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

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

Saturday – April 20

Food Pantry (12 W 11th St.) 8:30 a.m.

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 – April 21

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!