Society of M
ary
Renewal Gathering
Tonight
6:10 p.m. Evening Prayer
6:30 p.m. Low Mass, followed by rosary, meal and conversation, with guest Phoebe Pettingell, Editor of the publication 'Ave' for the Society of Mary-America.
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The Agnus Dei mosaic in the middle of
Ascension's high altar
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The 6th Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 26
7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
8:00 a.m. Low Mass (Rite I)
8:45 a.m. Nursery care begins
9:00 a.m. Sung Mass
11:00 a.m. Solemn High Mass
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
(c. 1525-1594)
Missa Brevis
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This Week at Ascension + May 22, 2019
IN THIS NEWSLETTER
From the Rector
Also From the Rector
Ascension Connections Tours LUMA Exhibits
Sharing Lunch, Sharing Blessings
This Sunday at Ascension
The Parish Prayer List
Approved Vestry Minutes Online
The Last Word
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Praying, more or less
"Pray without ceasing."
1 Thessalonians 5:17
"In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart. "
- John Bunyan
Dear people of Ascension,
You may have recently noticed less praying at our Sunday masses. Specifically, we're praying aloud for fewer persons on our prayer list. I should explain.
Requests for intercessions are always welcomed, even encouraged. What good are we as a community of faith if prayer for known and shared needs is not at the heart of our common life? It's also true that our prayer list has been increasingly populated with persons who's needs are chronic. You often ask, 'Please keep him [or her] on the list.' Doing so is certainly appropriate.
Reciting all of the 'regular' names every week, however, seemed to cross a line at some point, from faithfulness to something else. So I've asked Brother Nathanael, steward of the list, to a) continue printing in the bulletin ALL of those for whom we are asked to pray, and b) to make a three-week cycle for those who are on the list for the long haul.
Any of you, by the way, may ask for an individual or household to be put on the prayer list. Send an email to Br. Nathanael in the parish office by Wednesday (for publication in the coming Sunday's bulletin and prayer aloud at masses), or let me know in person anytime. We typically carry a name or need for one to four weeks.
I'm the one who's asked for fewer spoken intercessions on Sundays, but I'll happily go back to 'the old way' if there's a groundswell of reasoned concern. As important, let me know of your interest in and willingness to participate in any ministry of prayer for one another. What about our offering healing prayers at the Mary shrine on Sundays? A 'prayer chain' ministry? Or an idea presently known to you alone?
Let us pray.
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Our Society of Mary mass, rosary, meal and conversation this evening will no doubt be enriched by special guest Phoebe Pettingell, editor of the semi-annual 'Ave' for the Society of Mary-America. I'd reached out to the SOM leadership last week, inquiring about some support for our renewal interest here at Ascension. A return call came from Pheobe, explaining that she was in Chicago this week, that she has a longtime past association with Ascension ... and that she'll be pleased to be with us this evening.
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Behold the organ pipe! No, it's not real. It's a fund raising contraption. It has a slot in the top for our pledges, checks, bills and/or coins - in conjunction with our present $40K organ restoration capital campaign. The treasurer reports that we've so far received pledges of about $17,500. This pipe isn't real, but the need for your help and support is real. Thank you.
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We prayed on Sunday for the repose of the soul of former parishioner Bob Boyle
and I also mentioned him and his husband Mac Detmer in my sermon. I've since been asked to preside at an informal memorial service for Bob that will take place in the community room of the Three Crowns retirement center, 2323 McDaniel Avenue, Evanston, on Friday, May 31, 4:00 p.m. Bob's obituary, meanwhile, may be read here.
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| Another individual with Ascension ties, John Phillips, recently died during a visit to his vacation home in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. John and Mary are members at Holy Comforter, Kenilworth. Plans for a funeral mass or memorial service are pending. |
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Holy oil for anointing.
Did you know that anointing and prayers for healing are offered at Ascension each Saturday at the 10:00 a.m. Mass for Healing? Did you know you could ask for anointing and prayers at any time? During Bishop Lee's remarks prior to this year's Chrism Mass (in Holy Week at St. James' Cathedral), he asked that we clergy NOT use chrism (intended for baptism) for anointing the sick. Makes sense. I've recently prepared and blessed a separate oil - an olive oil base with essences of myrrh, cassia, cinnamon and lemongrass - now duly blessed and waiting.
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And, recycled from the May 15, 2019 newsletter:
 Recycling, anyone?
I was pleased to learn that the May gathering of our Sharing Lunch, Sharing Blessings fellowship included a discussion (as part of a larger topic) or our lack of recycling at Ascension. (Our City of Chicago trash collection does not presently provide for any recycling.) I was not present for the conversation but learned that part of it focused on all of the cardboard generated by our food pantry outreach ministry - all of which is neatly broken down but all of which presently goes into the trash. I'm welcoming responses from anyone who may have an big enough vehicle and who may be willing to consider a monthly run to a recycling center. Talk to me! Thanks.
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ASCENSION CONNECTIONS
TOURS LUMA EXHIBITS
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Ascension Connections has arranged a tour of the exhibits at LUMA (Loyola University Museum of Art) on
Saturday, June 8 at 1:30 p.m. Sadly, the museum is closing its doors and June 8 is the last day it will be open to the public. More details will follow in next week's TWAA.
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SHARING LUNCH, SHARING BLESSINGS
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 Think picnic! Pray for sunshine and warm weather! Our next gathering will occur on
Wednesday, June 12th at 12:30 p.m
. The plan calls for us to enjoy a pleasant time in the garden with typical picnic foods like fried chicken, potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans, and chocolate cake. If you have a food item you would like to share with the group, please let me know and we will incorporate it into the menu.
The theme for our picnic will be "For the Beauty of the Earth." We will share stories together of our favorite trips or travels where we have formed a memory of just what the earth's beauty means to us. Perhaps these will become the basis of our Creation Care Pledge to love God and God's creation.
INVITE A FRIEND! MARK YOUR CALENDAR! This is our last gathering until September.
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Please remember these people in your daily prayers
Geoffrey Wainwright, Fr. John Graham, Dorothy Murray, Mary Lou Devens, Michael Milano, Brenton Boitse, Charley Taylor, August 'Augie' Alonzo, Ted Long, Jim Berger, Ethel Martin, Yuka Asai, Dean Pineda,
Helena Wilson, Bazelais Suy, Carnola Malone, Charlene MacDougal, Pablo Illás, Doreen Finn, Donald Schmidt, Richard Laibly, Marlea
For the repose of the soul of George Kelling,
cousin of Ken Kelling
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For the repose of the soul of The Rev. Dan Hanna, who died this morning in New Orleans.
For the repose of the soul of
John Ziemba.
Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord: and let light perpetual shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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APPROVED VESTRY MINUTES ONLINE
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The Approved Minutes of Vestry meetings are now available online to parishioners who request the link. If you would like Internet access to the Approved Vestry Minutes, please email the
Church Office and request the link.
Once you access the web page, you can read all recent Approved Vestry Minutes. In addition, if you click on the subscribe button at the top right, you will be given email notice whenever a new set of Approved Minutes is added.
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With the focus this evening on the prospect of renewing a Society of Mary fellowship and ministry at Ascension, I thought it may make sense to devote today's last word to some more information about the Society. What follows is taken from (and I gather routinely included in) the semi-annual publication of the Society, Ave, edited by Phoebe Pettingell, who will be with us this evening.
THE SOCIETY OF MARY
(Established 1931)
THE SOCIETY OF MARY springs from two similar societies founded in 1880 and 1901 respectively, which united in 1931. It has members all over the world and is not confined to Anglicans alone.
Where there are sufficient members in one place or area, they combine to form a Ward, with a priest as Superior and an elected Secretary. They can organize regular services, meetings and many other activities. Five or more members may form a Cell, and organize joint prayer and fellowship. Isolated members are joined to the Headquarters Ward.
The Society publishes its magazine "AVE" two times each year with details of pilgrimages, retreats, festival services, etc. It is free to all members and is the effective link between the various Regions.
The Society is not affiliated to any single Shrine or Marian institution, and is the only organization endeavoring to promote equally all the different aspects of devotion to Mary.
THE SOCIETY RULE OF LIFE
The Society is dedicated to the glory of God and in honor of the Holy Incarnation under the invocation of Our Lady, Help of Christians.
1. Members shall keep a Rule of Life, which will include such special devotions as the Angelus, the Rosary, the Litany and Anthems of Our Lady.
2. They will pray for Departed Members of the Society and offer Mass for them.
3. They will take part in the Mass on the principal Feasts of Our Lady.
4. They will engage in apostolic and pastoral work, according to opportunity, under the guidance of the local Ward Officers and the General Council.
OBJECTS AND MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIETY
The Society was founded as an Anglican Society with these Objects:
1. To love and honor Mary.
2. To spread devotion to her in reparation for past neglect and misunderstanding, and in the cause of Christian Unity.
3. To take Mary as a model in purity, personal relationships and family life.
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