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Marc Chagall,
Abraham and Sarah, 1956
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Sunday, March 17
2nd Sunday in Lent
7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
8:00 a.m. Said Mass (Rite I)
9:00 a.m. Sung Mass
11:00 a.m. Solemn High Mass
Andrea Gabrieli (c. 1532-1585) Missa brevis
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This Week at Ascension + March 13, 2019
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From the Rector
Also From the Rector
Last Sunday's Sermon
Ascension Connection March/April 2019
Bp. Anderson House Spring Benefit
This Sunday at Ascension
The Parish Prayer List
Approved Vestry Minutes Online
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From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy;
from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all want or charity,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; from hardness
of heart, and contempt of thy Word and commandment,
Good Lord, deliver us.
That it may please thee to inspire us, in our several callings,
to do the work which thou givest us to do with singleness of
heart as thy servants, and for the common good,
We beseech
thee to hear us, good Lord.
- From the Great Litany, BCP pp. 149, 151
Dear people of Ascension,
Last week, two individuals expressed aversion to my welcoming of Bishop Daniel Martins to Ascension. One, a newer, younger member, said he'd be absent on Sunday. Why? Because Bishop Martins has been among the more conservative members of our Episcopal House of Bishops on matters of human sexuality.
For better or worse, the bishop's related views weren't on my radar when I asked him to devote a Sunday to us. I partly invited him because he and his wife often worship at Ascension when they are in Chicago. I gather they'll be choosing a primary parish home when they complete their move here. The only priest I've met in the Diocese of Springfield, a rector, speaks of her bishop as a conscientious good shepherd. The pool of clergy drawn to Ascension and our liturgy and willing to contribute here is shrinking.
 In contacts with Bishop Martins over the past few years, I've grown to know him as a person of persevering and thoughtful faith. I can say the same thing about the two souls whose concerns I described above. Am I speaking out of both sides of my mouth? Maybe. Or maybe I'm drawing attention to the complexity of our church and culture at this time. Maybe I'm as bewildered as some of you about the rapidity of change and our categories and language and our readiness to polarize. Maybe the bishop's visit or this letter will compel at least some of us at Ascension to better lean into issues of our identity, mission and hospitality.
In the sacristy after the Solemn High Mass, Bishop Martins said, "I hope you will invite me again." I responded, "Of course." My thanks to those of you who joined me in welcoming him. Being genuinely welcomed into the Body of Christ is after all, I believe, what we are all fundamentally seeking and yearning for here.
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And now for your thoughts
... In case I didn't make it clear, I'm grateful for the two individuals, mentioned above, who directly shared their thoughts with me. And I believe Ascension may, in the long run, benefit by some more open exchange of experiences, hopes and questions. It's one reason I asked Father Petite and Gary Alexander to lead our last Lenten program, April 10. The theme they chose, Speaking Love's Name: Being Gay and the Anglo-Catholic Christian, partly reflects an important legacy feature of Ascension culture and also invites us as a parish to catch up with much of our culture and church in moving beyond the 'Don't ask; Don't tell' paradigm. Meanwhile, I'm confident that any of our assisting clergy (Fr. Lawler, Fr. Petite, Deacon Farrell) join me in being open to conversation. I'm quite sure, as well, that Bishop Martins would be receptive.
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Our Four-Week Wednesday Evening Lenten Series B
egins Next Week
 March 20: Stations of the Cross: The Passion Isn't Over
, The Very Rev. Joy Rogers
Mother Joy Rogers, retired Dean of St. James' Cathedral, Chicago, and assisting priest at Church of the Atonement, Chicago, will discuss how the traditional Stations of the Cross finds creative, meaningful expression in diverse contexts. Particular forms of the Stations often intend to better connect those who take part to contemporary local, cultural or global issues of justice.
March 27: Shame, Shame Shame,
with Brené Brown(and Mother Anna Broadbent+ & Father Raymond+) Brené Brown's 2010 'TED Talk,' The power of vulnerability' has been viewed nearly 39,000,000 times. Sharing her research as a social psychologist, she walks in the back door with different lenses and perspectives to examine many of the fundamental human concerns that we endeavor to address by way of our 'self-examina-tion' in Lent. We will view Brown's 20-minute talk and Mother Broadbent (who recently completed Brené Brown's 'Daring Way' training for helping professionals) and the Rector will facilitate our shared responses.
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Adult Mental Health First Aid Training
is the name of a one-day program being offered March 27 at St. James' Cathedral. Mother Anna Broadbent has arranged for this training and has done so with particular awareness of and sensitivity to those of us in the church, both clergy and laity, who, knowingly or unknowingly encounter mental illness in those who come to and through our doors. I welcome anyone to look into this opportunity, but in particular wonder about those who regularly help and meet our guests in the food pantry ministry. The training is being provided by Amita Health, and you may read the flyer here. Advance sign-up is required and enrollment is limited.
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Brother Michael-Francis Smith, OSB
, gratefully announces the anticipation of his Solemn Profession of Monastic Vows in the Benedictine Community of the House of Initia Nova, May 11, in Vermont. You'll recognize Br. Michal-Francis to the far left in the photo here. Please join me in keeping him in prayers as he prepares for this holy commitment for which he's long prepared and waited.
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For your thanksgivings and prayers: Christopher Poore and Gina Franco, who will be received by Bishop Lee this coming Sunday during the bishop's visitation at St. Helena's Church, Burr Ridge.
Of your charity pray for the repose of the soul of Lorice Coleman, a sister of parishioner Carnola Malone. Lorice died last Thursday, March 7, following decades of illness and custodial care.
May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
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The Rt. Rev. Daniel Martins
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ASCENSION CONNECTIONS MARCH/APRIL 2019
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Preston Bradley Hall's Tiffany Dome
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March 27 (Wednesday) at 12:15
Dame Myra Hess Concert, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington, Preston Bradley Hall, 3rd Floor
The program is a duo of violinist, Richard Lin and pianist, Chih-Yi Chen performing works of Wieniawski, Grieg and Tchaikovsky. We can get reserved seats! Please let me know by noon on Tuesday, March 26 if you plan to attend and I will make the necessary arrangements. On the day of the program you have to be at Preston Bradley Hall by 11:45 or you will lose your reserved seat. We will go somewhere for lunch afterwards.
 April 13 (Saturday) at 12:00
ShawChicago, The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N Dearborn
ShawChicago presents "The Doctor's Dilemma" directed by our Jr. Warden, Gary Alexander. The play presents some thought provoking scenarios. A discussion will follow. The Rev. Dr. Jackie Cameron who is in fact a medical doctor will share her perspective on the issues. If enough people sign up to attend, we will get a discount. So please let me know. This is the last play that ShawChicago will present.
April 19
Good Friday Walk
The Good Friday Walk is a neighborhood event. Per Marlea Edinger, who participated last year, the walk starts at about 2 or 3 PM on Good Friday and stops at various stations at significant points in the neighborhood for gospel reading and reflection. It lasts for about 2 or 3 hours. You may choose to do all of the walk or just part of it. Marlea and Cheryl Peterson participated last year and found it to be very meaningful. This is an opportunity to interact with our neighbors. Watch for more details in upcoming issues of TWAA.
Cynthia Perrizo
Senior Warden and Chair of Ascension Connections
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YOUR LAST CHANCE FOR SAVINGS
ON
BP. ANDERSON HOUSE SPRING BENEFIT
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YOUR CHANCE TO SAVE 20% ON BISHOP ANDERSON HOUSE SPRING BENEFIT TICKETS ENDS FRIDAY!
Healing One-Healing the World,
our spring benefit, comes to the Chicago Cultural Center on Sunday, May 19, 2019, 5 to 8 p.m.
*
This year Bp. Anderson House celebrates the successful completion of their Campaign for the next 70 years, and is honored to present the Marion Faldet Volunteer of the Year Award to
Dr. Toyin Falusi Adeyemi and Rev. David O. Kyllo.
Save $25 per person today.
Price per ticket now through March 15 is $125.
Purchase now.
After March 15, ticket price per person will be $150.
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Fr. Petite is on the board of Bishop Anderson House and is interested in putting together an Ascension Table at the Benefit to support the ministry of Bishop Anderson. If you are interested in joining him at the Ascension Table please contact him at
petite.robert@gmail.com.
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The
Sunday Lectionary readings
,
Schedules of Acolytes, Lectors & Ushers
as well as Hymnody, Motets and Organ Voluntaries for
Sunday, March 17, 2019
may be found by clicking
here
.
The Lector's Pronunciation Guide may be found
here
.
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Please remember these people in your daily prayers
Geoffrey Wainwright, Fr. John Graham, Dorothy Murray, Mary Lou Devens, Michael Milano, Thomas Holden, Brenton Boitse, Charley Taylor, August 'Augie' Alonzo, Kenvert Samuel, Ted Long, Jim Berger, Ethel Martin, Rachel Barton Pine, Demos Kukeas, Norb Bragiel, Yuka Asai, Dean Pineda, Fred Malek, Pastor Fred Overdier,
Kristen Halvorsen, Helena Wilson, Denise Gordon, Vicki Giusti, Sr. Barbara Louise OSA, Bazelais Suy, Carnola Malone
In Thanksgiving
For Christopher Poore and Gina Franco who will be received into the Episcopal Church by Bp. Lee on March 17th
Richard Raclawski,
cousin of Mary Jane Kowalski
Lorice Coleman,
sister of Marnola Malone
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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"He drew a circle that shut me out -
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him In!"
- Edwin Markham
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Image:
Eye Candy #3
, Pen, ink and magic markers on paper, Bruce Gray
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