The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost
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From a series of 39 woodcuts
titled
Dance of Death
, this one,
The Preacher
, date unknown,
by Hans Holbein, ca. 1497-1543,
now in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
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8:00 a.m. Low Mass (Rite I)
N
ursery available, 8:45 a.m.
9:00 a.m. Sung Mass
11:00 a.m.
Solemn High Mass
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This Week at Ascension + November 6, 2019
IN THIS NEWSLETTER
Why Ascension?
From the Rector
Sharing Lunch, Sharing Blessings
Our Ascension Nursery
Upcoming Mass Commemoration
This Sunday at Ascension
The Parish Prayer List
Approved Vestry Minutes Online
The Last Word
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Robert Rarick
Worshiping and Serving at Ascension since 2017
Why Ascension
?
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| Bob Rarick in the Ascension kitchen, a co-captain of the 2018 Thanksgiving Community Meal |
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After moving part time to Chicago, I wanted a church that was in walking distance. I stumbled upon Ascension on one of my walks. The first week I attended, Fr. Raymond was at the back of the church greeting everyone as they left. He asked my name; not unusual. The second week he referred to me by name; often unusual. For me there are two types of churches: those with congregations and those with church families. Fr. Raymond's greeting and all of the interactions I have had with everyone makes Ascension a place with a church family and a place I want to be part of my life.
In addition to pledging what are the ways that I give back to the parish
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Pledging "my" treasure is the easy part. After the discussions with myself about my relationship with money and my relationship with Jesus, I settle on a figure and simply write a weekly check. The time and talent are the challenging parts.
I serve as a lector and fill-in usher, help with the food pantry and Thanksgiving dinner, and lately have tried to pitch in with getting the coffee started for after the 9:00 a.m. Mass. I still have a way to go on the journey of stepping up with the offering of my time and talents, rather than waiting to be asked, when I know there is a need.
Dear People of Ascension,
How did YOU first find Church of the Ascension and what keeps you coming back? What are the ways that you might be able to contribute to the life of the parish going forward? As was mentioned in the stewardship letter we mailed to you last week, pledging of time, talent, and treasure represents a spiritual discipline and a response to God in thanksgiving for all of our blessings. It is also a way of showing your commitment to the witness that
Church of the Ascension bears to our neighborhood and the world. We hope that you will
make your commitment known by filling out and returning the pledge card that was included in our letter.
In thanksgiving for all of you,
David Reeves and Gary Alexander, Stewardship Co-Chairs
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 Coffee Hour Colloquia: Preaching
"People have an idea that the preacher is an actor
on a stage and they are the critics, blaming or praising him.
What they don't know is that they are the actors on the stage;
he (the preacher) is merely the prompter standing in the wings,
reminding them of their lost lines."
- Søren Kierkegaard
Dear people of Ascension,
Preaching is one of the most beguiling features of my ministry. I imagine myself to be on fire, only to look out on a sea of blank faces. Other times I'm sure I've belly-flopped, only to be rushed by someone at the door: "God was speaking directly to me!" Go figure.
Preaching is or can be, and may or may not be, theological, biblical, intellectual, personal, educational, revelatory or misleading, inspiring or vapid, prophetic or comforting. A sermon's message per se takes off or misfires, is amplified or diminished, distorted or fine-tuned by context, tone, relationships, timing and expectations of the listener. And may I add the inscrutable movement, upon either or both preacher and recipient, of the Holy Spirit?
 This coming Sunday, October 10, seminarian David Knox will lead a mini-colloquium on preaching in Wheeler Hall following the masses at both 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. He'll begin with some remarks: How to Listen to a Sermon. Then he and I and any other clergy who are present will welcome your thoughts or questions specific to preaching.
One caveat: due to the luck of the draw, Fr. Petite will be preaching on Sunday. Poor guy. To the extent you may use his message as a positive illustration, fine. But our focal point in conversation Sunday will rightly be on our ministry of preaching in general rather than Sunday's singular message.
I particularly look forward to your thoughts and questions, hoping they may enrich our preaching in ways that will better encourage and enrich your lives and faith.
PRaymond@ascensionchicago.org |
Our farewell to Bishop James W. Montgomery this past weekend
was solemn and faithful and marked by surprises and moments of joy. Photos: Spanning the sanctuary for the Offertory at Monday's Requiem at St. James' Cathedral were (l. to r.) Fr. John David Van Dooren, now Rector of Church of the Transfiguration, New York City; Mthr. Erika Takacs, Church of the Atonement, Chicago (Bishop Montgomery's home parish during the past decade); the Paschal Candle; Mthr. Anna Broadbent, St. James' Cathedral; the Most Rev. Frank Griswold III, X Bishop of Chicago and XXV Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church; the Rev. Deacon Sue Nebel; Bp. Jeffrey Lee, XII Bishop of Chicago (Celebrant); Bp. William Persell, XI Bishop of Chicago; the Very Rev. Dominic Barrington, Dean, St. James' Cathedral; and the Rev. Stephen McWhorter (Diocese of Alabama), Preacher. Other images above, clockwise: Bishop Mongtomery addresses and is cheered by the 2017 Diocese of Chicago Convention, his last; Fr. Edwin 'Gregory' Norris, Ascension Rector from 1971-1993, at the Sunday evening visitation at Church of the Atonement, Chicago; Fr. George Monroe, former Executive Director of Episcopal Charities, who joined us at Ascension for the 9:00 a.m. Sunday mass. (Fathers Norris and Monroe travelled from Dallas to be here); memorial prayers cards, of which I presently have a few left ...
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From the Sublime to the Shameless?
Monday had a peculiar arc, insofar as I returned to the parish from the Requiem at St. James' and shared in welcoming 200 cast and crew members from the Showtime series Shameless. A scene was being filmed nearby, and we were asked to use St. Michael Hall to provide dinner ... and for so doing received a generous contribution to the church. My thanks to Br. Nathanael, Sexton George Panice and Treasurer Susan Schlough, all of whom helped in various ways and roles along the way.
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 Nominations to serve as a Member or Warden on the 2020 Vestry are now being received.
We anticipate electing three Vestry members for 3-year terms and one Warden for a 2-year term. Not sure what Vestry service entails? Click here. If you are interested in being nominated or nominating another parishioner, click here to download and print the nomination form. Both of these forms are also now available at the church.
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Also from the Visitation for Bishop Montgomery
, Sunday evening, November 3, at Church of the Atonement, Chicago ... I regret that I didn't see this meaningful photo from Ascension parishioner James Baran in time to include it above but felt that it was well worth separately sharing here.
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SHARING LUNCH, SHARING BLESSINGS
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Our November gathering is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13 following the weekly mass at 12:00. Be sure to bring a hearty appetite because there will be lots of hearty food. The menu features oven-roasted beef and gravy, roasted potatoes and carrots, spinach salad, and pumpkin cake. No one will go home hungry!
The special theme for discussion will focus on "Little Moments that Matter." Our lives often seem to revolve around large events or annual celebrations that provide the major milestones for our work, our families and our faith. But there are always those smaller events/people/places/words--
sometimes totally random and frequently unexpected--that shape us and guide us. Find a little moment to share that you hope might be a blessing to other members of our group.
Questions? Contact Cheryl Peterson at 773-322-7995.
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Our nursery childcare provider, Daniela Tovar, is pictured to the left with 2 year old Michael Zelazny.
Remember that the nursery is open and available on Sunday mornings from 8:45 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. Daniela will gladly answer any questions that you may have.
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Wednesday, November 6th
Commemoration of
Elizabeth and Zechariah
(Tr.)
Parents of John the Baptist
6:10 p.m. Evening Prayer
6:30 p.m. Said Mass
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Saturday, November 9th
Saints and Martyrs of the Anglican Communion
9:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
10:00 a.m. Said Mass
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| Some 20th C. Martyrs at Westminster Abbey |
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Please remember these people in your daily prayers
Geoffrey Wainwright, Fr. John Graham, Mary Lou Devens, Michael Milano, Charley Taylor, August 'Augie' Alonzo, Ted Long, Jim Berger, Ethel Martin, Yuka Asai, Dean Pineda, Bazelais Suy, Carnola Malone, Charlene MacDougal, Pablo Illás, Doreen Finn, Monica, Donnie Richmond, Jim, Jack Johnston, Patricia Johnston, George, Joshua Simpson, Andy
Prayers for the departed
Prayers are requested for the repose of the souls of
Ben Jameson
and
Scott Socquet,
cousins of Jenna Jones
Prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of
Francisco Soto
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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A word on preaching, from Presbyterian minister Frederick Buechner. The following excerpt was taken from his 1992 book, 'Telling Secrets.' Buechner is reflecting on the academic term in 1982 during which he'd taught by invitation at Harvard Divinity School.
I HAD NEVER understood so clearly before what preaching is to me. Basically, it is to proclaim a Mystery before which, before whom, even our most exalted ideas turn to straw. It is also to proclaim this Mystery with a passion that ideas alone have little to do with. It is to try to put the Gospel into words not the way you would compose an essay but the way you would write a poem or a love letter-putting your heart into it, your own excitement, most of all your own life. It is to speak words that you hope may, by grace, be bearers not simply of new understanding but of new life both for the ones you are speaking to and also for you. Out of that life, who knows what new ideas about peace and honesty and social responsibility may come, but they are the fruits of the preaching, not the roots of it. Another Unitarian Universalist student said once that what he believed in was faith, and when I asked him faith in what, his answer was faith in faith. I don't mean to disparage him-he was doing the best he could-but it struck me that having faith in faith was as barren as being in love with love or having money that you spend only on the accumulation of more money. It struck me too that to attend a divinity school when you did not believe in divinity involved a peculiarly depressing form of bankruptcy, and there were times as I wandered through those corridors that I felt a little like Alice on the far side of the looking glass.
The Preacher
, 2000, by Ethiopian artist
Wosene Worke Kosrof (b. 1950)
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