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

Last night's eBulletin did not include Mother Liz's introductory letter. This version does... just below the poem.

Mark 3:34-5 "... looking at those who sat around him, [Jesus] said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

Expanding the Love

I pray for those who hurt, but never say so –

when they must live with wider love.

There's a four-year-old,

standing in the circle's perimeter

while others gaze with new baby joy,

and a small quiet family at a wedding,

encountering the boisterous welcome

of so-very-many new in-laws,

Then there is sharing

grandparenting across styles,

and after some couples' divorce

and re-marriage,

learning how to dance as eight.

There is hearing,

"Hello, I am the birth mother,

hoping to connect with my child,"

or, "good to meet you;

I'm your widowed father's new partner."

And also, there is a re-familying,

in meeting assisted living caregivers,

to discover their lives,

their happiness or loss,

their children's broken arms and triumphs,

are now more important

than any biological bonds.

"Keep the story," I imagine Jesus said,

"this theology of wide mercy, love, grace,

across the boundaries

people love to build, will be a gift,

but also keep it to show

all the Moms and brothers to come,

bravely smiling in the courtyard,

that they are loved with a love

that will never be replaced."

- Maren Tirabassi

Dear People of Ascension,

I was touched to read this poetic commentary on this Sunday’s gospel. It speaks so insightfully of both the difficulties and gifts of our closest relationships, and the challenge of opening our hearts when, as Tirabassi says, we must learn to “live with wider love.” It seems very true to my experience of struggling to understand and make myself understood with people I love dearly.

As we begin this Pride month, the passage and the poem also remind me of how many different ways people make family. Surely “doing the will of God” as Jesus speaks of it includes being proudly, bravely and lovingly who we are; rejoicing in the full rainbow of God’s beloved creation and doing the hard work of reaching across “the boundaries people love to build” with the wideness of God’s mercy, curiosity and delight. 

Happy Pride, Beloveds! May our hearts stretch in all the most exquisite ways.

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.

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.

Special Coffee Hour to Bid Farewell to Mother Posey, June 16. Please join us on June 16th, immediately following the service for a special farewell coffee hour for Mother Posey. If you would like to help with the event, please contact Fr. Ed, David Cholcher, or Matt Vermedahl.

Prayer Service for the Holy Land- This Saturday, June 8 at 11:30 am, Ascension will host an ecumenical service of prayer for peace in the Holy Land. Our preacher will be the Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, pastor of the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, joining us remotely. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear a powerful Palestinian Christian voice directly! We will welcome colleagues from the Lutheran Church (ELCA), Churches for Middle East Peace, Riverside Church, and others- as well as special music from the oud player of the Armenian band Armadi Tsayn. All are welcome; please join in prayer for peace, justice, security and freedom for all in the land that is holy to so many.

Special Choral Concert, Monday, June 10, at 7:30 PM, the Brooklyn Outlaw Chorus will present a free concert at Church of the Ascension. Conducted by Voices of Ascension’s Artistic Administrator Wesley Chinn, the concert will feature Brahms's "Schaffe in Mir Gott," plus works by William Byrd, William Billings, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Stephen Paulus, Pete Seeger, PDQ Bach, Reena Ismail, and Marques Garret, plus world premieres of arrangements by Matthew Schickele and George Wright. No tickets needed!

Prayer Pilgrimage for the People of Palestine and Israel, Next Saturday, June 15, from 9am to noon. Our friends at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church are sponsoring a walk from Columbus Circle to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine to pray and call for:

• An immediate and enduring ceasefire. 
• Immediate flow of life saving humanitarian assistance. 
• Release of all hostages, both Israeli and Palestinian. 
• End of the occupation. 

All are welcome!

For links and more information, and to RSVP (which they ask you to do) please click here.

Evensong to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women, Sunday June 16 at 4 p.m.: Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Join the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and the Diocese of New York for a special evensong to commemorate the 50th anniversary of women’s ordination to the priesthood, and celebrate the ministry we all share as disciples. Click here for more information.

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!

Our pantry program needs volunteers!

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

Upcoming dates:

June 15, July 6 & 20, August 3 & 17

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!

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.

Sunday – June 9

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

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

Monday – June 10

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. (Contact Sibyl Piccone at srpiccone@yahoo.com for more information.)

Tuesday – June 11

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

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

Wednesday – June 12

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.

Needlecraft Guild (Rear Parlor) 6:30 p.m.

Thursday – June 13

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

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

Friday – June 14

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

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

Saturday – June 15

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

The Food Pantry normally operates on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. For July, the pantry will operate the 2nd and 4th Saturday. For assistance or to volunteer, please contact Fr. Ed (fatherchinery @ascensionyc.org).

Sunday – June 16

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)

Special Celebration for Mtr. Posey following the 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!