Throughout its history, the Church of the Ascension has worked to serve Christ by serving God’s people, meeting them where they are with what they need that we can give, advocating for those who need our voice — and striving to listen when other voices need to be heard. In each generation — from running a day school and providing food and clothing for children in the notorious Five Points neighborhood of the mid-1800s to providing groceries for people in need during the recent pandemic — Ascension’s mission has evolved, expanded, contracted and grown again as we continually try to discern what of God’s work is ours to do. These are just a few of the ways we engage ourselves with our community.
In response to increasing food insecurity among vulnerable populations in New York City during cutbacks in federal and state budgets, the Ascension Food Pantry began distributing groceries to people in need in 1982. While the demographics of the people needing food assistance at our doors has changed over the years — in recent years, more than 90% of recipients self-identify as monolingual in Chinese — the need continues 40 years later. Ascension Outreach Inc., a separate 501(3)c nonprofit established to accept government and foundation grants with fewer obstacles than an religious institution may encounter, is under the direction of our associate rector, with the Food Pantry its primary mission. Every week, over 100 people receive groceries at our door and, with the addition of commercial refrigeration and freezer units, we are able to supply more and better fresh produce, dairy, and frozen chicken, fish and beef.
Our support of the New York Haiti Project feels more important than ever, given the ravages of earthquakes, hurricanes, civil unrest and political violence visited upon the Episcopal Church’s Diocese of Haiti in recent years. In addition to making financial contributions, our parish stays in touch with the project’s director, the Rev. Sam Owen, pastor of the Haitian Congregation of the Good Samaritan in New York, to understand and pray for the needs of our beloved sisters and brothers in Martel, Haiti.
The most recent earthquake in mid-August 2021 damaged the church and school of St. Luke’s, pictured here, but it can be repaired. Thankfully, there were no reports of people being injured or killed in Martel. Father Phanord, Martel’s spiritual leader, manages to remain hopeful and faithfully instills that hope in the people of Martel. “Bondye konn tout bagay, nou la,” he says. “God knows everything, we are here.”
From Father Owen: “Please continue to pray, and give. Please give through Zelle, to haitiangoodsam@gmail.com. Or you can mail a check if you prefer, to The Haitian Church of the Good Samaritan, 1858 Hunt Avenue, Bronx, NY 10462.”
Happy Pride! Ascension has a front-row seat for New York’s annual Pride March the last Sunday in June…but we don’t spend much time sitting! For nearly 40 years, we have served water — with our signature twist of lemon — to the participants, who are often thirsty and grateful to see us right before they turn onto the last leg of the march route. The witness of a church serving a group of people historically marginalized by churches can be an emotional moment for some marchers whose own churches of origin may have hurt and injured them, often with parental collaboration. Mostly however it’s a day for friendly celebration and joyous service. After all, it’s just a cup of water. Except, as Jesus points out, when it isn’t.
And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.
—Matthew 10:42
Another project of Ascension Outreach is a collaboration with Resistance Cinema, which screens documentaries on pertinent, current issues in the world, the country, and New York City, and fosters discussion following the screenings, sometimes led by the directors, writers or producers of the project. Most screenings take place in the church or the parish hall or, in the event of pandemics, online via Zoom.
As the needs and issues change, so too does our parish’s engagement with the world. These have most recently included reading and discussion groups around burning issues like racial justice, equity, and reparations; coordinating parishioners’ involvement in marches or protests for gun safety and against police violence; advocating for people threatened with deportation; and many more. We welcome and even encourage involvement in any of these important opportunities by both Ascension parishioners and nonparishioners.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
—Matthew 9:36-38
