On March 7 at 10:30am, Stephen Hagerty Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Installation of Our New Rector on May 13th (evening). Be sure to mark your calendars as we celebrate the installation of the Rev. Elizabeth G. Maxwell as the 12th Rector of The Church of the Ascension.
Listen to the sermon preached by the Rev. Liz Maxwell on the First Sunday after Epiphany, January 11, 2026.
This week, Mother Liz reflects on the Epiphany story’s blend of wonder and peril: the Magi’s awe-filled journey guided by a star, set against Herod’s fear-driven violence. She connects this ancient “realpolitik” to our own moment, naming contemporary acts of state violence and the ongoing harm to immigrant communities. Epiphany’s revealing light exposes both the world’s cruelty and God’s vulnerable, self-giving love. In that light, we are asked to choose what kind of power claims our allegiance—and to seek courage, compassion, and solidarity with our most vulnerable neighbors as we build beloved community together.