This week, the associate rector, Fr. Ed Chinery, reflects on some of Jesus’ favorite themes in the gospels: “Take, for example, the brilliance of the light of God and how right and good it is to simply abide in it rather than having to jump up and fix. (Listen to him!) There may be something even better for you in the abiding and listening! Or what it means to recognize all the influencing factors of your upbringing and the present culture – how choppy such spiritual seas can become – and how keeping your focus on what God might be saying (Listen!) really does have the power to help you rise above the fray.” Also this week: our 20s/30s group gathers on Thursday, August 24, for fun, food and conversation.

In this week’s newsletter, Mother Posey previews the discussion and activity at this Sunday’s Forum following the 10 am service: “We will learn about and contribute to a diocesan wide, large scale art installation that will be shown at the Cathedral in the fall. The project is titled Divine Pathways, and the artist is Anne Patterson. The image included here is of a recent installation of hers in Tysons, Virginia. Patterson will be hanging over 1000 ribbons, in a rainbow of colors, at the Cathedral of St John the Divine. Each ribbon will have a prayer written on it.” Join us!

The rector, preparing for her sabbatical from August 6 through November 1, writes: “I am so grateful to everyone who is making it possible for me to have this time of ‘listening to what (my) heart would love to say.’ I know it will be a wonderful fall at Ascension; many exciting things are planned, and I will be eager to hear about them when I return.” And among the first events planned is this month’s “Second Wednesday” barbecue on August 9, after the 6 pm service. Bring a side or dessert to share; we’ll provide the meat or vegetarian items to grill in the back garden and then we’ll all eat in the front garden.

In this week’s newsletter, the rector discusses this Sunday’s gospel lesson, in which Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed, yeast, a treasure hidden in a field (see the painting above, by either Rembrandt or Gerrit Dou), a “pearl of great value,” and a fishing net, full of its catch: “I love the message that God is at work in ways that we do not control but can trust, collaborate with and be attentive to,” she writes. Also this week: “People Who Lunch,” Wednesday, August 3 at 12:30 pm.