Latest News – Page 3 – The Church of the Ascension in the City of New York

Father Ed explores the viral trend of people (especially men) frequently thinking about the Roman Empire, then reveals his own: God. The Roman Empire references in Luke’s gospel first connected him to God’s presence in human history. With Sunday’s scriptures focusing on reconciliation (Joseph, the Canaanite woman), he invites us to consider how reconciliation happens at ground level, guided by the Spirit, and asks: What’s your Roman Empire?

Father Ed shares his deepened meditation practice from July, describing how simply abiding—being present without judgment—becomes a place of refuge and peace. While this personal solace is valuable, he emphasizes the greater intention of cultivating universal compassion and equalizing self with others. He invites us to reflect on our own refuge and how faith deepens our practice of loving-kindness.

Mother Liz shares Joseph Fasano’s poem on soul nourishment as she heads on vacation. The poem teaches that our souls need exposure to nature, beauty, holiness, and connection—that they require tending through rest, reading, and attention to what has been forgotten. It reminds us to, from time to time, let our soul kneel “in a place that is holy like the simple cathedral of the willows.”

This week, the rector reflects on Paul’s affirmation that nothing—death, hardship, corruption, violence, or our own failings—can separate us from God’s love in Christ. She explores how the Spirit sustains us in our weakness, interceding with sighs too deep for words. She invites us to consider how we might live differently if we truly believed this conviction shapes not only our ultimate fate but our daily struggles.

A parishioner’s reflection on Psalm 39 sparked a lively conversation about favorite psalms at Evening Prayer recently. Mother Liz shares her own favorite, Psalm 139, which moves her with its affirmation of God’s intimate knowledge and presence everywhere—comfort and challenge during suffering. She reflects on how these ancient prayers/poems can be lifelong companions across millennia, joining us with others who have prayed them. She invites us to find our own favorites.