It was a sunny Thursday morning when I set out to Tatyana’s cleaner with my stuffed yellow laundry bag. One block from the store I felt a sudden sharp twinge in my left foot — and could not put any pressure on it. Not quite sure how I walked back home (it seemed like an hour to walk four city blocks) but I sensed something inside my foot was awry.
As young children, we learn about Lenten fasting as the discipline of “giving something up” for forty days, preferably something we love so as to make the sacrifice that much more of a challenge and, thus, more meaningful. As we mature however, we begin to appreciate fasting in a deeper, more all-encompassing way.
“Who do the crowds say that I am? But who do you say that I am?” These are explicit, challenging questions. Jesus asks these pointed questions to those around him — notably — after “praying alone,” according to today’s account in Luke. Yet his disciples are within earshot. They appear surprised by the first question and stunned by the second.
For many years, I have felt the season of Lent as a call back into darkness. I can’t help but feel a little lost, even when the call is clear. Even when offered such a clear message like what we hear in Joel and Matthew today: Be pious and steadfast in prayer. It is a simply stated command, but why is it so hard?
Last Sunday our Rector, The Rev. Elizabeth G. Maxwell, delivered a wise and insightful sermon placing the scripture of the day, and our parish life, in the national context. You can listen to her sermon with this link. Please join us anytime Sunday through Friday for sermons, homilies, fellowship and prayer. Everyone is welcome here! Her closing remarks were as follows: “This is a
The Rt. Rev. Andrew M.L. Dietsche has invited and urges all to join him this afternoon, February 1, together with Bishops Shin and Glasspool from our diocese and Bishops Provenzano, Wolf and Allotey of Long Island, to bear witness to our Christian values and faith in the face of the discriminatory executive order regarding refugees signed last Friday by President Trump. There will be
This Sunday, January 29, 2017, in accordance with the Religious Corporations Law of the State of New York, we will hold the Annual Meeting of The Church of the Ascension in the City of New York. The meeting will take place immediately following the 11 a.m. service for the purpose of electing a Warden for a term of two years, four Vestry members to
On the evening of January 6, 2017 the entrance to The Church of the Ascension was highlighted by costumed and lighted stilt walkers, jugglers, the Rector, the welcome committee of the capital campaign and many others. Here is a link to our parish Flickr page with photos of the evening. Neighbors, passers-by, curious New Yorkers and parishioners were entertained by performers inside and outside
On January 6, 2017, Friday evening, everyone is invited to the Festival of Light celebration from 5:00 – 7:30 pm. In addition to the lighting of the church, there will be live circus performers, a reception with live music, refreshment sweets and treats and tours of our historic 175+ year old church. This is an open house for all and our Epiphany celebration, also
