Category: Newsletter

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

From Mother Posey: “The Psalmist this week speaks so eloquently to where we are now. One of the best things about the Psalms is that they offer us both a place to take our anger, frustration, rage, impatience, and sorrow, and also a place to find comfort and solace. God is always present, even when we struggle to hear her voice.” Also: starting this week and continuing through September 4, our Sunday morning service is at 10 am. The Sunday evening service of Meditation & Sacrament will continue at 6 pm.

This week, Ascension its hosts its water table out on Fifth Avenue for the marchers (and more than a few spectators) of the annual New York City PRIDE March. And starting next week, Sunday, July 3, through Sunday, September 4, Ascension will have only one Sunday morning service which will be at 10 am in the church. We will not move into the parish hall this year. This is so we can still include those who worship with us via livestream and be at least a little cooler in the hot months. We also look forward to the opportunity to bring folks who worship at 11 together with those who normally attend the 9 am, as well as continuing our outdoor coffee hours in our summer garden.

The Gift

Be still, my soul, and steadfast.
Earth and heaven both are still watching
though time is draining from the clock
and your walk, that was confident and quick,
has become slow.
 
So, be slow if you must, but let
the heart still play its true part.
Love still as once you loved, deeply
and without patience. Let God and the world
know you are grateful.
That the gift has been given.

In this week’s newsletter: Reflections on the continuing violence and division in our world, in the hope that God’s love poured in our hearts is the first stage in the remaking of that world. Also: news about this summer’s schedule of services (spoiler: Sunday morning services will be at 10 a.m. from July 3 through September 4); a call for sorely needed Food Pantry volunteers; and other news and announcements and ways to participate.

In this week’s newsletter: The rector’s prayer of blessing and an invocation of the Holy Spirit for Pentecost. Also: upcoming schedule changes for Sunday morning services in July and August; information about the rector’s sabbatical, June 6 through July 5; news about the next meeting of the Women’s Spirituality Group; and our deadline to help the Episcopalians in Martel, Haiti, with musical instruments and equipment for their worship is this week, so please give today if you can. Just select “NY Haiti Project” as the fund in the contribution form…and thank you!

This week: What we can do to help bring about God’s reign of peace, despite our fear, anger and revulsion at the slaughter of children and teachers in Uvalde, Texas. Also: news about our friend, former parishioner and (recent) seminary grad Stacey Carpenter’s new call to parish ministry in Delaware; an urgent appeal from our friends in Haiti specifically for Ascension parishioners and friends; and other news.

In this week’s newsletter: news about upcoming clergy sabbaticals 🙏 , the bishop’s visit this Thursday for Ascension Day ⛪ , a going away party for one of our long-time parishioners 😢 , and news about our friend, former parishioner and (recent) seminary grad Stacey Carpenter’s new call to parish ministry in Delaware 👍 .

This week: We welcome our friend Fr. Sam Owen, Priest-in-Charge of the Haitian Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan, as our guest preacher. Following the service, he will share news of the New York Haiti Project in a forum. Join us — in-person* or online!

In this newsletter: The rector explains her new headgear; news about an upcoming visit from our friend, the Rev. Sam Owen, to give us an update on the New York Haiti Project’s efforts in Martel and how we can help the congregation there with their worship music; and news of other upcoming gatherings for Resistance Cinema, the Women’s Spirituality Group, and more.