As we celebrate the return to in-person worship and look forward to an exciting year ahead, rejoice with us by pledging your support of hope and renewal at Ascension!
This week: commissioning of Stewardship Campaign canvassers, iced tea and lemonade in the Fifth Avenue garden after church, our annual Harvest Dinner on Wednesday (to be held again via Zoom, which turned out to be a fun approach last year), and a special, spooky coffee hour for our neighbors next Sunday!
The rector writes: “Where our treasure is our hearts will be also, as Jesus said. Sometimes what we do with our treasure changes our hearts — and vice versa! How do we care for our hearts, our time, our resources of skill, education, health, privilege, support? How do we honor, preserve, use and give away what has been passed down to us?”
Also: a memorial concert with mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade; our upcoming communal-but-safe Harvest Dinner; and more!
In this week’s newsletter: a poem to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day; news about Ascension’s upcoming Harvest Dinner; an invitation to join weekly Bible study; and information about the Racial Justice Discussion Group’s next meeting to discuss Clint Smith’s How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America.
In this week’s newsletter: a poem to commemorate St. Francis of Assisi and the blessing of the animals, which we’ll be celebrating immediately following the 11 a.m. service. Also: Updates on upcoming changes for our online worshippers and the move from Zoom to Local Live for our streaming services.
In this week’s newsletter: Blessing of the Animals is next week, October 3! Also: Congratulations to parishioner Stanley Weinberg for a new article published in The Episcopal New Yorker. And information about how to help those affected by Hurricane Ida and the refugees affected by the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
In this week’s newsletter: Updates on our return to in-person 11 a.m. Eucharists (with continued access for online worshipers). Also: an introduction to Ascension’s new sexton, a preview of the next Racial Justice Discussion Group (September 23, via Zoom), and more news and updates about our parish life.
This Sunday, the 11 a.m. Eucharist will be celebrated in the church — for the first time in a year and a half! Learn more about it (including our health and safety precautions) and how you can still participate online if you are unable to join in person.
From the rector: “This Sunday, September 5, marks the last of our 11 am services to be fully online. As we transition away from Zoom church as our primary liturgical expression, I give thanks for the amazing gift of presence that I discovered there: the intimacy, simplicity and directness we have shared. I have come to know some of you much better because our faithful community has sojourned through the many phases of the pandemic together.”
This Sunday at 11 a.m., via Zoom: a homily from one of our favorite guest preachers, our own Shana Kaplanov! Followed by the beautiful anthem “O Sing Joyfully” by Adrian Batten, sung by the Ascension Choir. The choir will also lead us in singing “O Worship the King, All Glorious Above” and that great Protestant hymn (with Scottish words to a Welsh tune) “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise.”
And remember: after a long pandemic hiatus of 18 months, in-person Sunday Eucharists at 11 a.m. in the church resume in two weeks, on September 12! (You’re also welcome to join us for In-person Eucharists already taking place at 9 a.m. Sundays in the Parish Hall, 12 W. 11th St., and on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. in the church, Fifth Avenue at Tenth Street.)