Christmas Eve Eucharists this year 4:00 p.m.
and 9:00 p.m.
(Carols to start at 9 pm and service to start at 9:30 pm) Christmas Day Services at regular times, 8 and 10 a.m.
 The Week's Lections: Old Testament: Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm: Psalm 96 New Testament: Gospel: Luke 2:1-14(15-20) To find these on the Lectionary Page please go to... To read our substantive sermons please click on the link below for Sermons and you will be on the home page for Ascension. Then on the lower left of the page click on "Sermons" and you will find an array of selections for the past year. |
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Christ is Born!
. . . in those days a decree went out
from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. . .
and all went to their own towns
to be registered. Luke 2:1 Many of us are on the move this week, heading to "our own towns" to visit parents or relatives. Others of us are preparing room for family or friends coming to stay with us. Thankfully, none of us are under a decree to go, but family bonds can be so strong it can feel like it. Even people who have no business traveling will attempt the journey home. A pregnant lady on a donkey, for instance.
You may see some of them out there. Hitchhikers, solo moms, people whose cars are falling apart, soldiers coming back from war. Everyone wants to go home. It is Christmas. But not everyone can. Hard words said in anger, promises broken, people died or gone. Coming home and welcoming home: both can be clumsy and complicated, even if there's plenty of room in the inn.
Christ found a home in Mary and Joseph. Christ found a home in Bethlehem of Judea. Christ found a home in the world, so that the unforgiven could be forgiven, the forgotten be remembered, and that all of us, whatever our path, might come home. |
 Happy Holidays from the Ascension staff! |
 The Annunciation
by
John William Waterhouse, 1914
(The Artwork highlighted in last week's sermon.)
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Altar Flowers
If you are interested in sponsoring altar flowers for 2012, please contact Barb Smolik at 651-275-3533 or the office at 651-439-2609 for sign-up. Get your names on the dates you wish before they fill up.
*Also, if you want special flowers for Christmas time get your orders in soon.
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Healing prayers will continue to be offered during communion during Sunday Services.
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Bringing Jon Home, the award winning memoir of Jon Francis, who was raised and nurtured here at The Church of the Ascension is now available as an electronic book on Kindle and Nook. This year, Jon's memoir was awarded:
Silver Finalist, for inspirational writing--Midwest Publisher's Association.
National Finalist, memoir category-- The National Indie Excellence Awards.
Many have been inspired and moved by Jon's memoir.
"A riveting read." -- Mary Ann Grossmann, Book Review, St. Paul Pioneer Press.
"Excellent, compelling story. Every parent should read-especially fathers." -Book Review, Midwest Publisher's Association.
Foreword by Patty Wetterling.
Available on Amazon.com and Barnes &Noble (BN.com). Author signed hard copies are still available at Valley Booksellers on North Main Street in Stillwater.
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 Fall Prevention For Older Adults
Four things YOU can do to prevent falls:
1.Begin a regular exercise program.
Exercise is one of the most important ways to lower your chances of falling. It makes you stronger and helps you feel better. Exercises that improve balance and coordination (like Tai Chi and yoga) are the most helpful. Lack of exercise leads to weakness and increases your chance of falling. Ask your doctor about the best type of exercise program for you.
2.Have your health care provider review your medicines.
Have your doctor or pharmacist review all the medicines you take, even over-the-counter medicines. As you get older, the way medicines work in your body can change. Some medicines, or combinations of medicines, can make you sleepy or dizzy and can cause you to fall.
3.Have your vision checked.
Have your eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year. You may be wearing the wrong glasses or have a condition like glaucoma or cataracts that limits your vision. Poor vision can increase your chances of falling.
4.Make your home safer.
About half of all falls happen at home. To make your home safer:
- Remove things you can trip over (like papers, books, clothes and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk.
- Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping.
- Keep items you use often in cabinets you can reach easily without using a step stool.
- Have grab bars put in next to your toilet and in the tub or shower. Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors.
- Improve the lighting in your home. As you get older, you need brighter lights to see well. Hang light-weight curtains or shades to reduce glare. Have handrails and lights put in on all staircases.
- Wear shoes both inside and outside the house. Avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers.
Please click on the link below for a Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults from the US Center for Disease Control:
http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/pubs/English/booklet_Eng_desktop-a.pdf
(Information from the US Center for Disease Control.)
Please contact Andrea Johnson if you would like to go over this checklist in your home: office, 651-439-2609, Ext. 17; home, 651-439-3544; or email, andrea@ae-church.org
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Only a Few Weeks Left to sign up!
Please consider offering your skills and gifts to make a difference at Ascension by serving on the Vestry. Contact any of the Vestry members listed below, or any of the Nomination committee members: Michelle Truman, Susie Danielson or Vicki Kramer for nomination forms or more information.
The following positions are open for January 2012:
* Senior Warden - one year term
* Junior Warden - one year term
* (3) Vestry Members - three year term
* Treasurer - one year term
Current Vestry members are Linda Amrein, Steve Smith, Christina Arndt, Bob Bilyk, Nate Gerard, Tim Schmolke, Jen Truman, Sally Giese, Duane Arndt, Amy Krumenacker, Barb Toren, Tom Austin and Katie Keller, secretary.
Fr. Buff, Senior Warden Linda Amrein or Junior Warden Steve Smith are available for any questions you may have.
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Sermons
We've had some great sermons lately. To check them out in a written format click on Sermons to the left under Ministry Quicklinks and go to 'Sermons' on the Home page. Then click on the Sermon you are interested in.
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Yoga Devotion Resumes Classes
YogaDevotion classes resume on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
beginning 1/3/12 and running for eight weeks
through Tuesday 3/6/12.
There will continue to be free child care offered.
Cost for the eight-week session is $55.
YogaDevotion requires at least ten people signed up and paid by 1/1/12 in order to run the 8 week session that begins 1/3/12. Please write your check to Ascension Episcopal Church, with "Yoga" in the memo line, and put it in one of the brown envelopes marked "Yoga" which can be found both in my mailbox outside the Parish Hall kitchen and at the church office in Manwaring; or mail your check to the church, "Attn, Parish Nurse." For people who sign up after the first class, YogaDevotion's fee remains $55. If ten people sign up for the 8 week session, there is then the option to sign up for a half-session, either the first four classes or the last four in the session, at a cost of $27.50. Andrea Johnson, Parish Nurse, 651-439-2609, Ext.17. |
Health Assessment
If you would like to respond to the Congregational Health Assessment, a survey that parishioners completed during Sunday services on November 6, follow this link to find the form for you to complete, anonymously if desired, and leave in the parish nurse mailbox. The information gathered will give a snapshot of health needs identified by parishioners as well as parishioners' interests for healing and wellness activities. A summary of the results of the survey will be shared back with congregation. If you have questions, please call Andrea Johnson, parish nurse, 651-439-2609, Ext. 17.
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A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY for families and individuals who want to give back without getting a case of the crazy- busys! Deliver donated food from Kowalskis to Valley Outreach (the Food Shelf) one Sunday a month (takes us just 1 1/2 - 2 hours) What's Involved Pick up food at the loading dock at Kowalskis supermarket in Stillwater (between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.) and deliver it to the food shelf on Curve Crest Blvd. just east of Cub Foods. We'll be four or five individuals or families, each taking one Sunday a month. That way, the commitment is small, the reward big, and it'll be easy to find a substitute when needed. We've been doing this with our daughter, and sometimes some of her friends as well, for about a year now and it's not only satisfying -- it's a lot of fun! Please contact Mark or Amy Schwantes if interested. We'll be happy to tell you more about it. Home: 651-439-1420 or Mark's Cell: 612-910-2814 |
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Ready for Success programs urgently need winter coats
Ready for Success Women's and Men's Programs are in urgent need of winter coats! Help to keep their clients warm while looking for work by donating winter coats for men and women of all sizes. Larger sizes are especially needed. Drop off winter coats at Manwaring with Cindy or Nance. |
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Lillian Hunt Trasher
(27 September 1887-17 December 1961)
was a Christian missionary to Assiout, Egypt, as well as the founder of the first orphanage in Egypt, famed as the "Nile Mother" of Egypt.
Trasher was born in Florida, and grew up in Georgia. She followed Roman Catholicism as a young girl. In her teens, through Bible reading and Bible studies at a friend's house, she chose to make a personal commitment of her life to Jesus Christ.
While still in her late teens, Trasher attended Bible college for one term, and then worked at an orphanage in North Carolina. She received the infilling of the Holy Spirit at a second Bible school in South Carolina, and pastored a Pentecostal church. For a brief period, she traveled with an evangelist, but later returned to work again at the orphanage.
Trasher was only ten days away from her wedding date when she broke her engagement to Tom Jordan. She felt called to Africa, he didn't, and in that same year of 1910 she defied her family's wishes and sailed to Africa with less than 100 dollars in her pocket. Her sister Jennie accompanied her, and was a valuable companion through decades of work overseas.
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