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March 22, 2012 Happy Spring!
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Pack the Pews.... With Donations to the Valley Outreach Food Shelf! Thank you for your great response! The total as of today for the month of March is $1,255!! This will be the last Sunday for collections during church, but donations can be brought to the church office through the end of the month. Please make your donation check to Ascension Church and put "food shelf" on the memo line. It can be dropped in Sunday's collection. Or you can bring bags of food directly to church! Please bring your donation to Church and let's PACK the PEWS! To see the items needed for the Valley Outreach Food Shelf please click here. |
Guatemala Mission Fundraiser
You can support Ascension's mission to the God's Child project in Guatemala this summer by participating in a Spring Plant sale. This will be the last week that the Guatemala team will be taking orders after both services on Sunday, March 25th. Order your spring bedding and container plants, perennials and hanging baskets. These are high-quality plants from Gerten's. Delivery in time for Mother's Day! Visit our table in the parish hall after church!
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Fall Prevention Talk for Seniors
Seleina Freimark from Washington County Public Health and Environment will offer a one-hour presentation on fall prevention Thursday, March 22 in the Parish Hall at 1:00 p.m. Pastoral care visitors Anne Gerber and Ann Martens and parish nurse Andrea Johnson are offering home visits for fall risk assessment in the remainder of March and through April. The names of those who participate in having a home risk assessment will be put into a drawing and one person will win a gift certificate from Schuler Shoes. If you would like a home risk assessment for fall prevention, please call Andrea Johnson, 651-439-3544. |
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Ascension Phone Bank
The phone bank about the reality of the marriage amendment originally scheduled for tonight on March 22nd from 6 - 9 pm in our parish hall will be postponed. It will be rescheduled at a later date.
There is another organization called Minnesota United for all Families and they have many nights dedicated for phone banks. For a schedule of when the next one is please go to: mnunited.org/ and find out when they will be. Please come and participate and learn how you can be a part of this dynamic conversation.
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 Are you interested in Prayer?
We will be having our first Contemplative Prayer meeting this coming Saturday on the 24th. If interested please contact John or Louis Welshons @ jonlos@aol.com |
Lending a Hand Up -
ECS Supportive Housing Program 2012
We had a wonderful first meeting and are thankful for the response to this initiative. We'll keep you posted as our program develops!
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March Sunday School Rotation
We are finishing up our Rotation called "This is my body" and we will finish with a set up of the Last Sunday Supper and some Foot Washing. Rev. Buff will be talking to the 5th and 6th Graders about setting the table for Eucharist while the younger ones will learn about why Jesus washed his friend's feet.
The following week, Sunday, April 1st is Palm Sunday and we will all meet up in children's Chapel and discuss everything that will happen for Holy Week. Parents are invited to all classes.
o Holy Week Schedule: Nursery Open for all services
- Tues. 4/3, Healing Service, 7 - 8 pm
- Wed. 4/4, Tenebrae, 7 - 8 pm
- Thurs. 4/5, Maundy Thursday, 7 - 8 pm
- All Night Vigil
- Fri. 4/6, Children's Stations of the Cross 10 am
- Stations of the Cross 6 - 7 pm
- Good Friday service 7 - 8 pm
- Sat. 4/7, Easter Vigil, 8 - 9 pm
Easter Sunday, Services at 9 and 11 am,
with a Children's Easter Egg Hunt at 10 am!
There is No Sunday school on Easter Sunday.
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T'ai Chi Ch'uan Yang Style Short Form
new class began on TuesdayMarch 20, 2:00 - 3:15 pm
in the Parish Hall
This traditional form of Chinese exercise and relaxation
is for seniors and all ages. This is an 8 week class.According to the Mayo Clinic, the benefits of Tai Chi include reducing stress, anxiety and depression; improving balance, flexibility and muscle strength; reducing falls in older adults; improving sleep quality; lowering blood pressure; improving cardiovascular fitness in older adults; relieving chronic pain; increasing energy; endurance and agility; and improving overall feelings of well being.
Cost for this 8 week session is $55,
and $40 for those under 16. Allan LaValier has been practicing Tai Chi since 1993.
For questions, call Allan LaValier 351-0539
or Andrea Johnson 439-3544.
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Holy Week Schedule: Nursery Open for all services
Tuesday April 3,
Healing Service, 7 -8 pm
Wednesday April 4,
Tenebrae, 7 - 8 pm
Thursday April 5,
Maundy Thursday, 7 - 8 pm
All Night Vigil in the Chapel
Friday April 6,
Children's Stations of the Cross, 10 am
Stations of the Cross, 6 - 7 pm
Good Friday service, 7 - 8 pm
Saturday April 7,
Easter Vigil, 8 - 9 pm
Sunday April 8,
Easter Sunday,
Services at 9 and 11 am.
Children's Easter Egg Hunt at 10 am
There is No Sunday school on Easter Sunday.
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Final Youth Blast for the Year!
Are final youth blast is coming up next Sunday, April 1st in at St. John's the Evangelist in St. Paul. The hosts for this Blast is Bishop Prior, St. Mary's Episcopal Church and Ascension. It begins at 1:00 and will go until 5:00pm. The topic for this final Blast is You, the church, Your Life and how is all comes together. Bishop Prior will be teaching some Gifts Discernment, Rev. LeeAnne will be teaching church leadership and I will be tying up everything that we have done this year. It also will be run by the youth from Ascension, St. Mary's and St. John's and if you were there at the last one, you won't want to miss this one.
I am looking for adults to help with food for this Blast. If you are interested in helping with that, please email me at mindy@aechurch.org
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 People in the News
Melissa McElin: Melissa is in our 7th grade youth group and goes to Stillwater Middle School. She plays hockey on an all boys Peewee Hockey team and they have just won the District 2 Championship.
Avree Rich: Avree is in the 5th grade at Lake Elmo and swims with a Stillwater Club. She has just won a medal while doing the breast stroke and had her personal best time.
Jake Doneux: Jake has been picked by me and his peers to be in a Leadership position for this upcoming Teens Encounter Christ Weekend.
Katy Schmolke: Katy will be the Conference Room Leader for this upcoming TEC. This is the highest position you can have for TEC and I couldn't be prouder of her.
Jim & Mary Huber: Celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at Church on Sunday, March 18th, surrounded by all of their children and Grand-children.
Heather & Marty Foote: Welcome a baby boy named Oliver into our community. Oliver is welcomed home by his brothers Charlie & George.
If you have news about your family that you would like to share with Ascension, please send Mindy an email at
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Special Easter
author presentation
Life after Death
Featuring David Francis,
father of Jon Francis and
co-founder of the
Jon Francis Foundation
Tuesday, April 10
7 - 8:30 pm
Garden Room
at Trinity Lutheran Church
in Stillwater
David will talk about his journey into the darkness of grief and hopelessness and his discovery of life after death. David will read sections of Bringing Jon Home, an award winning, inspirational memoir about his son, Jon, to vividly describe his unique yet universal experience. |
 I was homeless...
More than 13,000 Minnesotans are homeless on any given night, including nearly 4.000 children. (Source: Wilder Foundation)
Half of homeless children are 5 years old or younger. (Source: Wilder Foundation)
... and you built me a house.
Volunteers across Minnesota will work with ECS' EpiscoBuilders to build two houses - one in Brooklyn Park and the other in White Earth. This ambitious goal will require many individuals to donate their time, talents, and to help raise the funds it takes - around $125,000.
Youth volunteers 14 yrs and up from Ascension in Stillwater and St. Mark's Cathedral in Minneapolis will work together with ECS' EpiscoBuilders to help build a house in White Earth, MN June 24 - June 28, 2012.
If you would like to participate in this mission experience please fill out the sign up form and return to Mindy by Sunday, April 16 with a $40 deposit. Trip includes transportation, gas, food, lodging, hard work and community. Total cost is $80.
Additional donations to Mission 2012 for the building of the house are needed and appreciated.
Please see Mindy for a sign up form.
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Senior Health and Faith Day takes place on Tuesday, April 17, from 8:00 am - 12:30 pm at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Stillwater. This year's theme is "Heart and Soul" featuring keynote speaker Dr. Brandi Witt, Lakeview cardiologist. As in other years, there will be community resource tables to visit and complimentary continental breakfast and lunch. Please call Andrea Johnson if you plan to attend: 651-439-3544.
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Vacation Bible School and Mission Trip Dates
To see all the fun trips Mindy has planned for the youth this summer, please click here.
Email Mindy with any questions, mindy@aechurch.org
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 We now have a Twitter account, @aechurchmn. If you would like to keep visitors to our website informed on what you are doing at Church, use hashtag #aechurchmn and your tweet will show on the new homepage. |
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Second Annual Bishop's Family Day
"Walking the Liturgical Calendar"
Saturday, April 21
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
This day of fun and learning will: - offer an intergenerational experience, building community among the Episcopal Church in Minnesota
- connect church and home lives in new ways
- provide Bishop Brian and our families a chance to spend time together
- include opportunities for Grandparents, Godparents and all interested adults
Throughout the day there will be a time for families together to "walk the liturgical calendar", and there will be time for adults and children to have individual experiences, coming back together for a closing Eucharist. The opportunities this day will be most appropriate for children 5th grade and younger; children 6th grade and older are welcomed and encouraged to register as program assistants. Childcare will be available for children ages 3 and younger. Bishop Brian will lead off the first workshop at 10:30 a.m., and will send us out into the world with Eucharist at 2:15 p.m. Registration is online at www.episcopalmn.org with a fee of $5 per person or $15 per family. Please contact Mindy Boynton with any questions. |
Changes for the Church Directory:
Please update your directory with the following address changes.
Sally Caldwell 5590 Nolan Parkway, Apt. #220 Oak Park Heights, MN. 55082 Same phone and e-mail Ann Mercer 859 Osceola Ave. St. Paul, MN. 55105 Same phone and e-mail. |
Ascension youth group rummage sale
Saturday, June 2nd
9 am- 5 pm at Manwaring House
Clean out your basement, garage and bedrooms, and donate to the Ascension Youth Group. We are raising money to go up to the White Earth Indian Reservation in June to build a house.
Drop off your items anytime up at Manwaring.
Questions? call Mindy 651-439-2609.
** No computers, beds, mattresses,
microwaves or TV's please. Thanks! ** |
Health Insurance Consults
My name is Ann Martens. My husband and I joined Ascension in August of 2011. Our daughters Anne Gerber (husband Dan, children Ada and Hazel) and Alena Tardiff (husband Chris) are active members in the church.
I am offering my assistance to those in need of understanding their health care benefits and coverage. Terminology and processes with health insurance can be very confusing and hard to navigate. I have several years' experience in the health insurance industry. Many people believe they have an understanding of their policy and then the unexpected bills arrive.
Please see the sign-up sheet in the church library or call parish nurse Andrea Johnson (651-439-3544) or parish administrator Nance Anders (651-439-2609) if interested in consulting with me.
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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.
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 Oscar Romero Archbishop Of San Salvador, and the Martyrs of El Salvador (24 March 1980) Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (August 15, 1917 - March 24, 1980), commonly known as Monseñor Romero, was a priest of the Roman Catholic Church in El Salvador. He later became prelate archbishop of San Salvador. As an archbishop, he witnessed numerous violations of human rights and began a ministry speaking out on behalf of the poor and victims of the country's civil war. His brand of political activism was denounced by the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church and the government of El Salvador. In 1980, he was assassinated by gunshot while consecrating the Eucharist during mass. His death finally provoked international outcry for human rights reform in El Salvador. In 1997, a cause for beatification and canonization into sainthood was opened for Romero and Pope John Paul II bestowed upon him the title of Servant of God. The process continues. He is considered the unofficial patron saint of the Americas and El Salvador and is often referred to as "San Romero" in El Salvador. Outside of Catholicism Romero is honored by other religious denominations of Christendom, like the Church of England through its Common Worship. He is one of the ten 20th-century martyrs from across the world who are depicted in statues above the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey, London.
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Ongoing Events
 Our Community KitchenTuesday and Thursday mornings 7 - 10 am @ Ascension's Kitchen and Fellowship Hall.
Come and meet your community and have a delicious breakfast!
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Ascension Episcopal Church
E-Newsletter CommunicationsLynn Raarup To submit an article or question please e-mail me at: enews@aechurch.org 651-439-2609 |
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