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2012 Global Mission Project Sunday On Sunday April 22, we'll be celebrating and exploring our 2012 Global Mission Project: The God's Child Project in Antigua, Guatemala. God's Child staff will share during the sermon time at the 10 a.m. Eucharist about their community, it's needs, and some stories from the many who have volunteered there over the past 25 years. God's Child serves primarily orphans and indigent mothers and children. At 9:00 a.m. parishioners Bob and Mattie Rupp will be speaking in the parish hall about their experience volunteering with God's Child Project. Bob and Mattie have served for weeks at a time on seven different trips to this Guatemalan Program. In August, eleven Ascension parishioners will travel to serve with the God's Child Project. You can meet this team next Sunday (April 22) and find out how you can be part of this mission to Guatemala without leaving your home in Stillwater. In the fall of 2013, our team will tell their story to the parish and report on ongoing relationships and plans for future trips.
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Teens Encounter Christ Weekend
Here is the large group of Ascension Youth & Adults that attended the TEC that was held at St. Johns the Evangelist this past weekend.
(Back row) Joanna Schnedler, Lea Edwards, Mindy Boynton, Brian Eckholm, Nate Lottsfeldt, Lee Miller, Jake Doneux, Haley Beath, Corinne Urban (front row) Katy Schmolke, Shyam Dorn, Sammy Fusco, Erich Korth, Story Schwantes, Christof Krumenacker
On Sunday, May 13th, Sammy Fusco at the 8:00 Service and Katy Schmolke at the 10:00 service will be giving talks about the TEC experience and what it has meant to them. It was a powerful time and was 'truly like the Holy Spirit was in the room' as one participant said.
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Youth Help Build a House in White Earth
'I was homeless....and you built me a house.' More than 13,000 Minnesotans are homeless on any given night, including nearly 4,000 children. Half of these children are 5 years old or younger! Many youth volunteers 14 years and up are needed to help build a house in White Earth, MN. June 24 - 28, 2012. If you would like to help please contact Mindy immediately. It will be a great experience and one with rich rewards.
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7th,8th & 9th grade
goes to
Camp St. Croix
When: Fri. & Sat., May 4rd & 5th
We will leave Manwaring around 4:00pm on Fri. and return around 4:00pm on Sat.
Where: Camp St. Croix, Hudson, WI
We will need drivers to take us & pick us up.
Why: To go on retreat together, build teamwork, self-confidence & leadership skills
We will stay in cabins and all food is covered by your $95.00 registration fee. Sign up now to reserve your spot. Scholarships available. Please let Mindy know.
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April Sunday school Parent Letter
April 21: Bishop Family Day at St. Marks and is from 10:00-3:00pm. You can register for this fun event on line and I will enclose a registration. Come in and meet Bishop Prior and walk the liturgical calendar with me and many of my colleagues.
April 22nd: Our final rotation of the year begins this Sunday and is called, "The Good Shepherds". We will learn about "The Parable of the Good shepherd" and the 23rd Psalm. I am looking for many volunteers to help with art, cooking and running an outside obstacle course.
April 29th & May 6th: Rotation called "The Good Shepherd", 9:00-9:50am
May 13th: This is our Final Sunday school class and we will have snacks and make Mother's Day Gifts.
V.B.S will be June 11th thru 14th at Ascension. We will be using the children's book called "The Tale of Despereaux". Buff and I have started talking about planning for this but know that it will have betrayal, forgiveness, loyalty, lightness, darkness and all following the Gospel of John. More information will be available following Easter.
Happy Spring! Questions, contact Mindy
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 (Left to Right) Frannie Truman, Eliza Weston, Chloe Brey, Charlotte Mensen, Kate & Erin Davis, Annie Gerber, Susie Danielson, Lynn Raarup, Claire Danielson, Ada Gerber, Benjamin Luna, Hazel Gerber
Helping out in Sunday School I would like to share my experience being with the children in Sunday School the last
2 - 3 months. The rotation system was very easy to follow with many creative and interesting options to teach from. Mindy was very flexible and supportive in allowing me to create whatever I wanted in my classroom! Plus there were Shepherds (Mom's & Dad's) who were helpers for what ever you needed.
Here are a few photos from some of the classes. For "Creation" the children made all kinds of unique and colorful creatures out of different kinds of clay. For "Prayer" my husband, Allan and I led the children in different experiences listening and dancing to music and learning about different meditation objects. For "Light" the children made mandala's of their hands reflecting the light within them. We studied mandala's from all over the world.
One of the most beautiful parts of this experience is related to what Buff talked about in the sermon last week of being with a toddler and experiencing the joy that a toddler brings. The children of various ages reflected the joy and wisdom they naturally have within them. Here are some of the comments from the different classes: "It's like God is speaking through the flute and talking to us"...after we listened to Yuval Ron, a middle eastern music group. "I remember the light coming into my mommy's tummy." ...an answer to the question asked: "What is your first memory of light?" "God is whispering to us giving us creative ideas." ...after a moment of silence and lighting the candle. The children just blew me away with their insights and clarity. There is only one rotation left this year called "The Good Shepherd". I would highly recommend teaching and giving it a whirl! Lynn Raarup  
Amy McElin Jack Norton, Gabi Danielson & Avree Rich Arleigh Kraker, Christoff Krumenacker, Avree Rich, Karolyn Duke, Lynn Raarup, Amy McElin, Elena Luna, & Marley Rich |
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! ** |
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On Thursday, April 19th at 7 pm Ascension will launch an ongoing study, prayer and meditation group, centered on the life and teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. The group will meet in the parish hall. Much of the emphasis will be on developing a personal practice of mindfulness, a non-sectarian practice that was initially made popular by this world-famous monk.
Our group will be led by church member Bill Alexander, who lived in Plum Village for three months in 1992 and who was ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh as a member of the core community of the Order Of Interbeing in1995.
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Urgent: Car Needed by the End of April Do you have an extra car you aren't driving or are you getting a new car or downsizing to one car? Here is the perfect opportunity to help out a family in need. A Stillwater family that is participating in the Transitional Housing Program through Episcopal Community Services is in need of a car. They have secured funding for $4000, but need to spend it by the end of April. Here is criteria they need to abide by in order to get the funding: - 120,000 or fewer miles
- Less than 10 years old, which will make it a 2002, although the funders were willing to move that to a 2000 for super low mileage (but that was an exception)
- It'll have to pass an inspection
- The family would like it to look nice, but it does not have to be in perfect outside condition
If you can help, please contact Cindy Parsons of ECS at 651-439-2641. |
 Twin mattress and box spring needed! A young woman in Stillwater is in need of a twin mattress and box spring. Please call Cindy at Episcopal Community Services at 651-436-2641 if you can make this donation.
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In our ongoing commitment to assist out neighbors with basic living needs, Ascension Church is scheduled to staff the food shelf on: Monday, April 23 Wednesday, April 25 Friday, April 27 We need 6-8 volunteers for each shift Volunteers should intend to work from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m, however we can accommodate shorter blocks of time. Thank you for your generous donation of time, food and money. Please contact Frank Langer at 651-439-5766 or fslanvel@hotmail.com
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Godslist A Bulletin Board Listing Material Goods
and Services
for Sale To Benefit Ascension's Mission to Guatemala
It's Simple, Easy and Fun!
Do you have some unwanted furniture,
collectible, antique or art?
Advertise on Godslist!
1. Post a photo and description of an item or service you
would like to "sell".
2. Include your contact information.
3. Negotiate a price with the interested "buyer" and have them make the donation to Ascension.
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Godslist isn't just for "hard goods". Be creative. Offer a special service on Godslist...
- Spring Yard Clean-up
- Lawn Mowing Service
- Flower Planting
- A Family Photo Session
- Teach Someone to Knit
- Interior Design Service
- Closet Cleaning
- Dog Sitting
- Home-Grown Vegetables
- Deliver a Homemade Birthday Cake to Someone's Door
- Big Bouquet of Flowers From Your Garden
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Mentor Meeting
Become a Mentor to Help a Family in Need
Come hear about being a mentor for a family in need.
April 29th at 11:15 am in the Parish Hall.
Current Mentors from the program will be there to answer questions.
Mentors Needed
Ascension is excited to sponsor two Stillwater families to help them become more self- sufficient. We are partnering with Episcopal Community Services (ECS) to offer this parish-wide program, in which we can all be involved in some way. The official title of the program is the Supportive Housing Program, but the families with which we will work already have housing. We will work with them to further their goals such as securing more education, getting job training, or learning financial planning.
We are in need of 1 to 2 mentors per family in order to begin our sponsorship. A mentor is responsible for contacting the family by phone once a week and in person once a month. A mentor is a person who encourages, listens and shares time with a family that is struggling to become self-sufficient.
A mentor is not working alone. A committee of Ascension members has formed that will support the mentors by securing donations of items the family may need, helping to organize the finances of the sponsorship, and providing other support as needed. Please note: There is no financial obligation required. All funds are provided for by Ascension and are funneled through the Ascension committee.
If you have questions, please contact
Bob Gerhard 715-549-6821 or Julie Luna 651-275-3900
or Cindy Parsons 651-439-2641.
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Sunday Coffee Hour
Coffee, conversation and snacks...who could ask for anything more? Volunteers!!
We are looking for volunteers to run coffee hour after the 10:00 service on Sundays. This will require providing a snack (20-30 people), setting up the snack, making coffee and cleaning up. There will be a sign up sheet in the parish hall.
If you are thinking of providing an allergy or gluten free item, please contact Anne Gerber so she can provide you with the protocol and safety guidelines for allergy and gluten free food at (651) 439-9614. For general questions contact, Julie Luna, (651) 275-3900.
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Save the Date!
Gallery of God's Gifts Coming Soon!
On May 13th, 2012 in the parish hall, Ascension Parishioners will have the opportunity to share their talents and gifts with the congregation. We hope many of you will participate.
More information and forms will be distributed with additional information soon.
"I believe that every person is born with talent"
Maya Angelou
Thank you,
Ascension Ministry Team
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