Sue and Frank Langer will also be on the trip!

I have been studying the role of women in Ascension Church since its beginning in the 1840's.  The first services were held in the homes of John McKusick & Elam Greeley in McKusick's store in downtown Stillwater.  By the 1850's the women had organized the "Parish Aid Society" and began to work on the first church building, consecrated in 1853, on North 2nd Street.  Their main duties seemed to be housekeeping and fundraising, at which they were very effective.  When the church was expanding, a new and larger site was donated by John McKusick, the present site of the church on North 3rd Street.  The cornerstone was laid in 1873 and the church consecrated in 1875 by Bishop Whipple.  There was a period of hard times in the area after that, and the parish was without a priest for several years.  However, in 1886, Mrs. Helen McCluer, president of the Parish Aid Society, initiated a major restoration and refurbishing of the building, including raising money to buy a new organ.  It was dedicated on Easter Sunday, April 10, 1887.  That night the church was struck by lightning and burned to the ground.  The congregation was urged by Bishop Gilbert to build a new church and with major effort by the women and all the parish members, a new building was built on the site of the old, a new organ was provided and the windows, altar, pulpit and other objects were given as memorials.  The new church was dedicated on Easter Day, 1888 by Bishop Gilbert.  

To be continued......

Register for Convention now!

The 155th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Church will be held Sept. 21-22 on the Lower Sioux Indian Community's Jackpot Casino in Morton, Minnesota.

Register now to get the Early Bird rate. On August 20 2012, the cost per delegate will go up to $125 and the cost for guests will go up to $50. The Friday night meal will remain the same fixed cost.

 We are holding a block of rooms at Jackpot Junction on the Lower Sioux Indian Community. Rooms cost $38 on Thursday night, $56 on Friday night and $66 on Saturday night.
To find out all the information please go to: http://episcopalconvention-mn.org/

Last bonfire with Rev. Doyle Turner

    

Sarah Eagle Heart,

program officer for  Native American/Indigenous Ministries

for the Episcopal Church,

on poverty and faith in rural South Dakota.

Linda Amrein and Jim Christopherson have just completed the MS TRAM bike ride in Northern Minnesota. The M.S. Societyʼs fund raising ride took over 750 riders and hundreds of support volunteers over 250 miles of beautiful northern Minnesota roads through Bemidji, Walker, Park Rapids, Wadena, Fergus Falls, and Alexandria. Some sun, some rain, some wind in our face and some wind at our backs all made for a great ride adventure. Linda had to leave the comfort of her tent and spend most of the night in a storm shelter while Jim slept in a motel. We survive in different styles.

Jim Christopherson had the number "1" fastened to his bike in honor of being the top fund raiser for last yearʼs MS TRAM. He has ridden this event for the past twenty-one years and raised over $170,000.00 to provide assistance for individuals living with MS and to support research to end this disease called multiple sclerosis.

We are the lucky ones. This past year, many people in the world have been struck with illness, loss of employment, or other challenges. Many of us have extended our resources to help them. Over the years, each of us have chosen to support charities that serve the needs of others. These charities need our continued support to carry out their programs. Linda and Jim wish to thank the many members of Ascension Church who have chosen to help the MS Society through our fund raising.

Thank you, thank you!         Jim and Linda

The Ascension Softball team record is now at 6 wins
and 4 losses going into the playoffs on August 8th.
They don't know times yet until seeding is set.
People can e-mail Cindy Green for info on that at: cindygreen@me.com
Come support our team in the playoffs!!

Mentor Found! 

Many thanks to Daphne Corbett who has volunteered to be our mentor with the new family beginning in August in our Supportive Housing Program.  Please keep our Supportive Housing families and mentors in your prayers.

   

Come and learn the tastiest ways to preserve the bounty of the season!

All classes are held at in the kitchen of Ascension Episcopal Church, 214 North 3rd St, Stillwater, MN.

Tomatoes: Tuesday, August 7th, 11:00 AM-1:30 PM

Peaches: Tuesday, August 7th, 2:00-4:30 PM

Pickles: Saturday, August 18th, 9-11:30 AM

Pressure Canning: Saturday, August 25th, 9-11:30 AM

(must have attended a previous class to take Pressure Canning)

Each class costs $25.  Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

Contact Sara at  651-983-1300 or sara@thebackyardgrocery.com to sign up.

On Wednesday, August 8th, 6:30 - 8:30 in the Parish Hall we will have another training.

Conversations with people we know are the key to changing hearts and minds. Despite all the media attention, marriage for same-sex couples is an issue many people haven't had a chance to really discuss. You can open that door.

The kinds of conversations we need to have can be tough. This training will prepare you for these conversations and help you make a plan to get started. All are welcome, please RSVP to Jen Truman at mnunited.org/faithconversationsjtruman@comcast.net.