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September 4, 2012
Worship & Music
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Back to the Book In an effort to reduce our paper consumption and to honor the Book of Common Prayer, we'll be using a shorter paper bulletin this fall. Instead of multi-sheet booklets bulging with the full text, the simple leaflet will list the headings of the worship with page numbers corresponding to the liturgy in the prayer book. Hymn numbers will refer to the blue hymnal as usual, and full-text bulletins will still be available for visitors and newcomers.
A number of you have expressed interest in using prayer books more often, and I think many of you will be surprised how much of the liturgy you have memorized. The readings for the day will be included for those who enjoy reading along while the lectors read aloud. We will use full text bulletins from time to time for special services or to offer liturgy from Enriching Our Worship as we did this summer.
We hope this new bulletin de-clutters your worship experience and opens up the prayer book in new ways while reducing our paper use. We are also looking into posting our bulletin on our website for those who would like to use i-pads and other devices for paperless access to the Sunday bulletin.
In Christ,
Buff+ Please put these on your calendars if they pertain to you: Sunday, September 16, Acolyte Training, following 10 a.m. service: All children 3rd grade and up who would like to serve are invited to renew and refresh our work as acolytes. Lunch provided. Sunday, September 23, Lector and Eucharistic Ministers Training, following 10 a.m. service: All those who serve in ministry of Word and Table are invited to renew and refresh our work. Lunch provided. Newcomers welcome.
Sunday, October 7, Usher and Greeter Training, following 10 a.m. service,: All those who serve as ushers and greeters are invited to attend a training to renew and refresh our work. Lunch provided. Newcomers welcome.
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To Stand, kneel or sit
For much of the 19th and 20th centuries the tradition in the Episcopal Church was: "Stand to sing; kneel to pray; sit to listen." As the Episcopal church embraced renewed theology in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, it looked back to the early church. In the first centuries, there was little uniformity in church communities or the places they met. Some met outside, some in members' homes, some in tents. As the faith took hold and buildings were erected for worship, most were without "chairs" except benches along walls reserved for the elderly. Kneeling as we know it was rare, but through the middle ages it gained in custom as homage to Lord Jesus began to imitate homage to emperors, kings, and queens.
During the Reformation, protestants rebelled against kneeling at communion because it suggested one was worshipping the bread and wine itself. In the prayer book under protestant King Edward VI, a special declaration was printed. It did not forbid kneeling, but it strongly reminded people that "no adoration was intended" by the practice. In the 17th and 18th centuries, pews became popular in protestant churches who emphasized preaching over sacraments, and sitting became more and more common.
Today, kneeling is most common in our church in Lent and Holy Week, but some still kneel to pray throughout the year. For this reason, our choir sits after the "Holy, holy, holy" in the communion prayer, so that those kneeling can better see the altar. If kneeling leads you to deeper prayer, please by all means continue. If standing suits you, know that it is an ancient practice that also shows reverence.
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Please join us at the 10 a.m. Sunday service
for these musical highlights:
September 9th - Tom Hinrichsen, renowned bagpiper
September 16th - Tom Anders, Tenor Soloist
September 23rd - The Valley Consort (recorders)
September 30th - The Blessing of the Animals, Bell Procession, Youth and Adult Choirs
October 7 - Saxophone Soloist
October 14 - Ascension Youth Choir and Bells of Ascension
November 4 - BARBARY COAST, renowned Dixieland Band
November 11 - Ascension Youth Choir
November 18 - Bells of Ascension
December 23 - Anonymous Five
Bells with play in church on the following dates:
September 30, October 14, November 18, December 16
The Adult Choir will be singing at all of the Services
except when the Youth Choir sings.
Mark your calendar for our annual
Nine Lessons and Carols service:
December 9 at 5:30 p.m.
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Musical Notes Dear Ascension Youth Choir Families, With the approach of fall comes the start of another joyful season of the Ascension Youth choir. Our first rehearsal will be Wednesday, September 5, 2012. We have an exciting year coming up. The Ascension Youth Choir is open to all interested youth in the St. Croix Valley, in grades three through 12. Feel free to invite any friends. We are in the process of assembling a choir roster. If you know of anyone, third grade and up, who's interested in joining the choir, please let me know or forward all of the attached information to them. Please bring the attached contact and release form to the first rehearsal in September. You will need to fill out and sign a new release form for the 2012-2013 school year. (see the link at the end of the letter) Rehearsal is every Wednesday beginning at 5:00 in the parish hall. Treats are provided in the parish hall, as usually, at 4:45 before choir. We will be serving dinner to the choristers again this year. Supper is served at 6:15. Please pick your child up between 6:30 and 6:45. More information regarding choir dinners will be coming soon. This year we are asking for a donation to cover incidental costs we incur over the year. Please give your donation to Mark Schwantes. Checks can be made out to Ascension Episcopal Church, please put 2011 Ascension Youth Choir in the memo line. Please feel free to contact Mark Schwantes at 612-910-2814 or umlmark@gmail.com regarding all scheduling questions. Mark will be at the rehearsals in September to welcome newcomers, answer questions and collect contact/release forms. It's never too late to join. Look for all e-mail communication to come from Mary Duke ( The4Dukes@q.com). I'm looking forward to another wonderful year of working with your children and helping them praise God through the beautiful music of the Ascension Youth Choir. Please feel free to contact me, at home, at any time, with questions or comments, (651) 439-8774. Sincerely, Nancy Whipkey * See the Choir Schedule, Parent/Guardian Consent Form and Choir Sign up Sheet
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Plus.....
Adult Choir rehearsals will begin on Wednesday, September 5th also. Practices are held every Wednesday from 7:15 to 8:45. We are all looking for some "new blood" to join us. Contact Nancy Whipkey, 651-439-8774 to inquire more about the choir. OR just show up on Sept. 5th.
And don't forget the..... Bell Choir: The Ascension Bellchoir has been in existence since 1995. It is a great group of ringers who enjoy expressing their spirituality through bell ringing. We are looking for new bell ringers this year. Note reading skills are necessary. Please email Ruth Meyer if you are interested: remeyer@usfamily.net
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Prudence Crandall
Prophetic Witness & Teacher
Prudence Crandall, (September 3, 1803-1890) a schoolteacher raised as a Quaker, stirred controversy with her education of African-American girls in Canterbury, Connecticut. Her private school opened in January 1832, but was boycotted when she admitted a 20-year old African-American female student in the autumn of 1833, creating what is generally regarded as the first integrated classroom in the United States. Parents of the white children mostly withdrew their daughters, leading Crandall to found a school for "Young ladies and Misses of color".
Crandall endured violent opposition to her school, both locally in Canterbury and at the State level. Laws were passed against it, the well was poisoned, windows were smashed, and finally the school was burned down, forcing it to close.
Connecticut repealed the Black Law in 1838, and later recognized Prudence Crandall with an act of the state legislature, prominently supported by Mark Twain, providing her with a $400 yearly pension in 1886 (about $9600 in 2010 dollars).
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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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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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Ongoing Groups:
Scripture Reflection and Prayer GroupFirst & Third Thursdays from 9 - 10:30 am in the Library
Thich Naht Hanh study/meditation group
Thursday nights at 7 pm in Parish Hall
Zen style Meditation group
Saturday mornings at 7 am in Small Chapel
Healing Touch
2nd Saturday every month in the Sanctuary at 9 am
Youth Choir will resume on Sept. 5th, Wednesday nights at 5:00 pmfor more info contact Nancy Whipkey @ 651-439-2609
Adult Choir
will resume on Sept. 5th, Wednesday nights at 7:15 pmfor more info contact Nancy Whipkey @ 651-439-2609
YogaDevotion & Tai Chiwill resume on Sept. 25th, Tai Chi at 2 pm and Yoga at 7 pmTai Chi Practice at Washington Park, Saturday mornings at 8 a.m.
Centering Prayer Groupfor more information on meeting times contact Lois Welshons @jonlos@aol.com |
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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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