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January 10, 2013
Children & Youth, Parish Life, Administrative
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 You are invited to an online book club, Making a Home for Faith: Nurturing the Spiritual Life of Your Children, by Elizabeth Caldwell. Blog posts will be used to spur conversation at our online hub http://acstillwaterhomeforfaith.wordpress.com/
Please contact Mindy if you still need a copy of the book. Posts can be considered "stand alone" but will be inspired by book content. We encourage you to comment on each post and we have set privacy settings so that comments will only be viewable by other members of the community. Only those with the password will be able to read and comment on each post, the password is ascensionbookclub.
This book club begins at your convenience and in your home, as we explore together how we live our faith in every aspect of our lives and further the conversation as we discuss how the church can best reinforce and affirm daily lessons of faith in our lives. Think of this as a book club that you can participate in from the comfort of your home or office, in spare moments and odd hours. A password protected post is already up and bi-weekly posts will allow you to begin as soon as you feel ready to jump into the conversation.
In addition to our online conversation, we will have a couple of face to face meetings.
Jan 21st meeting, 5:30-7:30pm (simple supper and childcare provided). Reflection on our blog conversation. Discussion of what it means to live with "An Ecology of Faith"
Feb 18th meeting, 5:30-7:30pm (simple supper and childcare provided) How do you see the church reinforcing and affirming a home for faith? At this meeting we will be sharing curricula/program/concepts for your review. If you have any curricula or projects you wish to share please give them to Mindy one week prior to this meeting.
We are excited about this process as we discern together how we may all minister together as we nurture the spiritual life of our children.
I look forward to "meeting you" in cyberspace and meeting again in our face to face meetings!
Joy Caires+
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Healing Touch resumes
Please join us for a Healing Touch Session on Saturday, January 12th from
9 - 11 am in the Ascension Parish Hall. |
9th Grade Confirmation will begin with our
kick-off Luncheon this Sunday.There are 13 youth all together.Pictured here are: Front: Ave Wichser, Jane Delahunt & Ivy ThompsonBack: Jack Allaire, Jackson Brown, Maddy Nelson, Hope Miller, Amelia Gerrard & Grace RossezMissing from Photo: Katie Lottsfeldt, Cole Bardwell, George Uppgren & Ingrid Kollaja
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Who is in the Pulpit in Epiphany?
This month, is the Season of Epiphany, the celebration of Christ as the light to the whole earth. We will celebrate this season with a special Lay Preachers Series. Each Sunday a different member of our congregation will preach at both Eucharists. Just as our parish is composed of a wide variety of perspectives and personalities, so these preachers are unique and interesting people who are asking, how do I hear today's readings? What is God saying to us as a community of faith? Watch The Font to see who will be giving the good news on the upcoming Sunday and come join us!  This Sunday's Speaker will be Trisha Acers
Trisha Acers and her husband, Terry, and their children Meade, 11, Bijou, 9 and Kier, 7, have been members of Ascension for more than ten years. Trisha has previously served on the vestry as Junior Warden, and as a Sunday school teacher, as well as having just received her certification to teach secondary English language arts. 
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Vestry
What is God calling you to do? Serving on the Vestry is a rewarding way to share your time and talents with Ascension. The Vestry begins it's new year in February and we are very excited to embark on our new mission and goals for 2013. Join us in 2013 and discover what God is calling Ascension to do. Members are elected at the Annual All Parish meeting on January 27th.
Please contact Susie Danielson by January 20th at danielsonfam4@gmail.com or by calling 651-430-1837 or Vicki Kramer at krame029@gmail.com.
*There will be some nomination forms on top of the mailboxes in the hallway right outside the kitchen.
The Vestry is a body of Ascension members elected by the parish and responsible for the governance of the church. It sets general policies of the church, takes formal actions required by law and church canons and, also adopts the annual operating and capital budgets. The members work closely with the Senior Wardens and the Rev. Buff Grace to lead the congregation in service in response to God's love. |
Peer Ministry Training
Welcome
Listen
Care
Love
When: 7 pm, Friday Jan. 25th - 9 am, Sun Jan 27th
Where: Ascension Episcopal Church (Stillwater)
Cost: $40 - includes lodging, meals and supplies
So What Exactly Is This?
An opportunity for Sr. High teenagers to develop leadership skills to: welcome and include outsiders, put faith into action, learn to really listen, reach out to those in trouble, build healthy relationships, know when and where to ask for help.
How Do I Sign Up? Give your application to Mindy or Buff to sign and they will send it in for you.
Questions? Contact Mindy at 651-439-2609 or mindy@aechurch.org for applications
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2013 Ephiphany
King Ernesto Luna and Queen Naomi Kramer
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 MLK Breakfast
Join me on Monday, January 21, from 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. for a terrific breakfast and to hear from two top speakers on peace and justice. The Honorable Alan Page will be speaking live at the White Bear Universalist Church, and Marian Wright Edelman of the Childrens' Defense Fund will come to us telecast as part of a Twin Cities-wide celebration of human rights hero Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. -- BUFF + For tickets call the church office 651-439-2609 or email |
Come down to our Nursery
and see where all of the fun is happening!
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Annual All-Parish Meeting, Sunday, January 27, 2013
We will celebrate Holy Eucharist one time on Sunday, January 27th at 9:00 a.m. Then at 10:00 a.m. we will gather to elect new vestry members, recap 2012, and hear about new ministry plans for 2013 including our proposed budget. Stick around after the meeting for a light brunch and enjoy fellowship together.
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The transition of the Stillwater Family Resource Center from Episcopal Community Services to Ascension Church has meant uninterrupted services for the many families served, new opportunities for Ascension ministries and outreach to those in need, and more ways that Ascension members and community members can personally get involved.
There will be a volunteer training on Tuesday, January 29th, at 6:30 pm at the Manwaring House for all those interested in volunteering with the Family Resource Center. The training is especially for those interested in becoming a mentor for new families in our Supportive Housing Program but would also be a great training for those interested in volunteering in other ways with the Family Resource Center.
A light supper will be served. Please call Cindy at 439-2641 if you are interested in coming to the training. If you are wondering about the many different ways that you could volunteer with our Family Resource Center, please call.
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New Mom's Group Meg (Schmolke), Ellie and Josie
Halsten enjoying breakfast with the new Mom's Group.
All are invited, 2nd Tuesday at 9 am of every month.
Paul Corbett came to have breakfast too!  |
2012 Ascension Christmas Pageant
Our 3 Wisemen were Abram Cressman,
Ella Grace & Benjamin Luna
Pageant Musicians were Elena Luna, Meade Acers
& Ada Gerber along with Trisha Acers who directed the Pageant and also played the flute
Jessie Kurtz was a perfect lamb in the pageant |
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Christmas Party at Mindy's
Bob Duke, Tim O'Reilly, Ernesto Luna, Connie & James Kurtz
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Meditation, An Introduction
Saturday, January 12, 1:30-3:00pm
If you have an interest in meditation, what it is, what it is not, or wish to deepen your present practice this class is for you. We will explore meditation through sharing and creating shared experiences and discover means of maneuvering through the many and varied obstacles we face in life. This class is for those 17 or older. Presented by Lynn Raarup and Allan LaValier, both of whom have years of experience with several meditation forms and teaching meditation.
Please sign up at the River Market at 221 North Main Street, Stillwater, MN 55052 or call 651-439-0366 in downtown Stillwater.
The class fee is $5 for River Market Co-op owners, $10 for non-owners.
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Aelred Of Rievaulx
Abbot
(12 JANUARY 1167)
Aelred was born in 1109 at Durham, and was sent to the Scottish court for an education that would ensure his future as a noble and courtier. He succeeded, to the extent of being made Master of the Household of the King of Scotland. Nevertheless, he found success at the court of an earthly king unsatisfying, and at the age of 24 he entered the Cistercian monastery at Rievaulx in Yorkshire. Bernard of Clairvaux encouraged him to write his first work, The Mirror of Charity, which deals with seeking to follow the example of Christ in all things. In 1147 he became abbot of Rievaulx, a post which he held until his death of kidney disease twenty years later at the age of 57.
His most famous work is called Spiritual Friendship (both it and the Mirror have been published in English by the Cistercian Press).
When Jesus was told that his family was waiting to see him, he replied, "All who do the will of my Father are my family." From this, some Christians have drawn the conclusion that the only kind of love permissible to a Christian is Charity -- that is: (a) the universal benevolence that wills the good of all persons, and (b) the bond that unites the Christian with Christ and through Christ with all other Christians. Note that Universal Benevolence is extended equally to all persons (we are to love Jones because God made him), and that the bond of Christian Unity unites us equally with all our fellow Christians who are in a state of grace (we are to love Jones because Christ dwells in him). Neither leaves any room for particular friendships, for liking Jones more than Smith because Jones shares our interest in hockey, or because Jones and we like the same sort of jokes, or come from the same part of the country and have similar childhood memories, or because Jones is an easy-going type and it is easy to relax and feel comfortable around him, or because Jones and we have a special bond of friendship, loyalty, and trust. Particular friendships are out!
*please note the book links above will take you to Amazon.com
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Altar Flowers
If you are interested in sponsoring altar flowers for 2013, 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
 Please note New Hours for:
Our Community KitchenTuesday and Thursday mornings
8- 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 Wednesday nights at 4:45 pmfor more info contact Nancy Whipkey @ 651-439-2609Bell ChoirWednesday nights at 6:15 - 7:15 pm
Adult Choir
Wednesday nights at 7:15 pmfor more info contact Nancy Whipkey @ 651-439-2609
YogaDevotion & Tai Chi
Yoga began another session on 11/27, Tuesdays at 7 pm
Tai Chi was cancelled for the Fall, to be rescheduled at a later date.
Contact Laura Weston if interested in Yogadevotion at 651-430-9028
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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