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January 31, 2013
Health & Wellness, Parish Life, Administrative
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"Angels can fly
because they take themselves lightly."
G.K. Chesterton
Kids laugh...a lot. I know this because I am surrounded by about 1000 of these light-filled beauties every day. Whenever I walk through the hallways in my schools, I pass laughing children-and I can't help but join in! Whether they are 6 or 21, an infant or toddler, they laugh and giggle and delight in the joys and silliness that life brings their way. We, of course, see this same thing at Ascension, sometimes even during liturgies! Kids laugh, and soon so do we, and we feel better!
Laughter is good medicine. And laughter, like all good medicine, comes from God. Sarah laughed out loud when she learned that she would give birth to John. The way I see it, Jesus, must have laughed a great deal. How could he not, being surrounded by children and his forever-questioning disciples?
Finding joy and laughter in life's experiences is evidence that we are allowing God's Spirit of joyful grace to be expressed through us.
Years ago, a dear friend had the habit of dressing up like a Fairy Godmother whenever someone was moving into a new home. She would arrive at the new house and, while I never saw her lift a box, her silliness, and the shared laughter that followed, lightened our hearts and made our work simple and fun.
Laughter is indeed good medicine; one that is meant to be shared. 
Be well,
Rev. Mary Jo
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Who is in the Pulpit in Epiphany?
We are celebrating the season after Epiphany with a special Lay Preachers Series. Each Sunday a different member of our congregation preaches at both Eucharists. These preachers represent the wide variety of perspectives and personalities who make up Ascension. They are asking, how do I hear today's readings? What is God saying to us? Come listen this Sunday!  This Sunday's Speaker will be Claire Rossez
"I've been going to Ascension since fifth grade. Outside of school, I play violin and golf. I love soccer, it's my favorite sport but I don't play anymore.  I plan on going to college next year, but not sure where yet. I really enjoyed the recent Peer Ministry Retreat and this was my second time attending. This time I was there to help the others and Mindy if she needed it." |
Senior High Peer Ministers
Bishop Brian came out to pray with and for the 25 Peer Ministers
that came from 8 different congregations last weekend on the
Peer Ministry Training Retreat here at Ascension.
Welcome, Listen, Care, Love
If you'd like a description of what Peer Ministry is, we describe it as a ministry in which young people put faith into action, welcome and include outsiders, offer compassionate listening, reach out to those in trouble, and know when and where to ask for help.
These young people have learned about and practiced listening and caring skills. We particularly spent time talking with these young people about when to get an adult involved. Using the story of the Good Samaritan we discussed how they are challenged to be like the Samaritan, who crosses over to the  other side of the road, and goes out of his way to seek the needs of the other. And in this story, the Samaritan does not have the expertise to address all of the needs of the injured person, and so takes this person to the innkeeper for care. We discussed at length who are some of those adults in their lives that might be innkeepers they can turn to for help, both for themselves and others. We also explored ideas regarding compassion fatigue and the need for self care. Haley Beath, Sammy Fusco, Jake Doneux, Claire Rossez, Christof Krumenacker, Shyam Dorn & Corinne Urban have completed the Peer Ministry Training retreat this past weekend.
We believe these young people as a result of Peer Ministry training are better equipped to help young people in their midst, whether they be fellow students at church or at school. All 7 of these young people will be commissioned this coming Sunday during the 10:00 am service.
Peer Ministry training is open to all Sr. High Youth across the Episcopal Church of Minnesota and is offered once a year. Welcome, Listen, Care, Love
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Souper Bowl of Caring
Sunday - Feb. 3rd
Ascension youth will again this year be collecting money for Souper Bowl of Caring on Feb. 3rd (Super Bowl Sunday) in the Narthex before and after each service. The amount collected is reported to Souper Bowl of Caring but the money is sent locally to a food related charity determined by the Youth Group. Children are encouraged to bring canned food for our local food shelf. Please consider bringing a food donation to help our youth with this meaningful and important fundraiser.
For more info: tacklehunger.org
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Donations needed
A young family is in need of sheets, blankets, comforters, and pillows. Full and queen sizes are preferred. Please call Cindy at 439-2641 if you can donate these needed items.
I also need a couple volunteers who would occasionally be able to help with furniture pick up and delivery. A few of our families will be needing to purchase low-cost used vehicles probably in the near future as their present vehicles are not very reliable. Please call Cindy if you or someone you know has a vehicle that would be low-cost and hopefully reliable.
Many thanks for keeping our Family Resource Center families in mind when you no longer have a need for an item!
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New Church Directories are now available and can be found at each door leading into the sanctuary. If anyone would like a "soft" copy for their computer, please contact Nance at office@aechurch.org or 651-439-2609.
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Zen Brunch-Luck Celebration!
 The photo is from the 4th annual Zen Saturday Group,
208 continuous Saturdays.
Tom Gould from Eagan was also present
and missing from the photo, but needed to head
out earlier for the long journey home.
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Unused Medication Disposal Drop Boxes Now Available throughout the County
Washington County residents now have additional options to dispose of their unused and expired medications. Hours for all drop boxes are Monday through Friday from 8:00-4:30pm.
The following are locations:
Cottage Grove - Washington County Service Center
13000 Ravine Parkway S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016
Forest Lake - Headwaters Service Center
19955 Forest Rd No, Forest Lake, MN 55025
Stillwater - Law Enforcement Center (LEC)
Main Lobby, Sheriff's Office
15015 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082
Medications accepted include prescription, over-the-counter and pet medication.
The expansion of two more service centers builds upon the initial success of the first drop box located in Stillwater. Since April 1, 2012, over 1,130 county residents have dropped off over 2,850 pounds of unused and expired medication.
The drop boxes are a joint effort of the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment.
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Tom Steffen & Friends
Comedy Fundraiser for the RFHS Band
River Falls' own Tom Steffen brings home a sixth super year of live stand-up comedy! 
Tom Steffen (Tom is son of parishioners: John & Kathy Steffen) Sunday February 10th
River Falls H.S. Auditorium -
818 Cemetery Road, River Falls, WI.
Showtime 7 pm Tickets $10 Adults $5 Students
Advance Tickets at the Dish & Spoon Cafe,
208 N Main St. River Falls
Tickets also available at the door
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Experience the wonder and mystery of the ancient Choral Evensong - combining medieval offices of Vespers and Compline. Join us as we reflect, meditate, and become embraced by the spirit of God.
Choral Evensongs coming up at St. Mark's Cathedral at 519 Oak Grove, Mpls.:
February 3rd from 5-6 pm Cathedral Choir
February 10th from 5-6 pm Section Leaders of the Cathedral Choir
Raymond Johnston is the director.
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Every Time I Feel the Spirit
200 Years of Music by Black Composers
Sunday, February 10, 2013
3:00 pm
Take a musical journey through more than two centuries of music by Black composers from England, Brazil, Latin America and the United States. Countertenor Reginald  Mobley and pianist/harpsichordist Henry Lebedinsky present a program of Classical sacred music, art songs, Spirituals, Jazz, and rousing Gospel music, ranging from seldom-heard gems to popular favorites. |
Want to look up something in a previous Font?
The archived section has been updated
and the past e-newsletters are posted now!
Click here for past editions.
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Samuel Shoemaker
Priest and Evangelist, 1963
Sam Shoemaker, DD, STD (1893-1963), was an Episcopal priest who was instrumental in the Oxford Group and founding principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. Dr. Samuel Moor Shoemaker was the rector of the Calvary Church in New York City, which was the United States headquarters of the Oxford Group. Bill Wilson attended Oxford Group meetings at the Calvary Church and Sam was instrumental in assisting Bill Wilson with the writing of the book Alcoholics Anonymous (nickname: The Big Book). Bill acknowledged this linkage when he wrote in the book, A.A. Comes of Age (page 39):
"In 1917, Sam Shoemaker had been sent to China to start a branch of the YMCA and to teach at the Princeton-in-China Program. There, in 1918, feeling discouraged, he first met Frank Buchman who told him of the four absolutes, honesty, purity and unselfishness and love. Later, Shoemaker would speak of the meeting as a major influence for the start of his ministry, that being the time when he decided to let go of self and let God guide his life."
Bill Wilson, in 1955, would later give credit to Sam Shoemaker whom he referred to as a co-founder of AA.
" It was from Sam Shoemaker, that we absorbed most of the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, steps that express the heart of AA's way of life. Dr. Silkworth gave us the needed knowledge of our illness, but Sam Shoemaker had given us the concrete knowledge of what we could do about it, he passed on the spiritual keys by which we were liberated. The early AA got its ideas of self-examination, acknowledgement of character defects, restitution for harm done, and working with others straight from the Oxford Group and directly from Sam Shoemaker, their former leader in America, and from nowhere else."
Rev. Shoemaker wrote over thirty books, at least half of which were circulating before A.A.'s 12 Steps were first published in the Big Book in 1939.
Shoemaker's contributions and service to Alcoholics Anonymous and as a minister of the Anglican Communion and Episcopal Church of America have had a worldwide effect. The philosophy that Shoemaker codified, in conjunction with Bill Wilson, is used in almost every country around the world to treat alcoholism.
After leaving New York, Dr. Shoemaker served Calvary Church, Pittsburgh, for ten years before retiring in 1961. He was known as one of the foremost preachers of his day, with a regularly-scheduled radio program. He was also instrumental in the rebirth of small group ministries in the United States, which led to (among other things) the Pittsburgh Experiment, an interdenominational program designed to bring Christianity into normal daily activities. Finally, he was involved in the beginnings of the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer, actually started by his wife Helen in the 1950's. |
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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