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February 21, 2013
Worship & Music
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A new beginning . . .
You'll notice a slightly different beginning to our worship in Lent. After the usual opening hymn, we begin by confessing "our sins against God and our neighbor." Lenten worship invites us more directly to repent and prepare for the Paschal Feast of Easter. By praying our confession at the beginning, we underline the importance of repenting, but we also start by confessing because it allows us to hear God's promise of love and absolution to "all who truly turn to him." The scripture readings, sermon, prayers and music of the worship services in lent guide us to meditate on our failings and need for God. By repenting at the beginning of the service, we get to hear all that follows in the service as the forgiven people we are. Our prayers can then flow not from anxiety and guilt, but from thanksgiving and trust in God and a renewed will to walk more and more in Christ's love.
Extra Worship in Lent
Increasing prayer can be a good way to practice Lent. Here are some extra worship opportunities for Lent:
Holy Eucharist at Boutwell's Landing, 11:00 a.m. in the Boutwell's Chapel
5600 Norwich Pkwy Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
February 27, March 13, March 27
Tuesday Worship at Ascension, 8:00 p.m.
We will pray Eucharist or Compline following our Lenten Reflections each Tuesday evening in Lent.
February 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26
Healing Touch at Ascension, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
On March 9, Healing Touch ministers will offer healing prayers in the parish hall. Drop in anytime during their 2-hour session.
Private Devotions
Your schedule may make it difficult to attend extra communal prayer, but you can pray alone or with your family or friends. Compline is a simple prayer and a great way to prepare for sleep. Follow this link to a free download of Compline. Scroll down and click on MS Word next to the name "Compline": http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/formatted_1979.htm
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Lenten Reflection Time
Lenten Reflection Time in the Parish Library
Sunday Mornings, 9:10 a.m.
OR
Tuesday Evenings, 7:00 p.m.
Join us for discussion and reflection on John's account of Christ's passion. Copies of the reflections booklet are still available. In these meditations, Martin L. Smith shows how, in the Christian mystery, love itself must be crucified and die to be reborn as the grace of communion, as love set free.
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Upcoming Musical Highlights:
Photo: Luke Studios
February 24th: Oboe Player: Robert McManus
March 3rd: The Women's Section of the Ascension Adult Choir will be featured
March 10th: The Men's Section of the Ascension Adult Choir will be featured
This Saturday, February 23rd is the Youth Music Festival
All are invited to St. Mark's Cathedral at 4pm this Saturday, February 23 to hear 100 choristers from around the state sing the ancient liturgy of Evensong. The Ascension's Youth Choir will be participating in this service, and in the all day music festival. Canon Musician Raymond Johnson will again lead the massed choirs representing 10 churches as they sing music drawn from our Anglican heritage. We are especially excited because this will be the first Festival utilizing the new organ at St. Mark's. Please come and support the next generation of Episcopal choir singers! *If you would like a sample of the music we'll be singing, click the links to hear the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Geoffrey Burgon (who also wrote music for Dr. Who and "Life of Brian" among others!)
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6th Annual Community Meal Packing Event
This week a handful of our church's youth had the opportunity to participate in the 6th Annual Community Meal Packing Event for the St. Croix Valley Kids Against Hunger Program. Confirmation students Cole Bardwell, Jackson Brown (pictured below),
and Grace Rossez (accompanied by her confirmation mentor, Lori Allaire) (pictured below),  along with the Denton Family and Mindy Boynton came out Sunday.  Ann & Dave Denton with their children Jack and Noah
Here is what Jack Denton, a sixth grader had to say about the event...
Dear Ascension,
Wow, packing food was really fun. We packed 21,600 meals. Our team worked really fast and packed an average of 3 boxes every 10 minutes. We had a great time and made a lot of new friends from different organizations. I hope you will join me, my family, and others next year for this wonderful event.
From Jack Denton
You could still get involved!
It is not too late for you to get involved this year. If interested please look on trinitylc.org. The event runs February 16-24 up at the Anderson Windows Corporate Headquarters in Oak Park (5909 Omaha Ave North). There is
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 'Countless throngs of angels stand before you
to serve you night and day;
and beholding the glory of your presence,
they offer you unceasing praise.'
*artwork by Hildegard von Bingen
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 The beautiful Pottery used during the Lenten Season
made for us by Joe Samuelson
'Deliver us from the presumption
of coming to this Table
for solace only, and not for strength;
for pardon only, and not for renewal.
Let the grace of this Holy Communion
make us one body, one spirit in Christ,
that we may worthily serve the world
in his name.'
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Donations needed
A family from our Family Resource Center needs a twin mattress and a vacuum cleaner.
Many thanks for the donation of two complete Queen size bedding sets and new pillows!
Please call Cindy at 439-2641 if you have items to donate. Clothing is best donated to Dawn's Closet now. If I have specific requests for clothing, I will let you know.
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For only $40 you can contribute beautiful flowers for the week of your choice at Ascension's Worship services! You may also contribute any amount towards flowers to adorn the church for Easter. Please call the office at 651-439-2609 or Barb Smolik at 651-275-3533.
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Worship Team
Do you notice and enjoy the differences in our liturgy through the seasons? Do you have new ideas or examples you have seen in other churches that you think would serve our congregation? Do you appreciate when our liturgy is "done well"? If you answer Yes to any of these questions, you should consider serving on Ascension's Worship Team. This group works with Rector Buff+, Director of Music Nancy Whipkey, and Deacon Mary Jo to plan worship for Sunday, other feasts of the church year, and for special events. The next Worship Team meeting will be on April 7 after the 10:00 a.m. Eucharist. If you are interested in joining the team, contact Buff+ at rectorbuff@aechurch.org or 651-439-2609 x.11 |
Holy Week Services
Sunday, March 24, Palm Sunday, 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. at Ascension
We celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem with real palms and remember his passion with a dynamic reading.
Monday, March 25, Tenebrae, 7:00 p.m.
A series of readings, meditative music, and candlelight guide us into Holy Week.
Tuesday, March 26, Healing Service, 7:00 p.m.
The Healing and Wellness Team lead this meaningful service of release and comfort.
Thursday, March 28, Maundy Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
In this Eucharist we remember Jesus' call to wash one another's feet. We strip the altar to prepare for Good Friday.
Friday, March 29, Good Friday Liturgy, 12 noon & 7:00 p.m.
We follow Jesus to the cross, praying the church's most ancient prayers. Women's voices sing the anthems at the later service.
Friday, March 29, Stations of the Cross, 10:00 a.m. & 6:00 pm
At 10:00 a.m. children are invited to walk Jesus' "Way of Tears" in a service tailored to their age.
At 6:00 p.m. we walk the streets of Jerusalem using image and prayer to meditate on Christ's passion.
Saturday, March 30, Easter Eve, 8:00 p.m.
The first Easter service and the fullest service of the year, we begin by lighting the Easter fire and the Paschal Candle. We hear stories of old and baptize by candlelight, then raise the roof as we move with Christ to resurrection. Chanting, incense, guitar, violin, and piano make this service at the same time humble and extravagant.
Sunday, March 31, Easter Morning, 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
Sunday Eucharist with extra Easter joy, we enjoy special music and a trumpet fanfare. Prayers and readings name us a resurrected people, flowers adorn the nave and altar, the sun is up, life is good!
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Community Needs for Ascension:
* CoatTree for Manwaring
*Small Wooden Desk in good condition 3-5 ft. wide with working drawers for Manwaring
* Floor Lamp(s) for Youth Room or
Table Lamps with End Tables
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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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Ascension Happenings...
Articles about what people of Ascension are up to have been a big hit, so we're increasing this space. If you know an Ascension person who we should recognize, please let us know at: enews@aechurch.org.
- Maddie Gerrard performed in the All Conference Choir at Stillwater High School
- Amelia Gerrard performed in the Augsburg College Honor Band
- Peter, Ella & Amy Grace did the "Book across the Bay" 10K ski race from Ashland, WI to Washburn, WI. along with 3,500 other people!
- Jon & Jenny Monsen were married this week on Negril Beach, Jamaica (Karen & Wayne Monsen's Son)
- Sara Duke was the section lead for the 2013 Classic Suburban All Conference Band & performed as part of the All State Symphonic Band
 - Andreas Fenner performed in the All Conference Choir, Concert Choir and Vagabond's for Stillwater High School. He is also the swim captain for the Boys SAHS Swim Team.
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Replacement is sought
on the Columbarium Board of Trustees
We are searching for a replacement to fill the vacancy on the Board. If you would like to be considered, please submit a brief letter of interest to the church office directed to the Columbarium board.
By the end of February 2013, the Columbarium Board will ask the Vestry to fill the vacancy on the Board. If you have any questions, contact Fr. Buff Grace, Jim Christopherson or any of the columbarium Board members.
Respectfully, Jim Christopherson
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Eric Liddell
Missionary to China, 1945 
Eric Henry Liddell (16 January 1902 - 21 February 1945), was a Scottish athlete, rugby union international and missionary. Liddell was the winner of the Men's 400 metres at the 1924 Summer Olympics held in Paris. He was portrayed in the film Chariots of Fire. Born in China, Liddell returned there as a Protestant missionary in later life.
Eric Liddell, often called the "Flying Scotsman", was born in in North China, second son of the Rev & Mrs James Dunlop Liddell who were Scottish missionaries with the London Missionary Society.
Eric Liddell became well-known for being the fastest runner in Scotland while at Eltham College. He withdrew from the 100 meter race 1924 Olympics in Paris as he refused to run on a Sunday. Liddell spent the intervening months training for the 400 metres, an event in which he had previously excelled. Even so, his success in the 400m was largely unexpected. He not only won the race, but broke the existing world record with a time of 47.6 seconds.
Liddell returned to Northern China where he served as a missionary, like his parents, from 1925 to 1943. Liddell's first job as a missionary was as a teacher at an Anglo-Chinese College (grades 1-12) for wealthy Chinese students. It was believed that by teaching the children of the wealthy that they themselves would later become influential figures in China and promote Christian values.
During his first furlough in 1932, he was ordained as a minister of religion. On his return to China he married Florence Mackenzie of Canadian missionary parentage in Tianjin in 1934.
In 1941 life in China was becoming so dangerous that the British Government advised British nationals to leave. Florence and the children left for Canada to stay with her family when Liddell accepted a new position at a rural mission station in Shaochang, which gave service to the poor. Meanwhile, the Chinese and the Japanese were at war. When the fighting reached Shaochang the Japanese took over the mission station. In 1943, Liddell was interned at the Weihsien Internment Camp with the members of the China Inland Mission Chefoo School. He died there of a brain tumor on 21 February 1945, five months before liberation.
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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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