From the Rector
The Rev. C. Phillip Craig, Jr.
rector@ascensionepiscopalparish.org

January 8, 2017


Dear Parish Family,


     Warm regards and best wishes as we all lean into a new year.  

If resolutions are on your mind, may I offer this simple poem, by Howard Thurman


The Work of Christmas

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.

A blessed Epiphany to you all!






From the Parish Administrator
Sally LeBaron
office@ascensionepiscopalparish.org

Happy New Year!  I've been busy around the office updating files to reflect the shiny new 2018 and anticipating the year's planning.  Along with this, I have unfurled the new flower chart that we hang in the Common Room to record flower offerings for throughout the year.  

Parishioners offer flower donations generally in memory of a loved one or to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or graduation, but that's just a suggestion.  Offer in memory of Mother's Day, celebrate spring, or create your own celebration memory: perhaps a child's first giggle?  The puppy is potty-trained?  You finally made it through "Lincoln in the Bardo"?  The suggested donation is between $25 and $50 and this money goes toward the cost of the altar flowers bought for the specified weekend.  

We also have "Sancto Light" donations- these donations are used to keep our sanctuary light burning all year round.  It's nice to think that the light is burning that week in honor of someone you care about.  The suggested donation for the sancto light is $5.

Simply sign up on the date you want on the chart (or sancto light list) and put a check in a pre-addressed envelope located near the chart and add to the offering plate (or "Parish Administrator" hanging box in the coat room).

During Lent, there is only the purple gauze decor so there are no flower offerings from February 18 through March 31st.

And yes, more than one celebration is allowed on a particular weekend, there's no limit to blessings and remembrances!

Thank you, and take care,



Sally


Christmastide at Ascension
Photos by Fr. Phillip Craig, Sally LeBaron and Emma Riggle


"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given ... "




From the Minister of Music
Emma Mildred Riggle
music@ascensionepiscopalparish.org
Dear Parish family,

Thank you for your support and love through the busy Christmas season! Between weather wildness, rescheduled anthems and last-minute carol swaps, the Parish musicians, Fr. Phillip and I had quite the Christmas adventure. I'm especially thankful that many of you got to hear our ladies' choir sing their lovely Christmas Eve anthems ... on New Year's Eve! I'm very glad Episcopalians have twelve days of Christmas.

We have several musical events coming up in February. I encourage you to attend the next installment in the Open Door Songwriter Series organized by Bob Howard. The band "Pretty Gritty" will be playing on Feb. 17.

On the classical side of things, I'm excited to be offering a little piano recital on February 9 and 10. The recital is called "The Snow is Dancing," and its musical selections center around the beauty of winter and of dance - including, of course, the lovely piece "The Snow is Dancing" from Debussy's Children's Corner suite.

The recital on Friday, February 9 at 7:00 P.M. will be an intimate event in our Parlor with a reception to follow. On Saturday, February 10, I'll be offering a shorter version of the same recital downstairs in Reinhart Hall. Saturday's concert will be an informal family event aimed at capturing the interest of kids, with themed coloring pages and the opportunity for your little ones to dance along!

I'm looking forward to sharing music with you in the New Year!

Soli Deo gloria,





Annual Meeting:  February 4, 9:00 A.M.

It's time for our Annual Meeting! Join us at 9:00 A.M. on Sunday, February 4 as we worship together and attend to the care of our parish. 

There will be no separate services at 8:00 or 10:00 on February 4. 
Upcoming Events

Feb. 4, 9:00 A.M.: Annual Meeting

Feb. 9, 7:00 P.M.: The Snow is Dancing: Winter Recital by Emma Riggle, piano

Feb. 10, 1:00 P.M.: The Snow is Dancing: Children's Concert by Emma Riggle, piano

Feb. 17, 5:00 P.M.: Open Door Songwriter Series: Pretty Gritty

Reflection


Today the Magi gaze in deep wonder at what they see: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body.

As they look, they believe and do not question, as their symbolic gifts bear witness: incense for God, gold for a king, myrrh for one who is to die.



- St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop of Ravenna  
(406-450)
If you have a quotation you'd like to suggest for a future Reflection in The View, please email it to Emma Riggle at music@ascensionepiscopalparish.org.

In Our Prayers

The family of Dodd Fisher
Claude Schrader
Libbie Schrader
Tony Johnson
Janet Mersereau


Today in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer:

Cottage Grove: St. Andrew. Lawrence Crumb, vicar. 
PRAY that the strength of the Holy Spirit anoints the St. Andrew's family in its ministry. 

Dallas: St. Thomas. Fred Heard, vicar 

Drain: St. David. Supply 
In response to the call and command of our Lord, we strive to lead people of our community to study the Bible, love Jesus and worship and obey God.


Collect for the Feast of the Epiphany: 

O  God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 
Amen .
Final Smile



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