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March 20, 2018
"I saw that."
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This small sign sits on my desk - a playful gift from my family, and also a great reminder of our moral compass as people of faith. Simple words with an important message.
Since Ash Wednesday, I've been challenging my students to think about how selfish or selfless their acts are when "no one else is looking."
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Without using sophisticated terms, I have been encouraging them to the "observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting and self-denial" (BCP, page 265). Such language would likely be lost on second graders. They totally get the idea of looking in the mirror, though, and what it means to brag, or to be selfish, or to apologize, or to take more than your fair share.
I haven't really gotten yet to the part where "God is always looking." In this season of Lent, it seems to me that the challenging observations are all our own. That's what self-examination is all about.
We are entering the last days of this season. Holy Week awaits. Let's all take one more look in the mirror, and think about what it means to brag, or to be selfish, or to apologize, or to take more than our fair share.
Simple words. Important message.
Blessings,
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Directory Inserts
Frugal? Utilitarian?
Make do or do without?
Pragmatic?
Semi-hoarder of boxes and jars because you might need them some day?
I heartily respond to all these descriptions. So, when it came time to update our vestry list in the directory that was only printed late last summer, I hesitated reprinting new ones just for this list. Luckily the Senior Warden agreed, although her idea to print the new list on labels to go in your directory was vastly improved to my cut and paste party I envisioned some
Sunday
with all of you.
Therefore, please stop by the Common Room and get your vestry list label to adhere to your existing directory. There were a few updates within the directory so if you are trying to send mail to Peter Baker, Darroch Cahen or Margie Marsh, please let me know and I can update that for you.
And vestry members, I totally understand if you take two labels - one for your directory and one to commemorate the time you were part of this hallowed team. Go ahead, you deserve them. And with all the money we saved, I won't even take it out of your ink allowance.
Take care,
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Dear Parish family,
This Holy Week is going to be a bit challenging for me. It's my first one without my dear Grandmother, Charlotte Kuschke, who passed on to glory on March 8. My grandma was a very loving lady and a wonderful musician and teacher who supported my music studies more than anyone else did.
My grandmother was a choir director at her church as well as an elementary school music teacher. She used to share wonderful choral repertoire ideas with me, culled from a lifetime of carefully searching out the most beautiful music with the most Christ-honoring words. I think she would like
this anthem that our Ascension choir is preparing to sing on Easter Sunday. Here's the text, a sonnet by Edmund Spenser.
Most glorious Lord of life, that on this day,
Didst make thy triumph over death and sin:
And having harrow'd hell, didst bring away
Captivity thence captive, us to win:
This joyous day, dear Lord, with joy begin,
And grant that we for whom thou diddest die,
Being with thy dear blood clean wash'd from sin,
May live for ever in felicity.
And that thy love we weighing worthily,
May likewise love thee for the same again:
And for thy sake, that all like dear didst buy,
With love may one another entertain.
So let us love, dear love, like as we ought,
Love is the lesson which the Lord us taught.
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Soli Deo gloria,
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Concerts for Holy Week
This Holy Week in Portland, there is a wealth of opportunities to hear beautiful sacred music of the season. Here are a few recommended concerts to check out (and you might just spot your Minister of Music participating in the first two...)
The Bach Cantata Choir: Lenten Concert Palm Sunday, March 25, 2:00 P.M. Rose City Park Presbyterian Church NE 44th & Sandy Blvd. Program: Cantatas by J.S. Bach, a cantata by Mendelssohn, works by Palestrina and Alice Parker Admission: Freewill Offering
Cantores in Ecclesia: Attende Domine, A Lenten Journey Palm Sunday, March 25, 7:00 P.M. St. Patrick's Catholic Church 1623 NW 19th Ave. Program: Music by Byrd, Purcell, Villette and more, spanning themes from each Sunday in Lent Admission: $25 general, $20 students and seniors
Good Friday Organ Meditation Bruce Neswick and Christopher Lynch, organists Good Friday, March 30, 7:00 P.M. Trinity Episcopal Cathedral 147 NW 19th Ave. Program: Organ improvisations inspired by the Stations of the Cross
Also, don't miss our very own Ascension soloists and choir singing in our services on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday!
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Easter Lilies & Flower Baskets
Please make a contribution towards the many spring flowers and Easter lilies that will decorate our church for Easter.
This is a wonderful way to remember loved ones who have passed on or to give thanks for the blessings in your life.
Donation forms are available in our Sunday bulletins. You may also mail your check (put Easter Flowers in the memo line). Be sure to specify the person or thanksgiving that your gift honors, as these remembrances and thanksgivings will be listed in the Easter bulletins.
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Box Tops for Education
The Community Transitional School here in Portland is a special place devoted to the education and care of children who struggle with homelessness, whose mission is
"to provide at-risk children with a stable educational environment that promotes their academic and personal growth."
Ascension is now collecting Box Tops for Education to benefit this fine school. Watch for the basket in the Common Room!
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Upcoming Events
March 29, 6:00 P.M.: Choir Rehearsal women called at 5:30 P.M.
April 1, 9:00 A.M.: Choir Rehearsal |
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Reflection
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The Last Supper by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926)
They are assembled, astonished and disturbed round him, who like a sage resolved his fate, and now leaves those to whom he most belonged, leaving and passing by them like a stranger. The loneliness of old comes over him which helped mature him for his deepest acts;
now will he once again walk through the olive grove,
and those who love him still will flee before his sight.
To this last supper he has summoned them,
and (like a shot that scatters birds from trees)
their hands dra
w back from reaching for the loaves
upon his word: they fly across to him;
they flutter, frightened, round the supper table
searching for an escape. But he is present
everywhere like an all-pervading twilight-hour.
Here they are gathered, wondering and deranged,
Round Him, who wisely doth Himself inclose,
And who now takes Himself away, estranged,
From those who owned Him once, and past them
flows.
He feels the ancient loneliness to-day
That taught Him all His deepest acts of love;
Now in the olive groves He soon will rove,
And these who love Him all will flee away.
To the last supper table He hath led.
As birds are frightened from a garden-bed
By shots, so He their hands forth from the bread
Doth frighten by His word: to Him they flee;
Then flutter round the table in their fright
And seek a passage from the hall. But He
Is everywhere, like dusk at fall of night.
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The Last Supper (1911) by André Derain (1880-1954)
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In Our Prayers
Janet Mersereau
Euna Hanley, mother of Marla Hanley, passed away on March 7th.
We pray for Euna, her family and loved ones.
Charlotte Kuschke, grandmother of Emma Riggle, passed away on March 8th.
We pray for Charlotte, her family and loved ones.
Norm Reilly, friend of the Craig family, passed away peacefully on March 2nd.
We pray for Norm, his beloved wife Laurel, and family.
Today in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer:
Portland: St. Matthew
Portland: St. Michael & All Angels
Chris Craun, rector; James Joiner, assistant rector; Roberto Arciniega, associate rector; Sallie Bowman, Caroline Litzenberger, David Pace, David Perry, Ed Rouffy, John Scannell, Marie McDowell.
Portland: PSU Campus Ministry
Collect for the Fifth Sunday in Lent:
A
lmighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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