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Dear Parish Family,
During my time with a Kindergarten class this week, I learned from one child that "Jesus died when the stone was rolled over him." When I attempted to clarify the actual event on Calvary, and added in the resurrection, a different child asked, "Did that really happen? Is that written down somewhere?" When I then mentioned the Bible, a third child asked, "Is the Bible fiction or non-fiction?"
These are the excellent and challenging questions you can count on from young children. In truth, they are often the same questions adults around us think, but less frequently ask out loud.
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To be sure, we live in an era of information and mis-information, where "truth" is often questioned, or suspect. What an opportunity, then, for us to stand firmly on that one Truth of truths.
Jesus Christ is Risen. The Lord is Risen, Indeed.
Blessings,
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Next Wednesday, if you hear a maniacal cackle emanating from the skies around
1:30 P.M., don't think it's the Second Coming and be alarmed...or relieved. It's just me, flying far, far away on my first flight without children since they were born.
But, again, don't be alarmed, or relieved, that while I'm reading a New Yorker in peace the Ascension office will be lonely. Our esteemed Emma Riggle will take care of things while I'm gone and she will not only cover her hours
on Friday, but will also be here, aside from a lunch hour from
11am-12pm, the following:
Wednesday, April 25 9am - 2pm
Thursday, April 26 9am - 2pm
Wednesday, May 2 9am - 2pm
So remember that and add that the office will be closed on
Tuesday, April 30th.
I will be back from celebrating a dear friend's 40th birthday (not to mention the Netherlands' King Willem Alexander 51st!) next
Thursday, May 3rd - to your alarm, or, relief.
Take care,
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Dear Parish Family,
With the approach of summer, we are reaching the end of the 2017/2018 concert season here in Portland. Allow me to recommend some lovely performances coming up which you can catch before the summer travel season begins in earnest!
Hannah Brewer, harpsichord
Friday, April 27, 7:00 P.M.
First Presbyterian Church, 1200 SW Alder Street
Hannah is a remarkable keyboard artist, and she visited us last Spring to perform a recital with me! This free concert will be delightful!
Arwen Myers, soprano
Laura Beckel Thoreson, mezzo soprano
Susan McDaniel, piano
Sunday, April 29, 7:00 P.M.
The Old Church
My friend Arwen is the Music Associate at Trinity Cathedral and the co-founder of Northwest Art Song. She and Laura will take on Schubert's song cycle
Die schöne Müllerin (The Beautiful Miller-Maid), a work usually performed by male singers (thus the Pants Party!)
Sunday, May 6, 2:00 P.M.
Rose City Park Presbyterian Church
In this concert, I get to conduct two choral pieces: "Bleib bei uns" by Joseph Rheinberger, and "Dixit Dominus," a setting of Psalm 110 by Baroque abbess-composer Isabella Leonarda. We'll also sing a cantata by Bach, of course.
Duruflé Requiem & Poulenc Mass in G
Sunday, June 3, 3:00 P.M.
Mount Angel Abbey
I'm very excited to perform these two gorgeous works of 20th Century sacred music as a singer with Cantores in Ecclesia. We'll be doing the Duruflé Requiem with organ and full orchestra!
I hope to see some of you at these lovely upcoming events!
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Kendall Duffie
May 6, 2018, 9:00 A.M.
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Please join us in Reinhart Hall on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 9:00 A.M., for the next installment in our ongoing series of talks by Ascension parishioners.
The presenter for this talk will be Kendall Duffie. Kendall is a junior at Oregon Episcopal School. She and her sister Meaghan serve faithfully in the weekly role of nursery attendants at AEP.
In her presentation, Kendall will share with us regarding her work on the Portland Veterans' Project. From her Portland Veterans' Project website:
The Portland Veteran's Project was created with the intention of transcribing the stories of Portland's veterans for the purpose of sharing their experiences with the greater community.
Kendall has used the Common Room and Reinhart Hall for many of her interviews with veterans. Importantly, these conversations have included some of our very own parishioners.
We hope to see you on May 6th.
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Share the Good News!
Several complimentary medium and large "Remind Me, Dear Lord" t-shirts
are still available in the common room.
These are a gift from a minister friend of Brad Mersereau, whose name is David. David and his wife also serve beverages and sandwiches 63 hours a week
at the local Coffee Renaissance in Brad's Cedar Hills neighborhood.
The shirts are emblazoned with the motto, "Remind Me Dear Lord."
David offered these as a gift to our parish, requesting in return that we share Christ's good news with others!
Text Link
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If you are able to join in this celebration,
please RSVP to the following link:
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Summer Mass Schedule
Our Summer Mass Schedule begins at the end of May!
Starting
Sunday, May 27, we will have one combined Mass each Sunday morning at 9:00 A.M.
Most summer Masses will be said Masses or said Masses with hymns.
Mark your calendars!
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May 6, 9:00 A.M.:
SpeakUp! Ascension Talks:
Kendall Duffie
May 6, 10:00 A.M.:
Youth Art Class
May 20, 4:00 P.M.:
Sam Craig Eagle Scout
Court of Honor
May 27, 9:00 A.M.:
Summer Combined Service Schedule Begins
June 3, 10:00 A.M.:
Youth Art Class
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Text Link
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Parish Life
Parishioner adventures in and around Ascension ...
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Olliemay, Diane, Janet, Jane, who have been known to call themselves the Community Transitional School Mopping Brigade, shared a selfie they took after spending some time helping out at Portland's
Community Transitional School.
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An excellent bit of acolyting by Miss LucyWest C.
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Reflection
Pied Beauty
by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)
Glory be to God for dappled things -
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced - fold, fallow, and plough;
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.
All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise him.
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In Our Prayers
Alex Abassi
(Darius Abassi's father),
who recently passed away, and his family
Sharon Friedle
, who recently passed away, and her family
Bill and Barbara Haseltine of Portland Heights and their families
Janet Mersereau
Health for Douglas Montgomery, and encouragement for his family
Today in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer:
Oregon Episcopal School
Mo Copeland, Head of School; Phillip Craig, Head Chaplain;
Jennifer Cleveland, Melissa Robinson, Assistant Chaplains.
William Temple House
Marianne Allison, chaplain
Port Orford: St. Christopher
Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter:
O
God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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Final Smile
The life of an usher at Ascension Episcopal Parish!
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