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From the Rector
The Reverend C. Phillip Craig, Jr.
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September 15, 2017
Dear Parish Family,
So often these days we seem to find ourselves at the uncomfortable intersection of social/cultural questions and the myriad of answers to follow. Our "modern" culture tends toward the concrete, and projects impatience towards those who would dare to pause for reflection - or who slowly and cautiously consider the varieties of paths toward answers - or who are comfortable with using the questions themselves to gain deeper and richer understandings of one another.
What an opportunity for people of faith to stay the course, and to model the practice of patience and reflection through the conversations of our lives.
In
Letters to a Young Poet
, the 20th century poet
Rainer Rilke
offered this advice:
"to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try and love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer."
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Paul reminds us that
"faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1).
Good advice for our reflection and consideration.
Blessings,
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We welcome our new Artist-in-Residence, Andrea Rosselle
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Dear Ascension Community,
A little less than a year ago Chaplain Craig stopped me in the hallway, at the school where we both teach, with an idea about bringing in an artist who might be able to teach the children of your parish a Sunday each month.
My first response was "Sure, I know a number of artists who might be a good fit." I sent out an email to a number of people looking for an ideal candidate for this lovely opportunity. There was interest, but as the emails bounced back and forth, I started to wonder if I would be interested. So last spring I found myself in your light filled basement meeting the delightful children of your congregation.
When Chaplain Craig approached me with a new idea this past summer, I found myself excited to rethink how I was engaging in your wonderful community. Looking ahead, I am excited to be sharing my personal art with you throughout the year, excited to be spending more time engaging in the children's community on Sunday mornings, and I look forward to sharing thoughts and reflections on how the arts are the outpouring of the creative gifts God has given us.
I am sure many of you have already been introduced to me by sight as I have carried art materials downstairs on previous Sundays, but let me introduce myself more officially. The last 20 years I have taught art, ranging from kindergarten through college in private and public schools on three different continents, and in four different states.
As an artist, I am a ceramic sculptor and mixed media painter. I have been fortunate enough to receive a BFA, MA, and MFA in the Visual Arts and I practice my craft any chance I get. Originally from upstate New York, I have called Portland home for just over a decade. I live in St John's with my husband David and our three spoiled pets.
I look forward to being a continued part of your community,
Andrea
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Youth Art Classes with Andrea Rosselle
This Fall, Andrea will offer art classes to our youth twice a month.
Upcoming Classes:
October 22
November 5
November 19
December 3
December 17
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From our
Senior Warden
Jeff Krum
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Greetings from your Senior Warden -
Your Vestry met following services last Sunday and had a productive and spirited discussion of all things AEP, including our very busy and robust calendar of gatherings and events this Fall. Tom Hussey is overseeing many diverse projects to keep our cherished building healthy and spry, including a brand new outside door to Reinhart Hall. That alone is such a blessing!
Please do your best to pay attention to the many classes and gatherings being held over the next several weeks. There are events on the calendar sure to raise interest in almost everyone, starting with the next offering of SpeakUp! Ascension Talks in two weeks with our own Brad Mersereau at 9:00 AM (between services) in Reinhart Hall.
The following weekend we will have the Blessing of the Animals following the 10:00 AM service. It has been a few years since we've held this St. Francis Day tradition, and we are hopeful many of our neighbors (and you!) will join us with their beloved pets. Sunday, October 22 will be Father Phillip offering a most important workshop entitled "Consider Your Legacy: Celebration of Life Planning" between services at 9:00 AM.
The calendar in November is just as busy and intriguing, so please pay attention to The View as well as the calendar on the AEP website. In fact, if you haven't visited the Ascension Episcopal Parish website in a while, please follow this link as it is new and improved and a very helpful aid in getting in sync with life in our beloved parish.
I would like to publicly thank the leadership team of Fr. Phillip, Sally LeBaron and Emma Riggle for the tireless and precious jobs they are doing to infuse Ascension Parish with life, spirit and good old fashioned hard work. Because of their efforts we have lots of great things going on and there are many rewarding conversations taking place in and around AEP. How great is that?
Enjoy this beautiful Fall, and lean into your family at Ascension Parish. Chances are you'll come away being delighted that you did,
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From our
Parish Administrator
Sally LeBaron
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Now that my favorite new year has arrived (that would be the academic year), I am back to "regular" hours: Tuesdays through Thursdays 9:30am - 1:30ish, so stop by and see me!
I'd also like to thank you for donating to the hurricane relief program this past weekend. Our parish raised $193 that we sent to the Episcopal Relieft and Development to help those in need.
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Dear Ascension Episcopal Parish,
Thank you. We are deeply grateful for your support and your gift of $193.00.
Your support allows us to respond to communities devastated by Hurricane Irma and other tropical storms.
Through your gift to Episcopal Relief & Development, you put the highest values of your faith into action - and empower people all over the world to create better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities.
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From our Minister of Music
Emma Mildred Riggle, M.M.
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Dear Parish Family,
This is a time of year when musicians like me receive enthusiastic lists of obligations and performances from all the ensembles and schools and studios and so forth where we serve. It can be a tad overwhelming, as I watch my calendar fill up and I try finalize Christmas Eve selections before the leaves have begun to change color.
When I'm feeling like a harried musician, I like to remember the good counsel of that greatest of harried musicians, Johann Sebastian Bach.
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Bach was asked to compose and put on an entire twenty-minute cantata every single week at his church, complete with a patchy band of instrumentalists, ill-behaved choirboys of questionable musicality, and a town council full of demanding, grouchy bosses. Bach's gig at the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig makes my hopping around Portland to sing and play look like a vacation.
Despite the stress, Bach was able to beautifully encapsulate his musical priorities, as he did in a treatise on counterpoint: "The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the spirit."
Please pray for me, as I aim to glorify God at Ascension and many other places of musical endeavor this autumn. And I pray that your spirits may be refreshed as we worship Him together through His gift of music.
Soli Deo gloria,
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Congratulations to our Students
On September 10, our annual Blessing of the Students took place after 10:00 A.M. Mass, followed by a celebratory reception.
We thank the Lord for our young people and their opportunity to learn and grow in this new school year!
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Another Way to View The View
Mislaid your copy of
The View? Had your email account eaten by a digital crocodile? Wondering what happened in a previous edition?
Never fear!
The View is now available on our website. Click the link below to check it out!
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Upcoming Events
October 1, 2017, 9:00 A.M.:SpeakUp! Ascension Talks: Brad Mersereau
October 8, 2017, 11:30 A.M.:
October 14, 2017, 5:00 P.M.:
Open Door Songwriter Series: Avery Hill
Oct. 22, 2017, 10:00 A.M.: Youth Art Class with Andrea Rosselle
Oct. 29, 2017, 11:30 A.M.:
Vestry Meeting
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Blessing of the Animals for St. Francis' Day |
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Reflection
Love (III) by George Herbert
Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lacked anything.
"A guest," I answered, "worthy to be here":
Love said, "You shall be he."
"I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on thee."
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
"Who made the eyes but I?"
"Truth, Lord, but I have marred them; let my shame
Go where it doth deserve."
"And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?"
"My dear, then I will serve."
"You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat."
So I did sit and eat.
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George Herbert (1593-1633)
Anglican priest & poet
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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.
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We pray for the family and loved ones of Phyllis Wolfsehr
as they mourn her passing
for Janet Mersereau
beloved wife of Brad
for David
the loved one of a parishioner
For all those affected by Hurricane Harvey, the Eagle Creek fire, and Hurricane Irma
Collect for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost
O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; 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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