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Endings and Beginnings
June 15, 2018
Dear Parish Families,
The end of May and first few weeks of June aways deliver a collection of meaningful and significant transitions. For the young people of our parish, the school year draws to a close, and summertime is the name of the game! Graduations, promotions and celebrations seems to fill the calendar.
In our own parish life, the season of "One Service Sunday Mornings" is upon us.
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As one of the few fortunate ones to stand in front of the congregation every week, I am always delighted to see the blend of our 8:00 am and 10:00 am congregations. We've had 40+ folks in worship both Sundays of the summer schedule , and I see people meeting people for the first time in our pews. The more casual schedule allows for a longer reception time after Church as well. All good!
I look forward to the warmer weather and gentler calendar in the weeks to come, as I remain ever grateful for our life and ministry together as a congregation.
Blessings,
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Just to keep you guessing, our office hours are changing a bit to accommodate summer's whimsies.
Sally is in the office on Tuesdays from
9:30am-1:15pm and Thursdays from
9:30am - 3:30pm.
Emma is in the office on Fridays from
10am to 2pm. She will also be filling in on Wednesdays as her schedule permits. If you would like to visit on a
Wednesday, please call us at 503.227.7806 to make sure we are here for you.
I hope your summer finds you keeping your front porch company, taking long walks in the middle of the night (
9pm for me at the latest) to chase the light, and eating enough fresh fruit to stain at least a couple shirts, pants, and fingers if you eat enough. May your prayers be sunny, your blessings buzzing, and your days carefree in that lazy river afternoon way.
But before you think I'm going soft on the regimented routine of the rest of the year, make sure you fit in reading for hours at a stretch, plan a picnic date complete with festive attire and a hardworking sunscreen, and for goodness sakes, make your bed (outside?) so you can take a proper nap.
Take care,
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Congratulations to Jill Austin and Jaeson Dubrovay!
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On June 3, 2018, Jill Austin and Jaeson Dubrovay were married in our beautiful Ascension Chapel. The wedding was officiated by the Reverend Heather Wenrick, Associate Rector at the Parish of St. John the Baptist.
We wish Jill and Jaeson all the best as they begin their married life together, and we are privileged to be able to share our beautiful space.
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Last Sunday at Ascension, our own Eddie Edens was kind enough to sing us an offertory solo, and the repertoire wasone of my very favorite arias.
Eddie sang "For the Mountains Shall Depart" from Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio
Elijah. The character Elijah sings this aria near the end of the oratorio, reflecting on God's faithfulness and love shown to him throughout his challenging ministry. The lyrics for the aria are based on Isaiah 54:10.
For the mountains shall depart
And the hills be removed
But thy kindness shall not depart from me,
Neither shall the covenant of thy peace be removed.
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Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
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If you missed Eddie's performance, you can enjoy
this version from YouTube. Either way, the aria is a wonderful reminder of God's grace and faithfulness, one that I find very comforting.
Soli Deo gloria,
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Offerings at Ascension
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At Ascension, you may have noticed that we pass two different offering baskets during the Offertory.
If you're new to Ascension, you may not know that the first basket supports the ministry of our Parish, while the second is a charity offering to purchase goats for needy families in suffering countries.
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Our goats are purchased through
Episcopal Relief and Development
and are given in herds to villages in Africa.
This enables the whole village to have a way to increase their standard of living and perhaps some cash to items they must purchase for cash. The milk and cheeses made from the milk add nutrition to the family's diet as well. (No girl goats are eaten in this process!)
The photos in this piece were taken by our own Eloise Gibson during a tour of a goat-receiving village in Zimbabwe!
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July 21:
Annual Summer Barbecue & Hootenanny
August 18, 7:00 P.M.:
Concert of Baroque Music by Samantha Arten, soprano; Emma Riggle, organ
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Text Lin
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Parish Life
Spotted at Ascension recently:
Treasurer-in-Training Joel Guimareas assisting Bob Howard with the accounting of Sunday morning offerings.
Do you have a photo celebrating life at Ascension, or parishioner adventures during the week? Send them to
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Reflection
I, God, am in your midst.
Whoever knows me can never fall.
Not in the heights, nor in the depths, nor in the breadths.
For I am love, which the vast expanses of evil can never still.
- Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1326)
German abbess, mystic and composer
Image: illumination from Hildegard's Liber scivias, showing her receiving a vision
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In Our Prayers
Jill Austin and Jaeson Dubrovay, who were married at Ascension on June 3
Michael Lampros, the son of a friend of Ray and Barbara Anderson
Janet Mersereau
Today in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer:
Portland: Grace Memorial.
Martin Elfert, rector; Corbet Clark, Richard Toll.
PRAY for the continued honoring of a rich tradition while reaching out in new and risk-taking ways to the community: through ministries to young and old, through music and the arts, through service to the hungry and the homeless and through the companion parish tie to Trinity Cathedral in Monrovia, Liberia.
Portland: St. Andrew.
PRAY for the continued success of the food pantry.
Portland: St. Barnabas.
Sean Wall, rector; BJ Finch, deacon.
Collect for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecsost
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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Serving This Week: Sunday, June 17, Pentecost IV
| 9:00 A.M. LEM |
Jeff Krum |
| 9:00 A.M. Lectors |
Jeff Krum, Jennifer Craig |
| 9:00 A.M. Usher |
Susan O'Holleran |
| Sacristans |
Janet Gallagher, Eloise Gibson, Pam Howard, Shoshawna & Mia Rainwater |
| Refreshments |
Eloise Gibson |
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Serving Next Week: Sunday, June 24, Pentecost V
| 9:00 A.M. LEM |
Bob Howard |
| 9:00 A.M. Lectors |
Marion Edens, Willem Abassi |
| 9:00 A.M. Usher |
Bob Howard |
| Sacristans |
Janet Baker, Lucy Lloyd, Jan Stuermer |
| Refreshments |
Kris Vanberg |
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