Volume 10, Issue #30
July 23, 2020
In the name of Christ, we embrace all people to be nourished and empowered by the Holy Spirit to love and serve the world.
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From Peter's Pen
Preaching, Part 2.
Last week, I began rolling back the curtain to let you see inside the preaching world. I am continuing to write about preaching for the next few weeks. My goals in writing these articles are both to help you be a better-informed worshiper (to deepen your knowledge and your worship experience) and also to clarify some of my own thinking about preaching. Like any other work, when you are in the middle of writing and delivering sermons week-after-week, it can be hard to take the time to "come up for air," step back, and reflect on why you are doing the work that you are doing. 🙂
So, this week I will begin to tackle one of the most controversial preaching topics: politics in the pulpit. It is a question that sometimes seems pretty straightforward (i.e., "Don't preach politics from the pulpit. Ever. People stop listening and get upset."), but is really not so simple.
A recent example: a friend of mine, Trey, was installed as the Pastor of a local church about a year ago. Trey's predecessor, Bob, preached politics explicitly, week-after-week. Bob routinely stood in the pulpit telling his congregation who "God" wanted them to vote for...(not surprisingly, "God's" candidates also happened to be Bob's candidates...). Bob was the Pastor of that church for about 5 years. Trey does not preach in that way. He is not going to tell anyone who "God" wants them to vote for.
Trey, however, is a pastor. A pastor is someone who is called, first and foremost, to care for God's people. A pastor is someone who is people-oriented. So, when Trey encounters inequalities in society, he asks questions (e.g. "Why are these people being treated so badly?" "Why isn't anything being done about it?" "What is God calling me / us to do in this situation?" etc.)
As soon as he began asking these sorts of questions in sermons, some of his parishioners (who had happily agreed with Bob's style of preaching for the past 5 years) began to complain, indignantly, that Trey was "preaching politics from the pulpit"...
Hmmm...as this (true) story illustrates, the question is more complicated than simply: "is the preacher preaching politics?"
The real question is: "Is the preacher preaching
my
politics?
If yes: it's easy to find the message agreeable and "Biblical."
If no: it's easy to find the message offensive, inappropriate, and "unchristian."
So: as I encouraged you last week to pray for your preachers, I encourage you this week to pray for yourself, too. The reality is that sometimes we agree with a sermon; sometimes we do not; and sometimes, even though we may not
like
the sermon, it may have a message for us. Pray that, where God has a message for you, you will be able to hear it. Sometimes this message is a part of the sermon; sometimes God takes your heart in a completely different direction. The point is that the sermon is a vehicle for God to get into your heart deeply and to encourage, strengthen, and prepare you for the amazing work that God has in mind for you (work that only
you
can do! 🙂 ).
With Agape Love,
Peter+
502-661-2742
"...alarming Rise in Covid-19 infections..."
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Join us for Online Worship
on Sunday, July 26
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost:
Proper 12, Year Two -
BCP 977
Virtual Worship with the Diocese of Lexington
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Reminder:
All Ascension videos - and several organ and piano performances by John Martin - are now available on our FREE "YouTube Channel." You may subscribe, get notifications, view playlists...
click here for more information
... or go directly to the
Ascension YouTube Channel Page
. This means you can conveniently find all Ascension videos all in one place, without having to scroll and sift through all of our other Facebook group postings. Kudos to Taylor Lunsford for creating and managing our videos!
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One way or another, a new school year is about to begin. It will look very different in many ways because of the ongoing pandemic, but students will still be studying, learning, doing activities, and using supplies. Our own Deacon Rebecca Saager is collecting school supplies for needy children of Simon House (and others in Frankfort).
You may contribute funds designated specifically for this project, and Deacon Rebecca will do the shopping. Make your check payable to "Church of the Ascension" and mark "school supplies" on the memo line on the check. Mail it to the church no later than August 15 (or drop it into the locked brass mailbox on the parish hall porch nearest the garden).
OR bring items directly to Deacon Rebecca at Ascension (so they can be sorted and photographed prior to donation). Rebecca will be at church to receive donations of school supplies personally on
Tuesdays from 12-3 p.m. for the next four weeks - July 28, August 4, 11 & 18.
Please enter the hallway using the front door nearest the library, wearing a mask; a donation bin will be provided so no personal contact need occur. If you have access to the building at another time, you may leave items in the designated bin beside the library door. Or, you may contact Rebecca to make special arrangements to suit your schedule.
Items that have been requested by Simon House are:
- Pens and pencils
- Wide ruled paper package
- 3 ring binder
- 2 pocket folders with clips
- Markers- regular and dry erase
- Hand sanitizer
- Facial tissues
- Disinfectant wipes
Thank you for your help with this important project.
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The national organization of the
Boy Scouts of America
has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in order to restructure its nonprofit organization and pay Sexual Abuse Survivors who were abused during their time in Scouting. Sexual Abuse Survivors include anyone who was sexually abused during their time in Scouting on or before February 18, 2020. This could include anyone involved with Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, or any entity or activity associated with Scouting.
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PARISH DIRECTORY -
Have YOU submitted your Directory Response Form? You may just type the requested details in an email, if that is easier for you (
info@ascensionfrankfort.org), or leave a message to request a phone call (502-223-0557).
Please click on the link to print the response form, OR call the parish office (502-223-0557) and leave a message asking for a personal call to review your details. Remember that
only
those who do respond and give permission will be included in the directory!
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COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no worship services or any group meetings in the church building until further notice. Father Peter and the Vestry are working with our diocesan leaders to plan for re-opening safely when the time is right.
Regular office hours remain suspended until further notice; clergy and staff are working (mostly) from home. Access to the building is limited to those with specific permission, and "
Healthy at Work
" guidelines apply to everyone who enters the building.
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includes our church building!
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MONTHLY RECEIPTS
7/3/2020: $5,513
7/10 & 15/2020: $4,957
7/17/2020: $5,239
Thank you for your continuing support. We are working to minimize expenses but still need to pay for upkeep, maintenance, insurance, payroll, etc. Click here to see a letter from our Treasurer regarding the pandemic:
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This web site has an abundance of information and resources - check it out!
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Intercessions for the Church:
St. John’s Church, Versailles - The Rev. Dana Lockhart,
Priest-in-Charge;
The Rev. Dcn. Emily Cardwell.
Recently in need of prayers:
Adrianna; Barbara; Bill; Candy; Correll; Daneen; Debbie; Donnie; Edith & Marion; Fran & Doug; Ginni; Gus; Heidi & Ian; Greg; Joe; Jon; Josh; Lara; Linda; Madonna; Mae & Frank; Marie; Marilyn;
Sandy;
Scott & Kathy; Shirley; Sidney, Suzanne, Tod, Blair & Grant.
Continuing concern:
Betty; Carrie & Shawn; Collin; Dan; Darlene; David; Debbie; Dillard; Doris; the Duncan Family; Erika; Faye & Steve; Gillian; Holly; Isaiah; James & Stella; Janet; Janice; Jean; Jinks; John; Julia; June; Linda; Mac; Mary; Melissa; Mike & Susie; Polly; Sherri; and Tom. We also pray for those on active duty in the military: Daniel, Houston, Mary Jo, Nick, Seth, Tanner, and Walter.
Birthdays:
7/30 - Judith Spencer; 8/1 - Luke Purvis, Jillian Word.
Anniversaries:
7/29 - Mike & Susie Oder; 7/30 - Dave Obradovich & Katie Daugherty.
NOTICE:
Part of the strength of this congregation is our care and concern for each other. Please help us to do this by letting the church office know when you are ill, hospitalized, or otherwise in need of prayer and/or visitation. We especially want to serve you during these times.
Also, if we don’t have your birthday or anniversary on file, or if it appears incorrectly, please let us know!
Call the office at
502-223-0557
(messages are checked periodically), or email
curate@ascensionfrankfort.org
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Pre-Planning for End of Life
Rite I or Rite II? Eucharist or no? Burial service in the church, or only a graveside committal? Special music, songs, readings, people? Please consider writing your preferences on a “Funeral Information and Burial Instructions” form, for secure long-term storage in the parish office. This confidential information will serve as a guide to the church and your family after your death. A 'Kentucky Living Will Directive and Health Care Surrogate Designation' Form is also available. Return the completed form(s) to Deacon Rebecca, Deacon Sue, or to the parish office.
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Clergy and Staff
- The Rev. Peter Doddema, Priest
- The Rev. Dr. William G. Brown, Associate Priest Emeritus
- The Rev. Deacon Rebecca A. Saager, Curate
- The Rev. Deacon Susan E. Kurtz, Deacon
- Mr. John B. Martin, Director of Music & Organist
- Ms. Mona Landrum Proctor, Parish & Financial Administrator
- Mr. David Gierlach, Sexton
Copyright © 2020 Church of the Ascension. All Rights Reserved.
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