Volume 11, Issue #17
April 29, 2021
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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For our upcoming Sunday, we have one of the most beautiful readings in Scripture:
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. (I John 4.7 - 8)
Scripture was written over a very long period of time (more than 1,000 years) and is a collection of many different books, sermons, poems, and letters from a wide range of different people and cultures. They all experienced God in different ways at different times and places.
For example, the ancient Jews, struggling in slavery and oppressed by foreign armies occupying their country, sometimes wrote bitter poems and histories, begging God to crush the very bones of their enemies and celebrating when this happened.
At other times, they (and our early Christian ancestors, too), overwhelmed with visions of God's loving, constant care for them, crafted deep and enduring love poems such as Psalm 23 (which we read this past Sunday) and the Song of Songs.
The Bible can be a bewildering mix of conflicting writings: instructing us (on the one hand) on how to properly sacrifice sheep and goats in order to please God (!) and (on the other hand) encouraging us to stay strong in the middle of hard times, because God knows what you are dealing with and is already, lovingly responding for your best.
How do we make sense of this complex, ancient, often intense library of holy writings?
My practice is to focus on the words of Jesus. I am a Christian - a follower of Christ - before anything else. My work is to pattern my life after the teachings of Jesus, and a very simple way to do that is to focus on what he taught and, from there, the portions of the Bible that echo these teachings.
His teachings focused on a few simple items taken directly from Judaism:
1) love (agape) God;
2) love (agape) your neighbor as yourself;
3) don't judge others;
4) care for your community, especially people who are in desperate need (the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, imprisoned, and the foreigner).
I find that doing this work is a full-time, lifelong job. It is not terribly complicated, but doing this important work changes me. God calls me / us to this work, I suspect, not only to meet needs around us, but also because God knows that our souls need constant shaping and molding. God's vision for each of us is a vision of the best that we can be: God sees this clearly, even if we do not. Doing this work (which is written so well in the I John passage quoted above) helps to form us, gradually, into God's vision for each of us.
Regarding parts of the Bible that are different from Jesus' teachings: Though they give clear instructions for how to properly treat one's slaves, publicly execute people who embarrass the local community, etc., they are often simply not applicable to our life today. Focusing our attention on them might be an interesting distraction, but they do not address the world in which we live or help us to discern God's will with the many challenges that we face. I treat these passages as secondary: I read them and I do my best to understand them, but I also recognize that they were written for other people living in other times and facing very different circumstances. 🙂
I hope that you and your family are staying healthy and able to enjoy this wonderful, spring weather. You are in my prayers and in the prayers of all of our clergy!
With Joy,
Peter+
Cell 502-661-2742
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WORSHIP NOTES
For the foreseeable future, Sunday worship will include both in-person and online worship. If you are comfortable attending live worship at the church, it is held at 9:30 a.m. Once we have a larger number of people attending worship (and enough usher volunteers to take temperatures), we will return to our normal two services: 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
If you are not yet comfortable attending worship at the church, we invite you to attend live worship through our Facebook page. One of the clergy will lead Morning Prayer on Facebook each Sunday, also at 9:30 a.m.
We are working on getting the technology to broadcast our services live from the sanctuary. We are intentionally taking our time to select the right options at the best price possible. We will update you once we have more information about this.
As we return to physically attending services inside the church, no advance registration is needed. But please remember that the pandemic is slowed, not gone, and not everyone has been vaccinated. Masks, signing in at the door, and social distancing are still required. Please check in personally with an usher when you arrive before taking a seat in the marked areas.
Ask an usher about the current availability of Nursery services and Godly Play classes for youth.
Beginning in MAY, we will allow the in-person congregation to say prayers and responses aloud, as long as:
1) people are socially distanced, and
2) people are wearing masks.
Congregational singing, of course, is still not allowed. Work is being done at the diocesan level to reincorporate this; we hope to hear more soon.
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The Ascension Vestry has approved
Reopening the Church Building
for Group Meetings
as of May 1
We ask that groups observe the normal COVID precautions:
1) To ensure access and availability for church meeting spaces, please contact Mona Proctor in the parish office to schedule all meetings in advance: call (502) 223-0557 or email info@ascensionfrankfort.org
2) Wear masks and practice social distancing (depending on the size of your group, you may need to consider meeting in the parish hall for now).
3) Keep a list of who is physically present in case there is a need to trace contacts; take temperatures with a no-touch thermometer, ask questions about recent symptoms, and deny admittance to anyone with a high temperature or recent symptoms. (The church has two thermometers, blank attendance roster pages and a checklist which may be used if returned to their original location immediately after your meeting.)
4) Continue to offer online attendance options (ZOOM, etc.) for people who are not yet comfortable attending meetings in person. (ZOOM meetings can be set up by anyone for free, with certain restrictions. For church-related meetings expected to last longer than 40 minutes, ask Father Peter or Mona Proctor about scheduling under the church's paid account.)
ABOUT OFFICE HOURS
Clergy and staff will begin spending more time in the office while continuing some work from home; personal meetings may be requested in advance. Church doors will remain locked when there is only one person in the building. Full-time coverage is provided for telephone calls and messages, so please call first when you need to reach us!
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Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 2, 9:30 a.m. - Rite II
OPEN for live, in-person service
inside the church.
Morning Prayer will be offered online
at the same time.

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Ascension has TWO addresses on Facebook:
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Dear Simon House Friends,
Mother’s Day will be Sunday, May 9, 2021, and Simon House is requesting your help with a donation in honor or memory of your mother or another significant person in your life. Your gift will help other mothers in our community who are struggling to care for their children.
Simon House has faced many challenges during the past year, as have many of our clients. The needs of homeless and extremely low-income families have never been greater, and we need your help to continue serving them.
In 2020, we served 49 homeless mothers and children in our emergency shelter, 81 homeless adults in our temporary shelter during the COVID shutdown, and 676 extremely low-income clients in our community services program.
To help Simon House continue to address the needs of our community members, we invite you to make a Mother’s Day gift to Simon House in honor or in memory of your mother or another special person in your life.
Simon House will mail a special Mother’s Day card to the person you are honoring. For memorial gifts, a card will be sent to an individual you designate, if you wish. Further, the names of all those honored or remembered will be listed in the State Journal, and they also will be listed on Simon House’s website or Facebook page.
Say “thank you” to your mother or other special person in your life while helping homeless mothers care for their children.
Thank you for your efforts to do “unto one of the least of these. . .” (Matthew 25:40).
Sincerely,
John B. Martin, Chair
Simon House Board of Directors
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SPRING BOOK STUDY
Starting Wednesday, April 28
and continuing on Wednesdays
at 5:30 p.m.
Online via ZOOM
Our popular book studies continue with another selection from Barbara Brown Taylor: Always a Guest: Speaking of Faith Far From Home.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Reading Camp is ON at Ascension
for Summer 2021
Monday, JULY 19 thru Friday, JULY 23
For details, contact Deacon Rebecca Saager
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If you have any questions about donations or pledges, please contact Mona Proctor in the parish office: call 502-223-0557 or email info@ascensionfrankfort.org.
THANK YOU
for continuing to support Ascension w
ith your time, treasure, and talents!
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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. Alban’s Church, Morehead - The Rev. Gretchen Weller, Priest-in-Partnership.
Recently in need of prayers: Allen; Arnold; Bill; Bob, Linda, Isaac & Zachary; Correll; Darlene; Faye & Steve; George; Jan; John; Kathy; Linda; Lynda; Marie; Marilyn; Michele and family; Mildred; Noreen; Patricia; Ruth; Sue; the students and staff of Stewart Home School; and also, the victims of recent flooding in our city and state.
Continuing concern: Adrianna; Ann; Barbara; Dan; Debbie; Dillard; Edith; Gillian; Ginni; Jinks; Mac; Mae & Frank; Mary; Melissa; Mike & Susie; Rena; and Polly. We also pray for those affected by the COVID pandemic, and for those on active duty in the military: Daniel, Houston, Nick, Seth, Tanner, and Walter.
Thanksgivings: for blessings of the Easter Season; for the beautiful spring weather; for the ability to resume worship in-person; and for answered prayers.
Birthdays: 5/2 - Tina Endicott, Alaina Schroth; 5/8 - Steve Wolford.
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
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The Rev. Peter Doddema, Priest
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The Rev. Dr. William G. Brown, Associate Priest Emeritus
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The Rev. Deacon Rebecca A. Saager, Curate
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The Rev. Deacon Susan E. Kurtz, Deacon
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Mr. John B. Martin, Director of Music & Organist
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Ms. Mona Landrum Proctor, Parish & Financial Administrator
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Mr. David Gierlach, Sexton
Copyright © 2021 Church of the Ascension. All Rights Reserved.
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