THIS WEEK AT ASCENSION + October 21, 2020
"Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." - Psalm 96

You will be able to see how many spots, if any, are still available.

A note on HOW TO CANCEL may be found in conjunction with the information below for the coming Sunday.

The full schedule for Sunday, including virtual worship and connections,
may be found below.
This evening, October 21
Commemoration of
Saint Luke the Evangelist (Oct 18)

Evening Prayer 6:00 p.m.
Low Mass, 6:30 p.m.


Image: St. Luke the Evangelist, Mikhail Nesterov, 1909
Sunday, October 25
Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 25A)

Virtual and In-Person Schedule
with links for virtual worship and in-person reservations

Virtual Worship & Fellowship
8:30 a.m. - Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. - Live-Streamed Mass
10:15 a.m. - Virtual Coffee Hour
ALL VIA ZOOM



11:00 a.m. In-Person Mass - Reservation Required: Click here


Image: Christ in Majesty, detail from early 15th c. Bohemian illuminated manuscript


NOTE: If you need to CANCEL your reservation:
CLICK the link above. CLICK on the pink text "you have registered for this event." You will be given the option "Remove Registration." CLICK on that option and your reservation is removed.

From the Rector
Who's on First? - Scheduling Volunteers
Costello: Well then who's on first? Abbott:  Yes.
Costello: I mean the fellow's name. Abbott:  Who.
Costello: The guy on first. Abbott:  Who.
Costello: The first baseman. Abbott:  Who.
Costello: The guy playing... Abbott:  Who is on first!
Costello: I'm asking YOU who's on first. Abbott:  That's the man's name.
Costello: That's who's name? Abbott: Yes.

"Let everything be done decently and in order." 1 Corinthians 14:40
Dear People of Ascension,

You may imagine that last night's first World Series game brought to my mind the famous comedy dialog partly quoted above. Maybe. But the same dialog, or variations on it, often crops up in conjunction with parish volunteers. Sometimes the comic element is missing. Who's who on a Sunday? Why are some people always scheduled and others never? How can a newcomer sign up? And more. Feelings get hurt.
Here at Ascension, volunteers have been scheduled by a half dozen or more parishioners, each familiar with and involved in one ministry or more and all with different styles and systems. New scheduling complications have arisen due to both the pandemic and the return to in-person worship: We've had to limit lectors to those who Zoom. Food pantry volunteers are on hold for now. Ushers, greeters and screeners for in-person worship receive extra training. 'Tech ministers' is not a role we would have imagined a year ago but are now needed and will be of value going forward indefinitely.

This background will explain, I hope, why, just yesterday, we enrolled in an online ministry scheduling service for a six-month trial period. The name of the service? Ministry Scheduler Pro. Click here to take a look at the website. This program was first recommended to me by a fellow rector. Verger Mary Beth Hwang and Senior Warden Gary Alexander looked into other options before confirming this may be a best choice for us. Benefits we anticipate will include easier scheduling for all, better access to timely information and easier ministry access and participation for newcomers.

Look for more information in the weeks and months to come as we implement new systems. And please know of my gratitude for all who take part in all of our ministries, and in particular for those of you who train, mentor, oversee and schedule others.


Also from the Rector
Our All Souls Requiem Mass for all the faithful departed will be live-streamed (only) on Monday, November 2, at 6:30 p.m. (preceded by Evening Prayer, also live-streamed, at 6:00 p.m.). Those wishing for the names of the departed to be included in the necrology that will be read read at the requiem should send an email to Br. Nathanael Rahm in the parish office or call him at (312) 664-1271, no later than Noon on Thursday, October 29. Look for more information in next week's newsletter.

Also in next week's newsletter:
Ongoing questions -- and maybe some answers -- about holiday outreach ministries.
Daylight savings will NOT end until Sunday, November 1 ... a reminder for those who are accustomed to a change in October.
It's old news! In some random browser search, I came across a feature about Ascension in a 1966 issue of The Diapason ... see today's Last Word ...
Passages


The Rev. Shane Patrick Gormley and Dr. Leslie Gurina Smebak, MD, were joined in Holy Matrimony at Asecension this past Saturday, October 17. Bishop Jeffrey Lee presided. Notes of congratulations, endearment and support may be sent to Fr. Gormley at his personal email here.


A Committal in the Ascension columbarium of the bodily remains of Mary Louise 'Marylou' Devens, will take place this coming Sunday, October 25, following the end of the 11:00 a.m. in-person mass. (A requeim mass was offered at another parish following Marylou's August death.) Ascension members are welcome to join family and friends in the garden, observing appropriate social distancing.
Newcomer Henri Poilevey has made a commitment to Holy Baptism on the Feast of All Saints, Sunday, November 1. Henri first came to Ascension after the New Year and had previously expressed an interest in Baptism at the Easter Vigil. Thanks be to God that he has persevered in inquiry and faith! Joey Keegin will serve as Henri's baptism sponsor.
Can you help host a virtual coffee hour? We started our Sunday virtual coffee hours almost immediately after pandemic restrictions took effect. For many, they have provided a meaningful connection opportunity at a time where meaningful connections are hard to come by. Those of us who hosted prior to the start of in-person worship are no longer able to be present or host. We'd love to identify a half dozen hosts who would serve on a rotating basis. This role is low-tech (if you are already able to Zoom) and high reward. Training is available. Please contact me or either warden.
Sunday's Organ Repertoire
Opening Voluntary
IV. Chaconne:
“... beside the still waters...”
  (Windows of Comfort, Book I, 1996)
Dan Locklair (b. 1949)

At Communion
Herr Gott, nun schleuß
den Himmel auf  BWV 1092
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) 
 
Closing Voluntary
III. Baptism Dance:
“... the heavens were opened...”
  (Windows of Comfort, Book I, 1996)
Dan Locklair
I regret having to remind you that visits to Ascension, other than for urgent or essential matters or for brief personal devotion in the church, are to be avoided. Any (other) visit should be arranged in advance with Br. Nathanael Rahm Thank you for your understanding.
Due to COVID-19, Church of the Ascension’s Treasurer and Bookkeeper are limiting the amount of time they spend working in the parish offices. All checks received at Ascension via the United States Postal Service, not always a reliable service in our area, will be bank deposited approximately every 4-6 weeks. They will next be here Thursday, November 5th, for several hours beginning by 10 a.m. You may contact the Treasurer by email anytime at Finance@AscensionChicago.org. 
Ascension Connections
Below
(with your click and God's help)
Meeting ID:
792 031 7452
Password: 1133
Join-by-Phone Option: (312) 626-6799

Weekly Ascension Schedule

For connections:
via Zoom (click here)
except for Morning Prayer,
via Facebook (click here).

SUNDAYS
8:30 a.m. Virtual Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. Live-Streamed Mass
10:15 a.m. Virtual Coffee Hour
11:00 a.m. in-person mass

MONDAY-FRIDAY
6:10 p.m. Evening Prayer via Zoom

WEDNESDAYS
6:30 p.m. Low Mass
Yes, but I still haven't Zoomed ...
For the Novice, Newbie, or tech-challenged: It may be easier than you know. We've simplified instructions on the sheet that you can view by clicking here. Please know that you can block your camera (and don't need one to start with), and you could join our Scripture study or Virtual Coffee Hour, for instance, without having to say a word. Give it a try.
Please give generously as you are able.
Treasurer Susan Schlough has asked me to remind you of Ascension's ongoing expenses at this time. To the extent that you are able, payment on your pledges or the offering of Holy Day or other special gifts will be greatly appreciated. You may still write a check and mail it to the church, or online payment is possible through the buttons at various places on our website. Thank you!
THE PARISH PRAYER LIST
For our prayers: Charley Taylor, August 'Augie' Alonzo, Jim Berger, Ethel Martin, Dean Pineda, Charlene MacDougal, Marty Stenson, David Byerly, Bonnie Joseph, Catriana Patriarca, Robert Devens, Richard Laibly, Nicholas Carl, Sara, the Howard family, John, Owen Raymond, Diane Burnett, Sandra, Rhea, the Friedman family, Doreen Rao, Steven Wallis, Fr. Lawrence Larson

Birthdays: Scott Knitter, 10/18; Louise Gram, 10/21; Taylor Payton Mays, 10/22/2012

Bishop Candidates: The Rev. Canon Paula E. Clark, The Rev. Edwin Daniel Johnson,
The Rev. Dr. Fulton L. Porter III, The Rev. Winnie Varghese

Requiescat in pace: Bradley Mott, 10/10/2020; Margaret Leonard, 10/20/1990; Mary Potter, 10/21/1980; James Budzban, 10/23/2017; Delores Peter, 10/23/2018; The Rt. Rev. James Winchester Montgomery, IX Bishop of Chicago, 10/23/2019; David L. Brooks, 10/25/2008; Jean D. Gehrke, 10/26/2007; Robert A. White, 10/27/2018, Rachael Ann Bottorff, 10/28/2012

Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them;
May their souls and the souls of all the departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.


In the event that you've missed XIII Bishop of Chicago candidate information ...

To read the announcement of Bishop Candidates by the Standing Committee of the diocese, click here.

To read about the canonical 'Petition Process' that provides an opportunity for additional Candidates to be considered, through Monday, October 12, click here.

To read about the four present Candidates and their impressive and diverse qualifications as presented by the Bishop Search Committee, click here.

To learn about ground already covered in the bishop search or about the upcoming Candidate Conversations or December election, click here.

Whether or not you've clicked ... please pray.

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCP p. 818
The Last Word
I'm always pleased to come across some previously unknown Ascension archive and to add to my knowledge of the parish's history. Below, a front page story from a 1966 issue of The Diapason. It both gives a snapshot of a point in time in the musical life of the parish and includes the original configuration of our pipe organ. Click here to read the original article in the original format, if the cut and paste below is too fuzzy. The home page for the Diapason, still in circulation though much changed, may be found by clicking here. Fr. Raymond +
The Very Rev. Patrick Raymond, Rector

Susan Schlough, Treasurer

Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG, Parish Office