Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

The Church of the Ascension

in the City of New York

12 West 11th Street, New York, NY 10011

212-254-8620 | info@ascensionnyc.org | www.ascensionnyc.org

Dear People of Ascension,

Like many of you, I often read daily meditations from the Franciscan teacher Richard Rohr. This week's theme, Wisdom in Times of Crisis, has been particularly helpful to me, and speaks not only to the challenging times we are living in, but also to the disorientation, disruption and deep weariness brought by confronting a global pandemic, our own and our society's profound racism, and the brokenness of many of our systems and institutions.

One paragraph struck me in particular. Rohr writes:

"In moments of insecurity and crisis, shoulds and oughts don’t really help. They just increase the shame, guilt, pressure, and likelihood of backsliding into unhealthy patterns. It’s the deep yeses that carry us through to the other side. It’s that deeper something we are strongly for—such as equality and dignity for all—that allows us to wait it out. It’s someone in whom we absolutely believe and to whom we commit. In plain language, love wins out over guilt any day."

And so I invite you, and myself, to ponder to whom or what is your deep yes? How do you want to move through or beyond should and ought, shame and guilt? What are you really for? What is your life for? How can you root yourself even more deeply in your yes to love?

Wild blessings,

Liz

How to Join the Service

From your computer, laptop, pad, smart phone, or other device, click this link:

https://zoom.us/j/322793633

If you do not have a device with a camera, you can still join with your phone by dialing the following number and enter the meeting ID: 929-205-6099 Meeting ID: 322 793 633

All of our online services, with their links, can be found on our public calendar, and are listed below.

Click this link to read up on some best practices for Zoom meetings.

The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Worship Service

July 12, 2020; 11:00 a.m.

‌

All gather online

The service begins with the sound of a bell

and your microphones will be muted.

Introit

Gregorian Chant

Welcome

Hymn

#516 Come down, O Love divine ( Down Ampney)

Please join in the singing of the hymn.

Come down, O Love divine,

seek thou this soul of mine,

and visit it with thine own ardor glowing;

O Comforter, draw near,

within my heart appear,

and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn,

till earthly passions turn

to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;

and let thy glorious light

shine ever on my sight,

and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

And so the yearning strong,

with which the soul will long,

shall far outpass the power of human telling;

for none can guess its grace,

till Love create a place

wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.

Acclamation

Presider Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect of the Day

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

1st Reading - Genesis 25:19-34

Reader: Rusty Moore

These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger.” When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Psalm 119:105-112 (St. Helena Psalter)

Your word is a lantern to my feet *

and a light upon my path.

I have sworn and am determined *

to keep your righteous judgments.

I am deeply troubled; *

preserve my life, O God, according to your word.

Accept, O God, the willing tribute of my lips, *

and teach me your judgments.

My life is always in my hand, *

yet I do not forget your law.

The wicked have set a trap for me, *

but I have not strayed from your commandments.

Your decrees are my inheritance for ever; *

truly, they are the joy of my heart.

I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes *

for ever and to the end.

2nd Reading - Romans 8:1-11

Reader: Barbara Matovu

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law-- indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to Matthew

Matthew 13:1-9,18-23

Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen! Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Sermon

Stacey Carpenter

A Sound Meditation:

“O Lux Beata Trinitas” ( O Trinity Blessed by the Light )

By James Bassi

Prayers of the People - New Zealand Prayer Book, Second Form

Please send your own prayers through the chat function on Zoom, and the leader will read them at the end of the intercessions.

God of heaven and earth, through Jesus Christ you promise to hear us when we pray to you in faith with thanksgiving.

We pray for one another, for our families and friends, through whom we learn to love and to be loved. Thank you for all who care for us. Give us grace to serve Christ by serving our neighbors and our community, loving others as he loves us.

Silence

We thank you for the unfailing love you hold out to everyone in Jesus Christ. Comfort and heal those in sorrow, need, sickness or any other trouble, especially Robert, Ed, Janet, Mary and Tom, Ellen, Joseph, Brielle, Lucas, Holly, Allejandro and Jesus, Jorge, Nancy, Barbara, Dorothy, Stewart, Patricia, Judith, Marco, Tina, Hannah, Jurek, Alice, Stacy and Jonathan, Michael, Lisa, Caroline, Bryan, Richard, Barbara, Kate, Edita, and Daniel. Give them courage and hope in their distress, and bless those who minister to them.

Silence

We remember with gratitude your many gifts to us in creation and the rich heritage of this land. Help us and people everywhere to share with justice and peace the resources of the earth. We pray for all laboring to end racism and white supremacy and establish racial justice in our country. Give wisdom to those in authority among us and to all leaders of the nations.

Silence

We pray for your Church throughout the world, thanking you for all who serve Christ and his kingdom. By your Spirit strengthen your people for their work and witness in the world. Unite us in your truth and love, that we who confess your name may also reflect your glory.

Silence

We pray for all affected by COVID-19: for the frightened and the sick, for the dying and those who mourn. We pray for all who have lost jobs and livelihood as a result of this pandemic. We pray for all healthcare workers, especially Scarlett, Madonna, Trudie, Nancy, Anna, Sarah, Endine, and Terese, for all whose labor supports our common life, sometimes at the risk of their own lives; for those developing treatment and a vaccine, and for those charged with making decisions about public health and public policy and for all who are reopening, that they may care for one another in wisdom and safety.

Silence

We remember with thanksgiving all who have died in Christ and those whose faith is known to you alone, especially Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Jamel Floyd, Elijah McClain, Rosalind Susan Weight, Rayshard Brooks, the Rev. Edgar Wells, and Richard Lopez. We rejoice at the faithful witness of your saints in every age, praying that we may enter with them into the unending joy of your heavenly kingdom.

Silence

We offer you our other prayers, and our thanksgivings for all the blessings of this life.

Prayers received on Zoom chat are read by the intercessor.

Silence

Merciful God, you look with compassion on all who turn to you. Hear the prayers of your people.

The priest adds a concluding collect.

Confession and Absolution

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name,

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those

who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Announcements

Blessing

Hymn

#530 Spread, O spread, thou mighty word ( Gott sei Dank )

Please join in the singing of the hymn.

Spread, O spread, thou mighty word,

spread the kingdom of the Lord,

that to earth’s remotest bound

all may heed the joyful sound;

word of how the Father’s will

made the world, and keeps it, still;

how his only Son he gave,

earth from sin and death to save;

word of how the Savior’s love

earth’s sore burden doth remove;

how forever, in its need,

through his death the world is freed;

word of how the Spirit came

bringing peace in Jesus’ name;

how his never-failing love

guides us on to heaven above.

Word of life, most pure and strong,

word for which the nations long,

spread abroad, until from night

all the world awakes to light.

Dismissal

The people respond

Thanks be to God.

Coffee Hour

Pour yourself a cup of coffee, tea, or your favorite juice, grab a slice of banana bread, piece of fruit, or a peanut butter & jelly sandwich , and feel free to "hang out" with us online to chat!

For Your Daily Prayers - "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) During this time of global crisis and personal anxiety, we offer you this prayer form to include in your daily prayers.

Announcements

Our Guest Preacher this Sunday - Stacey Carpenter - Ascension is delighted to be sponsoring Stacey for ordination to the priesthood, and we are so grateful that she is often able to join us for church on Zoom. We welcome her as our preacher this Sunday, July 12. Several weeks ago Stacey led a wonderful forum sharing with the parish some of her experiences and learnings from her first year at Seminary of the Southwest. She has also written the attached letter, telling us a bit more as well as what she is up to this summer, doing CPE in Washington state.

Ascension Art Show! This Sunday, July 12 - Our second in the series of Ascension artists forums will be this coming Sunday. Three of our talented parishioners have offered to share some of their artwork with us in small groups during coffee hour. The artworks they present may have been done during this time of quarantine — or may not. After a general coffee hour time, we will be sorted into three breakout rooms, one for each artist. After 10 minutes, the artists will move to a different room, and then they will move a 3rd time. That way, all participants can interact with each of the 3 artists. We welcome Mary Gaillard, Daniel Cole, and Janet Fisher. We are so appreciative of their talent and their willingness to share! “Loving God, who has filled the world with beauty. Open our eyes to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works!” BCP

Sunday Meditation with Prayers & Music is available on our Facebook page: facebook.com/ascensionnyc

Stay Connected in Prayer. Join us each weeknight at 5:30 for Evening Prayer and discussion. To join , follow this link: https://zoom.us/j/770597201 . To call in (voice, no camera), dial 929-205-6099; the meeting ID is 770 597 201.

Please take the time to read the information about New Sanctuary Coalition’s #SaveAsylum campaign and submit a comment about the proposed new regulations that are designed to destroy the right and process of applying for asylum. This is a time for us who have the privilege of US citizenship to use it on behalf of our vulnerable siblings. And it is a time when our actions can really make a difference.

Racial Justice Book Group: How to be an Anti-Racist , by Ibram X. Kendi- For the rest of the summer, we at Ascension will join others in the Diocese of New York in reading and discussing How to be an Anti-Racist. The book is widely available. Our first meeting will be at 6:30 this Thursday, July 16, and we ask that you come having read the introduction and chapters 1-4. We will continue on alternate Thursdays: July 30, and August 13 and 27. Please join us via Zoom (meeting id: 931 1415 0722) as we continue the urgent and holy work of learning about racism and white supremacy, and how each of us is called to work for racial justice. Questions? Please speak to the clergy.

Subscribe to the AscensionNYC podcast and have our weekly sermons delivered to the device of your choice! While we have been posting recordings of sermons preached at Ascension services since February 2015, many have asked how they can listen to them on the go. Now you can subscribe to the AscensionNYC podcast to have the latest sermons and other audio content from the Church of the Ascension automatically downloaded to your phone, tablet or computer. Follow this link

to choose how you'd like to receive AscensionNYC in the podcast app you use; we’re being added to more and more directories each week!

You can also go to our website to listen to recent sermons by clicking here or going to our website.

Letters from our Bishops!

" The Beloved Community Faces White Supremacy"

" On the President's use of St. John's Lafayette Square as a political prop"

Meditation for the Wednesday of the Sixth Week after Pentecost by the Rt. Rev. Mary D. Glasspool, Bishop Assistant of New York

From Your Vestry

Click here to read notes from the most recent Vestry meeting.

Mother Posey's Art Quilting Website - At last Sunday's Zoom coffee hour, some of the members of the Needlework guild asked Mother Posey to send a link to her art quilting website. You will find photographs of many of her beautiful quilts there!

Ongoing Financial Support - During this time of suspended social gatherings, we are having to be a bit creative. Since we aren’t able to pass around the offering plate at a Zoom service, here are some ways you can continue to give :

Mail your gift to Church or the Ascension, 12 West 11th St., NYC, NY 10011
Contact our bookkeeper (bookkeeper@ascensionnyc.org) to set up a one-time or recurring gift via credit card.
Set up a wire transfer from your bank (ACH)

Give while shopping - We all seem to be relying on online shopping more and more these days. The AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5 percent of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the nonprofit you choose. Even these small sums can add up for us. Click here to find out how.

This Week At Ascension

Sunday – July 12

Church Service ( Zoom); 11:00 a.m.

Ascension Art Forum (Zoom); following the 11:00 service

Meditation with Prayers and Music ( Available on our Facebook page)

Monday – July 13