Volume 10, Issue #23 - June 4, 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
By any measure, these are stressful, anxious times. Facing both the Covid virus, and now the stark realities of centuries-old, systemic racism in our society, can cause us to feel a range of extreme emotions. Anger, confusion, fear, hope (yes, hope as well!), powerlessness...
I know that lately, I have felt on a rollercoaster. I have experienced moments of almost crippling depression, where I felt so overwhelmed by current events (and my seeming powerlessness to affect any meaningful change) that I could barely get up and face the day. I have had other moments where I felt such intense hope: for example, I watched an interview today with Blair Underwood that gave me signs of light in this current darkness.
Today I simply want to remind you that God created you and me with these emotions. They do not need to be suppressed or ignored - they are from God. We are given the tools to manage our emotions (e.g., I do my best to manage how my feelings cause me to interact with my family - they don't need to deal with the full weight of what I'm feeling), but I encourage you to welcome them, whatever they are. Breathe and lift them up to God in prayer. Allow yourself to feel them fully, knowing that they are transitory: feelings come and go. At moments where I feel depressed, I take comfort in knowing that the feelings will pass and I will soon be in a better emotional place.
I also strongly encourage you to talk with trusted friends, family, or a professional counselor during these times. We are facing unprecedented events (COVID virus / pandemic) and also the raw expression of widespread, systemic flaws. Find safe, appropriate people to whom you can talk, share, and get the support that you need. There are a LOT of resources available in our community.
Finally, please be selective about how much news you digest. We all need to be properly, wisely informed about current events. However, none of us need to be paralyzed or traumatized by the news. Please be thoughtful about how much time you give to the media - one of their primary jobs is to sell advertising, which often means presenting the most outrageous and sensational stories (or "spins" on stories) available. This is not always the same as good reporting and is often not conducive to our mental and emotional health.
Please know that you remain in the thoughts and prayers of your clergy. We care deeply about you. Please touch base with us if you need to talk, share, etc. We are here for you.
Grateful to be walking with you on this journey,
Peter+
cell 502-661-2742
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Join us for
Online Worship on Sunday, June 7
First Sunday after Pentecost:
Trinity Sunday
Recorded by Ascension clergy and staff in the church building.
Watch for the post on
Facebook
at 9:30 a.m.
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Reminder:
All Ascension videos 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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Ann-Morgan Conway Heath,
granddaughter of Jim & Debbie Kimbrough, is graduating from University of Louisville with a degree in Music Therapy, after spending the past year interning at Norton Hospital. She and her husband are expecting a baby boy later this month.
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Amelia Louise Peavler,
daughter of Dr. Walter Peavler & Becky Peavler, niece of Julia Peavler Tyson, great-niece of Agnes Parman, is graduating from Franklin County High School. She will be attending Bellarmine University where she plans to major in elementary education.
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Matthew Lee Peavler,
son of Dr. Walter Peavler & Becky Peavler, nephew of Julia Peavler Tyson, great-nephew of Agnes Parman, is graduating from Transylvania University with a degree in Education and Social Change and a double major in French. He plans to attend the University of Kentucky to work on his Masters degree in foreign language and education.
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Amelia Elizabeth (Mia) Smith Hiles,
daughter of Chris Smith, is graduating from Frankfort High School. She is a member of the Beta Club, National Honor Society, Yearbook staff, and Senior Committee. She spent her internship this year serving as an administrative assistant at Simon House. After graduation, she will be attending Georgetown College on full scholarship, studying business management.
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NEW Book study for June/July:
LIVING JUDAISM
Starting on Wednesday, June 10, at 5:30 p.m., Father Peter and Father Bill will team-teach an introductory class on Judaism. Father Bill lived, studied, and worked in Israel. Father Peter studied Judaism and Hebrew at seminary and traveled there in 2017.
Please let Father Peter know if you're interested. 🙂
The Jewish faith is, of course, the root of our own Christian faith. Jesus and his early disciples were Jewish, and they lived and worked in a Jewish world. Our hope is that by participating in this class, you will gain a deeper understanding of the Bible and fall more deeply in love with Scripture. (Plus, of course, it's going to be a ton of fun to learn together!)
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COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, direction from government officials, and leadership from our bishops, 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.
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ONLINE WORSHIP @ ASCENSION
- Sundays: Check out Ascension's Facebook page on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Father Peter will lead Morning Prayer (live from his home) OR there there will be an increasing number of recorded video services (in the church, with clergy and organist). Please log in if you're able and invite others to "attend" as well: we can all use a little prayer and community during this time!
- Father Peter is continuing to lead Sunday morning Bible study (currently the Gospel of Matthew) through ZOOM, starting at 11:00 a.m. Please text or email him (contact info is above) if you want to be added to this group.
- Daily: Father Peter is leading Evening Prayer at 6:30 p.m. on our Facebook page, beginning with any announcements as needed. All are welcome!
- Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays: Deacon Sue is leading Compline at 8:00 p.m. on our Facebook page. Join her and say hello!
- Saturdays: Centering Prayer meetings are now held online via ZOOM every Saturday at 10:00 a.m., led by Scott Kimbel. Everyone is invited and welcome, whether you are new or practiced with this technique. If you would like to attend, please contact Father Peter for the meeting link and password.
FACEBOOK:
Check it out, and comment to let others know you're watching! We also post announcements, articles, and links of interest on this page, so check it often.
ZOOM:
After contacting the group leader to sign up, you will receive a specific email invitation for EACH meeting, containing a link to click from your computer or smart device for voice and video, or alternately, a number to call from any phone for voice only.
VIDEOS:
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includes
our church building!
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MEETINGS & OFFICE HOURS
Regular office hours remain suspended until further notice; clergy and staff are working (mostly) from home.
Group meetings of three or more people should NOT be held on church grounds until further notice. Investigate using cell phone conferencing, Facebook Live, ZOOM, or other remote meeting options. See status update from Father Peter, above.
Having a key does NOT mean that you are authorized to enter/use the building during this period of mandatory closure. If your group "needs to meet" - CHECK FIRST with Father Peter for authorization or options. Building traffic should be absolutely minimal.
Father Peter, Mona Proctor, and other clergy and staff may sometimes be working from home, or may be in and out of the office occasionally. Our Sexton, David Gierlach, and cleaning person, Anita Rogers, will continue their duties on their own schedules. Other people are asked not to visit the office/church building without prior authorization from Father Peter. "Healthy at Work" guidelines apply to everyone in the building.
Our clergy team continues to work to stay in touch with our members who are sick or homebound, but in-person visits will be kept to a minimum during this time.
Please note: Our antiquated phone system will not allow us to update the 'outgoing announcement' voicemail messages! We hope to have the problem corrected at some point, but even if the message you hear is outdated, you may still leave a message. We will hear it the next time we are in the building, whenever that may be. If your message needs immediate attention, please contact Father Peter directly
(email
fatherpeter@ascensionfrankfort.org
, or call
502-661-2742
).
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OUTREACH
While the church is closed, our tradition of serving breakfast on Sunday morning is also suspended. However, there are still other ways that we can continue our mission of outreach. Monetary donations are always helpful, but not the only option.
Rather than focusing on WHEN we can start doing outreach again in the way to which we have become accustomed, give some thought to HOW you (and we, Ascension) might expand or innovate other methods of outreach in this difficult time. Talk to Father Peter or one of the deacons or a vestry member about your ideas.
And don't forget to reach out to each other!
Always in mind is
Simon House
, which we work to support throughout the year. They are in desperate need of household supplies and food items. Here is their current wishlist:
https://www.simonhouseonline.org/Our_Wishlist.htm
Note: During this critical time, donations should go directly to Simon House, NOT to the church.
Always call first to arrange a drop-off: 502-223-2138.
With all three of the city’s homeless shelters at or near capacity, Simon House is also coordinating a
new temporary emergency shelter
that can house up to 40 people - now up running at F.D. Wilkinson Gymnasium at 315 Ewing St. They are in need of food, supplies, and volunteers. Contact Simon House (above) for more details.
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MONTHLY RECEIPTS
5/1/20: $1,860
5/8/20: $3,575
5/15/20: $4,102
5/21/20: $5,408
5/29/20: $2,012
We hope that our continuing video-produced and live services are providing you some spiritual fulfillment during these difficult times. Please note the schedule for our continuing services on Facebook and our web site. We commend all clergy, staff, and lay parishioners who are generously giving their time and talents to these digital endeavors.
We know this is a time of uncertainty and difficulty for all of us. As you take care of yourselves now, physically and financially, you will be able to help others later. If you have lost a job, need money for groceries or housing, or face some other hardship due to the pandemic, please feel free to talk with Father Peter, Deacon Rebecca, or Deacon Sue. They are 'plugged in' to channels for finding assistance that you might not know.
Please note that during this critical time, obligations of your Parish continue. We must continue to pay for payroll, utilities, facility maintenance, insurance, and more. We want to make sure that our doors can reopen when this crisis is eased. Our 2020 budget is already quite lean, and your gifts of time and treasure are crucial to the mission of the Episcopal Church of Ascension, Frankfort, Kentucky.
In recent years we worked and prayed together to meet serious financial challenges. Please continue your pledge payments and make other donations as you are able.
Address any payments sent by U.S. Mail to Church of the Ascension, 311 Washington Street, Frankfort KY 40601. If you are out of envelopes or stamps to send a paper check, we will be glad to mail you a supply. Email info@ascensionfrankfort.org or call 502-223-0557.
You may drop offerings and other paperwork, contained in an envelope, into the locked church mailbox. It is a brass box located on the parish hall porch that is nearest the main church door, mounted on the brick wall to the right of the steps.
If you would like to give "automatically" by authorizing a regular monthly deduction from your bank account, contact the office to get that started.
You may also donate to Ascension online: using a credit card at
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme2/ascensionfrankfort
(You do NOT need a PayPal account to do this - just a credit card. Only PayPal sees your credit card number, not anyone at Ascension. This is considered to be a very safe, secure way to give online.)
If you have questions about the church budget or expenses, talk to any 2020 Vestry member, or to William Legg, Treasurer, or Mike Oder, Assistant Treasurer, or Jim King, Finance Committee Chair.
Please take care of yourselves and shepherd your resources. May God bless us all.
William Legg
Treasurer
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for Summer 2020 has been cancelled due to COVID-19.
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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:
Summer Camp Programs in the Diocese of Lexington, Cathedral Domain Youth Camps, grades 1-12 (105th year), Andy and Cindy Sigmon,
Directors;
Reading Camp-Literacy Camps, grades 2-4 (17 th year), Sarah Harcourt Watts,
Director.
Recently in need of prayers:
Barbara; Bill; Candy & Tony; Daneen; Debbie; Donnie; Edith & Marion; Fran & Doug; Ginni; Gus; Heidi & Ian; Greg; Joe; Jon; Josh;
Lara;
Linda; Madonna; Mae; Marie; Shirley.
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; Marilyn; Mary; Melissa; Mike & Susie; Natalie; Polly; Scott & Kathy; Sherri; and Tom. We also pray for those on active duty in the military: Daniel, Houston, Mary Jo, Nick, Seth, Tanner, and Walter.
Birthdays:
6/8 - Charlton Benners, Faye Thacker; 6/9 - Roman Doddema.
Anniversaries:
5/26 - Mike & Maureen Davis; 5/30 - Craig & Cindy Aossey.
Recently Departed:
Janet Riedel
; Ann Molk
(sister of Jan Stevens).
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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