Dear People of Ascension,

Every year as I prepare to write my report for the annual meeting, I go back through my calendar to remind myself of all the activities and experiences of the year just past. I am usually surprised by how much happened and struck by what I had forgotten. Often what means the most to me in a given year is not the big milestones, but smaller events that might be easy to forget even for me- the daily fabric and singular joys and sorrows of our lives together and my particular life at Ascension.

To jog your own memory and maybe hear about some events of 2021 for the first time, I invite you to read the annual report attached here. You will find reflections from the wardens and clergy, financial information, and reports from various parish groups about how they made things work (or not!) in the second year of Covid. And then, please come to the annual meeting this Sunday after the 11 Am service. It's conveniently held online again this year! You too will have a chance to ponder and share the highlights and low points of 2021, and we'll look towards the future together.

When I do the work of spiritual direction, I often ask "where is God in this story?" As we reflect on our stories of the year just past, may we discern God's presence, and trust God's guidance as we move into the year ahead.

Peace,

Liz
How to Watch Our Live Stream Services
As the Covid situation changes, so does our ability to meet the needs of the parish. Thank you all for your prayers, patience, and flexibility! We are happy to provide two ways you can watch our services online and participate in the worship:

  1. Via Zoom - You can meet your co-worshippers online, watch the service, and stay for our online coffee hour, or
  2. Via our Webcasts page - You can watch our services on your own at a time convenient to you. After the service, you can click the link to join our online coffee hour.
Via Zoom
Via our Webcast Link
From your computer, laptop, pad, smart phone, or other device, click this link:

Our Zoom host will great you and broadcast the service.

Please stay online after the service and join our online coffee hour.
From your computer, laptop, pad, smart phone, or other device, click this link:


After the service (approximately 12:30), join our online Coffee Hour at:
How to Add Prayer Requests Online for Sunday Service - Go to Ascensionnyc.org/Prayers and type in your prayer request. Be sure to add them before the end of the sermon.
This Week's Coffee Hour is replaced by our Annual Meeting.

Be sure to join us next week for our online coffee hour after the service!

If you watched us via Zoom, then just remain online (or grab a cup of coffee first!) If you watched via the webcast, grab that coffee and click the Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday link.
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion

If you are attending any of our services online, we invite you to use this prayer at communion.

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.
Quiet on the Set!

Our cameras and sound go live anywhere between 20 and 30 minutes before the service. Please be aware that sounds and conversations are picked up and broadcast during the pre-service time.
Return to Regular Worship Schedule
Starting Sunday, February 6, we will return to our regular worship schedule.

Sunday
9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Side Altar)
11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist w/ Music (Church & Livestream)
Join us for our Annual Meeting after today's service
6:00 p.m. Meditation & Sacrament (Church)

Wednesday
6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist (Church)
Safety Protocols for indoors services:
Masks must be worn at all times while indoors
A 6' distance must be maintained at all times while indoors
While we do not require vaccination to attend our services, it is strongly encouraged.
Everyone serving at the altar, choir members, and all volunteers are required to be vaccinated.
Evening Prayer Every Weekday Evening via Zoom

Join us each weeknight at 5:30 for Evening Prayer & discussion.
Click this link to join: ascensionnyc.org/eveningprayer.
To call in (voice, no camera), dial 929-205-6099; the meeting ID is 770 597 201.
Open Church Schedule
Open Church - Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Noon to 3pm. If you would like to volunteer for this ministry, please contact Sirkka Kyle or contact the church office (info@ascensionnyc.org or 212-254-8620
A word about paper. Apparently copy paper - especially the beige color we use for bulletins - is the latest victim of the supply-chain crunch. Our normal brand is just not available and what is available is over 3-times the cost. So for the duration, we are switching to plain white 20lbs paper for our printing needs.
Annual Parish Meeting
This Sunday, January 30
Immediately following the service
Our Annual Parish Meeting is next Sunday, January 30, following the 11:00 Service

In accordance with the Religious Corporations Law of the State of New York, the Annual Meeting of The Church of the Ascension in the City of New York will be held on Sunday, January 30, 2022, immediately following the 11 a.m. service, for the purpose of electing a Warden for a term of two years and four Vestry members to the Class of 2025, for three year terms, and for the conduct of such other business as should come before the Parish. Candidates are: For Warden, David Cholcher; for Vestry, Elizabeth Adams, John Grimes, Steven Hubbard, Shana Kaplanov, Madonna Stack-Barker. To read the candidate bios, go to Ascensionnyc.org/Nominees. (Link to bios here.)

The polls closed Wednesday morning, January 26, at 9:00 a.m. and the results of the election will be announced at the meeting.

To join the annual meeting on Sunday, January 30:


Or to attend by phone:
Dial by your location
    +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
    +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
    +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
    +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
    +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 856 2121 8379
Click here to access the Annual Report which contains the meeting agenda, last year's minutes and parish reports.
Announcements
It's Phishing Season Again!

Please know, the parish leadership will never ask you to send money or purchase gift cards to help out in a need.

Recently some parishioners received a fake text (or email) that appeared to be from a member of the clergy or parish lay leaders. If you received such a message, do not reply, just delete it or move it to your spam folder. What is Phishing? Unscrupulous people send out an email or text pretending to be someone you know and trust. Usually they ask for money or to buy gift cards for some urgent need they are experiencing.

How to recognize Phishing –The first thing you’ll notice is that it doesn’t “sound” like the person you know. Their phrasing and choice of words are just a little “off”. Second, if you look closely at the sender’s actual email address or phone number it will be something strange and will not be any contact information you know for this person. What to do? The most important thing is do not reply. The best thing to do is to delete it or move it to your junk/spam folder. If you receive a Phishing text or email feel free to let the parish administrator know (212-254-8620 or apjones@ascensionnyc.org). Check out bit.ly/2TJwAYx for more tips.
Thanks to all who contributed and helped with the coat drive for Afghan refugees at Ft. Dix! We heard from the Rev. Chloe Breyer that all donations have been delivered, and as you can see from the photo, it was a great undertaking involving the Federation of Business and Professional Women, the Muslim Officers' Association of the NYPD, the Interfaith Center of New York, and many congregations and people of good will. On behalf of our new neighbors from Afghanistan, thank you!
Episcopal New Yorker: Against All Odds: Hope In Dark Times, By Stanley Weinberg, LCSW, BCD, You can read Stanley's article here. Click here to go to the article in "The Episcopal New Yorker."
The Roman Catholic/Episcopal dialogue subgroup of the Diocesan Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission continues the series of discussions on Zoom about “God’s Gift of the Eucharist”. The next two sessions are on February 1 & 8, starting at 7:00 p.m. Our own Elizabeth Adams will be hosting along with Fr. Bob Flanagan, a priest in our diocese, and Fr. Brian McWeeney of the Catholic archdiocese of New York. Please do join in this fascinating and lively discussion of the sacrament that is central to our identity as Christians. The event is free but space is limited. For information, please contact Fr. Brian at brian.mcweeney@archny.org, or Fr. Robert at (growingasoul@gmail.com)
Have you ever wondered what happens at the Episcopal Church's General Convention? All people of the Diocese of New York are invited to an online session with our dioceses' deputies to learn about their roles and preparation for the upcoming General Convention in Baltimore this summer. On Monday, January 31, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., join via Zoom. Click here for more information.
Monday Evening Lectionary Bible Study -- Join us Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. This is an opportunity to read and discuss the readings for the upcoming Sunday. If you are interested in joining, please contact Sibyl Piccone.
Support the Parish! Please check us out at ascensionnyc.org/give to find out how easy and secure it is. Click the envelope on the right to go the Ascension Website for more information and to give, whether a one-time donation, pledge payment, or make a new pledge.

Our parish can only continue its mission and ministry because of the generosity of parishioners, visitors, and friends of the parish and we are working hard to make our online giving as easy and seamless as possible.

(If you experience any issues with Abundant Giving, please email us at websexton@ascensionnyc.org)

A Note about Using Abundant Giving: When you donate and pledge through the Abundant Giving app or go through the website, you need to direct your donation to the correct category. There are multiple categories to choose from:
  • Offering Plate
  • Stewardship Pledge 2021
  • Rector's Fund
  • Memorial Gift
These categories change as we update categories during the year. (An example would be when we delete the Easter flowers category after Easter and add Christmas flowers for the weeks leading up to Christmas.)

To donate through your app or the website, click the link above. The next screen will prompt you: "How Much Do You Want To Give?" Next to that, is a drop-down list of categories. Offering plate is always listed first. Click on the little arrow and the list will appear. Click on which ever category you want your donation to be credited. It is important to identify which category you are donating to so that your year end statement will be correct.
This Week at Ascension
Sunday – January 30 – Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany 
Holy Eucharist w/ Music; 11:00 a.m. (Online only. Resumes February.)
Annual Parish Meeting (online) 12:30 p.m.
Ascensionnyc.org/AnnualMeeting 
Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.

Monday – January 31 
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Lectionary Bible Study (Zoom) 6:30 p.m. If interested, please contact Sibyl Piccone

Tuesday – February 1 
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
EfM (Zoom) 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday – February 2 
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Midweek Eucharist (Church) 6:00 p.m.
Building & Grounds (Zoom) 6:00 p.m.
Needlecraft Guild (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.

Thursday – February 3 
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Friday – February 4 
Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Vestry Retreat (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.

Saturday – February 5 
Food Pantry (12 W 11th St.) 8:30 a.m.
If you are in need of assistance or would like to volunteer, please contact Fr. Ed (fatherchinery@ascensionnyc.org) 
Vestry Retreat (Zoom) 9:00 a.m.

Sunday – February 6 – Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany 
Holy Eucharist (Side Altar) 9:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist w/ Music; 11:00 a.m. (Church & Online)
Join us for Online Coffee Hour following the Service 
In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday) 
Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.
Anyone entering the church must wear a mask and maintain appropriate physical distance. Please utilize the hand sanitizer stations.

If you need information to connect to one of our Zoom events please call the church office at 212-254-8620 or email us at info@ascensionnyc.org
Contact us
The Church of the Ascension -- Fifth Avenue and Tenth Street
212-254-8620 | info@ascensionnyc.org | www.ascensionnyc.org