This Week at Ascension + October 12, 2022

"Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." - Psalm 96

Wednesday, October 12

Edith Cavell, Nurse, 1915

Evening Prayer at 6:00 p.m. via ZOOM

In-person and Live-streamed Said Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Unction will be offered for those who desire it.

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

Photo Credit: Norfolk Museums Service



Sunday, October 16, 2022

The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer via ZOOM

9:00 a.m. In-person Sung Mass

with Organ and Hymns

11:00 a.m. In-person & Live-streamed

Solemn High Mass

The 11 a.m. Order of Worship may be found here.

Click to join us VIA YOUTUBE or VIA FACEBOOK LIVE

Image: The Parable of the Unjust Judge, Pieter de Grebber, 1628

Szépmûvészeti Múzeum, Budapest  

From the Interim Rector

What does ‘Stewardship’ mean to you?

The Prayerbook gives us an outline of what is to be included in the Prayers of the People, as a minimum standard. It says: “Prayer is offered with intercession for The Universal Church, its members, and its mission; The Nation and all in authority; The welfare of the world, The concerns of the local community; Those who suffer and those in any trouble; and the departed (with commemoration of a saint when appropriate.)  –  [BCP p. 383] 

The six forms in the Prayerbook were intended to be models for parishes to use to craft their own forms. If you’ve ever tried to write a set, you’ll understand how difficult it is, and why most parishes just use a form from the book!

We’ve been using Form VI [BCP p. 392] as the Prayers of the People for a while. In it, we say, “For the just and proper use of your creation; for the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.” I think “proper use” is stewardship. I also think all of these are ways in which we are called to care for all of God’s creation, because God’s creation excludes nothing. 

So how are we stewards of God’s creation? Certainly, environmental concerns might top the list. Following ‘reduce/recycle/reuse’ and minimizing our footprint are easy to see. Is it possible to not notice how our past sins are affecting us today in ways that were not foreseen. 

We are also good stewards when we provide care for each other. Our actions can be the most obvious sign of our living into our calling as Christians, as Anglo-Catholics, and as citizens of the world. For example, we serve 150 low income families each month through the Ascension Food Pantry. We offer space for AA groups to meet here; they definitely are in the business of caring for others. 

So why do we spend our money to feed others or open our facilities to people who may or may not believe as we do? Because love. Jesus reminds us of God’s obligations for us to care for the stranger, the widow, the orphan, the downtrodden, the prisoner, the invalid, the hungry, the poor, the disabled. We share the resources we have with those in need. We do that precisely because we do not expect anything in return. Our only reward is fulfilling our obligation to God to care for all of creation.

—Fr. Thomas Heard

All Saints' Day

Tuesday, November 1: Said Mass at 12 Noon

All Souls Day

Wednesday, November 2: Requiem Mass at 6:30 p.m.

 Cards inviting your memorials for the All Souls' Day Necrology will be placed in the bulletins on Sunday, October 16 & 23. You may also use this link to share names, or call the parish office. To be included in print bulletins, names must be shared by

5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26. 

Solemnity of All Saints

Sunday, November 6 at both 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses

Open House Chicago (OHC) is a free public festival that is hosted by the Chicago Architecture Center. It showcases the diversity of architectural styles in the city of Chicago and nearby suburbs. Church of the Ascension is one of the 150 sites selected to participate. This year’s festival will be held on October 15 and 16 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM each day. The last time Church of the Ascension participated in OHC it attracted 500 visitors.

Visitors will find explanatory signs throughout the church, a timeline exhibit in St Michael Hall and pictures from our archives. New this year is an exhibit of architectural drawings. 

There will be three pipe organ demonstrations, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30p.m.  For more information or to volunteer to help, contact Cynthia Perrizo or Jay Jaycot.

From the Rector Search Committee

The Parish Profile and the OTM are in the final stages of completion. The Committee prepared the first drafts and then

Co-chairs David Schrader and Cynthia Perrizo have had two exhaustive meetings for the purpose of completing these documents. The Profile is just what the title implies. It is a snapshot presentation of the Church of the Ascension and allows the candidate to get a feel for who we are. The OTM (Office of Transitional Ministry) is a more in-depth document which asks specific questions. We answer the questions and the candidate answers the questions. We compare the answers to determine if there is a good fit.

The documents are presented to the Vestry for approval and once approved, they are submitted to the Diocese for placement on their online website for potential candidates. The process takes time and we thank you for your patience. 

In the meantime, please pray for guidance for our parish. The Prayer below from the Book of Common Prayer, p 818, is right on point.

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, 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.

Preparing for Our Final Journey

“You only are immortal, the creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth we shall return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” All of us go down to the dust, yet even at the grave, we make our song: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.” – BCP p. 499

On two Sundays, at 10 a.m. on November 13 and 20, we will gather in the Undercroft (aka: the AA Room) to delve into topics that many wish to avoid and some ignore altogether. Last Will and Testament, Advance Directives, Durable Power of Attorney, and Healthcare Proxy are documents that can make our transition from this life to the next easier for those who care for us and follow us. In addition, there are approaches we can take with our financial resources to be sure that our wishes are followed. Barbara Susman will give us insights into the what, why, how these instruments can do for us and those we leave behind. Fr. Heard will take us through considerations for funeral options, including how we convey our desires for our final rites.

Bible Study, Friday at 10 am ... No, Really!

Join in a study of the Book of Revelation this Friday

at 10 am via Zoom with nearby St. Chrysostom’s.

White Rider from Tolkovy Apocalyps, Moscow, 17th Century

Prayer Requests

Organ and Choral Repertoire for October 16, 2022

For our prayers: Irma, Burton Nelson, Winslow, Pablo Illás, Victor Fernandez, Claire Green,

Beth Hall, Sue Lenz, Brenda Martins, Lee Gould, Gertrude Isaac, Marty Stenson, Steve Dionne

Birthdays: Nicholas Cast, 10/9; David Alan Robertson, 10/10;

Michael-Francis Smith OSB, 10/13; Colin DuClos, 10/13/2009

Anniversaries: Jim & DiAnne Walsh, marriage, 10/9/1976;

Thanksgiving and prayers for the upcoming marriage of Nicholas Cast & Holly Hagerty,

Saturday, October 15, 2022.

Requiescat in pace: Kurt Allan Olson, priest, 10/12/2013; James F. Maclear, 10/14/1999;

Arthur Taylor III, 10/15/1976; James Delano Abbott, 10/15/2007

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.



Vestry of Church of the Ascension

Ken Kelling, Sr. Warden; LaVerne Rollé Saunders, Jr. Warden;

Ian Barillas-McEntee, Jim Lo Bello, Ken Cozette, Marlea Edinger, Sean Hansen, George Pineda, Joshua Simpson, Sam Sommers, Clerk, Enrique Vilaseco

Susan Schlough, Treasurer

Finance@ascensionchicago.org

Br. Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG, Parish Office

Office@ascensionchicago.org

Approved minutes of Vestry meetings are always available online to parishioners who request the link. If you would like Internet access to these Vestry Minutes, please email the Parish Office and request the link. Once you access the web page, you can read all recent Vestry meeting minutes.

The link remains live indefinitely. Any parishioner who has the link will not need to request a new link from month to month.