Volume 10, Issue #27
July 2, 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.
From Peter's Pen

As we prepare for the July 4 th holiday, I encourage you to visit some of the prayers for National Life in the back of our Prayer Book (page 820 and following). Our country is a intense, complex, beautiful, broken, amazing place, and certainly needs our prayers during this time.

We are blessed, as a congregation, to hold a wide range of beliefs and political views. Some of us are conservative, some are liberal, some are in-between. While this can be challenging, it is also a great benefit to us: it keeps us honest. 

What do I mean by this? In my experience, when a church's members (mostly) vote the same way, there is often a tendency to equate their voting with God's will. It's a dangerous thing when Christians are too sure that their opinions are also God's opinions!

If we allow it, a range of opinions within a church allows us to safely, thoughtfully confront our own opinions and beliefs. For example, if all of us sitting in the pews are God's beloved, individual creations, what does it mean that God created me to think / vote one way and you another? What was God thinking? 🙂

This rich diversity also gives us opportunities to develop a skill that many people don't have: the ability to listen. If God made us both, and God made us to vote very differently, a major part of hearing God's voice and following where God leads is listening to each other. Neither of us has the full answer and we can only find our way forward by walking together. 

This gives us freedom: freedom from the idolatry of believing that  I am in charge / everything depends on me . Respectfully sharing and listening to our many points of view puts the control back in God's hands: God created us, God loves us, God brings us together, God is guiding us into the shared work of harvesting for the Kingdom (John 4.35-38).

I hope that you have a blessed, safe holiday weekend! You are in my thoughts & prayers.

 With Joy,
 Peter+
502-661-2742
Join us for Online Worship
on Sunday, July 5
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost:
Proper 9, Year Two - BCP 975
Father Peter will lead Morning Prayer
Watch for the post on Facebook
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!
PARISH DIRECTORY -
Have YOU submitted your Directory Response Form? You may just type the requested details in an email, if that is easier for you ( info@ascensionfrankfort.org), or leave a message to request a phone call (502-223-0557).


WE NEED YOUR HELP with this project to create an up-to-date contact directory to share within the congregation. This will be done completely in-house using existing computer resources, with no extra cost involved for the church or parishioners. To be clear, this is NOT a project to bring in photographers or make sales.

This IS a project to create a print and digital directory containing contact information and family details (name / address / phone, birthdays and anniversaries, next-of-kin contacts) that each person included approves sharing within the congregation. When the directory is published, print copies will be available (only) to parishioners, and all digital copies will be password-protected. A cell phone app containing the directory info will also be available - giving instant access to details as they are updated over time.

Parishioners may also choose to provide details to the parish office that are not shared in the directory. ALL information provided will be used by Ascension only for stated purposes of maintaining contacts within the parish; no information will be shared with third parties, nor will any marketing be conducted around or contained in the directory.

SO, we need to hear from each person/family who wants to be included in the directory - all those who "identify as" part of the Ascension parish. Even if you've 'been around forever' - we need to confirm data we have on file for you, AND we need your written permission to participate. That's a big job, a lot of names. We are starting by offering an online form that you may print and return (or just provide answers by email). If we don't hear from you after a bit, we will start calling / emailing to ask you about your directory preferences. You are also encouraged to provide a photo (one per family unit) to be included in the directory!

You don't have to be a baptized/confirmed "member" of Ascension to join the directory. This is just a way to help folks recognize faces and stay in touch, so if you're hanging around Ascension - in person or online - please send in a form!

Please click on the link below to print the response form, OR call the parish office (502-223-0557) and leave a message asking for a personal call to review your details. Remember that only those who do respond and give permission will be included in the directory!
Book study:
LIVING JUDAISM

Our summer book study continues at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays through July. The book we are using is Living Judaism: The Complete Guide to Jewish Belief, Tradition and Practice , by Wayne D. Dosick. We meet online via Zoom.  Please let Father Peter know if you're interested. 🙂
COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, 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.

Regular office hours remain suspended until further notice; clergy and staff are working (mostly) from home. Access to the building is limited to those with specific permission, and " Healthy at Work " guidelines apply to everyone who enters the building.

If you have questions, concerns, ideas or suggestions to share, or if you have needs that your church family might help to meet, please contact Father Peter to discuss (email fatherpeter@ascensionfrankfort.org , or call 502-661-2742 ). You may also email Deacon Rebecca Saager ( curate@ascensionfrankfort.org ) or Deacon Sue Kurtz ( deacon@ascensionfrankfort.org ).

includes our church building!
MONTHLY RECEIPTS
6/5/20: $3,310
6/12/20: $6,467
6/19/20: $3,440
6/26/20: $10,060

Thank you for your continuing support. We are working to minimize expenses but still need to pay for upkeep, maintenance, insurance, payroll, etc. Click here to see a letter from our Treasurer regarding the pandemic:

THE BROTHERHOOD OF ST. ANDREW meetings are currently suspended. (Normally meets every other Saturday, in the parish library at 10:00 a.m.) Contact William Legg ( wleggwork@msn.com ) for details.
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE KING are meeting online via ZOOM. (Normally meets on the FIRST Sunday of each month, in the parish library after the 10:30 service.) Contact Judith Spencer for details ( jspencer254@yahoo.com )
Find the Diocese of Lexington online at www.diolex.org
This web site has an abundance of information and resources - check it out!
Intercessions for the Church: The Deacons of the Diocese of Lexington.

Recently in need of prayers: Adrianna; Barbara; Bill; Candy; Daneen; Debbie; Donnie; Edith & Marion; Fran & Doug; Ginni; Gus; Heidi & Ian; Greg; Joe; Jon; Josh; Lara; Linda; Madonna; Mae; Marie; Rodney; Scott & Kathy; Shirley; Sidney, Suzanne, Tod, Blair & Grant.

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; Sherri; and Tom. We also pray for those on active duty in the military: Daniel, Houston, Mary Jo, Nick, Seth, Tanner, and Walter.

Birthdays: 7/6 - Taylor Hoover, Julia Tyson, Artie VanHouten; 7/9 - Jim Kimbrough, Paul Walton; 7/10 - Sue Kurtz.

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
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.

Ask in the office or one of the Deacons for a blank form, or download from our web site at: https://www.ascensionfrankfort.org/links
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



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