Please note that you will receive four eBulletins this week, one for each or the services. 
Great Vigil of Easter will arrive on Friday
Easter Sunday will arrive on Saturday.
The Great Vigil of Easter
April 3, 2021; 7:00 p.m.
Dear People of Ascension,

As we gather for the Easter Vigil, I always feel as if we are sitting around a campfire, singing songs and telling stories, leaning close together, listening to the night sounds and marveling at the stars. In this liturgy we "tell God's saving acts in history", the stories of our ancient forebears in faith, and claim them as our stories too. We ponder our own wandering journeys, and God's faithfulness along the way. We wonder at the suffering, cruelty, courage and beauty in our own day, and renew our baptismal vows to renounce evil and follow Jesus. This service invites us anew into the passage through death to the resurrection life. We celebrate this year with an emphasis on anticipation, awaiting Easter morning for the full proclamation that Christ is risen indeed.

This year as we gather for the Vigil on Zoom, please bring a candle. We will light them to signify the new Paschal fire, give light on the path, and remember the stories and commitments that shape and strengthen our faith. I look forward to celebrating with you!

Liz
How to Join the Service
From your computer, laptop, pad, smart phone, or other device, click this link:

or

If you do not have a device with a camera, you can still join with your phone by dialing the following number: 929-205-6099, and enter the meeting ID: 914 0356 8982.

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.
Worship With Us
We Gather in Darkness
Your microphones will be muted upon entry.
Welcome & Instruction

Lighting of the Pascal Candle
(Please light your own candle at this time)

Exsultet

The Liturgy of the Word

Let us hear the record of God's saving deeds in history, how he saved his people in ages past; and let us pray that our God will bring each of us to the fullness of redemption.
(The Story of Creation)
Reader: Elizabeth Adams
 
Psalm 136: 1-9,23-26
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, *
      for his mercy endures for ever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods, *
      for his mercy endures for ever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, *
      for his mercy endures for ever.
4 Who only does great wonders, *
      for his mercy endures for ever;
5 Who by wisdom made the heavens, *
      for his mercy endures for ever;
6 Who spread out the earth upon the waters, *
      for his mercy endures for ever;
7 Who created great lights, *
      for his mercy endures for ever;
8 The sun to rule the day, *
      for his mercy endures for ever;
9 The moon and the stars to govern the night, *
      for his mercy endures for ever.
23 Who remembered us in our low estate, *
      for his mercy endures for ever;
24 And delivered us from our enemies, *
      for his mercy endures for ever.
25 Who gives food to all creatures, *
      for his mercy endures for ever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, *
      for his mercy endures for ever.
(The Flood)
Reader: David Cholcher
 
Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength, *
      a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, *
      and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea;
3 Though its waters rage and foam, *
      and though the mountains tremble at its tumult.
4 The LORD of hosts is with us; *
      the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
5 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, *
      the holy habitation of the Most High.
6 God is in the midst of her;
      she shall not be overthrown; *
      God shall help her at the break of day.
7 The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken; *
      God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away.
8 The LORD of hosts is with us; *
      the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
9 Come now and look upon the works of the LORD, *
      what awesome things he has done on earth.
10 It is he who makes war to cease in all the world; *
      he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire.
11 "Be still, then, and know that I am God; *
      I will be exalted among the nations;
      I will be exalted in the earth."
12 The LORD of hosts is with us; *
      the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
(Israel’s Deliverance at the Red Sea)
Reader: Gretchen Dumler
 
Canticle 8 - The Song of Moses
I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; *
      the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my refuge; *
      the Lord has become my Savior.
This is my God and I will praise him, *
      the God of my people and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a mighty warrior; *
      Yahweh is his Name.
The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; *
      the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.
The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; *
      they sank into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; *
      your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy.
Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? *
      who is like you, glorious in holiness,
      awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?
You stretched forth your right hand; *
      the earth swallowed them up.
With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; *
      with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling.
You will bring them in and plant them *
      on the mount of your possession,
The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, *
      the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established.
The Lord shall reign *
      for ever and for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
      as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
(Salvation Freely Offered to All)
Reader: Steve Hubbard
 
Canticle 9 - The First Song of Isaiah
Surely, it is God who saves me; *
      I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *
      and he will be my Savior.
Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *
      from the springs of salvation.
And on that day you shall say, *
      Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;
Make his deeds known among the peoples; *
      see that they remember that his Name is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *
      and this is known in all the world.
Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *
      for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
      as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
(A New Heart and a New Spirit)
Reader: Janet Fisher
 
Psalm 42
1 As the deer longs for the water-brooks, *
      so longs my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God; *
      when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, *
      while all day long they say to me,
      Where now is your God?"
4 I pour out my soul when I think on these things; *
      how I went with the multitude and led them into the house of God,
5 With the voice of praise and thanksgiving, *
      among those who keep holy-day.
6 Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? *
      and why are you so disquieted within me?
7 Put your trust in God; *
      for I will yet give thanks to him,
      who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
8 My soul is heavy within me; *
      therefore I will remember you from the land of Jordan,
      and from the peak of Mizar among the heights of Hermon.
9 One deep calls to another in the noise of your cataracts; *
      all your rapids and floods have gone over me.
10 The LORD grants his loving-kindness in the daytime; *
      in the night season his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
11 I will say to the God of my strength,
      "Why have you forgotten me? *
      and why do I go so heavily while the enemy oppresses me?"
12 While my bones are being broken, *
      my enemies mock me to my face;
13 All day long they mock me *
      and say to me, "Where now is your God?"
14 Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? *
      and why are you so disquieted within me?
15 Put your trust in God; *
      for I will yet give thanks to him,
      who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
(The Valley of Dry Bones)
Reader: Vin Knight
 
Psalm 30
1 I will exalt you, O LORD,
      because you have lifted me up *
      and have not let my enemies triumph over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried out to you, *
      and you restored me to health.
3 You brought me up, O LORD, from the dead; *
      you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.
4 Sing to the LORD, you servants of his; *
      give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.
5 For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, *
      his favor for a lifetime.
6 Weeping may spend the night, *
      but joy comes in the morning.
7 While I felt secure, I said,
      I shall never be disturbed. *
      You, LORD, with your favor, made me as strong as the mountains."
8 Then you hid your face, *
      and I was filled with fear.
9 I cried to you, O LORD; *
      I pleaded with the Lord, saying,
10 "What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the Pit? *
      will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?
11 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me; *
      O LORD, be my helper."
12 You have turned my wailing into dancing; *
      you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy.
13 Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; *
      O LORDmy God, I will give you thanks for ever.
(The Gathering of God’s People)
Reader: Kyle Cheseborough
 
Psalm 98
1 Sing to the LORD a new song, *
      for he has done marvelous things.
2 With his right hand and his holy arm *
      has he won for himself the victory.
3 The LORD has made known his victory; *
      his righteousness has he openly shown in the sight of the nations.
4 He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel, *
      and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
5 Shout with joy to the LORD, all you lands; *
      lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.
6 Sing to the LORD with the harp, *
      with the harp and the voice of song.
7 With trumpets and the sound of the horn *
      shout with joy before the King, the LORD.
8 Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, *
      the lands and those who dwell therein.
9 Let the rivers clap their hands, *
      and let the hills ring out with joy before the LORD,
      when he comes to judge the earth.
10 In righteousness shall he judge the world *
      and the peoples with equity.
Sermon
The Rev. Posey Krakowsky
Renewal of Baptismal Vows
Celebrant - Through the Paschal mystery, dear friends, we are buried with Christ by Baptism into his death, and raised with him to newness of life. I call upon you, therefore, now that our Lenten observance is ended, to renew the solemn promises and vows of Holy Baptism, by which we once renounced Satan and all his works, and promised to serve God faithfully in his holy Catholic Church.

Celebrant - Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?
People - I do.

Celebrant - Do you believe in God the Father?
People - I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Celebrant - Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People - I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Celebrant - Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People - I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Celebrant - Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
People - I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant - Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People - I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant - Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
People - I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant - Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
People - I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant - Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
People - I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant - May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins, keep us in eternal life by his grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Prayers of the People
Form IV
Leader Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world. We pray for Michael our Presiding Bishop, for Andrew, Allen and Mary our own Bishops
Silence

Leader Lord, in your mercy
People Hear our prayer.

Leader Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the ways of justice and peace, especially Joe our President; that we may honor one another and serve the common good.
Silence

Leader Lord, in your mercy
People Hear our prayer.

Leader Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.
Silence

Leader Lord, in your mercy
People Hear our prayer.

Leader Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us. We pray for all affected by COVID-19: for the frightened and the sick, for the dying and those who mourn; for all who have lost jobs and livelihood as a result of this pandemic; for all healthcare workers, especially Scarlett, Madonna, Trudie, Nancy, Anna, Sarah, Endine, Terese, and AJ, for all whose labor supports our common life; for those developing and distributing vaccines, for those charged with making decisions about public health and public policy.
Silence

Leader Lord, in your mercy
People Hear our prayer.

Leader Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, especially Robert, Ed, Janet, Ellen, Joseph, Brielle, Lucas, Holly, Allejandro and Jesus, Nancy, Barbara, Dorothy, Stewart, Patricia, Judith, Hannah, Jurek, Alice, Michael, Deb, Deacon Luis, Stephen, Martin, Marion, Sandy, Jonathan and family, Cammie and family, Ed, Soren, and Mary Ann; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation.
Silence

Leader Lord, in your mercy
People Hear our prayer.

Leader I ask your prayers of thanksgiving for the birth of Liam Udonna Staudenmeier and for the safe delivery of his mother Adora through childbirth.
Silence

Leader Lord, in your mercy
People Hear our prayer.

Leader We commend to your mercy all who have died, Jeff Paley, Jack Chinery, Bill Burket, Mike Kehoe, Andrew Brannon, Minerva Viera, Liz Hill, and Christine Dupre, and the more than 550,000 Americans who have died of COVID-19, as well as others around the world that your will for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.
Silence

Leader Lord, in your mercy
People Hear our prayer.

Leader We offer you our other prayers and thanksgivings.
Silence

Leader Lord, in your mercy
People Hear our prayer.

The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
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.
Hymn
#199 Come, ye faithful, raise the strain
St. Kevin
Come, ye faithful, raise the strain
of triumphant gladness!
God hath brought his Israel
into joy from sadness:
loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke
Jacob’s sons and daughters,
led them with unmoistened foot
through the Red Sea waters.

’Tis the spring of souls today:
Christ hath burst his prison,
and from three days’ sleep in death
as a sun hath risen;
all the winter of our sins,
long and dark, is flying
from his light, to whom we give
laud and praise undying.
Now the queen of seasons, bright
with the day of splendor,
with the royal feast of feasts,
comes its joy to render;
comes to glad Jerusalem,
who with true affection
welcomes in unwearied strains
Jesus’ resurrection.

Neither might the gates of death,
nor the tomb’s dark portal,
nor the watchers, nor the seal
hold thee as a mortal:
but today amidst thine own
thou didst stand, bestowing
that thy peace which evermore
passeth human knowing.
Announcements
Concluding Prayer
As the dawn approaches, we pray: Risen Lord, be our light, our life and our hope. Come, scatter the gloom of fear and death, illumine our hearts, and fill us with the joy of resurrection. Amen.
Dismissal
Deacon - Let us go forth in the name of the risen Christ, Alleluia, Alleluia
People - Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Musical Offering

“O Viridissima virga” (O hail, greenest branch)

by Hildegard von Bingen
(arranged and performed by Bora Yoon)
from Sunken Cathedral
Support Your Parish!
Go to ascensionnyc.org/give to give online
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. Presently there are five categories:
  • Offering plate
  • Stewardship pledge for 2021
  • Easter flowers
  • Rector's fund
  • Lenten devotional booklet.
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.

You should have received your year-end statement for 2020. Please review it carefully and contact the parish office immediately if there are any issues.
Announcements
Upcoming April Forum: Justice and Reconciliation: Looking Ahead - on Sunday, April 11 (the Sunday after Easter), we will discuss our learnings from our Lenten series. So many of these forums concluded with the sense that we wanted to go deeper! Please think and pray about what next steps you feel called to explore.
Follow Up on Last Week's Forum- Restorative Justice in NYC Schools- Click here to link to the Fairness Survey discussed at last week's forum led by Mihret Maxwell.
"Lessons To Be Learned From The 2020 Pandemic", by Stanley Weinberg - When it's all over, what will we have learned? How will the pandemic have changed our lives; or how could it change our lives? Click here to access Stanley’s article, soon to be published in the Episcopal New Yorker,
Space Use at Ascension - While the church is closed and not in general use, occasionally someone in the church will want to use one of our spaces. (Please note, that such uses are strongly discouraged.) During the pandemic we must be extra careful to coordinate these things so there is no overlap, and to schedule plenty of time for cleaning. If you think you might need the space for something, please coordinate via the church office - contact Br. Andrew at info@ascensionnyc.org or 212-254-8620.
Episcopal Relief and Disaster (ERD) Response in Texas. Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting the Episcopal dioceses of Dallas, Texas and West Texas as they provide emergency relief to individuals and families impacted by the unprecedented ice storm, low temperatures and power outages last week. Click here to learn more and help support their relief efforts.
Sunday Meditation with Prayers & Music
is available on our
Facebook page:
Stay Connected in Prayer.
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.
Sunday Paper Junior - The lectionary, our yearly schedule of Bible readings, carries us through Jesus’s life and teachings. The Church of The Ascension subscribes to the Sunday Paper Junior and we offer it to you and your family as a fun, creative way to study the lessons each week. Click here to access this week's paper. Please feel free to print out the pages each week and use as you desire. Check out this section each week for the current Sunday Paper Junior!
Vaccine Registration Assistance? Do you need help scheduling your vaccine appointment? Are you a tech-savvy and patient person who would like to help register people? Please contact Madonna Stack-Barker at m.stack@rcn.com for more information.
Open Church, Tuesdays & Fridays, Noon to 3. The church is open for private prayer and meditation. Attendance is limited to a maximum of 20 people at one time and all safety precautions (properly worn masks, physical distancing, hand sanitizing, and contact tracing) will be followed.

In-Person Midweek Eucharists Remain Suspended. In light of the rising infection rates in New York City, we continue to suspend our Wednesday evening in person Eucharists.We will revisit the question after Easter.
Beware of Fraudulent Emails Purporting to be from the Ascension clergy! Several people received scam emails today pretending to be from Fr. Ed, using a Gmail account under a user name that appears to be him. Click here to read more and learn what you can do.
This Week at Ascension
Holy Saturday – April 3
Food Pantry (12 West 11th Street) 8:30 a.m.
if you want to volunteer or are in need, please contact Fr. Ed (fatherchinery@ascensionnyc.org)
Holy Saturday Liturgy and Rehearsal, 10:00 a.m.
Great Vigil of Easter, 7:00 p.m.

Easter Sunday – April 4 - The Day of Resurrection
Easter Service, 11:00 a.m.
Coffee Hour (following the 11:00 service)
Meditation with Prayers and Music (Available on our Facebook page)

Monday – April 5
Church and Parish Office Closed
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m. (Preacher: John Grimes)
Lectionary Bible Study (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.
(Speak to Sibyl Piccone if you are interested in this group)

Tuesday – April 6
Open Church* (Church) 12 Noon - 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
EfM (Zoom) 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday – April 7
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Thursday – April 8
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.
Needlecraft Guild (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.

Friday – April 9
Open Church* (Church) 12 Noon - 3:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Saturday – April 10
Rehearsal for Sunday Service (Zoom) 2:00 p.m.

Sunday – April 11 - The Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday Service, (Zoom) 11:00 a.m.
Coffee Hour (following the 11:00 service)
Meditation with Prayers and Music (Available on our Facebook page)


* Anyone entering the church must wear a mask, maintain appropriate physical distance, utilize the hand sanitizer stations, and provide contact tracing information. Anyone with a temperature of 99.9 or over will not be admitted and will be instructed to quarantine and contact their doctor.

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
We are working from home, but we will respond to emails and phone calls