Dear People of Ascension,

As we anticipate Juneteenth this Sunday, it has been both fascinating and frustrating to listen to the ongoing January 6th investigation reports from Washington. Have you ever interacted with someone who has harmed you, but seems to be unable to feel shame? How does reckoning happen when perpetrators behave as if this emotion is meaningless to them? As if accountability does not apply to them? How do we carry on when it feels as if nothing ever changes? How do we keep our own hearts from being hardened?

In one of the perennial miracles of the lectionary, this Sunday we hear the story of Elijah, fleeing from Ahab and Jezebel’s threats of murder. Elijah has experienced their shamelessness. Elijah knows that their hearts are hardened. Elijah understands that they believe the rules do not apply to them.

Elijah has recently won a great victory; he has done what he thought God wanted him to do by killing 450 of the priests of Baal. But he realizes that revenge is not what he really wanted. He wonders if his heart has been hardened too.

Where does Elijah finds comfort? How does he gain the strength to carry on?

Elijah flees to in the wilderness, he ‘goes to ground’, as it were. And when he is there, he finds God responding to him in a myriad of ways. Elijah is ready to give up, to declare that he has failed, because his ‘victory’ over the priests of Baal has left him hollow. But God does not let him give up. Twice angels bring Elijah food and water — strength for the journey. And when Elijah arrives on Mt. Horeb, the holy mountain, God does not come to him in sound and fury, but in the silence, the still small voice.

Elijah learns that real accountability and justice are not the same as revenge. That the hard work of building new community takes more than dominating others the way you have been dominated by them. God sends him back to carry on his prophetic work. To continue striving for larger change.

Prayers that our own country will learn this same difficult lesson — that we will find ways forward towards justice and accountability without hardening our own hearts along the way.

- Posey

Be still, my soul, and steadfast.

Earth and heaven are both watching

though time is draining from the clock

and your walk, that was confident and quick,

has become slow.

So, be slow if you must, but let

the heart still play its true part.

Love still as once you loved, deeply

and without patience. Let God and the world

know you are grateful.

That the gift has been given.

Click this link for this Sunday's bulletin & hymns.

Summer Service Changes- July and August- Starting on Sunday, July 3 and continuing through Sunday, September 4, Ascension will have only one Sunday morning service which will be at 10 am in the church. We will not move into the parish hall this year. This is so we can still include those who worship with us via livestream and be at least a little cooler in the hot months. We also look forward to the opportunity to bring folks who worship at 11 together with those who normally attend the 9 am, as well as continuing our outdoor coffee hours in our summer garden.

The Sunday evening service will continue as usual at 6 pm every week except June 26, when the Pride parade makes getting into the church (to say nothing of sitting in contemplative silence) nearly impossible.

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.

Please join us for coffee hour in in the front garden (weather permitting.)

If you watched us via live stream, then grab a cup of coffee or tea and click the Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday link.

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.

Open Church - Mondays through Fridays, Noon to 3pm. If you would like to volunteer for this ministry, please contact Gretchen Dumler or contact the church office (info@ascensionnyc.org or 212-254-8620

Masks must be worn at all times while indoors

Vaccination is strongly encouraged.

The Rector is on sabbatical from June 6 through July 5. For all pastoral needs, please contact Fr. Ed (fatherchinery@ascensionnyc.org) or Mother Posey (motherposey@ascensionnyc.org), or call the church office at 212-254-8620

The Parish Office Summer Fridays! From July 3 through September 2, the office will close on Fridays at 1:00 p.m.

Our Pantry Needs Volunteers - Our pantry program has enjoyed the robust participation of highly committed volunteers. We anticipate this will remain the case for the foreseeable future. Could you spare a couple of hours the mornings of the first and third Saturdays of the month? We begin at 8am and work until around 9:45am. Please consider joining us. It’s a very enjoyable and fulfilling time of service and fellowship. If you are feeling moved to join us, or have any questions, please let Fr. Ed know.

Many thanks!

Helping Ukraine - Here are two ways you can help with the crisis in Ukraine:

New! Electronic Credit Card Receipts - Do you pay your pledge with your credit card? If so, you will now be receiving a receipt from the bookkeeper via email or text message on your phone. This is not spam or phishing. If you have any questions, please call the church office at 212-254-8620

The news has reported heightened security alerts for possible computer hacks from Russia. For your personal systems and accounts, the absolute best protection falls to you. Here are some excellent ways you can secure your systems:

If you received a phishing message, do not reply, just delete it or move it to your spam folder.

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.

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.

Holy Eucharist (Side Altar) 9:00 a.m.

Festal Eucharist w/ Music; (Church & Live Stream) 11:00 a.m.

Meditation & Sacrament (Church) 6:00 p.m.

Church and Parish Office closed for Juneteenth

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Bible Study (Zoom) 6:30 p.m. If interested, please contact Sibyl Piccone

Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Holy Eucharist (Church) 6:00 p.m.

Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

The Parish Office will be closed at 1 p.m. for Summer Fridays

Church open for prayer & meditation; Noon to 3:00 p.m.

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m.

Holy Eucharist (Side Altar) 9:00 a.m.

Festal Eucharist w/ Music; (Church & Live Stream) 11:00 a.m.

Meditation & Sacrament will not meet tonight to accommodate the Pride crowds.

The Church of the Ascension -- Fifth Avenue and Tenth Street

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