This Week at Ascension + December 13, 2023

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

Wednesday, December 13

Saint Lucy, Martyr in Sicily



Evening Prayer on ZOOM at 6 p.m.

In-person and Live-streamed

Said Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Unction is available to those who wish it.



VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

The Third Sunday of Advent: Gaudete, December 17, 2023

7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer via Zoom

9 a.m. Sung Mass

11 a.m. Solemn Mass -

In-person & Live-streamed

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

Image: Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness, ca. 1635, José Leonardo,

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

 

Click to join us VIA YOUTUBE

or VIA FACEBOOK LIVE



Sunday, December 24 in the morning

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

 9 a.m. Sung Mass

10 a.m. Confession available

11 a.m. Solemn Mass

Sunday, December 24 in the evening

The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

10:30 p.m. Organ Voluntaries &

Congregational Carols

11 p.m. Procession to the Crèche &

The First Mass of Christmas

Monday, December 25

Christmas Day

10 a.m. Solemn Mass with Ascension Choir

Tues, Dec. 26: 12 p.m. Said Mass: St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr

Wed, Dec. 27: 6:30 p.m. Said Mass: St. John, Apostle & Evangelist

Thu, Dec. 28: 12 p.m. Said Mass: Holy Innocents

Mon, Jan. 1: 7 p.m. Sung Mass with Schola: Holy Name

Wed, Jan. 3: 6:30 p.m. Said Mass: Christmas Feria

Sat, Jan. 6: 11 a.m. Solemn Mass: The Feast of the Epiphany

From the Curate

“He was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.” 

Scripture gives us so many examples of how to respond to God’s call to each of us in our unique, one-of-a-kind lives. One of the things that I love about all these well-known figures is how unsuited for the jobs to which they are called by God. Moses is shy and not great at public speaking, and yet God calls him to lead a people out of Egypt, into the wilderness, and to the Promised Land. Moses of course never makes it, but he does his part to get his people there. Of course, there’s Mary, an unwed young woman from an insignificant and tiny town in the countryside, who conceives by the Holy Spirit and gives birth to God incarnate, Jesus Christ. And there is also Elizabeth, a childless woman written off as too old to become pregnant, who conceives at last, and gives birth to John the Baptist, a strange fellow who baptizes Jesus in a pivotal moment in the gospels. 

John the Baptist was an odd choice for one who would come to testify to the light and lead many back to the righteous path of God ahead of Jesus. Mark tells us John lived in the wilderness, clothed himself in camel’s hair, a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. If I had walked by this man while on a hike in the woods, I’d be more likely to run the opposite direction in fear rather than let him lead me to the Jordon to be cleansed from my sins. 

And yet, this is the man whom the angel Gabriel says (in Luke’s gospel) “will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God,” turning “hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous.” 

What Moses, Mary, Elizabeth, and John the Baptist have in common, other than being surprising choices for the jobs that God calls them to, is that they do what God has asked of them, and then they get out of the way. Moses dies just before his people make it to the Promised Land. Mary nurtures and encourages Jesus on the way to his public ministry and eventually prods him into producing his first first public miracle at Cana. We hear nothing from Elizabeth after she blesses Mary upon news of her pregnancy (the first blessing to occur in Luke). And John the Baptist makes it abundantly clear that he is not the one God’s people are waiting for. Even when they ask “Why baptize and prepare the way if you are neither the Isaiah, Elijah, or the Messiah?” John simply restates his calling: “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.”

We all are called in all of our uniqueness to use our lives to point toward God, to point toward Jesus—even those of us who are convinced there is no place for that sort of thing in our lives or that God would have no use for us. If you find yourself thinking, “I am nobody. Why even bother?” then listen closely to the Gospel this Sunday. Recall that being called is not ultimately about you and your sense of inadequacy but the one for whose presence we prepare. Then search your heart for what wonderful paths God is calling you to.

— Mtr. Murphy-Gill

Last week of Advent Formation this Sunday

Blessed are You Among Women: Elizabeth & Mary in the Nativity

Following the Solemn Mass, we will gather in the Library for lunch, fellowship, and formation as we explore the unique and important roles of Elizabeth and Mary in Luke and Matthew’s gospels. These women model for all Christians how to both wait for God and say yes to his call. This week we’ll focus on the Visitation between the two cousins and discuss the significance of Mary’s Magnificat.

Young Adults Gathering December 17

The Young Adults are invited to gather for festive carols and a warming winter meal in the rectory from 4-6 pm, December 17. We’ll eat, sing, and enjoy one another’s company. Please sign up here so we know how much food to prepare. This event takes place on Gaudete Sunday, so wear pink!

Not sure if you’re a young adult? Generally, our group is comprised of members in their 20s, 30s, and even early 40s, but all are welcome.

Stevenson High School Orchestras'

Baroque Ensemble

Sunday, December 17, 2023 at 2 p.m.

Saints Peter and Paul Lutheran Church

250 Woodside Rd, Riverside, IL 60546

Featuring works of Antonio Vivaldi, Daniel Purcell, Johann Pachelbel, G.F. Händel,

Georg Philipp Telemann, J.S. Bach, and Arcangelo Corelli

Enrique Vilaseco, Baroque Ensemble Director;

Katherine Shuldiner, Baroque Ensemble & Viol Consort; Co-Director;

Joel Spears, Theorbo Instructor

Survey: Could you serve as an acolyte at a new weekday Mass?

Don't worry if you're new to being an acolyte or aren't sure how to serve. Training will be available, and we won't schedule you until you feel ready.

Prior to the pandemic, Ascension offered a rich weekday worship schedule including the full Daily Office and daily Masses. Our present weekday worship schedule of the Daily Office on Zoom and a weekly Wednesday evening Mass was adopted as the parish reopened amidst ongoing waves of COVID and has not been revisited since it was first implemented. 

As we prepare for a new liturgical and calendar year, this seems like the right time to examine what a new weekday mass schedule at Ascension might look like. In order to properly gauge what we might be able to offer, particularly when it comes to weekday Masses, we are seeking your feedback. Please fill out this survey:

https://forms.gle/NosZVPKBNadfMZau7

Your response will be key for us to determine how we might augment our weekday Mass offerings.

Thank you for your participation!

Morning Prayer Returns and Now on Zoom!

Monday - Friday at 7:30 AM

As of Monday, December 4, Morning Prayer is offered Monday - Friday at 7:30 AM on Zoom. To participate, either daily or whenever your schedule permits, simply visit Ascension's Zoom room. Morning Prayer will be officiated by a designated leader, those in attendance are invited to pray along using their own Prayer Book. If you're in need of a Prayer Book, please speak with Father de la Torre to obtain a free copy. To learn more about the origin and development of Morning Prayer, please visit The Episcopal Church's glossary entry on Morning Prayer. 

Consider being a Coffee Hour host

There are spots available for hosting Coffee Hour after either Sunday Mass! Look for the sign-up sheets in Wheeler Hall. If you are leary of what hosting a Coffee Hour might entail, speak to Hospitality Committee members Josh or Ellie Simpson, David Reeves, LaVerne Saunders or Carol Noren. They will be glad to help.

The Prayers of the People

As part of our Sunday offering of the Mass, we bring to God our petitions and thanksgivings. As a community, we do this by bidding the parish’s intentions in the Prayers of the People. If you wish to have someone added to the Prayers of the People, please email Father de la Torre or Mother Murphy-Gill. You can also fill out the prayer request form in the link below. Names will remain on the prayer list for three weeks, unless otherwise requested.

Lord, hear the prayers of thy people; and what we have asked faithfully, grant that we may obtain effectually, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Share your prayer requests here.



For our prayers

Ellen Penrod, Andrew Carlin, Marilyn Labkon, Robert Baily, Lee Gould, Robert Pischke,

Derek Petite, Florence Jones Clanton, David Schrader, Leslie Smebak Gormley, Rachel Smolinski, Sarah Reece Glanman, Suzanne Dines, MB Hwang, Juanita Malone, David S. Jones,

Richard Francis Tracz, Victor Fernandez, Claire Green, Beth Hall, Sue Lenz, Brenda Martins

Birthdays

Susan Schlough, 12/14; Alban Mark Zhao Galliher, 12/15/2017 

Requiescat in pace

Linda Clark, Len Kraig; Linda Packard, Priest; Marvin Files, 10/16/2023

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.



Organ and Choral Repertoire for December 17, 2023

Between Masses, please don’t forget that The Choir of the Ascension has recorded upwards of 60 tracks that you can listen to anywhere you have an internet connection. They can be found here: https://soundcloud.com/choir-of-the-ascension

Ascension Connections

(with your click and God's help)

Our website home page --

often with up-to-date info/links.

Participate in Ascension masses at our YouTube Channel. (Look for other connections options soon.)

Our Facebook page:

Videos, upcoming events and more.

Weekly Ascension Schedule

For connections:

via Zoom (click here)

SUNDAYS

7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer via Zoom

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

11:00 a.m. In-person and Live-Streamed Solemn High Mass

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

MONDAY-FRIDAY

8:00 a.m. Morning Prayer via Zoom

6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer via Zoom

WEDNESDAYS

6:30 p.m. Said Mass

VIA YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK LIVE

Wardens and Vestry of Church of the Ascension

LaVerne Rollé Saunders, Sr. Warden;

SeniorWarden@AscensionChicago.org

David Reeves, Jr. Warden;

JuniorWarden@AscensionChicago.org

Ian Barillas-McEntee, Jim Lo Bello, Ken Cozette, Marlea Edinger, Sean Hansen,

David A. Robertson, Elizabeth Simpson, Joshua Simpson, Samuel Sommers, Clerk



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.