The Church of the Ascension

in the City of New York

12 West 11th Street, New York, NY 10011

212-254-8620 | info@ascensionnyc.org | ascensionnyc.org

Holy God, your mercy is over all your works,

and in the web of life each creature has its role and place.

We praise you for ocelot and owl, cactus and kelp, lichen and whale;

we honor you for whirlwind and lava, tide and topsoil, cliff and marsh.

Give us hearts and minds eager to care for your planet,

humility to recognize all creatures as your beloved ones,

justice to share the resources of the earth with all its inhabitants,

and love not limited by our ignorance.

This we pray in the name of Jesus,

who unifies what is far off and what is near,

and in whom, by grace and the working of your Holy Spirit,

all things hold together. Amen.

Dear People of Ascension,

Happy Eastertide! Happy Earth Month! The beauty of spring all around us stirs up gratitude for the renewal of creation. It calls us to be people of resurrection, servants of God’s abundant life for all.

April 22 has been celebrated as Earth Day for the last 54 years. Although some progress has been made in that time, our earth has never been in graver peril as climate crisis and biodiversity loss increase dramatically. The damage falls first and most severely on those who have done the least to cause it- vulnerable people, cultures and ecosystems suffering from famine, flooding, fires and drought, as well as pollution and other public health emergencies. 

It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges of creation care and environmental justice. I find the best way to nurture my hope is to do something, prayerfully and preferably with others. The Creation Care Committee of the Diocese of New York encourages every parish to practice our love for the earth in four dimensions: pray, learn, act, advocate. This can be a helpful way to shape our next steps, both as individuals and in community.

This Sunday, April 21, our forum will focus on how we care for “this fragile earth, our island home”. How can we remember earth, our fellow creatures and those who work for environmental justice in our liturgy? What prayer practices deepen your sense of connection with creation, perhaps especially with a particular place you love and care for?

What do you want to learn about creation care? Are you nourished by science, poetry, eco-theology or new ways of reading scripture?

How are you acting to care for the earth? Are you planting a garden? Changing to renewable energy? Eating more plant-based meals? Reducing the amount of waste you generate? 

Finally, how are you advocating for the earth and her creatures? At the forum, we will offer an opportunity to contact our legislators regarding plastic pollution; we may also advocate through voting, choices about money, direct action, or other attempts to influence public policy at every level. 

Please join us for a lively conversation. Come and share what you are doing and what you feel energized to try. I look forward to working together to care for our precious, vulnerable planet.

Liz

Regular Service Schedule

SUNDAY

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

11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist w/ Music

(Church & Livestream)

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

WEDNESDAY

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

Evening Prayer Every Weekday Evening

via Zoom

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 880 1981 1224.

This Sunday's Forum at Ascension will focus on Earth Day.

Please join us!

Here is way to advocate for the earth: Urge your members of Congress to pass the REDUCE Act, a bill that would put a fee on the sale of new, virgin plastic resin used to make single-use products. This could begin a wave of positive change, shifting industries to use recycled plastics or alternatives when creating single-use products as well as funding plastic waste reduction and recycling projects. You can find a sample letter and a quick form here. 

Racial Justice Group- the Racial Justice group will meet on Thursday, April 18; 6:30 p.m. We will be discussing Cole Arthur Riley’s book, This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us. Please read the Preface through chapter 8 (page 106). All are welcome!

To join the Zoom meeting, click here.

20's & 30's Group Dinner, Thursday April 25; 6:30 p.m. - If you are in the 20’s & 30’s age bracket, please join us for our monthly dinner in the Parish Hall. (Please enter through the parish hall at 12 W. 11th St.) Please let us know if you are coming (info@ascensionnyc.org), if you can, so that we know how much food to prepare. You are welcome to bring friends as well.

Are you thinking about confirmation or being received into the Episcopal Church? Do you want to learn more about this particular way of following Jesus? On Ascension Day, Thursday May 9, Bishop Mary Glasspool will join us to celebrate our feast and confirm and receive those who desire it. To prepare, we will offer an “Episcopalian 101” series. If you are interested, or simply curious, please contact the parish office (212-254-8620 or info@ascensionnyc.org) or speak to the clergy.

With gratitude for your support and prayers, the New York Haiti Project is requesting your impressions about our work in Martel, Haiti. Click here to begin the survey. This is completely anonymous and will require up to ten minutes of your time. To say thank you, a small group of donors will contribute $10.00 to the New York Haiti Project for every completed survey received, up to a total of $2,000.00. 

Thank you in advance for completing the survey. God bless you, and may God bless the people of Martel.

Yours in Christ,

The Rev. Sam Owen

Director

Core Values (this is what we stand for):

Love * Hope * Trust * Partnership * Service 

Mission Statement (this is why we exist)

We partner with the people of Martel, Haiti, building relationships of trust, hope and love among our communities, to work together for a better future. 

ST. GEORGE’S CHORAL SOCIETY PRESENTS

From Across Central Europe:

Spring Concert with Organ

Sunday, April 21 at 3:00 PM

Antonín Dvořák: Mass in D, Opus 86

Krzysztof Penderecki: Agnus Dei (1981)

Zoltán Kodály: Laudes organi (1966)

Matthew Lewis, Artistic Director

David Enlow, Organist

The Church of the Ascension

Fifth Ave at 10th St, New York, NY

Tickets are $30, available online and at the door

Tickets purchased online will be held under the purchaser’s name.

stgeorgeschoralsociety.org/concerts

The long- awaited repairs to our tower are nearly complete. The original work has been done, and we await the special materials to replace the rods and stars that act as infrastructure for the tower- an issue that was discovered only after the workers were able to get inside the tower. We hope to finish that final project by some time in the spring. Meanwhile, our final payments to architects and contractors are coming due. We hope that all pledges will be paid by the end of the first quarter of 2024. If you have not yet pledged and are able to do so, or are able to make an extra gift, we will receive it gratefully. Remember when you pay by check to put “Tower Brownstone” in the memo line. If you pay through Abundant, select “Manton matching grant” from the drop-down menu. Thank you very much for your support!.

Sunday – April 21

Holy Eucharist (Church) 9:00 a.m.

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

In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday)

Join us for Coffee Hour following the Service

Ascension Forum (Hybrid) after 11:00 service

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

Monday – April 22

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

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

Lectionary Bible Study (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday – April 23

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

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

Wednesday – April 24

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.

Thursday – April 25

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

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

20s/30s Group Dinner (Parish Hall) 6:30 p.m.

Friday – April 26

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

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

Saturday – April 27

The Food Pantry operates on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. For assistance or to volunteer, please contact Fr. Ed (fatherchinery @ascensionyc.org) or Amy Shaw (amyqshaw@gmail.com).

Sunday – April 28

Holy Eucharist (Church) 9:00 a.m.

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

In person and online (Ascensionnyc.org/Sunday)

Join us for Coffee Hour following the Service

Ascension Forum (Hybrid) after 11:00 service

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

In this time of seasonal weather changes, as happens every year, we are all becoming more mindful of even small changes in how we feel. As such, we ask that you give careful consideration to public health best-practices. And in light of the increase in Covid infection rates, please feel free to use a mask when you attend worship services, particularly if you could be considered at higher risk of infection.

If you have any question, or need assistance of any kind, please don’t hesitate to contact the parish office or your clergy members. Remember, we’re better together! Because together we can and do make a difference!