Dear People of Ascension,

Do the birds seem extra present in New York this June?

At this time of year I tend to wake up very early because of the lengthening light. Between 5 and 6 I have noticed the dawn chorus singing with an exuberance I usually expect to hear only when I am camping far outside the city.

Earlier this week I was leading Evening Prayer on zoom, and after we finished the service one participant said, "we can hear the birds outside your window, Mother Liz!" I can't identify all the voices, but I'm told some are wrens and sparrows. I see birds outside my window too- robins, the ubiquitous pigeons, cardinals, a very inquisitive blue jay. Sometimes I see hawk families in the park, and gulls or geese by the river when I walk Finn.

During the quiet of the early part of the pandemic, I noticed the birds a lot and was comforted by their songs. But now, as we reopen, I am grateful for them in a different way. I'm glad they are still here as we explore what we are becoming. Maybe they always were, and I just didn't pay as much attention. But it feels like a gift to share the city with them. It's grace to be part of a community of life that is bigger than the merely human world.

Blessings-

Liz

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: 322 793 633.

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.

Online phishing emails are becoming more and more rampant these days and the church is not exempt from vulnerability. Please read our notice below in the announcement for ways to protect yourself and others.

Spread, O spread, thou mighty word,

spread the kingdom of the Lord,

that to earth’s remotest bound

all may heed the joyful sound;

word of how the Father’s will

made the world, and keeps it, still;

how his only Son he gave,

earth from sin and death to save;

word of how the Savior’s love

earth’s sore burden doth remove;

how forever, in its need,

through his death the world is freed;

word of how the Spirit came

bringing peace in Jesus’ name;

how his never-failing love

guides us on to heaven above.

Word of life, most pure and strong,

word for which the nations long,

spread abroad, until from night

all the world awakes to light.

Celebrant:   Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Thus says the Lord God: I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it, in order that it may produce boughs and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar. Under it every kind of bird will live; in the shade of its branches will nest winged creatures of every kind. All the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord. I bring low the high tree, I make high the low tree; I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I the Lord have spoken; I will accomplish it.

It is a good thing to give thanks to God, *

    and to sing praises to your Name, O Most High;

To tell of your loving-kindness early in the morning *

    and of your faithfulness in the night season;

On the psaltery, and on the lyre, *

    and to the melody of the harp,

For you have made me glad by your acts, O God, *

    and I shout for joy because of the works of your hands.

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree *

    and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon.

Those who are planted in the house of God *

    shall flourish in the heavenly courts.

They shall still bear fruit in old age; *

    they shall be green and succulent,

That they may show how upright God is, *

    my Rock, in whom there is no fault.

We are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord-- for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.” He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

Deep in my heart I bear my Lord;

My heart is a sacred Host to Jesus;

Therefore in my heart the light that

Gives serenity is ever glorious.

Deep in my heart I bear my Lord;

And my heart leaps joyfully within me.

Goodness today makes sorrow light,

And I have angels for my companions.

Deep in my heart I bear my Lord;

And ever see the light of heaven

That keeps me always from the ways of darkness

And of evil doing.

Deep in my heart I bear my Lord;

And all my life he will be with me.

I want my voice to speak of love

As does the seraph that proclaims Him.

My way shall be a path of lilies,

The path on which I walk beside Him.

God of heaven and earth, through Jesus Christ you promise to hear us when we pray to you in faith with thanksgiving.

We pray for one another, for our families and friends, through whom we learn to love and to be loved. Thank you for all who care for us. Give us grace to serve Christ by serving our neighbors and our community, loving others as he loves us.

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.

We thank you for the unfailing love you hold out to everyone in Jesus Christ. Comfort and heal those in sorrow, need, sickness or any other trouble, especially Robert, Ed, Janet, Ellen, Joseph, Brielle, Lucas, Holly, Allejandro and Jesus, Nancy, Barbara, Dorothy, Stewart, Patricia, Judith, Hannah, Jurek, Alice, Michael, Todd, Shirley, Donna, Harold, Elizabeth and Katherine, Mary Fi, Mary Ann, Annette, Bill, Nancy, and Sonia. Give them courage and hope in their distress, and bless those who minister to them.

We remember with gratitude your many gifts to us in creation and the rich heritage of this land. Help us and people everywhere to share with justice and peace the resources of the earth. Give wisdom to those in authority among us and to all leaders of the nations. We pray especially for those seeking to end white supremacy and establish racial justice.

We pray for your Church throughout the world, thanking you for all who serve Christ and his kingdom. By your Spirit strengthen your people for their work and witness in the world. Unite us in your truth and love, that we who confess your name may also reflect your glory.

We remember with thanksgiving all who have died in Christ, especially Barbara Baker, Ivy Alanna Coombs, Larry Gabbard , Raymond Lux, Hazel Joshua, Wayne Smith, Cristena Rubio, and Curtis Kekahbah . We rejoice at the faithful witness of your saints in every age, praying that we may enter with them into the unending joy of your heavenly kingdom.

Priest Merciful God, you look with compassion on all who turn to you. Hear the prayers of your people.

God of all mercy,

we confess that we have sinned against you,

opposing your will in our lives.

We have denied your goodness in each other,

in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that enslaves us,

the evil we have done,

and the evil done on our behalf.

Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will. Amen.

 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.

Love divine, all loves excelling,

joy of heaven, to earth come down,

fix in us thy humble dwelling,

all thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesus, thou art all compassion,

pure, unbounded love thou art;

visit us with thy salvation,

enter every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver,

let us all thy life receive;

suddenly return, and never,

nevermore thy temples leave.

Thee we would be alway blessing,

serve thee as thy hosts above,

pray, and praise thee without ceasing,

glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation;

pure and spotless let us be;

let us see thy great salvation

perfectly restored in thee:

changed from glory into glory,

till in heaven we take our place,

till we cast our crowns before thee,

lost in wonder, love, and praise.

We are delighted to welcome Stacey Carpenter as our guest preacher this Sunday. Stacey is sponsored for ordination to the priesthood by Ascension, and has just finished her second year at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX. Welcome home, Stacey!

Forum Series: The Church Cracked Open. This Sunday, June 13, The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline and new Hope for Beloved Community by the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers. We will continue our discussion of chapter 6 this week, because there are so many riches there still to explore. Please spend some time reflecting on your own experiences with kenosis and conscientization. Are there stories you can share? How has your life changed as a result? Please also ponder Tammerie Day's steps in the growth of critical consciousness (pp. 99-104) and the questions about where/with whom we stand on page 104. How do these touch your life and experience? This new book is a gift to the Episcopal Church in this particular historical moment, and we encourage everyone to read and participate! it is widely available from Church Publishing and from Amazon.

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.

(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. There are multiple categories to choose from:

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.

In-Person Sunday Morning Eucharist, 9:00 a.m. Beginning Sunday, June 20th we will have in-person Holy Eucharist at 9:00 a.m. in the church. To reserve a seat, please click the button to the left, or visit us at Ascensionnyc.org/Reservations. If you have problems making a reservation, please contact the church office.

In-Person Midweek Eucharist - As we begin to reopen the church we are celebrating the Eucharist in person on Wednesday evenings. To reserve a seat, please click the button to the left, or visit us at Ascensionnyc.org/Reservations. If you have problems making a reservation, please contact the church office.

Len Bowman's Retirement, End of June. You are invited to contribute to a farewell gift for Len. You can do that through Abundant Giving (select "Sexton's Retirement Gift" from the Fund menu), or by sending a check to the parish office with "Sexton's retirement gift" in the memo line. Please keep Len and Sandra in your prayers in this time of transition. News is coming soon about plans for a celebration of Len and Sandra.

Racial Justice Discussion Group, Thursday, June 17; 6:30 p.m. – Join us as we explore the larger discussion of reparations strategies. We will be looking at Peter Driscoll’s Inspire Campaign, an article from the NY Times about VTS reparations initiatives and another about the failures around reparations in Tulsa.

Voices Heard - A Diocese Explores Pathways Toward Reparations. A series of panel discussions sponsored by the Reparations Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Click here for more information.

The Church Cracked Open- Over the next several weeks in forums and other settings, we will be exploring Stephanie Spellers' new book, The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline and New Hope for Beloved Community. Spellers serves on the Presiding Bishop's staff as Canon for Evangelism, Reconciliation and Creation, and she has written a prophetic word of challenge and hope for our church in exactly this moment. A launch event for the book was held this past week, featuring poetry, music and a panel discussion as well as comments from Canon Spellers herself. Be sure to buy the book (which is widely available) and begin reading!

Fraudulent emails, Facebook accounts, instagram and Messenger accounts are on the rise! These annoying and scary intrusions into our lives go by many names, but most commonly they are referred to as spoofing, phishing, or cloning. They usually start out friendly enough - enough to lure you in - but sooner or later they will ask you for money.

It seems there is little you can do to stop someone from spoofing your account, but you can be smart about it if you are on the receiving end. Here are some things you should know and look out for:

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 – June 13 – Third Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday Service, (Zoom) 11:00 a.m.

Meditation with Prayers and Music (Available on our Facebook page)

Evening Prayer (Zoom) 5:30 p.m. 

(Speak to Sibyl Piccone if you are interested in this group)

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

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

Midweek Eucharist (Reservation Required) 6:00 p.m.

Vestry Meeting (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.

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

Racial Justice Discussion Group (Zoom) 6:30 p.m.

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

Food Pantry (12 West 11th Street) 8:30 a.m.

If you would like to volunteer or have need, please contact Fr. Ed

Rehearsal for Sunday Service (Zoom) 2:00 p.m.

Sunday – June 20 – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

In-Person Holy Eucharist (Church) 9:00 a.m. (Reservation required)

Sunday Service, (Zoom) 11:00 a.m.

Meditation with Prayers and Music (Available on our Facebook page)

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