The Holy Gift of Rest

“So then, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God, for those who enter God’s rest also rest from their labors as God did from his”. -Hebrews 4:9-10

As many of you know, in just a few weeks I will be stepping away for a three-month sabbatical. Sabbaticals are gifts – holy invitations to rest, renew, reconnect, and rediscover the rhythms that help bring life, clarity, and joy. I am deeply grateful to our church leadership and congregation for making this time possible, and I head into it with excitement, anticipation, and deep gratitude.

Part of this sabbatical will include traveling with my family to Europe for adventure, exploration, and much needed time together. We are excited to experience new places, wander through historic cathedrals, summit majestic mountains, hike beautiful trails, eat incredible food, and yes…consume our fair share of Swiss chocolate, along with so much more. One thing I anticipate greatly will be fulfilling my lifelong dream of seeing the Tour de France cycling race in person. Then, midway through sabbatical, I’ll return to Europe for a 110 mile bucket list run and traverse Mont Blanc exploring the beauty of Italy, France, and Switzerland along the way.

While some of this sabbatical will involve travel and adventure, much of it will also happen right here at home. I look forward to slowing down enough to spend meaningful time with family and friends. I plan to tackle projects around the house, reflect prayerfully, and train diligently for my ultrarun as well as two Ironman triathlon races coming this fall. For most of my life, physical fitness, endurance challenges, and being in nature have been the primary places where I encounter both joy and God’s presence, and I am excited to immerse myself deeply in those experiences during this time away.

At its heart, this sabbatical is about renewal. Ministry is a sacred calling, but like all callings, it requires rhythms of both pouring out and being filled again. I hope this time of sabbatical helps me rediscover what makes my heart sing: adventure, reconnection, rest, wonder, curiosity, laughter, challenge, and time with the people I love most.

I also hope this season serves as a reminder to all of us that rest is not weakness; it’s holy. Throughout Scripture, we see God inviting people into rhythms of Sabbath, renewal, and restoration. Jesus himself stepped away to pray, rest, and reconnect with the Father. We were never created to run endlessly without pause (I know, I know …listen to this myself).

Please know that as I step away from my day to day ministry responsibilities I carry each of you with me in my prayers and heart. I am thankful for this community and for the many ways you continue to love and support one another. I leave knowing the church is in good hands and trusting that God will continue to move powerfully among all of us while we are apart.

Thank you again for this incredible gift of sabbatical. I cannot wait to return in October renewed, refreshed, and ready to step into a new season of ministry together.

Pastor Tony

Reprinted from the May 2026 newsletter.

Walking Together Through Seasons of Change

Transitions are moments that each of us inevitably experience in our lives. Some are anticipated, some are entirely unexpected, and others are a natural part of our lives. But whatever the transition may be, we are never alone.

In the Gospels, we read of Jesus walking with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. They were facing a big transition. The loss of what they thought they knew, and the uncertainty of what was to come. Yet, Jesus met them exactly where they were, transforming their anxiety into hope. In the very same way, Jesus walks with us today on our earthly journey, using the Holy Spirit to comfort, guide, and give us peace in a troubled world. As a Christian community, we have a call. Jesus calls us to look outward, to walk alongside and support one another, both those inside our church walls and those in the wider community especially during times of profound change.

For years, Ascension community has had the privilege of walking alongside Hawthorne Elementary School. Together, we have put our faith into action in many ways:

  • Every year our high school students lovingly prepared birthday gifts for all the children.
  • A variety of groups prepared and delivered breakfasts and lunches for staff.
  • Many of you stepped up as volunteers, sacrificing your time to serve.
  • We blessed educators by providing vital classroom supplies.

Now, Hawthorne is facing its own major transition. On June 11th, Hawthorne Elementary School will officially close its doors.

Students and staff will be relocated to Lowell Elementary School. Sadly, this shift means that some staff members will lose their jobs. The current principal of Hawthorne will become the new principal at Lowell. This major transition brought the Hawthorne principal to meet with me. She wanted to deeply thank the entire Ascension community for walking with them through the years, and she asked for our prayers for the staff members losing their jobs. Then, she asked the question: “Will Ascension continue walking with us when we move to Lowell Elementary School?” Without hesitation, our answer was YES. We will continue to practice Jesus’ call to walk with and help our neighbors, ensuring that our bond with these students and educators isn’t tied to a building, but to the people.

Our call to accompany others also extends to our sibling congregations in our own synod. In May, Pastor Tony, Pastor Chris, Council Vice President Klelin Saravia, and I had the honor of attending the installation of Pastor German Novelli at Faith / Santa Fe Church in Milwaukee.

Ascension was invited because we have spent many months walking alongside Santa Fe during a time of transition and administrative renewal. Santa Fe had never operated with a formal budget. Through the guidance of Ascension’s pastors, we helped this Latino faith community establish its very first annual budget, setting them up for long-term stability and growth.

Our vice president Klelin Saravia had the opportunity to speak at the installation. She said this “As Ascension, we are overjoyed to have walked with you on this journey of renewal through the collaboration our pastors have provided. Officially welcoming Pastor German as your new spiritual leader is a moment of great excitement, hope, and renewal for the entire Santa Fe community. Our Ascension community prays that this new chapter you begin today will be one of great spiritual growth, unity, and abundant fruit for the Lord’s work.”

The Apostle Paul reminds us that our community life should be a true reflection of the love of Christ. In Galatians 6:2, he writes: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” When we share the weight of someone else’s transition, we are doing the exact work Jesus called us to do.

As we journey through this summer of 2026, you may encounter your own transitions, whether they are anticipated, unexpected, or natural. When those moments come, remember that the Holy Spirit is actively working within you to bring peace, love, and joy. Let us depend on His word in difficult times, and let us continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus for each other, moving forward together in faith.

Pastor Edwin

Reprinted from the May 2026 newsletter.

Ministry Memories

Our high school ministry, CRASH, wrapped up our program year ministry in the middle of May. It was a really great night of games, conversation, food, and time together. Pastor Edwin invited the incoming freshmen to join for the night and as is often the case at Ascension – the welcome was easy and maybe a little overwhelming.

One of the great things about high school ministry is that community happens pretty easily if students are willing to show up and step out of their comfort zone. True for most of us, I believe. What always surprises me, at church stuff, is how easily the grade level division disappears. All of a sudden 8th graders are talking to sophomores and freshmen are connecting with juniors. It is a testament to Pastor Edwin and our adult CRASH leaders who navigate all the twists and turns of young people in these days. I imagine that Pastor Edwin could do CRASH all by himself, but it would be a lot more work and there would be young people who would probably fall through the cracks.

At the end of the night, after ice cream treats and new bruises had formed after one too many rounds inside the inflatable balls, Pastor Edwin asked each student to share what their favorite memory of CRASH was over the past year. Some said the Progressive Dinner in December, others shared moments of service or deep conversation, but one young person shared that “discovering Ascension” was her favorite memory of the past year. New to Ascension, this young person found a place of welcome and safety and community. Thanks be to God! It does indeed take a village to bring ministry to life in this community of faith, and I am grateful for all of it.

Our Children’s Ministry, JAM, BLAST, JUMP, and our junior high ministry, JOLT, also wrapped up in the middle of May. It is pure joy to watch the next surprise unfolding from the ministry team that dreams about ministry for our children and to simply keep up with the energy of junior high students. In the past few years, we experimented with new things in our children’s ministry to explore new ways of engaging our children and young families. Some things work well others not so much. And so we keep dreaming up new shenanigans to tell the story of God’s love and invite the children to make those stories their own.

In JOLT, it is always a game, a Bible verse or two, and the sharing of moments in the lives of young people. All three pastors commit to JOLT each week for the power of their presence and what it communicates. JOLT is important to the church. And when all three pastors show up each week – the students recognize that they are important. It is one of our strongest commitments, as pastors, to remind our 6th, 7th, and 8th  graders, on weekly basis that they matter.

There are so many stories of faithfulness that find life in this church. Property days, moments of prayer and reflection, love lived out in service to another. This place is really too much to keep track of at times. I do not think I want it any other way. When someone says, “I did not know we did that here,” I think some people hear that as “we don’t communicate enough” while I hear that comment as “there is just too much going on to know everything.” And my next thought is often, “Well, there is always next year if you missed it this year.”

Ascension is the community it is for the ministries that happen loudly and the ministries that happen with just a whisper. Pastoral assistants who share holy communion, Healing Hearts meals that are cooked and served, Hope Center breakfasts, lunches, and dinners served by members of this community. If you are looking for a place to serve, I will happily meet to hear your hopes and point you in the right direction. There is no shortage of need. Thank God, there is no shortage of ministry opportunity to tend. And if you are new to this church and are looking for a place to serve – if you see a need that you believe Ascension can meet – let me know – just be ready to jump in and don’t be surprised if someone else wants to jump in with you. This is Ascension. It’s what we do.

We are preparing to bless Pastor Tony with a sending on Sunday, June 28, as he begins his sabbatical. How wonderful it is that this community of faith sees the value in tending your pastors with a time away after a long season of ministry. Sabbaticals are simply one more way that we tend this church, in this time and place, to the glory of God. Lighting in the sanctuary, confetti for big celebrations, campus tending to reflect the beauty of God’s creation and the sacredness of the space we call our spiritual home. And the three amigos. So much joy to serve together and to walk alongside all of you in these days of summer. My prayer is that you will each find moments for rest, renewal, and reflection while remembering this church barely slows down in the summer. Mission trips are coming. Your prayers are appreciated. See you in church!

Pastor Chris

Reprinted from the May 2026 newsletter.

Worship News

Summer Worship

Our worship schedule shifts to 8:30 and 10 a.m. English and 10 a.m. Spanish from Memorial Day to Labor Day. On Sundays when the planets align (meaning all the leader schedules work together) our 10 a.m. English service moves to the Memorial Gardens.

In June, we will gather for outdoor worship in the Memorial Gardens on June 14 and 21 at 10 a.m., weather permitting. Our 8:30 a.m. English service will continue to be inside for those who prefer the joy of air conditioning etc. Outdoor worship is informal and glorious in all the ways worshipping in the gift of the gardens should be. You are invited to bring your own chair though we have a few available and coffee is always available. Our outdoor worship is a great way to invite a friend, neighbor, or family member to experience Ascension with a simpler entry into our worship life. And the path to the Ash Garden is always worth a few extra minutes.

Senior Toweling

On Sunday, June 7, at all services we will offer our graduating seniors the ritual of toweling. Jesus says, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” John 13:14 is embroidered on each towel to remind our graduating seniors as they go out into the world, the call of God on their lives is one of service. It is always a bittersweet moment to place a towel on the shoulders of a senior as we bless and pray over them with family offering the laying on of hands around their shoulders – a mix of both joy and sadness at preparing for the next chapter in this journey of life. We give thanks to God for these celebrations and all that will come in the days ahead.

Sing for a Sunday June 21

Intergenerational Choir will sing on Sunday, June 21, and singers of all ages are invited to join us! We will meet for one rehearsal on Wednesday, June 17, from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and sing for 8:30 worship on Sunday, June 21. The song can be easily learned by listening and all are welcome! Email vicki@ascensionelca.org and say you’ll join us!