Room for Everyone

In the middle of July as we were still preparing for the CRASH mission trip to North Carolina, something wonderful was beginning to take shape. Pastor Edwin and I discussed whether or not it was smart to schedule a bilingual worship with BBQ and potluck immediately following our return from North Carolina. I asked Pastor Edwin if he thought we could pull it off. “Of course,” he said. And then Pastor Edwin went to work – talking to Mark about bringing together men from Amen to coordinate the kitchen work and BBQ and then a conversation with Lino about minding the Blackstone and another conversation with Maria about to where to buy the meat for tacos. All of a sudden, we had the basics planned and confirmed, all within the span of a couple of hours. Pastor Edwin was a man possessed.

On the 19th – the kitchen came alive with voices and smells of hamburgers and taco meat and brats and baked beans and warm desserts and salads aplenty. The gift of gathering for the BBQ potluck after worship was about so much more than food. I sometimes get nervous when I think we will run out of space – when we have not planned enough seating for the hoped-for crowd to be comfortable. Worship was glorious that Sunday. 8:30 was rich with the sound of voices raised in praise of our God – handbells ringing praise – piano and organ brought to life by Vicki’s talented hands and feet. (I still do not understand how she makes the hands do one thing and the feet do another. A story for another time.) And at 10am worship, the Praise Band took up the entire altar area. Nine musicians coming together to lead worship – well, 10 if you count Pastor Tony back by the palms – though he was kind of a silent partner. Music in English and Spanish, preaching to share God’s Word in two languages, communion for all, and then on to a feast where we, of course, ran out of seats. And as is always true at Ascension, people figured it out. New members sat next to long-time members. English speakers sat at tables with Spanish speakers. Introductions happened. Connections were made. And when the seating ran out in West Hall, people spilled into the narthex and into the Hearth Room and there was laughter ringing from many corners of the church that day. It was glorious and all to the glory of God.

There is so much that happens behind the scenes to bring about such moments in ministry at Ascension. It might be one of the high privileges of the pastors to be able to see the behind-the-scenes planning and preparation that brings such events to life. Outside the church, some might call it luck. Inside the church, we give credit to the work of the Holy Spirit and celebrate the faithfulness of individuals who work to strengthen our community of faith and tend their own relationship with God and with fellow Christians.

We have much to be thank God for at Ascension. Holy moments of ministry happen when we least expect the Holy Spirit to be at work. August will be no different. Backpack blessings are coming at the end of August. September will usher in our last outdoor worship experience and the fall kick-off to programming and a welcome home for all who have traveled over the summer and we will gather to celebrate God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday on Sept. 13 as well with a “Newborn Supply Pack” where the entire congregation can participate at every age to prepare newborn kits to be assembled and packed and then gathered in Minneapolis and packed to be sent to countries like Tanzania where our companion synod might receive some of the kits and also parts of Central and South America where our friends in El Salvador might receive some of the kits as well. More information will find its way to your inbox and bulletins and newsletter as we move through August. Keep watch. We will invite you to join us on the journey of faith and to the glory of God behind the scenes and sometime neck deep in the preparations right alongside each other members at Ascension and new friends wondering if this might place might become their spiritual home. So much to be grateful for as we look to the days ahead.

See you in church,

Pastor Chris

(Reprinted from the August 2026 newsletter.)

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

Stepping out of your comfort zone is rarely pleasant. It creates anxiety, uncertainty, and frustration. Yet, it is often in those exact moments of discomfort that profound growth occurs.

Last month, CRASH leader Sheri Greger and I traveled to North Carolina with a group of high school students for summer camp. Right from the start, the camp set high expectations, both for the students and the leaders accompanying them. The students were not allowed to have phones, and we, as leaders, were not in charge of the daily activities.

For the students, the phone policy was a huge surprise. You could see the concern written across their faces as they realized they were about to step far outside their comfort zones and spend an entire week in the North Carolina mountains completely disconnected from technology. Remarkably, their discomfort lasted only one day. By the second day, they had practically forgotten they even owned phones, fully immersing themselves in the world around them.

However, the students weren’t the only ones pushed past their familiar boundaries; we, the leaders who attended, also experienced the unfamiliar. Our original plans included participating right alongside the students in all their activities—wanting to join them, hike together, and share in every moment is a core part of our Ascension culture. We always try our best to practice our foundational values: Together we rise, together we walk, together we participate, together we worship, together we serve and more…

At this camp, though, the experience for us was fundamentally different. We didn’t participate in most of the daytime activities, nor could we join them for their morning and evening devotions. Throughout the day, Sheri and I felt deeply uncomfortable. We felt as though we were failing to fulfill our roles as Ascension leaders, and there were several moments when we honestly felt useless.

As we approached the end of the week, however, clarity set in. We realized that this uncomfortable setting was actually a blessing. It wasn’t just the students who needed to step outside their comfort zones; we leaders needed to navigate unfamiliar territory, too.

This realization prompted me to reflect on the many ways Jesus exemplified going beyond comfort zones throughout His ministry:

  • Jesus left the glory of His home in heaven to come to earth. As Philippians 2:7 reminds us, He “made Himself of no reputation, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
  • He deliberately entered harsh conditions, spending 40 days and 40 nights fasting in the desert.
  • He showed His disciples the importance of stepping outside cultural norms by speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well, inviting His followers into Samaria rather than avoiding it.

Many of us have experienced moments like these in our own lives. They are often difficult and disorienting. Yet, in these challenging, unfamiliar places, God is actively present, waiting to reveal something new about His kingdom. At the end of the camp, we asked them if they would participate in another similar camp. They replied, “Yes, because it was a unique experience.” As leaders, we achieved our goal of providing the students and ourselves with an unique experience high in the mountains of North Carolina. When we are about to get out of our comfort zone,  we simply need to release our desire for control and trust in God’s guidance, just as the disciples did when they stepped into the unknown to proclaim the Good News.

Pastor Edwin

Walk With Ascension

Beyond the Bike: How We Found Our Place With Outreach for Hope

Our journey with Outreach for Hope (OFH) began with a simple, but profound conviction: we are all uniquely gifted by God, and we are built to serve!

When OFH was conceived by a group of Ascension members 19 years ago, we were attracted to its mission to raise funds to strengthen ministries in economically challenged areas of our synod. Unfortunately, at the time, we could not see a place to serve because it originally was only a fundraiser for bike riders. We were not bike riders.

God surprisingly handed us the opportunity to launch a tailor-made business. It was the perfect calling. It allowed us to move beyond simple sales and use our gifts to better people’s lives. We reminded ourselves each day our business work was “God’s work.” It was then we found a place to participate in OFH. We could use the financial resources of our business to become a corporate sponsor. Each year, we were thrilled to see our business doing God’s work!

The OFH leadership encouraged us to take a more active role in the fundraiser. It was then that we assumed the yearly volunteer duties responsible for registration check in.  It was exciting to feel the energy of OFH firsthand each year at the annual fundraiser.

From there, our role with OFH continued to grow. Outside of the yearly fundraising event, we began working closely with OFH leadership throughout the year utilizing skills and talents we honed from running and growing our own business. It has been gratifying seeing the measurable impact we personally have had supporting OFH throughout the year as well as seeing the look of hope in the eyes of its benefactors. It is intoxicating!

Our prayer is for each of you to explore your talents and gifts and find a place where you might use those to contribute to the annual OFH ride run and walk fundraising event coming up Saturday, Sept. 26, hosted at the E.B. Shurts building here in Waukesha.

Stop in the narthex to see the sign and to consider participating as a walker, runner or rider. If you are not able to participate, there are multiple ways to volunteer and to contribute financially. Beth Hoffmann, or Steve or Carol Spieker will be happy to share the story of Outreach For Hope and help you find ways to participate or volunteer. To sign-up online for the fundraiser, whether to donate, volunteer, ride, run, or walk, visit the OFH website, ofhrrw.org.

Steve and Carol Spieker

Habitat for Humanity Invite

Join us for a community celebration at Domenica Park as we dedicate this vibrant new neighborhood and celebrate the transformation of a once-vacant city block into a place 20 families now call home.

The dedication of Domenica Park, 402 N. Greenfield Ave., Waukesha, is on Thursday, Aug. 20, 4 to 6 p.m. Habitat, with the help of volunteers and future homeowners, continues to make Waukesha a better place. This event is family-friendly and will include bounce houses and food trucks. Please park on any surrounding street (please note that the block of Ellis St in between Oakland and Greenfield will be blocked off). Dress is casual. Sign-up online at habitatwjr.org/events. For more information, call 262-729-3971, ext. 217.

Watch announcements for the date and location of Ascension’s next build day in early fall. Habitat is one of our community partners and we take a day each year to participate in some aspect of the construction. All levels of skill are welcome. 

Safari Stories—A Night of Food and Fellowship

The word safari means “journey” in Swahili and our trip to Tanzania is a journey of faith, carrying us across the world to connect and grow as we walk alongside our sister parish, Samaria.

When our delegation returns from our trip to our sister parish in Tanzania, we will share the joy, faith, and hospitality we experienced with all of Ascension. Join us on Sunday, Aug. 23, at 5:30 p.m. for a special evening of fellowship, food, and story-sharing as we look back on our journey across the globe. Whether you’ve supported this partnership for years or are learning about our sister parish for the first time, all are welcome at the table. Bring a dish, bring a friend, and enjoy an evening of armchair travel!

El Salvador Travel Opportunities

While Ascension prepares to send a delegation to our sister parish in Tanzania, those feeling inspired to embark on their own journey of faith won’t have to wait long. In 2027, our congregation will have two unique opportunities to travel to our companion synod in El Salvador, connecting with brothers and sisters in Christ through solidarity, worship, and community.

The year begins with an invitation open to the entire Greater Milwaukee Synod for Discover El Salvador: A Journey of Faith and Solidarity, taking place from January 8 to 15, 2027. Designed as an overview of the highlights of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church and its vibrant culture, this delegation offers participants a chance to visit several sister parishes across the country while immersing themselves in local history, food, and culture. Travelers will be guided by two exceptional leaders: Tim Muth, a human rights lawyer who divides his time between El Salvador and Milwaukee and has chronicled Salvadoran life for over twenty years, and our very own Pastor Edwin.

Later in the year, as summer draws to a close in late July and early August, Ascension members will gather for a dedicated trip centered entirely on our ongoing partnership with Milagro de Dios in San Jorge. This trip focuses on spending meaningful time alongside the people of San Jorge, continuing to nurture the deep bonds of fellowship between our churches. To round out the experience, the group will also visit the National Church in San Salvador and take a couple of days to explore and enjoy the natural beauty and local sights of El Salvador together. After all, supporting the local economy is important too! Contact Pastor Edwin or Sarah Aparicio if you are interested in either experience.

Hope Center Green Power Garden Volunteers Needed

Help supply fresh, nutritious produce for guests at the Hope Center! If you enjoy working outside and getting your hands dirty, gardening for a cause is a wonderful way to serve our community. Volunteers of all skill levels, individuals, and small groups are welcome to come when you can and leave when you must. The garden is located at S53W24747 Glendale Road, Waukesha.

The Green Power Garden is an approved project of the UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Waukesha and Milwaukee Counties. For helpful gardening tips, visit hort.extension.wisc.edu.

Children’s Ministry Fall Fun

JAM (4 yrs & under) BLAST (5K-3rd Grade) JUMP (4th & 5th Grade)

Happy August! Hope you are enjoying the last month of summer!  We will be offering family events and children specific activities to grow family faith formation this year. We will share all of this information at our kick-off on Sunday, Sept. 13!  

Please complete the Registration Google Form so we know who will be joining us for all the fun. 

Important Dates

  • Sunday, Aug. 30 Backpack Blessing in worship. Bring your backpack!
  • Sunday, Sept. 13 Children’s Ministry kick-off between services!
  • Sunday, Sept. 20 Children’s Ministry & Kindergarten Stepping Stones
  • Sunday, Sept. 27 Children’s Ministry & Kindergarteners receive Bibles in worship

Questions? Reach out to Sheri Greger or Amy Koenig.