Sharon Dykstra knits the beautiful handmade, baptismal blankets that Ascension gives at baptisms. The families and the people baptized appreciate the tangible reminder of God’s love.
Thank you, Sharon, for your hard work and care in making the blankets!
Pastoral Assistance
If you or a family member is hospitalized and would like a visit from one of our pastors or pastoral assistants, please call the church office at 262-547-8518.
Young At Heart (55+)
If you are interested in fun outings and events, consider the Young at Heart Ministry for people 55 and older. They meet on the third Wednesday of each month to gather for a potluck and play cards and games.
Bunco
Join the Young at Heart and others on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m. for a few rounds of bunco (a dice game) and a lot of laughter!
You are invited to a fun-filled night of food, fellowship, and some fundraising on Saturday, May 20, at 5 p.m. to support a mission trip to Tanzania and visiting delegates from El Salvador. For $12 a person / $40 a family, you will receive a spaghetti dinner catered by Noah’s Pizza of Pewaukee, appetizers, dessert, beer or wine, and other beverages. Buy your tickets online.
We have a wide variety of fantastic auction items including a condo in Door County, spa baskets, food and beverage baskets, tickets to sporting events, artwork, Art’s baked goods and more. It’s not too late to donate items! Contact Sarah Aparicio with your ideas.
We still looking for volunteers to help with the auction, and for people to provide appetizers and desserts. Sign-up online.
All proceeds will benefit the mission trips from El Salvador and to Tanzania taking place this June.
At last, the end of the journey in the seminary has come! It seems like a just year ago that my family and I made the decision to embark on this journey of preparation and discernment to join the work that God is already doing in our communities and around the world. As I began my final semester in January, many memories came to mind. Memories of my first steps learning about the presence of God in the communities in the midst of a civil war. Memories of when I was part of a Christian community for the first time in the Llano el Coyo Lutheran Church. Memories of when I received the opportunity to preach for the first time in El Salvador. Memories of when I received the call of God for the first time but I, like many others, rejected his call. Memories when I moved to Waukesha and started a life different than I ever imagined for my future.
As an ESL student I had to face many challenges, but along the way I realized that I was not alone. Just as Jesus revealed himself and joined the conversation that the disciples were having on their way to Emmaus, Jesus revealed himself to me and joined in this journey from the first semester through all of you.
I could not have walked this path alone. First of all, I want to thank God for providing me with two wonderful supervisors in Pastor Chris and Pastor Tony who were always there to support me during moments of frustration and hopelessness, supporting me emotionally and spiritually. They were with me in both the joyful and difficult times. Sincere thanks to all those who were part of the internship committee, for having dedicated part of their time and participating in my training process during the 18 months of my internship. Susan Otto, thank you for your patience, your time and for helping me immensely in the pronunciations in English. I need to also thank Pastor Betty Baires, my mentor, and Jay McDivitt for leading Spanish language worship whenever I was preaching in English at 10:45.
To all of you as a congregation: thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, and financial help. A big thank you for your patience and grace when you had to listen to me preach in English, when perhaps my accent made it hard to understand what I was saying. The biggest thank you is for accepting God’s call to open the doors of our church to the Latino ministry. I am proud to be part of a Christian community that not only opened the doors to a new ministry, but also recognizes the sacred diversity that exists in others. Thank you for accepting, participating, and promoting each of the traditions that the Latino ministry has brought to this Sacred Place.
And finally, last but not least, my family. My parents-in-law with their willingness to support in multiple ways these past four years. My family from El Salvador who has been supporting me with their prayers, thoughts, and participation in the ministry. And my amazing wife and daughters who have been very, very patient and supportive of me in every way. My daughters are at an age where they do not remember life before seminary. They only know me as the daddy yelling at them to be quiet because I’m in class on Zoom and too busy with class to come to their activities. They are about to see a new side of their father.
A new episode is about to begin in our life as a family, we do not know the future but we do have the confidence that Jesus will continue to reveal himself and walk with us, just as he did with his disciples on their way to Emmaus.
“First of all I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is spread throughout the whole world.” (Romans 1.8)
We are sitting in Starbucks. Come on! We know that is not a surprise! (Have you met Pastor Chris?)
Picking up the palms for Palm Sunday
We are still reflecting on the beauty of worship that carried us through Holy Week and brought us into the joy of Easter Day. If you get a chance, please take the time to thank the church staff. They are incredibly gifted individuals.
Our musicians – Vicki, Ben, and Sarah. They are gifts of God to shape the highs and lows in our worship life.
Our administrators – Amy and Tamie. They are the ones who attend to all the details of the order of worship, double-checking and triple checking what we have planned.
Our gifted ensembles – handbells, praise team, choir, and numerous instrumentalists and soloists. They provide the backdrop to so many moments of emotion in the story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Ascension continues to be a community of faith that draws all of us, and others we have yet to meet, to the very foot of God’s throne. It is humbling to watch so many talents collaborate to bring glory to our God. And then when we add the voices of all of you who gather to worship – how wonderful the sounds of praise to our God.
We are also humbled for the 14 month journey that completed the remodel of the kitchen – the last piece of phase 2 of our remodel. It is glorious. We are moved in thanks to some very dedicated women who rearranged drawers and shelves more than once to figure out what will work best in the kitchen. We are indebted to Michael Jahner, Cynthia Carlson, Dennis Nowak, Dick Boward, Ron Marien, and Arlene Davis for bringing all the pieces together and navigating the city permitting process. In the days ahead, we will focus on replacing the sanctuary roof and the sliding glass door in the hearth room. However, both are in okay shape and for the next few months we will concentrate more on ministry than remodeling – though, we are convinced they go hand-in-hand in the house of God.
We are not surprised at all that we would celebrate Easter at the same time we are celebrating the resurrection of our kitchen. The mission and ministry of the community of Ascension centers on the death and resurrection of Jesus and so often the kitchen is the hub of activity in the ministry that reflects the moments of sorrow and joy in our lives. We are preparing to celebrate the gift of our new kitchen with the Mission Fundraising Auction and Dinner on Saturday, May 20th beginning at 5:00pm. Come and share in fellowship, beer and wine, good food, and hear about the upcoming delegation visit from El Salvador and the upcoming delegation from Ascension who are preparing to travel to Usa River, Tanzania to reconnect with our sisters and brothers at our sister parishes of Samaria, Neema, and Galilaya along with our two elementary schools, new special needs school, and our new secondary school. So much for which we can give thanks to God.
It is a glorious thing – to share in the ministry of Ascension. We are counting down the days until Edwin graduates from seminary. The story of God’s love continues to unfold among us, in us, and through us. Thank you for joining us on the journey at Ascension. We are humbled to share the road with you.
Our Lenten journey will soon be coming to an end. On Palm Sunday, we will rejoice in Jesus’ triumphant and bittersweet entry into Jerusalem. We will gather in the upper room on Maundy Thursday to celebrate the last supper with Jesus and his disciples. We will travel to the foot of the cross on Good Friday to hear Jesus utter a lonely cry of abandonment. And on Easter Sunday, we will walk alongside a group of women to the place where they laid the lifeless body of Jesus only find the tomb empty just as he promised.
That’s all well and good, but a provocative question still remains for many – so what? I still have to go back to work and school on Monday. Bills are still due. The surgery is still scheduled. I still need my therapy appointment. Life doesn’t seem to have magically gotten any easier as a result of my participation in the events of Holy Week. So, then why does the resurrection matter and what does it mean for me now?
The resurrection of Jesus matters because it shows us what we might have trouble seeing in the chaotic and divisive world around us – that God loves us beyond measure. That through the gracious gift of Jesus, God defeated sin and death, opening the gate to eternal life, for us.
Some of you will be spending a lot of time in church over the next week – Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. You will hear the good news of the death and resurrection of Jesus and what it means for you today, tomorrow, and forever. And now that the culminating event of the Resurrection is complete – What are you supposed to do now?
It’s a question that comes upon each of us throughout our lives because there’s no shortage of things that come at us on a daily basis – What do we do now that we got the test results? What do we do now that I’ve lost my job? What do I do now that I’ve graduated? What do I do now that the relationship is over? What do I do now that the divorce is final? What do I do now that my loved one has died? What do you do next in the midst of the ups and downs of life that are sure to come?
My friends, Jesus has been set loose in the world to bring light out of darkness, forgiveness out of sin, and life out of death. He is the One who can bring joy out of sorrow, faith out of doubt, hope out of despair, and love out of fear. And he invites us to join him and proclaim God’s power to all who are lost and without hope.
So, what do we do now? We respond to God’s grace, love and mercy by going forth from Easter Sunday and the celebration of the empty tomb as witnesses, freed to live and love and serve as God’s forgiven children in Christ Jesus. And as we go forth empowered by God’s Spirit, living and active within us, may we live in the joy of the resurrection so that everyone, everywhere will see just how great God is!Happy Easter! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Easter has arrived and with it the end of the Lenten season. For this month, I would like to write about what Holy Week meant to me since my childhood, and how it has been changing through my life’s journey.
Holy Week for me in my childhood had only two important days. As you are reading this, I’m sure you are guessing that Easter Sunday is one of those two days, but let me tell you — no. The two days that were very important to me as a young Catholic boy in El Salvador were Palm Sunday and Good Friday. On Palm Sunday, attendance exceeded the capacity of the building. The capacity of the church was twice that of Ascension, but the worshippers that were last to arrive had to sit among the stones that were in the garden outside the church. On Good Friday, the streets filled with hundreds of parishioners accompanying the holy burial. For my family and most people that we knew, those were the only days we attended church throughout the year. Yes, yes, I know what you are thinking and you are wondering what about Easter? I can’t tell you what an Easter service was like in those days because no one I knew attended church on Easter.
When I started going to the Lutheran church in my country, the celebration of Holy Week was a little different. The celebration of Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday had the same level of energy as any Sunday of the year. There was nothing special about these days. I have not experienced Holy Week in El Salvador since 2017 and on that trip, our delegation returned home the day before Easter, so I don’t know if things have changed since moving to the U.S. ten years ago.
In my new life in the United States, the celebration of Holy Week is one of the things that impresses me in the Lutheran Church. Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday are all treated as high Holy Days, but the big difference occurs on Easter Sunday. On my first Easter Sunday, my wife told me, “This Sunday you should dress a little nicer than normal.” I was confused and asked her why. Her response was “Edwin, it is Easter.” My response, “So??” Finally, I listened to her and dressed a little nicer than most Sundays. To be honest, I thought that she was exaggerating. Imagine my surprise when I arrived at the church, everyone was dressed in formal clothes for the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank goodness my in-laws had saved seats for us, because the congregation was nearly to the Hearth Room. I never expected a crowd on Easter Sunday. I was equally surprised after church ended, the conversations taking place in the narthex were about whose house people were going to be visiting for the day for their Easter dinner. I was so confused. I couldn’t understand why people were making such a big deal about this day. I didn’t understand why we were going to a dinner at my in-law’s house, but I enjoyed the party, even if I didn’t understand what ham was either.
Over the years, I began to see Holy Week in a new way. If we only gather for Good Friday to remember the suffering, but not on Easter to remember the resurrection, our Holy Week and our faith journey are incomplete.
This is true throughout the year, all of us will experience moments of anguish and pain, but in the end we have to remember that there is always new life. Our Lord, through his sufferings, death and resurrection has released you, me and all humanity. Joy is always coming. Easter Sunday is the most important holiday for Christians and should be celebrated in church, and with family and friends. Happy Easter!
If you are or someone you know is struggling with the complex and painful experience of grief after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend, then we invite you to consider finding help and encouragement through Ascension’s grief support ministry, GriefShare.
GriefShare is a network of 12,000+ churches worldwide, equipped to offer grief support groups. Ascension’s grief recovery ministry offers GriefShare in a series of weekly support meetings designed to offer compassionate conversation along with helpful tools and resources to help you process your grief and rebuild your life after losing a loved one.
The current session of GriefShare is a 10-week program led by Pastor Tony and takes place on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. from March 27 – May 30. Through the use of video teaching and small group conversation, we seek to provide a safe and supportive space to provide care and encouragement that can be crucial to a person in grief.
Participants are encouraged to attend all 10 sessions however you are also welcome to begin our GriefShare group at any point. Each session is “self-contained,” so you do not have to attend in sequence, and you will be able to pick up any session you missed in our 10-week cycle.
Please contact the church office to sign up or sign up online. Questions? Please contact Pastor Tony, 262-547-8518 or tony@ascensionelca.org.
Thursday will bring us to the upper room and the gathering of friends around the table with Jesus. Feet will be washed. Jesus will command us to love one another. Bread and wine will be offered.
In all the things we do as Christians, this holy week of worship, preparation, remembrance, ritual, grieving, and celebration brings us closest to the footsteps of our Savior. The week is filled with drama. The last week of the life of Jesus brings the promise of freedom; the promise of welcome; the promise of love; and the promise of life.
Palm Sunday shares the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to shouts of “hosanna,” which means “save us” and palm branches waving in celebration of the arrival of the king. Even riding on a humble donkey, Jesus still gathers the hungry, the hopeless, and the hurting to a parade of hope that he would deliver God’s people from their oppression.
Friday we will follow Jesus to the cross. We will hear cries of “crucify” and words of forgiveness from our Savior. Even on the cross Jesus will welcome one of the criminals crucified beside him a place in the Kingdom of God. Darkness will cover the earth. An earthquake will shake the world. Our Savior will be placed in a freshly carved tomb. For a time, it will feel as if the light of the world has gone out forever.
But Sunday.
Sunday comes and the sun rises and the women who venture to the tomb under cover of darkness find the stone rolled away. Angels will question the women, “why are you crying?” And when the disciples run to tell the others, Mary will linger in the garden only to be questioned by one she believes to be the gardener — until he calls her by name, “Mary.”
When Mary hears her name, the tears that fall in grief become tears that weep in joy. In the light of resurrection joy, Mary names her Savior “Rabonni” (teacher). I expect that when we meet Jesus at the gates of heaven, we will know exactly how Mary felt when she realized that the one speaking to her was her risen Lord and Savior.
To mark the days of the journey of Jesus in life, in death, and in resurrection joy.
April 2, Palm Sunday, Domingo de Ramos
8:30a & 10:45a (English), 10:45a (en español)
“Hosanna in the highest!” will be our cry as we remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into the gates of the holy city. We will celebrate the beginning of this holy week with the reminder that our expectations and God’s expectations are not always exactly the same. Where the people want a powerful king, Jesus comes as a suffering servant riding a donkey. Through the events of day, we will be reminded of the coming of the promised Messiah – the chosen one of God. Worship is at 8:30am and 10:45am. Between services, BLAST students and families will share in the creation of the alfombras (sand carpets) for Holy Week.
April 6, Maundy Thursday,Jueves Santo
6:30p (English), 6:30p (en español)
Maundy Thursday Dinner 5:30p: Experience and learn about the foods of the Passover. A sampling of Passover food will be provided. Plan on bringing a dish to pass. Reservation only. Reserve your space online or by call to the church office, 262-547-8518.
Maundy Thursday Worship: We will gather in the upper room with Jesus and the disciples to celebrate the Last Supper. This year, we will hear words of confession and forgiveness and be reminded of the powerful image of the Savior washing the feet of the disciples. As is tradition, we will honor the memory of Jesus’ humiliation at the hands of those in power before he is led to the cross to be crucified by the stripping of the altar. Worship is at 6:30pm.
April 7, Good Friday, Viernes Santo
12p & 6:30p (English), 6:30p (en español)
The ancient title for this day is “the Triumph of the Cross.” A reminder for us that the church gathers not to mourn this day but to celebrate Christ’s life-giving passion and to find strength and hope in the cross as a symbol of new life. We will share in the unfolding drama as Jesus is led to the cross. We will hear the stories of the day and give witness to the closing of the tomb.
April 9, Easter Sunday, Domingo de Resurrección
8:30a & 10:45a (English), 10:45a (en español)
First we hear only hoped-for whispers on the wind. Resurrection? Are you sure? We gather to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus, the Christ. We will hear the story of that first Easter sunrise and be surrounded by the joyful sounds of songs that have been sung for generations and songs that new generations are singing. Worship is at 8:30am and 10:45am with a continental pot-luck breakfast reception in-between services. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Welcome to the season of Lent. Honestly, does it mean anything different in your daily life? I would guess the answer is “no” for most of us. In the church year, the season of Lent was often about sacrifice, spiritual discipline, and reflecting on your relationship with God. To be clear, I am still in favor of all these things. However, I am also a realist. The world we live in today is full of distraction. Finding moments to quiet the voices clamoring for our attention is a constant struggle.
I am a big believer in seeking out moments for reflection. Whether it is a walk, a quiet moment in the sanctuary, lingering over a cup of coffee, or soaking up a little sunshine standing at a window for a moment – how we find those moments is often about our intention to do so. I love to be in the midst of people. The more, the better. Yet, I know there are needed moments in my own life when I am out of balance and in need of some quiet time to even out. The same is true in our relationship with God.
Finding moments to center; to reconnect; to reconsider; to be reminded of our relationship with God can provide us with the opportunity to move ourselves into a deeper, more intimate experience of the presence of God. This is what the season of Lent offers to us.
In Lent, we are invited to step out of our normal routines and step into different routines.
Maybe look for a new devotional to use for reading and reflection through the days of Lent.
Consider adding Sunday worship to your weekly routine through the entire five weeks of the season of Lent.
Who are people who have inspired your life of faith? Commit to reaching out to thank them by phone or text message or, even, hand-written note during the season of Lent.
You can also consider joining us for Wednesday night soup suppers and midweek worship beginning with our first night soup supper on March 1, with soup at 6pm and worship from 6:45-7:15pm. Our Lenten soup suppers and midweek worship last year saw some of the strongest attendance we have ever seen in the last 12 years. Can you tell I am excited to return to soups suppers and midweek worship?
Dear friends, Lent is upon us. Find your center. Reconnect with God and people you love. Reconsider how you are spending your time. Be reminded that you are loved by God. All good things in these days of Lent.
