The Wonder of Worship

Join us for Holy Week, in-person or live-stream

This year, we’re excited to offer live-streaming on our You Tube channel for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday (6:30 p.m.) and Easter Sunday (8:30 and 10:45 a.m.) worship.

Holy Week Begins April 10

Holy Week will be all the more powerful this year due to the opportunity for us to sing together to worship our God. We will move through the events of Holy Week remembering the last days and moments Jesus spent with his disciples.

Sunday, April 10 — Palm Sunday

A day of celebration marking the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem where palm branches and an explosion of colors allow us the opportunity to experience the joy of the crowds in Jesus’ arrival. Shouts of “Hosanna!” will fill the sanctuary. Worship times are our normal 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. in English and 10:45 a.m. in Spanish.

Thursday, April 14 — Maundy Thursday

Making our way to the upper room, we will gather with the disciples around a simple meal of bread and wine as Jesus gives us the gift of holy communion to give us strength for the days ahead. We will give thanks for a meaningful word of forgiveness from our Savior and then watch as the altar is stripped as we remember Jesus’ betrayal and arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. We worship at 6:30 p.m. this night.

Friday, April 15 — Good Friday

“Why is this day called good?” Because without Good Friday we would not have the joy of celebrating an Easter resurrection. We will gather at the foot of the cross to hear the seven last words and rest in our weariness after these long days of Lent. Worship at 12 p.m. is the traditional time of worship to remember Jesus’ sacrifice. The noon service will be quiet and reflective. Our 6:30 p.m. service will offer the gift of choirs to bring powerful offerings of music to give us pause as we hear each of the seven last words of Jesus from the cross. Our Spanish congregation will worship at 6:30 beginning with the procession of alfombras in the Memorial Gardens.

Sunday, April 17 — Easter Sunday

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! The story of God’s love knows no end. We hear whispers of resurrection and then see the empty tomb for ourselves. It has been two years since we have gathered to sing songs together in praise of our God on Easter Day. Worship is at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. in English and 10:45 a.m. in Spanish. So much to celebrate!

Ascension Grief Support

Are you struggling with grief from the loss of a loved one?  Mary Lou Charapata and Brenda Lytle will facilitate grief support sessions on April 27, May 2, May 11, May 18, and May 25, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the Youth Room. Questions or to make a reservation? Please contact Brenda Lytle or 262-547-8518.

Learning Spanish

We have been having a good response from our simple Spanish learning lessons that are in the announcements. We believe it is part of our mission to have some basic words to communicate with our Spanish speaking brothers and sisters and to know basic worship words.

We will continue to add to the words and phrases and learn some simple songs each week. If you have questions about pronunciation or the meaning of a word or phrase, ask one of our Spanish speakers. You can then practice your emerging Spanish with them. You will see that not all the translations are word for word but more phrase by phrase or thought by thought.

To see a list of recent/ongoing translations, visit our website. https://tinyurl.com/ALCspanish

This is a great way to show support for our Spanish speaking members and to grow a little yourself with a minimum of work.

Winter Farmer’s Market Recap

Thank you to all who helped make the Farmers Market a great success. Food, Faith and Farming Network and our visitors loved the whole event. Several have asked for the contact information for the brunch sausage. It is Kettle Range Meat Company. They are located in Milwaukee on State Street and in Elm Grove.  Contact them online for more information. Below are some brunch recipes using ingredients from the venders.

Slow Cooker Apple Steel-Cut Oatmeal

  • 2 ½-3 c. Log Cabin Orchard apples, peeled, cut into 1/2” pieces
  • 1 ½ c. milk
  • 1 ½ c. water
  • 1 c. uncooked Oly’s Steel Cuts Oats
  • 2 Tbsp. maple syrup or honey
  • 1 ½ Tbsp. butter
  • ½ tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 Tbsp. ground flax seed
  • ¼ tsp. salt

DIRECTIONS
Coat inside of 3 ½ qt. slow cooker with cooking spray. Add all ingredients. Stir, cover, and cook on low 7 hours.

Oven-Scrambled Egg and Cheese

  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 12 Three Brothers Farm eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 pound grated cheese

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350F. Add the melted butter to a 9×13 baking dish, turning the dish to coat the bottom. Set aside.

In a bowl, whisk together the salt, pepper, mustard, and eggs until frothy. Whisk in the milk then stir in the cheese. Mix well.

Pour the egg mixture into the baking dish.

Place the dish in the oven and bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes or until the eggs are set.

Maple Cider Vinaigrette

  • 1/3 c. apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 c. Log Cabin Orchard maple syrup
  • 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 tsp. salt and pepper
  • 1/3 c. olive oil

DIRECTIONS
Dress of a salad of Vibrant Gardens spinach, Log Cabin Orchard apples, Happy Destiny dried cherries, pepitas

God’s Temple

This year for Lent, I am thinking of reducing rather than giving anything up. I plan on reducing my carbs, fewer snacks, smaller portions at meals. As part of my faith journey, I actually started these changes in February. If I am being truthful, I’m not actually doing any of these things for Lent. My reasons are not about piety, but rather vanity. I got on the scale and realized that I’ve gained 15 pounds in the past three years. I guess when you switch from a job of doing physically demanding work for 12 hours a day to sitting in front of a computer screen for 12 hours a day, you gain weight if you don’t change what you eat. I’m looking forward to spring weather more than ever so I can get back to landscaping between classes to work off some of those extra pounds.

For those that give things up for Lent, I think that duality is often common. We hear stories about people giving up chocolate, candy, beer, red meat and other less than healthy foods. Other people give up television or other screen time. These are all things that while sacrificial are also beneficial to our physical and spiritual health. We don’t hear stories about people giving up things like vegetables, although my daughter Marta would willingly give up the entire squash family for Lent. We don’t give up things that make us healthy. We tend to only “sacrifice” by making healthy choices. That isn’t a bad thing.

What if this year for Lent, we didn’t focus on giving anything up. What if instead we focus on taking care of ourselves and our physical and spiritual health. Make a goal to find time for prayer or meditation. Take the time to take a walk. Take time to connect with someone that you have been missing. Do an act of kindness for someone else. By taking care of ourselves, we are both honoring God’s words to us and strengthening ourselves to do God’s work. Let the Holy Spirit guide you during this season of lent. 

Edwin Aparicio, Pastoral Intern

What Are You Giving Up for Lent?

Each year about this time Christians around the world prepare to enter the holy season of Lent. And as far back as I can remember one common practice for many faithful followers has been to “give up something” – a sacrificial practice meant to honor the 40 days Jesus endured in the desert to pray and fast in preparation for his journey to the cross. However, I don’t hear as much talk about giving up things for Lent any more.

Throughout my life I have progressed from giving up simple things like chocolate, red meat, or TV to more significant things like anger, impatience, or selfishness. And as we approach this Lenten season, the idea of letting go of something that interferes with my relationship with God has me thinking more deeply about what to give up this year. It also has me wondering what you might be planning to give up this Lent. Well, if you haven’t come up with anything yet, and even if you have, I wonder if you would allow me to suggest something.

What if we all gave up division for Lent?

We live in a world where division and dissension are the norm. The cultural climate we find ourselves in today is one that’s highly polarized. It’s one that’s quick to divide people along lines of “us vs. them” over anything and everything. We find ourselves in the midst of conflicts, being pulled toward a particular side, and engaging in a dance to stake out the “rightness” of our positions and seek validation for our point of view.

And too often when we hear something that we don’t like or agree with then our first instinct is to get angry, offended, argue, or in some cases to just leave rather than engage in mutual dialogue centered in listening. We allow ourselves to get dragged into arguments about who is more right, which side is more valid, and even whose belief is more biblically accurate. This creates division and animosity, and it can lead to the tragedy of people who all belong to the family of God seeing those who think differently as an enemy.

These last few years have left me feeling deeply distressed about the many divisions in our world and even more confused about my role. I’ve wondered if this is how people felt during other times of social and political turmoil. I find myself hoping and praying that we could all just let go of those things that divide us.

But rather than taking a strong public stance on the various issues over which we’re divided, I’ve tried to listen, understand, and encourage others to do the same. Every day I encounter conflicting views regarding the pandemic, government policies, politics, justice, and morality. My discomfort arises from feeling uncertain if I am following God’s will or my own. I ask myself if I lack the courage to do more. I ponder how and why good people and followers of Jesus stand firmly on both sides of the issues. I wonder if this paradox is the result of disinformation that leads to false conclusions. Are we unable to accept the truth or even know what the truth really is? Or maybe too much information is suffocating us, and we simply cannot think clearly.

In this era of division, fear, and even hatred, I find myself constantly wondering what does Jesus want us to do? Because I see good people on both sides – people trying to do what they are convinced is the right thing. And it seems that choosing the right side isn’t always clear or easy.

So, as we step into Lent on our journey toward Easter, I’m asking if you will dream with me about a world where every person is able to embrace every other person as a beloved child of God and brother or sister in Christ. Then, and equally as important, I’m asking if you will join me in the sacred struggle of giving up division, and not just for Lent, but for life – because this is what God desires for all God’s children.

One of the simplest ways that we can accomplish this is by remembering that while there is much that divides us, the cross and the empty tomb are what unites all of us and therefore what we have in common is far greater than anything that separates us. And if they are the unity that centers us, inspires us, guides us, and moves us, then it really doesn’t matter how different we are from others in our faith practices, political views, lifestyles, or anything else because in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there’s enough grace for all of us.

Pastor Tony

40 Days, 40 People

Never fear!
I would never give up coffee for Lent. I tried that one year and my wife and I still do not speak about it.

The Season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. A day to gather to give thanks to God in worship for the promise and power of God’s love and mercy while reflecting on the fragility of life and the need to honor every moment in this life without taking anything for granted. After tending seven families since the end of December as they said goodbye to someone they loved, I am more convinced than ever of our need to cherish the people God places into our lives.

Perhaps we are unable to keep up the energy to cherish those we love at every given moment. I wonder what our lives would like if we would work towards cherishing the ones we love throughout these 40 days of Lent. An opportunity to seek out those we cherish and remind them that they are loved. How unexpected it is in our world today to call, text, email, or write a letter to someone just to share with them their worth in our eyes. What a gift those words would be to the person receiving them?

How quickly we are coming out of the pandemic wanting to return to normal routines while forgetting how much we have lost or given up over these past two years. Maybe, before we let go of the emotions we have carried since March 2020, we might take a little time to tell the people we love that they are important to us. The words we so often speak at funerals in memory of someone who has died would be much better said to someone who is alive to hear them, appreciate them, and enjoy the moment of being told they are loved.

Dear friends, give it a try – 40 days, 40 people. An intentional moment of reaching out to tell someone they are important to you. And then feel the power of God’s love in your own life as you are reminded of the gifts God gives to us each and every day in the people who love us and make our lives that much richer. To the glory of God.

40 Days – 40 People.

See you in church!
Pastor Chris

Ash Wednesday, Lenten worship & Soup Suppers

Ash Wednesday is Wednesday, March 2. The season of Lent begins, and Pastor Chris is so excited! Last year, we were still not meeting in-person when Lent began so no mid-week worship and worse yet, no soup and time for conversation and catching-up. Well, all that is happening this year!

Our Ash Wednesday worship will be at both 12 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (Note the time change!)

Sundays in Lent will be at our regular worship times of 8:30 and 10:45 a.m.

Our mid-week soup suppers begin at 6 p.m. followed by worship from 6:45-7:15 p.m.

We are once again looking for groups or individuals who would like to make soup or donate bread as well as help set-up. The dates for mid-week soup suppers are: Wednesdays, March 9, March 16, March 23, March 30

If your group would like to sign-up for a night, we are looking for about 12 soups and six dozen rolls/loaves of bread. I will be reaching out to ask some of our ministry groups and there will be sign-ups available beginning on Sunday, Feb. 27. Council has given the green light to return to serving food in the church and Pastor Chris could not be more pleased to invite you to return to one of our most well-attended events throughout the year. Please contact Pastor Chris. Want to sign-up early to get your spot? Email PC at pc@ascensionelca.org.

God at Work

Where do you see God at work in this season of Epiphany light?

In the middle of January, our JOLT confirmation students began studying the ten commandments. I confess, that I was hopeful if a few of the students might know more than five out of ten. To my great surprise, more than a third could name all ten – with the occasional challenge with the word “covet.” There were giggles around the word “adultery.” There always are in junior high circles when you begin to explain the definition and then give them a few examples of what adultery could look like in today’s world. We spent the rest of the class asking the students to place the commandments in the order they believed most important for the world today. For three out of the four groups, “Thou shalt not kill” was the first and most important commandment. In the final group, they stuck with the same order God laid out, “You shall have no other gods before me.” And then we asked them to rewrite the 10 commandments in plain, easy-to-understand wording. Again, the students did not disappoint. The word “lie” replaced “false witness” and instead of the word “covet” the students chose the word “jealous.” The best moment in the class was when a student spoke up at the end of the group discussion and said, “You know, these ten commandments still really are important for the world today.” I could not have said it better myself. God is at work.

On Sunday the 23rd of January, I preached about the return of Jesus to his hometown synagogue where he read from the scroll of Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” It is the moment Jesus introduces himself to the world, revealing God’s plan and promise to the world in the person of Jesus. A reminder that Jesus is the Word made flesh – the presence of God in our lives. During the children’s sermon we played the Ascension version of “Let’s Make a Deal” which backfired on me when the kid at the second service took the dollar bill they started with instead of what was in box #2 or behind curtain #1. What we learned was that the promise of Jesus is better than anything we can imagine. I share these memories because they serve as reminders that the young ones among us continue to be the teachers of faith filled moments in our lives. God is at work.

In the season of Epiphany, we hear moments of revelation of God’s presence among us. We are often in need of such reminders. In the month of January, we celebrated the promise of resurrection for no less than five members of our faith community. If ever we needed the promise and presence of God’s resurrection power revealed to us, it is in these days where the power of death is at work and God’s resurrection glory is revealed. God is at work.

What a journey we continue to travel as we begin to say goodbye to yet another surge of the coronavirus. I continue to be grateful for your willingness to strengthen our community of faith by mitigating possible outbreaks within our congregation. The journey continues. God promises to be with us and the presence of God is revealed in scripture, in the gift of family members and friendships, and the beauty of creation when we choose to set aside time to appreciate all that God offers to us in this life. God is at work.

As one pastor offered to their congregation one Sunday: “May you see resurrection ever about you.” Dear friends, we are in desperate need of resurrection moments at every turn. To borrow a phrase from the TSA, “If you see something, say something.” Let me know where you have seen God at work shining light into the shadows and revealing resurrection moments in your lives. To God be the glory!

See you in church!

Pastor Chris

Love Like a Christian

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

It’s hard to believe that it’s February already, but seeing that it is, this means Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Soon, many will be exchanging heart shaped boxes of candy, cards, or cute little valentines. Others will be delivering flowers to workplaces, going out to dinner at a special restaurant, leaving for a romantic getaway or scheming other creative ways to express love to someone special.

For many, February 14 marks a day to celebrate love, while there are others who reject it as a materialistic, commercialized waste of time. Nevertheless, Valentine’s Day is big business, and according to the National Retail Foundation, it typically adds more than $17 billion to the U.S. economy each year – making retail spending for this day the second largest behind Christmas. Thanks to the mass commercialization of Valentine’s Day, love is everywhere. Love is all around us!

Is it really, though? I mean, sure, our culture has become highly skilled in and dedicated to promoting romance. I can’t tell you the number of jewelry commercials I typically see on TV around this time. But while romance is as abundant as ever, it seems that love is a different story. And at least in my opinion, it seems love is much harder to come by in the public eye these days. Violence always leads off the nightly news, and public discourse has become hostile to the extent that political differences have driven wedges between families and friends.

But as people united in Christ, we are called by God to love others even if it’s not the most popular thing to do. And fortunately for us, we’ve been given a great resource to help us do this – The Bible. One of the best descriptions of love comes to us in the Scripture text quoted above, written by the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthian church. These words to the Corinthians are some of the most enduring words in the Bible and they are familiar to many people because they are often read at weddings.

Despite that common use, though, the implications of the kind of love described in 1 Corinthians 13 are wide-ranging. Loving with this sort of patience and gentleness invites others into our lives and provides intimate ground for relationships to grow. Strangers whom we may at first stereotype into a category become individual people we truly see, know, and appreciate. Love like Paul describes can bring down the walls of fear and conflict that seem to be so effectively separating people right now.

This is the kind of love God calls us to offer to the world not only this February or this Valentine’s Day, but every day. So brothers and sisters, I invite all of us to let this love be our Valentine to everyone, but most importantly to God. And let us show this love God has for us in Jesus Christ by offering it to others.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:14)

Peace,

Pastor Tony