Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

We are still celebrating the season of Easter. It does indeed feel like Easter…maybe not with all the usual moments of celebration. Vocal choir anthems were still silent, but the handbells and organ and brass and Praise Band provided so much of what I remembered from years past – I could actually be led down the road to resurrection celebrations this year. As I said in my Easter Sunday sermon, I know Jesus is raised from the dead whether we are together in worship or not – Pastor Tony reminds me of this fact. ALL. THE. TIME. Yet, being together this year was a beautiful beginning to our full return to life as a community of faith.

I am reminded of the disciples gathering, rather hiding, in the locked room on Easter evening. Afraid for their very lives, unsure of what the emptiness of the tomb means for them, they are longing for Jesus’ full return. And Jesus does not disappoint. He shows up. Though the doors and windows are locked in fear, Jesus shows up. Full body – all the scars – resurrected and returned to the disciples just as Jesus said he would. The disciples had their doubts. Even as the women told their stories. Even as Peter and John saw the empty tomb and reported back to the disciples what they had seen or rather what they had not seen. Even as Mary Magdalene heard Jesus call her name. The disciples had their doubts. And so do we. Yes, we know the resurrection to be true. Story after story of Jesus appearing to the disciples are told in the book we claim as the “living word of God.” In a locked room, on the road to Emmaus, and on the seashore by a campfire – Jesus returns fully to show, rather than share, the good news of the resurrection. Yet the doubts still linger. That is why I am always grateful for Thomas on the Sunday after Easter. For one day in the year, the doubters get a hero to claim as their own. I changed my whole perspective on Thomas not long after I was ordained. He brought confidence to my own questions. I am grateful for his courage. Grateful still more for Jesus offering Thomas the healed scars of wounds to touch to prove Jesus’ full return. If the proof was good enough for Thomas – it is good enough for me.

The full return of life at Ascension, and life in general, is still a little ways off, I believe. Yes, we are moving forward – that is the direction I like most. Sitting still and maintaining “what is” – not so much. We continue to listen to the experts but also to each other in our community of faith. We continue to walk with hope and caution as we take the next step in our worship life with singing with masks indoors beginning the last Sunday of April. I appreciate that not everyone agrees with this next step as we are still living in the midst of the pandemic. However, I am also keenly aware of the need to provide concrete moments of engagement that ground us in our faith far beyond listening to the Word of God and meditating while music plays. It is not the perfect solution, but it does invite us to keep moving in a direction. I believe that is why the season of Easter lasts so long. An opportunity to help us move in a new direction in our faith with 50 days of celebration of the resurrection. Thanks be to God!

There are many new directions at Ascension that are happening even as the pandemic continues to remind us that we are not “there” just yet. Our 2020 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan was forgiven and council is discerning new directions for our visioning. Our Global Partners in El Salvador and Tanzania are inviting us to consider new ways of partnering as we seek their guidance in our support and companionship. Cross Lutheran in Milwaukee continues to minister in important ways with the members of their church and their community through the fulfilling of basic needs of food, medical and mental health care, and the tending of their spiritual hunger as well. Closer to home, we are beginning to see resurrection with our worship life and, if you are ready, we need people to step back into their roles in worship leadership – an email is coming but you don’t have to wait for the email to let Tamie in the office know you are ready to help out as an usher, communion assistant, or acolyte. Sorry we are still only using acolytes in 6-8^th grade. If you are over 14, let me help you find another way to bring light to our worship.  Also, small groups are back in meeting mode – some offering a combination of virtual and in-person meetings. Pastor Tony had 23 at his first Spiritual Practices study that began on April 12^th. Our JOLT students have been meeting and will meet one more time before the end of May. First Communion candidates gathered at the end of April. And a Spring Property Day Clean-up is on the calendar for Saturday, May 22^nd. We will to offer our graduating seniors their “toweling” on June 6 at the outdoor service.

Our Spanish language worship has been in full in-person worship mode along side our English-speaking worship services. I am grateful to Edwin who has continued to lead this ministry as he also prepares for his endorsement interview completion on May 6^th, which is the next step in his seminary career as he prepares for ordination. Your prayers are appreciated. Also on May 1^st – Edwin officially begins his 18 months of internship here at Ascension alongside Pastor Tony and myself. We are excited to welcome Edwin into more learning and practicing and participating in the life of the congregation. He will show up along side Pastor Tony and/or me at the hospital, at funerals, at weddings, and in the day-to-day ministry of Ascension. He will also begin preaching at the English services as his schedule allows. So much excitement in these next months at Ascension.

My hope is that the summer will offer more opportunities for resurrection, reconnection, restoration, and return. We are hopefully planning our Kick-Off Sunday on Sept. 12 with activities for everyone – a pig roast, and an experience of activities for kids with inflatables and a return to BLAST ministries. We have much to celebrate as we look to the days ahead and a full return of life by the grace of God, to the glory of God. All we need is a little bit of coffee, a lot of Jesus, and you.

Until I get to see your face – which can be next Sunday, if you are ready. Peace be with you.

Pastor Chris

(Reprinted from the May 2021 newsletter)

 

As we inch closer and closer toward the waning days of the pandemic, I’m recognizing more and more that there are many in the church, and throughout the world who continue to struggle with a pessimistic outlook about these days and the foreseeable future.

It is easy to understand though why such a Pollyanna attitude can arise in us and take over our thoughts of hopefulness or joy or happiness when the past year has been filled with a series of cancellations, disappointments, separation, uncertainty, illness, and death. Sadly, none of us can fast forward through these difficult times, but rest assured, God is up to something good in our lives – even if we have trouble seeing it.

And that’s a good thing, because I’ve never been a glass half empty kind of person anyways, and I tend to be overly optimistic to a fault – or so I’m told by my friends and family. So, seeing as how I’m cursed with this “character flaw,” I’d like to challenge you to instead consider looking upward and forward with me because I think in these Easter days, we are surrounded by an abundance of reasons to be optimistic.

Optimism has a way of blooming a little easier when we can once again see renewed signs of life – spring flowers, green grass, warmer weather, widespread vaccine distribution, and increasing opportunities to break from our separation. And while the optimism that these things offer is no doubt wonderful, I believe we have the reassurance in something more powerful than optimism, and that is hope – a living hope grounded in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

I am also reminded of this unimaginable hope which the apostle Paul proclaims in his letter to the Ephesians, “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than we can ask or imagine, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”  ~Eph. 3:20-21

So, what are we to do then?  Well, I propose that we maintain a courageous spirit as we cling to our hope in the risen Christ.  As people of the resurrection, I pray that along our journey we don’t lose faith – faith that God is always and forever with us and for us.  The signs of hope are closer than you think.

People of God, there is hope – sometimes it surrounds us and sometimes we are called and sent to be that hope for others. We are all in this together, and together we can help each other. Whether it is helping someone with food, financial assistance, or simply giving them a phone number to call for help.  Reach out, lend a hand, volunteer.  Be more appreciative, polite, kind.  Check in on one another, don’t take a smile or a wave or a phone call for granted. Be a good neighbor, call someone just to cheer them up, offer to go to the store for someone. One of the best things we can do during this time is also very simple – be the sign of hope for one another.

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

Pastor Tony

(Reprinted from the May 2021 newsletter)

 

With the end of the pandemic in sight in the US, everyone is beginning to talk about life after the pandemic. This restart is a good time to decide what from our pre-pandemic life is worth returning to, what can be left in the past, and what new things can we expect.

We are grateful that this year we were able to return to many of our Semana Santa (Holy Week) traditions that are such a meaningful way of expressing our faith. While I know we should be appreciative of the fact that we had technology that allowed us to experience Holy Week virtually last year, it isn’t an adequate substitute for face to face worship.

In the Latino ministry world, we are purchasing another pig, thanks to a grant. These purchases of pigs have supported local farmers while providing much needed support to our families. With this next pig, our families will receive a box of meat to keep for themselves and a box to give to a friend who could benefit from it in a beautiful moment of evangelism.

Our families are busy planning for summer activities. After the death of Fabricio from drowning, all of the Spanish-speaking families are eager to enroll their children in swimming lessons. And after a year of virtual school, many of the families would like their children in summer school to prepare them to return to face to face school in the fall. Many of the families shared their conflicted feelings with me about these summer programs. They know it is best for the children, but they do not always have the means to provide their children with transportation to these classes. I told them to enroll their children in the activities that they felt were best for their children and that I have faith that the people of Ascension will help out with rides. If you are able to help with rides, please let me know.

May also means transitions in my day to day life. I will be changing my side job from substitute teacher to landscaper now that the weather will allow for that. I complete my second year of seminary on May 15 and begin my internship. For some of my fellow seminarians, this is a big change. For me, I will continue the work I have been doing as Spanish language minister, plus beginning to do some preaching and pastoral visits in English. While I have the smallest adjustment of my classmates going into my internship, I might be the most nervous. I hope all of you will be patient with me and my accent as I begin to preach in English.

Finally, in May we will have our first Spanish language wedding. We are excited that our faith community can be a part of the beginning of this new family. May God guide you in your journey to decide what your new post-pandemic life will be like.

Edwin Aparicio, Spanish Language Minister

(Reprinted from the May 2021 newsletter)

Thirty-five years ago members of Ascension sacrificed time and treasure to make our magnificent pipe organ a reality. We have had more than 32 glorious years of leading worship with this beautiful instrument of praise, and anticipate many more to come, as a well-built and appropriately maintained pipe organ is designed to last for centuries.

The organ was designed and built by the Berghaus Organ Company located in Bellwood, Illinois specifically to meet the worship and music needs of Ascension. It was originally installed in late 1988 in what is now known as East Hall. Several years later, as the current sanctuary was under construction, the organ was dismantled and placed in storage while new construction and renovations to the building took place. The instrument was subsequently moved to its current location and voiced for the new space. The complicated process of voicing an organ takes into account the specific acoustical environment, and ensures all the pipes sound balanced and blended when played together, allowing the instrument to “speak” appropriately in the room. The mechanical key and stop action of our instrument employs the same basic principles used by organ builders for over 400 years; in other words, there are no electronics involved. The keys are connected mechanically to the sliders that open to allow wind to enter the pipes. The blower, which forces air into the pipes, runs on electricity.

The organ consists of two manuals, or keyboards, plus pedals. The manual natural keys and pedal sharp keys are made of rosewood. Boxwood provides the contrasting material for the manual sharp keys, and maple for the pedal natural keys. The organ includes pipes made of copper, wood, and other metals; most all of the pipes were built in Germany. There are a total of 18 stops (knobs used to activate a rank, or set of pipes that create a specific sound, i.e. flute, reed, etc.), 22 ranks, and 1,098 pipes. Think of it as 18 musicians playing 22 different instruments with 1,098 valves or positions on the instruments to create varying pitches and timbres.

While our organ is relatively young, it does require an extensive cleaning and minor restoration approximately every 25 years to keep it in shape and maintain its longevity. This process includes the removal, cleaning, and minor repair of the pipework, which will improve tuning stability and tonal clarity; polishing the facade pipes; cleaning, adjusting, and lubricating all moving parts; cleaning the interior of the case of more than 30 years of built up dust and dirt; repairing the wind supply bellows. The cleaning and restoration process will take place off-site in the Berghaus shop. Once the organ has been reassembled, Berghaus artisans will spend a week on-site in the sanctuary working with every pipe to ensure proper tone and timbre throughout the instrument. The project is estimated to take 6-8 weeks, during which time the instrument will not be playable.

The estimated replacement value of our organ today is between $650,000 and $700,000, making it the largest resource of the church outside the building and property. The cost of the essential cleaning and restoration is $64,000.

We hope to be able to accomplish the renewal of the organ this summer. To that end, the church leadership is currently in discussion about the best way to move ahead with raising the funds to support the project. If you feel so moved to help reach this goal, or if you have questions, please contact Pastor Chris or Vicki Taylor. We are always happy to talk about this magnificent instrument of praise.

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.” –Psalm 100:1-2

Vicki Taylor, Director of Music

(Reprinted from the May 2021 newsletter)

 

Over the past few weeks our son who is a high school senior has been showing more and more signs of “senioritis” as his final year draws closer and closer to an end. You know this as that supposed affliction of students in their final year of school and characterized by a sharp decline in motivation and sometimes academic performance. The days seem to drag on as he and many others long for this phase of life to wrap up so they can move on to the next. I am well aware of this phenomenon, after having finished seminary only 10 months earlier; understanding the deep desire to be done with what currently seems to drag on for an eternity.

Now maybe most of you aren’t currently feeling senioritis per se but I have no doubt you have had these moments and completely understand the feeling. The feeling you get on a Friday afternoon at work when your mind is just wandering, and you are most definitely done with the tedious tasks keeping you from moving on to something more enjoyable.

On a global scale, I think it’s safe to assume most people could relate to something similar in what I would call, “pandemic-itis.” Tired of being isolated, of repetitively using hand sanitizer, of wearing masks, of not seeing family and friends, of video conference calls, of not being able to eat at our favorite restaurants, of not worshipping with our whole faith community, of hearing about more and more people who have become sick or died, and so on.

To our son we keep reminding him that things will be better soon, to enjoy what he can, to be patient, to continue learning, to be challenged, motivated, and even inspired by all the opportunities ahead of him. Interestingly, I think we could all apply this advice to our feelings around our own “pandemic-itis.”

As I’ve tried to be supportive, both as a dad and as a pastor, the more I’ve found it necessary to reflect on the words of the angel whom the women encounter at the tomb of Jesus. The angel told them, “But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”

Too often, I think we miss the power of this heavenly messengers’ words, but also the grace and faithfulness of God wrapped in these words of promise. A reminder that Jesus has not abandoned them, but rather is going ahead of them and awaiting their arrival with a promise of his glorious and victorious presence. And it is in these often-overlooked words that a hope filled reassurance of better days to come is gifted to them and to us.

We all long for better days, and in the midst of terrifying, unexpected, uncertain, and challenging circumstances, God has sent not only the ultimate savior in Jesus, but so too a messenger of hope to remind us that we are not alone, that Jesus has triumphantly risen victorious over the power of death, and in doing so, God has fulfilled God’s promises.

These hopeful words of a promise fulfilled come to us from the angel and the Resurrection hope of Jesus carries with it not only the power to sustain us through these days, but it is a promise that is ours to claim into eternity. Dear friends, there are no greater words of hope and promise than these and I invite you to cling to them today and always, ”Christ is Risen. He is Risen indeed. Alleluia!

 Pastor Tony

(Reprinted from the April 2021 newsletter.)

 

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! (ALMOST)

When you read this newsletter, we will be days away from celebrating the resurrection of our Savior and the promise of eternal life. Everyone seems to be marking the year anniversary of the beginning of the pandemic. For me, the pandemic carried the most power when we realized that we would not be able to gather for worship on Easter last year. Disbelief and fear of the unknown seemed to be the emotions that carried us along in those first months. It amuses me, now, that those same emotions carried the disciples through Palm Sunday processions and a Maundy Thursday supper in an upper room and the betrayal, arrest and crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday. And then Easter.

Yet even the news and events of Easter morning carried the same storm of disbelief and fear for the disciples – though there were a brave few who were willing to believe what their Savior had promised before he died – that on the third day he would rise again. Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James, and Salome had been up early that first Easter, long before sunrise. They made their way to the freshly carved tomb only to find the stone rolled away and angels waiting to greet them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here. He is risen even as he said.” I imagine those words were spoken with confident proclamation by the angels who had witnessed the event firsthand. I also believe those three women, when they ran to tell the disciples, did not whisper the news of the empty tomb but instead shouted, pleaded, begged, and celebrated when they told the disciples the glorious news. Thanks be to God!

If there has ever been a year where we have needed word of the news of the resurrection to ring in our ears, IT IS THIS YEAR. We have need of the news of the resurrection for the countless number of those who have died from the coronavirus. We have need of the news of the resurrection for those who have died this year when we had little time to tend them in their dying. We have need of the news of the resurrection for those who have suffered loneliness, isolation, and the absence of loved ones. We have need of the news of the resurrection because such news brings us hope to trust that the Word of God has indeed overcome the power of death.

In every corner of the world the power of death brings grief, overwhelms courage, and causes deep and lasting pain. And in every corner of the world, there is hunger for the promise of God’s resurrection hope and joy. Yes! It is this year that each of us and all the world has great need of the news of the resurrection. And so, People of God, hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

See you in church,

Pastor Chris

(Reprinted from the April 2021 newsletter)