Latino Ministry & the Pandemic

The families that are part of the Latino ministry are all impacted by the pandemic in multiple ways, as are many of our English-speaking families. They all work in jobs that are considered essential enough that they are all still working, although their hours have been reduced to part-time. That means that all of them have coworkers and friends that are sick with coronavirus, causing additional stress about their potential exposure. Because of the reduction in hours, they are appreciative of the support they have received from the Good Samaritan fund and other generous gifts. They are also supporting one another. If one family receives a gift, they share with the other families from the ministry.

During these times, the ELCA has made a video Bible study free for Spanish speaking congregations. We will begin using this resource for our Wednesday night Zoom Bible classes starting in June.

Finally, thank you to everyone that supported me during my first year of seminary.

Edwin Aparicio
Spanish Language Minister

(Reprinted from the June 2020 newsletter.)

Council Update June 2020

Summer is in our sights. We’re taking walks, slowing down a little. I guess there is something to that saying, “Stop and smell the roses.” I’m feeling hopeful in all God has given us.

Our church building may be closed, but don’t worry, Ascension is very much alive and well. Tony Acompanado just graduated in May. Congratulations, Tony! And we are all waiting to be together again and have a congregational meeting. We’re excited about the possibility of Tony joining our pastoral staff.

Edwin Aparicio has just completed his first year of seminary. Congratulations, Edwin! Ascension will be there in support as you continue your journey.

At our May Council meeting we discussed all the do’s and don’ts about reopening the church. The pandemic is still very real and as much as we want to see everyone sooner than later, we also want to be extremely cautious and follow the guidance of the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the ELCA and the CDC. A lot of time was spent in the council meeting and the decision did not come easy. However, it was by unanimous vote that Ascension will remain closed at this time. Council will meet every three weeks and review the situation and recommendations about when opening will be the right option and safe for all our members.

This next paragraph comes from a letter from Bishop Paul Erickson: “We in the church need to continue to be guided by scripture, our theology, and the best scientific knowledge we can gather. We stand in unity to prioritize the safety and the well-being of all our members as we continue in community.”

Dear Ascension members – please know you are loved by God and all who serve in our church. Be well, be safe and we will keep you well-informed.

Until then,

Karen Simington
Council President

(Reprinted from the June 2020 newsletter.)

June Partnership News

El Salvador and Tanzania both have the distinction of frequently making international news due to the ways their controversial presidents have chosen to react to the pandemic.

On one end of the spectrum, El Salvador has been in lockdown. Only one person is allowed to leave the home to go to the grocery store. Currently each day has a number assigned to it, and if that number is the last digit of your national id, you may leave the house to go to the store on that day. But if your family runs out of food on Monday and your id number day isn’t until Wednesday, your family will go without food until Wednesday. These decisions have all been made by their president, often via tweet, without support of the congress, so there is concern about El Salvador returning to authoritarianism.

Tanzania has been receiving attention because their president has been on the other end of the spectrum. Although schools and some businesses were closed, the president decreed churches and mosques must stay open since prayer was the most likely way to combat the virus. In the last few weeks, he has declared the virus to be something of a hoax brought into the country on contaminated facemasks. In addition to prayer, he has added drinking lime juice, honey and ginger as the answer to recovering from the virus. While Tanzania has not closed their borders, most of the surrounding countries have, so there are many shortages in the markets. The economy is devastated by the loss of tourism.

Like in the US, parents in both countries are struggling with childcare with schools being closed. Education has come to a stop in Tanzania due to lack of education in the communities and resources. In El Salvador, they are trying to do online school. In nearly all cases, this means the family shares the one smart phone in the house to find the school work their teacher posted on a Facebook or WhatsApp group message.

Another common issue we have heard about from both partners are concerns about getting around. In both places, people are highly dependent on public transportation. In El Salvador, there is no public transportation running. So even on your day to go to the store, a person might have no way to get to the store. In Tanzania, there is still some public transportation running. We have heard from our partners that they are personally afraid to use public transportation right now due to crowded conditions.

Ascension has been working with Pastor Julio to help with salaries for the unemployed church hardware workers. We’ve also been working with Pastora Blanca to provide a basket of basic food staples for every family in San Jorge. With documents from Ascension in hand, she was able to get special permission from the police to deliver the baskets.

We are also working with Pastor Makenge and Eliudi (the chair of their sister parish committee) for the best way for us to support the people of Samaria. They will be giving us a report at the end of May. Typically during May we do our special offerings to support school lunches, but we want to make sure we are providing them with the help that is most needed during these historic times.

Sarah Aparicio
Global Mission Team Leader

(Reprinted from the June 2020 newsletter.)

Health & Wellness

While we are struggling with the pandemic, we are living in ever-changing times and uncertainty. We don’t always know what will be happening next week, next month, or next year… we try to prepare for these times. We believe there is no doubt that God is still with us. I have been writing daily health and wellness tips and daily psalms with devotions on Ascension’s Facebook page. God’s word may bring a sense of hope and peace in these days of uncertainty.

June is here and we see trees and plants budding, birds singing, and flowers blooming. It is a wonderful time to enjoy the outdoors, do some yardwork, gardening, and just to get some fresh air and sunshine.

Additionally, many of us have the opportunity to spend more time with our families now. To see new sides to our children, as we have taken a more active role in their education, to cook our meals, and sit around tables together. Connecting with others in new ways over phones or computers.
While I tend to see the bright side of all of this, there certainly is a side of grief right now over the sudden changes in our lives. Plenty of loneliness and solitude as well particularly for those that live alone or in care facilities. However, God’s gifts surround us if we can manage to see them and embrace them. Perhaps this is a time to reset our lives, embracing that which is beautiful and letting go of that which has caused us to take things for granted.

At the end of all of this, my hope is that we will emerge from this crisis as closer to friends, families, and neighbors in spite of the distance we have all had to keep now. God’s peace, goodness and beauty be with all of you.

Brenda Lytle, RN
Director of Care Ministries

(Reprinted from the June 2020 newsletter.)

Hungry for a Litte Noise

In my devotions a few days ago, this was the psalm offered for reflection.

For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.  ~ Psalm 62:5-7

Silence is hardly my strong point. I am usually working more towards – finding a friend. Yes, there are days I can long for the silence – especially after homeschooling and working from home and refereeing the arguments of my children, who I affectionately refer to as my “coworkers.” Yet, in these days, I am hungry for a little noise. I know, I know … be careful for what you wish for.

Bring. It. On.

As we continue to live in the midst of these most uninspiring days, I am being reminded that our world continues to turn. We have missed the opportunity to celebrate anniversaries together. Birthdays are flying by. And graduations have begun. I am hungry to celebrate each one. And yet – we live in the silence of empty auditoriums, stadiums, schools, and churches. I am finding the silence of not being together to be more and more like a fog that will not disperse. And in such moments, the Holy Spirit finds ways to remind me that in the silence – God is our rock and our salvation. Our fortress. And God promises, “We will not be shaken.” A promise I need to hold onto in these lengthening days.

High school graduates in our congregation are preparing to close out a long-awaited chapter of their lives. College graduates are pondering job prospects or another degree program. Seminary graduates are pondering first call possibilities. All of them graduating via a computer screen and a diploma received through the mail. (Which for some of us is how we received our college diplomas – when we graduated in person.) I share all of this to ask you to consider the silence in your own lives. Perhaps, in these days, you might set aside your own silence to offer a word of joy to a graduate in your circle of life. If you are able to remember what it was like to walk across the stage at your own graduation from high school, college, etc…I wonder if you might hold another graduate in these days and honor them with a note celebrating their accomplishment. A phone call, a text message, a letter, a card, a small gift – what might you offer to celebrate another?

My soul waits in silence – some days. Other days, my soul wants to cluck like a chicken or squawk like a seagull. In these days of graduations happening in homes instead of on campuses, my soul wants to shout from the rooftops and celebrate each and every special moment with thanksgiving to God. So, people of God, go find a friend who is graduating – or the child of a friend – or the grandchild of a friend – or the niece or nephew of a friend – or the child of your neighbor and celebrate them in these long days of silent soul-waiting. In these days of waiting – bring your joy to another and be well. You are missed. You are loved.

Until I see you in church,

Pastor Chris

May 15, 200

How Are You

“How are you?”

It is the question I keep asking and the question I keep getting asked. And after a little more than a month of safer-at-home orders followed; I am beginning to wonder how I really am? Truthfully, I am doing better than I expected at this moment in the journey. As the world and our daily living has been reshaped by this pandemic, I am struck by the creativity and adaptability of not only my wife and children, but by my colleagues across thousands of congregations and by everyday people. It is the first time in my life where I can say with confident surprise, “Look how far we have come, without going anywhere!”

I have pondered for some time the direction of this May article. I have struggled with what is most important for me to share with you. Ascension, our faith community, is strong. Without much additional preparation, we entered a new world of worship fully online. It is of course different and difficult to lead worship in a space with no one to reflect the energy and joy of engaging in the communal act of worship. Yet, we have found the opportunity to offer authentic and genuine worship experiences to the world outside the walls of our sanctuary. Some small groups are meeting by video conference, though most of our small groups are staying connected by email, prayer requests and the old school telephone calls. Our ministries with the Hope Center, Food Bank, and Cross continue to extend God’s love into our community.

With great sacrifice and love, you tended the building after long years of deferred maintenance and that sacrifice, and love have allowed a usually filled to the brim with activities building to slow down to a trickle of staff to maintain the basics of ministry. No roof is leaking, no siding is peeling off, no HVAC is breaking down, no mice have invaded – all of which I am grateful for in this time when we are doing our very best to keep the important things – the important things. After the closing of the building – we had the building deep cleaned and disinfected by our cleaning company. After the cleaning was complete, Tamie Greenwood, administrator for Joyful Worship and Spiritual Growth, removed every pencil, paper, hymnal, and visitor pad from the sanctuary and bleach-wiped every single item. Chairs and pews were wiped down. Since that cleaning was completed, only minimal worship staff have been in the sanctuary and only two staff people have entered the building. Cloverleaf Preschool, who rents much of the Spiritual Growth Wing, continues to stay open and is limited to the Spiritual Growth Wing. We are cleaning that area twice a week. It is a different feel, to walk through the church and hear no laughter, no studying, no praying, no music. For now, the church is just a shell, waiting for you to return to bring life and joy to the space once again.

Financially, Ascension is also standing strong – thanks to your generous hearts and faithfulness. As you will read later on in our Treasurer’s article, giving in March was consistent and our electronic giving increased. I am also grateful to each of you who took the time to mail in your offering or fulfill your yearly pledge earlier in the year to tend the needs of the church. It bears repeating – that I am grateful for your faithfulness to our God and to the ministries entrusted to Ascension during these days.

I will also take time to share with you the incredible reach of our online worship services through Facebook, our website and our YouTube channel. We expected that many people would go online. We did not expect that many of you would share worship on Facebook via your own pages. We are also overwhelmed at the response to our Spanish Worship. Edwin and Sarah Aparicio have been holding their own in planning, preparing, and executing worship from start to finish with video recording as well. We received news that during this pandemic in El Salvador that many people are viewing our Spanish worship. It is an incredible gift and moment of hope that the people of Ascension provide far beyond the borders of the state of Wisconsin. We expect to continue to offer recorded worship through the entire month of May believing that even if the safer-at home order is lifted, we still may be constrained for the amount of people who will be able to gather at one time. Of course, God might surprise us. The heat might reduce the power and scope of the virus. Time will tell. At this point, Ascension’s staff and leadership are asking questions about how we will return to life, knowing that, at least for a time, life will not be as it was before the pandemic arrived at our doors. We are reflecting on questions around communion practices, sharing of the peace, passing the offering plate, greeting at the doors, coffee stations, and a multitude of other ministry items. We are seeking guidance and asking more questions.

In the world of Ascension, there are three Ps for the days ahead: Proaction, Preparation, Prevention. Those words are shaping our expected return to worship in the near future. I am grateful for Director of Care Ministries Brenda Lytle and other medical professionals within our congregation for their sage advice in these most strange days of life and ministry.

All that being said, I am also wanting to ask you to continue your prayers for those in our community who are struggling with their health or afraid to leave their homes for their ongoing health conditions that make them more susceptible to the coronavirus. We have members who own their own businesses and are afraid for their futures. Students are missing out on milestone moments including graduations from high school and college. Most importantly, as we have said for so long, social media can only offer so much to each us to connect in relationship. And so I ask for your prayers for our community as we all struggle with the loss of engaged relationships with face-to-face interactions. It will take time to both move forward in our world and process our grief at what has been lost over the past months – both in relationship and in life. In the meantime, I will invite you to remember the words I offered in the first video I posted after the Church Council voted to close the church campus to in-person activities: from John, Chapter 1, “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” Those words are my never ceasing prayer and reminder as many of us are feeling more and more disconnected.

I am excited to dream about our first Sunday back in worship: to hear your voices lifted up in song; to hear us speak the words of our confession of faith together; to offer you a word of forgiveness in-person; to celebrate the gift of children running up for children’s time; to preach to a room full of faces (I will try to keep it under 18 minutes); and to join with my brothers and sisters in the celebration of communion – gathering together once again to offer promise and peace and a tangible sign of God’s love and presence in the world.

Until I can see you in church, trust that I am seeing your faces in my prayers.

Pastor Chris

(Reprinted from the May 2020 newsletter.)

A Note from Council

Two months have passed of the coronavirus crisis, and maybe more to come.

There are days, when anxieties are too much, can’t possibly listen to one more news “special report,” phones going off “breaking news,” you can’t get on to whatever website, everyone is on their computer. I cannot-do-this-for-one-more-second. God please get me through this. There is the answer – God. Our God is life giving, saving, and most of all loving. In challenging, stressful times God comforts, encourages and renews. Find the comfort in the one who gave you life and calls us beloved. Sometimes this is so clear to us, and other times we just don’t have a clue. But know the hard days will pass and that He will never stop speaking to our hearts and souls. We are blessed.

Please remember in all your prayers – Ascension, Pastor Chris, Tony, Vicki, Ben, and all staff – all they do to provide us with our beautiful church and services to bring us through this difficult time and remember they are going through this too. Again, I am available by email to address any concerns or just talk.

Remember to continue to support Ascension, with online giving, direct deposit or in the mail. Someday we will look back to today and see Jesus was with us all along and brought us through.

Christ has risen! He has risen indeed! Alleluia!

Karen Simington, Council President

(Reprinted from the May 2020 newsletter.)

Latino Virtual Worship

Switching to online worship has been a lesson in humility and vulnerability for us as worship leaders. Leading worship every Sunday in person to our close-knit congregation of 40 is a different experience from filming a worship service that may have more than 30,000 views. Our biggest challenge has been leading the music. Music is an essential part of worship and some of the most profound moments of worship come from song. We want to continue to create powerful moments through the internet. Our challenge comes from the fact that we are still developing common songs that everyone knows, especially during Lent and Holy Week. Our charter members are all from El Salvador. Some were regular attendees of Lutheran services, some were strong Catholics, and others were Catholics that didn’t go to church often. Our service has doubled in attendance since last Holy Week, with many of the new members coming from Mexico. The hymnal is a collection of songs from all Spanish-speaking countries in the world that maybe no one in our congregation has heard before.

For the first week or two of online worship, we had almost no music, because we knew without words, the melodies weren’t going to be familiar and were going to have little impact on enhancing anyone’s worship experience. We realized we were going to have to start leading singing. This has primarily fallen on Edwin, with some help from our daughters, Marta and Luisa. We’ve started adding the lyrics on screen. My piano playing skills and Edwin’s skills aren’t at a level where we would normally volunteer to be so public as a musical act, but we hope that our willingness will remind our virtual congregation that they don’t need to be perfect singers to lift their voices in praise. And if I want Edwin to do yardwork outside, I just need to start editing the video and turn up the volume on the computer while he is singing and he will be outside working for hours!

Sarah Aparicio

(Reprinted from the May 2020 newsletter.)

Small Groups — Still Connecting Us

Using technology, Ascension’s small groups are still going strong while following safer-at-home guidelines.

From Bob Zastrow (AMEN): AMEN Monday evening has met for the last two weeks by video conference using a service similar to Zoom (Join Me). We hope to continue next week and will be starting the study of Acts. Our gatherings have been different but fun. We look forward to the challenge of using the technology of today to get back into God’s Word. AMEN Monday evening is open to additional men joining us on the video conference. Men can contact Bob Zastrow or Steve Boyer to be added to the participation list.

From Jan Zastrow: TGIT members have been texting, emailing, talking on the phone, sending cards. The Easter email was so heartwarming as each person checked in with one another. I have sent out individual emails with personal messages to each of my members…. Today, I will be sending a devotion on Psalm 40 with questions to meditate on. The theme of Psalm 40: As God delivers his people from trouble, they trust him more fully and long to tell others about his kindness. Seems applicable to our situation today. I have thought about using Zoom as a way to stay in touch, but not everyone has the capabilities, so I have hesitated. I may rethink that in the very near future.

From Linda Hansen: We are trying to have everyone in the group send their prayer requests to the group on the day we would normally meet. We’ve done it twice now and will do it again this Thursday. This is a way to keep people connected.

From Shirley Wehmeier: I use email to stay connected. We have always had a prayer chain for our group which includes people who have not been able to attend class but want to stay connected. Members send me prayer requests and I send them on to the group. I also have been sending an email/devotion during class time each week. I give suggestions for Bible reading for the week and prayer ideas. I encourage the group to respond with their thoughts on the topic. I get some people who respond each time and others I never hear from. We have several people who do not use computers so I have been in regular phone contact with them and have encouraged the rest of the class to give them calls also since they are not connected in other ways. We all agreed that we would pray at the same time each day throughout Lent.

From Chris Holloway: I gave group the option of continuing our study or taking a break. We chose to do a weekly devotion and fellowship hour with our favorite beverage every Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. via Zoom. I have 14 people in my group and all but two have participated (working on them!). I open the meeting with prayer and a 10-15 minute devotion. Then I have a Chat Pack Question deck, and choose 3-4 questions for fun conversation. We then do Highs and Lows and end in prayer. All of the women in my group are 50+ in age, so our issues are aging parents and not being able to see our grandchildren during this quarantine. It’s been great being able to “see” one another, sharing stories and praying together—admittedly, sometimes with a glass of wine.

From Arlene Davis: Our group has been keeping in touch by phone. Group members check on each other and offer to help with grocery deliveries and other things if needed.

From Amanda Tenwinkel: Our group met via Zoom this month. We had a few “technology bumps” but were pleased overall with the experience.

(Reprinted from the May 2020 newsletter.)

Partnership Update

El Salvador

El Salvador continues to be in a nation-wide lockdown due to the coronavirus. Schools and most businesses are closed. The agroferreterrias are closed, so those workers are without any income. Only one person per family is allowed to leave the house to go to the store; everyone else is expected to stay at home. There is a lot of fear about the virus and people who lived through the civil war are used to having to stay home and go without in order to stay safe, so there has not been much unrest about the lockdown.

The federal government has promised a one time emergency payment of $300 per family and most families in San Jorge have received their payments. Some families do not have current government ID cards, so they are still waiting for their payment. While $300 is a lot of money for most families in San Jorge, the cost of food in the local Super Selectos grocery store is the same or more than in our stores here in Wisconsin. The $300 will not go far. The municipal government is doing what it can to provide families with emergency supplies of food. As of now, the nearest case of coronavirus is in Santa Elena, about 8km from Usulután and 18km from San Jorge.

Pastor Julio and Pastora Blanca are beginning to use Facebook to share worship services and mid-week Bible study since many families have at least one smartphone. Neither one of them is familiar with technology, so their children are helping them. During this crisis, evangelical churches are loudly proclaiming that the end of times is here and people must join their church in order to be saved. These churches are beginning to grow as people continue to be afraid.

Tanzania

The good news from Tanzania is they are having sufficient rain and the crops are growing well. However, a recent report from Facebook tells us that the rains have intensified in the Meru area. On April 23, the floods destroyed over 50 homes and took two lives.

As of the writing of this article, there are 147 people in Tanzania with the coronavirus. Crowded markets and places of worship are still open, but schools and many other businesses are closed. There is no online or homeschooling. The markets have started to have some scarcity due to border closings. Their president continues to rely on prayer as the best method of preventing the spread of the virus. He has said that all worship services should continue and declared April 17-19 as days of prayer for people of all faiths against the virus. In spite of the president’s declarations, attendance is beginning to lessen at Samaria due to both fear of the virus and lack of transportation as many independent transportation operators have stopped driving people.

Pastor Makenge and other church leaders are traveling around the community, educating the members of Samaria about the coronavirus. Samaria leaders have shared concerns with us that people are not taking the virus seriously enough and worry that if the virus spreads, their country does not have the medical capacity to deal with an epidemic. Pastor Makenge has used some of the funds from Ascension to purchase hand sanitizer, handwashing stations, face masks and other medical supplies for Samaria and the other preaching points.

(Reprinted from the May 2020 newsletter.)