Category: Messages

God’s Got You!

The past few weeks, okay who are we kidding, months really, ever since the mission trip to Tanzania/Ethiopia have been a bit of a whirlwind…and even that’s putting it mildly.

But I also recognize that I’m not the only one who feels like life sometimes moves at a frenetic pace leaving us struggling in its wake to just hang on. It almost feels like a firehose in the face where everything just keeps coming at you and all you can do is hope to catch your breath before the next barrage comes along.

The past few days have been particularly difficult – and then this happened. As I drove our daughter to school this morning and turning into the parking lot, I noticed the long line of oncoming cars attempting to cross and finally get their turn to enter the school parking lot. So, I decided to let several of them pass in front of me. And then just as I let one more car pull in front of me I noticed their license plate. It said, “GDS GOT ME”. God’s Got Me. Now, maybe it’s pure coincidence, or perhaps it was God trying to remind me that in the midst of all the recent chaos, struggle, pain, sadness, and all the other stress – that God was in fact with me and tending me the entire time.

I started to reflect more deeply about God’s presence in my life and wouldn’t you know it, there had been signs everywhere – God’s touchpoints in my life where God was leading, guiding, directing, comforting, reassuring, blessing and so many more moments of God’s grace and love. God showed up in text messages, and unexpected visitors at our house, in the kindness of a thank you card, a treat left on my desk, a beautiful gift weaved by a child, a hand on my shoulder, and then here in the most unexpected of places – on a license plate.

I try each day to be aware of God’s presence and listen for God’s whispers, but if I’m being honest then the truth is many times I let the chaos around me take over and drown out God’s presence. It took a moment of patience this morning, to not feel rushed to get into the parking lot, to recognize the difficulty of the drivers trying to cross over. And for whatever reason today I noticed, today I was patient, today I was kind…and then there it was. I find it interesting that had I not been patient, or kind, or inviting, had I not recognized the struggle of others then I would’ve missed God’s gracious reminder that was waiting there the whole time.

So, today I’m trying to slow down a bit and while I know I won’t always get it right, I’m counting on God’s grace to keep showing up in unexpected moments, in the moments of messiness and chaos, and in the moments I neglect to listen to God speaking to my heart. I’m trusting in God to lead and guide me, to hold and reassure me, to bless, empower, and send me. The message was clear, God’s got me. And God’s got you. God’s got all of us. And that brings to mind a song that I think says it all, “He’s got the whole world in his hands…”. Okay, okay, God, I hear you. Thank you! Keep singing over us!

Pastor Tony

Amazing Grace

Jesus told his disciples “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” This is a direct command to share the Gospel message to all those who do not yet know it. The question we should ask ourselves is what kind of Gospel has been shared? A Gospel of forgiveness, joy, peace, love and hope? Or are we sharing a Gospel of fear and punishment?

As many of you know, I had to travel to El Salvador to hold my dad’s funeral in my homeland. Funerals in my country and in most Latin American countries are different from funerals here. During the vigil, family, neighbors and friends gather to accompany the family in their grief. As soon as the community knows that a person has passed away, they arrive at the family home to sit with the family. The home of the deceased is filled with the singing of hymns, crying, praying, preaching, and eating tamales, day and night. No one sleeps until after the funeral and burial.

I made the decision to preach here and also preach in the land where I grew up. On the night of the vigil, we had a service. My former pastors from El Salvador Pastora Blanca and Pastor Julio were in charge of the evening service, and I was in charge of the funeral service. As I was preparing my preaching for the funeral, one of the things that came to mind was that the message I was going to share was going to shock everyone in attendance.

My message focused solely on the salvation that Christ brought to the entire world… The Gospel affirms that salvation is obtained by faith in Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to pay the price for the sins of humanity… He opened the way for us to eternal life… The tomb will never be closed again… Christ defeated death, death no longer has power over us… if Christ is resurrected, we will also be resurrected…salvation is by grace and not by works…. After the death of Lazarus, Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”… A few verses later, when Jesus saw that Mary was still doubting, He said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”… Grace leads us to salvation, not works… works are the result of the work that God is already doing in us… salvation is a gift from God… Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.”

A day after this message, family, friends and pastors said that some people had said that they had never heard of God’s grace before. A pastor told me that a member of his church asked her if we are saved by grace and not by works, then why you have preached to us that we are saved by works. I knew that these reactions were going to happen. I knew it because where I’m from they don’t know about grace. They have been about punishment, fear and resentment. Catholics, Evangelicals and even some Lutherans share salvation through works and not by grace.

On my way back home to Waukesha, I was thinking about all the reactions that grace had provoked in the minds and hearts of many. More than 2000 years have passed since grace came to us and there are still people in many parts of the world who do not know it. Brothers and sisters, as we continue on this continuous journey of learning and discernment, let the light of Christ continue to illuminate us to share the message of grace with all those who have not yet received it.

Pastor Edwin

God's grace Latino Ministry Pastor Edwin Salvation

GriefShare

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.

grief Grief Support GriefShare

Another Tragedy

Once again the power of death has made itself known in the world as we grieve the loss of life of children and educators at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

The city and state are far enough away that we can briefly read those words and quietly dismiss the horror of the tragedy. However, we found out last November that we are not immune from the power of death or instance of tragedy as members of our own community ran for cover, jumped out of the way, assisted with the wounded and the dying, and held vigil for the grief of families in Waukesha.

I have said my prayers this day for the families of children who will never walk through front doors again. Prayers for summer activities ended before they began. Prayers for families who now plan funerals instead of end of year celebrations. And now we sit with our grief and ask ourselves once again: are these children finally worthy of our attention and care to beg for more mental health care resources to be offered, require background checks or waiting periods to purchase firearms, or offer a greater respect for those who put their lives on the line each day to protect our most precious gifts of God, namely our teachers and first responders.

I am not interested in the debate of these things. There is always a time for more words – Lord knows, I use too many words much of the time. My concern is whether the amount of words we use will only delay the inevitable next e-alert as we grieve with another city in another state about another school and the loss of life.

Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.

Pastor Chris

community grief prayers school shooting tragedy violence

Thanksgiving Following Parade Tragedy

Holy God, we give you thanks for every gift given. As we gather in small ways and great ways to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, we are mindful that celebrations are more muted this year as we reflect on the horrific moments of this past Sunday. Remind us, Lord God, that you are present to us. Remind us that you offer hope; you offer life; you offer love for all the world. We come before you with hearts filled with emotions we are still working to understand. May your blessing be with us and we gather at tables, over the internet, and in all the ways we may connect with those we love. Amen.

On the Tragedy Tonight

We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that took place at the Waukesha Christmas parade this evening, and our hearts are broken for all who were present at the event and especially those who witnessed the incident firsthand, those who were injured, and those who died as a result of this senseless act of violence.

At this time, we are unaware if anyone from the community of Ascension may have been physically injured, however, the effects of this tragic incident extend far beyond just the physical and we ask that you join us in holding all who were affected by the incident in prayer.

We recognize that even if you were not present, you have most likely heard about the incident via the news, social media, or by word of mouth and our hearts go out to you for the sadness and grief you too are experiencing.

We know that there are several families with children who may be experiencing fear, sadness, or other trauma because of this incident and we encourage you to exercise self-care moments amid all that you are experiencing. If children ask questions, do your best to answer them honestly but tactfully. Reassure them that they are loved and that they are safe now. Validate their sadness and fear for themselves, their friends and others they love and be sure to take lots of time to just hug them and offer them tangible and physical reassurance.

Tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 22, the church will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for anyone to come and offer private prayers or for candle lighting. At 6 p.m., we invite you along with friends, students, neighbors, and any other members of the Waukesha community to come for a prayer vigil and to light candles to grieve those who have died and hold in prayer all those who were injured, especially those whose lives continue to hang in the balance.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. ~ Psalm 34:18

Moving Forward

Dear friends, how far we have come! We continue to see the pandemic moving towards its close. And although we still recognize the concern for those among us unvaccinated and those unable to be vaccinated, I am grateful to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Singing has returned to the sanctuary in amazing ways with choirs, Praise Band, solos, and the voices of the congregation gathered to worship. Physical distancing in the sanctuary has been reduced to one section to offer continued covid protocols for those choosing just a little more separation. Masks have disappeared for most and the chance to see smiles on faces is worth its weight in gold. The best part has been a return to hugs and handshakes for those that are feeling comfortable returning to the practice. This Pastor will happily offer either to you when you see him. We celebrated baptisms in June and have a couple more to celebrate in July. Always a moment of joy in the life of the congregation. JOLT Adventure Camp was a wonderful return to some “normalcy” in ministry. The students were amazing and the adventures pushed students and the adults out of their comfort zones and into the “leaps of faith” where we trust our faith in God a little more deeply before we climb the mountain or step off the platform to hang on the zipline cable. All-in-all, the summer is shaping up to be a life-giving gift of God after the covid summer of 2020.

Personally, I will share with you that this past year has humbled me in ways that I did not expect. You have been so gracious to tend my father, my family, and to allow me to work through some of my own grief after the death of my mom in very public ways. I have acknowledged the milestones of the “firsts” that so many of you have spoken of in your own journeys with grief. First Thanksgivings, first birthdays, first Easters, first Mother’s Days – navigating each one was more minefield that I expected. So many of you took the time to share with me your own stories of figuring out the way forward after losing a parent or spouse or child. I am grateful for your willingness to share your own experiences so that I could know I was not crazy for what I was feeling and, more importantly, that I was not alone. For every card, every letter, every knowing glance, every half smile, every hug – thank you for your examples of faithfulness to our God that allowed me be reminded of God’s great love for all of us.

Finally, as I have shared with the Mutual Ministry Team and the Church Council, I have encouraged the staff to find time to be away this summer. Intentional time away from Ascension and the responsibilities of ministry, so that we will be ready to launch into the fall program with energy and enthusiasm. As many of you remind me regularly, I am also expected to take my own advice at times. I plan to be away from Ascension for three weeks this month. My family plans to be in CA for some vacation to visit family, walk the beach, and linger over some Starbucks coffee and many some 21-year-old scotch. Regardless of what comes first, I expect to be well-vacationed when I return to ministry at the beginning of August.

My prayer is that each of you will find some time to reconnect with family, old friends, a few of your favorite things over these next couple of months. I, for one, will be excited to see you when you find your way back to worship in-person at Ascension. August will allow us time to prepare for the fall. And September will be a time to witness the new things God is doing at Ascension and throughout the world.

Peace be with you.

Pastor Chris

Challenges

It is inevitable that each one of us will face a variety of challenges throughout our lives. Some of them may feel less significant like having to try a new thing or step out of our comfort zone for a time, while others may feel a bit more life-altering like moving to a new place, facing an unexpected diagnosis or dealing with the death of a loved one.

Often our first instinct is to run away from them, but challenges can be a gift if we allow them to be. Challenges can move us to learn new things about ourselves, push us to see what’s possible, help us to see that we are not alone, teach us the blessing of relying on others, and most importantly show us who God is and how God loves.

Recently, while we were away at JOLT Adventure Camp, challenges in various forms presented themselves to both students and leaders. And while each one was different, all of them shared some common themes – they offered opportunities to develop confidence, shift perspective, gain trust, learn acceptance, reveal strength, experience love, and find faith.

When we face our fears and uncertainties, we open ourselves to amazing possibilities, and when we do all this trusting that God is always with us and surrounds us with all we need to maneuver each step of this life, then we allow ourselves to be transformed into who God is continually creating us to be, and the world to be shaped into the place God desires.

Our time at adventure camp was an opportunity to be challenged but more importantly, it was a time to be amazed by God. But you don’t have to go away to adventure camp to experience this, you need only to be willing to have your eyes and heart opened and trust that God is leading you on a path deeper into God’s love. Challenges are certain – more importantly, so is God’s love.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” ~Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)

Pastor Tony

Covid Protocols

Dear Friends – We continue to celebrate the news of the decrease in new covid cases within the state of Wisconsin and throughout the United States. Of course, our prayers continue for our sisters and brothers around the world who are seeing another wave of the pandemic wash over their communities.

At Ascension, we are grateful for your faithfulness to God and our continued partnership to gather for in-person worship inside our sanctuary as many ELCA communities are still only meeting virtually. At the Church Council meeting on Tuesday, May 18, the council made the decision to take an additional step-down in our covid protocols. Beginning May 30, we will no longer require physical distancing in the sanctuary, although we will set aside one area of seating where physical distancing will be maintained. As of May 30, we are ending our limit on capacity for worship. RSVP’s are no longer required but are helpful for planning purposes.

As we continue to tend the safety of our entire worshiping community, the Church Council, in keeping with the data and recommendations from the CDC and vaccine availability for the wider community, made the decision to leave our current mask policy in place through Sunday, June 20, allowing for our young people, ages 12-17, the opportunity to be protected with the scheduled two doses of the vaccine and allotted time period to pass for the vaccine to be fully effective. Ascension will move to masks optional throughout the building for those who have been fully vaccinated beginning on Monday, June 21. Of course, those who would choose to continue to wear a mask to protect themselves and others will be respected and welcomed.

As we move into our summer schedule, our 10 a.m. worship will be outside on May 30^th, June 6^th, June 20^th, July 4^th, July 18^th, August 1^st, and August 15^th. Masks will be optional outside beginning with our first outdoor worship on May 30^th.

We are aware that some have a desire to worship without masks and others would choose to continue to require masks in worship long into the future. The Church Council has heard the opinions and requests of our congregation and believes these decisions honor a balance and a continued direction forward. As always, should you have questions, please reach out to the church office, Council President Jeremy Poling, Pastor Tony, or Pastor Chris. We are grateful for our continued walk together and hopeful for the days ahead to the glory of God.

Please remember to reserve your spot for this coming Sunday, May 23.