The Gift of Time

Well, we did it. We survived the trifecta of Advent, Christmas, and New Year’s! Now all that’s left is to face the possibility of snow and sub-zero temperatures in January. Sorry folks, it’s the reality of living in Wisconsin in January.

However, I don’t actually mind the cold or the snow, but I know for many others this isn’t your favorite time of year – dressing in multiple layers to clear the driveway or run to the grocery store isn’t high on your favorite activities list. Snow blowing in your face leaves something to be desired unless you’re my ten year old who prays for snow daily so he can go out and play.

Lately I’ve been reflecting on the past year and thinking about how we conclude the end of a year and begin the next. As many of you know, a new year is merely an arbitrary trick of the human calendar. Technically, a new year could happen on any day and at any time. Time is seamless and constant, so we use clocks and calendars to remind us that time matters, and we document moments of time so we don’t forget – appointments, tasks, visits, birthdays, social commitments, and so much more – they all find their way onto our calendar.

But time has its way of taking its toll on us. I turned 50 a few months ago and the other day as I was getting out of bed a reminder was gifted to me of an achy back and tired legs as I shuffled my way to the kitchen to begin the day. It reminded me that time has had its way with me. The years accumulate and they are both a blessing and also a reminder of our mortality.

Every year bring both the fortunate and unfortunate to us. As I get older this has taken on new meaning to me. When I was younger this didn’t really make any sense because every year was just another new opportunity and a time for exploration. A new year means more. But I think there comes a time when your perspective on time changes. As we get older I think we learn to treasure all time, whether good or bad because some time is better than no time at all.

I don’t say this to sadden you or grieve you, but to remind each of us not to take anything for granted. None of us can predict what will happen in the next few minutes let alone the next year. Value your time and don’t waste any of it or even complain about it. Invest your time wisely in activities that produce beneficial results for yourself, your loved ones, and the world.

Every moment is a threshold between what has been and what is to come. We come from a multitude of yesterdays, and we move toward an unknown tomorrow. Most importantly though, our incredible loving God is present in of all those moments. A new year is an opportunity, each day is a gift, and every breath a chance to live life more fully.

How will you choose to use your time? My hope is that each of us will choose to use our time to reflect God’s greater purpose for us. Care for one another and the world around us. Treat all time as precious. My friends, let’s move through this new year and be part of God’s blessings.

Pastor Tony

Las Posadas

Another year of ministry begins here at Ascension! As we continue on the mission of proclaiming the kingdom of God, each year through our different ministries we try to innovate and do new things together.

In my sermon on the fourth Sunday of Advent I said this “We are carriers of a multicultural ministry where the grace of God is revealed in many ways and with many traditions that you never imagined would take place in this place, for example seeing a donkey walking around the building at Las Posadas. If that is not enough, seeing its three shepherds walking around pulling their sheep….”

As you already know, Las Posadas is an event that has become a tradition in the Advent season at Ascension. This year before our traditional walk around the Church we incorporated a live nativity. The angels and three shepherds joined the holy family in their stay in the manger next to the donkey and two wonderful sheep in very, very cold weather. The cold weather did not prevent the holy family, the angels, the animals, the shepherds, you and many visitors from enjoying a wonderful live Christmas and our journey with the holy family in their search for refuge. 

As we began planning, in a moment of weakness I mentioned that it would be nice to have luminaries again. The secretary of Latino ministries, who besides being the musician in our Spanish worship is also my wife, liked that idea, but she told me it would be better to use them on the pathway to the Ash Gardens. She said it would give people another thing to do if they arrived early for the live nativity and it would connect the nativity to the empty crosses. She said it would look more beautiful than in the parking lot. To be honest, I did not want to add anything else to the event. I told my wife that if she wanted to be in charge she could do it. She told me that many of you would like it. You know what, my wife was right, the idea of ​​adding the illuminated walkway in the middle of the snow to the memorial garden was beautiful and added something special to the event and will likely be a new part of our tradition.

I am so grateful to everyone who helped with the posadas event, all the families from the Latina ministry were there cooking the food, some of you from the English ministry helped with the Christmas preparation, with the bonfires, the lights, donating money, washing dishes and setting up the Spanish ministry sanctuary after work! That is the kind of kingdom of God that Ascension offers to our community. A place where God’s mission is actively working through us.

Stephen Bouman in his book The Mission Table says, “Life in Christ asks us to step out continually into wider world, deeper spiritual insights, passionate engagement with the calling we have from God.” As we walk into this new year of ministry, may the star that guided the wise men to the light of the world continue to guide each of you and our congregation in 2025.

Happy New Year!

Pastor Edwin

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Happy Epiphany!

Depending on when you are reading this article, we might still be in the 12 days of Christmas which ends on January 5th; or you might be celebrating the new year; or possibly January 6th Epiphany celebrations have finally arrived to celebrate a star in the sky and the visit of the Magi to the Christ child. Whenever and however, you are celebrating, it is my hope you found a moment to revel in and reflect on the promise of God’s presence among us revealed in starlight and baby cry and the turn of the calendar to 2025.

The gift of Epiphany is the opportunity to rest in the story. There are almost ten weeks of Epiphany this year. A glorious opportunity for reflection as we enter into this new year together. One of my favorite authors is a gifted woman, named Jan Richardson. She offered this blessing for the new year. I have decided to move in.

The Year as a House: A Blessing

Think of the year as a house:
door flung wide in welcome,
threshold swept and waiting,
a graced spaciousness opening and offering itself to you.

Let it be blessed in every room.
Let it be hallowed in every corner.
Let every nook be a refuge and every object set to holy use.

Let it be here that safety will rest.
Let it be here that health will make its home.
Let it be here that peace will show its face.
Let it be here that love will find its way.

Here
let the weary come
let the aching come
let the lost come
let the sorrowing come.

Here
let them find their rest
and let them find their soothing
and let them find their place
and let them find their delight.

And may it be in this house of a year that the seasons will spin in beauty,
and may it be in these turning days that time will spiral with joy.
And may it be that its rooms will fill with ordinary grace and light spill from every window to welcome the stranger home.   —Jan Richardson

Wherever you make your home, may it be blessed, and may you enter this Epiphany and the coming year in peace. People of God, welcome home! See you in church.

Pastor Chris

Advent & Christmas at Ascension

BLAST Program: “Abajo en Belén” (Down in Bethlehem): The BLAST Sunday School children will share the story of Jesus’ birth in worship on Sunday, Dec. 22, during worship at 10:45 a.m. Dress rehearsal for BLAST children is Saturday, Dec. 21, 9-11 a.m. 8:30 a.m. will be regular 4th Sunday of Advent worship.

Christmas Eve Worship: Christmas Eve Worship on Sunday, Dec. 24, will be at 3p, 5p, 6p (Spanish) and 9:30p. Candle lighting, communion, and glorious music will be shared at all the services— organ and piano at 3p, the Ascension Choir at 5p, and guitar at 9:30p. If you can help with ushering or communion, please contact Tamie in the church office, tamie@ascensionelca.org. Invite your friends! Bring your family and share in the joy of what is always a beautiful night filled with song and candlelight, tradition, and memories.

Christmas Day Worship: The joyful sounds and faces of Christmas Day will be heard and seen at worship at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 25.

Advent Arrives

Advent has come! “Advent,” as one author writes, “is a season of the heart, a time when our hearts are warmed by the love of family and friends, and especially, the love of God. Advent is also a time for heart work, a time to address straying of the heart from God’s purposes, hardening of the heart to the people around us whom God has called us to love, and dulling of the heart to the joys and wonders of life.”

Advent has sometimes been called “the little Lent,” but Advent is so much more! A time of preparation and anticipation for the One who makes all things new. Candles are lit each Sunday around an Advent Wreath to help us prepare. Words like Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love are announced to remind us of what the coming Savior of the world will offer to us. There is a joy in the waiting for Christmas because we know what is to come. The labor pains of Mary will give way to the cries of a newborn king. The world will not even take notice. But animals close by the manger and armies of angels in heaven will bend their knee in worship. Emmanuel, God with us, has come to be among us. 

We so often wait with worry, frustration, fear. We expect that the end of our waiting will bring news that is difficult to hear. Even in moments of joyful anticipation, there can be moments of cautious hesitation expecting something bad to happen. It is the broken world that seeps into our hope. It is only by the arrival of Jesus that our hope can be restored and with that hope – we find peace, joy, and love to sustain us in this life. 

Who could believe a baby in a manger would change the world forever? Is it too much to hope for in this life, with all of its struggles and moments that weigh us down, that our God comes to us to be present with us in the valleys and celebrates with us on the mountaintop? Perhaps, most days it is too much to believe that God cares so much as to take notice. Yet, I am convinced that the God who comes to us in every vulnerability, is the same God who comes to us with every strength to carry us through these days and one day, will carry us home. 

So this Advent, join us on our journey to the manger. Seek out the star in the sky, follow the shepherds, hear the cries of a new born baby, and kneel down, with all creation, in worship and reverence for the arrival of the newborn king once again.

People of God, Merry Christmas! (if just a bit early)

Pastor Chris

Light in the Darkness

Have you ever been in a place where all the lights went out and you were left standing in complete darkness? 

One time when we were at my wife’s family cabin in the north woods, one of her cousins and a friend left to go for a walk on the road around the lake. It was just before sundown when they left, and when it finally turned to night, the moon was completely obscured by a dense layer of clouds. The rest of us had been sitting around the campfire when we heard cries of “HELP!” coming from the road. So, I grabbed a flashlight and headed toward the distress. And when I got to the road I shined the flashlight around and discovered the cousin and friend about 10 feet off the driveway looking disoriented. They said they forgot to take a flashlight and without the moonlight it was pitch black and they couldn’t see the road much less find the driveway to get back home.

When I first shined the flashlight on them they seemed relieved and began to laugh. It’s amazing how unnerving it can feel when all the light goes out, even if you’re close to the relative safety of loved ones or a place you know well. I wonder if you have ever been surprised by the absence of light? The light makes all the difference in the world doesn’t it?

If you want to see what Jesus means in your life, just imagine a time without him. Have you ever had that time in your life? A time before Jesus existed for you? A time before you knew about the light of the world? Was it as dark as a late night walk in the woods without a flashlight or the moon to light the way? Imagine a time before Jesus was born. Where was the hope for the world? Where was the joy? Where was the focus on love and forgiveness? There really was a time before Jesus, a time when the world was waiting, expecting, and hoping.  

Each year during Advent we wait and expect and hope for the coming of Jesus while much of the world around us remains in the dark. For many, the Christmas holiday means shopping and decorating without a hint of the baby Jesus. As Christians, the center of our holiday season is the light of the world, an infant king, bringing peace. 

Take a moment and consider this: What are the ways you will choose to focus on Jesus this season? How will you grow in your knowledge and presence of him? How will you show those around you the difference he has made to you and to the world? 

Wishing you and yours a joy-filled Advent and Christmas season. Waiting, Expecting, Hoping.

Pastor Tony

Life’s Moments

After having celebrated Thanksgiving Day with family and friends, now is the time to begin preparing for our end-of-year celebrations with families. As a church, leaders are also preparing so that in this Advent season of 2024, you, your family, and those you invite to visit Ascension can experience and meditate upon God becoming human in a variety of traditions.

As a multicultural congregation, we have the gift of offering an Advent season in which we can see, know, and experience God’s human revelation in various ways but with the same purpose. Activities such as the Advent Concert Worship, the Sunday school program, the annunciation of the angel, live nativity, the posadas, Christmas Eve, the visit of the three wise men in January, and Family Day in February. All of these revive us and remind us of the origin of our history as a Christian community.

On Thursday, Dec. 12, at 6 a.m., you are invited to join us in the Spanish Sanctuary where we will have the celebration of the Annunciation, the day in which we remember when the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and revealed God’s will that she would become the means by which the Word would become flesh and dwell among us. This celebration will be accompanied by mariachi music, and a shared breakfast after worship.

On Saturday, Dec. 21, we hope that you will join us, accompany us and experience how the Holy Family arrives in Bethlehem as strangers looking for a refuge that was not found. As Luke 2:7 says, “and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” The Christmas story is a reminder for us that the first years of Jesus’s life was spent as a migrant, searching for housing and safety. The Holy Family’s journey as foreigners began on their way to Bethlehem and continued on their trip to Egypt in search of refuge due to persecution by King Herod. For this reason, it is our tradition to begin Las Posadas with the Immigrant’s Creed, a creed that professes the Christian faith through the lens of an immigrant.

I believe in Almighty God, who guided the people in exile and in exodus, the God of Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon, the God of foreigners and immigrants.

I believe in Jesus Christ, a displaced Galilean, who was born away from his people and his home, who fled his country with his parents when his life was in danger, and returning to his own country suffered the oppression of the tyrant Pontius Pilate, the servant of a foreign power, who then was persecuted, beaten, and finally tortured, accused and condemned to death unjustly. But on the third day, this scorned Jesus rose from the dead, not as a foreigner but to offer us citizenship in heaven.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the eternal immigrant from God’s kingdom among us, who speaks all languages, lives in all countries, and reunites all races.

I believe that the church is the secure home for the foreigner and for all believers who constitute it, who speak the same language and have the same purpose. I believe that the communion of the saints begins when we accept the diversity of the saints.

I believe in the forgiveness of sin, which makes us all equal, and in reconciliation, which identifies us more than does race, language, or nationality.

I believe that in the resurrection God will unite us as one people in which all are distinct and all are alike at the same time. Beyond this world, I believe in life eternal in which no one will be an immigrant but all will be citizens of God’s kingdom, which will never end. Amen.

Feliz Navidad!

Pastor Edwin

A Season of Thanks

For many years my wife and I have wanted to visit Door County in the fall, but we always found ourselves with either too much on the calendar or too little in the bank account. Finally this year we made it happen. Taking advantage of my wife having a day off of school at the end of October, my family and I had the opportunity to get away for two days. I had heard stories about the colorful beauty that can be seen during the fall. The stories are true, as you drive through the streets you can enjoy the beautiful landscape reflected in the forest.

As you may know, fall in Door County is one of the peak seasons for tourism. As we passed by, hotel after hotel had the messages on their entrances: No Vacancy. I immediately thought that the streets were going to be crowded all day but as we drove through the cities, the streets looked like they had little traffic. In the evenings, the streets, restaurants and shops showed something different. The reality was that most people during the day were immersed in all the hiking spots, forests, and lakes enjoying and giving thanks for the beauty that can be found around the peninsula. I thought to myself, what a great way to start the season of thankfulness.

As we approach gathering and celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends, let us thank God for the things and moments God has given us. We as a Church thank God for the eight students from our Church who made their confirmation of faith on Reformation Sunday. We are thankful for the 75th anniversary of our Church that reminds us that we are always growing. We are thankful to have attended the Youth Gathering in New Orleans last summer and that the energy from that experience still inspires our students to have an active faith life in the church. We are thankful that a delegation was able to visit El Salvador this summer and that Rick Frowein is visiting Tanzania, strengthening the bonds of our partnerships and exploring new ways that Ascension can support our brothers and sisters. We are thankful for new members. As we also approach Dia de los Muertos, we give thanks for all those who have gone before us, but left wonderful memories in the hearts and minds of many of us.

I personally thank God for allowing me to visit Door County in the fall with my family. I am thankful that this summer I was able to celebrate my first year as an ordained pastor and my twelfth wedding anniversary. I am thankful to have had my first experience leading a youth trip and looking forward to our next one.

And you, what are you thankful for during this Thanksgiving holiday season?

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his loving-kindness is everlasting.” (1 Chronicles 16:34)

Happy Thanksgiving.
Pastor Edwin

Thankful for You

Well, friends, I am just a week past my hernia surgery. It has been a journey. No doubt in the month of November you will hear Pastor Tony or Pastor Edwin yell at me for preparing to pick up a chair or move a table. God forbid I move a candlestick! I am not a fan of being dependent on another person. Ask my wife! Though I am very content to ring a little bell so that my wife will know it is time to refill my coffee cup. In my dreams…at least.

It has been a glorious October – Green Meadows worship on the farm, new member brunch and the joy of 27 new members sharing in the gift of this community of faith, CRASH cooking and serving breakfast to the teachers at Hawthorne Elementary, and Reformation Sunday celebrating the public profession of faith of our confirmands. And I thought September was a full month with our 75th anniversary celebration weekend and the kick-off to fall programming. None of this was done by one person alone. The ministry and mission of Ascension is the power of God lived out through the energy and faithfulness of so many of you that make Ascension the community of faith that it is.

November brings the gift of All Saints Sunday and the remembering of those who have died in our community in the last year as well as lifting up the memory of loved ones who still rest in our hearts even as they enjoy the Kingdom of God. Young at Heart will take 50 people to an event to hear the sounds of Christmas a bit early while enjoying the gift of fellowship and community. Ascension’s annual meeting will be on Sunday, Nov. 17, at 9:45am in-between services. An opportunity for us to gather to celebrate where we have been and where God may be leading in the year ahead. Christ the King Sunday celebrates the end of the church year on Sunday, Sept. 24, and the season of Advent will be right around the corner. Again, all of this takes place, with your passion and partnership in the ministry of the body of Christ.

It turns out I am dependent on all of you – though not for my coffee. As one of your pastors, my ministry is encouraged, enriched, and inspired by your ministry and presence in worship, study, and in serving each other and those outside the walls of Ascension. In this month, where we celebrate the day of Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to give thanks to God for all of you and to thank you for all that you do to share the story of God’s love throughout the world. What joy it brings to walk together in this time and place.

See you in church,
Pastor Chris

Always Thankful

As I sit here staring at a blank document on my computer wondering, “What am I going to write about for the November newsletter?”, I thought, since no new and original idea was coming to mind, I should go back and look at some of my previous articles over the years. I came across one I wrote several years ago about being thankful and even though I was trying to avoid using the ever popular “be thankful” theme, something slightly different came to mind which I think is still applicable to all of us today. So, here we go.

November is a month where people tend to list out the things we’re thankful for, (it’s probably because of that one holiday called “Thanksgiving”). Some will even list something every day on their social media pages (which is not something you’ll never find me doing). Don’t get me wrong, it’s good to be thankful, and I am thankful for many different things – I just don’t care to broadcast it all over social media. Besides, many times the things listed after family and friends are all material things which eventually break, get lost, or simply need to be replaced.

But don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to be the Scrooge or Grinch of Thanksgiving, it is good to be thankful. The Bible even tells us that. First Thessalonians says, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Wait, look closely, did you notice what it says? “Give thanks in all circumstances…”. So, does this mean we’re supposed to give thanks in those times when life isn’t going like we’ve planned or when something bad happens? Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, yes, that’s exactly what it means.

We all know that bad things are going to happen. People will get sick, things will break or be stolen, feelings will be hurt by those we call our friends, and relationships are going to go through tough times and may even come to an end. It may be hard to see these as times to give thanks, but they are. And here’s why…

Notice the word that comes before “all.” What is it? It’s the word in. We’re told to give thanks in all circumstances, not for all circumstances. The evil, the bad things of life don’t come from God, those are a result of sin being in the world. This is why we’re not thankful for all circumstances. We’re thankful in all circumstances because no matter what we’re facing in life, God is still in control and God’s presence is still with us. This means that his love, mercy, compassion, and all the other wonderful things God is and does are still with us. They are with us because we are his beloved children. And to prove that, God sent Jesus, His only Son, so that anyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

So in this month of reflection on what it is that we’re thankful for…the thing I’m most thankful for is this – the precious gift of Jesus and his victorious resurrection! Because through this we are claimed as God’s children. And I’m thankful that God continues to go with us wherever it is that we go. It’s my constant prayer that no matter what any of us experience in our lives, that we remember that he’s always there with us and we can lean on him all the time. May you have a blessed and thankful Thanksgiving!

Pastor Tony