Walk With Ascension

Ascension’s pastoral assistants.

Pastoral Assistants Are a True Gift

Our Pastoral Assistant Ministry exists to spread Christ’s love and Word by extending significant pastoral care throughout the congregation and the community. We have had this ministry in place for many years. Perhaps you have met them if you were hospitalized or have been homebound or in a rehab facility. The Pastoral Care team members are: Brenda Lytle RN, the Director of Care Ministries for Ascension; Paul Wehmeier, Melody Maass, Arlene Davis, Bonnie Thiesenhusen, Sally Wagner, and Jim Hahn.

Thank you to all of our Pastoral Assistants who make monthly visits to members in our congregation for prayer, scripture, and sacrament. It keeps our members connected at times when they are alone and vulnerable. God’s love is intertwined with a kind of love of loving and serving others. If you or a family member is hospitalized and would like a visit from our pastors or pastoral assistants, please call the church office at 262-547-8518

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.

John 13:35

Grief Support Ministry

We are planning to host the full 12-week sessions of Grief Share again this fall. If you or a loved one have suffered loss and would like some help and support, this may be the program for you. If you would like to be a part of our Grief Share program please contact: Brenda Lytle, RN, Director of Care Ministries at brenda@ascensionelca.org or 262-547-8518.

Chosen’s ribbon cutting at the new locations in Waukesha

Be the Village Ministry

Chosen had a ribbon cutting in June for the new Waukesha location of their Family Closet for foster and adoptive families. The newly-opened location is at 400 Travis Lane, #30. We will be holding a school supply drive for Chosen in August. More info in next month’s newsletter.

Save Sept. 10 for Chosen’s 2022 “Walk on the Wild Side” for foster care. Supporters will walk through the Zoo with Chosen t-shirts/bags and buttons, helping to raise awareness about foster care. Supporters learn important fostering information at specific passport check-points and then will gather for a picnic lunch.

Cancer Care Ministry Opens Arms to Those in Need

Our Cancer Care Ministry helps members of our congregation. If you know of a congregational member or family that could use some assistance walking their cancer journey, please contact Brenda Lytle, brenda@ascensionelca.org or 262-547-8518.

Young at Heart (55+) 

The Young at Heart group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month to gather for a potluck and play cards and enjoy fellowship. Below are some of the events we are planning this year.

  • Mitchell Park Domes on July 13: Feel the heat of a desert oasis, the humidity of a tropical jungle and the bright colors of a floral garden…all at one destination! The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, better known as the Domes, is a living museum filled with plants from across the globe. Visit Milwaukee’s most unique destination.
  • “White Christmas” at the Fireside Theatre, Nov. 3: The day includes a delicious lunch from the Fireside chefs followed by a heart-warming performance of “White Christmas.” Sign up at the Young at Heart meeting to reserve your ticket/dinner/show/transportation. Please contact Arlene Davis at 262-542-9119 with any questions.

Hunger Crisis in Tanzania

The people of Tanzania are in the third year of drought and failed crops. Occasional locust swarms have exacerbated the problem. In the past, Tanzania like much of East Africa, has relied on grain from Ukraine to supplement what they are not able to grow. In fact, most years at least 30% of their food supply is imported from Ukraine. Due to the war, this food source is no longer available. This has driven the cost of food to record highs. This happens on the end of the Covid pandemic, which damaged the economy that heavily relies on tourism. Like the rest of the world, Tanzania is also being impacted by inflation. Imported food is available, but at a very high cost. Families are selling off what they can to keep from starving.

Sixty percent of the Diocese of Meru has serious drought conditions and 8000 families are in urgent need. Many of the families live in areas where there are not direct sister parish partnership since there are more Lutherans in Tanzania than there are in the US. The Diocese of Meru and the Greater Milwaukee Synod have partnered to collect funds to attempt to purchase food for all of the families to save lives. Like the school lunches, the food will be simple meals of corn and beans. $10 is a meal for 6 people, $20 for 13 people, $50 for 33 people and $100 for 66 people.

Give online on the Milwaukee Synod website, milwaukeesynod.org/giving. Scroll down to Meru Diocese Gifts
4th one down: Meru Hunger Relief—Food Crisis

Sabbatical

I am always surprised when the month of June begins. Didn’t we just celebrate Christmas? No doubt, someone reading this article already has a good deal of their Christmas shopping done. Good. Great. Fine.

I, on the other hand, do my best shopping under pressure. Actually, I do a lot of things really well under pressure. As we look to the month of June, I am looking at the next three months with no pressure. Is it possible I may not function at all?

The gift of sabbatical is testament to this congregation’s love and tending for their pastors. Sabbatical comes from the word for Sabbath. A time of rest – not unlike what God did on the seventh day after creation. In 22 years of ministry, I have never taken a full sabbatical. I have had a couple of weeks off with the birth of each child. In Boise, I had three weeks of vacation in a row. Otherwise, the call of serving as pastor has often overwhelmed too much time away. It can cause me a little anxiety to imagine the use of my time over the next three months. No chairs to re-arrange in the sanctuary. How will I go on?

A sabbatical from ministry at Ascension is about rest, renewal of my spirit, and reconnection with my family. They often sacrifice the gift of my presence and time for nights of meetings and Saturday of events and preparations. Although, they may be sick of me by the beginning of September and all too excited to go back to school. During my sabbatical most of the three months away will be time set aside to be with family.

In late June, we will travel to the big island of Hawaii to enjoy ocean breezes and coffee plantations. In late July, a friend from college who has stayed connected will visit for a week. In early August, I will travel with my dad and sister on a bucket list of sorts trip by train from Toronto, Ontario, Canada to Montreal to Quebec to Nova Scotia – something my mother was hesitant to do with her claustrophobia. In late August, I have applied for a ten day stay at a clergy renewal center on Anna Maria Island in Florida. In early September, I will enter into a 5-day silent retreat at a monastery.

And in-between those experiences will be long bike rides with family for coffee; not-as-long runs; long walks with my wife and dog; and a ton of reading and some Netflix to binge watch. And I expect my world to reshape for a time. And I am thankful for your generosity of time and monies set-aside to offset some of the costs of travel.

While I am on sabbatical, Pastor Tony will masterfully hold down the fort and Edwin, with three years of seminary education under his belt, will be right by his side. Summer rhythms are different at Ascension than during the school year and I am grateful for the changing of rhythms to allow a slower pace as we are still navigating the road in and out of covid. We will invite a few guest preachers to offer Pastor Tony and Edwin a break and anything that needs to be done will still get done through the care and dedication of our staff. Please, offer yourselves for assistance should you see something needing to be done. Please also take the time to say thank you to staff members who pick up extra duties while I am away on sabbatical.

As has been tradition at Ascension, when the pastor goes on sabbatical, they do not return phone calls or emails or text messages. I will not attend funerals. And if a light bulb goes out or we run out of toilet paper – the staff will handle it. I will miss you greatly. Being disconnected from our church family is always a difficult experience. We are often so interconnected – tending joys and sorrows. I expect I will be ready to jump back into the mix by the time Sept. 18 rolls around when I am next scheduled to preach after my last Sunday on June 19.

Please know that while I am away, this community of faith will not be far from my thoughts. There will be prayers for rest and refreshment for you over the summer. It is my hope that you will enjoy a deeper relationship with Pastor Tony and Edwin during my absence.

May God’s blessings be yours over these next few months. I will celebrate a homecoming with you on Sept. 18.

Peace be with you.

Pastor Chris

Renewal

In just a few weeks, Pastor Chris will begin his 3-month sabbatical leave and this has some wondering what this means for Ascension. Allow me to share a little bit about what this gift can mean both for our faith community and for Pastor Chris.

First, a sabbatical is a wise and healthy investment not just for pastors but for all involved. It provides opportunities for pastors and congregations to explore new opportunities and responsibilities and open themselves to experience growth and renewal. Let me also be clear about what a sabbatical is not. It is not an extended vacation. Although a pastor’s time away is likely to include travel and fun, it is centered mostly around rest and reflection for body, mind, and spirit. And although the pastor on sabbatical and the congregation will have different sabbatical experiences, the time apart is nevertheless a shared endeavor that presents a priceless gift of renewal for all.

Here are just a few of the ways this time apart can impact us here at Ascension. On a pastoral team level, it affords me increased opportunities for leadership and to let my own pastoral identity and imagination flourish. And it will do the same for Edwin as he continues his internship and edges closer to the completion of his own seminary journey. New responsibilities and opportunities also arise for the staff in various areas of congregational activity. And while the increase in these opportunities and responsibilities does come with some additional challenges, I assure you that Edwin and I and the rest of the staff and church leadership have been diligently preparing for this time and we remain confident that our faith community and our mission will be well tended, and we are excited about wherever the Holy Spirit leads us.

On a congregational level, Pastor Chris’ time away allows the community of Ascension to recognize and appreciate many of the things Pastor Chris does that often go unnoticed and unappreciated. Some things will be picked up by Edwin and I and the other staff, but there are still other things that will be necessary for congregation members to step up and step in and assist with these tasks. Take coffee hour on Sunday mornings for instance. We are all aware of Pastor Chris’ affinity for coffee but because we don’t have a full-time barista on staff…yet (certainly on his wish list), and no congregation member currently willing to prep coffee for Sunday mornings this is one such instance congregation members will need to consider how God might be calling you to step up and help take on new responsibilities in Pastor Chris’ absence.

That said, in the days and weeks to come I am inviting every member of Ascension to take some additional time to watch, listen, reflect, and prayerfully consider where God might be calling you to jump in. Then, I encourage you to talk to myself, Edwin, a staff member or other church leader about the ways you could volunteer and be helpful. 

This time of separation is also a time to welcome experiencing things differently. Now, I’m not saying we’re suddenly making all kinds of changes to things and Ascension will look and feel completely different. But what I am saying is things will feel and seem and be a bit different than when Pastor Chris is in the mix, and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As a matter of fact, you can rest assured that the way the chairs in the sanctuary are set up today you can expect them to be the same throughout June, July, August, and into September until Pastor Chris returns. These any many other differences are neither good nor bad, they are just different, and they invite us all to pay attention, reflect, grow, and experience renewal throughout the sabbatical process. I’m not making any promises but who knows, maybe by the time Pastor Chris is about to return I’ll be making coffee and moving chairs around in the sanctuary. The bottom line is, God is calling all of us to open ourselves, to make space, to listen and trust and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit wherever that may be.

The opportunity for Pastor Chris to step away makes space for others to step in, and in doing so it offers him the blessing to reconnect with his family and friends, to rediscover his passions both in life and in ministry, it is a time for him to receive rather than to give, to focus on his own mental, physical, and emotional health and that of his family, to nurture and cultivate his life as a husband, father, son, brother, friend and follower and servant of Jesus. It provides him time to get away, to discover, to play, to wonder, to imagine, to listen, to follow and to do all this in different ways that renew him and his commitment to God, to his family and friends,

and to the people of Ascension. Throughout this sabbatical time I invite you to keep Pastor Chris and his family along with the rest of our Ascension family in your prayers.

My friends, I am excited for our continued and ever-changing journey, and I simply ask that you continue to open your heart and your mind to God’s leading. And then I humbly ask that before you question or complain about something that might look or feel different, you consider how God might be calling you to use your gifts to enhance and improve and enliven the ministry entrusted to us.

What a wonderful gift it is to be the people of God together in this place, and what a blessing we have upon of us with this sabbatical time of renewal. May the peace of Christ be upon you today and always!

Pastor Tony

A Time for Rest

My third year in seminary is over! I didn’t quit yet! When I started my first semester in 2019, I had the opportunity to talk to many students from different years. Some of them were in their third and fourth year, when I listened to them the only thing that came to mind was, when will I be in that place? Will I hold on to be there or will I throw in the towel? The surprising thing is that it’s been six semesters and I still have the towel in my hands.

It seems unbelievable, but I am just two semesters away from completing a journey full of much learning, service and challenges for me and my family. While I wait to start my final year, I want to enjoy the summer. The time to kick back and enjoy the outdoors has come, but so has the time to get back to work on landscaping. I intend to work as a landscaper Thursday-Friday and maybe some Saturdays if necessary. Sunday – Wednesday I will work in the church.

I know that my responsibilities at church will also change as Pastor Chris goes on his sabbatical. I am both excited and nervous about the opportunity to take a bigger role in the English-language ministries at Ascension over the summer. Ironically, one of things I need to do in my final year is to take part in a seminary approved cross-cultural opportunity. If only they could see the cross-cultural work I do at Ascension every day! Latino ministries are a blend of Salvadoran, Mexican, Columbia, Venezuelan and Puerto Rican cultures. My internship and now Pastor Chris’ sabbatical is a whole new level of cross-cultural experience in ministry.    

This summer, I will also read some theology books and plan some bible studies for the Latino Ministry. I will try to do these things without drinking large quantities of coffee the way I do during the school year. I will also continue to plan activities for our Spanish-speaking youth.

When reading this article and seeing all of my summer plans, you are probably wondering where my rest will be? It will be a challenge, but it is important for me to make time to spend with my wife and with my family.

Rest is important for all of us, not just pastors and seminarians or teachers and students. May the Holy Spirt watch over all of us this summer and help each and everyone of you to find time to enjoy time with friends and family.

Let us try, then, to enter into that rest, so that no one falls into such an example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4.11)

Edwin Aparicio, Pastoral Intern

Young at Heart Events

The Young at Heart group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month to gather for a potluck and play cards and enjoy fellowship. Below are some of the events we are in the midst of planning in 2022.

Mitchell Park Domes, Wednesday, July 13

Feel the heat of a desert oasis, the humidity of a tropical jungle and the bright colors of a floral garden…all at one destination! The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, better known as the Domes, is a living museum filled with plants from across the globe. Visit Milwaukee’s most unique destination.

“White Christmas” at the Fireside Theatre, Thursday, Nov. 3

The day includes a delicious lunch from the Fireside chefs followed by a heart-warming performance of “White Christmas.” Sign up at the Young at Heart meeting to reserve your ticket/dinner/show/transportation. Please contact Arlene Davis with any questions

Serving With Ascension

We have had a great response to the financial need for our sister parishes in Tanzania where we support the primary schools in Samaria and Savana. The money is used to provide simple lunches of corn and beans, which is often the only meal the children get for the whole day. The price on crops goes up by mid-summer so we want to get the donation to the congregations in time to purchase the food at the best rates. We will be collecting for at least the first two weeks in June to meet our goal of $12,000 to feed all 952 students for the entire 197 days of the school year and an additional $2000 to supply the technology that is needed to help the students be able to complete the required tests to pass their classes. You may give online, through a check or on Sunday mornings at the Welcome Center via credit card. Please help us achieve our goal to support these children not only to eat but to have a better chance at success in life by being successful students.

ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response

“Hope does not disappoint us because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

Ascension is part of a bigger church body through the ELCA and because of that, our efforts can be multiplied as we respond to world issues. The words from Romans are the reminder that in spite of a pandemic that affected the whole world directly and now a war that indirectly affected us all, we have hope through our Almighty God. During the pandemic, the gifts from ELCA congregations to World Hunger grew by 8%, gifts that were greater than hoped for. The response to the war in Ukraine through gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response continues to pour in to  support the disasters that make the headlines, and those that do not. The gifts that were greater than hoped for and the need goes on.

Ending hunger and responding to disaster isn’t just about food and immediate need. It is about access, justice, caring for creation, and to provide for future needs. It is about caring for each other in tangible ways: “Love your neighbor as yourself”. God works through us to provide for each other. Together, we can be part of the solution.  Part of Ascension’s budget is donated to ELCA World Hunger each month and as needs arise, special donations are collected for Disaster Response. 100% of what is donated is given for direct help for those in need.

Donation Center

Our Donation Center has moved to the west coat room to make it more accessible. Bins are clearly marked for the partner we are collecting for and what is needed. Since needs change and requests are often limited, please check with the contact person before bringing in things not on the list. We want to put our efforts into things that are truly needed and not make more work for those who sort and deliver the items. Currently, our biggest needs are for the Blessing Box and the Waukesha Food Pantry. We cannot take things that are expired,  require refrigeration, are in open packages or baked items. As the weather warms up, there will be an increased need for single-serve drinks, snacks, and packaged fruits.  New needs will be updated as identified by our partners. There is also a bin for Lost in Found labeled in red. If you have left things at church, check the bins.

Mission Outreach News

Stay connected to ways to SERVE by following the Mission Outreach on Facebook. 

We update the programs of our global and community partners on a regular basis and also identify ways you can be involved. Often things change more quickly than the newsletter or even weekly announcements can inform the congregation so the Facebook page has become a big part of how we keep everyone informed.

There is also the ability to use photos and even videos which makes the partnership connections especially with our global partners more personal. Please like or share notices that you feel are important. If you would like more information about specific programs, contact Shirley Wehmeier.

Summer Worship & More

With the return of summer, the 10:45 a.m. services (both English and Spanish) will move to 10 a.m. starting May 29, Memorial Day to Labor Day. Worship will be held in the Memorial Gardens on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of June, July, and August. The 8:30 a.m. worship service will continue to be held at 8:30 a.m. throughout the summer.

Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4, we have plans for only one service, held at 9:30 a.m., in the sanctuary.

Livestreaming of Worship

We’re now offering livestreaming of our English worship on our YouTube channel so you can join us virtually Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. (or 10 a.m. starting May 29, indoor worship only).

Where Are the Handbells?

Easter Sunday celebrated the sounds of the handbell choir. The handbells have been a beautiful addition to worship services at Ascension for the past 20 years. As with any instrument, handbells require tending and maintenance under the skilled hands of those who make handbells. 

In order for our handbell choir to be ready for the fall, it was decided that after Easter Sunday, the bells would be packed up and shipped to the company that originally made the handbells in order for them to be reconditioned and ready for another 10 years of glorious music. We expect the bells to return to their home here at Ascension at some point over the summer months.

May Flowers

The old saying, “April showers bring May flowers,” has always reminded me about hope. With all the rain we’ve been receiving lately it has me wondering if we can expect the flowers of May to bloom even more beautiful than normal this year.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:”

(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

At times it feels like the showers of April can represent the many challenges we encounter in life – strangely enough, they never conveniently hit us only one month of the year.  These challenges could be health issues, financial struggles, relationship problems, stress at work or at school, tension within the family, or any number of other things. And while everyone is certain to go through some difficult times in life because no one is exempt from living “real life” – when you’re the one facing those “real life” issues, it’s easy to wonder what good can come from them.  

God’s Word reminds us that the difficulties of life can actually lead us to “hope.” Listen to the words of Paul in Romans 5:1-5, “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”

Did you notice the progression? First there are faith, peace and grace. Those are important to have when the problems of life come. Then Paul states that when suffering does come, it can produce perseverance, character, and finally hope. And it’s all made possible because of God’s love which is poured out on us.

We had plenty of showers in April (and most definitely over the past two years), so I invite each of us as we move through the seasons of our lives to pay closer attention for the hope-filled flowers in life that are certain to bloom in May and beyond. And if you are going through a difficult time right now, my hope is that you will continue to believe and trust in God’s promise that God is with you and desires to help you through it and ultimately fill your heart with hope!

Here is one of those “May flowers” I was talking about. Last week I received a thank you letter from the chairman of the Harvest of Hope Fund in response to the recent $2000 donation check we sent them – the result of YOUR generosity through BLAST collections, noisy offerings and an amazing matching donation. Hope filled signs of resurrection and God’s glory all around us.

“Thank you so much for your gift of $2000. I was having a very stressed week wondering if we were going to get through to the next milk check. It truly was a ray of hope.”

“Thank you for the generous gift we received. We appreciate the gift immensely. The funds will be used to pay our farm bills (vet bills, machinery repair, medical bills). We are truly thankful for this program and that it helps farm families. May God bless you and all your efforts.”

“A heartfelt thank you goes out to all who made it possible at Harvest of Hope to provide my family assistance during this trying and stressful time. The funds are very gratefully appreciated and will be put towards keeping our farm in operation. The generosity of others shows there is still good in the world. Hoping you, your committee and families are safe and healthy. Thank you again!”

Dear friends, as the seasons of our lives change, I pray that the April showers in your life will subside to reveal beautiful May flowers of hope and peace and joy immersed in God’s love throughout your life. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Pastor Tony

In Search of Sanctuary

As an immigrant learning English, the word sanctuary confused me at first. I saw it at church. I saw it when hiking. I saw it in news about immigration. What in the world was the meaning of this word that it was being used in such different settings? Now of course I know that it means a place of safety and protection from the dangers of the outside. And after everything we have been through in the past couple of years, we all need a sanctuary more than ever.

We were so excited to be back in our sanctuary for Holy Week for normal worship this year. Holy Week services in 2020 were all online and the alfombra was on my home driveway on a cold and rainy Good Friday. Last year we were at least back in person, but there was no singing and communion was at the door as everyone exited the building. We were making big plans. And then we received the exciting and disappointing news that the renovations of the Spanish Sanctuary were going to be taking place over Lent and Holy Week. We would be worshipping in the Hearth Room for the rest of Lent and possibly all of Holy Week. So our plans changed. We slashed the number of alfombras we were planning. We uninvited the guest musicians for Easter Sunday since it was unknown where Easter worship would be. If we were still in the Hearth Room, there would barely be room for the piano. There definitely wouldn’t be room for extra musicians.

When we first started down this road, we were so excited about the project that the disappointments weren’t that big of a deal. But by the time Palm Sunday arrived, it was our third week in the Hearth Room. The energy level of worship was lagging regardless of my energy level. We decided to avoid publicizing our Holy Week worship schedule because we were afraid if visitors came, they would never come back again.

But at the same time, as we were having our own little moment of feeling sorry for ourselves, there were stories of worship in bombed buildings and in subway stations in Ukraine. We were seeing stories of drought and locusts in Tanzania. Yet worship continued. Violence and the government reaction was taking over life in El Salvador, yet worship continued. The story of Jesus’s death and resurrection always overcomes the troubles of this world. If worship was continuing in these terrible circumstances, surely we can do Holy Week in the Hearth Room.

And then we had our own little miracle, and we were able to get into the sanctuary in time for Maundy Thursday. We had a place for the alfombra procession for Good Friday. It was still under construction, but we were energized. And in spite of our efforts to try and hide our worship schedule from visitors, we had over 20 visitors for Easter morning. We had to bring in extra chairs and run additional bulletins. It was a full worship service filled with singing and shouts of resurrection joy. ¡Él ha resucitado!

Edwin Aparicio, Pastoral Intern, Spanish-Language Minister