From “Senior-itis” to “Pandemic-itis”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Pastor Tony

(Reprinted from the April 2021 newsletter.)

 

Needing Resurrection

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

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

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

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

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

See you in church,

Pastor Chris

(Reprinted from the April 2021 newsletter)

Covid-19 Update

Are You Vaccinated? Why You Still Should Exercise Caution

People should be careful if a vaccinated grandparent or other individual is visiting an unvaccinated family, because Grandma could still get or carry the virus in her nasopharynx, even though the vaccine is preventing her from getting physically ill, and then she potentially could pass the virus along to unvaccinated people.

There is not a guide to what it’s safe for vaccinated people to do. When deciding what you can and can’t do, you should think less about your own vaccination status, and more about whether your unvaccinated neighbors, family, grocery clerks, delivery drivers, and friends are still vulnerable to the virus. Continue to exercise caution! Until we have a cap on this pandemic and can be safe for all, please remember to mask and social distance!

County Resources for Those in Need During Covid-19

Our County continues to provide essential services for local seniors and adults with disabilities living in Waukesha County. They are incredibly grateful for current and new volunteers who help people meet their basic needs. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin, they have recruited, screened, trained, and brought onboard 221 new volunteers to help. During this time, they are providing the following services:

  • Transportation to medical appointments
  • Grocery shopping for clients and delivery of groceries or food pantry stock boxes
  • Weekly wellness calls
  • New-client assessments over the phone
  • Seasonal yard clean up services

How to Request Help or Volunteer

  • Waukesha County seniors (60 and older) and adults with disabilities (18 to 59) can call (262) 549-3348
  • Sign-up to volunteer by calling (262) 549-3348 to volunteer in Waukesha County.

Brenda Lytle, RN
Director of Care Ministries

April Creation Care Update

Adopt a Drain

We are called to care for the Earth that God created and ensure that the environmental resources we rely on are available and safe for future generations. One way we can do that is to take care of our local waterways! This time of year it’s essential to keep the storm drains in our communities clear of debris as the snow melts and we experience spring showers. It’s a great activity to do as a family – Kids of all ages can be a part of it, and feel good about having a clean community and healthy rivers and waterways nearby! Please consider being a part of this important effort in Waukesha County. Visit Waukesha County’s website to learn more.

Creation Care Ministry

Thank you to all who dropped off old/unused holiday lights in January! We are happy to say that four large delivery boxes and three additional shopping bags of lights were able to be recycled in an environmentally safe way and escaped the fate of the landfill! Contact Lynn Parkhurst or Mary Ellen Comp at with your Creation Care Ministry questions.

Food, Faith and Farming Network

Winter Farmers Markets have been suspended for Spring 2021, leaving many of us even more excited to see what markets will look like this summer. Would you like to get fresh produce from a local farmer throughout the upcoming season? Try a CSA! CSA is short for Community Supported Agriculture, which is a weekly delivery of fresh seasonal produce harvested from a local farm! Here is a flyer that has a list of local Farms and CSA options, should you wish to find a delivery on your own. Questions about CSAs or market vendors? Please contact Lynn Parkhurst.

Habitat for Humanity Waukesha

Their mission is: Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Their vision is: A world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha County builds decent, affordable homes for families who are unable to purchase a home through traditional methods. They do not give houses away, based on the belief of giving a hand up, not a handout. By providing a home with an affordable mortgage, homeowners obtain self-sufficiency and overall improved family health and neighborhood pride.

Homeowners spend time and effort into making their dream of homeownership a reality. Sweat Equity is their version of a down payment. Each adult must contribute time volunteering at the ReStore or working on the job site to build their home. Not only does each homeowner gain skills and meet new people in this process but they get the satisfaction of playing a key role in improving their own circumstance. A recent homeowner Noel said, “you take pride in something you personally own” especially when you have built it by hand.

Habitat of Waukesha has made affordable housing a reality for over 30 families in 30 years. In 2015, they tripled the yearly number of homes built from an average of one home per year to three per year. In addition to building homes, they educate the community on affordable housing and how they are a part of supporting the mission. The ReStore is a retail location that collects and sells donated home goods and building materials at a discounted price. Profits from the ReStore are used to fund the builds while community members take advantage of the lower price.

How can you help?

  • Donate to ReStore
  • Volunteer at ReStore
  • Provide hands on help in building or remodeling or help with preparation for the new family
  • Participate in the Women Build coming up in May by joining the build or donating financially

For more information go their website or contact Ascension member Nick Wagner.

 

April Community Partner News

Cross Partnership

As the weather warms up, Cross is planning to move their Food Pantry out to parking lot again. It is expected that the users will increase with the increased visibility outside. Ascension continues to collect donations for Cross so that they can serve those in need in the neighborhood. Donations of food and sturdy bags can be placed in the designated bins in the Donation Center. Cross and the partnership congregations will be looking at any changes or new ministries can be developed as we move away from the limitations of the pandemic and return to more active ministries.

Healing Hearts

Save the date for Celebration of Hope to be held on May 15 at Marriott West from 5:00 to 8:30. With the cancellation of the event in 2020, Healing Hearts hopes to have a good representation from its supporters. The evening will include dinner and a program and a wonderful time. To register, go to their website healingheartsofwaukeshaco.org and select “Support Us.”

 Hope Center

Thank you to all who donated to Hope Center for the To Go Meal program. Donna Savin was able to provide a Thrivent Action Team grant to provide the Hope Center meal program with carryout boxes for the program. At this point, there is no definite plan when they will open the building for in person meals but the participants will continue to get the To Go meals until further notice. Donations of clothing or household goods can be made with prior arrangements. Contact Hope Center if you have something to donate. The Clothing Shop is open but with limited hours for donations and for shopping. Call 262-549-8726 to make arrangements.

Habitat for Humanity Waukesha

Their mission is: Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Their vision is: A world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha County builds decent, affordable homes for families who are unable to purchase a home through traditional methods. They do not give houses away, based on the belief of giving a hand up, not a handout. By providing a home with an affordable mortgage, homeowners obtain self-sufficiency and overall improved family health and neighborhood pride.

Homeowners spend time and effort into making their dream of homeownership a reality. Sweat Equity is their version of a down payment. Each adult must contribute time volunteering at the ReStore or working on the job site to build their home. Not only does each homeowner gain skills and meet new people in this process but they get the satisfaction of playing a key role in improving their own circumstance. A recent homeowner Noel said, “you take pride in something you personally own” especially when you have built it by hand.

Habitat of Waukesha has made affordable housing a reality for over 30 families in 30 years. In 2015, they tripled the yearly number of homes built from an average of one home per year to three per year. In addition to building homes, they educate the community on affordable housing and how they are a part of supporting the mission. The ReStore is a retail location that collects and sells donated home goods and building materials at a discounted price. Profits from the ReStore are used to fund the builds while community members take advantage of the lower price.

How can you help? 

  • Donate to ReStore
  • Volunteer at ReStore
  • Provide hands on help in building or remodeling or help with preparation for the new family
  • Participate in the Women Build coming up in May by joining the build or donating financially

For more information go their website or contact our member Nick Wagner.

New Beginnings

Sisters and brothers, the Christmas season is a special time of reflection, celebration, and renewed hope. But the truth is, we live in a fast-paced world that seems to spin faster by the day, and it’s easy to forget to stop and reflect on the week, month, or year that has just whizzed by.

One of the things I appreciate most about Christmas is how it encourages us to shift our focus back; remembering the very reason we celebrate it in the first place, the birth of Jesus, and the hope that flows from it. By focusing back, we open ourselves to allow God to prepare us as the new year approaches and in turn make space for God to create new beginnings in our lives.

Every one of us needs a new beginning in some way, a fresh start in some area of our life – I think this is especially true considering all the challenges we have encountered in the last year. As we begin heading into the new year it seems like the perfect time to allow God to fill us with new life.

And yet, despite the many challenges that we and so many others have endured, I remain optimistic about the year ahead and all the opportunities God will continue to call us into – opportunities to grow closer to God, to serve those in need, to stand up for justice, to work for peace, and to walk this journey of life and faith alongside one another.

A new year marks a new beginning – a time to reground ourselves in the love of God and to be reminded of God’s desire to continually make us new. The changing seasons have always been for me a reflection of this quality of God – from winter to spring we see that which appeared dead burst forth into beautiful displays of God’s glorious work. I truly believe that God longs for the same fresh start in our lives just as he does for all his creation.

We can all have hope in the unwavering love of God and we can reflect on the birth of Jesus as a sign that God’s powerful love can make new all that needs restoration. As we put the past year behind us it’s time for us to look ahead and gain perspective on those areas of our lives that need rebirth. God’s heart is to meet you wherever you are today. He longs to meet you at your greatest point of weakness and pain and wrap you up in his love. He longs for you to know he is with you, for you, and will walk with you into the newness of life – and He deeply longs for you to hear the gracious words of his healing truth that He speaks over you.

God loves you and is for you. He has new beginnings in store for you. But just as a tree needs fresh sunlight, warmth, and rain to bear fruit again, you also need the refreshing rain of God’s grace and the warmth of his unwavering love to be made new. None of us can do it on our own – and quite honestly, we weren’t created to do it on our own.

So, as we begin this new year, it is my heartfelt hope and prayer that you come to know the redemption and grace that God has in store for you today and every day as we continue to seek the heart of God together. May God’s blessings of hope, peace, joy, and love be yours today and always. Merry Christmas!

Pastor Tony

(Reprinted from the Jan. 2021 newsletter.)

2021 — Finally!

Well, we made it! To what exactly, I am still trying to figure out.

The end of 2020. The season of Epiphany. The beginning of the vaccine roll-out. January 2021.

Yes – to all of the above.

Not to linger in the “what was” category too long, but we also made it into the Christmas season – which we are still enjoying until January 6th. For a world that is always ready to jump into what is next, I am always happy to linger in the season of Christmas. Yes, Christmas trees are already boxed up in some homes and laying in gutters outside other homes, but I am happy to leave our tree up just a little longer. For all of the preparation to get to Christmas, I like to live in the season as long as possible. A manger will always represent the coming of the Savior to a world in need and I am grateful for the opportunity to kneel just a bit longer in the stable holding out hope against hope that this year more and more people will come to know the power and promise of our God who comes to us in the baby Jesus.

For soon enough, we will move on. The star, though bright in the night sky, will lose its luster and the story of Jesus will move quickly from birth in a manger, to a 12-year-old in the temple, to a baptism at the Jordan River around age 30. And from there we move into the stories of miracles, parables, healings, and the 40 days of Lent that will carry us into Holy Week and the last days of the life of Jesus all the way to the cross.  If only the coronavirus vaccine distributed as quickly as the story of Jesus from birth to death and life again takes place through our every Sunday readings. Life, death, resurrection.

Our world is also reeling from the completion of 2020 and experiencing the same cycle of life, death, and resurrection. Certainly, for many of us, the arrival of the vaccine and its continued disbursement means resurrection, though all of us are aware of someone who currently has the coronavirus, or had the coronavirus, or died from the coronavirus, or knows someone who grieves the loss of someone due to the coronavirus. The power of death wreaks havoc in these days, but God’s promise of an empty tomb holds its grip on us with the strength of every faithful heart that trusts in God’s gentle care.

2021 also brings the hope of resurrection of who we are as a people of faith, a people of this nation, and a people who are interconnected with and dependent on our brothers and sisters around the world. I have heard myself say, and have heard others say, “When we return to normal,” and my hope is that we will not so much return to but instead, grow, evolve, transform, progress to a new normal where there is value and respect for the dignity and humanity of every life and a respect for the gift of creation allowing us to share in the beauty and the joy of all of God’s creation together. If 2021 can offer anything – it is that hope. Something new. A time, a place, and a commitment to not treat our most vulnerable peoples as objects to be discarded but invaluable children of God.

  • For every elder isolated in a nursing home or forgotten in their own homes, we should commit to love.
  • For every citizen of this nation who sits homeless on the sidewalk, we should commit to love.
  • For every immigrant longing for a better life, we should commit to love. By offering a constructive and feasible, dare I say workable, process of opportunity to legally become a citizen of this country – contributing and sharing in the opportunities of this nation many of us love so deeply. I will never understand why we put up so many roadblocks to those who would choose to commit themselves to our nation’s principles and support those same principles with their very lives.
  • For every veteran of this nation who struggles to find stability in their mental health, we should commit to love them enough to provide the resources to give them an opportunity for a life worth living after defending our lives.
  • For every teacher in every classroom, we should commit to love them enough to support them with a livable wage, that financial support to inspire the minds of our children to change the world.
  • For every single parent trying to work full-time and raise a family and still struggling to make their income do more than is possible, we should commit to love.
  • For every child born, we should commit to love them enough to provide them every opportunity within our power to teach them their value and the joy we feel for their presence in the world.

Now that is a new normal I would like to grow into 2021. How about you? What new normal would you like to grow into in 2021? There is no time like the present my friends.

It is a new year – full of hopes and dreams and possibilities. God promises all of that to all of us.

Be well in this new year. Be light in this new year.  Be love in this new year. Be joy in this new year.

Until I see you in church.

Pastor Chris
(Reprinted from the Jan. 2021 newsletter.)

Serving in 2021

Hawthorne School Partnership

Another new Mission Outreach ministry is our partnership with Hawthorne School. Hawthorne has a large number of low-income students and it is a dual language school offering classes in English and Spanish. A lot of our Burmese refugee families also attend there.

We are having an ongoing collection of new or gently used coats and boots. With the pandemic, many low-income families have had hours reduced or have lost jobs so we hope to meet this need that the Hawthorne staff identified. The first barrel has already been delivered. Thank you to Ascension Knit Wits and families who have contributed already to help the children stay warm on these cold days.

We also had a Thrivent grant to provide lunch for the staff at Hawthorne recognizing how challenging this past year has been. We wanted to say thank you to the staff in a tangible way and to start to build our relationship with them.

Lastly, we’re collecting money to help provide internet hotspots for families without internet service so the children can continue their schooling while in quarantine. With the increasing number of students in quarantine, the school is struggling to keep up with the cost. It costs $18 per hotspot. If you want to make a donation online or by check, please mark the donation as Hawthorne partnership.

If you are interested in this ministry, contact Sarah Aparicio or Shirley Wehmeier.

Creation Care

One of the new Mission Outreach Ministries for 2021 is Creation Care. This ministry is a way to show that caring for the created world is based on love toward God, who created the earth and everything in it. Creation Care is more than recycling and Styrofoam, it’s about relationships with God, each other, and God’s creation. It’s about how we live with each other and honor God and His gift of creation. We will work with Waukesha’s Green Team and offer suggestions on how to live out Creation Care. Our own environmental educator, Lynn Parkhurst is helping lead this effort.

Do you have a set of Christmas lights that don’t work? Ready to toss out a few old sets you’re not using anymore? Most electronic products like Christmas lights are not bio-degradable and will not decompose into the earth’s soil after being tossed away. If you want to keep your lights from going to a landfill and do your part to look after God’s creation, recycling your lights is a great way to do it!

Recycle old or not-functioning lights

1) Visit https://www.holidayleds.com/free-light-recycling to see how you can send (or drop off) your lights to the Holiday LEDs recycling program in Sussex and receive a coupon for $ off your next LED purchase!

2) Bring them in to Ascension during the month of January and we will do the work for you! A labeled box will be in the doorway of the front entrance of church. Simply drop them off!

More information on this local program can be found at: https://www.holidayleds.com/free-light-recycling. Still have Questions? Email Lynn Parkhurst at weeziewilliams@gmail.com.

 

Blessing Bags

Our first delivery of 25 Blessing Bags was welcomed by the people who pick up meals at the Hope Center. The staff at the Hope Center were so thankful that we thought about the homeless who often are neglected at this time of year. With the winter weather arrival, we will be putting together another 25 bags during January. This year the men who can’t get into the shelter will get a voucher for a night’s stay in a motel so they don’t have to be out in the bitter weather. The Blessing Bags will greatly help them have some of their very basic needs met. As I put together some Blessing Bags, it struck me that homeless people only can “own” what fits in their backpack or bag and have such very limited things they can call their own. It brought tears to my eyes to realize some of us have so much while there are people in our community who have so little. Please put your donations in the marked bin in the Donation Center or contact Shirley Wehmeier if you have questions. shwehmeier@gmail.com.

 

Blessing Box

Thank you to all of you who have been helping us keep the Blessing Box filled. As we have more very cold days, please be aware of putting things in the box that might freeze and containers break. We have people checking the box several times a week so that we can monitor that food is fresh and safe. On very cold days, dry products such as cereal, snacks, most canned goods are a good choice. Plastic or glass may break. Fresh produce or bakery will freeze quickly. We also see a little reduction in use when it is very cold so please keep an eye on the weather.

 

Thank you from the Mission Outreach Committee for continuing to support our various ministries whether it be helping our global partners, Cross in Milwaukee or our community partners. In spite of not meeting in person for worship or having ways to promote our projects other than via social media, newsletters or bulletins, we have proudly kept up with supporting our brothers and sisters locally and globally. Jesus said: “What you have done for the least of these, you have done unto Me.”

(Reprinted from the Jan. 2021 newsletter.)

Happy New Year!

Thank goodness, “Happy New Year!” Let us all say goodbye to 2020. By faith we certainly trust and walk with God into this new year.

December was a quiet month. Council did not meet in December, but all of council is trying to reach out to all of our Ascension community, calls will continue into January too. We all need to stay connected with each other, to show our love and caring for each other and to pray for all.

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord: let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice. (Psalm 95:1, 6-7)

With our continued prayers to God, we will get to a church, community, state, and world that is free of covid-19.

Again, my thanks and all my love to our pastors, staff, wing leaders, leg leaders, and to all of our faith community of Ascension. I am especially grateful for the church council, who with God and all their help, have made this wonderful even in the midst of so much upheaval and challenge in the life of the world, the church, and in our own lives. For this I am forever thankful. I am so proud to say I am a member of Ascension.

Please continue to give – your time, your prayer, and your financial support to Ascension, to keep our church moving forward with all it does in and around our community and throughout the world.

God’s love and mine,

Karen Simington, Council President
(Reprinted from the Jan. 2021 newsletter)

What’s Next?

The kindergarten students received their bibles.
The third grade students received their bibles.
The first communion candidates from last spring have been communed.
The confirmation students have been confirmed.
The Word of God has been preached.
The sacraments have been shared.
The dead have been buried.
The engaged have been married.
Worship of our God continues virtually and in-person.
The world continues to turn.
Life goes on.

It is November 1st in the year of our Lord 2020. And somehow dear friends we have survived. In the midst of polarizing politics that lead us to believe we must choose one side or the other, we have survived. In the hearing of painful stories of isolation and desperation, we have survived. In the moments of remembering what was and hoping for what will be, we have kept our sanity, even as we have been asked to help others keep theirs. We have lived through quarantines and rearranged schedules. As one mom emailed Pastor Tony and me, “Thank you for making special accommodations.” To which Pastor Tony and I replied, “Everything is a special accommodation right now.”

So the question I keep hearing is: What’s next?

Well, I have a few answers. We are currently planning to host outdoor worship on Nov. 1st and Nov. 8th at 9:30 a.m. – though Mother Nature has had a mind of her own in late October. And beginning Nov. 2, we will host an indoor worship service every Monday in November at 6 p.m. Thirty minutes with communion, sermon, and music and a hard cap of 60 in attendance. Then again, on Tuesdays in November at 12 p.m. noon, we will host another worship service of 30 minutes with communion, sermon, and music and a hard cap of 60 in attendance. We wanted to offer something more consistent than an every-other-Wednesday experience. You will need to pre-register and if we hit the cap and you walk-in – we will politely and graciously invite you to return home. Ben, Vicki, Pastor Tony and I have been talking, planning, and praying about how to move forward after outdoor worship has ended for the winter. Of course, we will continue our virtual worship service every Sunday morning at 8am. We believe it is a responsible, balanced, and faithful approach as we do our best to tend both the needs of our community and the health and safety of those who would choose to attend and those who are unable to attend. I know it is difficult to be away from Sunday worship with singing – many of us miss the opportunity to worship God as we did before the pandemic began. I know there are other churches who are offering full worship with singing outside the ELCA fold – I can only offer to you who are hungry for that experience – I am hungry too. I am also conscious of loving my neighbor in a way that both provides and protects to the best of my ability as Lead Pastor at Ascension. Believe me, it is a continuous topic of conversation in the hallways and offices and meetings we attend.

And in the effort of full transparency – December will not look much different from November. We have planned an outside Christmas Eve experience with candlelight and the Christmas Story and the singing of Silent Night (distanced at 10 feet apart) but that will be the entirety of what Christmas Eve will look like for an in-person worship experience. There will be virtual experiences for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day but we simply cannot provide a safe way to offer Christmas Eve worship at three services in a sanctuary that does not exchange the air quickly enough in-between the services.

So what’s next?

A vaccine, I pray. Every day that is my prayer. I miss your voices lifted together in song in praise of our God. I miss the beauty of your smiles and the joy of children running up for Children’s Time during worship. I miss hearing about your lives – celebrations with family members and gatherings that renew your spirits. I miss people asking me to turn off the ceiling fans before worship begins. I miss running around before worship getting the acolytes dressed and ready to serve. Most especially, I miss you – my sisters and brothers in Christ. The Monday and Tuesday worship services and a few more outdoor worship services are a gift as you choose to attend as you are able – yet, we can all agree, it is simply not the same. Like I said, my prayer is for a vaccine. My other prayer is for patience and for a vision of hope to see the coming light at the end of the tunnel. Dear friends the light is coming. The light that will shine at the end of this pandemic. The light that shines in the eyes of seeing friends and family again for the first time. The light that shines from a manger filled with hay in the stable at Bethlehem. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. God’s promise is that the light still shines.

We have an annual meeting scheduled for Nov. 8. Even if we cancel outdoor worship for weather, we will meet in the sanctuary for the annual meeting to vote on a slate of council members and a 2021 budget. As I write this letter to you, the council has approved a proposed budget with a 4% decrease for 2021. We plan to advertise for a new Director of Youth Ministries in the winter months of the new year – but will invite a chosen candidate to begin June 1st – unless the pandemic comes to an end sooner.

Ministry continues. Mission continues. The message of God’s love and light and promise and hope continues. We are the ones that continue that message. We bring words of hope in phone calls and text messages and hand-written letters. We tend neighbors and those in need as we are able. We remind each other that our present moment will not last forever. As the Psalmist writes in Psalm 30, “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”

Many of us have known that weeping at other moments in this life. For now we all stand together to weep over the loss of life and departure of what we have known in our routines and expected in our living, namely the freedom to do as we choose with our days. That freedom still exists, but certainly, we are learning new ways of living. My prayer is for the light to shine in your life – so that you may reflect that light to others. Deep peace be with you.

See you in church.
Pastor Chris