Dear People of Ascension,

Our journey together began six and a half years ago when you, the faithful people of Ascension called me to serve among you as your Director of Faith Formation. In that time, we have shared many incredible moments of laughter and great joy while also our experiencing our share of painful tears and unimaginable heartache. Yet, through everything that we have encountered, we have continued to walk in faith, together.

And then four years ago when the Holy Spirit was no longer interested in entertaining my excuses for running away from God’s call, this community of faith once again excitedly committed to stand beside me on another venture – this time through seminary. Every step of the way you encouraged, supported, celebrated, and helped me to develop and share my pastoral identity. It would be an understatement to say that I am humbled by your confidence in me, and for the countless ways you have pushed me to endure this journey, all the while affording me opportunity after opportunity to learn and challenge myself in order to be a more faithful servant.

And now, my sisters and brothers in Christ, my heart is filled with unspeakable joy because God has graciously set a new course before us to continue serving God together, grow in our relationship, and further challenge what we have known as we follow the Holy Spirit into new territory. This new adventure is a celebration of our relentless God, the Body of Christ, and all that is possible when faithful people take risks, dare to dream, step up, and face challenges with faith, hope and courage.

So, I wish to take a moment as we begin this new endeavor and say thank you – for your trust, your confidence, your partnership, and for your love; both for myself and my entire family. Please know how grateful I am for every moment of our journey together and for all that is yet to come. I am honored to receive this call and serve alongside you as your new Associate Pastor, and so it is with deep gratitude that I wish to leave you with this prayer from the apostle Paul:

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason. I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. (Ephesians 1:15-19 NRSV)

May this day and every day to come be to the great glory of God…

Pastor Tony

Sunday, Sept. 13, ELCA congregations will observe the ELCA’s annual day of service, God’s Work. Our Hands. Sunday. This year our church — and our world — are living through the covid-19 pandemic. Physical distancing has forced congregations to cancel in-person worship and move to virtual services and/or outdoor worship. We miss gathering with family and friends to share God’s love in person. But amid this difficult situation, we continue to be church together. Throughout the ELCA, we are witnessing the love and concern God’s people have for one another.

From the ELCA: “During this time, our congregations continue to support ministries that assist vulnerable people in their communities. These acts of service allow us to explore one of our most basic Lutheran convictions: All of life in Jesus Christ — every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life — flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. On God’s Work. Our Hands. Sunday we come together to restore and reconcile our communities. You do this kind of work every day —loving your neighbors and making your community a better place.”

Here at Ascension, while we have had to change how we serve others, we still have places to make an impact and be the hands of God, doing God’s work. Watch the announcements and Mission Outreach Facebook page for ways to serve in the community. There are options for service and ways to donate to help others. As the needs emerge, we will update the list.

• Volunteer at the Food Pantry in a covid-safe environment
• Provide food and household needs to the Food Pantry
• Fill the Blessing Box
• Participate in Outreach for Hope Bike/Ride/Walk or donate for a participant
• Provide financial support to our partners at Cross, Tanzania or El Salvador
• Support Latino Ministry Outreach
• Participate in fund raisers for our Community Partners

Together in Jesus Christ we are freed by grace to live faithfully, witness boldly and serve joyfully.

Shirley Wehmeier
Mission Outreach Wing Leader

 

Because we’re living in unprecedented times and with the uncertainty of how this fall and beyond will look, it’s been necessary to re-imagine the programming that we offer Ascension’s children, youth and families. And while we’re diligently working to create high quality ministry experiences that the community of Ascension is used to, we want you to be aware that it will look quite different from the ministry experiences you have come to know.

We ask for your continued patience in the days ahead, and we invite your partnership, as well as your input as we try to create the best possible ministry experiences. We’re looking forward to interacting with you in new ways as we learn about and experience God in new ways too!

Click on the links below for fall 2020 faith formation plans for each of our children/youth groups.

Pastor Tony Acompanado

 

BLAST (3k-5th grade) info

Registration

 

 

JOLT (Confirmation, 6th-8th grade)

Registration

 

 

CRASH 

I have read these words of Jesus more in the last two weeks than any other verse in the Bible. I know some of you will say that Pastor Chris always tells us in sermons that he is preaching on his favorite Scripture, sometimes, speaking of his favorites week after week. But in these last days of June, since the 18th (when we gave my mother back to God) and really since the 12th (when I began to fear that the stroke that kept my mom from waking up from surgery would keep her from ever waking up), I have come to find comfort in this simple, ten-word promise of Jesus.

Author Vicki Harrison wrote these words,

“Grief is like the ocean. It comes in waves, ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.”

Never in our imagination did we expect that my mom would not survive the triple bypass surgery scheduled for June 10th. The night before her surgery we gathered together at my parent’s home to pray and have communion together. There was laughter, a few tears, bread and wine, and a prayer for God’s tending and protection. And my youngest daughter – the one who honors her Norwegian roots better than the rest of us – the child who runs from hugs and slips out of handholds faster than we can hold on to her – took my mother’s hand in the middle of the prayer circle and held on tightly throughout the entire prayer. I did not know she had done this, but my mother was so caught by the out-of-character moment for our daughter that she shared the moment in a final conversation with my wife before we said our goodbyes and gave our hugs and spoke words of love one last time. The moment of our goodbye at their house is imprinted on my memory with all the vivid colors of my mom’s sweater – a lingering smile on her face. And when surgery was complete, the surgeon shared words of hope and good news that all had gone exactly as expected. It would only be later in the evening, after they began the process of removing her sedation and beginning to remove the vent that we would find the first signs of a stroke. Over the next few days, the blood clot that caused her first stroke would split into three separate clots and cause a massive stroke. One my mother would not wake up from in the days ahead.

I share all this to give thanks to God for your care – even in our physical distance and separation. We are broken. Shattered for a loss we did not expect. In the days of waiting, before our worst fears were confirmed, I was afraid for the presence of the power of death I could not shake from my thoughts. I have felt the power of death. I have been close to this power that tears away life more times than I want to remember. And yet, in sharing the journey with my dad and my sister, I have never felt so powerless in the waiting. My dad and I were allowed in just briefly after her surgery – and when we entered her room – we held hands – told her we were there – prayed and told her we would see her the next morning. My dad kept vigil by my mother’s bedside. My sister and I were not allowed to go into the ICU. On the day we transitioned to palliative care – my sister and I walked with my father down a long hallway to tend this woman we had loved in this life. A woman who called us “sweetheart” and “honey.” A woman who used our full names when she was frustrated with us. A woman who always looked at my father with love – even when she was angry. We knew it would not last – her anger. Forgiveness came easy to this wife and mother. Now we begin the search for pictures to remind us of younger days. We laugh at our how much better I have aged. Lord I was chunky in earlier days! And my thinning hair before I began to shave my head. Yes, my friends there will be pictures when we celebrate her life. And celebrate her, we will. In whatever way this pandemic will allow – we will celebrate her and give thanks to God for her.

And in these moments of remembering her, I again find myself coming back to the words of our Savior: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

To God be the glory. Thanks for sharing this journey of life and faith with your pastor, who in these long days does his best to honor the title of son to a father who is grieving and a mother who now stands in the presence of our God. Peace be with you.

Pastor Chris

Reprinted from the July 2020 newsletter

COMMUNITY OUTREACH
We will not be holding our annual Block Party this year due to the virus. The Block Party has been our major event to introduce our neighborhood and community to Ascension. Our Community Outreach Committee met to discuss creative ways we can do outreach without a specific event and with an uncertain future. Our online church services have been a huge success. A great way to invite people to Ascension even in this uncertain time is to share the worship posts. The more people who share the services increases the possibility that people may join in on either the English or Spanish service. It is our task to share the Word whether it is in a live service or an online service. For many people, it is easier to try out a church via an online service before they actually walk in the door of a new church. Sharing posts also raises our presence in Google searches and will make Ascension more visible. We encourage you to also share posts from the Ascension Facebook page or the Ascension Mission Outreach Facebook page that may be of interest to the community.

Our Community Outreach Committee shared a blog at the meeting recognizing all the changes society is going through right now. That means how we do outreach will have to change also. The best thought from one of the blogs was this: “Right now, every church is a startup and if you see it that way, you can advance your mission. There are so many people to reach, and an entire next generation in need of the Gospel.” Invite your friends to services or events, speak positively about your faith and your church. That is planting the seed and the Holy Spirit will do the watering.

BLESSING BOX
We continue to supply the Blessing Box with food, cleaning products and personal care items. Our neighbors stop by on a regular basis to take some of the donations our congregation supplies. The Little Free Library is seeing heavier use also with so many people stuck at home. Please help us keep these two projects going by putting donations directly in the boxes until the church building is open again.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Ascension has made some diligent efforts in working closely with community agencies who work with those most in need. One of the biggest concerns for all of them is that their main source of special funding is from annual events. Because of the virus, events have been cancelled or rescheduled. This has had a great impact on their ability to continue to provide services. Please support them through a financial contribution or through participation in their events. We will post information on the Mission Outreach Facebook page and the weekly announcements. As their programs are able to go back to full service, we will also post volunteer opportunities.

Shirley Wehmeier
Mission Outreach Wing Leader

(Reprinted from the July 2020 newsletter)

Our lives are more demanding these days as we are experiencing many safety challenges of ongoing covid-19 and anxiety due to the division of our races in our country with racial unrest.

It is a stressful time for everyone. Stress is also on the rise due to isolation and control of growing concerns about family, money, health, and personal safety. While we can’t completely avoid stress, we can take some sensible precautions so that life’s challenges can be managed minimizing the negative effects of stress.

• Find a refuge. Remove yourself from the stressful situation and find a quiet spot where you can be alone. Any private space will do.
• Stop and breathe. Be seated, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths to calm yourself and gain some distance from the stressful situation.
• Take your physical and emotional pulse. Check your heartbeat and allow it to slow down. Release the tension in your body. Now check your emotional state and identify the dominant emotion you are feeling. Fear? Anger? Frustration? Grief?
• Search for the source of the emotion. In any situation there are factors you can change, and factors beyond your control. Focus on what you can change.
• Take good care of yourself — body, mind, and spirit. Eating a balanced, nutritious diet will help fortify you against stress as well as rest and exercise.

A healthy spirituality is also a key to handling distress. Sharing faith with others brings bonds of friendship and support and puts you in touch with God’s healing nurturance. If you feel spiritually empty, it may be a sign that stress is taking its toll on your soul. Try to find an appropriate way to express your spirituality in your daily life, through quiet time for reading and reflection or prayer.

Brenda Lytle, RN
Director of Care Ministries

Psalm 4

This psalm may be comforting when you need to calm anxiety. God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord.
Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound.
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

What a world we are living in.

I am sitting at my makeshift desk, in our second story loft, overlooking the world outside. It’s a nice view from the upstairs window, but I miss the church – the office – the sanctuary – the people. Don’t get me wrong – I love my family and the neighbors that I have right around our house, but I am ready to see your faces…if only the emotion carried in your eyes as you wear a mask to protect others. I did go into the office today for a time – some things can only be done at church. Check requests, checking-in with Cloverleaf Preschool, walking the grounds, and revelation and respite in the silence of the sanctuary. Our house, with three kids and a dog, is not exactly a quiet space set aside for reflection and renewal.

The Church Council met on June 9 and began conversations about reopening for in-person gatherings for worship and ministry. We will meet again on June 16 (our normally-scheduled monthly meeting) to confirm directions, dates, and process as we continue to live in the shadow of the coronavirus.

Our expectations include opening for outdoor worship with multiple services that are shorter in length and celebrate the gift of community – though worship will look different. We expect to invite people to sign-up for a service time via the internet or by calling the church office and when one service time is full, we will invite you to consider one of the other services available. After we have had a chance to offer outdoor worship for a couple of Sundays, we expect to open the building to ministry needs while still holding off from opening the building to outside community groups. And when we have tended the details of opening the building to ministry needs, we will return to the sanctuary for worship.

All of these steps are happening with reflection, consultation, and forethought for how we begin again to gather together. There will, of course, be bumps along the way. Outdoor worship will include the use of bathrooms inside the building, but bathrooms will have to be cleaned after each service. Masks will be expected at outdoor worship except for the time of communion. You will be expected to socially distance at outdoor worship and sanitize your hands when you arrive, as you are coming up for communion and after you have received communion. We will ask you to bring your own chairs. Worship leadership will not wear masks when they are actively leading up front but will wear masks when they are sitting with the congregation.

All of this is to say – that we are working towards the goal of beginning to worship together in the coming weeks. As a side note, we will continue to offer recorded worship for those who are not yet ready or comfortable returning to worship outside or inside.

The days are surely coming says the Lord. I am ready dear friends. I am ready!

Peace be with you. See you in church – really soon I pray.

Pastor Chris

(Reprinted from the mid-June 2020 newsletter.)

I wonder if your house is ready for the rush of a violent wind?

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Acts 2:1-4

As you are reading this newsletter, we are only days from the celebration of Pentecost. The day the Holy Spirit is gifted to the world.

I was struck by the first two verses from the book of Acts: When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.”

One of the few things most scientists can agree on is that the coronavirus transmits from one person to another in far lower levels when there is a great deal of ventilation. Holy God, send the violent wind. I do not wish to make light of the suffering and the dying in the midst of this pandemic, but Lord knows I would love the winds of the Holy Spirit to blow through our lives in great ways to refresh our weary world.

There is a song in our hymnal, “Light Dawns on a Weary World.” The verses of the song share these words:

Light dawns on a weary world when eyes begin to see all people’s dignity.
Light dawns on a weary world: the promised day of justice comes.
Love grows in a weary world when hungry hearts find bread and children’s dreams are fed.
Love grows in a weary world: the promised feast of plenty comes.
Hope blooms in a weary world when creatures, once forlorn, find wilderness reborn.
Hope blooms in a weary world: the promised green of Eden comes.

I am ready for all of this dawning, growing, blooming. Quite honestly, I have grown tired of this pandemic. I am tired of safer-at-home. I am tired of video worship. I am tired of waving at friends through car windows and shouting at neighbors across the street. I am tired of feeling tired – for no good reason. I am tired of homeschooling and working from home and home cooking and home repair. I AM READY FOR LIFE!

Life the way I have known it. Life the way I want to live it. Life that gathers family and friends alike. Life that offers celebrations and laughter and joy and adventure and sitting in restaurants. Life that lets me be me and you be you. How long, O Lord? And then, just when I was bemoaning this life I am currently living, God offers up the mighty wind. The story of Pentecost and the gift of the Holy Spirit. A tangible reminder that God comes to us as “one who walks alongside of us.” And in walking alongside of us, God the Holy Spirit also shapes us into the new creation we hunger to be in this weary world. And this new creation looks like nothing we have seen before. To be swept up by the Holy Spirit means that the image we see reflected in the mirror looks like nothing like our old selves. What a rush that would be, if only we dared to look into the mirror to see the new creation of God looking back at us.

I am convinced that being a new creation means looking less like who I used to be and more like God intends me to be. A person concerned with another’s well-being over myself. A person who longs for all to be made whole in a world where all are considered equal and worth the dignity of care and respect as fellow children of God. And if that is my new creation, then my life, as I have lived it, needs to die for this new life in Christ to thrive on the coattails of the winds of the Holy Spirit. At Easter, we celebrated resurrection – not just for one of us but for all of us. At Pentecost, the winds of the Holy Spirit do not simply blow through one of our homes – the winds of the Holy Spirit blow through every home. Whether or not we open the doors and windows to our homes is a different story altogether.

The Church Council at Ascension continues to listen and evaluate and question and reflect and finally, pray for the days ahead. About opening the church; gathering for worship; scheduling ministries – all events I hunger for deeply. I also am keenly aware that the Church Council carries a courageous burden of opening doors and providing the needed protections to tend this community of believers. It would be wonderful in these pandemic days to tell you the date we will open doors to gather for worship. I would love to share with you the do’s and don’ts of gathering for worship once again. I will weep when I am finally allowed to stand before you at the altar and share God’s invitation to come to the table for bread and wine – the body and blood of our Savior – that you might share in the joy of holy communion with brothers and sisters. Yet, we are not there yet. And, no, I have no idea when we will get “there.”

And that my friends may be the joy of this Pentecost moment that far outshines the shadows of this pandemic moment. On the great day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes, people’s lives are changed, hearts are filled with hope, nerves are steadied with peace, lives are comforted with love, and all will be well. All of that is promised to us. The one thing that is not promised to us is the movement and direction of the Holy Spirit. So to each of you who might ask when we will get “there” I can only share with you the words God shared with Joshua at the end of forty years of wandering in the wilderness. After Moses died, God shared these words: After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid.
For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Words to live by as the Holy Spirit keeps moving in our lives. And that is as close to “there” as I can promise you this day. Peace be with you.

Until I see you in church.
Pastor Chris

(Reprinted from the June 2020 newsletter.)

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

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

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

Edwin Aparicio
Spanish Language Minister

(Reprinted from the June 2020 newsletter.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Until then,

Karen Simington
Council President

(Reprinted from the June 2020 newsletter.)