Pastor Edwin & the Youth Gathering

What a wonderful experience in New Orleans. After many months of waiting, thousands of young people from all over the country traveled to be part of the 2024 Youth Gathering. As you may know, we had 14 young people representing us, plus leaders. This was a unique experience from start to finish for everyone.

ur journey began with the group of young people who attended the multicultural event. An event in which we were able to interact, dance, and make friends with people of different ethnic backgrounds from all over the country. As students and leaders who attended MYLE, we used a lot of our energy without knowing that what was to come would require much more energy!

One of the things that caught my attention about the MYLE group was their desire to be together with the rest of the Ascension group. On many occasions they told me that they are looking forward to the rest of the group to enjoy the gathering and explore New Orleans together. That is Ascension Waukesha. A Christian community that worships God in two different languages ​​but we are one body, one community. And that was reflected in the mentality of the young people who attended the Gathering.

The rest of the group joined us on Monday night, July 15th. From there, we were together for the rest of the trip. And the first night arrived, the gathering had begun. From the first minutes we entered the arena, with a DJ warming up the show and in a VIP section (Thanks Pastor Tony and Pastor Chris) the students began to take out all their energy together! Seeing the faces of the joyful young people, jumping, clapping, shouting, the leaders could not stay behind. Despite not having a good knee, I joined in the moment that the young people were experiencing. So much was my excitement, that even Sheri approached me and said, “Pastor Edwin, slow down. This is only the first day. Save more energy for the rest of the week.” And I told her, “Sheri, don’t worry, I’ll have enough energy for the rest of the week.”

The week continued with the same levels of excitement. The youth showed an open attitude in all the things we did and with all the people we met on the streets and in the buildings at the event. Our students would say hello, shake hands, and ask “Where are you from?” Some of them would even come up to me and say, “Pastor Edwin, I have a new friend from Los Angeles, Illinois, Houston, New York… and many other cities across the country.” What a wonderful experience to see our youth making new friends from all over the country. They wanted to be seen, they wanted to show everyone who we are as Ascension. All of us leaders felt very proud of our children. Their energy, their open mind, and their desire to enjoy every minute was exemplary. I imagine that you must also feel proud of our young people!

What does the 2024 ELCA youth gathering leave me with? Well, apart from seeing the young people living the moment, I would say that it reminds me that I am no longer a teenager, that for the next Youth Gathering 2027 in Minneapolis, I will have to carry with me a knee brace and some ice packs to put on my knee at the end of each day. We hope that for the next youth gathering we will increase the number of participants. None of the young people who participate regret attending this event. You were all able to see that on Sunday, July 28, when our young people decided to lead our three worship sessions.

On Sunday, July 28, a delegation of young people shared their experience and that same day, another delegation that will visit El Salvador was also blessed. The delegation will be made up of 11 people from Ascension and five people from Lake Park. Pastora Blanca and Pastor Julio are ready to welcome us and enjoy our time together with the families of the community. Good wishes and prayers are welcome as we live together with our sister congregations in El Salvador. Thank you to everyone that supported both groups by participating in various fundraisers throughout the year.

Pastor Edwin

Pastor Tony & the Youth Gathering

The Youth Gathering is truly an experience like no other. A while back as Pastor Edwin was making his preparations to take Ascension’s students to New Orleans, he asked me to help him understand what the Gathering was all about. I shared a few details and some helpful tips for leading a group, but I told him that he wouldn’t fully comprehend it all until he experienced it for himself. 

Through my own experiences as a youth leader who accompanied students, someone who spoke from the main stage, or serving on Gathering planning and leadership teams, I’ve come to realize that the Gathering is so much more than a simply ministry of the church. It’s far more than a collective of colorful t-shirted youth groups from around the country gathering for service, worship, faith formation, friendships, and all the other things one might experience at a Gathering. So, what is it then? Well, I believe that the Gathering is a reflection of the Kingdom of God. The diversity, inclusion, welcome, celebration, abundance, and joy of God’s inclusive grace and expansive love wrapped up in a chaotic and beautiful faith formation event for young people searching, growing, and discovering their faith.

In the days to come, it is my prayer that all of us would long to be engaged in this kind of stirring of our faith. And I don’t know about you, but if this is anything what the Kingdom of God is really like, then give me more, Jesus, give me more! We have been Created To Be: Brave, Authentic, Free, Disruptive, Disciples…so let’s go do this together. 

Pastor Tony

PC & the Youth Gathering

Dear People of God,

What an amazing journey we have traveled over these past two weeks. I could fill this entire newsletter with images that tell the story of God’s love unfolding in the lives of high school students. However, I would rather you ask a high school student at church the next time you see someone and hear their own story. As much as we have been to the mountaintop in New Orleans, we are already looking ahead to 2027 in Minneapolis. I am hopeful that Ascension takes twice as many students. The church is indeed alive and well as these pictures share witness. And now back at Ascension, we are already praying for the safe travels and relationship building continuing to happen as members of Ascension travel to El Salvador. It will be exciting to add their stories of how God is at work in El Salvador to the stories told of serving in New Orleans. God’s richest blessings to each of you as these summer days continue to move swiftly towards fall.

See you in church…

Pastor Chris

The Speed of Summer

Mercy! Summer! Do not fly by too fast!

It appears we were just preparing for the end of the school year and already the first full month of summer has come to an end. I remember rhythms of summer as a child when the days were easy and made for sleeping in and exploring and adventures and last-minute plans and long evenings playing outside.

At our house, summer evenings are often spent in the backyard around the patio table. There are dinners and drinks and appetizers. Long conversations while the dog explores the yard, or the kids decide to play volleyball. In Wisconsin, our yards have no fences, which means we actually talk to our neighbors. I love it all. If the days are still full, at least the nights are a little slower. When summer breezes and the smell of flowers hang heavy in the air. I still want someone to take care of the dishes inside the house while we linger outside but if that is the worst consequence to the lazy evenings, it is worth it.

I wonder if you have shifted into summer rhythms or are still going full speed as July begins. I can only invite you to take advantage of a cool evening sitting next to people who bring you joy. I know this is a privilege for most of us – I try not to take the time for granted.

At Ascension, summer means a slower season of ministry though book studies, bible studies, and small groups continue. Worship has been glorious. Celebrations, music, and the joy of being together as community. I am hopeful we will be back in the Memorial Gardens for worship in July – the grass is slowly starting to grow with the heavy rains over the past weeks. The new cement pour around the pavilion is beautiful and will be a beautiful addition to outdoor activities. Keep your fingers crossed for July 7th worship at 10am outside.

Outside of Ascension, the ELCA across the nation is preparing for the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans beginning on July 16 and ending on July 20. Students of color begin on July 13 and end a pre-event on July 16. Ascension has groups going to both events for the first time. Pastor Edwin is doing amazing things with our CRASH students preparing them for New Orleans – for worship, service, interaction, and life-changing possibilities to the glory of God.

I am grateful for your hospitality during the third week of June as Ascension hosted some 45 speakers, musicians, and gathering leaders who were helping us prepare for New Orleans. I ask for your prayers for Pastor Tony and myself who plan and prepare to welcome the 16,000+ high school students, youth leaders, pastors, and bishops. We do not get a lot of sleep, but we are strengthened by the prayerful support of so many of you. Thank you. Your prayers are felt and a strong reminder of this community of faith and the support you offer to young people in the formation of their faith. July will be a glorious month of crazy for myself. I would not change one moment. But I will be ready to return to summer rhythms after July 22!

Blessings to you in these summer days. Take a moment and give thanks to God for summer nights and moments of joy to fill your spirit.

Pastor Chris

Summer Rhythms

I love the rhythm of summer, especially it’s slower pace. And I think we can all agree that we could all use a slower pace once and awhile. But the world doesn’t stop and there’s certainly no shortage of things happening or needing to be done. Just ask my wife who has what the rest of our family refers to as “The List.” The List seems to grow by the day if not the hour regardless of how many things we check off of it. I’d ask to see yours, but I’m already overwhelmed by our own, so maybe another time. Still, I remain hopeful that each of us would try to be intentional about taking advantage of the slower summer moments as they become available.

Coincidently, I’m actually writing this article on the first of a few days of “stay-cation” as I try to catch a breath before heading to New Orleans along with Pastor Chris and our planning teams as we prepare to welcome Pastor Edwin and adult leaders and students from Ascension as they join the almost 17,000 others who will come to participate in the ELCA Youth Gathering.

As I sit on our patio I’m reflecting on the past six weeks that were filled with our son Zach graduating from UW-Madison and moving back home, four days of crazy fun with JOLT students at Adventure Camp, our daughter Bella graduating from high school and preparing to go to UW-Stevens Point in the fall along with hosting a shared graduation party and then there’s also preaching, joining our Young at Heart group on a day trip, counseling people in need, and many other pastoral duties. The pace over the past few months has been anything but “slower,” but it has nevertheless been exciting with so many wonderful things to experience and celebrate.

Life, both inside and outside the church can be busy, painful, chaotic, stressful, and full of things that pull us in countless directions. I’m certain that each of you could provide a list just as long if not longer, and this is precisely why peace from God is such a gift. Peace is something we all crave and desperately need, but often we are clueless how to find it or achieve it. And yet, our gracious God continues to endlessly offer it to us.

Throughout these summer months I pray that each of us will be intentional about seeking, creating, and enjoying the peaceful moments God offers us for renewal and reconnection. Moments not spent just frantically moving from one scheduled thing to another or trying to accomplish one more thing. Soak up the sun, take a walk, read a book, go out for ice cream. Whatever it is I hope all of us will take time to recharge, refresh, and renew ourselves.

For the next several months as we journey through summer, I invite each of us to take advantage of much needed opportunities for rest and reconnection but also to welcome new possibilities for connecting more deeply with God and serving our neighbors. I am deeply grateful for your partnership and your willingness to journey together wherever God is leading us. May you know the peace of God today and always!

Pastor Tony

Pastor Edwin: Looking Forward to the Youth Gathering

We just celebrated the one year anniversary of my ordination and now the congregation is trusting me to lead my first group to attend the Youth Gathering! Since the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, I have been assisted in our CRASH programming by a team of wonderful leaders: Lauren Birner, Scott and Sheri Greger, and Klelin Saravia. They will be alongside our youth during our entire time in New Orleans.

As a member of Ascension and as a seminary student, I have seen and heard the stories of the Youth Gathering. This event happens every three years. Thousands of high school youth and their adult leaders from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gather for a week of faith formation known as the ELCA Youth Gathering. Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith in their daily lives. An important part of the Gathering’s ministry are the two pre-events, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE), a faith formation and leadership development event primarily for youth of color, and the tAble, a gathering that brings together, blesses and empowers youth with disabilities.

This year, as you already know the gathering will take place from July 16-20 in New Orleans. Ascension is sending 19 people: 14 Students and five Leaders. For the first time, Ascension is participating in the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE), a pre-event that happens three days before the gathering. Klelin and I will travel with the first group and the other three leaders will travel with second half of the group. We will all return together to Waukesha in the early hours of the morning, alongside the group from St. Luke’s.
What we will do during our time in New Orleans? We will have a new experience everyday. Here are a few highlights of what they will experience.

  • Mass Gathering: This time will happen every evening where the entire community will come together to hear inspiring speakers, uplifting music and much more. On our last morning together, we will gather one last time for closing worship and the Holy Eucharist.
  • Interactive Learning Day: We will get to visit a holy playground to explore the theological and Biblical themes of the Gathering. Participants will get to also explore and interact with partners from across the ELCA doing amazing work in hunger, advocacy, and more!
  • Accompaniment Day: On our Accompaniment Day, we’ll have the opportunity to do service, be immersed into New Orleans’ culture and story, and to learn about social justice and advocacy initiatives that we can take back home. The goal is that after our Accompaniment Day, our students will be inspired to return home as agents of change.
  • Synod Day: We will gather for worship and continue exploring the city together with other people from our own Greater Milwaukee Synod through a scavenger hunt.
  • Community Life: There is also programming following the Mass Gathering. These are fellowship events for youth to reflect on the day, meet others from across the ELCA, dance, sing and more!

As leaders, we are very excited to walk with our youth during their time in New Orleans. We are confident that our youth will have a wonderful and meaningful experience as they continue to grow in their faith formation. Prayers and thoughts for our group during our time at the Youth Gathering will be welcomed.

Pastor Edwin

El Salvador Delegation

From July 31 to August 7, 11 Ascension members along with five members from Lake Park Lutheran will be traveling to El Salvador to visit the ministries of our companion synod and sister parishes. They will learn about the latest happenings of the churches first-hand, carry messages from Ascension, and work together to strengthen the friendships and understanding between our two faith communities. We will learn how we can better support one another and brothers and sisters in Christ, across borders and in spite of language and cultural differences.

The Delegates

Aparicio – Wehmeier Family: Pastor Edwin and Sarah have been leading trips to El Salvador since 2010. This year, Marta (11) and Luisa (9) will be part of the delegation and assisting with translating. Prior to moving to the US, Edwin welcomed Ascension delegates as the host. After moving to Waukesha in 2013, he began leading from the Ascension side. He began working at Ascension in 2019, becoming a pastor in 2023. Sarah is a music teacher in Waukesha and also works as an administrator and musician at Ascension. She also coordinates our Tanzania partnership. Marta will be in 6th grade at Butler and Luisa will be in 4th grade at Summit View. When not at school, the girls can be found on the soccer field or on the stage dancing, acting or playing piano. They are looking forward to returning to El Salvador now that they are old enough to remember it.

The Paczesny Family: The Paczesny Family have been members at Ascension for 10 years. Sarah currently serves on the Church Council, and both Grace (13) and Madeline (10) sing with the youth choir and are active in youth ministry activities. Grace enjoys playing soccer and babysitting, and Madeline has a lot of fun with her Girl Scout Troop and plays soccer as well. They are both in the production of Newsies Jr this summer. When not busy with the girls at their activities, their family enjoys camping, attending festivals and spending time outside. They look forward to being a part of the delegation to El Salvador!

Jackie Bosanac: I am a lifelong member of Ascension. I have two grown children and five grandchildren. I currently work two days a week at my sister’s daycare. I have gone on several mission trips, as well as traveling last year to Tanzania, and am looking forward to this trip to El Salvador.

Jeremy Poling: Jeremy has been a member of Ascension since 2009 and can be seen many Sunday’s behind the drums in the Praise Band. He is an active supporter of our partner congregations in Tanzania and El Salvador and enjoys learning the many ways our brothers and sisters live out our shared call as followers of Christ. He works as an engineer ensuring that buildings perform optimally for the people who occupy them. Jeremy and his wife Jenny have two children, Aidan (15) and Audrey (8). When not at Ascension or work, Jeremy can be found enjoying watching his kids’ activities, or sharing in the family’s enjoyment of cheering for the Brewers.

Natalie Mustapich: I have been attending church at Ascension for over 33 years, and as a member, have enjoyed serving on several mission trips domestically and one internationally. I enjoy traveling and going on new adventures. This will be my first time in El Salvador and I am looking forward to meeting new friends there.

Serve With Ascension

Hope Center

Calling all golfers! Hope Center is hosting their annual Tee-Up for Hope golf outing on July 15 at Broadland Country Club. Registration opens at 9:30am/Shotgun start at 11:30am. Registration form and all the details are online.

Donations: With the opening of the new building, making a donation is much easier. There is a bin right at the entrance where donations can be dropped off. There is a sign there that clearly details what is accepted as far as donations. See the photo. We will continue to accept donations in our donation center but they must meet the same criteria.

Creation Care

Waukesha County Creation Care Team is sponsoring a virtual Energy Hour on Monday, July 1, from 6 to 7 p.m. This is a free, online event for community residents to ask a panel of energy and climate leaders about home energy programs, incentives and upgrades. With the extreme heat we have already had, we are all looking for ways to save on our energy bills and to protect the wonderful earth God has given us. See this link for more information and to register. If you are interested in helping with ideas on caring for creation, contact Mary Ellen Comp.

Blessing Box & Little Library

Our original Blessing Box and Little Free Library have served us well for many years. Over the past few years, we have had some vandalism with items in the boxes that has carried over to the park, prompting the city to request that we move the boxes. We have also had items left at the base of the Blessing Box that are not appropriate, especially in extremes of weather. We recognize that our neighbors often want to help but it has been a challenge to manage the items that appear on the ground and attract rodents and insects. The items need to be disposed of rather than put to use.

It was also time for new boxes since the originals were showing wear and tear and have faced some bitter weather. The good news is that a Boy Scout has built insulated and weatherproof boxes. They will be installed east of the current location next to the entrance drive. There will be clearer notice about appropriate donations.

With the extreme heat during June, it was noted that some of the donations were not compatible with the temperatures. Fresh products should never be placed in the box. Even with an insulated box, they will not be safe. Research has shown that even canned goods cannot be guaranteed safe in extreme heat. We will keep you up to date about what foods can be donated once the new boxes are installed. Watch midweek and Sunday announcements and the Mission Outreach Facebook page. You can always place donations in the bins in the Donation Center any time the church is open.

SOPHIA Multicultural Fair

The third annual SOPHIA Multicultural Fair will be held on August 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Frame Park. Enjoy ethnic music and dancers, crafts, international food, Community Resources, children’s activities, food trucks, vendors and more. This event has grown each year and is a wonderful opportunity to see all the various cultures in Waukesha and the surrounding area. Mark your calendars for this special event and the new location.

Pastor Tony: Thank You!

Late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon has a reoccurring bit where he publicly writes thank you cards on his show. I really like the idea of thank you cards, but if I’m being honest, well, my follow through isn’t all that great. Just ask my wife and she can point you to the pile of them on our desk or in my closet that I’ve started writing but are unfinished, or even worse, finished but never sent – a conversation for another day. And while Fallon usually writes his thank you cards for comedic effect; I’m feeling compelled to borrow from his idea and use my article this month to follow through on some thank you’s that have been tugging on my heart.

I’d like to start out by thanking everyone who volunteers. From taking donated items to the Waukesha Food Pantry or Hope Center, to helping prep the monthly newsletter for mailing, or providing a snack for those who attend our grief support ministry, or donating food when we host a funeral, or serving the monthly Healing Hearts meal, or greeting, ushering, reading, or serving communion for worship, there are so many of you who volunteer in so many ways. I just want to make something very clear – you make a difference!

Thank you to those who serve (or have served) on the church council. Since 2020 when I was ordained and called to serve as one of your pastors, we have certainly been through some unprecedented times. When you said yes to being a leader in the church, you likely had no idea just what kind of uncharted waters we would have to navigate through – a global pandemic and the aftermath of a new normal. I am thankful for your leadership and the many ways you show up to lead and move this congregation into a new, exciting, and uncertain future.

Thank you to those who serve and support our children, youth, and young adult ministries. Your help with BLAST projects, college care packages, and support for JOLT and CRASH mission and adventure trips is often incomprehensible. To everyone who has ever dropped a little change in the noisy offering buckets, or read a Bible story in BLAST, or served as an adult leader on retreat – you are invaluable supporters. I believe it’s vitally important that churches create a place for young people where they can feel included, supported, and wanted – and I’m so thankful that so many of you have been so faithful in doing this for the young people of Ascension.

Thank you to those who participate in the various bible and book studies both on and off campus, those led by pastors and those led by other members. After working with young people, my second favorite thing to do in the church is teach and lead these studies. I’m thankful for opportunity to do this and I hope we can continue to learn and grow from one another for a long time to come. It’s also my hope that those of you who participated in a study I’ve led got even half as much out of being a part of them as I got from your insights and our conversations.

Thank you to all those who lead and provide music for worship. Music is very much not a gift of mine. However, those of you who play the organ and piano, sing in the band or one of the choirs, or take part in any of the special musical offerings – you are all so incredibly talented. I am deeply thankful that you share your giftedness, and you make our worship services incredible because of your contributions.

And finally, I’d like to thank all of you. I’m thankful for all of the ways you have supported and encouraged me and my family especially as I’ve shared the various challenges of being a pastor, and I am thankful for your graciousness in the times I may have fallen short. Most of all I’m thankful that as a congregation you truly want to change lives by being God’s instruments of peace and love in the world.And so it will be my ongoing prayer that together we continue to open ourselves to always live into the mission of being God’s transforming presence in our world. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Pastor Tony

Pastor Edwin: Mountaintops and Valleys

The month of June will mark the one year anniversary of my ordination and installation. It seems like it was a few months ago when you all said yes to calling a third pastor to your ministry. Thank you so much! Many things have happened during this first year as an ordained pastor. If you ask me to reflect on this first anniversary, let me tell you that it has been like a roller coaster! And this is life, right? Many of you have also experienced moments of happiness, sadness, difficult times and good times in your lives. I know my experience is not unique to me.

I felt like I was at the top of the mountain on June 25, 2023 at my ordination and installation, but I also felt like I was at the bottom of the mountain a few weeks later when my family and I met at the hospital to say goodbye to my dad. Only a few weeks had passed since my ordination and now I had to perform my father’s funeral here and burial in El Salvador.

I was initially worried that the new part of my position, high school ministry, would be a low for a year or two as the students acclimated to a new pastor in that role. I am happy to share that I was wrong! It has been a fantastic year filled with moments of fun, community service, worship, and Bible study. Our final gathering of the year was a moment of healing for me coming on the heel of another tragedy.

A high moment for me this year when I accompanied Noé to the hospital to celebrate and give thanks to God for taking care of his wife during the birth of their baby, Melanie. Again, I descended to the bottom a couple of hours later when I had to accompany Elizabeth, Noé’s wife, to identify her husband’s body, and accompany her to their house to share the news with the children that their father had passed away.

Brothers and sisters, on this earthly journey we will continue to experience high moments, but situations will also appear in which we will feel that we are at the bottom of the mountain. The apostle Paul in his letter to Romans 8:35 says, “ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome were going through conflictive times between them. Paul, in his desire to achieve peace and unity, wrote these words to them to strengthen and motivate them so that tribulations, danger and anguish would not separate them from the love of God.

God is always with us! As we walk and enjoy the beauty of flowers, forests, beautiful landscapes and family time this summer 2024, let us remember that there is a God who is always near us with his steadfast love when we are on top of the mountain “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17. We also have a God that is with us when feel that we are at the bottom of the valley: “You change my tears into dance; you take away my sadness and surround me with joy.” (Psalm 30:11)

Pastor Edwin