Blessings to you in these lingering days of Epiphany! I write to you this month to simply give thanks to the God we serve and the people who serve alongside us here at Ascension.
Thirty-five years ago, Director of Music Ministries, Vicki Taylor, began her ministry at Ascension as choir accompanist. Imagine the changes Vicki has witnessed and weathered over the years in this place. What a testament to her faith in our God and her faithfulness to this community of believers. We have much to be thankful for in and through Vicki’s presence and ministry among us. We celebrated the 30th anniversary of the construction and installation of the organ on January 20th. Little did Vicki know we would also take the time to say thank you for 35 years of ministry and celebrate her continuing ministry among us. Please, if you did not have the chance to celebrate with Vicki on the 20th of January, take a moment to thank her in the weeks to come.
We are also celebrating a tremendous year of ministry leadership within the church council under the direction of our now past president Craig Greenwood. Under Craig’s leadership, we dreamed and developed a 2025 Vision for Ascension, navigated the completion of Pastor Angela’s call, and completed a “Miracle Sunday” to “Raise the Roof” to tend much needed replacement of our East/West Hall Roof along with siding of the building (with the exception of the Spiritual Growth Wing), raising more than $225,000 on top of our normal operating expenses. We continue to build upon our financial stability and strengthen our ministries to support and lead us toward our vision goals. What a gift, Craig’s leadership has been to our whole community. Please find a time to thank Craig for his leadership.
Again, this year we will find time to celebrate another staff anniversary. This February, marks five years of ministry for Director of Faith Formation Tony Acompanado, who has also now completed 60% of his seminary education towards ordained ministry within the ELCA. If you are keeping count, Tony has completed five of his eight semesters of schooling. We are grateful to God for Tony’s commitment to both serving the people of Ascension while at the same time serving God by attending seminary full-time. It is no small task for Tony – let alone for his family. We continue to watch Tony grow in his worship leadership, preaching, pastoral care, and theological grounding as he continues serving his pastoral internship concurrently with his staff position here at Ascension.
As the month of February welcomes a newly-installed church council, it is time to thank Darwin Moore, who navigated this past year as treasurer. Under his leadership, Ascension moved from a volunteer bookkeeping process (with deep gratitude to Jim Ballantyne who served in this capacity for several years) to a contracted CPA to maintain our financials each month. Darwin has asked to be released from the second year of his two-year term. We are pleased to announce that Michael Hamm has agreed to serve out the second year of his two-year term as treasurer. I am grateful to Darwin for his wisdom and his willingness to enter into the challenges of a large church financial system and I am grateful to Michael for saying yes. It is pure joy to serve a community where members of the church community see a need and say yes to tending the needs of our church.
Another new face in leadership at Ascension this year is Mary Ellen Comp, who returns to church leadership, after a few years away, in the role of Leadership Development Leg Leader. Again a word of thanks will be appreciated when you see her. We are excited to connect members and inspire service with the needs of our community around gifts of leadership each of us possess and positions where that leadership is needed to help our congregation continue to tell the story of God’s love for the world.
Obviously, I could go on for several pages with moments of deep appreciation for so many of you who serve inside our walls and serve outside our walls. Ascension is a special place in so many ways. Thank you for sharing your faith journey in this place with me, with each other, and with the world.
Peace and joy be yours!
Pastor Chris
(Reprinted from the February 2019 newsletter.)
