Advent & Christmas 2022

Las Posadas Dec. 17

Las Posadas remembers the journey of the holy family through the streets of Bethlehem where they were turned away again and again until an innkeeper took pity on their plight. This event hosted by our Spanish speaking members continues to grow year after year. Incredible food, a mariachi band, and a piñata round out the night. It is a glorious gathering of the community of Ascension. It begins at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, with hot cocoa and coffee. Children of all ages are welcome to be in costume. This year’s event will have a special offering for the Waukesha Parade Memorial. Mark your calendars.

“Come & Adore Him!” Children’s Christmas Program Dec. 18

The BLAST Sunday School children will share the story of Jesus’ birth in worship Sunday, Dec. 18, at the 10:45 a.m. service. Dress rehearsal for BLAST children is Saturday, Dec. 17, 9-11 a.m. Our 8:30 a.m. worship will be our regular 4th Sunday of Advent Worship.

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Dec. 24 & 25 

Christmas Eve Worship on Saturday, Dec. 24, will be at 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. (Spanish) and 9 p.m. Candle-lighting, communion, and glorious music will be shared at all the services. If you can help with acolyting, ushering or communion – please contact he church office. Christmas Day worship will be Sunday at 10 a.m.

Everything Old Is New Again

Dia de Los Muertos ofrenda

This time of the year is the end of both the liturgical year and the calendar year. The end of one year and the beginning of a new one is often a time for looking back at the year that was. I recently had an experience that caused me to look back not just at my own past, but at the history of Ascension.

During our outdoor services during the pandemic and during the remodeling of the Spanish Sanctuary, we were looking for ways to create a beautiful, yet portable, altar. This lovely cross became part of Spanish language worship. I never gave the history of this specific cross much thought until we put together our ofrenda for All Saint’s Day worship.

Pastor Chris came in to look at the ofrenda and he asked me if I knew the story of the cross that was the center of the ofrenda. I had no idea. It was the cross from the original church. I thought of the twenty-four founding members. When they founded Ascension in the small town of Waukesha in 1949, I doubt any of them would have seen that in the future, their altar cross would be in the center of a Mexican-style Dia de los Muertos ofrenda.

It made me think about what it means to be people of God in a church. Some things are always changing, the language we worship in, the songs we sing, the way we celebrate special holy days. On the surface, worship today in the East Hall looks very different from what it looked like when it was the only sanctuary of Ascension starting in 1967. Yet when we take a deeper look, things are more alike than we realize.

Even when we see things looking different than they did before, the Advent message of Peace, Hope, Love, and Faith are still pillars to remind us of God’s never-ending love and grace. As we go through this season of Advent, may the Holy Spirit continue to guide us in this multi-cultural journey of discipleship. We change, but God never changes.

Edwin Aparicio, Pastoral Intern, Spanish-Language Minister

Welcome to Advent

Into the stable they straggled, poor and dirty, hardly suitably dressed for polite society.
Had we been Joseph, we would have feared robbery.
Had we been Mary, we would have feared germs around our newborn.
Had we been God, these are not ones we would have chosen to come and see the Child.
After all, they showed a certain carelessness about the rules of the church.
And yet, God-chosen, they came to kneel and worship him whom we would later call the Good Shepherd.
Perhaps we could brush up on our humbleness. (Ann Weems, Kneeling in Bethlehem)

Welcome to Advent. 

With the beginning of Advent, the church turns the page and begins a new year of storytelling in the life of Jesus. We return to the book of Matthew at the beginning of the New Testament. The story of the birth of Jesus begins with these words: 

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’”

It is a far cry from the entry into the story of the birth of Jesus in the book of Luke that begins with the words: “In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.” What surprises me in both accounts of the birth of Jesus, is the challenge presented. In Matthew, there is a question of Mary’s faithfulness to Joseph. In Luke, there is an oppressive government looking to receive taxes and control the population by learning of the demographics of the population they control. Not exactly the Christmas story of Hallmark cards. Advent feels the same way.

I believe our work as people of faith is to invite others to settle into the waiting with patience, promise, and hope. Year after year, I offer the reminder to tend your hearts, your souls by finding moments to slow down, to appreciate the snowfall on a winter’s evening or wrap gifts while remembering stories or praying for the person for whom you are preparing the gift. Perhaps there is a lingering visit around coffee or hot cocoa to tend a heart that is working to heal. Maybe it is your own heart looking to heal. Advent can be a season of reflection, healing, restoration, reconciliation, and hope, always, hope.

The New Testament begins with the birth of Jesus Christ. Four hundred years of prophetic silence after the prophet Malachi speaks at the end of the Old Testament before the silence is broken by John the Baptist’s announcement that the promised Savior had come. A long time to wait. A long time to hope. And yet God does not disappoint. The Savior comes to us.

Glory to God in the highest and peace to God’s people on earth. Welcome to Advent. Merry Christmas.

O Come let us adore him.

See you in church.

Pastor Chris