Ministry Memories

Our high school ministry, CRASH, wrapped up our program year ministry in the middle of May. It was a really great night of games, conversation, food, and time together. Pastor Edwin invited the incoming freshmen to join for the night and as is often the case at Ascension – the welcome was easy and maybe a little overwhelming.

One of the great things about high school ministry is that community happens pretty easily if students are willing to show up and step out of their comfort zone. True for most of us, I believe. What always surprises me, at church stuff, is how easily the grade level division disappears. All of a sudden 8th graders are talking to sophomores and freshmen are connecting with juniors. It is a testament to Pastor Edwin and our adult CRASH leaders who navigate all the twists and turns of young people in these days. I imagine that Pastor Edwin could do CRASH all by himself, but it would be a lot more work and there would be young people who would probably fall through the cracks.

At the end of the night, after ice cream treats and new bruises had formed after one too many rounds inside the inflatable balls, Pastor Edwin asked each student to share what their favorite memory of CRASH was over the past year. Some said the Progressive Dinner in December, others shared moments of service or deep conversation, but one young person shared that “discovering Ascension” was her favorite memory of the past year. New to Ascension, this young person found a place of welcome and safety and community. Thanks be to God! It does indeed take a village to bring ministry to life in this community of faith, and I am grateful for all of it.

Our Children’s Ministry, JAM, BLAST, JUMP, and our junior high ministry, JOLT, also wrapped up in the middle of May. It is pure joy to watch the next surprise unfolding from the ministry team that dreams about ministry for our children and to simply keep up with the energy of junior high students. In the past few years, we experimented with new things in our children’s ministry to explore new ways of engaging our children and young families. Some things work well others not so much. And so we keep dreaming up new shenanigans to tell the story of God’s love and invite the children to make those stories their own.

In JOLT, it is always a game, a Bible verse or two, and the sharing of moments in the lives of young people. All three pastors commit to JOLT each week for the power of their presence and what it communicates. JOLT is important to the church. And when all three pastors show up each week – the students recognize that they are important. It is one of our strongest commitments, as pastors, to remind our 6th, 7th, and 8th  graders, on weekly basis that they matter.

There are so many stories of faithfulness that find life in this church. Property days, moments of prayer and reflection, love lived out in service to another. This place is really too much to keep track of at times. I do not think I want it any other way. When someone says, “I did not know we did that here,” I think some people hear that as “we don’t communicate enough” while I hear that comment as “there is just too much going on to know everything.” And my next thought is often, “Well, there is always next year if you missed it this year.”

Ascension is the community it is for the ministries that happen loudly and the ministries that happen with just a whisper. Pastoral assistants who share holy communion, Healing Hearts meals that are cooked and served, Hope Center breakfasts, lunches, and dinners served by members of this community. If you are looking for a place to serve, I will happily meet to hear your hopes and point you in the right direction. There is no shortage of need. Thank God, there is no shortage of ministry opportunity to tend. And if you are new to this church and are looking for a place to serve – if you see a need that you believe Ascension can meet – let me know – just be ready to jump in and don’t be surprised if someone else wants to jump in with you. This is Ascension. It’s what we do.

We are preparing to bless Pastor Tony with a sending on Sunday, June 28, as he begins his sabbatical. How wonderful it is that this community of faith sees the value in tending your pastors with a time away after a long season of ministry. Sabbaticals are simply one more way that we tend this church, in this time and place, to the glory of God. Lighting in the sanctuary, confetti for big celebrations, campus tending to reflect the beauty of God’s creation and the sacredness of the space we call our spiritual home. And the three amigos. So much joy to serve together and to walk alongside all of you in these days of summer. My prayer is that you will each find moments for rest, renewal, and reflection while remembering this church barely slows down in the summer. Mission trips are coming. Your prayers are appreciated. See you in church!

Pastor Chris

Reprinted from the May 2026 newsletter.

How Does Ascension Do It?

Last month I had the opportunity to visit El Salvador again to participate in an event called Encuentro. This event is held by the Salvadoran Lutheran Church every three years. It brings together representatives from all the local Salvadoran Lutheran churches and their sister churches from the United States and Europe for a week. During this time together, the churches share experiences, evaluate, and identify new ways of mutual collaboration to continue transforming lives and praying together for the needs of our communities.

The Encuentro program included a visit to local communities. Our sister church, El Milagro de Dios (The Miracle of God) in San Jorge, was chosen as the location where the other churches in the area met to present and explain the areas in which partnerships are working together. Two members and Pastor Blanca from our sister church, El Milagro de Dios, presented and explained the bakery project, a project supported by all the members of Ascension. The members involved in the project shared that the profits are distributed to the church, to pay for their work, and the remainder goes toward purchasing more ingredients to continue baking. Pastor Blanca thanked her sister church, Ascensión, for supporting this project and for continuing to walk alongside the families and the community in multiple ways.

After the bakery presentation, the principal of the school next to the church noticed a group of foreigners visiting El Milagro de Dios Church. Thinking it was a group from Ascensión visiting, the teacher didn’t want to miss the opportunity to thank the Ascensión community for their help in building a small storage room for the school. This school originated on the church grounds. Over the years, with the increase in students, the government decided to purchase land next to the church and build the school. However, the construction of a small storage room wasn’t part of the original plans, even though they knew it was necessary. The Ascension delegation that visited El Milagro de Dios in August donated an offering to the school to begin construction of a small storage room. The school has been able to build the walls and hopes to raise funds for the roof this year, 2026. The teacher sent greetings and wanted to give thanks to the people of Ascension for their support. 

During the same week, I had the opportunity to speak with a pastor from Germany. We shared experiences with the ministries we serve. She was impressed by what Ascension as a Christian community is doing. She even asked me, “How does Ascension do it?” In November, I also had the opportunity to attend a pastors’ retreat, and one of my fellow pastors asked me the same question: “How does Ascension do it?” My answer to everyone was simple: “All of this is possible only through the work God is doing through all the members. Ascension is what it is because we have a membership that keeps its eyes on the renewing and hopeful light offered to us in the manger.” This identity allowed us to be chosen as the multicultural church where the presiding bishop of the national church recorded his Christmas message in our building.

Brothers and sisters, in this holiday season, I wanted to share this experience I had in November. The light of the manger continues to shine in the lives of others through the Ascension community. In our last council meeting Pastor Christ mentioned that when it is time to create a picture video presentation, it is hard to add all pictures with all the things that we do as a community. My hope is that seasons of gathering with family and friends, may the light of peace, love, joy, and hope continue to guide our lives. May that light help us in our weariness, free us from the anxieties of our past and present. May that light continue to renew us spiritually as we continue to respond to God’s call. 

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ~ John 8:2

May the Peace, Love, Joy and Hope be with you and your family. Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad!

Pastor Edwin