Walk With Ascension

Pathways to Mental Wellness

Do you ever feel like you are living in a world that is turned upside down? It’s hard not to when day after day we are all faced with violence, economic challenges, political unrest, COVID fears, family and job stresses. You name it!

We recognize people’s hurt, anxieties and fear. To support one another through these challenges, we are launching a new ministry here at Ascension which we are calling “Pathways to Mental Wellness.” Our goal is to offer support, resources and a listening ear to help one another navigate the waters of our everyday lives.

We are kicking off this new ministry by inviting you to attend a special reflective prayer service on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. At this service we will offer some scripture, music and prayer in hopes of offering you some much deserved moments of calm and respite. Think of it as a time to just “be” so you can clear the noise and feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.

These moments of time are intended for everyone: Young, old, men, women and children. We encourage you to invite your friends, neighbors and anyone that is feeling weighed down by everything going on in our world. Come….You are invited…..Peace be with you!

Steve & Carol Spieker, Ministry Leaders

GriefShare

We are in a full 12-week session of GriefShare again this fall. If you or a loved one has a suffered loss and would like some help and support, this may be the program for you. This group will provide help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend. Our program continues through November 15th in our Youth Room at the church. We will meet for 12 consecutive sessions. Mary Lou Charapata and Brenda Lytle will facilitate the Grief Share group. If you would like to be a part of our Grief Share program please contact Brenda Lytle, RN, Director of Care Ministries at brenda@ascensionelca.org or 262-547-8518.

Care Ministries Needs Volunteers

Are you looking for some volunteer opportunities to help others? We have openings in two of our Care Ministries!

  • Meal Ministry: We need additional people to make meals for members in our congregation that may need some short-term assistance. Please contact Iva Richards.
  • Transportation Ministry: We need drivers to assist some members of our congregation (short-term) that need to get to an appointment or to get to church on Sundays. You don’t need to lift or carry medical equipment. Please contact Kay Stone.

Pastoral Assistants

If you or a family member is hospitalized and would like a visit from a pastor or pastoral assistant, please call the church office at 262-547-8518.

Cancer Care Ministry

Our Cancer Care Ministry helps members of our congregation. If you know of a congregational member or family that could use some assistance walking their cancer journey, please contact Brenda Lytle.

Young at Heart (55+)

Young at Heart meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month starting at noon for a potluck, play cards and enjoy fellowship. Bring a dish to pass if you’re able.

Be the Village Ministry

In September, supporters from Ascension helped raise awareness for foster care by walking through the Milwaukee County Zoo wearing Chosen t-shirts, bags and buttons. Supporters learned important fostering information at specific passport check-points and gathered for a picnic lunch.

School Supply Drive

Ascension is hosting a school supply drive for Chosen (foster/adoptive families) from Aug. 14 through Aug. 28. If you are out shopping and pick up a few extra supplies, please drop them off at church in the yellow bin.

Some suggestions for the School District of Waukesha are:

  • Dry-erase markers (thin/fine tip, black, 4 pack)
  • #2 wood pencils
  • School box (hard plastic, 8” x 5” x 2-1/2”)
  • Crayons, 24 Count
  • Crayola® Washable Classic Color Markers, thick/broad tip, 10 count
  • Crayola® colored pencils; backpacks
  • Fiskars scissors
  • Glue sticks (20 count)
  • Pink erasers
  • Kleenex® tissues
  • Plastic pocket folders, with or without prongs/brads
  • Heavy-duty, 2-pocket folders
  • 1″ 3-ring binders
  • Composition notebooks
  • Zipper pencil pouches
  • Headphones (with straight plug)

Walk With Ascension

Ascension’s pastoral assistants.

Pastoral Assistants Are a True Gift

Our Pastoral Assistant Ministry exists to spread Christ’s love and Word by extending significant pastoral care throughout the congregation and the community. We have had this ministry in place for many years. Perhaps you have met them if you were hospitalized or have been homebound or in a rehab facility. The Pastoral Care team members are: Brenda Lytle RN, the Director of Care Ministries for Ascension; Paul Wehmeier, Melody Maass, Arlene Davis, Bonnie Thiesenhusen, Sally Wagner, and Jim Hahn.

Thank you to all of our Pastoral Assistants who make monthly visits to members in our congregation for prayer, scripture, and sacrament. It keeps our members connected at times when they are alone and vulnerable. God’s love is intertwined with a kind of love of loving and serving others. If you or a family member is hospitalized and would like a visit from our pastors or pastoral assistants, please call the church office at 262-547-8518

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.

John 13:35

Grief Support Ministry

We are planning to host the full 12-week sessions of Grief Share again this fall. If you or a loved one have suffered loss and would like some help and support, this may be the program for you. If you would like to be a part of our Grief Share program please contact: Brenda Lytle, RN, Director of Care Ministries at brenda@ascensionelca.org or 262-547-8518.

Chosen’s ribbon cutting at the new locations in Waukesha

Be the Village Ministry

Chosen had a ribbon cutting in June for the new Waukesha location of their Family Closet for foster and adoptive families. The newly-opened location is at 400 Travis Lane, #30. We will be holding a school supply drive for Chosen in August. More info in next month’s newsletter.

Save Sept. 10 for Chosen’s 2022 “Walk on the Wild Side” for foster care. Supporters will walk through the Zoo with Chosen t-shirts/bags and buttons, helping to raise awareness about foster care. Supporters learn important fostering information at specific passport check-points and then will gather for a picnic lunch.

Cancer Care Ministry Opens Arms to Those in Need

Our Cancer Care Ministry helps members of our congregation. If you know of a congregational member or family that could use some assistance walking their cancer journey, please contact Brenda Lytle, brenda@ascensionelca.org or 262-547-8518.

Young at Heart (55+) 

The Young at Heart group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month to gather for a potluck and play cards and enjoy fellowship. Below are some of the events we are planning this year.

  • Mitchell Park Domes on July 13: Feel the heat of a desert oasis, the humidity of a tropical jungle and the bright colors of a floral garden…all at one destination! The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, better known as the Domes, is a living museum filled with plants from across the globe. Visit Milwaukee’s most unique destination.
  • “White Christmas” at the Fireside Theatre, Nov. 3: The day includes a delicious lunch from the Fireside chefs followed by a heart-warming performance of “White Christmas.” Sign up at the Young at Heart meeting to reserve your ticket/dinner/show/transportation. Please contact Arlene Davis at 262-542-9119 with any questions.

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Care Ministries

As we cross over into fall, the trees are changing colors, the air is brisk, and we are getting ready for the harvest. Autumn is often a more reflective time, and perhaps we can begin to “harvest” some of the lessons of the past year. Life provides us a process for exploring our lives and finding wholeness. Experiences in our lives helps us to expand our consciousness by looking at the meaning in events, repair our relationships by re-examining past hurts, guilt and regrets. It is important to discover the gifts of a long life by finding purpose in service to others, or create a legacy by sharing our life lessons. We need to accept our current condition by viewing life in a greater context and embrace our mortality by helping us achieve our integrity and self-esteem. People and opportunities come in and out of our lives throughout our life, often for very short periods of time. We can either choose to resent the fact that they are gone, or we can savor the blessing that we experienced when they were with us.

Socrates is credited with saying: “The unexamined life is not a life worth living.” In whatever way you choose to review your life, I encourage you to do so. You will achieve a greater sense of well-being, and will contribute to the growth of the coming generations.

Brenda Lytle, RN, Director of Care Ministries

Be the Village

Chosen In Love is a non-profit organization that assists families in the foster system here in Waukesha. They are hosting their Open Hearts, Open Homes Gala on Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Radisson Hotel.

Ascension’s Be the Village Ministry is helping them with this fundraiser by providing gifts for their silent auction. Our ministry provided four baskets and guitar lessons from Praise Band leader Ben Janzow. Thanks to Ben and this ministry for making a difference in the lives of foster families!

Young at Heart Potluck and Info Session on Senior Scams

Senior Eras Senior Network will be presenting S.T.O.P. Senior Frauds & Scams on Wednesday, Nov. 17, from 1-2 p.m. in East Hall following the Young at Heart potluck.

Blessing Tree

The Friday Women’s Nurture Group is collecting gift cards for three Ascension ministries this Thanksgiving and Christmas season — the Burmese refugees, the Hispanic Ministry, and Be the Village. Take a leaf for the ministry of your choice from the tree, attach it to the gift card and turn it in to the box under the tree or in the office by Nov. 19.

ToyPalooza Collection

Be the Village will have a collection in November called “ToyPalooza” to collect NEW toy donations for foster children. The need we are fulfilling will be for toys 0-24 months, preferably non-battery-operated. We hope to stimulate imaginations not necessarily senses because sometimes there are concerns in foster children with sensory overload. Examples of great toys to donate may be Duplos, nesting cups, blocks, wooden puzzles, quiet toddler or baby toys. These toys will be given to children for the holidays and distributed by Chosen. Donation collection will be in the yellow bins in the narthex Sundays Nov. 7 – 21. Thank you for making a difference in our community!

Waukesha Wellness Clinic

Ascension will be hosting a Waukesha Wellness Clinic on Nov. 20 from 12-3 p.m. Children’s covid vaccines, adult covid boosters, flu shots and blood pressure checks will be offered. Schedule online https://hayatcovidvaccine.as.me/Waukesha. Walk-ins welcome. A second clinic will be held at Ascension on Dec. 11 from 12-3 p.m.

GriefShare

Have you suffered loss and are concerned about how you will survive the holidays? Come and join us 6-8 p.m. in the Youth Room on Tuesday, Nov. 30. We will host a Grief Share video and discussion about ways to cope this time of year. Hope to see you there!