Serving With Ascension

We have had a great response to the financial need for our sister parishes in Tanzania where we support the primary schools in Samaria and Savana. The money is used to provide simple lunches of corn and beans, which is often the only meal the children get for the whole day. The price on crops goes up by mid-summer so we want to get the donation to the congregations in time to purchase the food at the best rates. We will be collecting for at least the first two weeks in June to meet our goal of $12,000 to feed all 952 students for the entire 197 days of the school year and an additional $2000 to supply the technology that is needed to help the students be able to complete the required tests to pass their classes. You may give online, through a check or on Sunday mornings at the Welcome Center via credit card. Please help us achieve our goal to support these children not only to eat but to have a better chance at success in life by being successful students.

ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response

“Hope does not disappoint us because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

Ascension is part of a bigger church body through the ELCA and because of that, our efforts can be multiplied as we respond to world issues. The words from Romans are the reminder that in spite of a pandemic that affected the whole world directly and now a war that indirectly affected us all, we have hope through our Almighty God. During the pandemic, the gifts from ELCA congregations to World Hunger grew by 8%, gifts that were greater than hoped for. The response to the war in Ukraine through gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response continues to pour in to  support the disasters that make the headlines, and those that do not. The gifts that were greater than hoped for and the need goes on.

Ending hunger and responding to disaster isn’t just about food and immediate need. It is about access, justice, caring for creation, and to provide for future needs. It is about caring for each other in tangible ways: “Love your neighbor as yourself”. God works through us to provide for each other. Together, we can be part of the solution.  Part of Ascension’s budget is donated to ELCA World Hunger each month and as needs arise, special donations are collected for Disaster Response. 100% of what is donated is given for direct help for those in need.

Donation Center

Our Donation Center has moved to the west coat room to make it more accessible. Bins are clearly marked for the partner we are collecting for and what is needed. Since needs change and requests are often limited, please check with the contact person before bringing in things not on the list. We want to put our efforts into things that are truly needed and not make more work for those who sort and deliver the items. Currently, our biggest needs are for the Blessing Box and the Waukesha Food Pantry. We cannot take things that are expired,  require refrigeration, are in open packages or baked items. As the weather warms up, there will be an increased need for single-serve drinks, snacks, and packaged fruits.  New needs will be updated as identified by our partners. There is also a bin for Lost in Found labeled in red. If you have left things at church, check the bins.

Mission Outreach News

Stay connected to ways to SERVE by following the Mission Outreach on Facebook. 

We update the programs of our global and community partners on a regular basis and also identify ways you can be involved. Often things change more quickly than the newsletter or even weekly announcements can inform the congregation so the Facebook page has become a big part of how we keep everyone informed.

There is also the ability to use photos and even videos which makes the partnership connections especially with our global partners more personal. Please like or share notices that you feel are important. If you would like more information about specific programs, contact Shirley Wehmeier.

Holy Week in El Salvador

In the early morning hours of Sunday, March 27, El Salvador was declared in a state of emergency after a violent Friday and Saturday. After a couple of years of decreased violence, the country was shocked when 67 people were murdered on March 26. In the weeks that have followed, the government has been arresting anyone with a hint of gang affiliation. The arrest of over 14,000 people in a short amount of time has been met with relief that the government is doing something, but also fear that the government is recklessly locking people up without regards to guilt.

While the entire country has been impacted by the state of emergency, fortunately our brothers and sisters in San Jorge have been spared from the violence. Most of the violence has been centered in San Salvador, hours away from Usulután and San Jorge. In San Jorge, the barrio were all of the church members live, there is almost no issues with gangs.

In San Jorge, there was worship on Maundy Thursday and fasting on Good Friday. Traditionally, Easter morning worship begins at 4 a.m., but with the government orders, they had worship at 6 a.m. Worship on Easter tends to be a simple service, more in-line with the early morning visit to the empty tomb.

They are grateful that Covid numbers have decreased and, as of the end of April, masks are becoming optional.

Learning Spanish

We have been having a good response from our simple Spanish learning lessons that are in the announcements. We believe it is part of our mission to have some basic words to communicate with our Spanish speaking brothers and sisters and to know basic worship words.

We will continue to add to the words and phrases and learn some simple songs each week. If you have questions about pronunciation or the meaning of a word or phrase, ask one of our Spanish speakers. You can then practice your emerging Spanish with them. You will see that not all the translations are word for word but more phrase by phrase or thought by thought.

To see a list of recent/ongoing translations, visit our website. https://tinyurl.com/ALCspanish

This is a great way to show support for our Spanish speaking members and to grow a little yourself with a minimum of work.

Salvadoran Turtle Project

In El Salvador unemployed people are paid to collect and nurture critically-endangered sea turtle eggs. Once they are hatched, they are released into the sea. They are in need of help in reconstructing the nesting area. Due to the pandemic, they do not have the resources to do the job. The total cost is $1000 and Ascension has already collected some of the money.

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Approximately every six years, the entire nesting area needs to be rebuilt in order for the organization to retain its status as a licensed sea turtle nesting program. Due to the economic crisis from the pandemic, the Salvadoran businesses that usually sponsor them are not able to help at this time. It will cost $1000 to rebuild it, and they have said if we are able to send the money, they will put Ascension’s logo on their signs and let us invite guests for the turtle release.

On our last visit to El Salvador, our delegates visited the turtle site and were impressed with the efforts to save the turtles and provide much needed jobs. We have already received some donations but we would like to complete the effort both as an employment opportunity but also to protect the delicate environmental status of the turtles.

October 2020 Mission Update

Lutheran Disaster Support
Lutheran Disaster Response brings God’s hope, healing and renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters in the United States and around the world. Currently, the focus is on providing help to those impacted by the fires in the western part of the US and the hurricanes in the gulf region. Donations can be made by a check to Ascension and putting Lutheran Disaster Response in the notes. 100% of donations goes to those in need.

Food Pantry
We will continue to collect donations for the Food Pantry of Waukesha each Sunday during outdoor worship. You may also drop off donations at church during the regular office hours by placing them in the bins in the donation center in West Hall. Thank you to all of you who have donated items and cash to keep up with the needs to feed our neighbors in the community.

Tutoring
Tutoring leadership is reaching out to tutors and students to link them up via Zoom or limited face to face rather than our group classes. Priority will be given to those working towards learning enough English to prepare for citizenship and school age students who need extra help with virtual learning. Hopefully, we will be able to gradually add more tutors and students as time goes on. Three students passed their citizenship tests this summer with the help of tutors who worked remotely with them!

Blessing Box
The Blessing Box has had heavy use in these challenging times. We continue to see neighbors stop by to benefit from your generous donations. We also are noticing that members of the community are dropping off donations to share! We will continue to have the bins out on Sunday morning services. You may also drop off donations at church during the regular office hours by placing them in the bins in the Donation Center in West Hall.

Community Partners
Ascension’s Mission Outreach Community Partners are agencies in the community that provide support to the people in our area who are most in need. While Ascension has been a part of the founding of many of these agencies (Hope Center, SOPHIA, Healing Hearts), we look to support a variety of agencies where we can provide support through volunteering, education, financial and donations of things they need. Since the pandemic began, our partners have been challenged in many ways. The need for food, housing, mental health and social justice has increased dramatically. Services have had to be offered in new ways which has challenged staff and volunteers. Major fund raisers have had to be cancelled, re-scheduled and re-designed often being virtual rather than in person. As individuals have had hours reduced at work or even lost their jobs, personal donations have decreased. Through our Mission Outreach Wing, we keep you informed of the needs of our partners and opportunities to serve or donate. We regularly post updates on our MO Facebook page. Please like or follow this page to stay informed of how you can be part of the solution to the challenges faced by our partners.

NAMI
NAMI Waukesha joins groups from around the country in a National Day of Hope on October 10th. Supporters from around the country will walk in person or virtually to support mental health and help NAMI achieve the goals to end the stigma toward mental health, increase awareness and provide advocacy for individuals and families impacted by mental health here in our own community. Things will look different than previous years due to the pandemic. Instead of large, in-person walk, we will “Walk YOUR WAY” and have a combination of virtual and responsible in-person connections. On the morning of October 10th attendees can pick up their t-shirt and suggested walk route via drive through, take photos and get signs to display while they walk. Donations will also be accepted at this time. Meet at Fox River Christian Church, S46W24130 Lawnsdale Rd. in person 9:00 to 12:00 and virtual all day. For more information or to register, go to: https://www.namiwaukesha.org/walks.

SOPHIA
Coming soon to a parking lot near you! Please join SOPHIA on October 3 at 10:00 at Church of the Resurrection in Pewaukee for the annual fundraiser and hear more about the past, present, and future of this organization, as well as a call-to-action for racial justice. This year, attendees will gather in their cars to listen live to speakers from SOPHIA or watch virtually from the comfort of their own home. Additionally, SOPHIA will host the silent auction completely online, starting September 28. More information can be found at www.sophiawaukesha.org and on the SOPHIA Facebook page.

Food Pantry
We will continue to collect donations for the Food Pantry of Waukesha each Sunday during outdoor worship. You may also drop off donations at church during the regular office hours by placing them in the bins in the donation center in West Hall. Thank you to all of you who have donated items and cash to keep up with the needs to feed our neighbors in the community.

Tutoring
Tutoring leadership is reaching out to tutors and students to link them up via Zoom or limited face to face rather than our group classes. Priority will be given to those working towards learning enough English to prepare for citizenship and school age students who need extra help with virtual learning. Hopefully, we will be able to gradually add more tutors and students as time goes on. Three students passed their citizenship tests this summer with the help of tutors who worked remotely with them!

Blessing Box
The Blessing Box has had heavy use in these challenging times. We continue to see neighbors stop by to benefit from your generous donations. We also are noticing that members of the community are dropping off donations to share! We will continue to have the bins out on Sunday morning services. You may also drop off donations at church during the regular office hours by placing them in the bins in the Donation Center in West Hall.

(Reprinted from the October 2020 Newsletter)

The Value of the Lenten Journey

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?” —Isaiah 58:6-7

The words of the prophet Isaiah are particularly fitting for our journey into the season of Lent. A couple of years ago I wrote a newsletter article on the season of Lent. I revisited those words in preparation for this coming Lent. Even the word “Lent” has become foreign to much of the world. And should you desire to deepen your relationship with God or sacrifice some aspect of your life in reverence and obedience to following God, you will no doubt be met with strange looks and questioning glances from those you might choose to share the faith journey you travel.

And yet, I am here to tell you that there is value in the journey of Lent. A season of 40 days of wilderness wanderings where, even in our presumed loneliness or suffering, God is present. As we are reminded of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, our own Lenten journeys can be opportunities for us to learn new directions; discern God’s will for our lives; and experience deeper moments in our worship and in our relationships with others. Regardless of the road you choose to travel in these days of Lent, God is with you. I believe, God has a deep desire to know you more deeply so that you can learn your value and worth through God’s eyes. And in learning your own value and worth, we can begin to understand that value and worth of those around us. Where each person is both a treasured creation of God and a beloved child of God.

It sounds good on paper; in reality we must find ways to let go of who we think we are in order to learn who we are in the eyes of God. The same is true for our brothers and sisters who sit next to us in worship; live across the street; gather at our borders and learn the story of God’s love for their own lives in the far corners of this world. What will this world look like when all God’s people walk together towards one Kingdom where all are welcome, and all are valued as beloved children of God. My friends, we have a long way to travel this season. My hope is that you will consider stepping into the wilderness of your life to find where God is leading you. Until everyone is given honor, freedom, and love…to the glory of God.

See you in the wilderness.

Pastor Chris
(Reprinted from the March 2020 newsletter)