A Glimpse into the Future

Two very important moments in the life of your church occur in these November days. First, Sunday, Nov. 1 is All Saints Day. This is the day we spend time in worship remembering those who have gone before us. You will have the opportunity to light a candle in memory of loved ones. This day is a gift of God reminding us of the cloud of witnesses that surrounds us. Please consider inviting family members to join you in giving thanks to God for loved ones who now rest in the Kingdom of God.

Second, we are incredibly blessed by the committed leadership at Ascension. Church council, staff, wing leaders, and ministry leaders have spent more than 170 hours over the past eight months preparing ARISE 2025, Ascension’s vision for the next 10 years. It is ready for your review and reflection.

We are excited to find ourselves at this moment looking into our future. The next ten years at Ascension will prove to be years that shape the future of, not only our church community but, the world in which we live. How we live out our faith shapes the world around us. I am hopeful that you have had an opportunity to review the vision statements and actions plans for each wing of ministry at Ascension. However, if you have not had the opportunity or are interested in reading them with time to pray over them, I want to make sure that opportunity is available to you as well. As we look towards 2025, these are the visions statements that give us direction, bring us hope, and offer us a path to the future.

JOYFUL WORSHIP ENVISIONED STATE

The sanctuary is bursting at its seams, and every room is filled during the week with a variety of worship opportunities. [There is a] continued variety of music with more members of the congregation sharing their talents. [Ascension provides] regular communication through a multitude of channels in order to engage all generations and styles. [There are] more volunteers than opportunities to serve during worship and through outreach. The makeup of our congregation begins to better reflect the neighborhood and surrounding community.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH ENVISIONED STATE

Our Spiritual Growth mission statement reads: A church family engaging generations through faith experiences. Children’s ministries are experiential, relevant, and multi- generational. JOLT (Journey Of a Life Time) and CRASH (Christians Reaching And Sharing Hope) ministries extend far beyond the walls of our church due to rampant outreach and enjoy extensive investment by the congregation. Faith formation empowers our entire community, regardless of where people may be in their faith journey, to claim their identity as disciples of Jesus. Our stewardship ministries teach the power of God’s presence and work among us and invite all to dream about the next step in our journey as Ascension.

CARING RELATIONSHIPS ENVISIONED STATE

Caring Relationships has a strong foundation of care ministries that require minimal budgets. They are growing rapidly and are open to people of all ages. Passion fuels new ministries, but replenishment of resources for existing offerings stretch the core group of volunteers as they represent only a small subset of our worshippers. As the offerings expand, it is always a struggle to communicate what is available to the congregation and the community. Ascension offers a unique small group experience with a church-wide program every fall; however, while some groups have been together for years, many people feel left out or don’t know how to build groups for themselves. There are also numerous social groups for members to get involved with. Fellowship activities occur throughout the year for special occasions, but the kitchen facilities are limited and hamper our ability to make this a regular occurrence.

MISSION OUTREACH ENVISIONED STATE

Ascension has a vibrant Mission Outreach Wing, with all congregation members finding a way to serve. Mission Outreach is woven into each of the wings so that it is an integral part of the culture of the congregation. Members realize that all Christians have a calling to participate in mission and justice issues. We live out our baptismal promise of following Jesus by serving others, especially those who are vulnerable and most in need. Through our actions and ministries, the good news of Jesus is shared in word and deed. Ascension is a welcoming community to people of all races and backgrounds and actively reaches out into the community through volunteering and hospitality. We have a vibrant Hispanic ministry, and the neighborhood sees Ascension as a place to participate in worship, fellowship, and education events. Our mission partnerships are active, many people engage in trips to visit our partners, and we welcome visits from them. Members seek to include partnership activities in our normal congregational experiences.

Our annual meeting of the congregation is Sunday, Nov. 8, at 12 p.m. We will share in a potluck lunch. Please bring a dish to share. We hope you will join us. At our annual meeting, as required by our church constitution, we will approve a slate of candidates to serve on the church council for the 2016-2017 term; we will bless the ARISE 2025 vision for Ascension; we will hear a report on the finances of the congregation through the end of October 2015; and we will approve a budget for 2016. It is my hope you will make time for this important conversation in the life of your church and in the growing of your relationship with our God and this community of faith.

Peace and joy be yours in these days of crisp winds and falling leaves.

Pastor Chris

(This article was taken from the November 2015 newsletter).

A Future Unfolding

By: Rev. Christian W. Marien

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt – a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ~ Jeremiah 31:31-33

Counting down the days to summer used to be a joy in the season of spring. In grade school, summer vacation meant long leisurely mornings and playing outside. In high school, summer days meant getting to my summer job by 8:30 a.m. and working until 5 p.m. if I wanted to fill my wallet and savings account. Now, as a parent, counting down the days to summer means navigating childcare, day camps, and new routines for drop-offs and pick-ups. Needless to say, I do not count down the days to summer vacation with the same enthusiasm as I did as a child.

The days are surely coming says the Lord, prophesies Jeremiah, reminding us God is not finished with God’s people. It is a word spoken of a future yet to unfold. I am grateful for church council under the direction of Council President Nada Draeger as Vision ARISE 2025 begins to bring focus to the future direction of Ascension. Church council, staff, wing and leg leaders, and other ministry leaders gathered in May for the first substantial piece of our new vision of the future for the glory of God. The excitement was palpable. We are indebted to Craig Greenwood who lead the retreat and laid the groundwork for the months ahead. 2025 might be ten years away but soon enough we will welcome 2024 and look to the next ten years of ministry of Ascension. Daunting? Not at all! Exciting? Absolutely! The Church of God seeks new expression even as we love and live what we now know.

The days are surely coming says the Lord. Let them come, Lord God. A new covenant – yes! A renewing of your promise to be among your people – yes! As the Holy Spirit moves among us, may we seek out those places and people where we realize the Lord’s presence.

In the next few months, I will extend invitations to you to share in listening sessions to help shape ARISE 2025, Ascension’s vision for the next ten years. The church council, wing leaders, and members serving in ministries of each of Ascension’s butterfly wings are beginning the next step of the visioning process. So the excitement grows!

Where will the Holy Spirit lead? How will we be moved by the tending of our God? Interested in joining in the conversation? Let me know. Give Nada a call. Talk to any council member. We would all love to have you join us in this second leg of the journey towards the future.

Counting down the days to summer used to remind me that the school year was over. Now as an adult, the summer days find different shape and purpose. I am glad to share in this journey of faith with each of you. Join in worship inside and outside this summer. Find your summer days marked a by a moment of prayer – giving thanks to God for a day of rest or a time of renewal with family and friends. Finally, ask God to help you recognize the presence of God in those around you and in yourself. And instead of counting down the days to the end of summer, imagine counting down the days towards a fresh fall and a future filled with hope for our church and our world to the glory of God.

Peace be with you!

(This article was taken from Ascension’s June 2015 newsletter).