Ascension’s Mission Statement
“DISCIPLES OF CHRIST CALLED TO SERVE NEIGHBORS NEAR AND FAR”

Greetings and a warm welcome to all.

Today is the fourth Sunday of Lent, which is also known as Refreshment Sunday.  Refreshment Sunday is the day in Lent when we are allowed to relax our Lenten disciplines and briefly feast and celebrate. Since the time changed today and we set our clocks forward causing us to lose an hour, we may want to dash  to the parish Hall for a cup of coffee to revive ourselves in order to enjoy the day a bit more. Refreshment Sunday is an old tradition, and it offers us the opportunity to take stock of what we have done during Lent and to evaluate our Lenten disciplines in order to ensure that we are mindful of the role Lent plays in our lives as we approach the solemn days of Holy Week. During Holy Week we will begin our faithful journey into Jerusalem with Jesus on Palm Sunday, engage in the liturgy, prayers, and worship of the Christian Seder Meal on Maundy Thursday and follow it with the Stripping of the Altar. The next day we will gather for the Good Friday liturgy and walk the final path with Jesus during the Stations of the Cross. On Saturday we will gather at 7 PM for the Great Vigil of Easter. This liturgy begins literally with the building of a fire, takes us into the darkness of the tomb, and leads us into the glory and the light of the Resurrection. We cannot fully experience the hope, promise, and magnificence of the Resurrection until we have walked step by step through the liturgical mysteries and miracles of Holy Week. Jesus asked his disciples to stay awake with him in the garden; may we be his companions and keep watch with him during Holy Week.
Within the next week you will receive more information about the Christian Seder Meal which will be held in our Parish Hall April 1. Please note that the entire meal will be provided for you and consists of very specific food items which are appropriate for a Seder. The main entre will be the lamb. This is not a pot-luck, or covered dish meal. When you arrive you will be given a booklet with all the prayers, scripture readings, liturgy, hymns, and directions included. I believe that you will find the experience of the Christian Seder meal intriguing, engaging, and extremely informative about our pre-Christian roots, and our connection with Jesus and his disciples. From beginning to end, the meal and its liturgy are powerful and authentic in spirit and grace.
The Seder meal is a gift to you from the Church of the Ascension Christian Formation Committee. They already have and will continue to devote a tremendous amount of effort and love to the preparation of this Maundy Thursday offering. We ask you please to sign up, bring neighbors, friends, family, and plan to attend on Thursday, April 1 beginning at 6 PM. Let us thank the committee in advance for its hospitality extended to all of us.
Many thanks to everyone who contributed his or her time and talents to making the March 10  Ecumenical Service such a special time for us here at Ascension. The Cowboy soup was delicious, the Rev’ d Richard Caldwell enlightened us with his message, and the Parish Hall was filled with the sounds of fellowship.

Ecce quam bonum,
Deedie+