Read The Anglican online. Check out page 12 of the September issue for a story about the Ascension's Un-extreme Home Makeover story!

This week at the Church of the Ascension

Bishop Linda Nicholls & The Rev'd Dr. Brent Stiller
(Sunday, February 28, 2010)

Mon. March 8: Small Group meets at the Ascension

Tues. March 9: Morning communion at 8:30.

Kid's Klub from 4:00 to 5:00. Email George with any questions

Jr. YATA 6:30 - 8:00: Uganda mission. It's one year later... how can we get involved serving others?

 

Wed. March 10: It's Pizza Night at Senior YATA! 7:00 - 9:00 p.m  "Why am I feeling this way and what can I do about it?" is the discussion topic. Join us and bring a friend!

 

Small Groups meet

 

Thurs. March 11: Choir Practice (7-9) and Praise Band (8:30-10) practices.

 

Sat. March 13: The Dreaded Turn Your Clocks Ahead one hour event. Lose an hour of sleep...but gain an hour of sunlight.

 

Sunday, March 14:  Morning Song: 9:00 a.m., including Divine@nine.

10:30 Morning Prayer. Children of all ages warmly welcome to Sunday School

Mark your Calendar

During March Break

There will be a special Sunday School for kids this Sunday and next week, the 21 of March. Feel welcome to bring friends for lots of Ascension hall fun! So kids and families can enjoy time together during the week, there will be no Kid's Klub, Jr. or Sr. Yata during the March Break, Mon. March 15 to Fri. March 19. Please confirm with your small group leaders if other groups will meet. Have a great week!

 

Fearless Fridays!
Next fun night is April 16th. See you then! More details to follow....

 

Ignite Honduras

Kara and Nelson Meija, missionaries supported by the Ascension, will be with us on Mon. April 12 for an Ignite night of information, inspiration and reuniting. Please come out and join us. Bring a friend or neighbour to hear about the ministry in Honduras.

 

Confirmation Classes Coming Up

Bishop Linda will be at the Ascension on May 16 for a confirmation service. A six week confirmation preparation course will begin Tuesday, March 23 and meet each Tuesday until May 11. The class will begin at 5:00 and end by 6:30 (in time for Junior YATA) and will include a light meal. Interested in joining? Please let us know.. If you or your child to be baptized, those classes can also be arranged.

 

First Communion Classes available

First communion classes for children are available on Sunday, April 25, May 2, May 9, after the 10:30 service.  Email Simon if you are interested in your child participating in this fun, interactive time to prepare for an important Christian practice.

 

Write poetry at the Ascension

Join us at the Ascension for an interactive, practical poetry workshop with award-winning Canadian poet, D.S. Martin, hosted by the Church of the Ascension as part of The David Festival. Sat. March 27, 10 - 12:00. $25 per participant. Register ahead of time.

 

April I.N. Trip

Some members of the Ascension will visit Uganda with I.N. Network in April, taking individual advantage of the insight trips that I.N. Canada offers. Brent will be part of a team of clergy offering training and teaching to Ugandan pastors and church planters. Please pray for this team as they prepare for learning and service in Africa. Questions?

 

Watch for it in May

The most fun...the most unusual...the most personally challenging and corporately amusing Outreach and Mission fundraiser. Ever. Just to get you thinking...brainstorm about something you always wanted to try...but never dared.

Link and Learn

What makes a church missional? Read this brief article by the Church of England on the five marks of the missional church.

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Up for a trip to Uganda?
I.N. Network, a relief and development agency that the Church of the Ascension supports, is organizing a mission and awareness trip to Uganda on March 10-29, 2010. The trip is being led by a team from a church in Huntsville. I.N. has an application process that interested participants must complete and travellers are responsible for their own costs. If you are interested in more information, please speak to Cathy Cooper or Karen Stiller from the Mission and Outreach team. coopers@powergate.ca  or karen.stiller@sympatico.ca
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ADVISORY BOARD
(effective July 1, 2009)

ADMINISTRATION

Rector’s Warden (Administration Board Chair) -Ed Hobbs
Treasurer  - Connie Newmarch
Property Chair - Bob Britton
Envelope Secretary -  Alan Sweet
Members-at-Large  - Louise Brown + Brian Barber

PROGRAM
People’s Warden (Program Board Chair) (Sept. Vestry)
Worship Coordinator  Susan Brown
Community Development  Mary Anne Pring
Outreach & Mission Coordinator Cathy Cooper
Adult Education Coordinator Stephen Wilcox
Sunday School Superintendent  (Sept. Vestry)
Members-at-Large  Bev Brown + (Sept. Vestry)

Other Elected Officers (Non-Board)

Synod Delegates - Jackie Wees Jim Brown
Alternate Synod Delegate -   Bev Brown
Auditors - Sue Talmey + Bill Ormesher
Nominating Committee
Jim Wakeford  Joanne Weller  Brent Stiller
Meri Jobe Ed Hobbs  Carol Brown
People’s Warden (Sept. Vestry)

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Notes on Cheerful Giving!

As of the end of April our revenue shortfall was $18,572.00
Total revenues were $183,767.00 while total expenses were $202,339.00
In order to meet our budget, total offerings of $75,328.00 are required during May and June.

Some of you have asked for further clarification on the Cheerful Giving Campaign pledge procedure and time frames.  The chart below explains the phases and due dates for each pledge. 

Please read it over and if you have any further questions feel free to contact either Ed Hobbs (edhobbs@tdbc.com) or Anne Woolger-Bell (anne@matthewhouse.ca)

	Phase #1 – "Catch Up"	Phase #2 – "Build Up"	Phase #3 – "Keep Up"
Time Period	May 24 - June 31	July 1– September 20	September 27 + on
Pledge Card Due Date	May 31	May 31	September 27
Financial Goal	Meet current annual budget (see update attached)	$25,000 (Emergency/Special needs fund)	No more $ worries!!

In terms of the amounts of funds needed, for the first phase we need to have enough in pledges to catch up to annual budget goal of $259,000. by June 31 st 2009 (that’s soon folks! J ). 

For the second phase, we want to build up $25,000. over the summer in a Special needs fund to have in readiness for both emergency needs and surprise ministry opportunities. Currently this fund has less than $1000!  Note that both phase one and two are asking for pledges “over and above”

For the final phase, moving forward from the first Sunday after our Annual Vestry Meeting (September 20 th 2009), we desire to receive enough in regular weekly/monthly pledges to fully and confidently keep up with our annual budget target and no longer worry our book keeper or “pester” members about shortfalls as the year progresses.  We believe that we have a wonderful, growing church body here at Ascension that is very capable of sacrificially giving such that we will meet our new budget and carry out all the exciting ministries without worry of financial shortfalls.   Thank you all for cheerfully and sacrificially giving!!

* It has been noted that a few of you may have received packages that were either missing the two pledge cards or the small pledge envelope. If you are missing either, please check the box in the Narthex for extra pledge packages.  Also, if you wish to have more copies of the Time and Talent survey (so that individual family members can complete them separately, there are also more of these available in the box in the Narthex. (These surveys are to be submitted May 31/09)

Many thanks, The Cheerful Giving Team.

For those involved in any kind of ministry,
please pick up the new schedule in the Narthex.
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What’s Behind the Big Screen?

Brent Wees describes the important yet simple tasks that keep our worship services running smoothly. We invite (and even challenge) Ascension members to speak to Brent and volunteer to help with some of these responsibilities – many hands make light work. As a parish, we are committed to moving towards a ‘greener’ way of worshipping – returning to full paper bulletins for all services would be a step backwards and would also limit amazing multimedia opportunities.

PP- PowerPoint Preparations - Each week, PowerPoint slides are prepared/updated for the 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. services. These duties are broken out amongst 2 individuals currently and we could use more. If you are versed at PowerPoint and like working in the application, please don't hesitate to throw your name in. *Note if you are familiar with Microsoft Office you can learn PowerPoint very quickly.

ST- Sound Team - members work with the bands or musicians during services or performances - they level sound quality/balance in the room from the back soundboard. This is probably the most technical aspect of our ministry but is very easy to learn and training is provided.

Commitment - 1 or 2 Morning Song (9:00 a.m.) services a month.

SS– Slide Show is our name for the person who "runs" the PowerPoint presentations during the services. Requirements - a working finger with the ability to press a button and, a moment to learn the simple task of setting up the computer. Must also be able to stay awake for the entire 9:00 or 10:30 service.  Commitment - 2 services a month.                       

SU- Sound Equipment Setup - a Saturday morning ministry where two individuals meet at Ascension for set up of Sunday's Morning Song Service equipment (microphones, stands, cords.) The setup is very easy to learn – volunteers work in pairs, newer team members teamed with an experienced member.

Commitment is 2 hours a month.

How might you help Ascension’s AV Ministry to flourish?
Please see Brent Wees with any questions and your offers to help!

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You're invited to volunteer at St.Vincent's Kitchen in Oshawa. For a few years, Church of the Ascension has provided a small team of volunteers to serve at St. Vincent's Kitchen, "a restaurant providing a community atmosphere, and a low cost meal in a dignified way to the needy and hungry of the Durham Region." Although our formal volunteer committment has ended, Ascension volunteers are still welcome to lend a hand. Please contact  Ruth at 905-434-7543 to find out more and visit www.stvincentskitchen.com to learn more about this important mission.

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Coffee hour needs your help! We are in need of people to help out with the coffee hour service.  Please contact the Church office if that person is you.

Volunteers are Needed!!! There are many people working behind the scenes in our Church to help verything come together.  You can help too.  We need  you!!! Please call the Church office for more information.  905-985-7278

Ascension Email Address Database: We will be setting up a data-base of Ascension Email Addresses, for those persons interested in receiving Ascension News Items and etc., via this limitless mode of ommunication. Please see the bulletin board at the Church to sign up or email Jackie Wees @ ascension@powergate.ca Thanks! 
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Just Walk Across The Room ... is the title of a recent book by Bill Hybels. The title says it all. Every coffee hour after our main service at Ascension we have the chance to “walk across the room” and meet someone we don’t know very well - could be a visitor or a member of longstanding - , and engaging in onversation. (Suggested conversation starters include “How long have you been coming to Ascension?”, “What keeps you coming back?” or “Were you involved in another congregation before coming here?”) This is one way Christian community starts…just a few steps across a room!
(Bruce McCallum, pastoral associate)

Do you know of someone who could use a hand? Please speak to Karen Stiller. An important part of the process is determining if our team can handle the job (we are trying to make people's lives better, not worse!) So, please don't make any promises on behalf of the team, but please do bring names and requests forward. Thanks!

SERVERS NEEDED Please speak with Brent if you are interested in being a 'server' at the 10:00 am unday morning service. The servers (or acolytes) bear torches in the procession, and help set the Holy Table for communion. All ages welcome.

GIFTS THAT CAN CHANGE THE WORLD  Outreach and Mission is pleased to provide an ongoing way for our Church family to give unique gifts on birthdays, anniversaries or other special events. You can contribute to our "Build a Classroom in Uganda " campaign, in honour of any special event or milestone, and we will create customized certificates for you to give to your special someone. Email karen Stiller at karen.stiller@sympatico.ca or speak to any member of the Outreach and Mission team for more information or to request your certificate.

PRAYER TEAM MINISTRY A Prayer Team will be available during Communion at the 10:30 am service. This isn’t intended to replace pastoral or professional counselling, or the confessional office,  but is simply a time set apart for prayers relating to any concerns you might have. According to Diocesan practice this ministry falls under the direction of Brent, as rector, so all matters shared in prayer are held in utmost confidentiality between Brent & Team members who pray with you. If you desire prayer: After you have received communion, please wait near the door leading into the hall. The Prayer Team (a man and woman) will meet you there and bring you to the sacristy for prayer.  A question will be posed:  “What would you like to ask of the Lord today?”  

OLD BIKES IMPACT AFRICA Lots of people have worn-out bikes gathering dust in their basements. A ministry in Uxbridge called Africycle (www.africycle.org) will take them off your hands, fix them & ship them to Malawi where they are given to widows, pastors & AIDS educators, or sold for a very low price to others. Bikes can be dropped off at Webb House, 19 Bell St. (905) 852-5910 or Claremont Country Depot, 1732 Hoxton St. (905) 649-2112. Pick up from your home is available. 

HALL & CHURCH USAGE/RENTAL All bookings for the Parish Hall and Sunday School rooms should be made through the office only.     Please call Jackie (905) 985-7278 to reserve and to confirm exactly what room(s) will be used and for how long.      

PARISH HALL DOORS When visiting the parish hall or church, please  be sure that the doors are LOCKED before you leave.  A number of times recently, the hall doors have been found unlocked.  Thanks for your cooperation in this matter.