Please check the following websites for regular updates on information related to the COVID 19 pandemic:

• ascensionnl.ca
• anglicanenl.net (You will find the most recent weekly letter from our Bishop under our Bishop’s Writings)
• anglicanenl.net/home/covid19/
• mountpearl.ca
• who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/

• On-Line Church Service: This Sunday at 11 a.m., the Parishes of St. Michael and All Angels, St. Mary the Virgin, the Good Shepherd, and the Ascension are hosting Family Service/WWB. Come and join us at thetransmission.ca. You do not need to be on Facebook to view the live service.
• Greetings from the Sidespersons’ Association: As we venture into the first weekend of summer, we are being given some extra freedom that we have not had for quite some time. It is important to remember that we have been relatively lucky thus far, but we need to stay vigilant with our social distancing , handwashing, etc. Hopefully, that will enable us to be able to gather, worship together, and enjoy our Christian fellowship. We would like to take this time to wish everyone a safe summer. Looking forward to seeing you all!
• Three Key Messages from Vestry: This is the first time in a while that we have had three key messages from Vestry. It is not that the Vestry has not been meeting, it is that the focus of staff and clergy time has been in providing the liturgy and pastoral care in new and changing ways since the middle of March when the entire world entered into pandemic isolation. During this time, the Wardens and Clergy have been meeting every two weeks via zoom, and the Vestry has been meeting monthly to address life in the parish. To this end, updates have been changing and fluctuating as the province has changed alert levels. Most recently, the Bishop and diocese have offered a comprehensive document outlining the way in which parishes will have to adjust to the new normal of life in ministry and mission with COVID-19. This was discussed with the wardens and treasurer, as well as with the entire Vestry. In addition, the parish has applied for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Grant through the diocese, and this has been approved. Since March we have received 75% of wage costs of the salaries of our staff. This has improved our financial position, and enabled us to breathe a little better during this hard time. However, you may remember, the reason we have a stable financial position at this time is because we withdrew a $53,000 GIC in anticipation of any shortfall. To this date, we have used $30,000 of this money. It is the Vestry’s hope that we recover this money and deposit it back in the GIC by year’s end if possible. Also, there has been an ongoing conversation with the four parishes of the Ascension, the Good Shepherd, St. Mary the Virgin and St. Michael and All Angels about our ongoing mission and ministry through our online sharing of liturgies.
• Three items for the Chimes:
  1. The motion for the Transfiguration Mission has been accepted and forwarded to the Bishop, with support from the four parishes. The motion reads:
     ‘Ministry for the Four Parishes – A Way Forward: Transfiguration Mission in the Archdeaconry of Avalon. A motion was proposed that the vestry of the Parish of the Ascension affirm their commitment to work with the parishes of the Good Shepherd, St. Mary the Virgin, and St. Michael and All Angels, and request the Bishop to redefine the missions to permit a single Mission of the Transfiguration comprising the parishes of the Ascension, Good Shepherd, St. Mary the Virgin and St. Michael and All Angels. The motion was discussed and was subsequently passed unanimously on a motion by Rosalind Williams and Randy Spurrell.’
  2. The Vestry continues to meet regularly: This is of great benefit as we provide listening ears to the concerns of the parish, as well as pastoral care, and essential decision making pieces for the parish as we continue to operate.
  3. Financial Update – even given the challenges of financial instability due to COVID-19 restrictions, we find ourselves in a little better financial situation than we were in 2019
     • 2020 Revenue (to the End of May) 129,729
       • Expenses (158,596)
       • Gain(Loss) (28,867)
     • 2019 Revenue (to the End of May) 141,347
       • Expenses (171,243)
       • Gain(Loss) (29,896)
• New Website and E-mail addresses for Church of the Ascension: The Ascension website was launched on Sunday, May 3. There are certain parts of the website that are under review/construction due to limited resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. We can now be found at www.ascensionnl.ca. Please visit us at this address for up-to-date information on church activities. Information regarding on-line services is available through the calendar on the new website. Here is a list of new e-mail addresses and helpful links you may find useful:
  • Reverend David Burrows - [email protected]
  • Reverend Lynn Courage - [email protected]
  • Ina Kearley - [email protected]
  • Office Administrator - [email protected]
  • Church Website - ascensionnl.ca
  • Link to view on-line services - thetransmission.ca
  • YouTube Channel - Parish of the Ascension NL
• Historic Pictures of the Church: As many of you know, recently the Church of the Ascension has launched a new website. During the last month or so, a small group has been getting to together on-line to discuss the history of the Parish. We have reached a point where we have assembled considerable text on a number of issues but we do not have very much in the way of photographs. We would like as many of you as possible to dig deeply into your personal photo collections and search out pictures that you feel could add to the history of the Parish. You can forward electronic ones by email. Actual prints can be dropped off for scanning and we will return them to you unharmed. Please submit them to the Church Office over the next couple of weeks. Hopefully, you may see some of them on our website down the road.
• Thursdays in Black: Many factors of isolation, inability to work, and challenges of mental health are apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this time, we lament acts of violence against women in the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick recently, and the violence that has occurred even in the city of Mount Pearl. The Anglican Church of Canada supports the initiative of the World Council of Churches Thursdays in Black, which advocates for the ending of rape and gender based violence. To this end, on Thursdays, the Parish of the Ascension hosts a zoom hour with the Rector, and there will be an offering of prayer, the lighting of a candle, and the opportunity for education with resources from various persons who advocate against gender-based violence. Check each Thursday as we hear from guests from across the country, around the world, and close to home. At this time, and at all times, gender-based violence and rape is unacceptable. As followers of Jesus, we believe in respecting the dignity of every human being, and advocating for justice, peace, and reconciliation. This will be streamed live to the Parish of the Ascension Facebook page oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/news/FaithGenderCovid19Statement_April2020.pdf. This Thursday will be the final Thursday in Black until August 13. This week Rev.’d David will be hosting Melanie Delva, Reconciliation Animator for the Anglican Church of Canada.
• Memorial Service 2020: Our Memorial Services scheduled for July at Kenmount Road and Forest Road cemeteries have been canceled. Under present provincial COVID-19 policies, mass gatherings are not permitted. Instead, an online Memorial Service will take place on Sunday, July 12, at 7:00 p.m. at the Anglican Cathedral. The service will be conducted by Reverend Robert Cooke, Rector of St. Mark's; Reverend David Burrows, Rector of the Church of the Ascension; and Archdeacon Roger Whalen, Rector of the Cathedral. Our Bishop, the Rt. Reverend Dr. Geoffrey Peddle, will give the sermon and the blessing. The Anglican Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador Facebook Page will Live Stream the service. The link to this service is: facebook.com/AnglicanEastNL. We hope that this commemorative service will provide comfort for families and friends in honor of their loved ones that are interred in our cemeteries and for those who were unable to pay their respects
  at a funeral home or at the gravesite during the January 17- 25 local state of emergency and during the present COVID-19 Pandemic. Floral tributes may be placed in our cemeteries at your convenience.
• Outreach: This is a time for our faith community to come together to uplift each other. Please don’t forget to regularly check on your family, friends and neighbors. If you are in need of pastoral contact, or if you know of anyone who is struggling at this stressful time, please let one of the clergy know.
• Food First NL: Food First NL works with communities in Newfoundland & Labrador to ensure everyone has access to affordable, healthy, and culturally appropriate food. Please visit their website at foodfirstnl.ca/covid19 to find updates to NL Community Food Programs.
• Thank you for Music Recordings: During the live streaming services these last few months, the music that was provided by the Ascension was pre-recorded for most of the services. At this time I would like to acknowledge the group of musicians and technical people that assisted me with these recordings. All of the recordings were completed by Wayne Courage. We started this process in Mid-March when we first began the online services and we continued for the following months. His time and expertise in this area is greatly appreciated. Recently we have added vocals and other instruments to the recordings. I would like to thank Rev'd David Burrows, Dana Dawe, Keith Noel (our guitarist), Emma Neville, and several members of our senior choir for their singing voices. If you listened to the family service on June 21 the final number, ‘Keep on the Sunny Side’, was a collaboration of instruments and voices prepared by Keith Noel, joining him in this recording were Don Haynes, Sheila Foote, Vicki Larkin and myself. Even though we are not singing in the church at this time of COVID-19 we are still praising God by song and music. Thank you to all for assisting me during this time. (Ina Kearley)
• Clergy Contact During the COVID 19 Pandemic: During the outbreak of COVID-19, the clergy will be reaching out to all parishioners. They will do their best to contact everyone, however our parish list may need to be updated. If you have not received a call or an e-mail since the closure ofthe church building, please e-mail your updated contact information to [email protected]. In the event that you do not have e-mail available, please call the parish office and leave a message.

This week brings with it an accumulation of hope and wonder, despair and chaos. We have entered into the fullness of summer, and with it, further changes to the ways we live and interact in life, in family, in work and in community. Many of us in this part of the world (East Coast Canada) are both hopeful and apprehensive of the ‘Atlantic Bubble’ and of entering Alert Level Two (NL). There are many challenges, many emotions and feelings, and much work and thought progressing.

In the midst of all this, there is great beauty within the world at this time. It seems as if so many parts of creation are reveling in the isolation of humanity. Fish and fowl, beast and bug, plant and tree are responding, and enabling us to see the breadth of creation and love of Creator.
In this there is both joy and sadness. I give thanks for the life and love that I witness; I lament and grieve for the pain and hardness of this time.

Into all this, the psalmist offers Psalm 13:

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O LORD my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
And my enemy will say, “I have prevailed;” my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.

But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

This psalm of lament strikes deeply in my heart today, for in the midst of this pandemic isolation I have been struggling to hold on to light and hope, and I have been considering the pain and the plethora of fear and anxiety, isolation and loss, which surrounds so many of us.

This lament is not without hope – for in it we hear the reminder of the steadfast love of the Holy One. This is what I need to be reminded of, as today I grieve the death of a longtime parishioner and faithful chorister who will sing no longer with us at the community of the Parish of the Ascension.

Over the years her faithfulness and joy in the presence of God have permeated so much of the life and witness of the Ascension in worship and in fellowship. I lament I cannot hold her hand, offer her a smile, or even sing with her.

The hope that we cling to is the presence and steadfast love of the Holy One, the Creator who offers us life in this beauteous creation, and offers us redemption and breath as we move and live in the hear and now.

The answer I believe to this lament that is offered in the psalms is the reality that we are not alone, and our life does not die with death; our life does not end in pandemic isolation. ‘weeping may come, but Joy comes with the dawn; though we cannot sing and touch and hold and express as we would wish, our hearts sing, our lives love, and our expression of thanks in life, in adversity, indeed even in death reflects the deep love and constant care that the Creator holds for us in creation.

I will sing tonight; I will sing youtube.com/watch?v=OCzRJ2HL1O0 in my own way, as I reflect upon the life and witness of a friend this day. I sing also for the death of our former way of life, the struggles of humanity and creation in the messiness of this time, and of the constant sustaining love of the Holy One for all humanity, all creation.

Peace,

• Donations to Ministry: If you are interested in continuing to donate to the parish ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are a variety of ways for you to do so.
  • Church Envelopes: You may still use your envelopes during this time. You may drop them in the mailbox at the main entrance of the church or you can put your givings in the mail.
  • Pre-authorized Givings: You can have your givings automatically deducted on a schedule that works for you. If you are interested in setting up pre-authorized givings, please contact the church office at 368-5693.
  • Canada Helps: You can sign up to make donations to Canada Helps through our parish website.
  • Food Bank Donations: The need for food donations is still great. If you are able to donate to the food bank, we ask that you drop your donation directly to St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank at either St. Peter’s Parish Hall on Ashford Drive or Mary Queen of the World on Topsail Road. All donations are gratefully appreciated.

Lord God of heaven and earth, with joy and thanksgiving, we praise you for you create, sustain, and redeem all things.

For making us in your image to love one another and to care for your creation, we give you thanks. For the gift of your Son whose life is the pattern for our lives and learning, we give you thanks. For the energy of your Spirit to inspire us in times of challenge and change,
We give you thanks.

Strengthen us in these difficult days to show your love to others as we pray for the church and those who lead it as we adapt to new ways of worshiping and being together. We pray for Geoffrey our Bishop, The Transfiguration Mission, for all clergy and chaplains and for all who minister,
We give you thanks.

For those who lead in the nations of the world that they may work for the well-being of the most vulnerable,
We give you thanks.

For those who serve, teachers, healers and caregivers in these stressful days when their work is so demanding, we pray for all who graduated, for all children, youth, professors and our education leaders,
We give you thanks.

For the poor, the homeless, the hungry and all whose livelihoods have been disrupted during the pandemic, for those who reached out with donations to food banks,
We give you thanks.

For those who are ill or struggling in isolation, especially those on the Ascension Prayer Cycle and for those who mourn the loss of someone dear. May they find peace in your word and comfort from those around them, may we remember Phyllis Forward and Esther Taylor.
We give you thanks.

For the powerless and the oppressed in all places and for those who work to defend them,
We give you thanks.

Hear us now as we pray in silence for situations on our hearts this day,
We give you thanks.

God eternal, keep us in communion with your people across all times and in all places. May we serve you faithfully, blessing others as we have been blessed by your love through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Ascension Prayer Cycle: Andrea, Aubrey, Audrey, Barbara, Baxter, Bill, Brenda, Brian, Brittany, Breandon, Carl, Charlie, Christina, Cindy, Clarence, Claude, David, Debra, Delilah, Dennis, Don, Donna, Dot, Dulcie, Edgar, Edith, Elaine, Elizabeth, Erin, Esther, Finnley, Frederick, Flo, George, Georgina, Gerry, Gilbert, Gordon, Harry, Herb, Ike, Ina, Jack, Jason, Jenny, John, Josephine, Junior, Kevin, Kim, Laura, Leo, Leonie, Lori, Madeline, Marina, Marion, Maurice, Maxine, Maxwell, Melissa, Melvin, Nancy, Pam, Phyllis, Randell, Rodney, Roland, Ruby, Ruth, Rita, Scott, Sean, Stan, Stephen, Tina, Todd, Valerie, Verna, Wayne and Woodrow.

Collect

Almighty God, you have taught us through your Son
that love fulfils the law.
May we love you with all our heart,
all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength,
and may we love our neighbour as ourselves;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. AMEN

A Reading from the Book of Genesis

After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you." Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together. When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place "The Lord will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided." Genesis 22:1-14

Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God

Psalm

REFRAIN I will sing to the Lord, for he has dealt with me richly.

How long, O Lord? will you forget me for ever? how long will you hide your face from me?

How long shall I have perplexity in my mind, and grief in my heart, day after day? how long shall my enemy triumph over me? R

Look upon me and answer me, O Lord my God; give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death; Lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him," and my foes rejoice that I have fallen. R

But I put my trust in your mercy; my heart is joyful because of your saving help. I will sing to the Lord, for he has dealt with me richly; I will praise the name of the Lord Most High. R

Psalm 13

A Reading from Paul to the Romans

Do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:12-23

Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God

Reader: The Lord be with you
People: And also with you

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew

People: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple - truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."

Matthew 10:40-42

Reader: The Gospel of Christ
People: Praise to you Lord, Jesus Christ.

Prayer over the Gifts

God of wisdom, receive all we offer you this day.
Enrich our lives with the gifts of your Spirit,
that we may follow the way of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and serve one another in freedom.
We ask this in his name. AMEN

Prayer after Communion

God of power, we are nourished by the
riches of your grace.
Raise us to new life in your Son Jesus Christ
and fit us for his eternal kingdom,
that all the world may call him Lord.
We ask this in his name. AMEN

Jesus Where’er Thy People Meet

Jesus, where'er thy people meet,
there they behold thy mercy seat;
where'er they seek thee, thou art found,
and every place is hallowed ground.

For thou, within no walls confined,
inhabitest the humble mind;
such ever bring thee where they come,
and going, take thee to their home.

Here may we prove the power of prayer
To strengthen faith and sweeten care,
To teach our faint desires to rise,
And bring all heaven before our eyes.

The God of Abraham Praise

The God of Abraham praise,
who reigns enthroned above;
Ancient of Everlasting Days,
and God of Love;
Jehovah, great I AM!
by earth and heaven confessed;
I bow and bless the sacred name
forever blest.

The great I AM has sworn;
I on this oath depend.
I shall, on eagle wings upborne, to heaven ascend.
I shall behold God's face;
I shall God's power adore,
and sing the wonders of God's grace for evermore.

Triumphant hosts on high
Give thanks eternally
And “Holy, holy, holy” cry,“great Trinity!”
Hail Abraham’s God and ours!
One mighty hymn we raise:
All power and majesty be yours and endless praise!

Take My Life, and Let It Be

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in caseless praise.

Take my will, and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love: my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.

Take Up Your Cross, the Saviour Said

Take up your cross, the Savior said,
if you would my disciple be;
deny yourself, the world forsake,
and humbly follow after me.

Take up your cross; let not its weight
fill your weak soul with vain alarm;
his strength shall bear your spirit up,
and brace your heart, and nerve your arm.

Take up your cross, nor heed the shame,
and let your foolish pride be still;
your Lord for you endured to die
upon a cross, on Calvary's hill.

Take up your cross, then, in his strength,
and calmly every danger brave:
‘twill guide you to a better home
and lead to victory o'er the grave.

Take up your cross and follow Christ,
Nor think till death to lay it down;
For only those who bear the cross
May hope to wear the glorious crown.