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

• ascensionnl.ca/covid19/
• 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/

• Public Worship at the Ascension: Church of the Ascension has commenced public worship. Service will be at 11 a.m. each Sunday. You will need to complete a Covid-19 Screening Questionnaire as part of the registration. You can also forward the completed form via email (office email: [email protected]) or you may come in to the office to fill one out Monday to Wednesday each week, between 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Preregistration will be required in order to attend services
  • The questionnaires must be returned to the office no later than Wednesday each week.
  • Masks are required upon entering the building.
  • Everyone must enter and exit through the main doors of the church to attend services.
  • Please have your own hand sanitizer in the event you feel the need to sanitize your hands after you have been seated.
  • If you would like to use a cushion in your seat, please bring along your own as we are not able to supply one at this time.
  • Due to Covid 19 guidelines, doors and windows may be open during service so you are reminded to wear warm clothes.

As we progress further into autumn we will be enabling worship to be live-streamed from the parish. Please check the website weekly for updates. If you have any questions, please contact Peggy at [email protected] or 368 – 5693.

• Guidelines For Singing In Church:
  • Singing is not permitted during the full service with an exception for the final hymn;
  • Congregation members may hum during the hymns;
  • Hymns may be sung by one single singer or a small group of singers physically distanced from the congregation;
  • Singers must wear well-fitting masks while singing indoors and face forward;
  • Physical distancing is maintained;
  • Papers are to be removed by each individual participant;
  • If you feel faint or overcome, please refrain from singing.

• Morning Prayer:  We will be praying Morning Prayer from the Chapel at 9:00 a.m. daily, incorporating daily prayer for members of our parish.
• Wednesday Prayers:  If you would like to join us each Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. for prayers, you may do so through our YouTube channel at youtu.be/nTy6uX0x2iI or call the office for a Zoom link.
• Thursdays in Black:  The act of midday prayer with Reverend Burrows and a guest continues. Please join us on Facebook live at facebook.com/ParishoftheAscension/live.
• All Souls’ Service, November 2, 2020: Anyone wishing to remember a loved one at the All Souls’ Service on November 2, please e-mail the names to the office at [email protected] or call the office and leave a message. The names will be read out at the service. Pre-registration is required to attend this service. Deadline for registration is Wednesday, October 28.
• Church Statements:  Third quarter statements and the Rector’s Thanksgiving letter have been put in the mail. The statements include any donations made up to September 30, 2020. Please note, they are not your official tax receipts as these will be issued early in the New Year.
• Home Communions in the Parish: With the change that has occurred amid Covid-19 pandemic isolation, there are many who do not feel safe enough to return to church for public worship. In this regard, Reverend Burrows and Reverend Courage will be expanding their home communicant list should any wish to receive the sacrament at their home. This will be according to Provincial and Diocesan guidelines, so as to assure parishioners of safety and care. If you would like to have home communion in your home, please contact the office and speak with Peggy to make arrangements.
• Ride for Refuge Update: We have raised $5,025 to-date. If you would like to make a contribution, donations will be gratefully accepted up to October 31. Please make cheques payable to Parish of the Ascension PWRDF – Ride for Refuge.
• Help Needed:  Are you technically savvy? If so, we would love your help in assisting with the operation of the audio visual equipment used during Sunday service. If you are able to help, please contact the office at 368-5693.
• Christmas Puddings: The Church of the Good Shepherd will be selling Christmas puddings once again this year. If you are interest in purchasing one, please call 747-1022 to order. Thank you.
• Daily Devotionals Books/Prayer Books: The following publications are available for pick up at the side entrance of the church: Our Daily Bread, Forward Day by Day, and the weekly edition of the Chimes (Chimes available each Friday afternoon). Should you wish to stop by to pick these up, please use the buzzer at the side entrance. Publications will be left on the bench for your convenience.  Also, the following books are available to be signed out: Book of Alternative Services (BAS), Book of Common Prayer, and Common Praise. If you are interested in signing any of these out, please contact the office by email at [email protected] or call 368-5693 from Monday to Friday between 9 and 12.
• 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.
• Clergy Contact During the COVID-19 Pandemic: As you are well aware, the church building has been closed for several months due to COVID-19. We have now opened the office on an as-need basis, for parishioners to drop off or receive items such as prayer books, hymnbooks, chimes or parish envelopes. If you need to come to the parish office, please call ahead. Bring your mask with you, and ring the buzzer at the side entrance. The office will be open between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday. For the past six months the clergy has aimed to make contact with parishioners by way of e-mail or a phone call. Now, if you would like to receive a physically distanced visit from Reverend David or Reverend Lynn, please call the office or contact the clergy via email. Could you please ask them to call the church office to give their contact information as well.
• 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.
• CLB News:
  • Friday Dinner Take-out/Pick Up: Each Friday, the CLB will be offering dinner take-out (curbside pickup), or delivery on five or more dinners ordered. Curbside pickup from CLB Armoury, 82 Harvey Road available on Friday from 12:00-1:30. To pre-order, you can call 722-1737. Order cutoff is 4:00 p.m. Wednesdays. Gluten-Free option is available. Please advise us of any Allergies or Dietary Restrictions.
  • Halloween Chips: Mount Pearl CLB #4507 will be selling Old Dutch Halloween Chips and Cheesies again this year.  The box contains 24 bags and the cost is $6.50 per box.  Strict COVID-19 protocols will be followed.  If you would like to support our CLB by purchasing a box, please contact Company Commanding Officer Jamie Hill at [email protected] or 699-3388 or Company Adjutant Cindy Onyia at [email protected] or 691-2069.

Hear, O Israel
The LORD our God,
The LORD is one.
Love the LORD your God
With all your heart,
With all your soul,
With all your mind,
And with all your strength.

This is the first and the great commandment.

The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.

There is no commandment greater than these.

These words resonate for those who follow Jesus, and for those in the Jewish faith, it is recognized that Jesus is recounting the Shema, the commandment, binding promise that is central to their faith.

Jesus recounts this portion of his faith when asked what is the greatest commandment.

As Anglican Christians, this statement is central to our daily act of prayer - it helps to centre our focus on the key relationships we are to hold and to nurture: relationships with the Holy One, with our neighbours, and with ourselves.

For me, this covenant, this binding promise that we pray daily can be a struggle at times. At times my relationship with the Holy One isn’t solely focused heart, soul, mind and strength.

At times I am halfhearted, mind distracted, weak and less than present to the Holy One. This I believe is when I let other things creep in and take precedence, causing me to focus less on the Holy One, and more on my worries.

This covenant is a struggle too, for there are times when I do not love neighbour, and do not love self.

The distractions and deliberations of life seem to me to have the potential to draw me from the centrality of this prayer - of how I can use these words to focus my being and my action on how I honour the Holy One, Neighbour, and Self.

This prayer centres me in the reality of the Holy One, the Creator, and thus in my response to Creator, and to all of creation. To abuse and misuse creation is to separate myself from the Holy One.

This prayer grounds me in the reality of Neighbour, and my interactions with neighbour. To dishonour and disregard others is to fail to respect the dignity of every human being.

This prayer roots me in the goodness of self - that I am called to celebrate myself as a beloved child of God, loved and held as sacred by humanity, by family, by the Holy One.

If the ‘Hear, O Israel’ or the Shema is a daily prayer for you, consider how this prayer shapes your relationships this week, with Creator and created, with neighbour, and with yourself.

Blessings,

• 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.

Pondering the two great commandments of the law, let us pray together saying: O Lord of love, hear our prayer.

That the church throughout the world may love you with all its heart and soul and mind, and may exemplify your love in all its life: O Lord of love, hear our prayer.

That our country, in all its foreign and domestic policies, may care for immigrants, the indigent and the oppressed, all victims of economic exploitation, and all poorer and smaller nations:  O Lord of love, hear our prayer.

That the leaders of the churches, with insight and fidelity, may practice love and compassion for all in need, for all who live in misery, and for all outcasts of society. We pray for Sam our Diocesan Administrator, for the parishes of St. Michael and All Angels Corner Brook, St. Mary the Virgin, and for those worshipping in Wales : O Lord of love, hear our prayer.

That our community may live in the faith and joy of the Holy Spirit and may we continue to uphold and pray for those on our Ascension Prayer Cycle: O Lord of love, hear our prayer.

That the wealth of our land may enable us to live in just stewardship of the earth’s goods, in care for our natural resources, and in compassion for the needy: O Lord of love, hear our prayer.

That those who have died in the faith of Christ may find peace, especially Mary Hewitt and Lawrence Newhook: O Lord of love, hear our prayer.

O God, you care for the widow and the orphan, and you hear the cry of the poor. Listen also to our cry; change our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh with which to love you in truth and for your sake to show compassion on all your creatures. We ask this in your name. Amen

Ascension Prayer Cycle : Andrea, Aubrey, Audrey, Barbara, Baxter, Bill, Brenda, Brian, Brittany, Brandon, Carl, Christina, Cindy, Clarence, David, Debra, Delilah, Dennis, Don, Donna, Doreen, Dot, Dulcie, Edgar, Elaine, Erin, Finnley, Frederick, Fred, Frank, Flo, Garrett, George, Gerry,  Gilbert, Gordon, Harry, Herb, Ike, Ina, Ingrid, Jack, Jason, Jenny, Jim, John, Josephine, Judy, Junior, Kent, Kevin, Kim, Laura, Leo, Leonie,  Lindsay, Lori, Madeline, Marie, Marsha, Mark, Marina,  Marion,  Maurice, Maxine, Maxwell, Melissa, Melvin, Michelle, Nancy, Pam, Phyllis, Randell, Rodney, Roland, Ruby, Ruth, Rita, Scott, Sean, Stephen, Susan, Tina, Todd, Tom, Valerie, Vera and Wayne.

GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH #565 vs. 1 & 3

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death and hell’s destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.

FOR THE FRUIT OF ALL CREATION #259 vs. 1 & 3

For the fruit of all creation,
thanks be to God;
gifts bestowed on every nation,
thanks be to God.
For the ploughing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth's safe-keeping,
thanks be to God.

For the harvests of the Spirit,
thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit,
thanks be to God.
For the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all, that love has found us,
thanks be to God.

WHERE CHARITY AND LOVE PREVAIL #487 vs. 1, 2, 5, 6

Where charity and love prevail,
there God is ever found;
Brought here together by Christ’s love,
by love are we thus bound.

With grateful joy and holy fear
His charity we learn;
Let us with heart and mind and soul
now love him in return.

Let us recall that in our midst
dwells God’s begotten Son;
As members of His body joined,
we are in Him made one.

Love can exclude no race or creed
If honoured be God’s name;
Our common life embraces all
Whose Father is he same.

AS WE GATHER AT YOUR TABLE # 61 vs. 1, 2, 3

As we gather at your table, as we listen to your word,
help us know, O God, your presence; let our hearts and minds be stirred.
Nourish us with sacred story till we claim it as our own;
teach us through this holy banquet how to make Love's victory known.

Turn our worship into witness in the sacrament of life;
send us forth to love and serve you, bringing peace where there is strife.
Give us, Christ, your great compassion to forgive as you forgave;
may we still behold your image in the world you died to save.

Gracious Spirit, help us summon other guests to share that feast
where triumphant Love will welcome those who had been last and least.
There no more will envy blind us nor will pride our peace destroy,
as we join with saints and angels to repeat the sounding joy.

O WORSHIP THE KING # 380 vs. 1, 3, 6

O worship the King, all glorious above;
O gratefully sing his power and his love;
Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, thy power hath founded of old,
Hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree,
And round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.

O measureless might, ineffable Love,
While angels delight to hymn thee above,
Thy humbler creation, though feeble their lays,
with true adoration shall sing to thy praise.