• 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.

Worship is now live-streamed from the Parish. (See note in Chimes with instructions to access the service.)

• Updates Regarding Live Streamed Services:  Please note that Sunday  services are now being live-streamed. We are asking for your patience while watching as we are using new equipment and are working through any sound/technical issues.  It is a work in progress and we are hoping to improve the quality with each service.  If you are interested in viewing Sunday service, you can do so by logging in to the new church website ascensionnl.ca, and go to the Social Media tab. Once there, click on the Facebook tab (please note you do not have to have a Facebook account to view the service). This will link you directly with the service once it has begun on Sunday.
• 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/fRyFzfWS8VY The next Wednesday Prayers will be on Wednesday, November 25.
• Home Communions in the Parish: Reverend Burrows and Reverend Courage will be expanding their home communicant list should anyone wish to receive the sacrament at their home. This is according to Provincial and Diocesan guidelines. If you would like to receive communion in your home, please contact the office and speak with Peggy to make arrangements.
• Pre-Authorized Givings:  If you would like to set up pre-authorized givings, please take a pamphlet from either entrance of the church or from church office. Simply fill one out, drop it into the office and we will set up your automated givings. Thank you!
• Clergy Contact During the COVID-19 Pandemic: 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.
• CLB Friday Dinner Take-out/Pick Up: Each Friday, the CLB will be offering dinner take-out (curbside pickup). Order cutoff is 11 a.m. on Thursday. Gluten- free option is available. Please advise of any allergies or dietary restrictions! To preorder, please call 722-1737.
• A Spirituality for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany in Covid 19: In these sessions, through contemplation, listening, guided meditation, sacred scripture and creation story, we will explore some strands for a liturgical spirituality in this time of global pandemic. The sessions are from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. on Mondays: November 23, November 30, and December 07. The sessions will be led by Dr. Gerard Whitty and Ms Marie Wall. You can register for this free series by e-mailing [email protected]. We will then provide a link for the on-line sessions. Please feel free to pass along this information and invitation to anyone who might be interested in preparing themselves to go a bit spirituality deeper in these rich liturgical seasons. There is no charge for the sessions.
• Giving Thanks Fund Donations:
  • A donation was made to the Giving Thanks Fund in memory of Phyllis Forward from Ascension Senior Choir.
  • A donation was made to the Giving Thanks Fund in memory of Marguerite and Herbert Weir from Phyllis Weir.
• Services During the Week:
  • Monday – Friday: 9:00am, Morning Prayer in the Chapel
  • Wednesday Prayer: 10:00am, Online (YouTube)
  • Sunday, Nov. 29 (Advent 1): 11:00am, Holy Eucharist/HB/BAS

‘I will, with God’s help.’

These are the words I recite in prayer every time I attend a baptism, and at least once a week as I remind myself of the promises I make to follow the Holy One in my life. The response is the Baptismal Covenant response from the Book of Alternative Services, of the Anglican Church of Canada.

I hear the intention of these promises each day as I consider if I am living up to the expectation of this binding promise I hold with the Holy One. In truth, I am thankful for the addition, ‘with God’s help,’ for I understand that I find it difficult at times to hold to this covenant. The covenant promises a life of prayer, of resisting evil, proclaiming by word and example, serving the Holy One in others, striving for justice and peace, and safeguarding the integrity of God’s creation.  While I may hope to hold to these important promises, I recognize that I fail again and again, and I need redemption, and the challenge to return again to the covenant.

In the words offered by the Prophet Ezekiel this week, I hear the Holy One promising again and again. ‘I will’ permeates the passage. I am heartened to consider and hold to mind that the Holy One promises indignantly to care for creation and the created.

• I will search
• I will bind up
• I will rescue
• I will feel
• I will bring them
• I will judge
• I will feed
• I will save
• I will seek
• I will set up
• I will bring back
• I will be

There is no doubt in these words, that the Holy One cares deeply, and loves steadfastly all of creation, and all of us, as the created.

I am thankful for this reminder, for there are times and ways in which I need the presence of the Holy One, holding and protecting, feeding and seeking, rescuing and binding, judging and healing, loving and being for me.

These are the words that I hold to when I feel lost and alone, when I feel the world is not as it should be.

These are the ways in which I rejoice that the Holy One loves so deeply and will not ever let us go.

This is the world in which I choose to bind myself in holy promise.

This is the place and the community in which I will serve and respond.

Peace,

In the life of Jesus Christ in our midst, we have known God’s judgement and mercy, and in the glory of Jesus, we acclaim the image of God invisible. With the whole church we turn to Christ this day, acknowledging that he alone rules in truth, as we say: When you come to rule, remember us, O Lord.

Jesus, Saviour and judge, you have confounded earthly judgment by choosing to be numbered among the transgressors. May your words comfort all who are in prison, all judged guilty by society or church, and all who live on the margins of the human family. When you come to rule, remember us, O Lord.

Jesus, condemned and powerless before your enemies, grant to the leaders of peoples to know that their rule is in the service of a greater law. We pray for Sam our Diocesan Administrator, for the Episcopal candidates Charlene, Gerald, Jonathan, Josiah and Sam, for the Vocational Diaconate, and for brothers and sisters worshipping in Bermuda. When you come to rule, remember us, O Lord.

Christ, first born of the dead, through the blood of your cross you give unity to the divided. Give to the church the hope of resurrection; may we recognize the image of God in your own rising. When you come to rule, remember us, O Lord.

Christ, image of the invisible God, free us from holding you in images of our own making. Grant that in the spirit we may see all power and all life transformed by the compassion of the cross. When you come to rule, remember us, O Lord.

Jesus, healer of the sick, we ask you blessing upon those in our Ascension Cycle of Prayer, for those suffering due to mental illness, for those who are struggling financially this time of the year, for those mourning the loss of a loved one, and those who are vulnerable in society. When you come to rule, remember us, O Lord.

Jesus, may the dead who have partaken of your chalice be with you in paradise. When you come to rule, remember us, O Lord.

We acclaim you, Jesus Christ, as the judge condemned to judgement, knowing that in your death the world is judged. Grant that the world may seek God’s justice rather than human wisdom, and that all victims of human cruelty may share in the victory of life revealed to us in your death and rising. We join our prayers with the pleading of your blood poured forth at God’s right hand, where you rule the Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Ascension Prayer Cycle:  Ann, Aubrey, Audrey, Barbara, Baxter, Bill, Bob, Brenda, Brian, Brittany, Brandon, Carl, Cathy, Christina, Cindy, Clarence, David, Debra, Delilah, Dennis, Don, Donna, Doreen, Dot, Dulcie, Edgar, Elaine, Erin, Finnley, Frederick, Fred, Frank, Flo, Garrett, George, Gerry,  Gilbert, Glenda, Gordon, Harry, Herb, Hilda, 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, Shirley, Stephen, Susan, Tina, Todd, Tom, Valerie, Vera and Wayne.

Once again our parish will continue to help families in need this Christmas by providing Christmas Hampers.  Due to the current COVID 19, our hampers this year will consist solely of gift cards. This will enable our recipients to purchase groceries for their own Christmas celebrations.   If you are able to support this project, we are asking for donations of gift cards for Dominion, Sobeys, Colemans or Walmart.  Monetary donations for this project can be dropped at the church or may be made at the church website at canadahelps.org/en/charities/parish-of-the-ascension-mount-pearl/.

If you would like to sponsor a family by providing a gift card to cover the full cost of the hamper please contact the church office at 368–5693 and leave your name and number.  We would be delighted to have your support and will contact you with further details.  If you are able to provide a gift card to help with this project, please drop them off at the church office during the week of December 7-11 anytime between the hours of 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  We thank you for your support!

Christmas Hamper Team –Karen Anthony, Nickie Butler, Kathy MacPherson

Jesus Shall Reign Where’er The Sun, 383 vs. 1 & 3
When The King Shall Come Again, 109 vs. 1, 2 & 4
O Worship The King, All Glorious Above, 380 vs. 1, 2, 6
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, 48 vs. 1, 2 , 3, 4

REJOICE, THE LORD IS KING! 379 vs. 1, 2, 5

Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing
and triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice:
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Saviour, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains,
He took His seat above.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice:
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope;
Jesus, the judge shall come
and take his servants up
to their eternal home.
We soon shall hear the archangel’s voice;
The trump of God shall sound, rejoice!