• Sunday Worship at the Ascension (Reminders):
  • Live Streamed Services: 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.
  • Cancellation of Service/Storm Notice and Office Closures:  Please refer to the church website, ascensionnl.ca, or check the church answering machine (368-5693) for up-to-date information on the status of services as well as the church office.
• Birthday/Anniversary Sundays: We are once again designating one Sunday of each month as family Sunday. The worship for that Sunday will include the celebration of birthdays or anniversaries for that given month. Please send us a picture of yourself to include during the Birthday Sunday celebration portion of the liturgy. You can send your photos to [email protected]. We request that you submit your photos by the end of the first week each month to ensure they are included.
• Clergy Contact During the COVID-19 Pandemic: All pastoral visits/interactions will be via telephone, email or zoom appointment with either Reverend Burrows or Reverend Courage. To set up an appointment, please contact them via their email or cell phone. Reverend Burrows may be reached at 746-2095 or by email at [email protected] and Reverend Courage may be reached at 682-8500 or by email at [email protected]
• Weekly Service Guidelines – Many Members, One Body:  As you may have heard and seen, the Diocese has offered amended guidelines to Many Members, One Body (https://anglicanenl.net/home/covid19/) as we are now in a modified Alert Level Four since the latest lockdown. As a result, we will be resuming online streaming from the church on Sunday mornings. These services will be attended by those who are directly associated with the leading of worship and the live-streaming of worship. We will be following all of the guidelines, and conducting ourselves safely so that we can continue in the participation of the liturgy. I pray that as we continue to move through these weeks ahead, the restrictions will continue to adjust based on Provincial requirements, and the great way the entire community has been adapting to the most recent outbreak. I understand the hardship that this has been for so many of us. None of us understood that the events of this past year would be as they were. I continue to encourage you to be gentle with each other, show care and consideration, and always respond in safety and in love. My prayers continue to ever be with you. David
• Pre-Authorized Givings: If you would like to set up pre-authorized givings, please contact the church office at 368-5693 for direction. Thank you!
• Pandemic Appeal: To date we have raised $6,695. We encourage parishioners to continue to support our Parish in this effort by donating to the Pandemic Appeal. Thank you to all who have donated thus far.
• Technical Support: If you are having any difficulty accessing our on-line services, please feel free to reach out to the Parish Audio-Visual Team for support. Please leave a message at the office with your name and telephone number or email [email protected]  and a member of the team will contact you.
• YouTube: The weekly on-line services are now available on YouTube. At this time, the services are not live on YouTube but they are available for viewing once the service is over. To find the Parish YouTube channel, type Parish of the Ascension NL into the search bar in YouTube. Some parishioners have experienced difficulty finding recorded videos on Facebook so this is another option for viewing.
• Home Again Furniture Bank - Heads Without Beds Campaign: I hope and pray you are all well even as the world continues to adjust to the realities of COVID19 among us. This year, in thanksgiving for my birthday, and in support of Home Again Furniture Bank, I will be sleeping on the floor for their Heads without Beds Campaign. If you would like to make a donation to support this essential ministry and enable families to create homes, I would be so honoured. Home Again enables families in the Northeast Avalon Region to receive beds, dressers, tables, chairs, all sorts of furniture, and in the process, eliminate furniture poverty, and assist the community in eradicating poverty. On April 23, I will be sleeping on the floor so as to continue to advocate for the great work of Home Again and provide families with much needed support. Please, consider making a donation to help! The website link is below. Thanks for your time to read and consider! canadahelps.org/en/charities/parish-of-the-ascension-mount-pearl/p2p/heads-without-beds/team/anglican-east-nl-team/member/david-burrows/
• Services During the Week:
  • Sunday, April 18 (Easter III): 11:00am, Morning Prayer/BAS ascensionnl.ca

On this day we praise our God for the dying which destroyed our death, and we pray for our world in need of life, saying;
Lord, have mercy.

The Lord calls us to examine the wounded hands and feet of the risen one and to know the depth of his love for us. Let us approach Christ in faith and share the good news will all we meet. For this let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.

The apostles received the Holy Spirit and the grace to lighten the burdens of one another’s sin. May the church be faithful to this gift. For this let us pray to the Lord;
Lord, have mercy

We remember before us today all those affected by the recent layoffs and business closures due to the Pandemic and any families who are struggling at this time to find employment.  May they receive compassion and care. For this let us pray to the Lord;
Lord, have mercy.

Christ calls us blest who not having seen, yet believe. May more and more of God’s people and all the created order become a sign of the resurrection in the world today we pray for Samuel our Bishop, the parishes of  Fogo Island East, and Fogo Island West and for The Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean, may our faith give courage to the doubting. For this let us pray to the Lord;
Lord, have mercy.

We remember all who travel by land, water or air. Keep them safe and attentive to the distractions and dangers present in this your world. For this let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.

We are strengthened by Christ’s resurrection to share the power of the spirit with all the suffering. We pray for all those on the Ascension Prayer Cycle. We remember those who are dying and those who have died, especially Marjorie Hann and Roy Winsor. May the power of God’s resurrection give life to all who have little reason to hope. For this let us pray to the Lord;
Lord, have mercy.

For ourselves in this assembly, that we may strain forward toward Easter, especially all who are impacted by the Pandemic, those undergoing testing, those who received positive results, those in isolation, all those who work in retail workers, restaurant workers and all students, teachers and professors who will return to school and all  believing in our every deed the good news, that after a year of turmoil and strife, the world may be free of this virus, we pray:
 Lord, have mercy.

May that morning star which never sets, Christ our light, find us burning with charity until the world is enlightened with love. For this let is pray to the Lord:
Lord, have mercy.

Pray Together

Eternally creative God, give us the faith and courage to recreate the world in your image. We ask this in the name of the risen one, Jesus our Lord and Savior.

Ascension Prayer Cycle:  Aden, Amelia, Ann, Annie, Aubrey, Audrey, Barbara, Baxter, Bob, Brenda, Brian, Brittany, Brandon, Callum, Carl, Cathy, Christina, Cindy, Claire, Clarence, David, Debra, Delilah, Dennis, Derrick, Don, Donna, Doreen, Dot, Doug, Dulcie, Ed, Edgar, Elaine, Emily, Erin, Evelyn, Finnley, Frederick, Fred, Frank, Flo, Garrett, George, Gerry, Glenda, Gordon, Harry, Hilda, Ike, Ina, Ingrid, Ira, Jack, Jason, Jennifer, Jenny, Jim, John, Josephine, Joan, Judy, Junior, Kent, Kevin, Kim, Laura, Leo, Leonie,  Lindsay, Lori, Louise, Madeline, Marie, Marsha, Mark, Marion,  Maurice, Maxine, Maxwell, Melissa, Melvin, Michelle, Mike, Moana, Nancy, Pam, Phyllis, Rachel, Randell, Rodney, Roland, Ruby, Ruth, Rita, Sean, Shirley, Stephen, Susan, Tina, Todd, Tom, Valerie, Vera, Victoria and Wayne

Prayer During the Pandemic

Lord Jesus Christ,
you taught us to love our neighbour,
and to care for those in need
as if we were caring for you.
In this time of anxiety, give us strength
to comfort the fearful, to tend the sick,
and to assure the isolated
of our love, and your love,
for your name’s sake.  Amen.

Collect

Almighty and eternal God,
the strength of those who believe
and the hope of those who doubt,
may we, who have not seen, have faith
and receive the fullness of Christ's blessing,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. AMEN  

A Reading from the Book of Acts

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.  ACTS 4:32-35

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

Psalm 133

Oh, how good and pleasant it is,
when brethren live together in unity!

It is like fine oil upon the head
that runs down upon the beard,

Upon the beard of Aaron,
and runs down upon the collar of his robe.   

It is like the dew of Hermon
that falls upon the hills of Zion.

For there the Lord has ordained the blessing:
life for evermore.

Creator of the universe, from whom all things come, to whom all things return, give your people such unity of heart and mind, that all the world may grow in the life of your eternal kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. PSALM 133

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

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to John

People: Glory to, you Lord Jesus Christ

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.  JOHN 20:19-31

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

Prayer over the Gifts

God of grace,
you have freed us from our sins
and made us a kingdom in your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Accept all we offer you this day,
and strengthen us in the new life you have given us,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN

Prayer after Communion

God of grace,
you have freed us from our sins
and made us a kingdom in your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Accept all we offer you this day,
and strengthen us in the new life you have given us,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN

• Order of Service
• Spring Fundraiser