Worship:
Saturday 6 PM
Sunday 9 & 11 AM
This Week At Ascension
Called to create opportunities for all people to become devoted followers of Christ
January 15, 2023
Grace and peace to you my family in Christ,
I had a conversation earlier this week with a grandmother whose grandkids don’t really know about Jesus because her own kids, at some point prior to having children, decided to stop going to church. This grandmother is a bit heartbroken because she wants her grandchildren (and of course her own children) not just to know God’s love for them, but also to know what it means to be connected with the church community.
Does this situation sound familiar to you? I wouldn’t be surprised if it did. There are many reasons that people are disconnected from their faith and church in our world today.
What impressed me so much about this grandmother is that she has not lost heart. Instead, her desire to have her grandchildren know Jesus has caused her to double down on living and modeling her faith to her children and grandchildren. She is not being pushy. Or sneaky. Or deceptive in any way. Instead, she has simply learned not to be afraid of witnessing to the strength that she derives from her own faith. And her grandchildren see it. Even her children see it. And she trusts that in some way, God is working through her to reach them. I agree with her.
This is the power of testimony. We don’t have to be pushy or judgmental — we simply have to be honest (and usually patient too) and God can work through us to do amazing things. Let’s talk more about this at church this weekend.
Blessings,
New Member Class is One Week Away!
Would you like to take another step in your spiritual journey with God and Ascension Lutheran Church? If so, we would like to invite you to be a part of our next New Member class on Sunday, January 22 from 12-2pm. This meeting will focus on the basics of the Christian faith and on the ministry of Ascension. Childcare is available and lunch will be provided.
To RSVP, please call the church office at (805) 495-0406 or email Janelle Smith at .
Congratulations Amanda Berg!
Shepherd of the Valley in Simi Valley welcomes our own Amanda Berg as its
interim pastor this month. What a wonderful blessing!
In Need Of Prayer
Baptism This Weekend
Leo Bakke
Born: 5-10-2020
Goodbye 2022. Hello 2023!
We kick off 2023 with the first ordering opportunity of the year. Orders for Fair Trade chocolate, coffee, tea, snacks and cheese can be placed January 15 -29, 2023. The January 2023 ordering form is posted to Ascension’s Fair Trade webpage and also HERE. Paper copies are also available in the church office and in the blue folder at the Information Desk in the West Narthex.
New this time are Brewer’s Chocolate Chip & Sea Salt cookies!
This is a great opportunity to order items for Valentine’s Day giving & sharing as well as for Super Bowl Game Day noshing with family & friends – two great opportunities to celebrate the Fair Trade Way.
Orders must be placed by Sunday, January 29 at Noon. We hope to have orders ready for pick-up February 8-12. Email notice will go out with order pick-up details.
We look forward to another wonderful year of Fair Trade at Ascension as we promote justice for people and our planet through Fair Trade. And, as we enjoy fun & fellowship in the doing!
Read about how successful our Fair Trade program was in 2022. CLICK HERE.
Special Service
Saturday evening’s (1/14) 6 PM service will be blessed by
Hula Halau
Ka Mele Wai ‘O Ke Anuenue
“The Spiritual Song of the Rainbow”
under the direction of Kumu June Kehaulani Rust
There will be special refreshments following the service.
Don’t miss it!
Kelsey Packman, Ascension Lutheran School music teacher, is serving as interim worship leader for our 11 o’clock Sunday services. We love her musicianship and the joy she brings. Thanks, Kelsey!
El Salvador Mission Trip Opportunity
Our synod, along with Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Chicago, is extending an invitation to join this mission trip to El Salvador, August 1-6, 2023. Activities will range from delivering medical supplies to helping rural families who have no electricity get solar lights. A zoom meeting to find out more is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 22, at 4 PM Pacific time.
CLICK HERE for the Zoom meeting. The meeting ID is: 852 7180 1527
Passcode: 1
Offerings & Attendance
Our Prayer
We pray that you may once again meet the Risen Christ through the Word and Sacrament ministry, and through the fellowship of this family of faith.
If you do not have a church home, we would like to invite you to worship with our Ascension family again.
All people who are baptized and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are welcome to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
May God bless you in your worship!
Pastors Tim Delkeskamp, Steve Herder, & Julie McCain
Don’t miss another TWAA
Pericopes
This Week:
Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 40:1-11
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-42
Next Week:
Isaiah 9:1-4
Psalm 27:1, 4-9
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Matthew 4:12-23
SERRV ordered more than $2.5M in handcrafts and food items working with 54 Fair Trade partners in 21 countries and adding over 300 new catalog items. SERRV partners continued protecting the environment through rainwater preservation, waste water filtration, solar powering for offices and workshops and expanding the scope of upcycling and recycling. Fair Trade promotes peace-making as farmer and artisan communities benefit from collaboration and acceptance, preserving ethnic traditions and culture while building financial independence and peaceful coexistence. SERRV’s vision is “a better world in the making”.
