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 29, 2023
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as Depicted in the 1959 film, ‘Ben-Hur’
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Grace and peace to you,
Are you blessed? Maybe you can answer that question right away. “Yup, PT! Life is good!” But maybe some of us aren’t feeling so blessed. Maybe our plans aren’t working out. Maybe we are struggling and that foundation that we thought we built our faith on feels like it’s starting to weaken or even crumble. Sometimes we don’t feel so blessed, do we? That doesn’t mean that we aren’t.
Maybe we just need to redefine what we understand it means to be blessed by God. Let’s talk about this this weekend as we hear the beginning of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount often called “The Beatitudes.”
Looking forward to seeing you!
Blessings,
Baptism This Weekend
Desiderio Simon Martinez
Born 10/11/2021
Roses are Red. Violets are Blue. It Wouldn’t be Fair Trade at Ascension Without All of You!
Valentine’s Day is about showing and sharing love with family and friends, yes? Valentine’s Day can also be a time to show love for our global community, the environment and the farmers and artisans who grow our food and make things for us to wear and use in our daily living. Let’s say “Happy Valentine’s Day” the Fair Trade Way! A simple but powerful way to promote justice for people and our planet.
Chocolate is a favorite treat to eat and share on Valentine’s Day. We’ve read that almost 50% of gifts given for Valentine’s Day are candy. And much of that candy is, or includes, chocolate. We know with Fair Trade, there is no child labor. With Fair Trade, those who produce things we enjoy like chocolate are paid fairly and treated justly, and they in turn treat and use the resources of our planet with care and respect. Our purchases of Fair Trade products, to use or to share, brings us joy. Our purchases of Fair Trade products bring joy too for those who have lovingly created them. And doesn’t that make those tasty treats all the more delicious? And wonderful Fair Trade wearables & shareables all the more beautiful?
There’s still time to order Fair Trade treats for your Valentine’s Day gift-giving and for Super Bowl game day snacking. Orders for Fair Trade chocolate, coffee, tea, snacks and cheese can be placed until Noon on January 29, 2023. The January 2023 ordering form is posted to Ascension’s Fair Trade webpage and also HERE. Paper copies of the order form 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! We hope to have orders ready for pick-up February 8-12. Email notice will go out with order pick-up details.
Let’s be Fair Out There!
Faith Chest Celebration This Sunday
9 AM Service
This week in Adult Ed:
About Youth!
January 29, 10:10 AM Founders Hall
Pastor Julie & Youth Director Dianne Beck will talk about what that faith formation looks like at Ascension, including what we’ve heard from our youth about what they love about our church and what would help engage them more.
High School Seniors – Call for Faith Quilts!
The Faith Quilt Milestone Comes in June, and We Need to Prepare Soon!
Each year we celebrate high school seniors the first Sunday in June with the gift of a faith quilt. Because these take time to prepare and create, we need to know soon if you’re interested. Please email Dianne Beck, Youth Director ASAP if you’re interested in receiving a quilt so we can make sure to have this beautiful and meaningful milestone ready for you.
Faith Quilt recipients 2022
Rooted El Camino Pines Winter Retreat
Senior Luther League high school youth spent the past weekend at El Camino Pines, enjoying snow fun, beautiful starry night skies, lots of laughter and connections with each other, and of course, talks and discussions to build our faith. The theme of the weekend was “Rooted,” based on Colossians 2:6-7,“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Retreat workshops and worship times explored what it means to be living and growing in the rich soil of God’s love, Rooted in Christ. We are so thankful for this time we had together and are excited to continue our faith journey together throughout the year.
To learn more about youth group and get involved, come any Sunday when we meet in the dugout from 5:00-7:00, or contact Dianne Beck, Youth Director, at .
‘The Chosen’ at Regal Janss Marketplace
“The Chosen” series is coming once more to movie theater screens for the finale of the third season, which will include the promised epic image of the feeding of the five thousand.
You’re invited to join Pastor Tim on Thursday, February 2 for the 2:45 PM showing at the Regal Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks. Please buy your tickets in advance at the Regal website to insure availability.
See you at the movies!
10th Grade Milestone
We’re inviting you to be a part of the 10 th Grade Driver’s License Milestone Sunday,February 5 th , in 9 or 11 am worship.
Milestones are a chance to name something important happening in your life (in this case, getting your driver’s license!) and then to name the fact that God is right there with you in the midst of it.
If you’ve seen a milestone before, you know that 10 th graders and their families will be invited up to the front of the church. We will talk about why this milestone matters, give you your hand-painted stone, and another small gift. Then we’ll pray for you!
Since we’re personalizing your small gift, you can help us out by letting us know if you’ll be there and if so, which service you’ll attend. That way we can make the gift especially for you!
Please let us know () by Wednesday, February 2 if you plan to participate.
In Need Of Prayer
We’re looking for a new worship leader for our 11 AM service. Find out more about it HERE
Staff Accountant Wanted
If you are an accountant interested in joining the Ascension team, we’d love to hear from you! Click HERE for details of this position.
Calling All Quilters!
Are you someone with the beautiful gift of sewing and quilting? If so, we would love to have you help with our High School Faith Quilt Milestone. Each year we celebrate our high school seniors with the gift of a Faith Quilt. They are such a cherished and beautiful keepsake to carry with them as they move on to new schools, new jobs, and new places. They receive these quilts in June, but the process of creating them begins in the next month. If you’d like to help, please contact Dianne Beck, Youth Director, at .
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:
Micah 6:1-8
Psalm 15
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Matthew 5:1-12
Next Week:
Isaiah 58:1-9a
Psalm 112:1-9
1 Corinthians 2:1-12
Matthew 5:13-20
