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

November 20, 2022

Christ The King

Grace and peace to you my family in Christ,

It’s the last week of the year. Not the calendar year or the fiscal year or even the school year but rather, the church year. 

The next year begins with the season of Advent (I know it’s hard to believe isn’t it?) 

So that means this weekend is Christ the King weekend when we remember that Jesus Christ is the king of kings.  But of course, as we talk about it, we have to deal with the incredible irony of the fact that the greatest of all kings is the one who died in the “least great” sort of way being mocked on a Roman cross. 

Let’s talk more about this at church this weekend.  

Blessings,

From Turkey Lurkey:

Thanksgiving Green Faith Tips:

1. Buy local & organic if possible: If you are buying a turkey, source it from a local farm, or at least choose an organic, cage-free turkey, if possible.

2, Try going vegan and “adopt” a Turkey.

3, Skip the produce bags: Bring your own reusable bags, and avoid foods packaged in plastic. Buy in bulk like nuts and spices.

4. If guests are bringing food have them bring it in reusable dishes.

5. Be sure to compost your fruit and veggie scraps.

This Weekend: 5th Grade Milestone

Acolyting 

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homeless shoes stock shot
Harbor House LOGO
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Week 2:

   Gifts of Hope, Local Focuses

This weekend Gifts of Hope lifts up Friends of Fieldworkers and Harbor House and their programs helping many in need in our local community. 

Ventura County’s Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures reported the value of the County’s crops at more than $2B for 2021, an increase of 5% from 2020. Strawberries, lemons and nursery stock remained the highest valued crops, followed by raspberries, avocados and celery.  These agricultural products come to stores, tables and homes near and far, through the labor of many, many fieldworkers.  

Friends of Fieldworkers, Inc. is a non-profit organization established to befriend, celebrate and support families of fieldworkers in Ventura County. The organization was founded as a response to the 2013 fire in Oxnard that destroyed the homes of many farm worker families. Friends of Fieldworkers uses gifts to help farmworker families meet basic daily, as well as unanticipated needs. Gifts of Hope joins with Friends of Fieldworkers this year in helping families of fieldworkers in Ventura County with gifts for daily necessities like food, gas, diapers; gifts to help with unanticipated needs; and gifts to give these hardworking families opportunities to launder their clothing, sheets and towels.  

Harbor House is a social service agency in the Conejo Valley that works to help those who are homeless and living in extreme poverty. They see all human beings as worthy of our time and effort, offering referrals, resources and case management. They work with those struggling with food and housing insecurity, unemployment, addiction, mental illness and abuse. Their goal is to help all people in our community find hope, gainful employment, affordable housing, and a sense of well-being. The needs in our community are great and the gap between the comfortable and the working poor has never been so wide.  Gifts of Hope joins with Harbor House this year with gifts of food, transportation, housing and case management. 

There are several ways you can make your Gifts of Hope selections.  Simply click HERE to get started. You will find all the options from the catalog listed on the site.

Support Ascension Lutheran School

 We are dedicated to providing academic excellence through our Christ-centered teachings.  Donate today and help support expenses for our continued success with our TK-6 program. Visit www.alschool.org/annualfund/ or contact Principal Rich Gregory at or 805.496.2419 for more info.

Last Call for Fair Trade Treats This Year…

We thought having a Fair Trade Pop-Up Sale would be a great way to close out what has been another great Fair Trade year at Ascension.  We’ll have Fair Trade chocolates, coffee, tea, cheese and snacks to help you fill your pantry for holiday gatherings with family and friends.  Small bags of mini chocolates make great stocking-stuffers too!  This will be the final opportunity of the year to purchase tasty Fair Trade treats from us. Everyone is Invited. We look forward to seeing you.

Fair Trade Pop-Up Sale—Thursday, December 8 – 2:30-4:30 PM — Ascension Back Parking Lot (Gate will open at 2:30 PM)

Thank You Ascension for your support of justice for people and our planet through Fair Trade. 

TAIZÉ WORSHIP

When does adding equal subtraction?  It is when adding an event to your calendar reduces your stress.

Each Wednesday evening in Advent (November 30, December 7, 14, and 21) we will have a Taizé service in our beautiful sanctuary from 7:00-7:45 PM.

Modeled on the worship style of the Taizé Community in central France, these simple services will take place in a candlelit setting.  Seven or eight chants will be sung, a scripture passage will be read, and periods of silence will allow ample time for prayer and meditation.

Advent is a busy time, but adding these services to your schedule will create oases of calm for you amid the hustle and bustle of these days.  Whether you want to join in the singing or bask in the singing of your fellow worshippers, please come.  You will find yourself more centered and better prepared to experience the fullness of joy that Jesus’ birthday brings.

We’re Making Lefsa! Come join us!

The high schoolers will be making Lefsa on the evening of Friday, December 2 and morning of Saturday, December 3  in Pederson Hall, and we’re inviting everyone to join the fun and come help! The lefsa will be sold, along with cocoa and baked goods at the Hanging of the Green on Sunday, December 4.

If you’d like to help, please join us Friday, December 2 beginning at 5:00 PM or Saturday, December 3, beginning at 10:00 AM. Also, if you have any equipment you would like to donate to the cause, such as lefsa grills, potato ricers, potato peelers, and rolling pins, those are also much appreciated. 

Contact Dianne Beck, Youth Director, at .

Special Advent Gift for High Schoolers

Senior Luther League is planning to read through a devotional together this Advent season and we want to invite all high schoolers to join us.

We’re planning on having these devotionals available to all high schoolers beginning the week of November 14. You or a family member can either pick one up between services on Sundays by the doughnut stand on the patio, at youth group beginning Sunday, November 20 (We will meet at Wildwood that day from 3:00-5:30 for a hike and Bible Study), or let us know you want one delivered to you and we will happily bring one to your door.

Please respond by letting us know you’d like to receive this special gift, and we will be sure to order one for you. Have a friend who might like one too? Just let us know how many!

Just a reminder too that high schoolers regularly meet Sundays in the Dugout between 5 and 7. There are NO REQUIREMENTS to come, other than being in high school. Also, don’t worry if you can only come for part of the time, if you come late, or need to leave early. It doesn’t matter, just come! Also don’t worry if you have never been or haven’t been in a while. We love having you! Questions about youth group? Parents or high schoolers please email Dianne Beck at

It’s Gonna Snow in TO!

Sunday December 4!

Please Note:

We have a blood drive coming up  Sunday, Dec. 18th, in Founders Hall. More details to come.

 

Offerings & Attendance

Memorial Service Set

The memorial service for Pastor John Wilker will be December 3 at 1 PM

For valuable insights into the goings-on at Ascension, click here. For more insights, follow THIS LINK to full report.

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

Pericopes

This Week:

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Psalm 46

Colossians 1:11-20

Luke 23:33-43

Next Week:

Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:36-44

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