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
December 18, 2022
Fourth Sunday of Advent
The Dream of St Joseph cr. 1774, by Anton Raphael Mengs
Grace and peace to you my family in Christ,
“But what about Joseph?” Have you ever wondered that?
When it comes to the story of Jesus’ birth, we sure don’t seem to hear much about him and his side of the story. And yet it is there, in Matthew’s gospel.
We read of a faithful man that is trying to do the “righteous” thing. But what happens when God has a new way for him? A righteous way that is even better than any right way that he can come up with on his own? Will he go that way?
This weekend and Christmas Eve at 7,9 and 11 pm I am going to be focusing on Joseph’s perspective of the birth of Jesus. I am calling it “Joseph the Righteous” and I believe we have much to learn from his story. See you in church!
Blessings,
Christmas is coming soon! Here’s a look at the special goings-on this week at Ascension.
Saturday Caroling!
Get the blessing, be the blessing as you bring Christmas joy! Meet at the bus in the big parking lot at 12:30 PM, Saturday, December 17. We’ll finish before 3.
Cowboy Christmas
You won’t want to miss this favorite Yuletide event. Special cowboy Christmas music and surprises from Country Spirit & friends that’ll make you feel like you’re out on the range, under a blanket of stars, feeling mighty close to God. Wear your Western clothes if you like. Afterward, enjoy Nancy Lee’s legendary Dutch oven cobbler.
Dec. 17 at 6 PM
If you are coming to the Saturday, Dec. 17, Cowboy Christmas service and would like to have some of Nancy Lee’s famous Dutch Oven Cobbler afterwards, please sign up! She needs to know how much to make. CLICK HERE to Sign Up! If you need help, call the office.
Special Musical Presentation by Our Chancel Choir
In Dulci Jubilo (Sing We Now Rejoice)
by Dietrich Buxtehude (1639-1707)
This Sunday, December 18, during our regular 9 o’clock worship service
Adult Ed This Week
Celebrating Advent in Word, Deed, and Song – Final Class
Advent is the beginning of a New Church Year. It a season of preparation, reflection, and renewal that is celebrated by Christians throughout the world. How do we celebrate this season in our church and in our homes? How do you mark the season in your own families? Does the season become lost in the busyness of Christmas preparations? How can we make this season more meaningful? Join Pastor Chamie Delkeskamp and Carol Bartell for the final class in our Advent journey together in our Adult Education class on December 18.
Final Wednesday Evening Taize Advent Service
On Wednesday evening, December 21, we will have our final Taizé service of the season 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.
Pastor Paul On The Unique Benefits of Taizé
Let’s Celebrate Christ’s Birth Together
Ascension will have five services on Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24, beginning at 3 PM and continuing every two hours through 11 PM. Special family services will be held at 3 and 5 PM. Traditional services are scheduled for 7 and 9 PM, while a candlelight communion service will be held at 11 PM.
On Sunday morning, Christmas Day, join the Delkeskamp Family for one of their favorite traditions — Christmas Morning Worship with Holy Communion at 9:30 AM.
Flowers On The Altar
The flowers on the altar are in celebration of Eric & Amanda Berg’s 30th wedding anniversary.
Gifts of Hope
Thank You For Another Great Year!
Thank you to the 78 people/families who have contributed a total of $57,795.99 to this year’s Gifts of Hope projects (as of Dec. 8th). Gifts are welcome through the end of December. What’s important is not only total amount of gifts but also the total amount of people/families who contribute anything to one of our four projects:
(1) The StARS Refugee work in Cairo, Egypt, led by our ELCA missionaries. Here’s the annual StARS newsletter.
(2) Friends of Fieldworkers of Ventura County. We think the leader will be with us in the new year to give us an update on their ministries.
(3) Harbor House. We love their work and Denise’s leadership.
(4) ELCA World Hunger Appeal, God’s Global Barnyard. It’s under this last one that we’d like to see every family make a gift to help fight hunger, whether you can give $5 or $500. Every gift matters.
We’d love to see the number of Ascension contributors go from 78 people to 500 people!
Here’s the link to our Gifts of Hope webpage.
Thanks for bringing hope this holy season to so many people in need in our community and around the world, in Jesus’ name!
God’s Work, Many Hands
Christmas cards for detainees, collected for distribution by Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS), were helped along the way via Ascension as a collection point in our area. Pastor Steve led the effort to organize and send on some 1,410 cards and letters in English, and another 2,287 in Spanish — Total: 3,697. Ascension is one of three congregations in the country to receive and send these cards. The others are in Chicago and Baltimore.
In Need Of Prayer
News Briefs
GriefShare
The holidays can be especially tough for those who grieve. Share with others who understand. GriefShare is meeting at 1 PM Thursdays in the chapel. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Brenda Heinrich at (805) 279-4235.
Ascension’s New Member Class
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 .
Creation Care tips from the Eco-Elf
International Mountains Day
Mountain ecosystems are some of the most fragile in the world. They are also some of the most beautiful. But with more and more people visiting these places, it’s important to take care of them. Here are a few tips on how to take care of mountains.
1. Stay on marked trails. This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s important. When you leave the trail, you could damage fragile vegetation.
2 Don’t litter. This is another obvious one, but it’s important to keep mountains clean. Litter not only looks bad, but it can also harm wildlife.
3. Be careful with fire. If you’re camping in the mountains, make sure you put it out completely before you leave.
4. Be respectful of wildlife. If you see wildlife, admire it from a distance. Don’t try to touch or feed them.
5. Take your trash with you. This goes along with not littering. Make sure you pack out everything you bring in.
By following these simple tips, you can help take care of mountains and ensure that they remain beautiful for future generations.
Fair Trade
Merry Christmas Ascension Community!
Thank You Ascension Community for another great year celebrating Fair Trade, its values and its mission promoting justice for people and our planet. We’ll be back in January with an opportunity to order delicious Fair Trade chocolate, coffee, tea and snacks – a great way to kick-off 2023! Until then, we wish everyone a very blessed and Merry Christmas. And Let’s Be Fair Out There!
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.
Calendaring Retreat:
Setting 2023 to Life-Giving Rhythms
Saturday, January 7, 2023, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
$50, Lunch Provided
Poet Mary Oliver wrote, “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” As we begin a new year, you are invited to bring your calendar and join Pastor Chamie for a half-day retreat where we will explore Christian rhythms of work and rest, of prayer and service. You will have time to ponder where and to what and to who God might be calling you in this next year.
Do you long to live a less busy and more full life? Do you want to intentionally make time for certain endeavors? How might organizing your calendar bring you closer to God? On retreat, you will have time for individual reflection as well as community time around the table.
Registration opens next week. CLICK HERE to register. For more information, CLICK HERE or contact Pastor Chamie at .
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 7:10-16
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25
Next Week:
Isaiah 9:2-7
Titus 3:4-7
Luke 2:1-20
Best Practices for Submitting Your Newsletter Stories CLICK HERE
Kicker:
Headline
TEXT
News Brief
Lefse Making
The high schoolers will be making Lefse 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 lefse 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 lefse grills, potato ricers, potato peelers, and rolling pins, those are also much appreciated. Contact Dianne Beck, Youth Director, at .
Cobbler Sign Ups
If you are coming to the Saturday, Dec. 17, Cowboy Christmas service and would like to have some of Nancy Lee’s famous Dutch Oven Cobbler afterwards, please sign up! She needs to know how much to make. CLICK HERE to go to our ALCTO.org Announcements page to Sign Up. If you need help, call the office.
GriefShare
The holidays can be especially tough for those who grieve. Share with others who understand. GriefShare is meeting at 1 PM Thursdays in the chapel. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Brenda Heinrich at (805) 279-4235.
Thrivent Choice Dollars
Thrivent Members, remember: You can direct Choice Dollars to Ascension! If you have any questions about directing Choice Dollars or making a personal donation, contact the Thrivent call center at 1-800-847-4836 and say “Thrivent Choice” at the prompt.
Kicker:
Headline
TEXT
Kicker:
Headline
TEXT
Kicker:
Headline
TEXT
Kicker:
Headline
TEXT
Kicker:
Headline
TEXT
