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
February 12, 2023
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Grace and peace to you my family in Christ,
Valentine’s day is just around the corner and love is in the air. Can you feel it? And love is amazing. It is the most powerful force in the universe. Nothing else can motivate a human, a group, a whole church to do incredible things. How many songs are written about love? How many poems?
And yet love is not something that can be produced, manufactured, or bought as a commodity. Instead, it must come from a deeper place. It must come from the heart. So how do we fill our hearts with it? How do we tap into its power? We have to go to the source.
Let’s talk more about this in worship this weekend. See you in church!
Blessings,
This Week in Adult Ed:
Matthew 25:31-46 and the Question, “Who is My Neighbor?”
Led by Louise Evenson, Ph.D., former adjunct professor and dean at CLU, American Express Group VP, and long-time board member of Lutheran World Relief. “After reading Matthew 25:31-46, we will review Lutheran World Relief’s response to the Ukrainian crisis,” she says. She will also cover what the Matthew 25:35 Outreach Ministry at Ascension has, and is, doing locally to support refugees and asylum seekers in the Conejo Valley. The group will discuss “WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?” and how we WELCOME THE STRANGER at Ascension.
10:10 in Founders Hall
Feb. 19
Dr. Carol Bartell, Dean and Professor Emerita: Reflections on Learning and Service Opportunities.
Feb. 26
Christina Sanchez, Associate Provost for Global Engagement at California Lutheran University, with some of her students.
In Need Of Prayer
Help for Earthquake Victims
As images continue to fill the media of the devastation in the wake of the recent 7.8 earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria, Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran Disaster Response are already on the frontlines to bring assistance and, as always, serve as the hands and feet of God. The needs are growing by the hour. Here are links to provide financial support.
Lunch Bunch Reunion
Lunch Bunch has been a greatly missed Ascension institution since the passing of Cheryll Swiontkowski — so it was especially nice to regroup for a time of Lunch Bunch fellowship and food recently. Thanks to Lloyd, Lisa, and chef Kenny, from The Reserve at Thousand Oaks, for providing a delicious eggplant parmigiana lunch. They offered to do a meal again here and/or at their place.
Leaders of various ministries spoke briefly and invited others to join: Eucharistic ministers, Christian Life Hours (last year we led 102 worship services in senior living places in town!), 3M – minor maintenance ministries, and Prayer Ministries. Find out more about our thriving Senior Adult Ministries and how you can join in and/or help out! See the Senior Adult Ministries story, this page.
Pastor Steve’s Senior Adult Ministries Report:
How Would You Like to Help Serve?
We would love to have more people either visiting our oldest members or leading simple worship services (Christian Life Hours) in more senior living places. Last year we led 102 of these services in the community.
We are also looking into starting another training session for Eucharistic Ministers.
We are looking for more volunteers for our 3M: minor maintenance ministries. Tell Beverly David.
And we’d love to figure out a way to do something similar to Lunch Bunch.
Thank you for your prayers and participation. Special thanks to the leaders of these various ministries.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SENIOR ADULT MINISTRIES
Baptism This Weekend
Lyla James Woolsey
Born: 6-21-2022
Financial Commitment 2023
Have you made your commitment yet?
News Briefs
Project Response Set for March 4-5
Looking ahead to our next food drive! Check out the list of needed pantry items.
Bowls of Hope for Many Mansions
March 26, CLU Kingsmen Park, 11 AM – 2 PM Enjoy meaningful & fun family activities: an informative exhibition on the homelessness issue, affordable housing, and Many Mansions; an opportunity to take action and be part of the solution; crafts, games, and a raffle! By attending Bowls of Hope, you’re investing in your community! All proceeds from this event support our continued work to provide affordable housing and life-enriching services to families that call Many Mansions home.
Kudos to Michele McDonald
Congratulations to Ascension’s Michele McDonald, Principal of Cypress Elementary in Newbury Park, and to the staff there, including 3rd grade teacher, Josh Parker, also a member of Ascension! Cypress is the first elementary school in Ventura County to achieve International Baccalaureate status.
NP High School has been an IB-authorized school since 1996.
Don Bielke Memorial Service
Don Bielke’s family and many friends will gather here in the sanctuary on Saturday, February 18, at 1 PM, for his memorial service.
LITTLE HANDS, BIG CROP:
This year’s annual tomato seed starting has begun! This year marks our 10th Annual Tomato Sale! To celebrate, classic tomato varieties will be available as well as the new addition of other fruits and vegetables including cucumbers, beans, watermelon, cantaloupe, squash, and herbs!
Come buy your plants Friday, March 31-Sunday, April 2!
CALLER WANTED
“Hello—and happy birthday! This is Ascension’s Telecare Ministry calling, and we want you to know that your entire Ascension family wishes you a happy, happy birthday and a great year ahead.”
That’s a Telecare caller in action—a kind person with a joyful “happy birthday” greeting. We need two new callers to make these greetings on Fridays and on Tuesdays. Can you lend us your voice? Being a card sender is another option. Contact Jenelle Smith at or call the office.
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.
Ascension Needs Quilters!
Are you or someone you know blessed with the beautiful gift of sewing and quilting? If so, we would love your 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. We currently have a need for a few more quilters so all our recipients can receive a quilt. If you’d like to help, please contact Dianne Beck, Youth Director, 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:
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Psalm 119:1-8
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Matthew 5:21-37
Next Week:
Exodus 24:12-18
Psalm 2
2 Peter 1:16-21
Matthew 17:1-9
