Worship:
Saturday 6 PM
Sunday 9 & 11 AM
Wednesday 9 AM
This Week At Ascension
Called to create opportunities for all people to become devoted followers of Christ
March 6, 2022
Dear friends in Christ at Ascension,
Thank you for your constant prayers for the people of Ukraine and for many of you asking, “How can we help?” Our newsletter shares some ideas.
This weekend in worship, the first Sunday in Lent, we’ll focus on Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness, and how we respond to temptations as well. Luke 4:1-13.
Cheryll Swiontkowski’s memorial service will be April 2, at 11:00am. We are still planning the service for Helen Nenne. Thanks for your prayers for those families.
This week we had the joy of celebrating the birthdays of Micky Johnson (95), and Al Leland (97) in visits with them. On Monday we helped five people (families) who came needing help. Your donations to our food pantry, Agape Fund, and Caring Ones are greatly appreciated.
This past week Pastor Tim and the choir got us off to a great start with our Wednesday evening services. Next Wednesday at 7:00pm we will start the beautiful Holden Evening Prayer Service.
We are reading the book Abba’s Child and sharing in Life Group discussions. This Sunday Pastor Paul will lead our class at 10:10am on the texts of hymns, in Founders Hall. And families with young children, check out the fun Friday movie night in Pederson Hall, with Pastor Julie, Emma, and our school too.
If you missed the two wonderful events at Cal Lutheran last weekend, you can watch them with this link.
Prayers for a number of you still healing from surgery or in therapy. Blessings in your Lenten disciplines and we hope to see you in worship.
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
Lent – A Time for Sharing
Please join us every Wednesday evening through Lent for Holden Evening Prayer services at 7 PM. This beloved tradition is now back to its in-person form.
Click HERE for a sample from pre-Covid.
After worship, share fellowship and cookies.
Our congregation is sharing in the reading of the book Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging by Brennan Manning. Please join us in this Lenten study geared toward deepening our relationship with God. Click here for more info.
And consider joining a Life Group if you’re not already a part of one. Write to our Life Groups leader, Sara Wallace, and she will help you – even if you’re in it just for this Lenten group reading experience.
GARDEN NEWS
Our garden/outdoor classroom work day was a great success! Many families came out to prepare the space all around the modular at the far end of the big parking lot (where our future garden/outdoor community pavilion will be built) so students can use this space the rest of the school year as their outdoor classroom and also hold the tomato plant sale in this area. CLICK HERE for more garden news!
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Last week, Ascension’s Early Childhood Center and Elementary School each had work days on the same day. ECC, Church and School families turned out to help. It was a great day of fellowship, working together in the beautiful Thousand Oaks sunshine. It was such a success, in fact, that our principal, Rich Gregory, ECC Director Jenni McCoy, and garden leader and guiding force, Pastor Chamie Delkeskamp, would like to make this an annual happening. You’ll be hearing more about this great One Ascension event. For now, here are views of the day, thanks to Mr. Gregory, Mrs. Jenni and Pastor Chamie.
Adult Ed—MARCH 6
It’s All In The Music… And In The Words
It is hard to imagine a celebration or a party or a parade or a worship service without music.
Join Pastor Paul for the Adult Class at 10:10 on March 6 to explore some of the amazing, life-changing words that hymns make part of our bones. Hopefully by looking at a few hymns together, you will be sensitized to pay closer attention to all the words of all the hymns we love to sing in church.
Upcoming Adult Ed:
March 13 Holden Village and International Women Leaders from California Lutheran University
March 20 Eric Berg and Pastor Jack will teach on the apocrypha book “Bel and the Dragon.”
March 27 Join Ascension member Ed Klodt at 10:10 a.m. on Sunday, March 27th, as he discusses his latest book, Inspiring Generosity, and shows us how great art can become an amazing devotional tool in our faith walk.
In Need Of Prayer
News Briefs
“Beautiful You” Donations Needed
The Women’s Interfaith Network needs YOU to donate clothing for young women ages 15 – 22. CLICK HERE for more info.
Dr. Carol Bartell Lecture at CLU
The governance of public schools is a rather complex issue that incorporates various government entities at the federal, state and local levels. Added to the mix are a variety of organizations and special interest groups that have an impact on what is taught, how it is taught, to whom, and under what circumstances. In recent times, schooling has become highly politicized. However, this is not new. To understand how this happens, this lecture will examine the structure of public education in the United States and how it has evolved. Ascension’s Carol Bartell, Dean and Professor Emeritus of CLU’s Graduate School of Education, will deliver this lecture March 31 at 10 AM via Zoom.
Ways to Help Ukraine
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'” – Mr. Rogers
The help pouring into Ukraine is encouraging. Our own Lutheran Disaster Response and Lutheran World Relief are answering the call with ways we can assist our brothers and sisters there.
We have a DOUBLING GIFT OFFER through LWR and the Nelsonville Lutheran Church in Wisconsin: Our friends at Nelsonville Lutheran will double all gifts from congregations – up to $100,000 – for our neighbors suffering in the Ukraine crisis. CLICK HERE TO DONATE THROUGH LWR.
Our Lutheran Disaster Response is also on the ground in this crisis, accompanying our companion churches in Ukraine, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, as well as such ecumenical partners as the Lutheran World Federation and Church World Service, in their humanitarian responses to the crisis. These partners provide refugees with immediate support and supplies such as food, blankets, water and hygiene kits. HERE’S HOW TO HELP THROUGH LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE.
Cookies Needed For Lenten Fellowship In Founders Hall
The Library Committee is getting ready for Lent. Once again we will need Cookies each week for the fellowship time in Founders Hall after the Wednesday evening service. The remaining dates this year are March 9, March 16, March 23, March 30 and April 6. If you want to provide cookies for any of these dates please call Dolores Ledbetter at 805-716-3045 or 805-750-7646.
Bowls of Hope Needs You!
Volunteers are needed for the Many Mansions fundraiser, Bowls of Hope, at CLU March 20.
Whether you are able to volunteer behind the bowls or not, please do consider attending this delicious and worthy event.
SAVE THE DATE: MARCH 12!
Irish St. Patrick’s Day Service
On March 12, our 6 PM worship service will be turned over to the Emerald Isle – complete with piper and bodhran drum. If you remember last year’s very special St. Patrick’s Day-themed service led by Nancy Lee, you will no doubt want to make sure to come, and if you missed it, well, make double sure to be there this time. Sign up for Irish treats afterwards (click here), so she will know how much to make!
Take Faith Home with
Join Pastor Julie for a five-session series about doing faith at home. Faith 5 is a tool to use for about 5 minutes every day and see your family grow closer!
Between worship services from 10:10 to 10:50 in the Library.
We’ll hear the challenges and success of others and discuss practical ways to implement it in your home. Come to as many as you’re able (it’s easy to catch you up)! This practice works great with kids as young as 3!
March 6: What happens to children who grow up praying for others?
March 20: Hear about the transformational power of giving and receiving a blessing every day.
Bring your kids, because Sunday School (age 3– 6th grade) is available at the same time.
Donuts and coffee are on the patio just before!
RSVP here so I can purchase plenty of materials for you! (But come even if you forget to RSVP!)
Rose on the Altar
Brynn Belle Sharpe Born: February 24, 2022
Proud Parents: Ingrid Sharpe and Sean Sharpe
Proud Grandparents:
Connie and Neil Reimer Kim and Gary Sharpe
Attendance & Offerings
INTERNSHIPS AT ASCENSION
Attention Students in Accounting and Related Disciplines: We have two internship opportunities at Ascension, 10 hours a week each. Please check our Career Opportunities at ALCTO.org
Part time employment position available at Ascension Lutheran School
Supervise students before and after school as well as during recess during school hours. Must be willing to be trained in CPR/1st Aid and have a live scan fingerprint. Experience in working with children is preferred but not mandatory. Must be 18+ years old. Part time position only within the hours of operation: 7:30 AM-6 PM – hours may be flexible $14 per hour. See Career Opportunities at ALCTO.org
Don’t miss another TWAA
Pericopes
This Week:
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 (11)
Romans 10:8b-13
Luke 4:1-13
Next Week:
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27 (5)
Philippians 3:17—4:1
Luke 13:31-35
If you have been with us at Ascension for very long then you know that every year at Lent, we study a book together as a congregation. This year will be no exception; our book will be Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging by Brennan Manning. For a description of the book, here is what is on the back cover:
