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

April 10, 2022

Palm Sunday

Grace and peace to you, my sisters and brothers in Christ,

This weekend the Christian church around the world celebrates one of the most colorful events of its faith heritage-the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. We call it Palm Sunday. This event was foreseen by the prophet Zechariah, and it had royal significance. Going all the way back to the anointing of Solomon in 1 Kings, the donkey was a mount that kings would enter the city on to celebrate joyful and peaceful occasions. And the Palm branches as we understand best from Revelation 7, were waved by people as they shouted “Hosana!” as a sign of celebration and victory. And yet… there is something ironic happening. Knowing what we know after the fact, that Jesus was the only one in Jerusalem that day that knew that very crowd that was shouting “Hosana!” would be shouting “crucify him!” just four days later changes the whole meaning. Turns out, it’s about humility. Let’s talk more about it this weekend in church.

Blessings,

 

 

Holy Week and Easter

 

April 10 Palm Sunday: 9 and 11 AM, Saturday observance April 9

April 14 Maundy Thursday: 9 AM Chapel and 7 PM Evening

Holy Communion at both the morning and evening services with bread baked by the Ascension School 6th graders

April 15 Good Friday: 11:15 AM Chapel and 7 PM Evening

April 16 Saturday Easter Service with Country Spirit, 6 PM

April 17 Easter Sunday:

7 AM Outdoor Sunrise Service in the future Garden Oasis

The service will be under the oak tree behind the modular at the far end of the big parking lot. Please note that walkways are primarily dirt and wood chips.

9 AM Traditional Festival Service with our Chancel Choir, Carillons

11 AM Contemporary Easter service with Praise Alive

Holy Communion will be served at each Easter service

10:30 Easter Egg Hunt

Easter mural
Pastors in front of mural 2021 (1)
maundy Thursday icon
Good Friday crosses
Easter 2021 parking lot
Easter - Pastor Tim in front of lily cross
Easter - children's chat crowd
Easter - parking lot 2 2021

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

Give an Easter Lily for Remembrance

Majestic Easter lilies beautify our sanctuary each year—and you are invited to donate one or more in honor or remembrance of someone special to you. You can purchase an Easter lily by filling out a flower envelope in the pew rack and enclosing $9 for each lily ordered.

LAST CALL: Whether you are attending our school’s auction or not, you can still bid online if you register here, via our school site. Bidding ends at 7 PM Saturday night.

Nature Explore Applauds Ascension!

Our focus on nature and creation care is a big part of what makes Ascension Lutheran School such a special place to grow in learning. We are delighted that the school has not only achieved recertification through Nature Explore, but that this prized designation came with lovely kudos. Here is part of the letter received by Pastor Chamie:

“Thank you for being an instrumental part of our global movement of bringing the benefits of learning with nature to children everywhere! Through your work, you are making a difference by enhancing quality nature education, whole-child development, and the well-being of children and adults. We look forward to seeing your new additions!…Thank you for continuing to celebrate children and joy-filled learning in your outdoor classroom…” — Nana Gilson, Nature Explore

Take a look at Ascension’s page on the Nature Explore website

Our new accountant:

Welcome, Cecille Clayvielle!

Ascension’s new Senior Accountant, Cecille Clayvielle, undoubtedly deserves the title of She Who Came the Farthest to Join our Team. She made a journey of more than 7,000 miles, in fact, since the mother of three sons and grandmother of four granddaughters originally hails from the Philippines.

Her heart full of God’s love is right at home here. She notes that she chose her new post, out of several opportunities that had come her way, because she feels Ascension is like a family.

Certainly, Cecille’s faith has brought her through some dark valleys. She tells the story of her youngest son READ MORE

Help Support our Youth at the Chili Cook-Off

When: Sunday, May 1st from 1:00-6:30

What: Help pick up trash and replace trash bags

Where: Thousand Oaks Library Park

Why: This is a great way to support our youth as the Rotary Club donates money to us for helping in this way! We need more helpers to make this work though.

Contact: Dianne Beck, Youth Director,

Letter from Eastern Europe, April 1

Repentance, Reconciliation, Restoration: A Missionary Update from Slovakia

The following is a newsletter update from Rev. Kyle & Ånna Svennungsen, ELCA missionaries in Slovakia:

Greetings dear partners in ministry!

We are writing to you from Bratislava, Slovakia. At Bratislava International Church, our theme for Lent is ‘Walking with Jesus: Repentance, Reconciliation, Restoration.’ This theme was chosen before the war in Ukraine began and it has taken on a whole new meaning in these last four weeks. Not only is there need for repentance, reconciliation, and restoration with our Creator; but also with one another.

CLICK HERE FOR THE MISSIONARY REPORT

Monday Morning Bible Study Devotional, April 4, 2022

Dear Friends in Christ:

I love stories—I love reading them, hearing them, telling them, writing them. It’s what propelled me into journalism, a career I relished for decades. What could be more fun than visiting with people and hearing their stories—and then writing them? I was constantly astonished at the lives people—just ordinary people like you and me—had lived.

It was enthralling. And it convinced me that everyone… (continue reading)

Thank you, Pastor Steve:

Baby Book Group

Pastor Julie’s Baby Book Group meeting last Sunday was, well, awfully cute. Pastor Steve subbed for Pastor Julie since she needed to be away with family. Participants each received a copy of the book, God’s Wonderful World. Babies, be sure to stay tuned for news of the next Baby Book Group and come, bring your blankets and parents for a guaranteed good time.

babies 3
babies 2
babies 1

New Mask Guidelines

Masks are optional throughout the whole service including singing. The communion servers will wear masks.

Attend via Zoom:

Help for Refugees

Ascension’s Matthew 25:35 ministry leader, Eloise Cohen, will be part of a panel taking about the Conejo Interfaith Refugee Welcome Team at Moorpark College’s Multicutural Day, April 12.

From the panel description: More than 76,000 Afghans have been brought to the U.S. since last summer, when they were airlifted from the Kabul airport during the chaotic final weeks of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. This presentation will give background information about their resettlement and effort currently ongoing in Southern California, and specifically Ventura County, to assist them.

Go to the MCD Agenda to learn more and get a link to attend via Zoom.

Click HERE to help now.

Coming Up in Adult Ed

   Sing a New Song

From where do the words of a song come?  What is the inspiration?  What is the intention behind the words?

I have written texts for twenty-seven hymns, many of which we have sung here at Ascension.  Some were written in preparation for significant events, and some were written in response to events.  Some just seemed to happen.  In every case, it was and is my hope that God is glorified through the words of these hymns.

I invite you to join me for the Adult Sunday School class on April 24, where I will share with you the stories behind my hymn texts.  We will likely sing a bit too.

Pastor Paul

Join The Green Faith Team

Nature Wants You!

Go out and thank God for God’s beautiful creation!

And join our Green Faith Team on Wednesday, April 27, at 7 PM, starting in the Bethlehem Room, and then walking outdoors on our campus, before sunset at 7:37!

(We meet on the “forth” Wednesday of each month because we are “for” creation!) Team leader: Kristine Werner.

~ Pastor Steve

yellow and purple flowers
poppies

GARDEN NEWS

Help is needed in this next month leading up to and through our annual Tomato Plant Sale and Garden Festival which is Friday, April 29, 2:30-5:30 and Sunday, May 1, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. 

If you are interested in being on the “Tomato Team,” contact Pastor Chamie at .

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – and Compost: In the Outdoor Classroom – and at lunch – Ascension students continue working at perfecting their knowledge of what item goes where: chip bags in the trash, paper in mixed recyclables, and apple cores in the food waste composter. Students are learning about the wonders of composting and getting to play with worms.

 

Ascension Lutheran School is special. We know that, and we want to get the word out! Please watch this excellent new video about our school, and share with anyone who might be looking for a school that combines faith and top academic standards. We want everyone to know about our wonderful  school. 

CLICK HERE to watch video.

Save the Date

VBS Will be the Week of July 11 in the Mornings

Pericopes

This Week:

Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16 (5)
Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 22:14 — 23:56

Next Week:

Acts 10:34-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 (24)
1 Corinthians 15:19-26
Luke 24:1-12

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