Grace and peace to you my sisters and brothers in Christ,
What happens when somebody asks you the same question 3 times in a row?
I mean, once is normal. Twice? Maybe that would be for clarification. But 3 times?
Somethings going on there.
This week we will be looking at the story of Jesus asking Peter: “Do you love me?”
He asks this not once of course… but 3 times. Something is going on.
Let’s explore this story this weekend in worship so that we can be filled with and transformed by the word of God.
Looking forward to seeing you in worship!
Blessings,
Don’t miss this!
Jeff Hengst and Cam Lorentson Keep Ascension in good shape!
Check out the latest video in Ascension’s “Growing Generosity” series featuring Jeff Hengst and Cam Lorenston of the maintenance department. These two give all they’ve got to make sure the lights stay on in all seven campus buildings! CLICK HERE.
In Need Of Prayer
May 1 Adult Ed
Finding Jesus At The Border
Rev. Dr. Julia Fogg talks with us about the experiences of writing her book Finding Jesus at the Border: Opening Our Hearts to the Stories of Our Immigrant Neighbors, Baker Press 2020. Julia comes with stories about accompanying Oxnard pastors to their ICE appointments, visiting detainees and asylum seekers at Adelanto detention center (2-3 hours drive from Thousand Oaks), and supporting young Latino/Dreamers and DACA students at a Pasadena bilingual Lutheran church and in the student body at Cal Lutheran.
What does Jesus have in common with these young people? Like them, Jesus also crossed borders, as a babe in his mother’s arms fleeing to Egypt, and as Jew meeting Gentiles in Syrophoenecian territory. Julia interweaves the stories of contemporary border crosses with Jesus’ border crossings in the gospels. She argues that when we get out of our comfort zones to meet our immigrant neighbors, we too encounter Jesus.
10:10 AM Founders Hall
May 15
Dr. Arto Kallioniemi, professor of religious education at the University of Helsinki, will discuss Ecumenical and Interfaith Connections. Dr. Kallioniemi also holds a Unesco Chair on Values, Dialogue, and Human Rights.
Calling All Graduates and Families of Graduates!
We are planning a congratulations tribute to all of Ascension’s sons and daughters who are completing milestones in education this year — and WE DON’T WANT TO LEAVE ANYONE OUT!
Families, we need your graduating student’s NAME, SCHOOL and, if applicable, COLLEGE DEGREE.
Please email , or drop off your information at the church office.
Donations Needed For Refugee Families
Senior Luther League Update
(Senior Luther League is our youth group for all high schoolers grades 9-12)
Chili Cook Off: Ready, Set, NOW!
The Chili Cook-Off trash pick-up is on Sunday, May 1st from 1:00-3:30 or 3:30-6:30. (No Bible Study this day) The Thousand Oaks Rotary gives us a very generous donation for helping with this. You can sign up as individuals or as a family to help with this.
Sign up HERE for Chili Cook-off Trash Clean-up Sunday, May 1.
The other opportunity to help out this month is the Global Ministries Fair Trade Gift Fair on Saturday, May 7th.
You can help sell items, make and sell popcorn and drinks, or help with the kids’ craft table. You can sign up in shifts or for the entire day (8 am-3:30 p.m.) Global Ministries is donating ten percent of the profits to the youth!
Sign up HERE for Fair Trade Gift Fair Saturday, May 7:
Bible study continues on Sundays from 5:00-6:30 in the dugout. Remember you are always welcome, whether you’ve come before or not, whether you can only come sometimes or all the time, whether you’re late or need to leave a little early. Just come! We love having all who can make it.
Thank you so much for supporting Senior Luther League with any help you can provide!
Can you help?
VBS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
We need lots of volunteers for July 11 – 15!
Did you know:
- We have roles that require zero prep?
- Those 7th grade and up can help!
- We are especially in need of an energetic MC for our opening and closing time.
- Even if you’re not available July 11-15, we can use you to help us prepare.
If you think you can’t or you feel a little scared of the idea, remember: that’s often how God’s call feels! Can you help? Want more info? Come and talk to me!
A Treat for Mom – And Everyone
Saturday, May 7, our 6 o’clock worship service will have some nice tributes to Moms, this being Mothers Day Eve.
Afterward, there will be Nancy Lee’s special home made strawberry shortcake available as part of the post-service fellowship time, a nice treat for Mom, and anyone else who’d like a slice of this yummy dessert!.
All we ask is that you sign up in advance if you want shortcake, so Nancy will know how much to make. Thanks! Signup Here
Help With Cam’s Truck
Would you like to help Cam Lorentson recover the loss of his tools and truck accessories?
As you may know, he recently had his truck stolen — a truck that has carried countless loads for Ascension through the years. Insurance is covering the basics, but a number of items will have to be replaced.
NEW dates and times
Tomato Plant Sale IMPORTANT Update
For nine years, Ascension Lutheran ECC, School, and Church children and youth have planted tomato seeds and sold the plants each spring.
We have many beautiful tomato plants that will be ready for sale this weekend. However, we have been faced with a challenge we have never experienced — bad soil.
We purchased the same soil brand that we have successfully used for the last several years. But when our tomato transplants seemed stunted in their growth, we tested the soil and realized it was lacking in important nutrients.
It has been a growing opportunity for our students to study soil science. They tested the soil and discovered the problem.
We were then donated several bags of nutrient-rich soil. We re-transplanted all the seedlings that had been in the dead soil. Some plants were lucky enough to go in good soil right away.
The result is that we have some big tomato plants that were never in bad soil, some smaller yet thriving plants that are loving their new soil, some even smaller plants that we think will also thrive as they just need a bit more time to catch up. And sadly, we will have plants that won’t make it this year.
At school, we talked about the children’s book What Do You Do With A Problem? This is a great book for people of all ages to think about what you do when you’re met with a problem; you can enjoy an online reading of it here.
We have had some very sad students who have seedlings that may not make it. Yet we also have amazing learners, problem-solvers, and enthusiastic students who look forward to putting on the Friday sale.
We have modified the sale dates and times as follows:
Friday, April 29, 2:30-3:30 PM Ascension School ONLY (Elementary & ECC students and families)
Friday, April 29, 3:30-5:30 PM Ascension School, Church, and Friends
Sunday, May 1 TBD depending on inventory
Mid May TBD depending on inventory
The Friday Tomato Plant Sale will also include a petting zoo as well as a self-guided tour with photos that will help you envision what the new “One Ascension Oasis” is going to look like. This will be an amazing space for outdoor learning, cooking, eating, gathering, and worship. It will include outdoor classroom space, garden boxes, an outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven, an eating area, a small play area, a gathering deck for various groups including Life Groups, a beautiful greenhouse, and an ampitheater for outdoor worship and special events.
We thank you for your support!
Pastor Chaime Delkeskamp
Baptism This Weekend
Luke William Miller
Born: 11-11-21

A LITTLE SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT
Attention Amazon shoppers: when you choose Ascension Lutheran Church & School as your Amazon Smile recipient, donations add up for our smile account. It costs you nothing and the selection of products is exactly the same. To go to Ascension’s Amazon Smile page, click HERE.
Join Us For:
Baby Book Group!
Parents and little ones 3 years and younger are invited to join us on the school lawn Sunday, May 1st at 10:30 to read an age-appropriate, faith-based book together.
Bring a blanket to sit on (or we’ll have extras). Light snacks provided. This is an opportunity to connect with other families!
You’ll get a FREE copy of the book to take home too!

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:
Acts 9:1-6 [7-20]
Psalm 30 (11)
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19
Next Week:
Acts 9:36-43
Psalm 23 (1)
Revelation 7:9-17
John 10:22-30