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
May 14, 2023
Grace and peace to you my family in Christ,
This weekend we are looking at one of my favorite passages of scripture in Acts 17. It is the story of the Apostle Paul showing up at the Areopagus (aka Mars Hill) in Athens Greece to share the gospel with a bunch of highly educated Greek philosophers.
These philosophers don’t have any background with the Jewish scriptures so it is fascinating to see how Paul adjusts his message to explain the gospel in ways that they can understand it.
I think this example is very helpful and inspiring to us Christians today as we figure out how to translate our faith into language that people in our culture can understand.
So, let’s talk and let the Holy Spirit challenge and inspire us!
See you in church!
Blessings,
Have you filled out our Worship Survey?
In case you missed it, here is Pastor Tim’s message from earlier this week:
Thank you for taking a few minutes to take this survey that will help us understand key measurements that we are looking at regarding the worship experience.
We want Ascension members and all who come to worship here to “Get the blessing and be the blessing” and your feedback along with your participation in worship helps immensely!
CLICK HERE FOR THE SURVEY
Blessings,
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, June 11, 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 Jenelle Smith at . RSVP by June 5.
This Sunday: VBS Adopt-a-Prop!
Come to the narthex on Sunday to check out our collection of adopt-a-prop bags, which contain all the supplies needed to make a VBS prop for us at home! Choose from: making moon rocks, painting a planet, or building us a moon crater! All instructions are provided, too!
Calling All Graduates and Families of Graduates!
Full-Time Job Opportunity at Ascension
Ascension Lutheran Church is looking for a new administrative assistant to add to our team. This is a vital opportunity for the right person: It is a full-time position that includes health and retirement benefits and a potential school discount. Interested parties, please check details at Career Opportunities at Ascension – Ascension Lutheran Church Thousand Oaks (alcto.org)
This summer:
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
July 10-14
We need lots of volunteers for Vacation Bible School!
Did you know:
- We have roles that require zero prep?
- Those 7th grade and up can help!
- Even if you’re not available the week of July 10, 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! 😊
Come and talk to me!
Can you help? Want more info.? Talk to Pastor Julie:
To Sign Up, go to https://vbspro.events/p/events/ascensionvbs2023
AL School Food Drive
Ascension Lutheran School is pitching in to help our food pantry with a food drive – and we can pitch in to help them help, too! May 17-24, bring your donations to the church office during the week, or drop them off at church when you come for weekend services. The need is great. In one recent Friday alone, our pantry gave away more than 60 bags of food to our neighbors who came asking for help. Above is the list of most-needed items. Remember, we can’t give out any expired food.
“The best Ingredient in Chocolate is Social Justice”
— Gillian Goddard
We Agree!
Who is Gillian Goddard, you ask? She’s the Convenor of the Cross-Atlantic Chocolate Collective Steering Committee, the founder and director of the Alliance of Rural Communities, and farmer/owner of Sun Eaters Organics farm in Trinidad and Tobago.
What’s the Cross-Atlantic Chocolate Collective, you ask? Come to Founders Hall on Sunday, May 21st from 10:10-10:50 AM and you’ll find out! Here’s a hint: The Cross Atlantic Chocolate Collective is working to decolonize the chocolate market, bean by bean, to enable men and women around the globe to cultivate their cacao fruit, process their beans, and make and sell their own chocolate. There will be a test – a taste test that is! We’ll be tasting chocolate from Nigeria, Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.
Will you be able to tell the difference between the various chocolates? You won’t want to be absent for class on May 21st … there may be some surprises too.
VBS needs:
Paper bags (lots!)
Large boxes, especially tv sized boxes
A metal trash can (we’ll give it back after vbs!)
Please bring any donations to the church office!
In Need Of Prayer
Congregational Meeting
June 25
After 9 AM Worship
ATTENTION SPACE EXPLORERS
This summer’s Stellar VBS is looking for a few good builders to construct two primary set decorations for the week-long program in July; a LUNAR LANDER, and a ROVER.
Ideally, pieces for each item will be created and assembled by a two-person team. Instructions, specs and materials will be provided. Some tools and experience are necessary.
Soon, we’ll also be looking for crafters to help us build stars, portholes, etc., from home.
Sign on to the job by visiting the display in the narthex after service, or contacting Pastor Julie: . Mission command thanks you!
Check it Out: New ECC Website!
Congratulations to Ascension Lutheran Early Childhood Center. Your brand new website looks awesome!
This easy-to-navigate fiesta of cuteness was built by Ashley Nicole McCoy, who studied marketing at Cal Lutheran and now has her own company, Start Here Marketing, in College Station, Texas. She also happens to be one of the daughters of ECC director Jenni McCoy. (Lots of talent around here.)
Do stop in and look around the site. You, too, are bound to find the expression of our ECC’s mission and its actualization both heart-warming and inspirational. And cute. Did we mention cute?
Last Call for Ordering Your Fair Trade Favorites!
Now is the time to stock up on your Fair Trade favorites for picnics, outings and celebrations with family and friends. We’ve got coffee, tea, snacks, cheese and chocolate – lots of delicious chocolate in its many wonderful forms. Orders for your Fair Trade favorites can be placed until Sunday, May 14 (6 PM). We hope to have orders ready for pick-up before May 23. The May Order form is available on our Fair Trade webpage using this link: https://alcto.org/fair-trade/ Paper copies of the form are also available in the church office.
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, Julie McCain, and Steve Herder
Don’t miss another TWAA
Pericopes
This Week:
Acts 17:22-31
Psalm 66:8-20
1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21
Next Week:
Acts 1:6-14
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
John 17:1-11
