Worship:
This week, 1 Worship
Sunday 10 AM
This Week At Ascension
Called to create opportunities for all people to become devoted followers of Christ
September 10, 2023
Grace and peace to you my family in Christ,
This weekend is a special weekend. We are going to worship together as One Ascension. One church, School, and Foundation.
I know it might be inconvenient to come at a time when you don’t usually come. I am truly sorry that we are breaking the normal routine.
But we need to do it occasionally, because it is an important reminder to us all that the church is not a building, it is a people who have been “blessed to be a blessing.” That we don’t always agree with each other, but we love each other.
And we show up not just for ourselves but for our community and for those who are seeking to be a part of our community.
So thank you in advance for showing up! And let’s welcome one another and enjoy the party!
Blessings,
This Sunday is Rally Sunday: September 10!
What Does it Mean to Make a Quilt or Kit for Lutheran World Relief?
Listen to Tamara Demuria, Lutheran World Relief’s Chief Humanitarian Officer, and Fred McCray, who operates LWR’s humanitarian operational center in Turkey, as they share how receiving a handmade quilt and kit helps a displaced person feel a human connection in the midst of a disaster.
They also share how LWR decides to allocate resources at times of a humanitarian crisis, what ripple effects the people in Yemen, South Sudan and Lebanon face from the war on Ukraine, and what it means when you send your cash donation to LWR for humanitarian relief.
CLICK HERE to view on YouTube.
Come to Founders Hall on Sunday, September 10 from 8:30-9:45 and make a personal care kit for LWR and be part of sending HOPE to someone! We’ll be looking for you!
FOOD DRIVE TIME:
This past Sunday, Chris Clark, who leads our Community Concerns team, passed out bags for our Sept. 10 God’s Work, Our Hands food pantry grocery drive. Of course, any grocery bag will do. Here is the link for needed food items. Thank you for the photos, Chris!
Happy September to all our Ascension family!
Here are some things to remember as we head toward our Rally Day celebration Sept. 10:
There is only 1 worship service this weekend, 10 AM Sunday – so no Saturday service.
This is a great chance to show friends and neighbors what Ascension is all about. You’re enthusiastically invited to invite everyone Sunday morning:
8:30-9:45 LWR Personal Care Kits
10 Worship
11:15-1 Fun, including live music, free ice cream, and a rock wall
We will be assembling 300 personal care kits for Lutheran World Relief as part of our God’s Work Our Hands day of service Sunday. Come to Founders Hall for 10-15 minutes anytime between 8:30 and 9:45 AM and join in.
At the 10 o’clock service, there will be blessing of teachers, and also, blessing of backpacks and lunchboxes. So, if you have a student in your family, remember to bring their backpack/lunchbox.
This is also the first weekend of Sunday School. No need to pre-register, just join us for worship. Children are dismissed to Sunday School after the children’s message and return before the blessings.
Another aspect of this service day is donating bags of groceries for our Food Pantry. You’ll find the list of needed items HERE. Place them in the sanctuary under the wood carving of Jesus’ ascension.
After worship, at 11:15, stick around for the fun! Live music by Fiddle Leaf, a Rock Wall, bounce houses, a food truck and free Mr. Softee ice cream! Bring a lawn chair or blanket for live music on the lawn. (We’ll have chairs on the concrete for accessibility needs.)
We’re still in need of pop-ups and large fans with misters attached. If you have any you’re able to loan for the event, please call the office. (805) 495-0406.
Can you lend a hand? Help needed! Here are possibilities to sign up for! LINK: Rally Day Volunteers
If you take photos, we’d love to share them! Email them to the office () or post them #ALCTO75 #ALSTO60
Thank you! And remember, you can find information and links HERE.
Blessings,
Sunday School Starts September 10
On Rally Day Sunday, Sept. 10, Sunday School returns! At our one worship service that morning, 10 AM, children will be invited up to the front of the church to hear the children’s message, and then afterward be escorted to their Sunday School classes. They’ll be brought back to the sanctuary in time for the blessing of the teachers and the blessing of backpacks and lunch boxes at the end of the worship service.
Kids, don’t forget to bring your backpacks/lunch boxes.
Finger-Foods Needed :
Introducing Coffee Fellowship Reimagined
Beginning September 17
“Meet & Eat Coffee Fellowship” continues our Sunday worship as we gather together for fellowship and a bite of brunch-style finger foods.
Home chefs and food lovers alike are asked to sign up HERE.
Food ideas range from finger sandwiches to skewers of fruit, cheese, etc., Costco pizza bites to bagel halves with cream cheese. Be whimsical! Have fun! And of course, doughnuts will still be available from the youth group.
Your food item for about two dozen people should be delivered to the west Fellowship Patio before the 9 AM Service.
Questions and receipt reimbursements? Contact Janet Gardner at or Dolores Ledbetter at (805) 716-3045. Thank you!
Confirmation Information Session
For Parents and Students to attend together
Thursday, September 21, 6-7 PM
for 7th and 8th grade families
Confirmation is a two-year program of faith formation, service, and fun. Join us if you’re curious or want to know more information.
Email if you can’t make it but are still interested:
There are also lots of ways to make it work for those who cannot attend this session.
Full Moon Hike
Thursday, September 28, 6:30 PM
Led by Pastor Chamie, Devin Milligan, and Ms. Charlotte
Come watch the sun set and the “Harvest Moon” rise on Thursday, September 28 at the cross at California Lutheran University.
We will meet at the end of Mount Clef Blvd where it dead ends. We will begin the short hike up the cross at 6:30 PM.
The hike is brief, but a little steep near the cross. We will have a time of singing and prayer at the cross.
We will then hike back down around 7:30 PM. Sign up HERE
New Time and New Location for Adult Education Classes
We will kick off our new program of stimulating and informative Adult Education classes October 8. The classes will be held beginning at 10:30 on Sundays in the Library. The theme for October is: Vocation: Living a Purposeful Life.
October 8
Presenter: Rev. Paul Gravrock
Topic: Vocation and the Christian Life
October 15
Presenter: Colleen Windham-Hughes, PhD, MDiv, Associate Vice President for Mission and Identity, California Lutheran University
Topic: Discerning Vocation at Cal Lutheran
October 22
Presenter: Carol Bjelland and Fair Trade Chocolatier
Topic: Service through Fair Trade
October 29
Presenter: Rev. Paul Gravrock
Topic: Martin Luther’s Understanding of Vocation
Fair Trade & Fall – Dates & Events You Won’t Want to Miss!
Ascension’s Fair Trade Ministry has a line-up of events & opportunities for the coming weeks of the Fall season. You’ll want to mark your calendars so that you don’t miss out on the fun!
Fair Trade Lane will be open Thursday, September 14 (2:30 -4 PM) & Sunday, September 17 (10:10-10:55 AM). If you can’t join us on Fair Trade Lane, you can order your Fair Trade favorites until September 10, 2023 using the September 2023 Order Form. Paper copies are available in the Church Office & the Narthex. The September Form can also be found HERE and on Ascension’s Fair Trade webpage. A note to us at with your contact information and the items you would like to purchase works great too.
Here’s the schedule for Fair Trade Lane for October, November, and December:
October is Fair Trade Month and we’ve got a great double-header planned for Sunday, October 22 – chocolate is the topic for the Adult Ed Class Hour followed by tea, treats & fellowship in the afternoon. Watch for details in the coming weeks.
Ascension Fair Trade’s “Team Chocolate” is making plans for taking orders in October for boxed specialty chocolates made with Fair Trade ingredients. More details in the coming weeks.
If you’re not already getting our Ascension Fair Trade emails, now would be a great time to sign-up. If there’s news about Fair Trade at Ascension, our Fair Trade email group gets the scoop first! Just send us a note – our email address is and we’ll add you to our group of more than 70 Ascension Fair Traders! As members of the Ascension Community, we’re called to “Invite. Grow. Serve” – let’s do just that! Everyone’s Invited to Ascension Fair Trade events & opportunities. Let’s Grow Fair Trade at Ascension by inviting someone new to Fair Trade to an upcoming event. Let’s Grow the impact of Ascension’s Fair Trade Ministry promoting justice for people & planet. Let’s Grow the ways we can serve small farm and artisan groups domestically and abroad in their pursuits of sustainability and justice for their families, communities and the environment we all share.
Let’s Be Fair Out There!
Offerings & Attendance
Let’s Help Homeless Women
Please donate your clean,
Gently used handbags/purses.
The bags will be packed in November with:
Deodorant, socks, small lotion, hairbrushes, nail clippers, nail polish, lip gloss, chap stick, small hand sanitizers, and feminine hygiene products
Collection: October 21-29
Drop off daily 8 AM – 5 PM at St. Jude’s vestibule
Or
Saturday, October 21 at our drive-thru food and recycling collection from 9-10 a.m.
Call 805-495-4630 for questions
Book Club Notes
The Ascension Book Club meets the 3rd Thursday of the month at 1:30 in the Bethlehem Room, in the office building. The group chooses books based on members’ interest and discussion is led by one of the members. Books vary from popular novels to nonfiction. Please feel free to join us–we are a friendly group.
Upcoming books
*Sept 21 “Act One” by Moss Hart*
Oct 19 “The Great Alone” by Kristen Hannah
Nov 16 “A City of Promise” by Beverly Swerling
Dec 15. “Christmas by the Book” by Anne Marie Ryan
In November we will choose books for the next few months. We are open to suggestions. Books should be available by Libby, local library, Amazon or thriftbooks.
* This book could change to “Clark and Division” by Naomi Hirahara. Lots of copies at the Camarillo Library.
Harbor House Event
Harbor House is holding its third annual fundraiser, “Concert 4 The Conejo” on Saturday September 30, 2023 at Emmanuel Church.
Enjoy a relaxed evening with friends and community members to celebrate the work of Harbor House and support the work moving forward. Heavy appetizers, mocktails, a silent auction and live performances by local bands will be part of the evening! Seating will be indoor and outdoor.
More information about the fundraiser can be found on the Harbor House website, and tickets can be purchased here.
This is a community-based fundraiser that helps Harbor House raise funds to help those who are struggling to live here in the Conejo Valley.
In Need Of Prayer
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:
Genesis 12: 1-3
Matthew 5: 13-16
Next Week:
Romans 15:1-7
Luke 15:1-7
