Ascension LUTHERAN CHURCH

Reflections for September, 2016

In This Issue CHILDREN WITH A MISSION! 1 – Dates and Updates 2 - From the SW Corner The Children’s Sunday School Classes have 4 – Notes from the Vicar 7 – Stewardship begun a mission project with offerings 8 - LWML collected each week during our opening. 10 - Elder We are excited to work with Lutheran 12 – This ‘n That World Relief to provide a hen and chicks 14 – Music/Choirs for two women in El Salvador or Indonesia. 14 – Missional Outreach 15 – September Birthdays 15 – September Flowers A farm hen and chicks means eggs to eat, 16 – From the DCM eggs to sell, and chicks to grow a flock. 18 – Kids’ Corner This gift will empower women, giving them 19 - Reminders 20 – September Calendar a gift that keeps on giving … independence, sustainability and success. WEBSITE In order to give this gift to two women, we need to raise $80. Children have Unavailable, at this time been given collection boxes, and are encouraged to do extra chores or jobs at Activities home earning money for our project. Be sure to check out the bulletin board Tuesdays – Bible Study each week to check our progress as we strive to meet our goal. Congregation Wednesdays – Choirs members are welcome to take a collection box and join our efforts. Adult voice Bells Thursdays – Lutheranism Worship Services and Bible Study 101 September, 2016

Special Event Marriage of Alan and Shelby Schmidt Sunday 8:00 AM and 10:45 AM – Worship during 10:45 AM service on September 25, 2016 Sunday Bible Study – 9:30 AM

Monday 6:00 PM - Worship

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From the SW Corner Pastor Bernard Ansorge

It’s time for “now.” We typically divide life into two segments: the past and the future. What happens to the present? It hardly exists. The moment we experience the It has been only a week present, it quickly recedes into the past. A new “now” emerges that lasts since NBC showed the for but an instant…and then it is quickly gone, never to be retrieved. world the closing Example: it is still August as I am writing this. It will likely be the ceremonies of the Rio 2016 beginning of September before you will read it. Today’s now will be Olympics. But in that single tomorrow’s past. My question is: Is it ever possible to seize the “now?” week, the glamorous luster of thousands of contestants As people of the Book, we are immersed in the past and mesmerized by was put away. The Olympic the future. The bulk of our Scriptures present the past as the history of Village sits vacant. The God in our human institutions. So much of Bible study seems to have the thrill of victory and the purpose of learning the past, so as to grasp the ways our changeless God agony of defeat were has always dealt with fallen humanity both in judgment and mercy. momentary. Though Similarly, we devote much Bible study to the future. Again, this future memories linger, Rio has focus wants to ascertain the way God will bring final solutions to the ever- returned to normal. present reality of sin and death. But, when does the future converge into “Lessons learned” will the present? Why even ask this? create the agenda for Tokyo’s agenda. All that remains of Rio are cherished medals, outstanding bills, and a steadily diminishing amount of conversation about fewer and fewer subjects.

That’s always been the way of events. The “now” never gets here fast enough. But, it quickly becomes the “then.” Then, it is stored away and left for future generations to understand. That’s the way of life.

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So, let me repeat my question: Is it ever possible to seize the “now?” I say “Yes, it is,” trusting in God, Whose nature always transcends time. In that faith, time itself ceases to be as relevant as we imagine it is. So Martin Luther teaches us to “seize Christ’s now” for the forgiveness we need and that God will replenish the hope we have squandered, so that whether it is Sunday or some other day, whether it is dawn or dusk, we may make the sign of the holy cross and say, “In the name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” and bow before Him in faith and prayer.

We say that it is now September, the Fall of the year, and that it’s time to resume our churchly work and commit ourselves to Fall schedules, now that vacations are over. We sat that, because the passage of time is so ingrained in us. Perhaps, we say that, because we have not yet learned to seize the now. Something to ponder as God’s future invades our present.

Jesus declares, “Behold, I make all things new.” To believe this is to seize the now and live in it.

Love, Pastor Bernie

For this simple reason! The message of the Bible is always concerned with the “now.” Remember this verse, “Now is the accepted time. Now is the day of our salvation.” The “now” always has to do with Jesus. Jesus is known as the changeless Christ for a changing world. The “now” of Jesus always collides with the changing “now” of our world. Jesus is timeless; He embodies all that we call the past, present, and the future. He is always present, or so we say. By this, we mean that Jesus Christ, God’s presence - His eternal “now,” bathes us in hope that the sufferings of this present time may not be worth comparing to the glories of our yet unrevealed future.

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Notes from the Vicar Alexander Sabol

Greetings and welcome to my ongoing series concerning people and events of the Reformation and 30 Years’ War! Last month I wrote about a rather confusing event that took place during the Reformation, the Sack of Rome in 1527. The last time I wrote about the 30 Years’ War, it was concerning arguably the most influential protestant commander, Gustavus Adolphus, from . This month, I would like to discuss one of the more formidable commanders from the Catholic side, .

He was born on the 24th of September in 1583 in the small village of Heřmanice, Bohemia, which is in the modern day Czech Republic. He was born into a poor protestant branch of the Wallenstein family who owned Heřmanice castle and seven surrounding villages. Both of his parents died when he was rather young, his mother dying in 1593 and his father dying in 1595. His parents did raise him bilingually, his father speaking German and his mother speaking Czech and they were both Protestant. After their deaths he came under the care of his uncle who sent him at first to Protestant grammar school but later sent him to a Jesuit University in Olomouc. During his time at university Wallenstein converted to Roman Catholicism. It was also at this time that the counter-reformation was at its height within the government of the ruling Hapsburgs. It was also during his time at university where he joined the army of Emperor Rudolf II where he saw two years of service in the wars against the Ottoman Turks and the Hungarian Rebels.

In 1609 he married a rich widow who owned several towns within Moravia (which is the modern day southeastern Czech Republic) and when she died in 1614, he inherited her estates. Wallenstein then used his influence as a within the court of the Holy Roman Emperor Matthias, as well as his newfound wealth, to come into the command of 200 horses (a sizeable cavalry regiment) in order to aid Archduke Ferdinand of Styria in his war with Venice in 1617. His forces were able to relieve the siege of Gradisca and Wallenstein had begun to make a name for himself as a commander. Wallenstein married again in 1623 to the daughter of Harrach. She bore him two children, a son who died in infancy and a surviving daughter. These two marriages allowed Wallenstein to put his foot in the door, as well as making him one of the richest men in Bohemia.

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When the Thirty Years’ War began in 1618, the estates of Bohemia rebelled against Ferdinand of Styria and other Catholic leaders and elected the leader of the protestant union, Frederick V, as their new king. Wallenstein sided himself with the Catholics and the Hapsburg dynasty and he used his position as commander of the Moravian estates to escape with a large amount of wealth to Vienna. In 1619, rebels seized the majority of Wallenstein’s lands. However, after the Battle of White Mountain in 1620, Wallenstein-led forces had restored his lands as well as confiscated large tracts of Protestant lands. Ferdinand, HR Emperor Following this came a succession of victories in battles that moved him up in status, all the way to the title of of Friedland.

Wallenstein used his new title to make the offer to Ferdinand, now Holy Roman Emperor, to raise a new Army of the Catholic League. His new success as a military commander brought him fiscal credit, which he used to receive loans and buy lands. He also used his credit to grant loans to Ferdinand II (Holy Roman Emperor) who repaid him through lands and titles. His increasing popularity allowed him to initially raise an army of 30,000 (eventually 50,000) in order to aid the Catholic cause. He used his army to chase Ernst von Ernst von Mansfeld Mansfeld out of Bohemia, and by 1627, he had chased him out of the modern day Czech Republic, altogether. He then joined his fellow commander, Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly, pushing north and battling in Northern German territories against Christian IV, the king of Denmark. For his help in battling the Danish king, he received the duchies of Mecklenberg which is in modern day northern Germany. After this, he assumed the title of “Admiral of the North and Baltic Seas.”

Johann Tserclaes

However, after this string of success, he failed to capture the strategic city of Stralsund in Northern Germany due to the intervening of Danish, Scottish, and Swedish troops. This loss denied him access to the Baltic Sea and prevented him from challenging the naval power of the Scandinavian kingdoms. He did, however, finally defeat Christian IV of Denmark in the battle of Wolgast and thus, after the Peace of Lübeck, Denmark was no longer a participant in the Thirty Years’ War. This did, however, open the door for Swedish intervention and the arrival of Gustavus Adolphus. Due to the success of the Swedish forces, Wallenstein was called upon to stop them. In November of 1632, the battle of Lützen took place where Wallenstein was defeated and forced to retreat; however, Gustavus Adolphus, the great Swedish commander, was killed.

After this battle and the subsequent years in which Wallenstein had been campaigning, Wallenstein had made a host of enemies. The Holy Roman Emperor was suspicious of Wallenstein’s losses in the field and felt as though he was planning to overthrow him. He had also made a great number of enemies on the Protestant side as he had taken lands from Protestant , as well as he had built his army based on the bellum se ipsum alet principle, which basically gives the occupying army control of the resources in the area where they are occupying. This prevented the Wallenstein Palace in Prague need for great long supply lines and allowed the army to live directly off of the land. This was devastating to the people that already lived there however.

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The Tide Turns In December of 1633, the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand became convinced that Wallenstein was out to get him and he had a secret court convened which found him guilty. He turned to Ferdinand III to replace him. Wallenstein was aware that there was a plan to replace him, but he felt as though his army would certainly choose him over the decision of the Emperor. In January of 1634, the Emperor signed a secret patent shown only to certain officers of Wallenstein’s army that announced he had been removed from command. In February, he signed an open patent charging Wallenstein with high treason and ordered him placed under arrest and brought to Vienna either dead or alive. Adam Trczka Wallenstein realized that his situation had grown perilous, so with a company of some of his most trusted men, he sought to go into hiding. However, once he reached Cheb, in the modern day Czech Republic, certain Irish and Scottish officers that were with him assassinated him on the night of February 25, 1634. A regiment of men under the command of Irish Colonel Walter Butler and Scottish Colonels Walter Leslie and John Gordon came upon Wallenstein’s most trusted officers, Adam Trczka, Vilém Kinsky, Christian Illov, and Henry Neumann and massacred them. A few hours later, an Irish Captain, Walter Devereux, along with a few other men, broke into Wallenstein’s lodgings and kicked down his bedroom door. Devereux then ran Albrecht von Wallenstein, who was roused from sleep and unarmed, through with his halberd killing him in his Vilem Kinsky bedroom.

Despite his unfortunate demise, Albrecht von Wallenstein remains a pivotal figure in the Thirty Years’ War. He was involved in it for almost two- thirds of the war’s length. Despite his later failures, his early victories allowed the Catholic forces to retake Bohemia and turn the early tides of the war.

Next month I will be discussing one of Wallenstein’s colleagues, Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly.

Blessings, Vicar Alex

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place our souls in peril. We must faithful, generous proportion of Stewardship Glen Huling not underestimate the enemy. the first fruits of our income. If

The devil, though defeated by We have all taken his bait. We they have, then we must repent, have all failed in this. None of us turning away from our the death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus can say that we have fought this selfishness to Him who is Christ, remains a very capable temptation to hold back with faithful by giving His Son into everything we have and won. death so that we are reconciled and clever foe. He is smarter than we are. He’s been watching to Him and justified in His sight. And we must repent. Yes, God us and taking notes for a very long time. He knows what we wants us to be happy. But this want, and he knows how to lure happiness is never at the expense of faithfulness. We have a us away. And he does this by telling us what we want to hear. calling. We are a member of His family, the church. That That’s what makes it so difficult. relationship places a duty upon us: to give a generous proportion of the first fruits of the income He provides.

The devil will always tell you what you want to hear. But God

tells us and gives us what we need to hear. With law and gospel, he cuts us to the heart, so that we will repent and believe To us who are greedy, he says: His Word and promises. He is “You are not greedy. You are faithful. He is good. He will not prudent. You are frugal. You are Only God is true to His Word. forsake you, or leave you a good steward with your Only God is true to His destitute. So believe and trust in money. God doesn’t want you promises. His promises never Him. And you will not only be

not to have all the things you fail. His Word endures forever. happy. You will be blessed. want. He wants you to be happy. His mercies are new every He wants you to have the latest morning. He is faithful. He and greatest toys for both young provides everything that we and old.” So if you consider need. He provides food and

yourself to be wise in the way of clothes, house and home, money and finances, beware of everything that we pray for in who just might be telling you the fourth petition of the Lord’s these things. Prayer.

Satan is a liar. He tells us what There is a whole host of things we want to hear. He lures us that we have that we do not away from repentance and need. The question that we need confession and faith, so that we to ask ourselves is whether these harden our consciences and have come at the expense of our

FOURTH PETITION OF LORD’S PRAYER: GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. What does this mean? God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving. What is meant by daily bread? Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

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LWML Betty Fischer, President

How many of you have ever been in a strange town and asked for directions? This happened to me recently. I have a fairly good sense of direction but the directions given to me (“go out here to the road by the trees and turn right, go to second or third stop sign and turn left, then immediately turn right, continue on ‘til you see the main road……” left me so thankful that I had the street address of where I wanted to go and a navigation feature on my car! (Directions to the best place to eat also left a lot to be desired but that’s another story).

The person providing the directions really “Whoever believes and holds to Christ’s Word, wanted to be helpful but didn’t realize that heaven stands open to him, hell is shut, the devil is what was so familiar to her was “Greek” imprisoned, sins are forgiven, and he is a child of to me! As soon as I keyed in the address eternal life. That is what this book teaches you - on the car’s navigation system, I felt the Holy Scripture - and no other book on earth.” reassured about reaching my destination. Martin Luther (WA 48:155) Trying to find the right direction occurs a

lot in our daily lives--we just need to stop News from around LWML: and remember that we already have a

navigation tool - the Bible - God’s A look back……as LWML will soon be instruction manual for living. It gives us celebrating its 75th anniversary! direction for every situation and tells us  The first issue of Lutheran Woman’s what to do. We just have to study, put our Quarterly was in January 1943. faith in its truth, and pray for His help and

guidance in doing what it says! God  The first LWML project grant was $15,000 for Christ Church for the Deaf in Cleveland, promises to take us to where we want to Ohio in 1943-1945. be!

A look at the present……as LWML navigates its way in today’s world!  Ascension LWML news… o Ascension Lutheran is growing and so are we! We now have 16 ladies who are “actively” participating and attending monthly meetings. The next LWML meeting will be September 10 at 10:00 AM in the Sunken Room. o The semi-annual card sales event concluded in late August. We are so thankful to Roberta Willenberg who led this effort. All profit goes to LWML missions. Thanks to everyone who bought the beautiful cards!

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o Refreshments for the “English As a 2nd Language” class held at Ascension on Mondays and Wednesdays will resume September 7. Betty Fischer will be hostess that night. Other LWML ladies have volunteered to be hostesses for the remainder of 2016. o LWML plans to contribute funds toward the tuition of three Concordia Seminary students in the coming year - Alex Sabol, our current Vicar; Alex Garber, (grandson of Roberta Willenberg) who gave the sermon for us on August 21, and Joshua Brakhage, son of Ascension DCM Carlo Jo Brakhage.

 National and state LWML news… o The Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda (LCMU) hosts 100 plus congregations with less than 20 ordained pastors. A $100,000 LWML Mission Grant will go toward completion of the seminary in Uganda and to continue the work of the Women of the Pearl (WOTP) to teach and put resources in the hands of women and men. The WOTP’s mission is to provide education in literacy, nutrition, sanitation, business ownership, and agriculture to women in Uganda so they may serve God, support pastors, congregations, and communities through the teachings of Scripture. The seminary allows pastors and lay leaders the opportunity to study closer to home. To date, $85,000 of this $100,000 grant has been disbursed. Also, $50,000 of a $100,000 grant to Redeeming Life Maternity Home in Sanford, FL has been disbursed. o Another biennium grant of the Gulf States District LWML will be $3,000 to Good Shepherd Lutheran School, Elberta, Alabama to enable the school to update and provide the best academic curriculum and teaching the children about God and His son Jesus Christ. To God alone be the glory!

A look forward….as LWML continues its mission!  SAVE THE DATE…several fall activities are planned! o The Mountain Lakes Zone LWML Fall Rally will be held Saturday, October 1 at Grace Lutheran Church, Huntsville. Details for the rally are on the LWML bulletin board. All ladies of Ascension are invited to attend! o Ascension LWML Sunday will be celebrated October 2. The theme is “Come and See”-- Psalm 66:5 o Gulf States District LWML will have a fall retreat October 14-16 in Jackson’s Gap, AL. Participants must register by September 30. Contact Betty Fischer if you are interested in participating. o Ascension LWML will host a crockpot cook-off on October 29. Planning is underway and more details will be provided in early October.

Hope to see you at the September 10 LWML meeting!

Serve the Lord with gladness! Psalm 100:2

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From the Elder Rick Hilst

WHAT IS TRUTH?

“Then You are a king?” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked. (John 18:37-38a) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

At one point during our recent Of course, if truth and right and wrong are personal and not trip to Ireland, I made a absolute, then God, of course, is also personal. Therefore, my God statement about stewardship. can be different than your God, but both are God. This thinking My sister-in-law, after thinking leads to crazy ideas like “all paths lead to the same God.” about this for a minute, replied that while my statement might Because most people have the view that truth is personal, they will be true for me, it wasn’t true listen to what you say about Jesus Christ and think “that seems to for her. work for you, but I believe something different and my belief is as valid as yours.” Therefore, while they don’t discount the Christian Truth being perceived as faith, they think that their beliefs are equally valid. personal and not absolute is a major problem for outreach in Jesus left no wiggle room on truth and who is God when He our current age and probably declared that He is the truth (not a truth, but the truth). Therefore, was also a challenge in Biblical if Jesus is God (which He is), then all other beliefs lead not to God times. Most people nowadays but away from God (i.e., to the devil). Jesus is the only way to don’t believe in an absolute salvation. Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the only truth, but rather have bought belief that leads to heaven and not to hell. into the notion that truth is personal. Therefore, what is Driving home the point that there is one, true for you is not necessarily and only one, truth and that any belief true for me and vice versa. other than in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior leads down a path to eternal If truth is personal and not suffering in hell (and not to God) is absolute, then right and wrong perhaps the only approach we can take must also be personal. My that might shake an unbeliever’s world definition of right and wrong view enough that he will truly listen. can be different than yours, Recognizing that he is a sinner in desperate need of a Savior might and yet both definitions can be open up his heart, mind and soul to hearing the Word of God and true. For anyone who receiving the gift of faith. Anything less and he will simply reach understands basic logic, this is the conclusion that his view of God, reality, right and wrong and lunacy. Yet this is the truth is just as valid as ours and, therefore, he has no reason to prevailing attitude of most change. people.

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PRAYER REQUESTS

Over the next month, the Elders will be soliciting prayer requests from each of Ascension’s members. These prayer requests will be accumulated and a sheet (or several sheets) with these requests will be made available to all members. Please include the prayer requests in this list in your prayers. Let’s become a congregation of prayer warriors!

JONI EARICKSON TADA

Perhaps the most inspirational person I’ve ever heard is a woman by the name of Joni Earickson Tada. As a teenager, she suffered a diving accident that left her a quadriplegic. She is completely dependent on others for everything. Despite the obvious anger and frustration that could mark her life, her faith has allowed her to overcome this tremendous disability and accomplish great things for God. I strongly recommend that you do some reading about her. Once you do, perhaps you will never again feel like complaining and perhaps you will recognize that you, too, can do great things for God if you let Him use you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVXJ8GyLgt0

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THIS ‘N THAT

Ladies of Grace at Grace Lutheran, Huntsville, AL, invite you to the LWML Invitation LWML Mountain Lakes Fall Zone Rally here at Grace on Saturday, Fall Rally Hosted at Grace October 1, 2016. Registration starts at 8:45 AM with a continental Lutheran, Huntsville, AL, breakfast; the meeting follows at 9:15. We will be dismissed in early October 1, 2016 afternoon.

Registration fee is $7.00 per person payable at the door and includes the breakfast and noon lunch. RSVP’s should be directed to [email protected] or phone (256) 682-8840 no later than Monday, September 26.

Please bring donations of non-perishable food to be given to St. Mark’s Food Pantry of Huntsville; old eyeglasses for MOST (Mission Outreach Short Term); and used electronics to be recycled to meet expenses for the 2019 National Convention in Birmingham.

Our address is 3321 Memorial Parkway SW in Huntsville. Using the northbound access road along Memorial Parkway, enter at the signed marked “School Entrance,” and proceed straight to the parking area. Enter the Family Life Center at the double glass doors below the triple crosses.

We look forward to sharing this event with you as we fellowship, grow in the Word and conduct LWML business.

Your sisters in Christ, Ladies of Grace Kay Davis, President

Dear Helga and LWML,

A quick note to thank you all for the prayers, cards, encouragement and gifts that you have shared with my family over the last four years while at Seminary. God works through His people and we have been blessed by you! I have recently graduated and have been called to serve as pastor at St. Stephen’s in Dickson City, PA. Like the love of God, the memory of your kindness will endure forever through the ministry to which I have been called.

Servant of Christ, Glen M. Triplett

Minuteman Press of Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

Prattville Good Afternoon and God's blessings to you all! If you are like our 20% of orders will go to ministry here in Prattville, we find ourselves limited in our resources to Southern District Relief Fund help our brothers and sisters struck by the flooding in Louisiana. They are in our prayers daily and we are organizing what resources we have to help.

One of our resources is the printing company, Minuteman Press of Prattville (www.prattville.minutemanpress.com) that is part of our ministry. Minuteman has a wide variety of services both in print and promotional items to offer our customers. From simple business cards

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(More) THIS ‘N THAT

to Worship folders, ministry brochures, banners, posters, visitor cards, Minuteman Press of communion cards, letterhead, and envelopes. In addition, we can supply Prattville your logo pens, cups and mugs, polo shirts and most anything you need to 20% of orders will go to promote your ministry. Southern District Relief Fund So, during for the remainder of August and the month of September, for all orders placed with Minuteman Press Prattville, we will give 20% to the Southern District Flood Relief fund. When placing your order, just tag the order with Louisiana Flood Relief. If you have any questions or wish to receive a quote, just call Minuteman Press at 334-358-6906 or email at [email protected]. No job is to small and all will go to help those in need.

Thank you for your work in His Kingdom and God bless your ministries.

In His Grace! Doug Davis - Pastor, Messiah Church - Prattville, AL office: 334-730-4300 cell: 703-992-5536

From Adrienne Bowling

“I will be taking orders for homemade holiday pies. The three choices are Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Pecan Pie and Pecan Pie. I also have a sugar-free version of my Pumpkin Pie. I will take orders until November 1 and will deliver them to the Church a week before Thanksgiving. Cost per pie is $10.00.”

You can reach Adrienne on Facebook and send her a message (your best bet); or you can call her at (256) 679-1824.

Thank you!

We are requesting your participation in a 9/11 Prayer Vigil starting at Prayer Vigil 5:00 PM on Sunday, September 11, 2016 and ending at 5:00 PM on Hosted by Hartselle Morgan Monday, September 12, 2016. The Prayer Vigil will be held at the County Community Task Morgan County Celebration Arena located at 67 Horse Center Road, Force September 11, 2016 Decatur, AL. We are expecting participation from at least 10 counties. George Hearring, VP, Director of Community Relations

This is a new book on the history of the Christian church, hot off the press of our Concordia Publishing House. Several members have expressed an interest in obtaining a copy. If we order a dozen, we can get them for $18.50 including shipping.

If you would like to order a copy, please get your money ($18.50 in cash or a check made out to Ascension) to the church office by Sunday, September 18, and we will place the order.

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FROM THE LOFT GINGER CASTEEL

Choir rehearsals will resume Wednesday, September 7, at 7:00 PM.

New voices are always welcome. Please let me know if you plan to join us.

A special “thank you” to all who provided music

for our summer worship services.

Keep Singing!

We will begin handbell choir rehearsals on Wednesday, September 14 from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM. We will meet in the Sunken Room and learn/review basics of handbell ringing. If you’ve never played a single note in your life, now is your chance to find out how talented you really are!

(If you don’t believe me, just ask the bell choir members from 2015!)

HHR MISSIONAL OUTREACH Robert Smith

Introduction (Ascension & Purpose of Visit) – Vicar 1st Song 2nd Song First Reading – Old Testament 3rd Song th 4 Song Second Reading – New Testament 5th Song 6th Song Third Reading – Gospel 7th Song Benediction Song One-on-One Visits (30 to 60 minutes)

September dates for visits are September 7 and 21. Everyone is invited to join the HHR team to sing and read scripture to the residents at Huntsville Health and Rehab. Starting time is 10:00 AM and lasts about an hour.

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Adele Williams 09/01 Christopher Cecil 09/17 Alphonso Beckles 09/01 Mary Carder 09/17 Emily Booze 09/04 Sara Howard 09/18 Burneal Fick 09/06 Eli Jones 09/18 Katelyn Engel 09/07 Jordan Reynolds 09/18

David Ernst 09/07 Ivy Gibbs 09/19 Heather Burhans 09/09 Scarlett Gibbs 09/19 Christina Pritchett 09/10 Reid Carder 09/21 Benjamin Burhans 09/10 Tammey Bowers 09/22 Keith Bowers 09/11 Donna Stoddart 09/22 Donna Huling 09/11 Linda Mixon 09/23 Adam Grott 09/12 Norman Stoddart 09/25 Janita Beckles 09/14 Mike Pool 09/26 Justin Beckles 09/14 Kathy Wilson 09/27 Lavon Hellebrand 09/15 Julianne Howard 09/27 John Hartwig 09/30

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From the DCM Carla Jo Brakhage

The month of August has gone by so fast. A new school year has begun. We have also begun a new year at the CDC, as well as in Sunday School.

Let me introduce you to the staff who are employed by Ascension to manage the CDC:

In the infant room, we have Ilse Crevoiserat, Courtney Allen and Annie Leslie. Ilse is a member of Ascension. She is the first person who gets here in the morning. She has worked in the CDC since 2003, and has nurtured many mothers with separation anxiety as they part with their babies after only giving birth to them six weeks earlier. Courtney Allen has worked at Ascension for a little over one year. She is looking forward to her marriage to Chris next year. Annie closes down the infant room each evening. She has been a staff member since 2013. She is a true southern girl in that her favorite food is sweet potatoes.

In the toddler one room we have Lakesha Cobey. Lakesha works with the children who have just begun walking. They are moved from a crib to a cot for naptime, and are learning to do some things for themselves. She has been at Ascension since June, 2015.

The toddler two room is staffed by Ny’leen Patterson and Shanika Ziegler. The children in this class room feed themselves, (you can imagine what they, and the floor, look like after a meal). Ms. Ny’leen began her career at Ascension as the cook in 2013. A classroom position became available, and with her educational background, it has been a good fit. Shanika comes in the afternoon and closes down both the toddler classrooms once they are combined. Last year, Shanika worked with the Pre-K in the afternoons. She has worked here 1½ years.

Andrea Hall and Joice Baker are the ladies who look after the children in the early learners’ classroom. Andrea gets here at 6:30 and takes all the children, except the infants, until the other teachers start arriving at 7:30. She has been on staff for two years. Joice comes in the afternoon, after she finishes her “day job.” She has been a staff member for 2½ years. She enjoys cooking and reading when she has the time.

Priscilla Whitman teaches the preschoolers. Priscilla has been on staff since 2008. For the past two years, she served in the position as assistant director in addition to teaching. She worked with Judy Burhans to implement many of the summer off-campus activities, as well as coordinate the curriculum and Bible lessons for the CDC.

Last year, ReKeya Patterson taught the Pre-kindergarten class. Because of the closure of the Pre-K room, she now works as floater in the morning, and in the afternoon she serves in the preschool class. She has been with Ascension since 2003. She also serves in the Army Reserve.

Charla Moore-King served as the CDC director from when Kathy Kiehl stepped down until I began the position in July. She has since resumed her position as assistant director. She is very implemental in the day-to-day operation and scheduling of staff. Charla has been a staff member for over 13 years.

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Our substitutes are Kathy Allen and Laci French-Hall. Kathy has worked here for one year. She is Courtney’s mom, and fills in several times a week. Laci served as a floater last school year. She has worked for Ascension for four years, now. We have so much Both Kathy and Laci are big fans of chocolate. We couldn’t function without our to be thankful for dependable subs. with the dedicated and faithful staffing Our cook is Sheila Whitman. Sheila became interested in of our program. I working for Ascension after attending a preschool program would like to in which she had a family member participate. She encourage our appreciated the atmosphere and environment of the staff and congregation to students, and sought employment. She has satisfied our participate in our appetites for 1½ years. “adopt a teacher” program that we John Pruitt serves as our Janitor on a daily basis. He makes have initiated. If sure the rooms are tidy and the trash is carried out. You you would like to would be surprised how much trash little children can generate. His smiling face get involved, please has graced the hallways for over 12 years. let me know. We have several staff members who have Serving in Christ, yet to be “adopted.”

Carla Jo

Needed in the CDC

There is currently on opening available in the CDC for an afternoon worker. Please call Carla Jo Brakhage for further information. Thank you! (256) 536-5245

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Kids’ Corner

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Reminders

Zone Rally at Grace – October 1 LWML Sunday – October 2 Zone Retreat – October 14-16 Crock-Pot Cook-Off – October 29

OPERATION SHOEBOX

As we turn the corner of our year (already), Operation Shoebox has only two more months before we will be sending our boxes to children in different parts of the world. Our collections for the month of September and the rest of the year are:

September – Games/crafts/cards/puzzles

October – Candy (no chocolate)

November – Kids: letters/pictures, Adults: cash donations – each box includes a $7 donation to help with shipping costs

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September, 2016

Ascension Lutheran Church & CDC 3801 Oakwood Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35810 Church (256) 536-9987 CDC (256) 536-5245 Fax (256) 536-8104

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