The Ascendant
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The Ascendant A Newsletter by and for Members and Friends of Church of the Ascension January 2018 From the Rev. Nan Hildebrand Thursday Morning Yoga Hello dear friends of Ascension, Yoga will resume at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 11, I write to you today with great happiness about my rejoining the wonderful congregation of 2018. Church of the Ascension. Serendipity was in the air as Randy and I happily greeted each other in front of The White House to protest the rescission of the DACA program. We talked on this beautiful, sunny day Contemplative Eucharist about all sorts of things, including DACA, The Dream Act’s promise to the amazing youth who dream of finding a path to citizenship. On this beautiful day, the discussion of the terrible The Contemplative Eucharist will insult and the harm to them and their families without reinstatement of The Dream Act was return on Sunday, January 14. transformed by the rally’s stand for justice. The air was filled with hope and, even joy, by the participants’ good will, their festive drumming and singing and their amazing, passionate speeches. We had to acknowledge that some of possible future leaders of America were rally- ing for their citizenship, if we would just allow it. What a loss for our nation, if the Dreamers Winter Weather Policy were not given what they were promised. At Ascension, we In the midst of the buoyant protest, we also talked about the transition for which Church of always TRY to have the Ascension was headed and for which it was planning. Being there with Randy, reminded church even when me how engaged Church of the Ascension has always been in the causes of justice and recon- the weather is ciliation. I’ve always held you close in my heart for your good hearted mission work and bad. We realize that church service. I’ve also always held you close because of the friendship you offered me so travelling may be generously while we were ministry together. very difficult for some, so please Mine and Randy’s conversation there led to another one and yet another one, where we ex- make the best deci- plored how I might help Church of the Ascension navigate the coming ministry transi- sion for you and your tion. Since, I have been deepening my interest and engagement in pastoral care in recent family about Sunday church at- years in my Doctor of Ministry program at Wesley Theological Seminary, and in working at tendance. Even if we have Sun- Sibley Hospital for my second unit of Clinical Pastoral Education, I suggested to Randy that I day services during inclement might be of special use in pastoral care. In our last meeting, he suggested the title of Pas- weather, we may cancel all other toral Associate. I loved the title and agreed to it instantly. activities, such as Christian For- mation for Children, Youth and When I start with you in January, I will be the point person among you for hospital and home Adults. Volunteer leaders, like- visitation for those needing ministry away from the church. As it currently stands, I will also wise, should use personal judg- be working with the Lay Eucharistic Visitors, assisting any support group who requests my par- ment about the safety of their ticipation, teaching occasional classes, and being available for individual pastoral care as re- travel that day. Cancellations will quested. It will also be my great honor to be among you as a preacher and a celebrant. be announced by way of e-mail and on the outgoing message line Since my new schedule at Sibley is not yet defined, I cannot yet let you know what my sched- at 301.948.0122. ule at Ascension will be. As soon as that is defined within in the next week and a half, Randy and I will organize my time with you. As a rule, we will follow Mont- gomery County Public Schools for Please know that I am holding all of you along with Randy and his family in my heart and in closing and cancellation deci- my prayers. I will continually pray for Ascension’s ministries and give the Lord all my grati- sions. If there is a delayed open- tude for opening the door to service among you and with you. ing our morning activities are cancelled. If schools are closed, God Bless You ! morning and afternoon activities are cancelled. In this event, eve- Nan+ ning activities still may be sched- uled, so check in with the com- mittee chair or call the outgoing message line at the church to check the status of your meeting or activity. LIFE LONG LEARNING Yoga Zumba Yoga Classes will resume at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday Janu- We have Zumba classes at Ascension every Thursday ary 11, 2018. at 7:30 p.m. in the Undercroft. Zumba is a dance fitness program created by Colombian dancer and choreographer Spanish Class Alberto "Beto" Perez during the 1990s. Zumba involves dance and aerobic movements performed to energetic mu- Come and take part in Ascension’s Spanish Class on Mon- sic. The choreography incorporates hip-hop, soca, samba, days from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Ascension House. You salsa, meringue and mambo. don't need to know Spanish to come, because we get to- gether to learn and practice. For more information con- The Listening Heart Community tact Javier at [email protected] The Listening Heart Community is Ascension’s "monastery of the heart", an intentional group for seekers in all stages of their spiritual journey to explore Benedictine and other Godly Play contemplative spirituality in community. This fall and win- ter, we will be praying with the writings and teachings of Godly Play we study Holy Baptism, the full initiation by Thomas Merton, the American mystic and Trappist monk, in water and the Holy Spirit into the Church. For Christians, observance of the centennial of his birth. this rite is the gateway into the family or families we call the Church. We ask the children to remember or look We meet again on Monday December 4. Contact Lori Perine forward to the day of their baptism by lighting candles at [email protected] if you would like to join us. from the light of the Christ Candle, since this is also the day they receive their “light”. Room 4: “Sanctuary” A note to Parents: On January 14, we will be baking Com- munion bread for the church. It is a fun and sometimes At the most recent meeting of Ascension's teachers with the messy activity, so please dress your children accordingly. Rector, it was clear that the "nursery" has not been utilized as originally intended for toddlers and infants up to age 3. This has been the case for some time. Parents with infants and tod- A Joyful Path dlers attend the 10:15 service (often with a child on the way!) or one of our other services. Starting January 7, 2018, Room 2 will be the Joyful Path classroom (for kids in 3rd to 5th grade), The members of A Joyful Path are moving their classroom and Room 4 will become a comfortable place for parents with upstairs to Room 2 (the old nursery). Come and join us in children who need a "break" from sitting in church. There will our new setting Sunday, January 7th after the 9:00 be comfortable furniture, a bathroom, and in time a monitor so a.m. service. that the service can be seen and heard there. Tai Chi Class New Book for Wednesday Mornings Tai Chi classes are offered at 4:00 p.m. on Thurs- day afternoons in the Chapel; a good time of peace and The book group will conclude its discussion of Elie Wiesel's grip- balance in a lovely place at sunset. Please come and join ping chronicle of his experience at Auschwitz in Night, us. on January 10. On the following Wednesday the group dives into a contemporary exploration of Jesus in Michael Mor- Contact Claire Rosser at 301.275.0617 or wood's Is Jesus God? You may purchase the paperback version [email protected] if you have any questions. of the book from Amazon for $11.15 here: http:// amzn.to/2CRGzCs. Here's a description of the book: " In the new millennium, the most central question is how to under- stand God and Jesus. This book is an invitation to Christians— and non-Christians—to challenge their inherited notions of how and why Jesus is to be thought of as divine." Many of you will recognize Morwood's name as we have been using a Eucharistic prayer that he composed at 11:15 and 5:00. Page 2 Ascendant January 2018 LIFE AT ASCENSION Interfaith Dialogue and Reflection Series Ascension Youth Group Jan FY18 and Mission Trip Info Church of the Ascension will be one of the January 7 hosts of a four-part program series of inter- NoMoCo- Service Project at Nourish Now. faith dialogue and reflection titled “Abraham’s http://nourishnow.org/about/ Children.” MUST RSVP The four sessions will be held in March on UNUSAL TIME 2 pm- 3:30 pm Wednesday evenings, 7-9 PM as follows: UNUSAL LOCATION 1111 Taft Street in Rockville March 7 at Church of the Ascension (205 S Summit Ave, January 14 Gaithersburg, MD 20877) Regular Ascension Youth Group March 14 at Kehilat Shalom (9915 Apple Ridge Rd, Gaithers- 6 pm – 8pm Ascension Undercroft burg, MD 20886) Need dinner volunteers please March 21 at Islamic Center of Maryland (19411 Woodfield January 28 Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20879) Regular Ascension Youth Group March 28 at Tikvat Israel Congregation (2200 Baltimore 6 pm – 8pm Ascension Undercroft Road, Rockville, MD 20851) Need dinner volunteers please Developed by the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Please email or text us if you can attend this Sunday’s service Studies in Baltimore, Abraham’s Children offers text study and project or if your family can cover dinner one of the evenings.