Church of the Ascension

Archives for November 2020

Day Program Gift Pouches

This winter is going to be particularly hard for people who do not have stable homes – and we expect their number of grow. The Diocese of Ottawa Community Ministry Day Programs (Centre 454, St. Luke’s Table, and the Well) offer critical emotional and physical support to hundreds of people in our city.  Join in this ministry by offering a small gift to brighten someone’s day. 

Fill a zippered pouch (like a pencil case) with items such as:

  • $5 gift card to Tim Horton’s, McDonald’s, or similar (required)
  • Small bottle(s) of hand sanitizer (required)
  • A pack of gum or two 
  • A few mini chocolate bars 
  • A pack of throat lozenges 
  • A small pack of Kleenex or two 

Drop your pouches off at the church during any on-site service or on Monday, December 14th from 12-7pm. They will be delivered to the Day Programs on Tuesday, Dec. 15th.

We are also happy to accept donations of new socks to be distributed by the Day Programs.

Self-Directed Quiet Time: Encountering Jesus in the Gospel according to Mark

Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year and, this year, our Sunday Gospel readings will be read from Mark’s account. Begin the year by taking in the whole story.

Take your Bible and a cup of tea or coffee to a comfortable spot.  Have paper and pencil handy so that you can make notes or draw.

You may want to watch the Bible Project video to give yourself an overview.

Begin with a prayer, offering this time to God and asking for ears to hear the Word of God anew.

Read Mark 1 -10.

Take 20-30 minutes to reflect on what you read.  Use these questions and whatever means of capturing your thoughts you prefer:

  • How are you feeling?
  • What struck you most forcefully?
  • What surprised you?

Read Mark 11-16

Again, take 20-30 minutes to reflect on what you read.  Use these questions and whatever means of capturing your thoughts you prefer:

  • How are you feeling?  Has it changed?
  • What struck you most forcefully?
  • What surprised you?
  • Have any of your thoughts changed?
  • To what is Jesus calling you through this Gospel?

Close in prayer, giving thanks for the gift of the Gospel according to Mark and for Jesus, whom God gave to the world out of the depths of perfect love.

Holy Talents

The Story for the
Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
November 15, 2020

prepared by the Rev’d Adam Brown

Matthew 25:14-30

The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents,[f] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Something to Do

Lost and Found

Take eight coins, or draw them on a piece of paper. Assign each with a gift God has given you – it could be a talent or skill, a vocation, some aspect of your life, etc.. For each one, think of how you can nurture it and help it grow, and imagine all the good that it could do. Now go back and, for each, think about what would happen if you hid those gifts away from the world.

Talented Help

On a piece of paper, draw or list eight things that help you nurture your own “talents” or gifts from God. It could be a tool or a device, a person, a place, etc. You could draw or list one per day, or all at once and reflect on each one throughout the week.

Something to Wonder

Talented Investing

In the parable, we hear an encouragement to invest the “talents” we have been given, rather than hide them away out of fear or laziness. The third servant was told he could have gone to those more knowledgeable for help. Take a moment and think of all those in your life who have helped you, both in general and spiritually. Were there moments in your life when you returned the favour?

Something to Learn

Community Ministries

Take a moment and learn about the Community Ministries operated throughout the Diocese of Ottawa. There are six main ones, so perhaps you can choose one per day this week and learn about all the good ways those around us are “investing” their “talents”.

https://www.ottawa.anglican.ca/community-ministries

Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.