An original radio play by Gilbert
~
featuring
Thomas as our announcer
Cynthia as Gabriel
Siobhan as Gabriel’s Angel Friend
Sarah as Mary
with sound and music effects by Kate, Meghan, & Dave
produced and edited by Rhonda
Over the summer, the Post-Pandemic Planning Committee, Worship Committee, Parish Council and members of the community worked to discern how we might gather as a community as the pandemic eased. We noted our concern for those left behind by Zoom and those who would be left behind without it. While there has been considerable buzz around streamed and recorded services, evidence suggests that such an approach is inconsistent with the needs of our community and our desire to be inclusive.
Thus starting September 12, 2021 some parishioners continue to worship online via Zoom, and others worship at the church building. If you are curious about what contributed to this design, or have more questions, read on!
Isn’t this a lot of extra work for staff?
Most Anglican parishes offer two services with parishioners typically attending a given service, but adjusting as scheduling or their needs change. So, this two congregation model is quite common.
What will happen to Zoom?
In the near future, Zoom and in-person services will remain quite similar, both offering a full service of the Word, music, and coffee hour. As the congregation worshiping on Zoom changes, the service might adapt. If you identify as someone for whom Zoom is likely to be your main service post-pandemic, and would like to help shape that future, the worship committee welcomes your input.
Isn’t this a lot of fuss when everything in my life is online anyway?
Both academic research and the lived experience of community members suggest that offering a service which is neither recorded nor streamed is desirable for many. Even if your lived experience means you do not have reason to be more cautious, more privacy-awareness in our community can help create safe spaces for everyone to explore and express their faith, be vulnerable, and grow.
References:
[1] V. Steeves and J. Bailey, “Submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on The Right to Privacy Toward a Better Understanding of Privacy: Children’s Right to Privacy and Autonomy,” 2021. Accessed: Aug. 25, 2021. [Online]. Available: http://www.equalityproject.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Childrens-Right-to-Privacy-UN-Submission.pdf
[2] J. Bailey, “Online reputation, privacy and young people: Lessons from Canadian research (Invited submission to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics),” Ottawa, Ontario, Sep. 2017. Accessed: Aug. 25, 2021. [Online]. Available: http://www.equalityproject.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Online-Reputation-Privacy-and-Young-People-Lessons-from-Canadian-Research.pdf
[3] J. Bailey and V. Steeves, “Online Reputation, Privacy and Young People: Lessons from Canadian Research (Paper submitted to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada in response to its Consultation and Call for Essays on Online Reputation.),” Apr. 2016. Accessed: Aug. 25, 2021. [Online]. Available: http://www.equalityproject.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/01-Bailey-Steeves-Online-Reputation-Submission-FINAL-April-27-2016.pdf
Church of the Ascension is intentionally on a learning journey, and we
are committed to listening and walking alongside our Indigenous sisters
and brothers seeking justice, truth, and reconciliation.
Our parish supports the national Anglican Church in its efforts to create
right relations with Indigenous peoples through, among other actions,
apologizing for the role it played in the schools and apologizing
specifically for the spiritual harm that it caused.
A self-determining Indigenous Anglican Church is growing under the
leadership of our National Indigenous Archbishop and the Anglican
Council of Indigenous Peoples.
We welcome all comers to this conversation and invite you to contact
our All My Relations parish group, which focusses specifically on this
healing journey. Find a list of their activities and resources on our
website, and email one of the co-chairs to get connected.
O Lord, you are gracious and full of compassion,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
You are loving to everyone
and your compassion is over all your works.
You uphold all those who fall
and lift up those who are bowed down.
The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord,
and you give them their food in due season.
You open wide your hand
and satisfy the needs of every living creature.
You are righteous in all your ways
and loving in all your works.
You are near to those who call upon you,
to all who call upon you faithfully.
You fulfil the desire of those who fear you,
you hear their cry and help them.
You preserve all those who love you,
but you destroy all the wicked.
My mouth shall speak your praise, O Lord;
let all flesh bless your holy name for ever and ever.
from the Liturgical Psalter, Anglican Church of Canada
As many of you know, the Diocese has informed us that we will be allowed to hold in-person worship services beginning this September (unless the COVID-19 situation changes before then). There are many restrictions we will be required to follow in order to minimize the risk of contagion for those people who choose to attend – the services will most certainly not feel the same as our pre-pandemic gatherings! Read the Diocesan plan In this Together and take a look at the brief run-down of restrictions included at the start of the survey ( below).
Knowing this was coming, Executive, Parish Council and the worship committee have all had structured conversations about what aspects of our in-person worship they miss; what aspects they don’t miss; and what has been working with Zoom worship. In response to those discussions, along with many other informal conversations, we have decided that Sunday mornings will remain on Zoom, at least for the first while. In-person services will be offered at other times of the week. (If you would like a glimpse into my thought process, you can take a look at this document).
To assist us in planning for September, we need some more information.
Please complete this short survey.
Finally, please pray for all those charged with making decisions and establishing procedures that we might be wise and faithful stewards for God’s people in this place.
With love,
Rhonda
Bishop John Chapman has announced that the Rev. Adam Brown will continue his Assistant Curacy at Church of the Ascension, effective June 1.
Adam is a recent graduate of Trinity College at the University of Toronto, and was ordained to the transitional diaconate in December of 2019. Born and raised in rural Southern Ontario, Adam obtained a BA (Hons) in Sociology from Trent University in Peterborough. After seminary he moved to Ottawa, where he began his Assistant Curacy at All Saints Westboro.
Adam is a passionate advocate for social justice; he will join us in worship on Sunday, June 7.
Glory to God
whose power working in us
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God
from generation to generation
in the Church and in Christ Jesus
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Diana Partridge has developed actions to accompany the words to this beloved prayer so that we can pray with our bodies as well as our voices. Praying in the way also helps us pray together when we cannot hear one another.
Let us pray.
by Rhonda Waters
There once was a young woman named Mary. We don’t know much about her except that she was engaged to marry a man named Joseph and she lived in a town called Nazareth. Then, one day, something extraordinary happened to Mary. Do you remember what happened? (Read Part One)
After she was pregnant, Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was also having a baby. Do you remember what happened? (Read Part Two)
When the baby was almost ready to be born, Mary and Joseph got some news. Do you remember what they had to do? (Read Part Three)
Well, after that long, long walk – probably at least a whole week long – Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem. But even when they finally arrived in Bethelehm, their problems weren’t over. Do you remember what happened? (Read Part Four)
That’s right – in the barn! But it was warm and quiet which was what Mary needed because she had very difficult, very important work to do. This is that story:
______
Mary:
I was so glad to be off my feet, even if all I had to sit on was a pile of hay. Joseph got some blankets from the innkeeper and I was actually quite comfortable – but that didn’t last.
Joseph:
It’s a good thing we found that helpful innkeeper when we did! I barely had time to fetch the blankets when the pains hit Mary. Her face went kind of white. My face went kind of white. I rushed back to the inn to see if one of the women there could come and help.
Choir: Do not, do not, do not be afraid. Do not, do not, do not be afraid.
Joseph:
Things probably weren’t really that bad. We were just tired. And Mary kept insisting that the baby was on its way. Her back hurt in a new way, apparently? If it hadn’t been for that, we’d have been fine just squeezing into someone’s back room with the whole crowd. But Mary needed more space. And no one wanted to have front row seats at a stranger’s birthing bed. So we kept looking.
Mary:
I had seen my mother give birth – and heard her, too. So I knew it wasn’t easy. But there’s knowing and then there’s knowing. I was so grateful to the women who came to help, bringing water and towels and – most importantly, calm. Of course, they had no idea that this birth was anything unusual. But I knew. I knew my baby was a miracle baby – even more than every other baby. I remembered the angel. I thought of Elizabeth and her sweet little boy. I gave thanks for Joseph and his faith in me, in us.
And then all the thinking stopped. It felt like the whole universe was holding its breath; like my body was the only thing, the only place that mattered. I remember the woman telling me to push. And then, he was here. My sweet, little Jesus.
Joseph:
I stood outside under the stars and waited. It felt like forever. And then I heard him cry and the universe stood still – until the woman came to tell me I could go in to Mary…and to Jesus.
He was in Mary’s arms and they looked so beautiful, so perfect. “He has your nose”, the woman said to me. Mary and I looked at each other, across the head of our little miracle baby, and laughed.
Mary:
I wrapped my little boy up, nice and warm, and, once he fell asleep, laid him in the cows’ feeding trough. Joseph had cleaned it all out and put fresh straw in it – it was a strange first bed but something about it seemed just right.
And then Joseph and I just sat there and stared at our little miracle baby.
Away in a Manger
______
Meanwhile, on the hills outside Bethlehem, shepherds were watching their sheep – just like they did every night.
They had no idea that this was a special night. The sheep just kept on sleeping. The shepherds just kept on watching and chatting with each other.
But then, all of a sudden, an angel appeared! The shepherds let out a shout of surprise and the sheep all woke up!
Angel: Do not be afraid, said the angel.
Choir: Do not, do not, do not be afraid. Do not, do not, do not be afraid.
I have wonderful, happy news for you! A very special baby has just been born in Bethlehem – this baby is the Messiah, the one God has sent to be the saviour of all. He’s all wrapped up, nice and warm, and laying in a manger.
And before the shepherds could say anything, a whole crowd of angels appeared and they all started singing: “Glory to God in heaven and peace to all on earth!”
Hark the Herald Angels Sing!
The shepherds decided to go see the baby so off they went to Bethlehem.
They found baby Jesus just as the angels had described. Very quietly, so they wouldn’t wake the baby, the shepherds told Mary and Joseph all about the angels – and also, of course, about how perfectly adorable baby Jesus was.
And that is the end of the story of the birth of Jesus.
I wonder which part is your favourite?
I wonder if you can remember the story so you can tell it to someone else.
In fact, I hope you share the good news with lots of people tonight, tomorrow, and every day after that!
Jesus Christ is born!
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