Church of the Ascension

Archive

Learning towards Reconciliation

tiles created as part of a parish learning project about residential schools, including the Shingwauk Residential School

Join All My Relations-Ascension for this special Story at the Rectory series to learn about the roots and consequences of the Doctrine of Discovery – and how a more just and more hopeful future is possible.

Thursday, June 17, 7:30-9:00pm – “Sharing, Healing, and Learning about the Shingwauk Residential School” with guest speakers, Jay Jones, president of Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association and Krista McCraken, Interim Director, Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre. Jay and Krista will discuss the consequences of the doctrine of discovery for the dream of Chief Shingwauk and the work now underway to finally fulfill his vision of “Sharing, Healing, and Learning.” They will also join us on June 20, for the National Indigenous Day of Prayer.

Registration for June 17 on Zoom here.

AMR Launches New Web Resource

Find out whose land you’re on: Members of All My Relations have launched an online resource at https://churchoftheascension.ca/amr.

Episcopal Visit on May 16

Bishop Shane will preach at our Ascension Day service on May 16 at 10am. He will also be joining the Youth Group to take his turn on the hotseat! Contact Rhonda for more information.

Holy Week Services

God is with us; O, come, let us worship!

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week

Evening Prayers – 8pm
These short services of scripture and prayer will be broadcast on our Facebook and Youtube pages. Download the order of service here.

Maundy Thursday

Prayers and Dinner – 6pm

Set up your worship space at your table, if possible, and have a candle to light and a simple meal such as bread, cheese, fruit, hummus, olives, and wine (or its substitute) set out.  We will give thanks for our food and one another and hear the call to self-giving love before eating.

You can choose whether you wish to eat online or off. Either way, when you are done, you are invited to strip your homes in preparation for Good Friday.

How to join the service:
Pray on your own, knowing you are not alone or join the service on Zoom. The Zoom link is available through the parish email list or on request from the office. This service will not be recorded.

The bulletin and other resources for the service can be found here.

Good Friday

Love is Stronger than Death: Stations of the Cross for All-Ages – 10am
This moving service uses simple language and the hope-filled refrain that love is stronger than death to tell the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross in a way that is suitable for young children as well as their elders. Unlike a traditional Stations service or the Liturgy of Good Friday, we end the service with the (quiet) good news of the Resurrection in order to ensure our youngest members feel safe and reassured as they wait for Sunday.

How to join the service:
This service will take place on Zoom at 10 am with time for people to interact with one another. This service will not be recorded but a pre-recorded version of the service will be made available for home use.

The Zoom link is available through the parish email list or on request from the office.

Liturgy of Good Friday – 11:30am
Set up your worship space with just a cross – perhaps one you make for the occasion by tying two found sticks together.

This simplified Good Friday service includes the reading of the Passion of Christ according to St. John, the solemn intercessions, and a time of meditation on the Cross of Jesus.

How to join the service:
Download the order of service here.

Pray the service on your own, knowing you are not alone, or join others on Zoom. The link is available through the parish email or on request from the office.

We will not be recording this service although some elements will be pre-recorded and available for private prayer.

Easter Sunday

Claiming the Hope of the Resurrection

Easter is coming, friends, even if it’s going to feel a little weird.

Easter Morning Greeting
Join in a phone chain to spread the Good News of the Resurrection with the traditional Easter greeting: Alleluia! Christ is risen! Sign up here to give permission for your number to be shared with your designated Easter Greeter and to be assigned a number to call in your turn. Calls will be made between 9 and 9:45 on Easter morning. Deadline to sign up is Tuesday, March 30.

Easter Service – 10 a.m.
Our Easter service (on Zoom and streamed to Facebook) will include some of the stories of God’s saving work, presented with poetry, song, and imagination by different members of our community. We will release the Alleluias and ask God to set our hearts free to soar after them as we proclaim the Easter Gospel. We will renew our baptismal vows and be reminded of who we are called to be in a world that is crying out for rebirth.

Prepare to join in the celebration by setting up your worship space with :

  • your Good Friday cross, now decorated with lights, flowers, or streamers
  • a candle ready to light
  • Alleluia streamers or banners to wave
  • a big bowl of water

How to join the service:
Download the order of service (available soon).

Join Zoom with a computer or smartphone or call in to Zoom by dialing 1-647-374-4685 and entering the meeting ID 301 177 504. This service will be recorded and made available on Facebook and Youtube later on Easter Sunday

March 14th – the Most Rev’d Linda Nicholls

Archbishop Linda Nicholls, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada

Archbishop Linda Nicholls was elected the 14th Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada in July 2019. She leads the church in discerning and pursuing the mission of God.

We are excited to welcome her to our service on March 14th, 2021. Archbishop Linda will preach for us and join us for coffee hour.

Turning to God: A Lenten Journey

Experiencing Finger Labyrinths

On February 20, join us online for one, two, or three Finger Labyrinth Workshops. Email Rhonda to register and get the Zoom link.

10-11 – For All Ages: Shaping a Labyrinth out of Salt Dough (ending with putting our creations in the oven)
Salt Dough Recipe and Labyrinth Instructions

2–4pm – For All Ages: Introducing Finger Labyrinths
Decorate your labyrinth (salt dough or paper) and get an introduction to how to use it

8–9pm – Guided Finger Labyrinth Prayer