Church of the Ascension

Parish Events

Good Friday Services

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.
We regret that no video recording will be available.

Liturgy of Good Friday – 12pm

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. The Zoom service will make use of a contemplative video.

Service Booklets

To follow along with readings, hymns, and prayers, download the order of service. The print booklet is formatted for printing out at home:

Good Friday Printable


Get the mobile format scrolling on your smartphone:

Good Friday Mobile

How to join the service:
Pray the service on your own, knowing you are not alone, or join others on 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. We will not be livestreaming this service.

Maundy Thursday Service

Thursday, April 9 at 6pm

Whether you decide to join in the Zoom prayer service or to have a private home service, a little preparation will help you enter into a sacred time and space.

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 disconnecting from the internet to eat our suppers and strip our homes in preparation for Good Friday.

The Service Booklet

To follow along with readings, hymns, and prayers, download the order of service. The print booklet is formatted for printing out at home:

Maundy Thursday Print

Get the mobile format for scrolling on your smartphone:

Maundy Thursday Mobile

The Gospel of the Watch

Jesus prayed in the garden and asked his disciples to watch with him. Listen to the Watch Gospel, read by The Rev’d Rhonda Waters.

The Watch Gospel

How to join the service:
Pray the service on your own, knowing you are not alone, or join others on 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. We will not be livestreaming this service on Facebook.

Lent at Ascension

In Lent, we are invited to pay special attention to our relationship to God through fasting, prayer, acts of generosity, and study. Consider entering into the season with some shared practices.

Fasting 
Get as close as you can to giving up single-use plastics. Every time you are inconvenienced, pray for strength. Every time you are unable (or unwilling) to avoid them, offer a prayer of repentance.

Morning and/or Night prayer.
Gather at the church or join in wherever you are – starting Feb. 27
9:30 a.m. Monday to Thursday
8:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
A simplified order of service and set of readings is available here.

Generosity
Set aside a daily amount to give to the refugee ministry of Ascension, or another ministry you care about. This amount could be $0.25 or $1 or $5 or $10. If you have children at home, make a point of actually having the cash on hand and adding to a collection’s box each day.

Study the Gospel according to John.

  • Thursday Bible Study and Communion in the church hall at 10 a.m.
  • Story at the Rectory on March 5, 19, and April 2 from 7:30-9 (ending with Evening Prayer). 
  • Lenten Quiet Day in the church on April 4 from 9-2:30

Self- Guided Lenten Quiet Time with Jesus in the Gospel according to John

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 videos to give yourself an overview, either both at the beginning or one at the beginning and the second after finishing chapter 12.

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

Read John 1 -12.

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 John 13-21

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 John and for Jesus, whom God gave to the world out of the depths of perfect love.

Easter

Holy Week Services

April 5—Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday Eucharist and Procession at 10am
April 9—Maundy Thursday
Dinner Church with Foot Washing at 6:30pm
April 10—Good Friday
Stations of the Cross for All-Ages at 10am     
Contemplative Art at 11am
Good Friday Liturgy at 12:30pm          
April 12—Easter Sunday; Celebration of the Resurrection 
Easter Sunrise Service at 6am, followed by Easter Breakfast 
Easter Day Eucharist at 10am