Church of the Ascension

Parish Events

Advent at Home

This December, we won’t have the usual round of parties, concerts, fundraisers, and feasts but we can still mark Advent as a time of holy, hopeful anticipation. Here are some suggestions.

Fill your home with Advent music. This Spotify playlist comes from Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary and includes music from a variety of genres. It is one of many available.

Light Advent Candles. Whether you have the Ascension Advent Kit candles, your own well-loved wreath, or simply an assortment of candles, mark the passing of Advent with candlelight and prayer. You might want to use this set of prayers and prompts which go along with our Defiant Hope theme for 2020.

Train Your Eye with Advent Word. Download this image or sign up to receive a daily email prompt. Then, each day, look for an image that reflects that day’s word. Take a picture and post it to your social media with #adventword #[word of the day] #ascensionottawa.

Take some time to encounter Jesus in the Gospel according to Mark with this self-directed Advent Quiet Time.

Spend a little extra time in prayer. The Daily Prayer services have been updated for Advent or you may like to try this video examen from Work of the People.

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.

Creating Bigger Stories Film Series

On Zoom – register here.

Creating Bigger Stories:
Interrogating Our Narratives of Power & Co-creating Goodness Together

Classified by the South African government to be “colored,” Rev. René August came into adulthood during one of the most historic movements of justice in the last century. How fitting and appropriate to interrogate and discern your on narrative as you digitally sit at René’s feet and learn from her lived experience and expansive study of how the love of the Divine can be made present through storytelling, understanding power and seeking justice.

Over 5 weeks, we will listen to Rev. René August and spend time in discernment and conversation with one another.

Watch the series trailer here.

Series Dates

  • Oct 15 – Session One // Interrogating Narratives
  • Nov 5 – Session Two // A Declaration of Power 
  • Nov 19 – Session Three // Creating Bigger Stories
  • Dec 3 – Session Four // Proximity to Power
  • Dec 17 – Session Five // Creating Goodness Together