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Mid DECEMBER 2015 Vestavia Hills, AL 35216-1799
(205) 822-3480 . www.ascensionepiscopal.org
902-1535 Pastoral Care
The Episcopal Church of the Ascension
Advent Outreach 2015 The Sunday School children wish thank everyone for your super support of their Urban Ministry Christmas Outreach. You kept the boxes filled. Urban made their last Christmas pickup on the 14th.
The will still need the food after Christmas so please bring the canned foods you planned to bring on the 20th for Food Sunday.
Ascension Christmas Pageant Arranged by Alice LaGrone Using the Gospels of Matthew and Luke
This Coming Sunday, December 20th—10 o’clock Service
All of our children and grandchildren are invited to participate. Please, if you have not signed up for your chil-dren, contact Amanda Austin, Christian formation Director 601-3723 or [email protected] by call, text or email to let her know your child or children are going to participate. Come to dress in the 3K class-room down the hall at 9:15am the day of.
A Little Senior Merrymaking
Our senior ladies and gentlemen are invited to a pre-Christmas afternoon gathering this coming Sunday, December 20th, from 2:00-4:00 in Terrill Foyer and Ware Hall. We will have hot chocolate/coffee, an array of pastries and other tasty treats, and music (Christmas classics and beloved hymns).
Invite your friends and neighbors to be our guests as well. There is a sign-up sheet in Terrill Foyer. Or call Eileen Epstein (223-4731) or Carolyn Eike (991-7287) to let them know you are coming and whether you need a ride or not.
Christmas Services Christmas Eve ….. 5:00 P.M…...Holy Eucharist with Special Music at 4:30 P.M.
Christmas Eve ….. 11:00 P.M. …..Holy Eucharist
Christmas Day ….. 10:00 A.M. …..Holy Eucharist
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“I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord:…” he that believeth in me, though he were dead,
yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” ―John 11:25,26
Episcopal Church of the Ascension
Established 1953 Vestavia Hills, Alabama
(205) 822-3480 www.ascensionepiscopal.org
The Reverend Stephen D. Hood
Rector ….. (205) 822-8688
The Reverend David A. Hall Associate Rector …..(205) 822-3480
Email [email protected]
Ascension Episcopal Kindergarten (205) 979-8711
Laura A. Maddox, Director [email protected]
Episcopal Diocese of Alabama Chartered 1830
Diocesan Office (205) 715-2060 www.dioala.org
The Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan Bishop of Alabama
The Rt. Rev. Santosh K. Marray Assistant Bishop of Alabama
The true meaning of Christmas
A few years ago, my Christmas season centered on the arrival of a baby — our second child, due December 23. Exhausted with pregnancy, I skipped out on holiday gatherings, did less decorating and baking than usual, didn’t send cards and didn’t plan a holiday dinner, assuming — correctly, it turned out — I’d be in the hospital then. It was a strangely quiet Christmas season, with our focus on the im-pending arrival. But once our baby was born, in the last hour of Christ-mas Day, all the missed parties, caroling, cookie-indulging and even present-opening paled in comparison. All that truly mattered was God’s gift to our family of this one very special baby. Isn’t this how Christmas should always be? Seasonal activities are fun, but they hold meaning only if they deepen our focus on the coming of one very special Baby — the Christ-Child. Hold him in your heart this season, as I held my newborn that Christmas night. If the hustle and bustle distracts you from the Baby, put an end to it. If traditional activi-ties prove more stressful than joyous, consider what you can let go of to embrace the true meaning of Christmas — the birth of Jesus, God’s gift of love. —Heidi Mann
Altar Guild Christmas Work Day
Wednesday, December 23, 2015 We will meet at 9:00 am to prepare for all the Christmas services. Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Deadline for Christmas Flowers, Decorations, and
Poinsettias Sunday, December 20, 2015 List is in the parish office.
The Flower Guild Workday will be Wednesday, December 23rd beginning at 9:00am. Please bring your clippers and gloves. Coffee will be ready.
Donations of Evergreens for “greening up the church” will be appreciated for the 23rd—cedar, cypress, juni-per, pine. If you need a bucket to put them in please contact Paula. The Flower Guild has tall buckets that are used for soaking the greenery and flowers before use.
Congratulations To
Roy and Marea Ennis And big sister Olive Marie
On the birth of Roy Fite Ennis, Jr. December 9, 2015
Thank you all so much for making the bake sale a huge success!!! So far the sale made $1104.50 !!! We could NOT have done this without your sup-port - and I truly appreciate such amazing help by bringing wonderful things to sell !! Also a big thank you to Grace, Leslie, Eileen, Jeannie and Sue for helping set up and collecting money!! Forgive me if I've left anyone's name out - Wish-
ing everyone a very Merry Christmas
BA Chase
The deepest sympathy of our parish is extended to Ann Van Sise and Her Family On the death of her husband Kenneth Edward Van Sise
December 6, 2015
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●December 27, we're planning to go ice skating at the Pelham Civic complex. Meet at church at 2 pm, we will be back in time for the 5 pm service.
●During our Wednesday night fellowship, we are offering gift-wrapping and childcare in exchange for a donation toward our Gat-linburg ski trip.
●Winter Weekend at Camp McDowell. hosted over MLK, Jr. weekend (Friday-Monday). January 15-18, 2016. Open to 7th & 8th grade youth . Registration for 2016 event is now open!
●Diocesan Convention Youth Lock-in. February 5-7, 2016 Cost: $115. Location: Bethany @ Camp McDowell Open to youth in grades 9-12. Online registration will open in January
Senior Warden Brice Johnston
470-0742
Junior Warden Mary Beth Mann
907-0916
Organist-Choir Director Michael G. Sparks … 870-8103
Christian Formation Director Amanda Austin ….. 601-3723
Youth Ministries
Olivia Thompson, Mary Beth Mann, Jane-Ellen Shumate. 822-3480
Nursery 822-3480
Samantha Baldwin Kimberly Dunleavy Givonni Symonette
Treasurer
Len Skelton … 541-0741
Assistant Treasurers Laurie Tanner … 982-1116
Jeff Lees …. 410-6212
Members of Vestry Jim Busbin, Martha Oyston,
Elizabeth Tanner, Kathryn Bringman,
Mary Beth Mann, Brice Johnston, Colleen Baird, John Wilson, Jeannie Duke, Eileen Epstein,
Chris Lambert, John Thompson
Clerk of the Vestry Lee Ann Fieselman SUNDAY CHRISTIAN FORMATION AT ASCENSION
Sunday School :9:15 am Preschool (3 yrs old)—5th Gr. After stories and crafts all meet together for Children’s Chapel and then join their parents at Communion.
EYC. 9:15am. EYC Loft in Ware Hall.
Adults. 2nd Sunday Series for December to be announced.
WEEKLY CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Mondays-Brown Bag Bible Study, 11:00am; Bring your Bible and a sandwich for lunch at noon. Beverages and dessert provided.
Wednesday. Noon Day Holy Communion service
Wednesday.
EYC (6th-12 grades) meet at 5:30pm until 7:00
Ascension Choir rehearsals on Wednesdays at 7:00pm. All are wel-come!
Thursday Bible Study (except holidays) at 8:00am. Led by the Rec-tor.
Thursdays EfM. If you are interested in knowing more about this class please contact: Fr. Stephen at [email protected] or Dick Lounsbury [email protected].
To the Ascension
Website Ctrl Click Here
Potpourri!!!
Deadline for January newsletter will Tuesday, December 23rd.
Please observe quiet in the Nave and narthex preceding the service so as not to disturb prayer and quiet reflection in prep-aration for worship. Also, please silence cell phones before and during the service.
Would you like your membership letter transferred to the Ascension? Please con-tact the parish office, 822-3480.
Before booking any event for the church or parish house please check the master calendar in the church office.
2016 Kalendars.$2.50 each, Parish Of-fice.
Ctrl Click Heading to keep up with current and upcom-
ing events in our Diocese
WORSHIP SERVICE CD . Cop-ies of our worship services are provided by request. The Sunday 10:00 service and other special services during the year are usually recorded. Please con-tact Elizabeth Tanner, 982-1831 or the church office 822-3480.
“if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made com-plete in us” (1 John 4:12).
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Cursillo. If you would like to learn more about Cursillo there will be an information Dinner on January 22nd at the Oyston's. Everyone is invited just let Sharon [email protected] know or any Cursillo member. Sitter will
be available. Reunion each Sunday at 9:00am except 2nd Sundays (then after cov-ered dish lunch).
