1. The wonderful new logo — a kite with a cross cleverly embedded in its frame — is now on the sidebar on the right of every page. Thanks to Deidre for all her hard work in seeing through the process of choosing the logo with the graphic designer and Parish Council.
2. A new Hall & Room Rentals page has been added. If you know of anyone who is looking for a meeting room or a hall for their event, you could direct them to this page, from which they can get in touch with Wendy, Ascension’s rental co-ordinator.
3. Ascension has launched a dynamic program called Five Practices of a Fruitful Congregation, based on research from the United Methodist Church. The next five Sundays will focus on each of these practices — and here’s a hint: they tell us it’s the adjectives that are important. So each week, the Five Practices . . . webpage will provide updated information has this program is unveiled.

Sandra

With that ringing endorsement, off I went. There was one scene where I thought, “Okay, not watching this moment.” But overall, I’d say it would be a good movie to get a discussion going. (I digress to say I’ve finally found a way to express that without some bad, bad pun such as “There’s a lot of food for thought in The Hunger Games” or “There’s a lot of meat there.”)

There’s the obvious issues of oppression and injustice that we see too often around our world. I also started to think about the ethics of entertainment. Panem’s Capitol is sickeningly obsessed with these games, but I wonder how far off we are as we cheer our way through this year’s particularly vicious NHL playoffs. What are the ethics, too, of a “reality” TV show that is quite manufactured? I was also struck by the view of adults through the eyes of the youth: feckless, self-absorbed. It’s not a youth rebellion, but a sense of being let down by adults. Interesting stuff.

Sandra

Sandra
Website Administrator

Sandra
Website Administrator

Ten Commandments given to the ancient Israelite people. Ten hard and fast rules to live by. Some of them are pretty easy to keep. I haven’t felt the urge to murder anyone recently so I’m good there. I have no intention of stealing anything but I suppose that might change if I had no job or money. Coveting my neighbour’s possessions might get difficult too; there are some pretty nice cars out there I might like. I’m not planning on committing adultery…mostly because if I do Charlene might have trouble with the murder one.

So that’s four of the easy ones to remember for just about everyone. Some of the others are mostly known just by us Christians: no Gods before, um, Him, no idols, keep the Sabbath, don’t take his name in vain.

Then there’s the one all parents like…honour thy father and mother.

There’s another one that I usually forget because it doesn’t come up often…oh yeah, don’t bear false witness.

So there they are, ten commandments given to the Israelite people. It might have been easier if Moses stopped there, but no, he has to go and finish writing the Book of Exodus. In it we get a few more “laws” that we are supposed to follow; 613 more laws if memory serves. All kinds of things get covered: what to eat, how to cook it, how to eat it, when to eat it, who to eat it with, how to become clean again after eating it, who we can sleep with, who we can’t sleep with, when we can’t sleep with someone we can sleep with, etc, etc, etc.

Is it any wonder people have become confused knowing how they are supposed to behave?

Then God sent Jesus down to cleanse us of our sins. I wonder if part of his mission was also to straighten out this whole commandments and laws issue. Maybe God accepted the fact that we just couldn’t keep all those rules straight.

So Jesus made it simple for us. He condensed all those commandments and laws into the Greatest Commandment:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

And the second was this:

Love your neighbour as yourself.

Simple, straight forward, to the point. I think anyone can keep these straight.

So when you think of doing something that might be wrong, think whether you would want it done to you. If the answer is no…then don’t do it!

And when you are wondering how much of your time, treasure and talent you should dedicate in one way or another to the Lord, the answer to that question is pretty obvious as well. God comes before everything, but not at the expense of the second command. I think Jesus included the second part so we wouldn’t forget that while we’re waiting to live with God, we have to live with our brothers and sisters here on Earth.

Sandra
Website Administrator

On a Friday afternoon in June of 2010, while on holiday, I found out that the plant I had been working at for over 25 years was going to close it’s doors at the end of September. To say I was devastated would be a bit of an understatement. Here I was, 48 years old with two barely adult children and a mortgage with no job. I was pretty much a basket case on Saturday. On Sunday morning I had been asked to lead the children’s focus with a review of what we had studied during the year. I began the review with the first story we had discussed, the story of how Abraham and Sarah had been told by God to pull up stakes and head out to an unknown place and future, with only their faith to keep them company (and sane). As I spoke these words my own situation snuck up and slapped me in the face. Here I was, a Sunday School teacher saying these words to the children I have dedicated a fair portion of my life to teach. And suddenly my own situation seemed pretty small. If I was going to talk the talk, I really needed to walk the walk. With that decision I put myself fully in God’s hands.

As time progressed we found out that they were closing the plant in London but moving the operations to a sister plant in Brantford, where some people would be given jobs. As it turns out, I was not one of the people who were offered a job. But strangely enough, it didn’t seem to bother me all that much. I actually became a calming force for all the upset people who were being faced with a radical change of their lives. I joyfully explained to anyone who asked where I was finding the strength to remain calm and accepting of my fate. With only a week to go before the plant closing I volunteered to go to Brantford for a couple of weeks to help with the integration and training. Management couldn’t believe that I would offer my services this way but gladly accepted my offer.

Strangely enough, after those couple of weeks they found other things for me to do and finally realized that they should have kept me on after all. Unfortunately, being part of a huge corporation meant that there was no place for me and they were forced to let me go at the end of September of 2011. Again, rather than being upset about losing my job I was happy that I had managed to pull off another year of employment.

So I start looking for job but at the same time throw myself into things at church. Being unemployed gives me time to put together a really good Advent season for the children. I also joined (re-joined?) the Mission and Ministry team, went to a conference – discovering the Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations – and found a new direction for my efforts.

Just after Christmas a family situation developed that could have literally been deadly. Luckily I was unemployed and was around to see the signs before things got out of hand. Because I was unemployed I was available to help someone I love with all my heart through a very tough time. That person is now well on the road to recovery and life looks extremely hopeful again.

And now after all these things have happened, I get an interview for a job that seems perfect for me; a job that was not available a year ago, or even four months ago. This job allows me to use all the things I learned through my years at my old employer with a new, small company. I start the job next week and I’m really excited.

So – after all that rambling – you can see the last 18 months has been a roller coaster ride that would have been much harder without my faith. After being reminded of God’s love and presence talking to the children, I put myself in his hands and went for the ride of my life. In hindsight, it looks like a choreographed dance with all the steps falling into place at the exact right time. How could I possibly doubt the wonder and splendor of a loving God after these experiences? Some people say that God no longer talks to us, but I think if you keep your ears open (and your mouth shut) sometimes you can hear a whisper on the wind, a quiet voice saying “the times when you see only one set of footprints, is when I carry you”.

Cecil Merriam

 Long time friends will know that I continue to struggle with the patriarchy represented in this diocesan structure with power and decision making flowing down from the bishops.  But recently when a friend asked “Why do we have to pay apportionment anyway?” I found myself answering fervently.  I know that our parish has benefitted greatly from the treasure trove of knowledge that resides in the building beside the cathedral.  How many times have the members of the Ascension’s Executive Team phoned for clarification or advice on trust funds or loans?  Twice in this past year the Director of Administrative Services has come out to Parish Council to give advice – this is in the evening on his own time.  I know that the payroll person keeps tremendous records so that she can cheerfully remind a forgetful Warden of a previous salary or the percentage rate of a salary recent increase.  The Financial Analyst is always cheerful and prompt in his answers to confusing finance questions.  He helpfully makes suggestions no one at the local level had considered. Never do any of these skilled people make you feel stupid.  I know this because 10 years ago when I was Warden I was the forgetful person asking the dumb questions.  As an individual parish we could never afford such expertise on our own.  We are blessed to have access to and the support of these capable people.

 So today, there I was asking for our parish to make paying our apportionment as much a priority as paying our local bills.  And this despite the fact this money also goes to support the hierarchical tradition of centralized, predominately male control of the church that is so contrary to my personal beliefs.  Such is the breadth of the Anglican Church that it allows me question somethings, value others and still belong.