The COVID-19 pandemic has changed several operations at Church of the Ascension. Our desire is to keep everyone — members of the church, clergy and other staff, visitors, and those seeking assistance from the church — as safe as we can from the coronavirus. You can click on any of the following links to learn more about each topic:
Worship Services | Pastoral Care |
There are several options for worship at Ascension.
On Sundays:
- In-person worship is suspended during the Province of Ontario’s stay-at-home order.
- The service is live-streamed on Ascension’s YouTube channel. A link to our YouTube channel will be provided on Ascension’s Facebook group each week.
On Wednesdays:
- A short service of Morning Prayer is held on Zoom at 9 a.m.
- This service is followed by a Bible Study of approximately an hour in length, depending on how the discussion goes
- If you wish to participate, contact Pastor Jim Garey at prjim@yahoo.com to arrange for the Zoom invitation.
Daily:
- Pastor Jim Garey conducts a 15-minute Evening Prayer service daily on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/videojim45.
- The Community Breakfast is served as takeout at the church door on the third Tuesday of every month, followed by delivery to agencies supporting homeless people. Takeout times are approximate, but usually go from 8 to 10 a.m.
- A Bible Study is held on Zoom every Wednesday at 9 a.m., beginning with short service of Morning Prayer. If you wish to participate, contact Pastor Jim Garey at prjim@yahoo.com to arrange for the Zoom invitation.
- Other church groups, renters, and other outside users of the church have not resumed their programming. When they do, they will meet the church’s pandemic guidelines.
Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals
- Baptisms, weddings and funerals are being held again. Please contact Rev. Canon June Hough at 226-448-8790 or junehough@rogers.com for information on how these will be conducted during the pandemic.
- Pastoral care is still available from our clergy. Click here for contact information.
- Only urgent cases will be able to have an in-person visit. Face coverings are required. Hugs and handshakes are not permitted
- If Anointing the Sick, the anointer will wash their hands before and after the anointing.
- The Parish Administrator is working a mix of hours in the office and at home. Office visits are by appointment only. She can be contacted through the usual office channels listed on the Find Us page.
Messages from Bishops and Clergy
- Nov. 13 message from Bishop Todd Townshend: About the Province of Ontario moving some areas of the Diocese into more COVID-19 restrictions.
- Oct. 9 message from Bishop Todd Townshend: Thanksgiving message
- Oct. 8 letter from Rev. Canon June Hough: Thanksgiving message
- Oct. 7 message from Metropolitan Bishop Anne Germond: Thanksgiving greetings
- June 8 message from Bishop Todd Townshend: Reiterates Anglican churches still closed despite change in Ontario regulations at that time.
- June 1 letter from Metropolitan Bishop Anne Germond Topic: Anglican churches not reopening until at least September.
- April 10: Easter blessing letter from Rev. Canon June Hough
- March 13 message from Bishop Todd Townshend of the Diocese of Huron Topic: Suspension of Public Worship as of Sunday, March 15
- Sept. 23: An update of financials from April to August, the pandemic months.
- July 14 Ascension financial update: January to June financial report
- June 19 Ascension financial update: Ascension did not qualify for CEWS in May
- June 12 Ascension financial update
- May 13: Executive communications : Includes updates on the Capital Campaign and Operating Funds, the Delayed Sale of the Back of Property and the Mortgage Renewal
- April 16: Executive communications Finances and stewardship
- March 21 Executive communications Topics include finances
All the Above Communications in Reverse Chronological Order
Since the Start of the Lockdown on March 13,2020
- Nov. 13 message from Bishop Todd Townshend: About the Province of Ontario moving some areas of the Diocese into more COVID-19 restrictions.
- Oct. 9 message from Bishop Todd Townshend: Thanksgiving message
- Oct. 8 letter from Rev. Canon June Hough: Thanksgiving message
- Oct. 7 message from Metropolitan Bishop Anne Germond: Thanksgiving greetings
- Sept. 29: A video by a member of Ascension’s Health & Wellness Team with tips on how to use a non-medical masks, especially helpful to those juggling masks and communion wafers.
- Sept. 23: An update of financials from April to August, the pandemic months.
- Sept. 6: Video illustrating some of the protocols contained in the Sept. 1 announcement on the return to in-church worship:
- Sept. 1 In-person worship restarting: Instructions for Sunday worship in church starting Sept. 13
- Aug. 10 Second outdoor service: Details about a second planned outdoor service.
- July 14 Ascension financial update: January to June financial report
- July 7 Outdoor service: Details about a planned outdoor service, including instructions on how to attend to be safe during the pandemic.
- June 19 Ascension financial update: Did not qualify for CEWS in May
- June 12 Ascension financial update
- June 8 message from Bishop Todd Townshend: Reiterates Anglican churches still closed despite change in Ontario regulations.
- June 1 letter from Metropolitan Bishop Anne Germond Topic: Anglican churches not reopening until at least September.
- May 13: Executive communications Topics: Reopening (not yet), Community Breakfast, Capital Campaign, Financial Update, Sale of Back of Property Delayed, Mortgage Renewal, Attempted Break-In
- April 16: Executive communications Finances and stewardship
- April 10: Easter blessing letter from Rev. Canon June Hough
- March 25 Executive communications Topic: Extension of Suspension of In-Person Church Services
- March 24 Executive communications Topics: Closure of Office in Building (Work From Home), Cancellation of Pickup for Youth Opportunities Unlimited
- March 21 Executive communications Topics: Online Worship, Pastoral Care Guidelines, Easter, Finances, Youth Opportunities Unlimited
- March 14 Executive communications Topics: Public Worship Suspended, Online Worship, Community Breakfast, Church Groups Suspended, Pastoral Care Available, Church Office, Fundraising Events, Church Finances, Future Communications, Prayer
- March 13 message from Bishop Todd Townshend of the Diocese of Huron Topic: Suspension of Public Worship as of Sunday, March 15