Artist’s rendering of building planned for the land behind Ascension
In July 2019, Church of the Ascension entered into an agreement with a developer group to sell the back of the church property for an apartment building — much needed in the Argyle area. The agreement is conditional on approval from the City of London. As of mid-October 2022, these are the next steps planned by the buyer:
October 19: City of London urban design panel review of project.
Nov. 24, 6-8 p.m.: Informal open house for area residents in Ascension’s Parish Hall, including a short presentation by the planner, plans for the proposed building and site, and plans for the access road from Dundas Street along the east side of the church. Some city staff are expected to attend.
Early in the new year: City staff expected to schedule the proposed project and rezoning with City Council’s planning committee.
February: Planning committee presents the project to Council with a recommendation.
Update: As of July 19, 2022, the Community Breakfast has resumed in-person meals. Breakfasts are held on the third Tuesday of every month. Breakfasts are free. All are welcome.
The Community Breakfast at Church of the Ascension in London had for many years all the hallmarks of an effective ministry. It served almost 100 on average each month. It offered one of the few hot breakfasts among the meal programs in the city. And guests raved about the social atmosphere And then came COVID-19.
“It was like immediate,” recalled Steve Holmes, one of the organizers – the shock still in his voice more than two years later.
The next breakfast was scheduled for only a few days after the pandemic was declared in March 2020 and the Diocese of Huron set down strict health protocols for meal programs. The breakfast went ahead, but organizers knew the “community” part of the breakfast had been lost to physical distancing and other safety measures.
Karen Robinson, another of the organizers, pointed out the obvious: “We still have to feed people.” And so began months of pivoting and pirouetting that has been so effective, it has completely changed the way the Ascension organizes its meal program. It has expanded to lunches and suppers over more weeks, while still hoping to bring back a truly community breakfast as soon as possible.
It now all comes under a new name: the Ascension Food Security Program.
The changes started in April 2020 when a small group of volunteers – few enough to allow physical distancing in the kitchen – made up 50 bagged lunches to be handed out at the church door. Each contained an egg salad or a cheese sandwich, a piece of fruit, a muffin, a boxed drink and a card that says “Lovingly prepared for you at Church of the Ascension”. But few people showed up at the door to pick them up.
Deb and Janice prepare muffins.
So the volunteers drove the remaining lunches to places where homeless people were known to gather in London, including a tent city that had sprung up at the fairgrounds and the Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope shelter. That pattern has continued: a few picked up at the door and the rest delivered.
Soon the deliveries were expanded to My Sisters’ Place, a daytime drop-in shelter for women at risk, and Project Hope, a group of volunteers who go out to the streets and check on London’s homeless population.
Jerry, Karen, Deb, and Linda: Will that be cheese or egg salad?
In June 2020, Steve organized a drive-thru chicken dinner for church members and took the leftovers to the new Youth Opportunities Unlimited shelter near Ascension. Chatting with the head of their kitchen, Steve offered to provide them with bagged lunches, too.
Now the number of lunches was up to 75.
The essential ingredient for egg salad sandwich.
“It just kept getting bigger,” Steve said.
A bakery contract led to the next major leap for the program.
Cobbs Bakery had supplied several community programs with extra bread at the end of the day and East London community activist Nancy McSloy made some available to Ascension. Nancy needed to make a switch due to a health problem and so Ascension was referred to Stelmar Home Health & Mobility, which also operates a home for people living on Ontario Disability Support Program.
Steve finds a meat slicer can double as a bread slicer.
After some conversation with company staff, the Ascension group started supplying dinners to Stelmar residents at cost within the limited means of ODSP. Two weeks a month, they drop off three meals to each resident: a hot meal or casserole to consume that day and two others that can be set aside for other days – a submarine sandwich with homemade soup and a chicken pot pie or sometimes shepherd’s pie. The offerings are altered to avoid monotony.
The Ascension group currently operates with seven volunteers, but that number will need to more than double when the breakfast resumes.
The operation is so evolved, it can meet specific needs. For example, the people Project Hope reaches are better served with peanut butter and jam sandwiches rather than egg salad or cheese. On meal preparation days, Ascension’s parish hall looks a bit like a warehouse, sorted into tables for each agency served.
The financing of the program has evolved too.
Russ-Haul
Donations from Ascension members and the income from Stelmar help make the program self-sufficient.
Ascension’s incumbent, the Rev. Canon June Hough, lately pointed out to the volunteers there are some parishioners who could also use some food support but are too proud to ask for a free meal. Now the group is thinking of selling dinners at a low cost, but enough to generate a small excess that can be poured back into the ministry as it restarts the Community Breakfast.
When it’s all added up, Ascension’s program is now serving 225 to 230 meals a month – more than double the number who were helped by the breakfast alone.
Given the growth, the group decided in April to stop calling itself the Community Breakfast and take the broader name of the Food Security Program.
“It’s sad we have to do this,” Steve said, “but it’s amazing the difference it can make to get people on the path to a better life.”
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This is the final Sunday of our six-week stewardship campaign for the financial commitment to the budget passed at the annual Vestry meeting in February.
If you have brought in your commitment card today, it can be placed on the collection plate, where it will be blessed along with other monetary gifts to the church. We hope all cards have come in this week, but if you have forgotten, next week is also possible.
Over the last several weeks, we have been uplifted to hear talks by members of our congregation and our community about the wonderful strengths of Ascension. We are a big hug to visitors, a strong community, a place for healing and joy, and a family – only better. We are grateful to God for the gifts we have in these areas.
We also have areas where we are fragile and must build and grow. If we are the body of Christ, these are our weak muscles that must be strengthened. We need those stronger muscles so that we can walk the challenging financial road we have ahead of us. We need those stronger muscles so that we have a greater number of us committed to the mission of Jesus Christ in East London. If we can leverage our strengths and live with gratitude to God and to one another, Ascension can continue to express our love and service to God far into the future.
Posted inFundraisers|Comments Off on Stewardship campaign: Building the body of Christ – March 17, 2019
This is the second last Sunday of our six-week stewardship campaign in support of the budget passed at the annual Vestry meeting earlier this month.
We ask that all of the commitment cards come in by next Sunday. They can be placed on the collection plate, where they will be blessed along with other monetary gifts to the church.
We want to stress that the commitment cards will be kept confidential. Only the envelope secretary, Sandra Colbert, will see them and always confidentiality is part of her job. She will provide data only, without any identification of donors, to other church leaders, particularly our treasurer, to do some analysis of the stewardship program.
The campaign’s theme of Gratitude causes us to remember that our gift to the church – in time, talent and treasure – is returning to God a small portion of the bounty that God has given us. In that exchange, the operations of this church are an expression of our love and service to God.
This is the final week for talks by people about what they are thankful for at this church. So today we welcome Diane Robinson to speak about her experience.
Diane Robinson, member, Church of the Ascension
When Sandra Coulson asked me to tell you why I am grateful for Ascension, my first thought was “Don’t get me started” as I was overwhelmed by the list of blessings I have received from my relationship with my family here at Ascension.
That’s the first one: Ascension is like a family — only better. I get to see all of you more often than my own family, and have Sunday lunch with some of you on a regular basis. And it wouldn’t be family without mentioning the many children who have been baptized and grown up in our Sunday School during the past 17 years.
It is here within this family that I met, got to know, fell in love with and said good-bye (for now) to the love of my life. Most of you were there through all of this, especially our wedding and later, Dave’s final celebration of life.
I am grateful for the memories and the friendships that have grown out of this family, some going back over 40 years. I owe most of my house to people like Murray Trussler , who did so much to get it up to speed. In fact, Murray was the first Anglican I met after we moved back to London in the early 1970s.
I am grateful to be part of this Ascension family that actively seeks out community needs and addresses them, such as the results of the ever-changing Holiday Tree in our Gathering Space, Undie Sunday, Fill the Purse project, prayer shawls, Monica House mother and baby needs, Daily Bread Food Bank, all-candidate meetings at election time, the free blood pressure clinic that is part of our Community Breakfast, the twice-weekly seniors’ exercise program and so many more
We are a family that seems to run on food, and since I haven’t missed too many meals, that makes me grateful. Our monthly Community Breakfast and seniors’ lunch as well as our dinner never fail to garner compliments. But we also run on spiritual food. There is something very comforting and supportive about sharing a meal around the altar with my Ascension family, a high point in my spiritual life. This makes me very grateful.
I love belonging to a family that share what it has — whether it is our church space, our personal time, or talents or our prayers.
I am grateful for the humour, the compassion, the generosity, the love and the friendship evident in so many ways here at Ascension.
I am grateful for the varied programs and services as well as the musical and organizations talents that have produced dances, concerts and coffee houses held at Ascension over the years.
I am certainly grateful for the spiritual leadership provided by our priest and associate clergy, our music leaders as well as our students and occasional visiting clergy.
This is a condensed list of my gratitude for Ascension. I hope I have given you food for thought to create your own list of things you are grateful for at Ascension.
Posted inFundraisers|Comments Off on Stewardship campaign: Like a family – only better, March 10, 2019
We have just a couple of weeks left in our six-week stewardship campaign and commitment cards continue to come in to support the budget passed at the annual Vestry meeting a month ago.
You may place these on the collection plate, where they will be blessed along with the other monetary gifts to the church. Please have all of them in by Sunday, March 17.
We have chosen the theme of Gratitude for this campaign. We are grateful for the ministries that you offer and the financial support you give to your church. And we are grateful to God for the many gifts he has given us. The operations of this church are an expression of our love and service to our God.
Today we hear from Deb Adams about what she appreciates about Ascension:
Emmanuel Huybrechts/Flickr
Deb Adams, member, Church of the Ascension
I’ve been a member of Ascension for six or seven years now, and if we haven’t met, you must be new, so welcome to Church of the Ascension.
My Anglican journey started many years ago when Sundays were a day of rest and we all joined together to worship. We actually wore our Sunday best to church. That’s where we began our foundation in faith. fellowship and serving. We learned the 10 Commandments, Lord’s Prayers, Apostles’ Creed, the whole stand-up, sit-down, kneel, stand to sing. And we learned of service to God, our neighbours and our community.
Like many, I strayed from the church after my confirmation — you know, jobs and all that. I went here and there; I went to a couple of different churches, on and off again. But my life took a big turn, and I landed here with my mother and my two brothers. I needed a lot of healing and where better to start that than with my faith, which has always given me strength.
Wow, the things I found when I got here! Woo-hoo! The amazing music of Mark Payne, so inspiring, the holiday choirs, the Quartet. I’ve always found that music was healing and uplifting. And so I got involved. So I’m grateful for all of you who take part to make a joyful noise here at Ascension and in my heart.
Then I listened to the spirited and often thought-provoking preaching of Rev. June, Rev. Jim, Fr. Bruce and Rev. Anne. You all regularly touch on topics and Scripture that hit home for me. I’ve found conversations always bring a smile and some thought. So I’m grateful for all of you. And I appreciate we open our doors and hearts to so many students and bring them along as well.
Then Vic Storey, bless his soul, he searched me out and invited me to join the group that serve at the altar because it was getting to be a bit much for him. So now I’m part of a great team and I’m particularly grateful for the families with their young people who have come up and served with us, and it gives me a chance to guide and encourage them, as Vic and Jerry Prosser and the others have done for me.
I could go on with every single person in this congregation, because everyone has a part in this wonderful family. Some small parts, some greater. Some leaders, some followers and assistants, who help in every way they can. I’ve reunited with old friends and made so many wonderful new friends here at Ascension.
Our outreach to the neighbourhood and the community like the breakfast — Karen and John have that in hand. And if you ever want to come out and feel the good feeling of sharing and giving to the community around us, you’ll have a good time, guaranteed. We have the Friendship Committee for the seniors, we do things like collecting for the food bank needs, we’ve got the Undie Sunday, the winter wear for those in need and schools, baby blankets from the Quilters for single mothers, the ACW doing what Anglican church women do so well — spreading God’s love and caring. Now we got Deidre and Linda, and Cecil before them, teaching our precious young ones, the faithful of tomorrow. We have craft shows and the concerts and the groups that use our facility. Those who step up to serve on council, the Executive, the A-V guys who make it so easy to follow along in the service.
To all of us who share the joy of belonging to a loving, caring community of faith, it shows.
After a busy week of being God’s hands in the broken world around us and trying to make a difference, I come to this place and see these smiles on the faces of you all, all you wonderful people of faith, as we worship. That’s my reset button and returns me to balance. My heart’s full.
And for all of this and so much more, I’m truly grateful.
Posted inFundraisers|Comments Off on Stewardship campaign: My heart’s full – March 3, 2019
We continue today with our stewardship campaign in support of the budget passed at the annual Vestry meeting earlier this month.
We are asking for Commitment Cards to be returned by Sunday, March 17.They may be placed on the collection plate so that they can be blessed along with the other monetary gifts to the church.
We are asking that you fill out the total amount that you wish to give, not just the increase. Those who give by envelopes would likely check the “per week” box. Those who are on pre-authorized givings would check the “per month” box.
If you would like to change your pre-authorized givings, you can go to our church’s website and click the box on the right-hand side that mentions pre-authorized givings. You’ll be taken to instructions on how to make that change.
And if you would like to begin pre-authorized givings, please speak to our treasurer, Bill McKinstry, and he will help you through the process for arranging that with the Diocese.
As you probably know by now, the theme of this campaign is Gratitude. We are grateful for the ministries that you offer and the financial support you give to your church. And we are grateful to God for the many gifts he has given us. The operations of this church are an expression of our love and service to our God.
In that vein, we have asked some people to speak to us about why they are grateful that Ascension exists. Today, we’ll hear from John Cuddie.
John Cuddie, member, Church of the Ascension
Just over five years ago, Michelle Roberts, whom I worked with at the time, sold me a ticket to a Mark Payne concert. Mark was (and still is) amazing, but I also liked all the accessible parking and the accessible washroom. OK, some of us get excited about weird things.
So a few months later when I was looking for a new church, I came to try Church of the Ascension. I remember Donna Thompson coming right over to say hello and my life at Church of the Ascension began.
June talked last week about community.
Definition of community: a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
I am truly grateful for the sense of community I feel at this church.
As I look around the Sanctuary, I see so many friends in this community.
Betty White keeps my attendance records and approves any vacation.
I expressed an interest in Malta, and Joe and Kay Ellul brought me information about Malta. They are my travel agents.
Nancy, Jasmin, Brian, Steve, Lenora, and Karen are a few of many Community Breakfast friends.
Gwen and Sandra are my theatre critics.
Mary Holmes once gave me such a big hug we almost ended up on the ground.
Marg Trussler was looking for a walker and I lent her one of mine to test-drive.
And there’s the ongoing sparring between JW and JC — John White and John Cuddie.
I could go one, but I think you can feel my deep gratitude for this wonderful community.
Posted inFundraisers|Comments Off on Stewardship Campaign: A Sense of Community – Feb. 24, 2019
Welcome
We’re an all-inclusive church. No matter your ethnicity, race, gender, or sexual orientation, if you show up some Sunday, you might find yourself being high-fived, hugged, asked to help out, invited to Coffee Hour, offered donation envelopes ….
Identity Statement –
Who We Are Church of the Ascension is
an energetic community,
beloved by God, embracing one another in Christ,
and open to being church
in new ways
Vision Statement –
Where We Intend To Be We are becoming life-giving, Spirit-empowered disciples
living out God’s love
in action.
Prayer for Our Parish
Creator God, inspire us to lead with love and courage
in the year ahead.
May we share our God-given gifts with abandon as we nurture and strengthen
one another for Christ’s mission in the world.
God be in our joy, our songs, our laughter, and our tears,
filling us with hope and passion. Amen.
Church of the Ascension 