Welcome to Church of the Ascension All are welcome in Christ's community Weekly in-person Worship Holy Eucharist, Rite II Sundays at 8:00a m and 10 :15am ​ ​ Our Rector Father Abi John We are pleased that The Rev. Abidhananthar John (Fr. Abi John) h as been installed as our new Rector. Since being called to Ascension, Fr. Abi has begun many important new ministries including his New American ministry, welcoming refugee families in the neighborhoods around Ascension and has overseen the reopening of our Sunday School. He has also been appointed as an advocate to the Global Episcopal Mission Network by Bishop Stephen Lane. ​ Fr. Abi John was ordained in 2004 in the Church of South India. He is blessed with his wife Angeline, who is a qualified post graduate science teacher and worked in India. As a fa mily, with their two children John and Alfina, they are committed to serve the church with the people of God for a meaningful faith engagement. ​ about Fr. Abidhananthar Weekly Worship Schedule Noonday Prayer, Tuesday 12:00 pm Eucharist, Sunday 8:00am and 10:15am Learn more Service Archive Food Ministry Help Out Our Organ Be the first to learn about Ascension news and events by subscribing to our Newsletter

MEEK MEEK, the Maplewood Edgerton Emergency Kupboard, serves our regional community at least two days per week, and in keeping with current realities is redefining and restating its mission to meet these changing conditions. ​ Church of the Ascension, in partnership with other faith communities, continues to offer to neighborhood residents food to tide them over as there are, in these days, food emergencies for individuals and families. MEEk has been responsible for distributing more than 800,000 meals to 95,000 people over the last few decades. ​ ​ Additional volunteers are always welcome. Please call (585) 944-3093 for inquiries. ​ ​

Home Visitation For those who are temporarily or long-term unable to attend in-church services and receive the Holy Eucharist, home visitations can be arranged through the church office (585) 458-5423

The Rev. Adibhananthar John Rector Nicole Hercules Seminarian Cindy Smith Administrative Assistant Sarah Johnson Music Minister Angel Perez Sexton Vestry Christian Haller, Sr. Warden rin ger2@mac.com ​ Dyson Gay, Jr. Warden dysong y@ao l.com ​ Mary Bickel, Treasurer maryk bic@aol.com ​ Kate Stella-Begy, Clerk of Vestry marykate7687@gmail.com ​ Father Abi John, Chair ascpriest@aol.com ​ ​ D ebbie Copenhagen cupidsal@hotmail.com ​ Bob Crystal crys24634@gmail.com ​ Patricia Frasca thepatriciafr asca@gmail.com ​ Kathy Kohler kkohler1026@gmail.com ​ ​ ​ Ryan McDermott ryan.mcdermott1208@gmail.com ​ Kathy O'Leary kathyjoleary@gmail.com Nancy Turchetti nturchetti@rochester.rr.com ​ Jerry Welcher jswelcher@aol.com ​ Bentley Church Dog

Sunday School Our Sunday School program will commence on September 4, after being mostly dormant over the past two years due to the Covid pandemic. We are planning to use a new curriculum developed by Father Abi. It will focus on God, Jesus, and the Church in modules geared towards the students' age group. Children ages 2 – 5 will go to the Crib Room to play under the supervision of one of our teenage leaders. We continue to look for people to help out with Sunday School activities, even if it is only for a few weeks. Your musical skills, arts & crafts skills, story-telling are welcome., Contact the office to get connected.

Services Noonday Prayer, Tuesday 12:00 pm Bible Study, Thursday 9:30 am We currently offer Services at 8:00 & 10:15 am We are glad to offer in-person services each Sunday 10:15 am, and 8:00 am. Since March 2020, we have provided Sunday morning live-streamed services on YouTube and Facebook. We also offer a Noonday Prayer service on Tuesdays an 12:00 pm and Bible Study on Thursdays at 9:30 am, both on Zoom. ​ Online Services are premiered Sunday at 10:15 am on both YouTube and Facebook. ​ ​ ​ Passcode: 420173 ​ Music Our services include music lead by Mitchell Miller. Our Choral Scholars allow us to hear hymns in church every week. Church of the Ascension is the home to one of Rochester's best organs--a Skinner organ donated by a parishioner who purchased it from the Rochester Auditorium more than 50 years ago. The organ has more than 3,500 pipes and attracts many talented musicians. ​ Children's Programs Special programs are offered for Children and teens and nursery services are provided for our youngest children. ​ Home Visitation For those who are temporarily or long-term unable to attend in-church services and receive the Holy Eucharist, home visitations can be arranged through the church office (585) 458-5423 Eucharist, Sunday 10:15 am Eucharist, Sunday 10:15 am

January 3rd, 2021 January 17th, 2021 January 31st, 2021 February 14th, 2021 February 28th, 2021 March 14th, 2021 March 28th, 2021 Easter Sunday April18th, 2021 April 25th, 2021 May 9th, 2021 May 23rd, 2021 June 6th, 2021 June 20th, 2021 July 4th, 2021 July 18th, 2021 August 1st, 2021 August 15th, 2021 August 29th, 2021 September 12th, 2021 September 26th, 2021 October 10th, 2021 October 24th, 2021 November 7th, 2021 November 21st, 2021 December 5th, 2021 December 19th, 2021 January 10th, 2021 January 24th, 2021 February 7th, 2021 February 21st, 2021 March 7th, 2021 March 21st, 2021 Good Friday April 11th, 2021 Sarah Johnson, DMA Recital May 2nd, 2021 May 16th, 2021 May 30th June 13th, 2021 June 27th, 2021 July 11th, 2021 July 25th, 2021 August 8th, 2021 August 22nd, 2021 September 5th, 2021 September 19th, 2021 October 3rd, 2021 October 17th, 2021 October 31st, 2021 November 14th, 2021 November 28th, 2021 December 12th, 2021 Christmas Eve, Pageant Service December 26th, 2021

Food Ministry Feeding the body as well as the soul has always been an important part of life at Ascension. We host seven annual dinners: ​ Summer Picnic in the Park, Seneca Park Zoo, August 7, 2022 Lobster Dinner, September, Date TBD Welcoming/Homecoming Sunday, late September Roast Beef Dinner, Saturday, mid-October Christmas Party, Sunday, mid-December Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, Tuesday February 21, 2023 - 5:00 PM Pasta Dinner, Saturday, mid-March Chicken and Biscuit Dinner, Saturday, late April Please join us in fellowship and food!

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Church Calendar Be the first to learn about Ascension news and events by subscribing to our Newsletter

Acolyte Guild In contemporary Anglicanism, acolyte is a general term which covers not only servers, torchbearers, and lighters of candles but also crucifers, thurifers, and banner-bearers. It usually takes two years for Acolytes to learn all of their duties for the different Church services. Their jobs include the correct use of candles in the service, carrying the cross, assisting the clergy with the Eucharist and Baptism services, receiving the offering and sending people to the altar for Communion. Occasionally, they assist with wedding and funeral services. ​ Upon completion of two years of faithful and dedicated service, a cross on a ribbon is awarded the Acolyte. For each additional year of service, a small cross is attached to the ribbon of the two-year cross.

Ascension Choir ​ The Ascension Choir is a dedicated group of volunteers, joined by four Choral Scholars from the Eastman School of Music. Ascension has a long history of excellent choral music; the choir sings on Sundays at the 10:15 am service from the beginning of September until Pentecost, and currently rehearses on Wednesday s from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Our Choral Scholars this year are: Maeve Berry Madelin Morales Adam Catangui The mission of the choir is to support and adorn the liturgy at Church of the Ascension through hymnody, Anglican chant, plain chant, and weekly anthems. Towards this goal we sing a wide range of repertoire sourced from the Renaissance to today, and often collaborate with the Ascension Youth Choir to encourage the next generation of musicians. We are always happy to welcome new choir members; please be in touch with Minister of Music Mitchell Miller if you are interested in joining or trying out the choir - all are welcome! ​