Weekly Worship Services
Saturdays at 6:00 p.m. - Facebook Live Stream
Saturdays at 6:00 p.m. - In-person
Sundays at 9:30 a.m. - In-person
Joseph's Table
Greetings for the month of May! The next Free Community meal will be May 20th: take-out only, serving from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The menu for the meal is Beef Mac & Cheese, stewed tomatoes, roll, and fruit.
Volunteer sign-ups can be found in the narthex: sign up in person or email Rhonda Miller (click here). Volunteers are needed to package food items (3:30-5:00 p.m.) or to help with distribution, directing traffic, and clean up (5:15 until complete). COVID-19 precautions and food safety guidelines remain in place (Provide your own Hat, Apron and Mask; Handwashing and Glove Up on site).
We are unable to feed our volunteers during the take out situation. Preparing 225 meals this month following 183 meals out the door in April. Dress for weather if on distribution, you may be outside OR on the processing line and offer help with kitchen clean up if time allows.
Many thanks for donations from Giant Foods and Olive Garden. Thank YOU for helping us be good neighbors as we follow His mandate to "Feed my sheep" ~ Blessings, Rhonda.
Gardens Committee Updates
Mulching (Round Three): A third mulching date will be scheduled in the near future. Please see the email blast, bulletin insert, and this page for the date and time.
Thank you to everyone who helped on April 24, May 6, and May7!
Care of Flower Beds & Memorial Garden: We are in need of volunteers to take care of individual beds. Care of each bed includes (but not limited to): plant flowers/foliage, remove weeds, fertilize, and trim overgrown plant life. There are several beds around the church that need care takers; please volunteering your time to care for a bed. The Memorial Garden will require several people to take care of it and add low maintenance plantings. Please contact Linda Shoemaker (click here) or Hil Fricke (click here) if you are interested in volunteering to care for an area or to be a part of the Gardens Committee.
Music Ministry Sunday
Will be held on Sunday, May 16 ay 9:30 a.m. Music Ministry Sunday is an annual tradition of Ascension where the choir, praise band, and additional instrumentalists present music used in worship throughout the year (in the place of the weekly sermon). In 2020, there was no Music Ministry Sunday due to the shut-down caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. In 2021, Music Ministry Sunday will feature instrumentalists from Ascension Academy only due to precautions about group singing. You are invited to attend!
Note: There will be regular worship on Saturday, May 15 at 6:00 p.m.
Window Cleaning
Do you like to clean windows? The church has over 70 windows and help would be appreciated to clean them. There will be two dates scheduled – Tuesday, May 11 at 9:00 a.m. and Saturday, May 15 at 9:00 a.m. Rain or shine. You're welcome to come both days or just one. Please bring a small ladder, bucket, cloths, and empty spray bottle. Additional cloths and cleaner will be supplied. Come join us and have fun making the windows sparkle. Any questions contact Dee Grant (click here).
Ascension Youth Group
Please see the "Youth Ministry" tab for some important updates about Ascension Youth Ministries!
Upper Room Devotional
Copies of the May/June devotionals are available at the Church Office or on the Welcome Center.
Lydia Circle
Lydia Circle is collecting the following items during March: Bottles, pacifiers, receiving blankets, teething toys/rings. Please place them in the designated box in the narthex. These will be donated through Resident Services at TLC in Lancaster.
This past week, Lydia Circle and Ascension received a letter of appreciation from TLC Ministries, which is posted on the bulletin board in the narthex. TLC, a program of Tabor Community Services, provides food, cleaning supplies, and diapers to single mothers as they work to secure permanent housing. Recently, two families successfully secured housing after being served by TLC. Thanks to everyone for your support of this program!
Bridge of Hope
Churches Respond. Homelessness Ends. Hope Begins.
We will continue to collect donations to help with rental assistance for our BOH family (mark your envelope "Bridge of Hope"). If you would like to help out in a volunteer capacity, please contact Pastor Maureen (click here).
BOH Picnic: Ascension will be providing and serving a meal, as well as providing a few kids' activities, for a Bridge of Hope Picnic on Monday, May 24th, 6:30-8:30 (see blast for further details). The picnic is for Lancaster Area families and Neighboring Volunteer groups. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Diane Heim (click here).
The BOH Neighboring Group of Ascension would like to once again thank the congregation for your continued support of this ministry. Your generosity and kindness never ceases to amaze us!!
Vaccinate Lancaster: Register for a Vaccination Appointment
The Lancaster County Community Vaccination Center is intended as a resource for the people of Lancaster County to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. The center is managed and operated by the Vaccinate Lancaster Coalition, with Penn Medicine Lancaster General as the managing healthcare partner and more than 150 trained staff.
Click here to schedule your appointment.
Appointments at Wiley's Pharmacy, Strasburg
Vaccination appointments also can be made at Wiley's Pharmacy in Strasburg. Appointments will be scheduled on Mondays or Wednesdays.
Prayer Shawls
Casting Our Nets, Ascension's Prayer Shawl Ministry, provides beautifully knitted and crocheted prayer shawls to members, family, and friends of the congregation. If you would like a prayer shawl to give to someone experiencing illness, loss, or another need, please stop by the church. Prayer shawls can be found in the closet located in the church library.
Ascension Academy
Ascension Academy has completed its first semester with flying colors! To date, seven students are receiving weekly instruction on the clarinet, flute, saxophone, piano, and guitar. Lessons are being given by Janine Thomas, principal clarinetist of the Lancaster Symphony, and our Minister of Music, John Zielinski. Lessons are being taught in a large room with ample space for social distancing and an air filtration system. Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are available. The narthex provides a comfortable and spacious area for parents to wait while their children receive instruction.
Solanco Food Bank Donations
With your support, and the community, the Food Bank was able to provide Easter meals, children's baskets, gift cards, and many extras to approximately 75 families during Easter week. Thank you!
The Solanco Food Bank is providing emergency food and items to families in need. The food bank is asking for the following items:
Food Items: snack crackers, loaves of bread, hamburger/hotdog rolls, Manwich, pancake syrup, granola bars, canned chicken, hotdogs*, sliced cheese*, butter*
*Please place these items in the refrigerator or in the cooler
Please bring these items to the church between 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays. You may also make monetary donations to the food bank by: 1) Making a donation through your giving envelope (Please write "Solanco Food Bank" on the envelope); 2) Send a check directly to Solanco Neighborhood Ministries (write "Food Bank" on the memo link), 355 Buck Road, Quarryville, PA 17566.
Shop on Amazon Smile & Support Ascension
For every purchase you make on Amazon Smile, a small portion will be directed to Ascension. If you would like to see a small portion of your purchases be donated to Ascension, click here and shop as you would normally do! (Please note: Ascension is listed as "Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ascension" on Amazon Smile)