August 20-21 2016
Grateful for Our Daily Bread
Vision Acon Team
Progress Report
Inside
Bapsm This Weekend
Holy Communion
Every Sunday at each service
2nd and 4th Saturdays
Grayson Thomas Pyfrom
Born: 6-24-16
We pray that you may once again meet the Risen Christ
through the Word and Sacrament,
and through the fellowship of this family of faith.
If you do not have a church home, we invite you to worship with
our Ascension family again.
Flowers on the Altar
All bapized Chrisans who believe that Jesus Christ is truly
present in the bread and wine as the word of God declares are
welcome to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion with us
today. Please follow the direcons of the ushers as you come
to the altar or to a side staon. Children who have not received
First Communion instrucon are invited to come
forward for a blessing.
If medical/health concerns give you reason to avoid the wine
and bread, please remember the teaching of the Chrisan
Church that Jesus Christ is fully present in either element alone,
bread or wine. (Gluten-free wafers and white grape juice, in the
center of each tray, are also available.)
May God bless you in your worship today!
In celebraon of
Myra and Dean Chandler’s
wedding anniversary
In celebraon of
Vicki & Howard Sonstegard’s
wedding anniversary
In honor of the life of
Myrtle J. Beyer
1910-1995
charter member of Ascension
From her family
Pastors: Paul Gravrock, Tim Delkeskamp and Steve Herder
Like us on Facebook
In celebraon of the
birthday of
Bryson OMalley Scholz
Vision Acon Team Progress Report
As I reported in my video last week, our Vision Acon Teams (VAT) will provide the
Vision Oversight Team (VOT) with periodic progress reports, which will then be
consolidated into a monthly newsleer arcle with the intent of communicang to the Congregaon all the
wonderful things that our ministries have been doing, to include: recent accomplishments, acons in progress,
and plans for future acons. As you see things that spark your interest, we invite you to contact one of our
Leaders in Ministry to see where you can become involved in furthering our efforts to achieve our Vision and
carry out our mission.
Worship – Team Lead - Ken Caudill; Pastoral Advisor – Pastor Paul
• Team has had major discussions regarding the Sunday morning schedule, considering various me adjustments, and has concluded that our current schedule is the most advantageous and best meets the worship needs of the congregaon. Ideas have been discussed to enhance each of the services, and ongoing
discussions and implementaon will follow. Efforts will also be made, along with other
commiees, to enhance the fellowship and adult educaon opportunies on Sunday
mornings.
• The Worship Commiee is urging the Church Council to plan a Capital Campaign to
tend to many needs on our campus, with special emphasis on refurbishing the sanctuary (pews, flooring, refreshing woodwork, etc.) and the narthexes. There is a desire to
make our entryways much more welcoming and to make our sanctuary a more beauful
reflecon of our love for God.
• Plans are underway to help us make full use of the 500th Anniversary of the Lutheran
Reformaon in 2017.
Evangelism and Outreach – Team Lead – Sean McGlynn; Pastoral Advisor – Pastor Tim
• Team is meeng every two weeks. During the 9 August meeng, the team reviewed their “Summer of Gratitude” plans and September 10-11th First Responder event, discussing “How” we will invite, adverse, and
coordinate this event. Decision was made to follow up with new members starng with someone aending class, geng to know new members, following up over next 12 months, and providing opportunies for
members to become involved in our many efforts, with possible pairing with another family.
• Team is developing a list of quesons that will be used to survey new members who joined in the last 12
months to see what their experience has been at Ascension and to see if we are falling short in meeng
their expectaons, and to see how we can beer sasfy their needs.
• Dick Krum has joined the team and we’re very excited and enthusiasc about the plans that were made.
Connued next page
If you enjoy singing, please consider joining our
Chancel Choir. If you have quesons/concerns,
talk with a choir member or
Howard Sonstegard, director.
It is a fun, rewarding ministry.
Rehearsals begin Thursday,
Sept. 1 @ 7:30pm in the
choir lo.
VAT Progress Report connued
Family, Youth and Young Adult Ministries – Team Lead – Pastor Tim
• Team is working on some very big and very important aspects to our
youth ministry program. The Vision report suggested that we needed
to make some foundaonal changes to our youth ministry for the sake
of reinvesng in our precious youth ministry and we are doing just that.
To begin with, church leadership has approved an organizaonal chart
which makes the second associate pastor of the church a pastor whose
emphasis is children, youth, family and young adults. That person will
be supervising a youth director who will specifically work with junior
and senior high ministries. Together those two posions will bring
more power and emphasis to the youth ministry than we have historically had. The call for that second
associate pastor will come aer we have called the senior pastor, but we are currently working on hiring a
permanent youth director. In the meanme, we are focusing on keeping acvies for the high school going
including Monday Night Bible studies and fellowship events. Also, with respect to the junior high age, we
are preparing for a new year confirmaon program, which will begin September 8th with our Confirmaon
Orientaon.
Organizaon and Staff – Team Lead – Pastor Paul
• Modified Church organizaon chart to reflect a “One Ascension” (i.e., Church, School, and Foundaon) approach as well as two new posions: Director of Administrave Ministries and Director of Youth Ministries.
• Call commiee for new Senior Pastor established and fully engaged.
• Developed job descripon and began adversement for new Director of Administrave Ministries.
• Developed job descripon and began adversement for new Director of Youth Ministries.
“One Ascension” – Team Lead – Pastor Paul
• The Master Plan Implementaon Team (MPIT), led by Bob Woodward will be meeng during the last week
in August to discuss strategies for moving forward.
Unl next month, keep the thoughts, prayers, and ideas coming. Addionally, let me
know if there is a specific team that you would like to join and we’ll help you become
involved in our efforts.
Thank you for your service,
Todd Klipp, Council President
This year’s confirmaon orientaon will take
place September 8, from 7-9 pm, with Pastor
Tim in Pederson Hall. Regular
confirmaon classes will begin the following
Thursday, Sept. 15.
ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering
“We are Church for the Sake of the World”
July 14-17, 2016
Susanne Maliski and Mary Wennes represented the Southwest California Synod at the ELCA World Hunger Gathering
held July 14-17th in Chicago. Each Synod can send two Hunger leaders to the gathering. This year’s theme was, “ We are
Church for the Sake of the World.”
Learning labs led by missionaries informed listeners of hunger related projects taking place around the world including
North America. ELCA World Hunger projects included medical health and wellness programs, agricultural
efforts, and water projects. Missionaries shared how God’s Global Barnyard provides income-genera"ng
ac"vi"es that help families pay for essen"als like food, medical costs and school fees. This is a long-term
solu"on to ending hunger and poverty. Leaders also shared how hunger funds are suppor"ng domes"c
projects like food pantries, soup kitchens, and community gardens even right here in our
synod.
By suppor"ng the ELCA World Hunger programs with your thank offerings and through gi's of hope you
help provide innova"ve solu"ons, educa"on, and medical assistance to meet the unique needs of women,
children and families by addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty. The ELCA recently approved an annual budget of 25 million dollars for the next two years for ELCA World Hunger. The ELCA World Hunger Campaign is commi!ed
to con"nuing their work un"l all God’s children are clothed and fed. Thank you, Ascension, for all the ways you have and
con"nue to support these ELCA programs! These are life giving and life saving efforts.
Men’s Ministry BBQ!
A!en"on, all men of Ascension! You are invited to a
FREE BBQ dinner on Friday, Sept. 23rd, at 6pm here at
Ascension Lutheran Church. We are calling all men to
come together for a casual evening of fellowship, food,
and fun. And did we men"on it’s FREE?! Beyond a great
meal, we will share in an engaging devo"onal, discuss
where we find ourselves today within our community in
the midst of all that surrounds us, and where God may
be leading us to tomorrow. We encourage all men to
a!end. Please RSVP to Pastor Tim (pastor"[email protected])
or call the church
office ((805) 4950406) no later than
Sept. 16th so that
we can prepare
enough food. We
look forward to
seeing you there.
Menu for Aug. 24
Chili cheese dogs
Cole slaw
Ice cream bars
Make your reserva"ons
by noon, Aug. 22
BP Checks
Our Parish Nurse, Diana Doerfler, is providing blood pressure checks for church members today, Aug. 21.
If you wish to take advantage of this opportunity, come visit the library between services.
CALENDAR
Sunday, August 21
9:00 am Worship Service - Tradional
10:00 am Blood pressure checks
10:30 am Worship Service - Praise band
2:00 pm First communion class
7:00 pm NA Women’s Group
Sanctuary
Library
Sanctuary
Founder’s Hall
Library
Monday, August 22
6:00 pm ACA Meeng
7:30 pm Sr. Luther League Bible Study
Modular
off site
Tuesday, August 23
6:30 am Men’s Bible Study@the Sidestreet Cafe,
996 Lawrence Drive, Newbury Park.
Call 499-9323 for direcons.
9:00 am Quilng
Founder’s Hall
9:00 am Christ Care
Founder’s Kitchen
7:00 pm NA
Bethlehem Room
Wednesday, August 24
12:00 pm Lunch Bunch
7:00 pm Church Council
Thursday, August 25
9:00 am Coffee Talk with Pastor Tim
12:00 pm Meet Your Teacher Picnic
7:00 pm
Chancel Choir
Friday, August 26
12:30 pm Grief Share
7:30 pm CODA
Saturday, August 27
9:45 am OA
10:00 am Alanon
6:00 pm Worship Service
Founder’s Hall
Bethlehem Room
Library
Picnic Tables
Sanctuary
Library
Library
Library
Bethlehem Room
Sanctuary
IN NEED OF PRAYER
Our printed prayer list focuses on Ascension members and immediate family members. We do pray for
people listed on the blue cards during church services and we do refer them to the Prayer Tree.
A name is added to this list only with the permission of
the person or the person’s family.
Prayer Notes and Care Notes are in the West Narthex,
the library and the Prayer Chapel.
Doris Smith
Michael Trovero
Prayers of comfort for:
Bob Cook, Bret and Todd Cook and
family and friends on the death
of wife and mother, Pat (right)
Phyllis Munn on the death of her
youngest sister, Barbara Rakstad
Prayer Focus:
For our Call Commi#ee as they discern God’s
choice of a senior pastor for us
For our sister church, Ascension Lutheran in Los
Angeles
New prayers for:
Henry Leland, Al Leland’s son, for
healing a"er
mulple head injuries
Con!nuing prayers for:
Margo Dameron
Carl Dietrich
Nicole East
Lorraine Gilliland
Kris Haar
Dennis and Pat Limkemann
Rose Mains
Cleo Sarff
Prayers for our missionaries:
For Sister Emilia in Peru
Tim and Roxanne Ault in Brazil
Carol and Randy Stubbs in Tanzania
Hey Pat. You are on
our mind. We want
you to know you
are very special. We
miss you. And we
love you.
Prayers for safekeeping:
Sco# Clark, U.S. Navy
LCpL. Alexander Daley
Tim David, U.S. Army
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joe Fi#erer
ET2 Patrick Maccarone
Sean McEwen, U.S. Army
Reformaon Celebraon News,
Informaon, and More
Our fall conference assembly will be on September 6th at 6:30
pm. The program will include informaon about celebraons being planned for the 500th anniversary of the Reformaon as well
as other synod news. It will be held at CLU in the Lundring Events
Center, which is on the north side of campus. Guests can park in the
Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center parking lot, which is on the northwest corner of Mt. Clef and Olsen Road. All are welcome!
Reformaon Pilgrimage
Join Bishop Guy Erwin and Pastor Steve and Julie Herder in exploring
Germany and the sites associated with Marn Luther in preparaon for the 500th anniversary of the Reformaon. Visit Wienberg,
Erfurt, Wartburg Castle and other famous sites. The trip will take
place June 19-30, 2017. The all-inclusive price, covering roundtrip airfare, first class hotels, daily buffet breakfasts and dinners, deluxe motor coaches and much more, is $4,396. Bishop Guy, as you may know, is one of
the leading authories on Marn Luther in the world. Join him and gain insights into our history, with stops in
Berlin, Wienberg, Torgau, Leipzig, Dresden and Eisenach. For complete details, visit
hp://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/rf17-061917l-herder-46459#eotours
First Communion Classes
First Communion classes will be held today, Aug. 21, from 2:00-4:30 pm and Sept. 18 from
2:00-4:30 pm, in Founder’s Hall. These classes are for children in the 1st grade or age
six, plus any children or youth in grades 2-8 who have not yet received First Communion
instrucon. One or both parents must accompany their child as they aend one of these
classes. Our First Communion worship service is Oct. 2.
Hit the Links for LRCC
Come spend a day on the links at the 26th Annual El Camino Pines Chrisan Camp Classic at Elkins Ranch Golf Course in
Fillmore, to benefit El Camino Pines and Lutheran Retreats, Camps and Conferences. Elkins Ranch Golf Course, Fillmore,
CA, Friday, September 30, 2016. Go to www.LRCChome.com/golf. to register.
Registraon fees include: green and cart fees, BBQ dinner, gross & net awards, on-course contests and a donaon to El
Camino Pines. If you register as an individual golfer, you will be placed into a foursome. A golf package will be available
for purchase at registraon the day of the tournament.
Registraons completed online or postmarked before
September 8 will receive the Early Bird rate of $130. All
registraons received a'er September 8 will be charged
$150.
Event Details:
Four person best-ball scramble
10:30 AM Check-in
12:30 PM Shotgun start
5:30 PM Banquet dinner
‘A Bible full of immigrants’
“The Bible is also full of immigrants. From Eve and Adam journeying away from the Garden of Eden, to Sarah,
Abraham and Hagar traveling to and from Egypt and throughout Mesopotamia on a promise from God, down
to Jesus, descendant of a wandering Aramean, and a wanderer himself.
Nowadays in this global world, it is easy for those of us from the United States with enough money to journey
to other countries, to cross borders. Many of us do it each year for vacaon or for business. Some of the most
vulnerable must cross borders for survival, freedom, and hope. As followers of Christ, we are called to
journey together–strangers together in a strange land. We journey together and are freed in Christ. In our
journey together, we come to know each other and strangers become neighbors. We begin to see each other
as beloved children of God” (Shared from Daily Grace August 6, 2016)
Later this month, Bread for the World will collaborate with other organiza!ons to stage a pilgrimage walk in
Southern California to raise the issue of immigra!on during the elec!on season, El Camino del Inmigrante.
El Camino del Inmigrante (The Path of the Immigrant) will snake through the southernmost coun!es of
California, beginning on Aug. 20 at the U.S.Mexico border at Tijuana and culmina!ng in
downtown Los Angeles on Aug. 30. The chosen route reflects the one that many
immigrants are forced to take when faced
with extreme violence, hunger and poverty in
their countries of origin. Currently, there are
4.5 million children living in households with at least one undocumented parent in the U.S. Children are either
sent away alone from their home countries or live apart from one parent. At the Camino’s terminus in front of
the Los Angeles Deten!on Center, the pilgrimage will conclude with an event designed to highlight the unjust
prac!ces that allow mass incarcera!on to con!nue.
Members of Ascension’s Global Ministries Team plan to a#end the “last steps” event at the Los Angeles Deten!on Center on Aug. 30 at 11 a.m. More informa!on is available in the August 2016 Bread for the World
newsle#er (www.bread.org). If you are interested in a#ending the Aug 30th event in Los Angeles & would like
to carpool,please contact GMT Co-Chair Carol Bjelland.
In lieu of flowers, please make a
contribu!on to one of the non-profits
Venice supported:
Ascension Lutheran Founda!on
ascensionfounda!on.org
Lutheran World Relief - LWR.org
Comfort Zone Camp (bereavement
camp for children who have
experienced the death of a parent,
sibling, or primary caregiver.)
comfortzonecamp.org
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Weekly worship
Saturday 6 pm Country
Sunday 8 and 9:30 am Tradional
11 am Contemporary
9:30 am Sunday School
Childcare at all Sunday services
Pastoral Care Emergency Line: (805) 405-7431
Isaiah 58:9b-14
Psalm 103:1-8
Heb. 12:18-29
Luke 13:10-17
Proverbs 25:6-7
Psalm 112
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Save the Date
There will be a special worship service and recep!on Sept. 11 at 9:30 am as
we complete our Summer of Gra!tude with Gra!tude for First
Responders. Firefighters, police officers, EMTs,
sheriffs, military and medical personnel, Red Cross...
all those who serve on the front lines of emergencies, both within our congrega!on and the
community, are cordially invited. There will be blessings for First Responders at each service on the Sept.
10-11 weekend (returning to regular service !mes). Stay tuned for more
details.