Worship:

Saturday 6 PM

Sunday 9 and 10:30 AM

This Week At Ascension

Called to create opportunities for all people to become devoted followers of Christ

January 5, 2025

Christmas 2

& Epiphany

Grace and peace to you my sisters and brothers in Christ,

 

I have always read John 1, the story of the Light coming into the darkness, in the past tense. As in, this is what happened when Jesus came into the world at the first Christmas. When he came, some people accepted him (like Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, the Magi—then later His disciples) and others rejected him (Herod, then later the religious leaders, the Romans).

But what if John 1 describes something that is still happening? What if the light is still coming into the darkness and finding people there? And what if we who have been found by the Light are called to help those folks? Would we be able to do this? Would we be ready?

The thing is: It is.

People are still being found by the Light. To use more of John’s imagery, God is still adopting children, and He is calling us to be a part of this most important process. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not (and will not) overcome it.

Let’s talk more about this in worship this weekend.

Blessings,

 

 

How to Begin the New Year: Seek God First

When I was a camp counselor way back in the day, I loved to sit around the campfire by the lakeshore and sing together “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you, allelu, alleluia.” This simple song comes from Matthew 6:33. (listen to a version here).

As a new year rolls around, one of the best things we can do is to seek God first. January 6 to March 4 is the “Season of Epiphany” on the Christian calendar. It is much less known than the season of Christmas! However, it is a beautiful season in which we are called to “spot God.” Sometimes a person will say “I had an epiphany” when they come to a great realization or have one of those “lightbulb” moments.

In the church’s season of Epiphany, we remember the wise men and how they followed that star. The star wasn’t just a star. It was a light that pointed to Jesus Christ. Every year during Epiphany, our family practices “God spotting.” At our dinner table, we have a mason jar, strips of paper, and a pen. As we eat, we will share with each other where we spotted God during the day, write it down, and put it in the jar.

Spotting God may be easy or difficult for you. But here is a clue: where you see  beauty, truth, and goodness, you will see God. So I invite you to seek God first as we begin this new year together and let’s help each other spot God all over the place.

To learn more about the season of Epiphany and setting our 2025 calendars in soulful ways, join me for adult Sunday school at 10:30 AM this week, January 5.

Pastor Chamie

Check Out These Great Opportunities Coming Up!

Blue Zones

Thursdays January 16, 23, 30, and Feb 6, 6:45 to 8:00 PM, in the Bethlehem Room in the church office building

Psalm 90 says, “Teach us, Lord, to live wisely and well.” How might we live wisely and well in this this year? Researchers discovered several places on the global map where people tend to live long and healthy. They marked these areas with a blue dot.

Dan Buettner wrote about these “blue zones,” noting that there are 9 key attributes to each of these areas. Pastor Chamie will show how each of these key attributes intersects with scripture and Christian history and practice. So bring your Bible to class each week. You will receive additional material about living wisely and well in the year – and years – to come.

Also each week, there will be a healthy “Blue Zone” snack to try. In addition, each week will include a brief, bodily movement for people of all ability levels. Let’s grow together in health and wholeness! For more information, contact Pastor Chamie at or call the church office at (805) 495-0406.

Sign up HERE. 

Children & Youth Ministries

We look forward to special events this winter and spring! If you would like to receive emails about children’s and/or youth ministry, please let Pastor Chamie know at . Sunday School and Confirmation resume on Sunday, January 12.

Mark these special events on your calendar:

Family Movie Night, Friday, January 17, 6:00 to 8:00 PM, in Pederson Hall (the church/school gym). Buy pizza, drinks, and snacks from the youth (monies made will go to support the youth winter camp).

Sunday, January 19, middle school and high school outing! Come to worship at 10:30 AM followed by lunch at the picnic tables. We will board the bus by 12:15 and head to Golf and Stuff! Cost is $20.

Family Friendly Hike (and Park Play), Saturday, January 25, 9:00 AM, Chumash Center. We will do an easy hike starting at the Chumash Center off of Westlake Blvd. The hike includes nature bingo (bingo cards will be distributed on arrival). The hike will conclude around 10:00 AM. For families who want to stay longer and play, we will go to the park across the street.

Looking for resources that might help you as a family grow in faith at home? Pastor Chamie has used these two books that have monthly suggestions for how to live your faith at home – so, in other words, you can read just one chapter each month: The Life Give Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming by Sally & Sarah Clarkson and Seasons of Wonder: Making the Ordinary Sacred Through Projects, Prayers, Reflections, and Rituals by Bonnie Smith Whitehouse.

Word & Wine

Wednesday, January 22, 7:00 to 8:30 PM

Women of all ages are invited to join us for our first “Word & Wine” on Wednesday, January 22, 7:00 to 8:30 at the home of Ascension Church member Lisa Burns. At each monthly “Word & Wine” Pastor Chamie will lead a discussion on a topic as we root ourselves in God’s Word. January’s theme is “Connection.” How might we connect more to God and God’s people in the year ahead? So come as you are as we spend time in God’s word and talk over a glass of wine or sparkling non-alcoholic cider or a cup of tea. For more information, contact Pastor Chamie at or call the church office at (805) 495-0406. Sign up HERE.

 

Flowers On The Altar

In honor of the life of

John Karl Beyer

1901-1991, Charter member of Ascension

From his family

Coming Up in Adult Ed for January

This Weekend:

 Pastor Chamie will be speaking on the season of Epiphany

January 12:

Pastor Tim teaching on the Gospel of Luke

January 19:

Pastor Paul speaking about his new book, Wonder Anew

January 26:

Pastor Steve will be teaching on the Dead Sea Scrolls (introducing the exhibit at the Ronald Reagan Library).

Happy New Year ! 

Fair Trade Lane welcomes in 2025 with the return of Fair Trade favorites like Extra Peaceful Olive Oil from Sindyanna of Galilee. And for the cooler days of January, Fair Trade Lane has some new selections like Green Tea with Mint, Decaf English Breakfast Tea and a new Dark Hot Chocolate mix.

Fair Trade Lane will be open Sunday, January 12 (8:30-9 AM & 10-10:30 AM)  and Thursday, January 16 (2:30-4 PM).  We look forward to seeing you on Fair Trade Lane! 

If you haven’t already done so, consider joining our Ascension Fair Trade email group to get the scoop on what’s happening – just send a note to us at . We’re planning some fun events and opportunities for the months ahead.

Arab and Jewish women leading Sindyanna of Galilee are certainly agents of change, working together with local farmers to promote peace and sustainability.  As Ascension Fair Traders, we’re agents of change too as we promote justice for people and planet through Fair Trade.  Let’s Be The Change We Wish to See! 

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Gifts of Hope: Good News!

To begin 2025 on a positive and exciting note, it is a pleasure to report that our Gifts of Hope total is going to be more than $93,000, exceeding last year’s total! There will be more details forthcoming, but in the meantime, let’s say thank you to our tireless Gifts of Hope team, including Dave Harkins, who does all the accounting, Carol Bjelland, Louise Evenson, Mary Wennes, Pastor Steve, and all of you contributors! Here are the preliminary numbers.

Coming up in Adult Ed—January 19

“Wonder Anew”

Wonder Anew: A Book of Bible Stories for Adults is the title of the book I have written.  It is a book of eighty Bible stories from Genesis to Revelation.

Reading the Bible from beginning to end can be a daunting task, and most people never accomplish it.  This leaves them with snippets of biblical knowledge and lots of holes unfilled.  Often as not, they would be hard pressed to put the various characters in any chronological order, let alone seeing how all the pieces/people/narratives fit together. 

I have written this book in the hope that it can help people discover the fullness of the Bible’s wonderful message.

I invite you to join me for the Adult Sunday School class on January 19, where I will share the genesis of this book, the process from idea to fulfillment, and an overview of the contents of “Wonder Anew.”

Pastor Paul

New Member Class

Would you like to take another step in your spiritual journey with God and our church? If so, we would like to invite you to be a part of our next New Member class, Sunday, January 26, from 12-2:30 PM in the church Library.

Lunch will be provided. The class focuses on the basics of the Christian faith and on the ministry of Ascension. There will be an opportunity to ask any questions that you might have and to get to know others.

To RSVP or with questions, please call the church office at (805) 495-0406 or email .

Exciting News! Sip of Faith is Coming

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of our podcast, A Sip of Faith! This podcast will offer a relaxed, heart-to-heart space to discuss faith, life, and the sufficiency we find in Christ. Picture sitting down with a friend over a warm drink, sharing personal stories, biblical insights, and finding encouragement for the everyday challenges we face.

Each episode will cover a variety of topics that we believe will resonate deeply with our listeners. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the exciting episodes to come:

  • “You Are Enough: Embracing Your Worth in Christ”– A reminder of how God’s love defines our value.
  • “Finding Peace Through Christ in Busy Times”– How to navigate life’s chaos with a heart at peace.
  • “Coffee & Tea , Conversations, and Christ: Why Community Matters”– The importance of authentic fellowship in growing our faith.
  • “Facing Struggles With Faith: A Testimony of Hope”– Real stories of overcoming hardships through God’s grace.

We’re also excited to invite guest speakers from our community to share their powerful testimonies and insights on how faith shapes their lives. It’s going to be an incredible journey, and we can’t wait to share it with everyone!

Meet Your Hosts:

The podcast will be hosted by our Youth Director, Jennifer Avalos, and  Pastor Chamie Deleskamp. Together, they will bring wisdom, warmth, and deep faith to each episode, creating uplifting and impactful conversations for everyone listening.

We Need Your Help!

As we prepare for launch, we’re looking for someone who has experience with podcast and video editing. If you know someone with a passion for audio and video production who would be excited to help us bring A Sip of Faith to life, we would love to hear from them! This is a wonderful chance to be part of something meaningful and help spread encouragement and hope. Contact: or to let us know.

 

Refreshments Needed

Our 10:30 service continues to grow and the after-worship fellowship needs your help. Can you help to provide refreshments for our weekly gathering? Doesn’t have to be a meal, just something you would like to share with your Ascension community.

We generally serve 40-50 people. If that is too much, bring what you can or partner up with a friend. Check out this link and sign up if you would like to help serve. There will also be a signup sheet available at the refreshments tables.

If you have any questions reach out to Tim Schneider-() or Tom Lindros ()

Please bring your food items to the kitchen in Pederson Hall before the 10:30 service.

Book Club Notes

The Ascension Book Club meets the 3rd Thursday of the month at 1:30 in the Bethlehem Room, in the office building. The group chooses books based on members’ interest and discussion is led by one of the members. Books vary from popular novels to nonfiction. Please feel free to join us–we are a friendly group.

January: The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

Books should be available by Libby, local library, Amazon or thriftbooks.

 

Ascension’s food pantry is a part of our Community Concerns ministry, which is led by Chris Daleiden. The need has never been greater and keeping the food pantry shelves full has never been more challenging.

If you are in a position to help, we ask you to consider donating to the Food Pantry ministry through the monthly benevolence button in the Give section of the Ascension  website or THIS DIRECT LINK, and to make a habit of bringing food items for the pantry. The need has never been greater. Together we can help feed our community!

Maintenance Hotline Email

We now have a dedicated email to use if you see an issue on campus that needs immediate attention, such as leaks. It is: .

Please Join Us for 365 in ‘25

With the New Year we have started our new prayer emphasis – “365 in ‘25”.

We resumed having a daily prayer calendar with short intercessory prayers and then Bible passages that either relate to that prayer or are readings that are part of the lectionary for our weekend worship readings. We will also continue to have daily posts and our prayer chapel will continue to be open around our worship services in 2025 as well as each Wednesday noon.

Pastors Tim and Chamie were doing the Saturday campus prayer walks, and they will continue those, too.

Monthly prayer gatherings will be scheduled on an as-needed basis, when a preacher or teacher or a healing ministry feels called to offer an evening (or weekend) gathering for prayer.

Our “365 in ‘25” prayers will often focus on the prayers of Psalm 145 as well as Paul’s admonition to pray in Colossians 4:2.

Here is our 365 in ’25 webpage:

In Case You Missed It…

Ascension Event Calendar

In Need of Prayer

Click here for this week’s Prayer List

Pericopes

This Week

Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm 147:12-20
Ephesians 1:3-14
John 1:[1-9] 10-18

Next Week

Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17
Luke3:15-17, 21-22

Our Prayer

We pray that you may once again meet the Risen Christ through the Word and Sacrament ministry, and through the fellowship of this family of faith.

If you do not have a church home, we would like to invite you to worship with our Ascension family again.

All people who are baptized and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are welcome to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

May God bless you in your worship!

Pastors Tim Delkeskamp, Chamie Delkeskamp, and Steve Herder

 

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