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
March 30, 2025
Grace and peace my sisters and brothers in Christ,
Luke is my favorite gospel, for many reasons. One of those reasons is that Luke is the only gospel writer who tells the triad of the “lost stories” – the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the lost son.
Whether these stories are old or new to you, I invite you to come to worship as we dig into Luke 15 and ponder both the simplicity and the profoundness of Jesus’ telling these parables. And I will say that no matter what your week has been like – hard or easy or in between – I believe there is something about coming to worship that can help us feel more “found,” or in other words, more seen, loved, and renewed.
I hope to see you this weekend as we continue to walk with Jesus in Lent.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Chamie
Click Here to View/Download The Lenten Schedule
Come meet Chloe on Palm Sunday!
We begin Holy Week on Sunday, April 13 as we remember Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey as people waved branches and shouted “Hosanna!”
During the 9 AM worship on Apr 13, our new children’s choir will sing and sign “Jesus Loves Me.” The Ascension garden will be open from 10 AM to noon for people to buy tomatoes and go to the petting zoo and meet the star of the petting zoo: Chloe!
Chloe is a “Jerusalem Donkey.” The “Jerusalem Donkey” term comes from a legend that the donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem stood by Jesus as he died, and the cross on which Jesus was crucified cast a shadow on his back. Come get a close up look of Chloe’s amazing marking on her back.
A message from Pastor Chamie – Come and help with Garden Work Day Saturday, March 29, 9-11 AM
Three Great Sundays in April for Children, Youth, and Family Ministries!!
Sunday, April 6, 9:00 AM
Special Sunday school experience in Pederson Hall with station rotations to help children learn about and get ready for Holy Week; last children’s choir rehearsal from 10:10 to 10:30 before they sing in worship.
Sunday, April 13, opportunities from 9:00 AM to Noon
Palm Sunday followed by the Tomato Sale & Petting Zoo. Youth are needed to process into worship with the palm fronds (this counts as worship leadership for the confirmands); youth are also needed to help at the tomato sale and petting zoo – sign up here to help with either of those. The children’s choir will be singing and signing “Jesus Loves Me” at the 9:00 AM service. Families will definitely want to spend time in the garden at the petting zoo and meet Chloe, the Jerusalem donkey!
Sunday, April 20, opportunities from 7:00 AM to Noon
It’s Easter Sunday!!!! We will unbury the alleluia during children’s time in worship. Youth will help lead the sunrise worship service at 7:00 AM (this counts as worship leadership for confirmands); you can sign up here to help at the Sunrise Service. Easter breakfast (monies made go to support youth with their summer trips and camps). To sign up to help with the breakfast, go here. There is an Easter egg hunt for children happening at 10:30 AM between the last two worship services. Worship times on Easter Sunday are 7:00 AM in the garden followed by 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM in the sanctuary. Easter breakfast is in Pederson Hall (they gym) from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
This Week in Adult Ed:
Living Out The Mission
SUNDAY, MARCH 30
Rev. Dr. Colleen Windham-Hughes
Associate Vice President for Mission and Identity at California Lutheran University
Both in and out of the classroom, everyone at Cal Lutheran is committed to helping each student pursue their passions to discover their purpose. By following that purpose, students can transform their communities and the world. Join us on Sunday, March 30 at 10:30 to hear more about how faculty, staff, and students are living out the mission of California Lutheran University “Peace by Piece.”
10:30 in the Library
College Scholarship Applications Now Available
Attention Ascension students and student families: Our Ascension Foundation is making available to you the chance to apply for scholarships. Please click HERE for all the details and forms. The deadline for applications including letters of recommendation is April 25, 2025.
All scholarships will be awarded by May 16 for the academic year starting next fall. The recipients will be informed in writing and will be recognized in a church service on June 8, 2025.
Request scholarships HERE. You may also stop by the office for a paper copy of the application.
April 6 in Adult Ed:
Dr. Carol Bartell, Dean and Professor Emerita, California Lutheran University
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a prominent German Lutheran pastor and theologian, became a key figure in the Confessing Church, a movement that resisted the Nazi regime’s attempts to control the Protestant churches in Germany, ultimately leading to his imprisonment and execution. His theological writings are regarded as classics throughout the Christian world.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer is remembered by many church denominations on April 9th, the anniversary of his death. Dr. Bartell will discuss key turning points in his life that shaped his beliefs and his teachings.
10:30 in the Library
As the flowers bloom and the days grow longer, April reminds us of the power of renewal. This month, consider giving a gift that keeps on giving—supporting the Ascension Lutheran Foundation to strengthen the community and bring hope where it’s needed most.
Your contribution helps nurture growth, provide care, and spread kindness. Let’s sow seeds of generosity that will blossom into a brighter future for all.
💙 Together, we can make a lasting impact. Ascension Foundation
BE A BEACON OF LIGHT!
“Two hundred thirty eight beacons of light for people in Ukraine have been funded by the generous Ascension community! That’s a lot of LIGHT, thanks to the generosity of many!
In addition to the 175 solar light kits that we funded in 2024 and are in use in Ukraine today, with the benevolence offerings in February, we are sending 63 more lights to Ukraine! THANK YOU!
Our youth and confirmation class assembled 13 kits in February when Dave Nonnemacher was here. In early March, 30 more kits were assembled by a middle school group in Alton, IA. On Sunday, March 23rd, people at Dave Nonnemacher’s church, United Church of Two Harbors, MN, assembled 20 more for us! These 63 kits are being shipped by Hand in Hand Logistics, Isanti, MN to Vinnytsia, UK in March. Their delivery in Ukraine this spring will again share the promise of the LIGHT with our prayers of hope, justice and peace for Ukraine.”
Attention High School Students!
Join us for an Epic Pickleball & BBQ Event! 
We’re excited to invite 9th-12th graders to an unforgettable evening of fellowship, pickleball, and delicious food! Come 
enjoy fun games, great conversations, and a short Bible study to kick off the night.
Event Details:
- Date: Sunday, April 6th
- Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Location: Thousand Oaks Community Park
Address: 2525 Moorpark Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
We’ll have burgers, hot dogs, and extra treats to enjoy, so come hungry! Don’t forget to bring your friends—the more, the merrier! Just let Youth Director Jennifer Avalos know in advance so we can make sure there’s enough food for everyone.
Don’t have a pickleball paddle? No problem! Bring yours if you’ve got one, or use one of ours!
Got questions? Feel free to reach out to Jennifer Avalos at: javalos@alcto.org
Community Concerns Class
Last Sunday in Adult Ed we had an excellent, well-attended presentation about our Community Concerns team, led by Chris Daleiden. Barry and Tania Disselhorst talked about our Hot Meals Ministry, Bob Token gave insights regarding the Food Pantry and SAM’s Tram, Di Starzak explained CPR and AED training, and Pastor Steve Herder, who advises the Community Concerns group, shared Biblical passages that support this ministry of Ascension. In case you missed it, please take a look at the slides from this presentation, its Biblical Basis, and a breakdown of Community Concerns’ parts:
Here are the slides from the Community Concerns presentation.
As we feature CREATION CARE for our theme in April, here are some questions to ponder:
- What do mulberries have to do with Martin Luther and caring for creation?
- What is “Nature Deficit Disorder” and is it a real thing?
- What does a horticultural therapist do?
- What’s a “farminary?”
- How does the National Wildlife Federation work with churches?
- What do tomatoes teach us about God?
- Should churches be leaders in creation care?
Pastor Chamie will answer these questions and more as she shares her childhood journey of wonder and work on her grandparents’ farm, to living in a major city as a seminary student who shunned farmers and dirty fingernails, to becoming a pastor of “soul and soil” who tends to people’s innermost beings as well as the beautiful world God created. Pastor Chamie is an ordained pastor who holds certificates in spiritual direction and horticultural therapy. She’s also been a leader in Ascension’s various garden and nature ministries – at both the church and school.
Join the conversation from 4:00 to 5:30 PM in “the bungalow” at Ascension Lutheran Church & School (the modular building on the far end of the big parking lot which happens to sit right next door to the greenhouse and vegetable garden area of the campus).
April on Fair Trade Lane…
There will be three opportunities to visit Fair Trade Lane in April — there’s no limit to the number of times you can visit Fair Trade Lane. We look forward to meeting & greeting you on Fair Trade Lane in April.
We’ll have Red Barn Fair Trade Cheddar Cheese & those delectable Medjool Dates from Palestine in addition to your Fair Trade favorites. The double doors to Fair Trade Lane will be open Sunday April 13 to make it easy for you to pick up your Fair Trade favorites on your way to the garden to purchase tomato plants for your home gardens.
We’ll close out the month of April with a little road trip to CLU to participate in their Earth Day Sustainability Fair on April 22. We’ll bring some Fair Trade items to sell but the Day is about sharing & learning from each other – our Earth is precious and we all have a role in sustaining it. Everyone is invited to the Fair!
20 Years of World Bicycle Relief
Gearing Up to Ride: Kingdom Builders Palm Sunday Event
For avid cyclist Scott Searway, the Kingdom Builders challenge brought forth an idea that seemed like a natural. We could host an event that would bring together riding enthusiasts among the One Ascension community – while drawing attention to World Bicycle Relief.
That was the genesis of the April 13 Be the Blessing Bike Ride (see flyer and video, this page).
Scott has been aware of WBR for years. The organization’s mission is simply this: mobilizing individuals and communities through the power of bicycles. In 20 years, WBR has given out more than 868,000 bikes, mobilized more than four million people, and “built a foundation for lasting change,” proclaims its website, Https://worldbicyclerelief.org. “We envision a world where bicycles improve healthcare and education outcomes and broaden economic opportunities so individuals and communities can thrive.”
“Often, a bike given to one individual becomes a family benefit,” Scott notes. And those benefits can be life changing. For example, he says, “Their efforts truly allow young women and girls to stay in school, enabling them to cover enough ground to fulfill obligations like getting water in the morning, and still making it to classes.”
Another plus is that World Bicycle Relief trains people in bicycle maintenance, which can become a self-sustaining business model.
They work in Africa, South America and Asia, expanding “very intentionally” according to Scott. This month, WBR added Tanzania to the list of countries in which they operate.
Scott has already made a donation to WBR thanks to Kingdom Builders.
He is hoping that the Palm Sunday ride offers Ascension members and friends who enjoy cycling the chance to deepen their connections. Depending on how things go, there could be more rides in the future, as well as other types of bike-related events. Scott has even thought of a bike rodeo with kids involved. Thousand Oaks and vicinity being a bike-friendly, active cycling community, the possibilities are fun to think about.
You don’t have to be a member of Ascension to join the April 13 ride, but you will need to know that for this group, a prayer before starting will be part of the day. These cyclists are, after all, enthusiastic Kingdom Builders.
The Sound of Music, Continued
Let’s thank our friend, Dr. Wyant Morton, for his 33 years of choral conducting and teaching at California Lutheran University, and his leadership at Ascension!! His last concert leading the Cal Lutheran Choir this past weekend was a moving and memorable experience.
He finishes at Cal Lutheran with this semester but thankfully he will continue directing our Chancel Choir and his Areté Vocal Ensemble.
Areté sings “The Best of Broadway” on April 13 at 2 PM at Cal Lutheran.
Lunch Bunch for April
Our next date is April 9th. Signups at church will be March 23rd and 30th and the last date to sign up is April 2nd.
The menu will be Baked Ham, Cheesy Potatoes and Rice Krispy treats.
COOKIES NEEDED!
The Library Committee is once again offering cookies following our Wednesday evening Lenten services and we’re looking for help. If you are interested in contributing three dozen cookies or more on any of the six Wednesdays in Lent, please contact Dolores Ledbetter at (805)716-3045 or the church office.
Easter Lily Dedications
You are invited to donate one or more Easter Lilies in honor or remembrance of someone special to you. Fill out a flower envelope in the pew rack and enclose $9 each.
CLICK HERE TO READ/DOWNLOAD
Let’s Read Together for Lent
We’re doing a special series based on the book Liturgy of the Ordinary. Wednesday evening services during Lent will have a reflection about the book. It’s not too late to join in. We encourage you to purchase the book and read it as you follow the reading plan — then be sure to come to Wednesday night Soup Suppers at 6 PM throughout Lent. You can discuss the book, and delve further by attending worship at 7 PM and hearing sermons that tie in to the week’s themes. (CLICK HERE TO VIEW/DOWNLOAD the reading plan.)
The book is available on Amazon, Thriftbooks, Barnes & Noble, Christianbook.com and other outlets.
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.
April: Symphony of Secrets, by Brendan Slocumb (the One City One Book for Thousand Oaks available at the library)
May: Horse by Geraldine Brooks
June: Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea (This is about the “Donut Dollies ” of WW II)
Books should be available at Libby, local library, Amazon or Thriftbooks.
We need to upgrade our sanctuary’s sound system.
Can you help?
Maybe you noticed just before Christmas that we completed phase 1 of a 2-phase sound upgrade. (with a vision of a 3rd phase in the future) Thanks to a few generous families, we were able to purchase 6 new digital wireless headsets and 6 handheld microphones. I hope that you have noticed that the range of these new microphones is much better and the sound is much richer for the pastors, musicians and kids in chapel!
Phase 2 will involve:
- – Switching to “in-your-ear monitors” from the large stage monitors we currently have on the floor
- – A new custom fabricated drum cage- which will be much more sound-proof and much more aesthetically pleasing than the current one.
- – A new sound mixing board which will give us more inputs and provide more flexibility with adding musicians and voices.
The overall effect this upgrade will have is that the chancel will look much cleaner, transitioning from the 9am service to the 10:30 service will take much less time, the sound at the 10:30 will be much improved, and our school musicals will have more ability to amplify the actors’ voices!
The good news: Not only have we covered the cost of phase 1, but we have also raised 38-48k of the 68k we need to complete phase 2. We would really love to be able to raise this money and purchase this equipment as soon as possible. Maybe we could even get some of this equipment in time for Easter?!
Might you prayerfully consider going above and beyond your regular giving to help us get to the finish line?
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact or email me!
Pastor Tim
In Case You Missed It…
In Need of Prayer
Click here for this week’s Prayer List
Top of Page
Pericopes
This Week
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Next Week
Psalm 126
Philippians 3:4b-14
John 12:1-8
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