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
May 19, 2024
Pentecost Sunday
Congratulations to our confirmation students who have been hard at work for two years, and who this Sunday will lead much of the 9 AM service themselves.
Grace and peace to you my family in Christ,
My head is so full right now. It’s because I have been studying this amazing story, often simply called Pentecost, that is recorded in chapter 2 of the book of Acts.
Where do I begin? I could talk about fire, or tongues or how this event is so deeply connected to the Old Testament that it is astounding.
But what I hope to convey is how this story, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is so deeply connected to our lives and our faith and our story.
And what I hope for even more is that the Holy Spirit shows up and opens our hearts and minds to God’s gracious presence… like it has been doing for 2000 years.
Looking forward to seeing you in church on this special day. Don’t forget to wear red if you can!
Blessings,
Rescheduled to June 2 Adult ED:
Reflections On Faith and Life, People and Places
Over the past twenty plus years, I have written many hymn texts, and I have also written reflections on places Jean and I have traveled or people we have seen. I 
have previously shared my hymn texts with you. Now I am pleased to have the opportunity to share these other writings in the hope that they will inspire you to see in a new way the things you experience in the midst of your daily lives.
I invite you to join me for the Adult Sunday School Class on JUNE 2, where I will share with you the writings and the inspiration behind each of them.
Pastor Paul
NOTE: Rescheduled to June 2.
News Briefs
Save the Date
Our Congregational Meeting will take place June 23 at noon.
HOT MEALS MINISTRY – SIGN UP TO BRING FOOD
The Ascension Hot Meals Ministry, led by Tania and Barry Disselhorst, provides meals on the third Tuesday of each month. It is simple to join in helping to feed the homeless and families in need in Thousand Oaks. Sign up now to help May 21.
Being the Blessing To Pandas and Older Adults
Mrs. Pagano’s Fourth Grade students at Ascension Lutheran School recently blessed people and animals in different parts of the world in projects funded by Ascension’s Be the Blessing program.
Their first project was a lemonade stand fundraiser the students coordinated to benefit Pandas International, which works in Asia to help ensure the survival of the giant panda.
Their second project was assembling May Day Baskets that were delivered to residents of the Royal Oaks Senior Living community in Thousand Oaks. The fourth graders potted and included beautiful succulents in their baskets to the older adult recipients.
Both projects were a big success, according to Mrs. Pagano, and her students are thinking of future projects that will be a blessing to others.
Just like Mrs. Pagano’s class . . . If you’d like to be a blessing and, possibly, receive a grant for the ministry you’d like to start . . . Check out Ascension’s Be the Blessing website page and apply for a grant.
VBS Registration Now Open
Pastor Search
Please extend a warm welcome at Sunday’s services to our ELCA Southern California Synod representative Julia Morales. Julia plays an instrumental role in the Call Process for Ascension, including communicating our associate pastor opening to ELCA pastors and identifying and vetting potential candidates for our consideration. We look forward to having her worship with us and gain a deeper understanding of our church, congregation and character.
See Pastor Tim’s Council Report for update: CLICK HERE.
Is there a pastoral prospect you would like to have considered? A promising candidate for Youth Director? Please make them aware of these opportunities and descriptions of the positions by sharing THIS LINK.
REPORTS AVAILABLE
Get inside insights about the goings-on at Ascension Lutheran Church. Read the Administrator and Pastor Reports from our council report for May—CLICK HERE. And remember, you can read the full reports including back issues, by visiting Member Docs on our website.
Don’t forget!
Sign-ups on the patio between services for 2024-25 Women’s Monday Morning Bible Study
What: Study of “The Twelve Disciples” and the book of Ephesians
When: September 16, 2024, to beginning of May 2025
Cost: $30 for BOTH books
Scholarships available; please contact Pastor Steve Herder
Join us for fellowship, friendship and a faith lift!
Applications Open for Certificate in Climate Justice and Faith
The Center for Climate Justice and Faith at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary is accepting applications to their Certificate in Climate Justice and Faith program. This program is designed for lay leaders and clergy members from around the world who want to be effective advocates for climate justice. Students will grow their faith, practice skills, gain knowledge, and build community to allow them to address the climate crisis in ways that also address racial, gender, and economic injustices.
This two-semester program will begin August 2024 and end May 2025. A 100% online curriculum allows students from around the world to build relationships through bi-monthly small group meetings on Zoom. Since launching in 2021, students from 29 countries and five continents have participated. The full cost of the program is $600. Scholarships of up to $550 are available if needed, please do not let finances prevent you from applying.
Applications are due June 17, 2024 and can be found HERE.
More information about the Certificate can be found HERE.
In-N-Out Class:
On May 9, the Confirmation class took the church bus to In-N-Out Burger in Newbury Park:
Let’s take this opportunity to thank our Confirmation Mentors who helped Pastor Tim this year: Carlah Schneider, Camryn Force, Jeff Hengst, and Don Weeks.
Fair Trade: The Very Merry Month of May
Everyone is invited to join us in this very merry month of May for Fair Trade fun!
Fair Trade Lane will be open Sunday, May 19 (10-11:30 AM). If you haven’t yet checked out the transformation of Fair Trade Lane, now is a great time to do so! We’ve got baskets lined up on the top shelf ready to make your shopping fun and easy.
NOTE: It’s LAST CALL for the Summer for Red Barn Family Farms Fair Trade Cheddar Cheese (Heritage & Weiss) … We won’t be ordering again until September.
Chocolate Alert — Prices for chocolate products are increasing everywhere. The current global shortage of cacao & substantial surge in cocoa prices caused our Fair Trade partner, Equal Exchange, to raise their prices for chocolate products immediately. Equal Exchange shared that cocoa commodity prices started at $2,500 per metric ton in 2023 and recently peaked at over $12,000. Ascension Fair Trade will hold its prices at current levels through May 31, 2024. We will update our prices after we place our next order for chocolate products.
One solar light kit and water purification kit, including shipping and delivery to Ukraine, is $150.
For more info or to puchase, CLICK HERE.
Special Alert: Ascension’s Quilters have made colorful bowl “cozies”, ready to give your bowl of soup or ice cream a “hand-made” hug. The cozies will be available for purchase on Fair Trade Lane on May 19!
Upcoming Memorial Services
Don Meyer
June 1 at 2:30 PM
Dr. Allen Leland
June 8 at 11 AM
Jan Shaw
June 13 at 11 AM
In Case You Missed It…
In Need of Prayer
Click here for this week’s Prayer List
Pericopes
This Week
Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104:24-34,35b
Romans 8:22-27
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
Next Week
Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 29
Romans 8:12-17
John 3:1-17
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 and Steve Herder