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

Living by the Spirit isn’t easy! In fact, it’s a fight. The apostle Paul even described it as a life-long, “good fight.” None of us gets it right all the time. Sometimes we go for days, weeks or, I don’t know, maybe even years (yikes) without experiencing it. But we are still called to live by the “fruit of the spirit” and not by the “works of the flesh.”

How do we know when we are experiencing it? Well… Paul describes it as freedom. But not just freedom to do whatever we want. It is real freedom, the freedom that comes when we know that God is with us and we are in the right place doing the right thing. The freedom that comes when we are experiencing “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

So how can we get it? How, as we walk with Jesus, can we keep in step with the Holy Spirit? How do we experience the fruit of the Spirit? Let’s explore this question in worship this weekend.

Blessings,

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RS Pastor Larry, Addie Behm and Jimmy Sweeden

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Fifty Years of Ministry: Honoring Pastor Larry’s 50th Ordination Anniversary

This Sunday (6-22-25) at and following the 9 o’clock worship service, we will be celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of Pastor Larry Wagner’s ordination. It’s a Golden opportunity for cheers, congratulations, and sharing the joy of great memories of his years leading Ascension. Be sure to come!

Save the Date: June 29

Our next Congregational Meeting will be held June 29 at Noon.

Women’s Monday Morning Bible Study

Need a ‘faith’ lift? Come join us!

Question: Where can you start the week with joy, laughter and learning—and God and your sisters in Christ?

Answer: Ascension’s Women’s Monday Morning Bible Study!

For some 20 years, women have been meeting in table groups weekly during the school year to  grow in faith and enjoy the blessing of friendship and fellowship with our sisters in Christ. On Sept. 8, WMMBS will launch its 2025-26 year, and we so want you to be a part of us! 

We will kick off the year with Meredith Storrs’ “Brave and Beloved” study, focusing on some (for there were many!) women of the Bible who were instrumental in forwarding faith in the one, true God. We’ll explore what it means to be a godly woman today—and what we can we learn from women in Biblical times. Certainly they lived far differently than we do (theirs was a highly patriarchal society and women had no voice or worth) yet God valued them so much He used them to do extraordinary things—just as He can do with us.

Then, from January to May, we will delve into Dr. David Jeremiah’s study, “Matthew: The Arrival of the King.” Considered the bridge between the Old and New Testaments, the book of Matthew emphasizes “the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah and that a new kingdom on earth had begun.”  

The entrance to the New Testament, Matthew seeks to prove to the Jews (and to us) that Jesus is the Messiah. Proof is offered in scores of references to the Old Testament, as well as in the actions and words of Jesus Himself. A rich tapestry of stories (the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ many miracles, His death and resurrection), Matthew has much to teach us about God’s kingdom on earth.  

Four sign-up opportunities: Between Sunday services on the patio, June 29, July 27, Aug. 3 and Aug. 10 (last day for book order).

Cost: $35 for BOTH study books payable at registration (cash or check only).

Please join us!

We Need Your Help to Make Personal Care Kits

Cleanliness may not actually be next to godliness, but it certainly helps a person feel more human. When families find their homes destroyed, or must flee for their safety, soap and a towel rarely make the cut for what they can carry.

Arriving in a refugee camp or other place of safety, they are scared, vulnerable and dirty from the travel. The simple items included in a Personal Care Kit provide much-needed self-care, critical germ fighting supplies and the chance for our neighbors in need to regain dignity amidst fear and uncertainty.

Will you help us buy materials for making personal care kits?  The materials for each kit costs $8.  DONATE HERE

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Applause for Mrs. Angress

Connie Angress received a fond farewell at the final chapel of the school year — with a handmade quilt in her honor from her “One Ascension family,” along with heartfelt applause for her decades of service. (Quilt squares were made by students, past and present school and ECC staff, Connie’s family, the church choir that Connie has sung in for years, and the church staff. Anita Cohen stitched the quilt together.)

Walk this Way and Pray

Dianne Beck will also lead a Thursday morning, 8:00 to 9:00 AM, “Walk this Way and Pray.” Join her – along with one of our pastors when available – on a walk at Dover/Hendrix Park and Conejo Valley Botanic Gardens.

The morning will start with a reading of the Bible verses from the past week’s sermon, which then participants could reflect upon and pray about as they walk for about 40 minutes, either at the park area or at the botanic garden area, then close with a time of sharing of what people noticed or thought as they walked and maybe talked about with others, and a closing prayer.

Thursday morning, 8:00 to 9:00 AM, walk dates:
June 27
(NO WALK ON JULY 3)
July 10
July 17
July 24
July 31

Also, read Dianne Beck’s weekly blog as she reflects on the sermon from the prior weekend. On the blog, she gives journal prompts for you to grow in faith.

Children, Youth & Family Ministries Corner

by Pastor Chamie

We are in the Midst of Youth Leadership Camp!

This is a new thing for Ascension: a week long summer Youth Leadership Camp (running June 16-20). We pray that each youth will come to better know God this week and better know how God has uniquely made each one of them. Our hope is that this camp raises youth leaders who will help revive our youth ministry program and help us as a church to “grow young.”

Each day of Youth Leadership Camp has been prayerfully designed to help youth build connections with each other and with God. Each day includes a Christ-centered teaching on leadership. Each day also includes youth learning about how to serve their church as well as serve their community.

Here are some highlights so far:

Lego building contest as youth begin visioning how to build the youth program together;

Sampling Fair Trade sweet and savory foods while learning about Fair Trade
Studying Psalm 139 (how God formed them) and each youth taking a spiritual gifts inventory… and then digging into what that means;

Large group games;

Packing lunches for Harbor House and hearing an inspiring message from the Harbor House Director Denise Cortez;

Pastor Paul teaching about worship in the sanctuary;

The facilities team teaching about stewardship of our campus;

A bus outing to the park that included a picnic lunch of Taco Bell after learning about “T.A.C.O.S.” prayers (Thanksgiving, Adoration, Confession, Others, Self);

Singing & crafts;

A session on how teamwork makes the dream work;

Training for youth to be leaders at Wednesday night family VBS;

A “mixer” where every single youth got to spend a moment in a one-on-one, sharing with every single one of their peers;

Seminary student RJ rocking the house with a great teaching on leading by example;

Food pantry tour and Community Concerns sharing from Chris Daleiden;

Global Ministries and Lutheran World Relief lesson led by Louise Evenson and team – and students beginning bundling of pens and pencils for LWR kits;

Story and rest time on the comfy couches in the youth room.

There were a few moments that really touched me on Wednesday:

One of our youth, Paige, came up to me in the morning saying that she had written a song for guitar that she thought would sound really good behind a spoken prayer.

So we practiced and I prayed our morning prayer while Paige played beside me. All of her peers applauded her.

Another of our youth, John, came up to me later in the day asking if he could lead the morning devotion for the next day. My answer: “Absolutely!” How cool is it when you see these youth leaders rise?!

Unbeknownst to the youth, the adult leaders from church and school were strategically waiting with water balloons and soakers to ambush them when they came outside. It turned into a wildly fun water fight. I couldn’t run fast enough and the youth got me back by dousing me with two buckets of cold water.

At the very end of the day, there was something just purely good and beautiful about circling in prayer, dripping wet, and thanking God.

I can feel the Spirit at work with these 32 youth participants!

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Chamie

Day 3

Day 3 of Youth Leadership Camp was stellar. It began with a “mixer” where every single youth got to spend a moment in a one-on-one sharing with their peers. Then Paige played a song on guitar that she wrote as background music to a prayer – totally her idea and music and it was brilliant. Then seminary student RJ rocked the house with a great teaching on leadership. Following the teaching, the youth played a large group game, led by Mr. Gottmer, in the gym that they loved. Then the youth got to learn about the food pantry and Community Concerns followed by Global Ministries and Lutheran World Relief. Next the youth had a pizza and salad lunch. Following lunch, they had story and rest time on the comfy couches in the youth room. Then Hannah shared some things she had learned about leadership through her involvement with Young Life. Next the youth dove a little deeper into the spiritual gifts assessment they took on Monday.

Then unbeknownst to the youth, the counselors and church and school staff were hiding outside and ambushed the youth at the end of the day with water balloons and soakers. It turned into an all out water fight that was wildly fun. The soaked group circled to close in prayer. You can feel the Spirit moving!

Fair Trade Lane … Last Call Before Our Summer Break! 

It’s Last Call for Fair Trade Lane before we take a summer break!  A great time to stock up on your Fair Trade favorites for summer picnics & gatherings. If you’re looking for the tea enjoyed at the International Fair, we’ve got it – Vanilla Rooibos, Hibiscus & Peppermint. Fair Trade Lane is global every day – check out our big map showing the many nations of the world that provide the products on Fair Trade Lane.

Fair Trade Lane will not be open in July. If you find yourself in need of some Fair Trade goodness, send note to us at ; if we have what you’re looking for, we’ll find a way to get your items to you. In the coming weeks, we’ll be publishing the Fair Trade Lane schedule for August- December along with updated pricing information.  If you’re interested in joining our email group to get the scoop on Fair Trade at Ascension, send us a note – we’re at .

We look forward to meeting & greeting you on Fair Trade Lane! 

​Happy Campers: Summer Sunday School