THE HEART OF ASCENSION

Lent begins on ASH WEDNESDAY, March 1, 2017. There will be worship services with Holy Communion on Ash Wednesday at 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Thereafter, mid-week Lenten services will be held at 7:00 PM on Wednesday evenings. The dates of the mid-week Lenten services are March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and April 5, 2017.

LENTEN SUPPERS BEGIN ON ASH WEDNESDAY (MARCH 1)! Ascension will be holding Soup & Salad Bar Suppers on Wednesdays during Lent beginning Ash Wednesday (March 1st) at 5:00 PM until the church service begins. Also, lunch will be served at 11:30 AM prior to the Ash Wednesday 1:00 PM service. Please come and join us! A freewill offering will be accepted. If you have any questions, please contact Ron Davis, Jr. at 412-709-9860.

Daylight savings time begins on March 12th. Don’t forget to “spring ahead” and set your clocks ahead one hour when you go to bed on March 11th (Saturday night)!

ASCENSION COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON will be held

on Monday, March 13, 2017, in the Fellowship Hall from 11:30 AM until around 2:00 PM. Lunch is served at Noon. This free luncheon is

offered as a time for food, fellowship, and the gathering of a community of people who can share their lives with each other. All are invited! If you have not already joined us at this monthly

luncheon, please do so and invite a friend! Any questions, contact Ron Davis, Jr. at 412-709-9860.

MARCH CHOIR REHEARSALS will be held immediately following the Wednesday evening Lenten services

on March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29.

March

2017

THE NEXT SOAR RESPITE NIGHT will be held at Ascension

on Friday, March 10, 2017 from 6-9 PM. The March theme

is Zoo Animals/Noah’s Ark. SOAR (Special Opportunities, Abilities, and

Relationships) is for children with special needs and their typical siblings ages 2-10.

This free event is a “night off” for parents where children will have fun playing

games, creating crafts, making music, and forming relationships with their buddy

and other children. This event is held on the second Friday each month. As this

outreach to the community continues to grow, we need more volunteers.

Please pray about and consider helping with Respite Nights as a way to reach

out to those with special needs in our community. Volunteer applications are

available on the table in the narthex. If you have any questions, please email

soar@ascensionpgh.com or call Emily Marcellus at 724-799-5635. Please keep

the SOAR Respite Nights and all the participants in your prayers.

The Men’s Group will meet on Saturday, March 18, 2017 this month. The men meet on the 3rd Saturday of every month. Doors are open at 8:30 AM for fellowship followed by a time of study/discussion from 9 AM-10 AM. All men (young and old) are welcome to attend. For more information, please see Bill Seitz.

PENNIES FOR JESUS: We want to thank the children for their

donations to the “Pennies for Jesus” mission project. Our gift of

$150 to Shepherd’s Heart Veteran’s Home will be used to support the

homeless veterans in their transitional housing program. They stay

in the church building while they look for permanent jobs and

permanent housing. They have a success rate of over 85% of veterans who

graduate from their program and maintain their independence.

SUNDAY SCHOOL MISSION PROJECT: The mission project for the months of February through May will be Lutheran World Relief (LWR) Gifts. This organization uses our donations to improve the lives of people living in poverty around the world. An LWR goat for $100 not only provides a woman farmer with milk to sell but also helps her build a herd. Coffee seedlings for $75 help a farmer grow a lucrative crop that has the potential to significantly improve income. Seeds for $300 help farmers grow more and better crops when climate conditions are challenging. Emergency water for $190 delivers immediate, drinkable water after disasters strike, when lack of water or contaminated water is a very real threat to families. Our donations in the Pennies for Jesus jar will go to this project.

National Day of Prayer

National Day of Prayer is coming on May 4th. Mark your calendars and plan

to join us from 4:00 to 5:00 PM to pray for our country and community. Then stay

for fellowship and great food as Ron cooks up his Mexican feast on the Eve of

Cinco de Mayo.

For the Glory of Your Great Name: Hear us; Forgive us; Heal us

Watch for more information on our website or go to www.nationaldayofprayer.org

ATTENTION YOUTH – SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: The Perry-Highland Women's Association is accepting applications for a $1,000

scholarship. Applicants must live in the North Hills area and be enrolled in a

college or technical school for either summer 2017 or fall 2017. To receive

application materials, please email phwa.scholarship@gmail.com. Application

deadline is March 1, 2017.

The Lola G. Duff and William H. Duff, II Scholarship Program is accepting

applications for merit based and need based scholarships. The application is

available at www.scholarsapply.org/duffscholarship. Applicants must have

attended two academic years in, and graduated from, a high school in Allegheny

County, PA, or have been home schooled in Allegheny County, PA for two

academic years including the senior year and resided in Allegheny County, PA

during that time. In addition, they must be protestants and high school seniors or

high school graduates who plan to enroll, or students already enrolled, in a full-

time undergraduate course of study leading to an initial bachelor's degree at an

accredited four-year educational institution. Merit applicants must have a

cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 grade point scale. Need

applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.8 on a 4.0

scale. Application deadline is March 30, 2017.

A child of the King should bear a family resemblance.

Operation Christmas Child

The numbers are in!!

11,485,662 shoeboxes were collected worldwide in 2016 for Operation

Christmas Child!!! That’s an increase of over 270,000 from 2015. Praise God for

all the people who took the time to pack a shoebox that makes this program a

success year after year. We need to pray for all the children who have received

these shoeboxes and for their families and friends that, through a simple shoebox,

they may come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

We also need to pray that these children will enroll in The Greatest Journey, a 12-

lesson Bible study course to guide them through what it means to faithfully follow

Jesus Christ.

Our family donated the shipping cost online for the boxes we packed and did the

Follow Your Box option. This allows you to find out what country your box went

to. All of ours went to Ukraine this year. In previous years, they have gone to

Uganda, Honduras, Namibia, Panama, Angola, and Baltics & Balkans. If you also

did this and have not received an email yet concerning where your box went, you

can go online to www.samaritanspurse.org, enter your email or bar code number,

and you can find out to what country your box went. I entered my email address,

and it told me all the countries my box went to, even previous years!

You will have another opportunity to pack a shoebox again this year. Operation

Christmas Child will be kicking off at Ascension on October 22nd with a final

turn-in date of November 19th. More details will, of course, be coming.

Just a “heads-up” on a few changes that are coming in 2017. Due to customs

restrictions in some countries, candy and toothpaste will no longer be allowed to be

packed in shoeboxes. There are still plenty of other items that can be packed, so

please don’t let these minor changes deter you from packing a box.

Bob Marcellus

March Anniversaries: 1 William & Susan Fields 12 Pete & Diane DePasquale 18 Paul & Edie Krom 20 Ken & Flo Pizzica 29 Greg & Patti Lopresto March Birthdays: 1 Susan Fields 2 Scott Fetzick 6 Nikki Debner 9 David Dille 13 Hannah Koontz 13 Bianca Schmid 13 Norm Stauffer 14 Paul Adams, Jr. 15 Kenneth Pizzica, III 16 Abigail Gaugler

17 Pat Casten 19 Ronette Blake 22 Claire Fiffik 23 Michael McAndrews 25 Chris Schroeder 28 Deanna Edwards 28 Tillie Gaertner 29 Rachel Dille 29 Luke Markel 29 Eileen Vogel

IF WE MISSED YOUR BIRTHDAY OR ANNIVERSARY, PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE AT 412-364-4463.

MESSAGE TO CONGREGATIONS A new message to the congregations from Pastor Chris

Wicher (President of the Eastern District) has been posted

on YouTube for viewing. You are encouraged to watch it.

There is something in this video message for all members of

our congregations. The video can be found on YouTube

(Eastern District LCMS Message to Congregations) at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZMHJLW_DxI&t=121s.

Dillner Family Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program is taking subscriptions. They offer: egg

share, large family share, small family share, and bi-weekly large family share. Farm share pickup at Ascension

Lutheran Church starts June 1, 2017. Applications are on the table in the narthex or you may contact by:

Phone: 724-444-6594 Email: ddillner@consolidated.net Fax: 724-444-6156 Website: www.dillnerfamilyfarm.com

Direct Thrivent Choice Dollars® by March 31

Eligible Thrivent Financial members who have been designated Choice Dollars have until March 31, 2017, to direct them. Don’t miss this opportunity to recommend that Thrivent Financial provide grant funding to Ascension Lutheran Church. Go to Thrivent.com/thriventchoice to learn more and find program terms and conditions. Or call 1-800-847-4836 and say “Thrivent Choice” after the prompt.

Save these Concordia Lutheran Ministries’ Event Dates!

Kids’ Fishing Derby Saturday, May 13, 2017

Saxony Farm Lake

Butterfly Bash Concordia Lutheran Ministries 2017 Fashion Show

Saturday, May 20, 2017, 10:00 AM Butler Country Club

Online resources available to you:

Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS) www.lcms.org Eastern District (LCMS) www.lcmsed.org Lutheran Hour www.lhm.org Lutheran Public Radio www.lutheranpublicradio.org Lutheran talk radio station www.issuesetc.org KFUO LCMS’s radio station www.kfuo.org

Lent is a season of repentant joy. There is joy in repentance because in repentance, God, through

His Word, turns us away from our sins — our failures of thought, word, and deed — to believe

in the forgiveness and new life He has accomplished for us in the death and resurrection of His

Son. For our God is our Father, and fathers discipline their children. He loves us enough to point

out when and where we have erred, so that we are not weighed down by false belief, despair, and

other great shame or vice.

Thus we do well to listen to God’s Word, His own teaching, about giving. St. Paul exhorts:

“Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor”

(Gal 6:6). This means that the local congregation is primary. In other words, everything else that

we might give to during the year — laudable and worthy charities — is to be on top of what we

give to our local congregation. For the local congregation is the place that serves us with the gifts

of Christ’s death and resurrection. The local congregation is where our spiritual needs are met

when Christ’s atonement is preached, when the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed, when we were

baptized into the name of the Triune God, and when we partake of the body and blood of the

risen and living Lamb of God.

But how much are we to give to this local congregation? His instructions are these: to give

regularly (1 Cor 6:1–2), proportionally (1 Cor 16:1–2; 2 Cor 8:12), and generously (2 Cor 8:20)

of our first fruits (Gen 4:4; Prov 3:9; Lev 27:30) with a spirit of eagerness (2 Cor 9:2),

earnestness (2 Cor 8:7), cheerfulness (2 Cor 9:7), and love (2 Cor 8:23).

Thus, giving to the church is not to be an afterthought, given after everything else is spent. In this

way, it is deliberate. We give it regularly, whenever we have income. We set it aside beforehand,

before anything else is spent. From those first fruits, we set aside a proportionate and generous

amount. Ten percent was the standard for the Israelites. Tithing was a command for them. St.

Paul never mentions a tithe. Since a tithe was the bare minimum for the people of Israel in the

Old Testament, perhaps St. Paul had more in mind. That aside, however, ten percent is an easy

way to figure out an amount. You simply move your weekly, bi-weekly, bi-monthly, monthly, or

yearly income one decimal point to the left. And that’s it. That’s what you put in the offering

plate to support your local congregation so that you may continue to be a hearer of God’s word

by sharing all good things with those who teach it to you.

And how are we to give it? We give it with eagerness and earnestness. We give it cheerfully and

with love, not out of compulsion. For through the preaching of the gospel and the administration

of the sacraments, God has made us His children, forgiven us all our sins, given us grace upon

grace, promised us life everlasting with Him in His kingdom, and filled us with His own Spirit,

the Holy Spirit. This makes giving a joy. For it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts

20:35).

In repentant joy, then, do we hear God’s Word on giving, and we let that Word dwell in us

richly. We let that word wash over our ears and seep into our hearts, to turn us away from our

own selfish desires and turned toward Him in faith and love. We love the Lord and His Word.

And we desire to do it. And when we have failed, that Word reproves and corrects, forgives and

consoles. It calls us back to Him who is our God, our Savior, our Father.

God's Accuracy

One may observe God's accuracy in the hatching of eggs. . . .

those of the canary in 14 days; those of the barnyard hen in 21 days; the eggs of ducks and geese in 28 days; those of the mallard in 35 days; the eggs of the parrot and the ostrich hatch in 42 days. (Notice, they are all divisible by seven, the number of days in a week!)

See God's wisdom in the making of an elephant. The four legs of this great beast all bend forward in the same direction. No other quadruped is so made. God planned that this animal would have a huge body – too large to live on two legs. For this reason He gave it four fulcrums so that it can rise from the ground easily.

The horse rises from the ground on its two front legs first.

A cow rises from the ground with its two hind legs first.

HOW WISE THE LORD IS IN ALL HIS WORKS OF CREATION!

Each watermelon has an even number of stripes on the rind. Each orange has an even number of segments. Each ear of corn has an even number of rows. Each stalk of wheat has an even number of grains. Every bunch of bananas has on its lowest row an even number of bananas, and each row decreases by one, so that one row has an even number and the next row an odd number.

AMAZING! THERE'S MORE...

The waves of the sea roll in on shore 26 a minute in all kinds of weather.

All grains are found in even numbers on the stalks.

God has caused the flowers to blossom at certain specified times during the day. Linnaeus, the great botanist, once said that if he had a conservatory containing the right kind of soil, moisture, and temperature, he could tell the time of day or night by the flowers that were open and those that were closed.

The lives of each of us may be ordered by the Lord in a beautiful way for His glory, if we will only entrust Him with our lives. If we try to regulate our own lives, we will have only mess and failure. Only God, who made our brains and hearts, can successfully guide them to a profitable end.

From the Internet (Submitted by Sandi Weber)

www.lcmsfoundation.org 800-325-7912 Ext 1684

Provisions, Protection and Providence

During life, people who care and are conscientious provide for their lives and for their children. During life, people instinctually protect those whom they love and the values they hold true. During life, all people live under the providence of a God who creates and sustains life. For people of faith, this providence extends into eternity under the saving grace of Jesus, God’s only Son. God’s Word speaks about this inheritance that we have been given. God informs us in 1 Peter 1:4-5 that we are given “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power is being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” If we are to live in the provision, protection and providence of our faith, it is consistent with these values that we also prepare for the time when our earthly lives will transition to a new life in the presence of Christ. Christian stewards will be intentional about making sure that their estate plans give the provisions that are appropriate to loved ones so that they will be blessed. Stewards will certainly want to protect not only the property they manage but also the people and charitable beneficiaries who will receive it. Our motivation for this planning is a recognition of the providence of God for the benefit of His children during life and beyond. If you would like to review your own plan to make generous provision in a way that protects blessings and honors God’s providence, let us know. We would be pleased to help you develop you own lifetime plan for giving to bless the people you love and the ministries you care about. For more information, contact Robert Wirth, LCMS Foundation Gift Planner at robert.wirth@lfnd.org or 716-863-4427.

The annual Pioneer Golf Tournament will be held on July 17, 2017 at Brierwood Country Club in

Hamburg, NY. Registration begins on April 1, 2017. For a brochure or more information, contact Pioneer

at 716-549-1420 or info@pioneercamp.org.

FOR HEALTH & HEALING

John Benka (hospitalized after heart attack – Mary Lynn Tassotto’s father); Marge Christopher

(recovering from a fall); Gene Williams, Sr. (recovery from foot surgery); Clay McClellan

(hospice care); Michael McAndrews (recovery from shoulder surgery); Jackie Dougherty (health issues);

Miriam Martens (health issues); Katie (mini-stroke recovery; progressing well – friend of Marge Christopher);

Ruth Dille (recovery from two hip surgeries); Luciano and Irene Fantin (in their 80s with declining health –

Michael’s parents); Mark Shields (recovery from surgery); Jake (car accident – friend of Bj Astridge’s cousin);

Sandi and Nadine Weber (health issues); Rick Maas (rotator cuff surgery recovery); Janet (breast cancer –

friend of Rosalie Horne’s); Amy (gravely ill with pancreatitis – friend of Sandi Weber’s); Max (has autism and

losing his vision – young nephew of Sandi Weber); Karen (depression – Sandi Weber’s cousin); Mary (lung

and brain cancer – Sandi Weber’s aunt); Dave’s father (brain tumor – friend of Gene Williams); Helen

Marcellus (recovering from foot surgery); Michelle (recovering from auto accident and surgery – Sally Rusie’s

granddaughter); Stephanie and baby girl (Eileen Gaugler’s niece); Faith (end-stage cancer – friend of

Stephanie Faller); Diane McClellan (health issues); Levi Mayle and family (idiopathic infantile scoliosis

requiring body casts – Lora Koontz’s cousins); Kristine, daughter Lauren, and Kristine’s father (health issues –

friends of Michael Lipinski); Betty Marcellus (health issues); Nancy Mahler (Stage 4 cancer – friend of Karen

Booth); Ryan (recovering from an accident – friend of Davis family); Timothy Robinson (health issues – Ron

Davis’ son-in-law); Nathan (burns to face – Bernice Yeager’s grandson); Diane DePasquale (recovering from

back surgery); Beth (diagnosed with cancer); Debby (breast cancer – Sandy Malarkey’s sister); Ron Davis, Jr.

(health issues); Colleen (health issues – Eileen Vogel’s daughter); John Dougherty (health issues – Jackie’s

son); Christina Lopresto (thyroid cancer recovery – Patti’s daughter-in-law); Brian Leonard (health issues);

Diane (autoimmune system issues – friend of Gene Williams); Roberta and Suzanne (health issues – Ruth

Dille’s nieces); Ted Beiter (health issues); Anna (treatment for cancer – Ron Curcio’s great-niece); Eileen

Gaugler’s sister (back pain); Lisa Hinterliter (health issues – Michael McAndrews’ sister); Kim (health issues

– friend of Cheryl Saffa); Don Sohngen; Bing (cancer – Nadine Weber’s brother); Cheryl (breast cancer – Edie

Krom’s sister); John Walker (health issues); Anna May Forsman; Cheryl Hoffman (cancer – friend of Cherie

Shaginaw); Scott Halapin (liver failure – friend of Cherie Shaginaw); Betty Owen (health issues); Brody

Barry; Norm Stauffer; Twilla (health issues – Lydia Jarboe’s niece); Dulcie Fisher, Joan Fullerton, and Helen

Goettmann

FOR STRENGTH & COMFORT For all those who lost loved ones, especially the Muschar family on the death of Harry (Linda Williams’

brother-in-law); the Gaugler family on the sudden and tragic death of Dave’s niece Lyndsay (29 years old) for

her parents Carol and Tim, husband Mark, and brothers, Kyle and Matt; the Koontz and Wade families on the

death of Lora’s mother, Charlotte Wade; Marie Schuetz (Ralph’s wife) and family; for the citizens, survivors,

relief workers, missionaries, and families affected by terrorist attacks and disasters worldwide

FOR THANKSGIVING

For the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; Clara’s successful skin cancer surgery (friend of Marge

Christopher); the gifts of love and God's Word; family and friends; our country

FOR SAFETY/PROTECTION

For Stephen Blum and Ben Blum; missionaries; our armed forces; unborn children; college students

FOR DIRECTION AND FAITH

For Frank, James, Brendan, Gerald, Colby, Roxanne (Sandi Weber’s friend); Tonya Robinson (Ron Davis,

Jr.’s daughter); Mark, Rob, Randy; Brad; Mike; Sam; John; Jake; Debbie; the Kowalewski family; those who

are experiencing a crisis of faith; women with unplanned pregnancies

GENERAL PRAYER, GUIDANCE, AND PROVISION That God would raise up leaders here at Ascension and especially for our youth; for SOAR Respite Nights and

participating families; Concordia College (Bronxville, NY); the Barry family; Gene Williams, Jr. and

DiscipleMakers; Pastor Eric Andræ and Campus Ministry in Oakland; seminary students; the residents and

staff of Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Shepherd’s Heart Fellowship; Food For The Poor; Christian

Counseling Associates counselors and their clients

Upcoming Lutheran Hour Broadcasts:

March 5, 2017 "A Savior Who Fights for You!" Satan is a bully, but Jesus is the Savior Who fights for you. (Matthew 4:1-11) Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz March 12, 2017 "The Power of a New Beginning" Real help comes to us from the outside. In Christ, new beginnings and greater endings are still possible. (John 3:1-17) Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz March 19, 2017 "A Well That Runs Deep Because You Need It" Jesus is determined to meet you today with the water of grace only He can give. (John 4:5-26) Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz March 26, 2017 "God's Got It In For Me" God can use our troubles and crosses for a higher purpose that we may not understand until we reach heaven. (John 9:1-41) Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Lutheran Hour broadcasts can be heard on WJAS/1320 AM at 7:00 AM Sunday mornings. You may also read the sermon or listen to it at www.lutheranhour.org.

LENT DEVOTIONS AVAILABLE FROM LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES LHM’s Lenten Devotions, “From the Cradle to the Empty Grave”, focus on the Man that the

lowly Babe in the manger grew up to become: Jesus -- the sacrifice Lamb. His was a life of

service, of genuine concern, of supreme sacrifice. These meditations, drawn primarily from the

Gospel of Luke, show Jesus traveling the countryside and preaching the Good News, healing

those with infirmities, rebuking Satan and his foul temptations, breaking down His message for

His disciples, and ever so steadily making His way to the onerous weight of the cross that

awaited Him at Golgotha. And there, what would seemingly end in despair, God made into His

ultimate triumph: the redemption of mankind through the shed blood of His Son, resurrecting

Him to reign forevermore at His right hand. These devotions are available on the table in the

narthex and at www.lhm.org under the “Devotions” tab. They will also be available via email

and podcasts. An audio version will begin on Ash Wednesday, March 1, 2017.

Look at the impact made by your loving prayers and support through Lutheran Hour Ministries. Thank you for all you do to Share Christ’s Love!

Tickets are on sale now for NHCO’s Neighborhood Block Party – Please join NHCO in helping local families in

need by coming out to the Neighborhood Block Party from 5:30-8:30 PM, Thursday, April 27 at The Chadwick in

Wexford! The whole family is welcome at this all-ages casual event, which includes multiple food stations, live

music by Acoustic Diversion, appearances by Pittsburgh Princesses and World Champion yo-yoist Ky Zizam, face

painting, games, a silent auction and much more. All-inclusive tickets (except for auction items) are $30 for adults,

$15 for children and can be purchased through April 13 online at https://nhco.org/2017-neighborhood-block-

party/ or by calling Cheryl at 412-487-6316, option 1.

New! Spring Dinner Collection – NHCO is collecting items through March 10 for a complete Spring Dinner to

provide to each family that uses our food pantry. This collection is new and replaces the former Spring Basket

collection. Items needed include jar of applesauce, can of pineapple, box of mashed or scalloped potatoes, a dessert

mix, package of dinner rolls* or biscuit mix, and pound of butter* (*will be stored in our freezer). Financial

donations to NHCO are also appreciated. Thanks to an anonymous donor, each family will receive a ham. Please

donate Monday through Friday, 9 AM-4 PM at NHCO Allison Park, 1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton, or NHCO

North Boroughs, AGH-Suburban Campus, 100 S. Jackson Avenue, Bellevue, or call 412-487-6316, option 1, to

make alternate arrangements.

NHCO offers Safety for Seniors home checks – NHCO is offering Safety for Seniors home safety checks on

Tuesday, April 4. Trained volunteers with clearances will check senior’s homes in NHCO’s service area of northern

Allegheny County for fall and fire risks. Volunteers ensure that there are working smoke alarms in the homes; if not

they install smoke alarms. They also check to see if there is a clear walking path to the fuse box or circuit breakers,

ensure that switches and outlets are in good working condition, the oven is free of flammable objects, and that the

senior has a fire escape plan. They check that edges of steps are clearly visible and rugs do not slip. If grab bars

and railings are needed by the senior, those will be installed at NO CHARGE at a later date by a professional PA

certified contractor. NHCO uses company groups of volunteers periodically to conduct safety checks. If you know

of a senior that could benefit from a safety check, or if you would like to volunteer on April 4, please contact Cathy

at clpschirer@nhco.org or 412-307-0069 x 3313.

Run for free for NHCO! NHCO invites runners of all abilities to run one of the races of the Dick’s Sporting Goods

Pittsburgh Marathon May 6 and 7, 2017. Registration is FREE when you run for NHCO and help local families in

need. Runners can choose the 5K, form a relay team, or run the half or full marathon. Visit

thepittsburghmarathon.com/charities or contact Harriet at hzgibbs@nhco.org or 412-408-3830 x 3204.

Walk for NHCO in the Highmark Walk – Join NHCO in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community May 13!

When you register to walk, and /or fundraise for NHCO, 100% of the proceeds support NHCO’s programs to help

local families in need. Registration is now open at http://hcf.convio.net/nhco. This is a great family activity. Dogs

are welcome! For more information, please contact Maria at mschristina@nhco.org or 412-408-3830.

NHCO offering free Tax Preparation – NHCO is once again offering FREE tax preparation for eligible

individuals through the United Way Money In Your Pocket tax preparation program. Appointments are required

and can be made by calling United Way’s helpline, 2-1-1. Income eligibility requirements: For households with

ONE PERSON, annual income must be $25,000 or less. For households with MORE THAN ONE PERSON, annual

income must be $45,000 or less. NHCO’s Bellevue/North Boroughs site will be open for tax prep appointments

Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:30 to 7:30 PM. NHCO’s Millvale site will be open for tax prep appointments

Saturdays, 9:00 AM to Noon.

Ask the Attorney sessions for low-income families – Free legal consultation for issues such as divorce,

bankruptcy, credit issues, family matters, rent disputes and more is available for families in need at NHCO locations

the third Wednesday of each month at 7 PM except December. The next ATA sessions are at NHCO Allison Park on

March 15 and NHCO Millvale on April 19. Attendees MUST preregister for these sessions by contacting Brady at

briedel@nhco.org or 412-408-3830 x 3217.

NHCO General Volunteer Orientations – NHCO will host Volunteer Orientation sessions at 10 AM, Thursday,

March 9 in NHCO Allison Park, 1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton, and 6:30 PM Thursday, April 13 in NHCO

Millvale, 416 Lincoln Avenue, Millvale. Volunteer needs include volunteers and runners for the Pittsburgh

Marathon, drivers to transport seniors to appointments, substitute drivers and on-board dispatchers for Free Rides for

Seniors shuttles, groups or individuals to hold collections and fundraisers, and more. Please register with Harriet at

hzgibbs@nhco.org or 412-408-3830 x 3204.

ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH 8225 PEEBLES ROAD

PITTSBURGH, PA 15237

Address Correction Requested

SUNDAY SCHEDULE:

Prayer time at 8:45 AM in Fireside Room

Worship Service: Sunday at 9:30 A.M.

A time of fellowship follows the service.

Christian Education: Sunday at 11:00 A.M.

Office Hours:

Monday – Friday

9:00 AM-Noon; 1:00-4:00 PM

THE HEART OF ASCENSION

A monthly publication of

OUR MISSION STATEMENT: Ascension Lutheran Church.

Barbara Marcellus is the Editor.

Acknowledging the great gift of God the

Father in sending His Son, Jesus Christ, as PASTOR:

our Savior, we the people of Ascension Rev. Brennan Gaertner

Lutheran Church, as guided by the Holy Cell: 412-310-0510

Spirit, are committed to the furtherance of

God's Kingdom. We will share and live the CHURCH OFFICE:

Gospel in our homes, our church, our 412-364-4463 / 412-364-5636

community, and the world. Motivated by FAX NUMBER:

Christ's love for us, we are dedicated to 412-369-0599

spiritual growth and unity, worship and

fellowship, and compassionate service. We PASTOR’S E-MAIL:

recognize this as our common purpose and pastor@ascensionpgh.com

pray that God will enable us by His strength SECRETARY’S E-MAIL:

and wisdom to seek and do His will. secretary@ascensionpgh.com

MUSIC DIRECTOR’S E-MAIL:

vcandreva@ascensionpgh.com

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