Church of the Ascension and Holy Trinity 18th Street and Grand Ave.

Pueblo, CO, 81003 Phone: (719) 543-4253 Fax: (719) 546-1024 E-mail: Pueblo@aechurch.comcastbiz.net

Website: http://www.ascensionpueblo.org The Rev. Christy Shain-Hendricks

Phone: (970) 485-4766 E-mail c.a.shain-hendricks@comcast.net

The Trumpet

March 2017

Is Fasting Mandatory for Lent?

To the average person who has any knowledge of Lent, the usual association is one with fasting, where the denial of something somehow brings us closer to God. Although we are encouraged to fast, there is no law or compelling mandate.

When I started thinking about this article, I was on my way to visit an inmate at the prison in Ordway. It occurred to me that this man, and all inmates, experience a kind of mandatory fasting in that they are denied those things that most of us take for granted. It causes them to survive on little, so it is no surprise that many offenders find solace in God or, in their own lingo, are “saved.” When normal supports are gone, God becomes their mainstay, rather like foxhole Christians but with more time to think about it. This is a radical example of what I said in my first paragraph.

When we used to go to the County Jail, we often heard offenders say that they became closer to God while in jail because they had both time and motivation to open their Bibles and their hearts, but were worried that they would lose this upon release.

I asked the person I was visiting about this, and he said that incarceration gave him time to reflect on the influences on his life. Although a former gang member, his sense of God through his family and foster family, visits from his wife and myself, the Prison Chaplain, and a regular card from a Pastor he didn’t even know, was nurtured in an environment that offered little else. It enabled him to pray, not for God to solve his problems but to work through him, which I thought was pretty mature.

In the same vein, I am reminded of those who have lost their possessions in natural disasters such as the floods in California, the hurricanes in Haiti, and the cata-strophic bombing in Syria. These are urgent life or death situations; and ones which show that, stripped of material possessions, for many, God is the sustaining resource and in the middle of these calamities, acts of bravery and mutual help emerge.

What is common to these mandatory fasts is that they hurt. Giving up chocolate may qualify for some, but as Franciscan priest Richard Rohr says, “The surest way to know God is through love and sacrifice. Jesus’ death on the Cross is an act of love and sacrifice exemplified in his words to his persecutors: ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ ” (Luke 23:34)

Could we, as we figure out what Lent means to us, see it as a mandate to give up or even completely strip away something whose loss hurts, and combine it with acts of love for someone in distress? In so doing we might identify more with Jesus and come to know God, and our neighbor, a little better. — Deacon Kenneth Butcher

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Our Music Director Featured in a January Concert

Thought that everyone would like to see the pictures that John took at Zahari's concert in January. It was a super concert, and Zahari got two stand-ing ovations. He is such an amazing musician—the whole thing was memo-rized and he performed perfectly. We wish that all of you could have attend-ed because you missed something great! — Elaine Sartoris

Unfinished Romantic

• January 14, 2017, 7:00pm

Broadmoor Community Church, Colorado Springs

• January 15, 2017, 2:30pm

First Christian Church, Colorado Springs

Fanny Mendelssohn Overture in C Major

Schubert Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, D.759 “Unfinished

"Beethoven Leonore Overture No. 1, Op. 138

Franck Symphonic Variations for Piano & Orchestra

Dr. Zahari Metchkov, piano

The Romantic spirit—personal expression, striving to

ever-greater heights, and exploring humanity—will never die!

Rare music abounds with Fanny Mendelssohn’s

Overture in C Major and a stunning performance of Franck’s

Symphonic Variations by acclaimed pianist Zahari Metchkov, in

a program rounded out by Schubert’s timeless Unfinished Sym-

phony. This is music that will lift your heart and spirit.

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Visibility Matters – Women in The Bible

Jack and Bettie Wilson March 4, 1947

Please celebrate with us the

70th Wedding Anniversary of

our parents!

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Drop in 11:00am to 1:00pm

At the Wilson’s Home

4 Kingsbridge Place

Pueblo, CO 81001

Given by their daughters

Kindly RSVP:

sherrie.howey@gmail.com

No gifts, Please!

For the month of January, I am preaching a sermon series called “In Her Own Words: Women in the Bible.” My sermons are based on a book by Episcopal priest Rev. Lindsay Hardin Freeman. Rev. Freeman systemati-cally studied the NRSV translation of the Bible and catalogued the spoken words of all women, named and un-named, in scripture. It is clear in Rev. Freeman’s book (Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter) that the voices of all Biblical women are important for us to hear and their stories are important for us to know.

In introducing my sermon series, I remind us all of the importance of visibility. We tell our children that they can be anything they dream, but when our children actually see strong leaders who resemble them, the impact is powerful!

I love this story from Maine Senator Susan Collins, who told of her campaign manager’s eight-year-old daughter asking, “Can little boys grow up to be senators?” Through

her whole life, she had only seen Senator Collins and Senator Olympia Snow hold that leadership position.

Visibility matters! The women in scripture are complex characters who are motivated by a plethora of factors. Women in the Bible realize the importance of the

roles of wife and mother for the continuation of legacy and line—but they can’t just be reduced to those roles!

Here are some wonderful examples: Deborah was a warrior and a judge; Hannah, Hagar, and Rebekah spoke with God; the Queen of Sheba was an effective ambassa-dor; Lydia and the “Good Wife” of Proverbs 31 were merchants and successful business people. Anna was a prophet, Abigail was a successful negotiator, and Miriam was a poet!

I cannot wait for my daughter (3.5-year-old Hazel) to learn of these strong women using their voices to uplift others! — Liza Stoltz Hanson, Director, The Foundation Campus Ministry @ DU

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

28 SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER (See below)

1 Noon Holy Eucharist (no music) 6:00 pm Ash Wednes-day Service w/choir *Imposition of ashes at both services

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6:00 pm—AA

3 4 7:00 am Men’s Breakfast (Denny’s)

5:00 pm—Holy Communion Rite II

5:30 pm Soup & Conversation

5 Regular Sunday Schedule**

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7 9:30 am Holy Eucharist & Healing

10:30 am Bible Study

6:00 pm Dancing Ladies

8 5:45 pm Bell Choir

7:00 pm Choir

9 6:00 pm—AA

10 11 5:00 pm—Holy Communion Rite II

12 Regular Sunday Schedule**

9:00 am—Parish Brunch Potluck

13 Noon—School Board

5:30 pm-Confirmation Monday School

14 9:30 am-Holy Eucharist & Healing 10:30 am Bible Study Noon-School Board 6 pm Dancing Ladies

15 7:00 am Holy

Eucharist

5:45 pm Bell Choir

7:00 pm Choir

16 6:00 pm—AA

17 18 5:00 pm—Holy Communion Rite II

19 Regular Sunday Schedule** 2:00 pm Wayside Cross Ministry Cooking 6:00 pm WCM Serving

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21 9:30 am Holy Eucharist & Healing

10:30 am Bible Study

6 pm Dancing Ladies

22 7:00 am Holy Eucharist 5:45 pm Bell Choir 7:00 pm Choir

23 6:00 pm—AA

24 25 5:00 pm—Holy Communion Rite II

26 Regular Sunday Schedule**

27 5:30 pm-Confirmation Monday School

28 9:30 am Holy Eucharist & Healing 10:30 am Bible Study 6 pm Dancing Ladies

2017

**Schedule of Regular Sunday Services & Events

8:00 am Holy Communion Rite I 9:00 am Adult Formation 10:15 am Holy Communion Rite II 11:30 pm Coffee Hour 11:45 am Youth Formation (Undercroft)

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

5:30-7:30pm

Including a Fellowship Auction

Tickets are available at no cost, but we need a headcount!

See page 6 for details.

Spring Break for Ascension School

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Poetry and religion touch each other, or rather modulate into each other; are, indeed, often but

different names for the same thing. —Thomas Hardy, in Late Lyrics, February 1922.

Poetry Corner

“Put on Your Silly Pants”

Blaine from Maine

Blaine from Maine could not abstain from eating lots of lobsta.

This delicious crustacean caused so much celebration he put it in his pasta.

Grumpus Rumpus

When children miss their breakfast They can get a little grumpy. Their brains slow down, their lips they frown, Their mood is rather dumpy.

Their tempers flare, their eyes they stare, They cry and brood and pout. With no food inside their tummies They become a bunch of louts.

So don’t forget your breakfast In the morning when you wake! Or you’ll be a Grumpus Rumpus And that’s more than I can take.

Rev. Daniel Klawitter is a grown man who wears his silly pants almost every day. A resident of Denver, Colorado, since 1999, Daniel is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, the lead singer/lyricist for the indie rock band Mining for Rain, and for many years has been a respected community activist and organizer in the labor movement. He has a BA in Reli-gion Studies with a minor in Theater Arts from the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico, and a Master of Divinity degree with a justice and peace studies concentration from the Iliff School of Theology in Denver.

His poems have appeared widely in both print and online journals in Australia, the UK, and the United States, including The Australia Times, Colorado Life, FOCUS (published by the British Science Fiction Association), and many others.

He is the author of two full-length books of poetry, both published by White Violet Press: A Poet Playing Doctor (2015), and Plato Poetica (currently in publication). Your children will love the poems in this collection. They really are silly and lots of fun!

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Have You Met … Andy Sell?

Shrove Tuesday – February 28, 2017

The Ascension Vestry will host and serve the annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on February 28. We will serve from 5:30-7:00pm. A fellowship auction will be included, with many donated services and fellowship events. If you would like to help, please contact a member of the Vestry or Rev. Christy.

Ash Wednesday Services - March 1, 2017

Noon – Holy Eucharist (no music)

7:00pm – Holy Eucharist (with choir and organ)

Both services include the imposition of ashes.

Radical Hospitality – Benedict’s Way of Love by Lonni Collins Pratt with Fr. Daniel Homan, OSB

This powerful little book on the hospitality that was at the heart of Jesus and his ministry invites us to reflect on our own notions and practices of hospitality…in our own lives and homes and particularly in our church. During Sundays in Lent (9:00am between worship services), we will meet and share in our responses to radical hospitality…that which we have been so graciously given in our Savior Christ. Books are $14.25 at amazon.com. Make sure you purchase the 2nd edition.

Lent Begins on March 1, 2017

You may have noticed this young man with the velvet voice reading the lessons on January 29. Andy grew up in the Roman Catholic Church, but he married his wife Emily at Ascension and has stayed here ever since. Andy and Emily have one beautiful baby boy named Steven who loves to flirt with every lady he meets. Steven is learning fast at 15 months!

Andy is a designer of trusses for construction and is employed by Trussway Manufacturing head-quartered in Fountain. Andy creates his designs using an advanced computer program.

For entertainment, Andy loves science-fiction books and movies, especially the “Dune” books by Frank Herbert. He is a Celtics fan, but he also owns one share in the Green Bay Packers. His share can only be willed to a direct family member, which means that little Steven had better learn to wear green and gold on game day!

Andy says that Ascension has a more welcoming feeling than many churches. He also feels that Ascension is less judgmental than many other denominations. He is enjoying worship, lectorship, and social events at the church.

When you see Andy, tell him “hello” and give him a big smile!

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On April 29 we will be having a tiki-inspired luau. At this fun event we will raffle off an amazing quilt—crafted, and graciously donated, by Eva Tucker. Tickets are available for $10 each from Vestry members at all church services, or may be purchased from the church office. If you purchased a quilt similar to this one, you would pay many hundreds of dollars. This is the work of an artisan!

Keep the Date!

Ascension's Second Annual Luau is scheduled for April 29. Food, fun and Entertainment. More information to follow in the April Trumpet.

Mark your calendar and plan to join us for this fun event. Entertainment will be provided by members of our Choir and a couple of good ukuleles!!

Last month we introduced you to Sharon Wade, a native of Los Angeles, California, who was a back-up

singer to both Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross. Sharon is now celebrating 30 years of music performance.

She has attended Ascension since 2006 and has served in music and children’s ministries, including giving an

annual “TIME TO SING” concert since 2012.

Sharon is announcing the date for the 2017 “TIME TO SING” concert. It will be at Ascension Church

on Sunday, May 21, at 2:00pm. This year’s concert will be “My Tribute to American Song,” and will include

anthems, gospels, spirituals, folk songs, and many more.

You are invited to take part in this concert if you like

to sing. Sharon will hold an open “Time to Sing” re-

hearsal for any who would like to participate. She will

direct the entire concert, and she seriously invites

parish singers who would like to sing in the chorus.

Rehearsals will be after the Coffee Hour on Sundays

to be announced shortly.

Join the fun!!

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Our Clergy The Rt. Rev. Robert O’Neill

Bishop of Colorado

The Rev. Christy Shain-Hendricks

Rector

The Rev. Deacon Karen Burnham

Deacon

The Rev. Dr. W. Jackson Wilson

Priest Associate

The Rev. Deacon Kenneth Butcher

Deacon, Retired

The Vestry

Senior Warden (Rectors) ~ Marian Cowley

Junior Warden (People) ~ John Macartney

Treasurer ~ Jan Parlett

Vestry Members: Christopher Arrigo, Don Gaylord,

Larry McIntyre, David Morris, Kathi Musso, Pam Rice,

Mark Rickman, Ed Tracey, Judy Weaver

Church Staff

Director of Operations

Christopher Arrigo

Music Director

Dr. Zahari Metchkov

Ascension Academy Staff

School Director, Roni Rael

Teachers:

Jessica Blaha, Erin Steckman,

Danielle Villegas, Ying Wang

Staff Assistant

Martina Fanning

†

A Haven for All ~

A Blessing for the Community

Church of the Ascension & Holy Trinity

420 W. Eighteenth St.

Pueblo, CO 81003