Member Changes . . .


Baptism: Zoe Octavia Brock daughter of Keith & Ana (Inocentes) Brock on 7/31/10


Address Changes: Jim & Amy Stone, 1277 Pointe Dr., Apt. 215, StL, MO 63127


Phone Numbers: Jolinda Oster, John & Carol Powers, Jim & Amy Stone, please contact the church office for new numbers. 


Deaths: Dorothy Hemmann on 7/30/10; Dorothy Pieske on 8/1/10, Ruth McCain, on 8/13/10,


Dear Ascension,


Just a short note to say thank you to Rev. Charles W. Spomer for his visits to see our son, Jeff during his fight with cancer.  Tjaden, Coreen, and I also want to thank the members of Ascension who supported our son, Jeff during his illness, and for our family after his passing from this life to the next on June 22, 2010.  Your cards, words of comfort, and prayers are critical and important to us.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers.  We appreciate all of you so much!  May the Lord continue to bless the leaders and members of Ascension Lutheran Church.


In His Service and yours,

Tjaden (Chad) & Kay Meyer and 

Coreen Jander


Thanks to all my Ascension friends for your prayers, cards, calls, and thoughtfulness during my knee replacement and recovery.  My new knee is doing better than the old worn one.  I thank and praise God for all of you and His graciousness to me.


Nancy Nickolotsky


ABI (Ascension Bible Institute)


ABI offers three courses this fall. 


Foreign Missions 101

(9/22, 9/29 & 10/6)


Domestic Missions 102 

(10/27, 11/3, 11/10)


Mission courses consists of 3 classes and include a field trip. 


Learn about people serving in missions and about potential opportunities for you to serve within the United States and abroad.


Foreign Missions 101

9/22 Africa  9/29 Latin America  10/6 Field Trip


Domestic Missions 102

10/27 Kansas  11/3 St. Louis  11/10 Field Trip

MRI Understanding 

November 17th 


Led by Brad Aldrich

 

What’s Happening at Ascension . . .


ARLO OTTO CELEBRATES 40 YEARS IN MINISTRY & RETIREMENT  


As of October 1, 2010 Arlo Otto, our beloved Parish Administrator,  will retire after serving 40 years in the ministry.  In recognition of this occasion, we will have a celebration luncheon in the Word of Life gym on Sunday, November 14, 2010 immediately following the 11 a.m. service.  A formal invitation letter, including an RSVP card will be forthcoming by mail.  Please mark your calendar and respond accordingly.   Thank you. 



LEARN NEPALI & CHINESE  Learn basic colors, simple phrases and to count to 10 in Nepali and/or Chinese.  Knowing a few words in someone’s first language is significant to them and serves as a great ice breaker.  Greet our Asian friends in their mother tongue!  Call Brad Aldrich at cell: (214) 733-9582 or the church office at (314) 832-5600 for details.

CONGREGATION ASSEMBLY

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2010   12:15 CHURCH BASEMENT

AGENDA: PROPOSED CONSTITUTION AMENDMENTS


READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN 2 YEARS  On September 13, 2010, we will begin to read the Bible every day and will finish it in two years!  The weekend of August 28-29 & September 3-4, commitment cards and reading schedules will be handed out to all who want to participate.  Wouldn’t it be exciting if 100 people took the pledge!  In addition, we will have “Today’s Light” Bibles, with a commentary by Jane Fryar, available for $23.00. If you need more information, contact the church office at (314) 832-5600.

BABY QUILTS FOR SALE  The Quilters of Ascension have beautiful hand stitched baby quilts for sale.  They make wonderful gifts for showers, new deliveries or anytime. If you are interested, please contact Grace Noll at (314) 352-7947

Veterans - Stand and be Counted! Ascension is planning to celebrate and honor the service of our veterans in November 2010.  If you have served on Active Duty, in the Guard or Reserve,  or in other military service, please complete the form below and give it to an usher, leave it in the Church office, or mail to:

 

Ascension Lutheran Church, Attention: Veterans’ Day Celebration

5341 Donovan Avenue  St. Louis, MO 63109

 

Please return by: October 15, 2010                                                    


Name:   

Address:                                                                                                                                      

Phone No:   


Branch of Service (Circle): Army - Navy  Marines - Army Air Corps - Air Force - Coast Guard  Other:                                        


Time of Service (Circle): WWII - Korea -   Vietnam - Grenada - Honduras  - Desert Shield/Desert Storm - Operation Iraqi Freedom  Other:


What is your most significant memory of your time in Service?


Please respond.  We want to hear from all of our Ascension veterans! This means you!

CALLING ALL YOUTH  9TH THROUGH 12TH GRADES  A new opportunity for fun, fellowship, study and prayer is starting up this fall at Ascension. Come join us on the 1st and 3rd Sundays from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm in the Sr. Youth room. Help us spiritually renew our Sr. High Youth Ministry to reach out to all 9th through 12th graders at Ascension. Our first time together will be on September 19th so put it on your calendar now.

 

Are you spiritually ready for the world you live in? Are you equipped spiritually to survive when you go off to college? Can you provide “an accounting of your faith” when God provides the opportunity for you to witness? Is your communication with God through prayer a regular part of your life? Are the stresses of school, work and relationships tearing away at you instead of you placing those concerns on Christ? Those are many of the things that we will work on together. 

 

There will be Sundays that we can stay longer to have a meal together and do some more fun things like play games on the lawn or watch a movie. In addition, some of our gatherings won’t be at church as we will instead occasionally be able to meet at member’s homes to grow our relationships with our adult brothers and sisters in Christ at Ascension.

 

A great way to keep up to date on things is to put “Ascension Sr High Youth Group” into the Search box on Facebook and join the group’s Facebook page.

 

If you have any questions call Chris Thies at (314) 267-9740 or Katlyne Thies at (314) 580-2143.


Let's Plan for the Fall Music Schedule (Some changes in this information from last month!)


It's time for the Ascension Choir and the Ascending Praise Handbell  Choir to begin their yearly schedule.  We want YOU to be a part of it!   Read on to see how flexible and doable a commitment could be.


     We currently have a core of only 10 permanent choir members.  In the past it has been difficult for many of you to make a long term commitment in terms of weekly rehearsals and Sunday (mostly 8:15) attendance.  I'm proposing something a bit shorter.

 

 September and October  -Help  get the choir season started with some general anthems that fit the season of Pentecost.  Sing twice in September and three times in October;  weekly Thursday rehearsals from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. (ending at 8:30 with a devotion).

 

 November and December - The holidays fall into these months.   Our big festivals are Thanksgiving and Christmas.  If you know you will be in town for these holiday worship services, then these two months might be for you. Some of our regular choir members need to travel to be with family members during these holidays, so additional voices are always needed.

 

     Also, we can divide the second half of the choir season with the Epiphany season (January and February) and Lent/Easter - including our annual cantata- which would be March, April and May. 

 

      I hope that many of you will seriously consider joining our choir in this part-time fashion to raise a full and joyful sound from our balcony.  We need to take seriously our belief that we were "Created to Praise" our God and show it in our commitment to be worship leaders and thereby encourage others in the faith that we profess.

 

      Think on this and pray about it!  We will have a "sign-up" table in the foyer the last weekend in August and Labor Day weekend.  

 

     NOTE:  Due to the skills involved in handbell ringing, we ask for a full year's commitment.   Rehearsals will be on Sunday morning during the education hour, 9:45 - 10:45.

 

     Please e-mail me with your thoughts, concerns and decision to join!

carol@ascensionstl.com

 

     Thank God for the blessings of CHURCH MUSIC!       Carol Benninghoff

 

HOSPITALITY FUND  (COFFEE & DONUTS) What’s missing at our hospitality areas?  Our offering baskets.  To make our visitors and guests feel more welcome, and eliminate the questions, How much?”, “Should I have a donut or not?”, we will no longer have these baskets at the point of service.  If you would like to make a donation to support this ministry, please place it in a designated envelope, clearly marked coffee or donut fund, or drop your offering in the receptacle in the church office on the secretary’s desk.


LOWER LEVEL LENNY’S IS BACK  Come join us on Sunday, September 12, 2010, after 11 a.m. service in the church basement for a step back in time to our 50's style diner.  Our menu includes: burgers, hot dogs, fries, onion rings, cup of chili, grilled cheese, vanilla, chocolate and strawberry milkshakes. Or if you prefer, you can order the  “Blue Plate Special”: meat loaf mashed potatoes, green beans & applesauce. Drinks will consist of a bottle of Coke, lemonade and tea. Desserts choices will be apple or cherry pie. The free will offering will benefit Ascension youth activities.


EVENING GUILD  The Women’s Evening Guild of Ascension  will meet on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The agenda will be to plan our meetings for the 2010/2011 year.  All ladies of Ascension are invited. 


ASCENSION PICTORIAL DIRECTORY SCHEDULED FOR FALL!  It’s once again time to have a pictorial directory printed for our church. Pictures will be taken during two different week sessions: October 6-9 and October 20-23, 2010.  More information will be coming soon. Please mark your calendar.


Stewardship Report 


ASCENSION TREASURER’S REPORT  July 31, 2010

 

Year-to-Date Receipts  $286,500.29  Year-to-Date Expenses $361,209.78  Year-to-Date (Deficit)($ 74,709.49) 

If all 175 of our family units increased their contribution by $9.00 per week WE WOULD NOT HAVE A DEFICIT!

Please Note:


Saturday, September 4, 2010  Gateway Cup Bicycle Race  8:00a.m.-4:30p.m.  Around Francis Park-


No Curb Parking for Saturday Service


MATCH OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT WORD OF LIFE Word of Life Lutheran School has been blessed with a response from an anonymous donor.  Through a generous gift, Word of Life can benefit from a match opportunity.  You can help this gift to grow!  For every $2.00 that you are able to share with Word of Life, $1.00 will be matched up to $5,000. Through this particular match, we could produce a support for the school in the amount of $15,000 towards our budget shortfall created by the recent enrollment changes.  We are BLESSED by this generous donor and would like to take full advantage of the opportunity presented to us.  If you, too, would like to present a challenge match, please speak with Principal David Robinson in the school office at (314) 832-1244. Thank you for your support of Word of Life Lutheran School!  

 

What’s Happening Around Town . . . 


CHRISTIAN FRIENDS OF NEW AMERICANS (CFNA) Christian Friends of New Americans is always looking for drivers for medical appointments to help immigrants who do not have transportation.  Contact Carol Buckman at (314)  517-8513. (CFNA has been granted RSO [Reorganized Service Organization] status by the Missouri Synod.)


CHRIST MEMORIAL PRESENTS “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”  Christ Memorial invites you to attend Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”. Performances will be on September 17, 18, 23, 24 & 25 at 7:30 p.m. & September 19 & 26 at 2:30 p.m.  All seating is reserved and tickets range from  $10-$20; September 23 children 10 & under are half price.  To purchase tickets call the church office (314) 631-0304. Tickets may also be reserved for will call via our website wwwChristMemorialStl.org; Visit our website, or  email tickets@christmemorial.org for more information.


BABY SHOWER AT ST. JOHNS  A baby shower for 2 Nepalese mothers - Teka Ghimrey (expecting a girl any day now) and Hema Kami (expecting a boy on 10/2/10) will be held in the Fellowship Hall of St. Johns Lutheran Church after the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, September 19, 2010.  Since they recently arrived from Nepal, they do not have any baby items and can use clothes, appliances, furniture, supplies, etc.  If you cannot attend the shower and would like to give a gift,  items may be dropped off at the church office Monday -Friday, daytime hours.  Monetary gifts are also appreciated.  Make out checks to St. Johns Lutheran, clearly marked “Baby Shower” and mail to the church office at 3738 Morganford Rd., StL, MO 63116. If you have questions, please call Darlene Griffith (Chairperson of St. John’s New Americans Ministry Team) at (314) 845-2068.


ST. LOUIS HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOC. “RUN FOR THE HILLS”  5K RUN AND 1 MILE WALK  The run/walk will be on Saturday, September 18, 2010, and begins at Donovan & Itaska St., near Francis Park. The 5K begins at  8 a.m. & 1 mile walk begins at 8:45 a.m. Registration is $16 per entry or  $40 family entry which includes T-Shirts, and is due by  September 11.  Registration on the day of the event (9/18) will be $20 per individual.


If you have any questions, call Mike Branahan at (314) 353-2860. Make checks payable to Run for the Hills and mail to : St. Louis Hills, Neighborhood Association/Run for the Hills, P.O. Box 190314, St. Louis, MO 63119-6314


CFNA TRIVIA/BINGO/SILENT AUCTION/SUPPER EVENT  Save Saturday evening, November 13, 2010 for this event.  If you would like to make a donation or have questions, please call Carol Buckman at (314) 517-8513.  All proceeds will benefit Pastor Adefris Mekasha and his family’s efforts to evangelize and work with new immigrants to the U.S. in St. Louis, MO.


LUTHERAN NORTH/SOUTH OPEN HOUSE BOUTIQUES  Start your shopping early and help Lutheran High School Association Auction 2010 at the same time!  


Lutheran North Open House Boutique 

What: Enjoy holiday shopping from various different vendors including: 

31 Purses, Celebrating Home, Dinnius Photography, Pampered Chef, and Salpada Jewelry.

When: September 26, 2010 from 1-4 p.m.

Where: Suzanne Whithers’ Home

 215 Olympia Dr.

 Ferguson, MO 63135


For more information or to purchase from any of the vendors call Suzanne Withers (314) 521-0752.


Lutheran South Open House Boutique

What: Enjoy holiday shopping from various different vendors including:

Beads for Benefit-Custom Jewelry, Dot the i Embroidery-Personalized Gifts, Scentsy-Products that make scents, Longaberger-Baskets and pottery, and more!

When: September 26, 2010 from 1-4 p.m.

Where: Maria Yaeger’s Home

 10533 Anton Place  

St. Louis, MO 63128


For more information or to purchase from any of the vendors contact call Yvonne Baker(314) 965-3575.



LAY BIBLE INSTITUTE CONCORDIA SEMINARY   The fall session will be on Wednesdays, October 6-27, 2010 from 7-9 p.m. in  Seick Hall, Room 202.  The program, “Living as Citizens of Heaven and Citizens of America: The Role of Christians in a Democratic Society”, is especially designed for laypersons in your congregation and will be led by Dr. Charles Arand, professor of Systematic Theology.  The cost is $30 per person and to register call (314) 505-7486, email ce@csl.edu or mail to Lay Bible Institute, Office of Continuing Education, 801 Seminary Pl., StL, MO 63105.

 

BOUNTY OF BLESSINGS  The 32nd Annual Fantasy Faire Auction to benefit Lutheran High School North and Lutheran High School South will be held on November 20, 2010 at the Hilton Saint Louis, Frontenac.  We are currently soliciting for advertisements and donations.  This year we will have 50 “Bags of Blessings” that will be available for purchase.  Donations are currently being accepted at Lutheran North and Lutheran South.  You may also contact the LHSA office for donation forms.  For more information visit www.lhsastl.org.

 


Please join us in recognizing those in our congregation who are celebrating birthdays and anniversaries this month. Keep them in your prayers and greet them when you see them in worship. Contact the church office if your birthday or anniversary is not listed so we can add it to the member data base. 

Our shut-ins are indicated by an *.



Happy Birthday to . . .


9/1 Dave Jones

9/2 Timothy Broughton, Betty Clark, Norman Hansen, Nancy Nickolotsky, Timothy Quinn, David Robinson

9/3 Carla Cook, Jena Haffner

9/4 Brett Muhlke, Christen Otto

9/5 John Powers Jr., Timothy Todd, Jane Turner

9/6 Haley Massie

9/7 Sue Mays

9/10 Curtis Hughling, Christopher Pott

9/11 Joseph Gabriel

9/12 Garrick Springer

9/13 Samuel Freer, Christopher Manion

9/14  Matthew Howard, Adam Notch

9/15 Patrick Riggs

9/16 Frances Hoffstetter*, Donald Kamp, Melissa Maxfield, Corey Sauer,

9/17 Dolores Kesel, Jackson Simons

9/19 Robert Bauman, Zachary Klug

9/20  Christine Bracht, Mitchell Hendon, Aimee Kilgore, Tristan Rabun

9/21 Alton Morris

9/22 Joshua Hogan, Melissa Rundquist

9/23 Angus Hendon, Regina Morton

9/24 Michael Bauman, Charlotte Bohlmann, Richelle Moore,

9/25 Delores Fadler, Mike Juracek

9/26 Courtney Bernhagen, Carter Santangelo, Nicholas Wilhite

9/27 Ralph Simon, Gretchen Simons, Sharon Weman

9/28 Jeff Elliott, Nathan Mueller, Jon Roussin

9/29 James Komorech


Happy Anniversary to . . .


9/4 Roy & Susan Etter

9/5 Edward & Kathleen Hogan

9/6 Joyce Meckfessel & Ray Pott

9/15 Steven & Julie Headrick

9/17 Justin & Lisa Beck

9/18 Ralph & Dawn Brancato, 

 David & Valerie Johnson

9/20 Julie & Paul Brock, Teresa & Eric Rell

9/21 Doug & Lisa Cribbs

9/22 Robert & Audrey Schulz

9/23 Allen & Sandra Pfeuffer

9/25 Timothy & Laurie Quinn

9/27 William & Jodie Ingrham

9/29  Jeff & Jacqueline Elliott