Holiday Cookie Walk Coming Soon! Stop by fellowship hall and purchase an empty cookie box for $10, then visit each cookie station where the Godly Play Cookie Elves will fill up your box with tasty delights. There are only 60 cookie boxes available--don't miss your chance to snag one! You can reserve your box today by contacting the church office. Stay after the cookie walk to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, coffee, and sweet treat as we sing our favorite Christmas carols around the piano. The Godly Play+ children will also be selling their hand-crafted Christmas ornaments. All proceeds benefit ..read more

This is a subtitle for your new post Ascension’s Advent Challenge: ELCA Good Gifts ELCA’s Good Gifts Program is part of ELCA World Hunger, which supports churchwide ministries in 88 countries around the world. Good Gifts include God’s Global Barnyard along with other initiatives, including access to safe water, opportunities for women and children, agriculture programs, global health care, and international emergencies.  We invite your participation in this Advent Challenge in one or more of the following ways. • Plan to honor family or friends with a Christmas donation/gift in their ..read more

Advent and Christmas Eve Please Join Us for Advent at Ascension   December 3—First Sunday of Advent Advent Preaching Series: "Filled with Good Things": Elizabeth's longing for a child is sated Advent Tree is festooned with ELCA Good Gifts gifting opportunities Advent Wreath Making and Pizza Party for Godly Play Families 4:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall, registration required   Sunday, December 10—Second Sunday of Advent Advent Preaching Series: "Filled with Good Things": Our Lady of Guadalupe blesses the poor Advent Tree is festooned with ELCA Good Gifts gifting opportunities "Let Ther ..read more

And Suddenly There Was Love. As winter darkness falls and the night sky brightens with stars, we gather to sing God's first song: "Let there be!" Our Christmas Cantata is shaped around original compositions by our own Mischa Zupko and Pastor JoAnn Post, as well as familiar songs and tunes (including "Silent Night" and "The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came") . Nestled in the narrative of God's creative love--from the day God first called light into being until Mary learned that God was creating life in her--we sing of the miracle of God's ongoing, endless, cosmic love for us and all creation ..read more

Saturday, October 28th @ 4:30PM Join us Saturday, October 28th @ 4:30 Trio Diorama is comprised of violinist MingHuan Xu and pianist Winston Choi, both performers on the world stage and professors at Roosevelt University, joining four-time Grammy winning cellist and CM@B Executive and Artistic Director Nick Photinos. Refreshments to follow the performance. Free to attend. Donations gratefully accepted ..read more

This is a subtitle for your new post Compelled by grace and mercy, we seek justice for: Those who hunger and thirst As we dive into our next vitality focus for November-December, we offer many learning and service opportunities. November 4: Feed My Starving Children If you haven’t signed up, please do so! This will be a fun multi-generational service opportunity.  November 5: Vitality Talk – “Feed My Starving Children” November 12: Vitality Talk – “Mapping World Hunger” November 19: Vitality Talk – “ELCA Good Gifts” November 26: Vitality Talk – “Food Pantry: How It Works” December 3: Ad ..read more

Come to Feed My Starving Children with Us! Join us on Saturday, November 4, from 2-3:45 p.m. to go pack food at the Feed My Starving Children packing center in Libertyville. Children age 5 and older are welcome to participate; children under 18 years of age need an adult or guardian present. Sign-ups are required. Please sign-up on our SignUp.com page or contact the church office ..read more

We Remember In anticipation of the Festival of All Saints, Sunday, November 5, our Book of Remembrance will be available through the month of October. We invite you to record the names of loved ones who have died since last All Saints Day; all their names will be included in our All Saints prayers.  Please join Pastor JoAnn Post in the Celebration of Life Garden on All Saints Sunday, November 5 at 8:45 a.m. for a Service of Remembrance for loved ones who have died. (Our Book of Remembrance has room only for those who have died in the last year.) We will take a few moments to remember, by na ..read more

We All Come From Somewhere As part of our Vitality Initiative "Seeking Justice for Refugees and Immigrants," we want to learn more about our own family's migrant journeys. Please complete our ancestry poll about ONE of your ancestors by October 15. The poll can be found in the weekly eblast or as an insert in Sunday's bulletin. The results will be compiled anonymously. Please plan to join us for lunch after worship Sunday, October 22. At the luncheon, we will share the results of the poll and tell our ancestor stories to one another. Even if you are unable to attend the luncheon, we ask yo ..read more

In the name of St. Francis of Assisi Each fall, congregations give thanks for the example of St. Francis of Assisi, whose both celebrated and protected creation's creatures. It is customary to offer a Blessing of the Animals near his Feast Day, October 4. In years past, we have blessed all sorts of animals in all sorts of ways, but the risk of cat scratch or turtle salmonella or horse droppings have rendered such events problematic. Instead, we invite you to bring your favorite soft animal friend, or a photo of a live animal friend to worship Sunday, October 8. We will celebrate the Blessing ..read more