Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Sierrra Madre, CA
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  • Home
  • About
    • Welcome
    • Leadership
    • Newsletter
    • Gallery
  • Ministries
    • Worship
    • Fellowship
    • Formation
    • Outreach
    • Pastoral Care
    • Presence
    • Village Voices
  • MUSIC
    • CHOIR
    • CHORISTER PROGRAM
    • CHORAL SERVICES
    • LISTEN TO OUR MUSIC
    • MUSIC STAFF
    • OUR ORGANS
  • Resources
    • Life Events
    • Sermons
    • Venue Reservations
  • Give
  • Contact

About Us
We are Sierra Madre's village church, where all are welcome - from "town" and beyond.  We are a place to meet God and your neighbors, serving Christ today for those who will know and serve Christ tomorrow.  ​

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Get Involved
​We offer praise and thanksgiving to God through a variety of ministries, including worship, fellowship, formation, pastoral care, outreach, and by being present in the larger church and our community.  

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Give 
Making an offering of your resources - time, talent, and treasure - is an integral part of what it means to be a Christian. There are many ways you can support our church.
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UPCOMING SERVICES

June 22, 2025 - The Second Sunday after Pentecost
Services at 8:00 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.


"Be not far away, O Lord; you are my strength; hasten to help me."  (Psalm 22:18)
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 ​A word of caution – there are quite a few folks who are having respiratory issues of a variety of kinds. Please, if you are having any symptoms, please stay home, and we will bring Communion to you. This would be a kindness to the vulnerable in our congregation.
 
 ​​ ​​Click HERE to view on Facebook LIVE
(A Facebook account is not required to view the link.)


 SEE QUICK LINKS at right for the service bulletins and lessons.​
   

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​Based upon guidelines from the LA County Health Department and State authorities, we encourage those with heightened vulnerabilities to wear masks. Ascension offers Communion at the rail and provides the option of small glasses to be filled from the common cruet.  Please note that the practice of intinction (where a parishioner dips the bread in the wine) is not permitted under the diocesan guidelines.

For those impacted by the fires,  here are some resources and opportunities to consider:

  • To register for FEMA assistance -: https://www.disasterassistance.gov or Disasterassistance.gov. You can also sign up by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA App.    
  • Here is an interesting graphic - Emotional life cycle of a disaster [english] 
  • Relief contributions requested via diocesela.org/annual-appeal
  • Supporting the Wildfire Response Fund  at Episcopal Relief and Development will help communities recover.

From Episcopal Relief and Development:  Please give today to our Hurricane Relief Fund and help our partners and dioceses reach vulnerable communities devastated by hurricanes and other catastrophic storms. As we continue to assess ongoing needs in impacted areas, your urgent gift will enable us to respond now — and in the long run to aid in recovery. Click HERE to give.

A PRAYER FOR PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND: Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.   The Book of Common Prayer (page 815)

Episcopal Relief and Development is mobilizing with Anglican agencies and other partners in order to provide humanitarian assistance to people fleeing the violence in Ukraine.  Working through the Action by Churches Together Alliance (ACT Alliance), Episcopal Relief & Development will provide cash, blankets, hygiene supplies and other needed assistance. “Ecumenical and orthodox faith networks are on the ground in the border areas of Poland and Hungary,” said Abagail Nelson, executive vice president, Episcopal Relief & Development. “We will continue to coordinate with these networks, in order to meet the needs of people who have been displaced. ”Please pray for all those affected. Donations to Episcopal Relief & Development’s International Disaster Response Fund will provide humanitarian assistance for the crisis in Ukraine.

Responding to Turkey and Syria: Many people have inquired about how to respond to the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. We all know that the recovery will take years, if not decades. One option is to contribute through Episcopal Relief and Development. They are working in concert with the Anglican Alliance and other European partners. Here is the link to their website: https://www.episcopalrelief.org 

Also, Vestry member Matt Gorman offers this consideration:  “Acts 11:26 mentions Barnabas and Saul teaching in Antioch (aka, Antakya) which is where followers were first called “Christians” … according to Galatians 2:11, it was in Antioch where Paul confronted Peter “to his face”.  It is sad to now see the tragedy in this birthplace of Christianity where the people have kept the faith alive for centuries, often in the face of persecution."  The link for donations to the Antiochian diocese is HERE. 

A couple of other recent articles are below:
  •  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64687578
  • https://apnews.com/article/2023-turkey-syria-earthquake-europe-earthquakes-religion-e777d085219cbade507d9970da2e4af5
  • https://religionunplugged.com/news/2023/2/16/4gs7s2623esnv9u4e1ly2dyr53uts4

A Prayer for Ukraine:  God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.  Amen  (​Archbishops Justin Welby & Stephen Cottrell)
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QUICK LINKS​
Ascension 2025 Online Pledge form
Make Pledge payments & Other Offerings
church calendar
2024 Annual Parish Report
June 22 8:00AM SUNDAY BULLETIN
June 22 10:15AM SUNDAY BULLETIN
JUNE 22 Lessons
Communion Under 
Special Circumstances

THIS SUNDAY:  Father Michael will be celebrating and preaching at both services. At the 10:15 service, we look forward to our guest organist - Michael Lasfetto - playing selections from Hommage a Pachelbel, eleven variations on Hanover by Christa Rakich (b. 1952) for the prelude and postlude.  

BETWEEN THE MASSES: The adult discussion group usually meets during the hour between the 8:00 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. services in Hawks Hall.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER GROUP will gather together at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25 at The Only Place in Town, 110 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., here in town. Please RSVP to Ray Smith at [email protected] or Ray’s cell phone # 626-233-1035.  All are welcome.

The profile for the election of the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles is now available here.

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​​THURSDAY MORNING MASS will be held on June 26th at 8:15 a.m. in the Chapel.

RECTOR'S FORUM will be held on June 26th at 9:00 a.m. in the Rector's office. 


MONTHLY "SPIRE" NEWSLETTER:​ Printed copies of the June Spire can be found at the back of the church and on the reception table in Hawks Hall, or read the newsletter HERE.

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE will be held on Wednesday, July 9th from 12pm - 6pm in Hawks Hall. Go to redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code ECTA to sign up. We need at least 25 participants to reach the goal of 25 pints of blood. All donors will receive a pair of Red Cross X goodr sunglasses. 

LA DODGERS EPISCOPAL NIGHT is Friday, August 29th at 7:00 pm (Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks). Tickets are $42 and MUST be ordered by Sunday, July 20th. Sign up on the bulletin board in Hawks Hall or call the parish office. Tickets will be distributed electronically via the MLB app. Tickets must be readable on a cell phone for entry into the stadium.


​FRIENDS IN DEED is lower than ever on food.  Please join in Ascension's monthly collection of specific "Gold Items" including canned tuna and chicken, hearty soups, stew, chili, pasta and pasta sauce, peanut butter, cereal, rice, oil, sugar, flour, fruit juice, and vegetable juice (V8). 

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ALTAR FLOWERS, SANCTUARY CANDLES, AND COFFEE HOUR SIGN-UP SHEETS are on the bulletin board outside Hawks Hall. 

WEEKLY PRAYER: O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving kindness; through Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. ​

The Episcopal Church of the Ascension
25 East Laurel Ave
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Phone: 626-355-1133
Email: ​parish@ascension-sie​rramadre.com

Sunday Schedule
8:00 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist (Rite I)
10:15 a.m. - The Holy Eucharist (Rite II, with music)
Childcare is available at both services

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