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.  ​
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.  
Give 
Let's Keep Ascension Moving Forward....
Due to Covid-19, please consider, as you are able, keeping your pledge current.  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.
Upcoming Events and Services - Going Forward Together

Ongoing on Wednesdays - 5:45 pm - Evening Prayer
Pastor Josh will celebrate Evening Prayer from his home via Facebook Live. Please scroll down for directions to Church of Ascension - Facebook Live.

09/20/2020 - Sunday - the 16th Sunday after Pentecost - 3 Services
07:30 am - Holy Eucharist - Rite 2 -  Outdoor In-Person Service 

Fr. Michael will be the celebrant. He will also offer the homily. Due to the air quality,  the service will be abbreviated.  Folks are asked to bring their own chairs. Distancing will be observed, masks will be worn, and Communion will be distributed in one kind.  At 9 am, we will continue to have a service on Zoom and Facebook Live.  

09:00 am -  Holy Eucharist - Rite 1 
Fr. Michael  will celebrate Holy Eucharist from our Ascension side chapel with only a small cadre via Facebook live or Zoom.  He  will also offer the homily.  A Zoom Coffee Hour will follow. The hymn this Sunday will be # 660 MARYTON – O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee.

10:00 am - Bishop John Harvey Taylor -  Diocese-wide Worship Service

Please read A Message from Fr. Michael for information about Bishop Taylor's service as well as links to Facebook and YouTube options for viewing the service.

​The Bulletins for this Sunday:  
  • Click on the appropriate September 20th Sunday Bulletin  button located under Quick Links for both the 07:30 am and 09:00 am services    
The Lessons for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost, Track 1.
  • Click on the Lessons for 16th Sunday after Pentecost button located under Quick Links          
Access to Church of Ascension Facebook Live page Access to Church of Ascension via Zoom
  • Please refer to the email from Fr. Michael dated 09/17/2020 for  instructions on accessing the Zoom church service, coffee hour, and/or Between the Masses, our Sunday Adult forum.
Some practical Suggestions from Fr. Michael  to help us deal with this difficult time in our world:
  • Reach out to your friends in the congregation.  Or consider calling someone you don’t know.  If you need a copy of the parish directory, contact the parish office. 
  • Consider online prayer sites such as www.missionstclare.com. 
  • Close each day by reflecting on what you are grateful for. ​
Let's Keep Ascension Moving Forward....
Please consider, as you are able, keeping your pledge current, especially during this time of Covid-19.  The Church still has financial obligations in spite of our reduced capacity. You might consider signing up through your bank for auto-pay scheduled giving , or, perhaps, mailing your pledge to our Ascension office at the address located at the bottom of this page.  Feel free to click on the  Give  button located  under our Quick Links, if it would be more convenient for you doing this time of Covid-19 .
Your gifts are fuel we use to  ​"...Keep Ascension Moving Forward...."
Click on the above link to access Dr. Kimball's Trinity Sunday Homily

Comments from Fr. Michael :

"... it was one of the best Trinity sermons I have heard."
 "Theologically brilliant and apt for the times we’re living through."

Take some time and read the Trinity Sunday Homily offered by Trevor Kimball, PhD, one of our own. Trevor and Emily attend Ascension's 8 am service.

​Trevor just recently completed his PhD in Philosophy of Religion and Theology at Claremont Graduate University.  Congratulations!!
​​Quick Links​
​A Message from Fr. Michael:

Bishop John Harvey Taylor and Canon Kathy O’Connor will offer a diocese-wide virtual worship service at 10 a.m. this Sunday, Sept. 20, with the express purpose of giving parochial clergy a break from planning virtual services for their congregations, and to give the bishop an opportunity to speak to the entire diocese. The service, to be conducted in English and Spanish, will be live-streamed from St. Paul’s Commons with the support of Provost Frank Alton and the altar guild of St. Athanasius’ Church.

The service will be live streamed from 
here (Bishop Taylor’s Facebook page),
here (Diocese of Los Angeles Facebook page) and
​here (Diocese of Los Angeles YouTube channel).

This has certainly been an interesting week for our congregation. Thankfully, resources have become available and the weather is starting to help the efforts to fight the Bobcat Fire. The air quality throughout Southern California continues to be an issue, and I pray that we will experience advantageous weather to clear the smoke.

Deacon Ed, Pastor Josh, or myself will be available Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, from 8:30am until 10:00am, to administer Communion under Special Circumstances to individuals and households by appointment. Simply call or email the office Monday between 9am and 2pm to see which time slots are available, and we’ll greet you outside the bell tower door. I’m also willing to set a separate time to accommodate your work schedules.

As always, I’m trying to make decisions with the community’s safety and well-being being the primary consideration, and love being our primary value.

I pray everyone is well and staying safe.
​ 
Blessings, 
Father Michael+

Today's Prayer

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

​Know that God is with us.
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