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

​“ I will exalt you, O Lord, because you have lifted me up and have not let my enemies triumph over me.” (Psalm 30:1)​
​
​July 3rd - Fourth Sunday after Pentecost                             

Our 8:00 am and 10:15 am Sunday services will both be live streamed on Facebook Live. It is our intention to keep the remote option for joining our worship for the foreseeable future. Please scroll down for our Facebook link.

Access to Church of Ascension Facebook Live page
For Bulletins and Lessons for This Sunday, Please Refer to the Buttons Under Quick Links.

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...."​ 
​​ Quick Links​
​Message from Fr. Michael:

This Sunday at the 10:15 service, we look forward to the soloist and Mr. Williamson offering the anthem “I Vow to Thee My Country” and “Give Me Your Tired and Your Poor.” Preaching at both services will be Pastor Josh.
​We have returned to receiving Communion in both kinds. Our parishioners have choices. One option is to continue to receive in one kind. A second option is to receive from the common cup. (Please keep in mind that our chalices are made of precious metals which have an anti-microbial quality. Also, we use sacramental wine which is higher in alcohol content. After each person receives, the chalice is turned and wiped with the linen called a purificator.) A third option will be for individuals and households to receive in a small chalice, which will have a small amount of consecrated wine poured into it from the common cruet. Folks may choose to bring from home a glass or cup that holds special significance or to use a small glass which we will have available. Please note – the practice of Intinction (where a parishioner dips the bread in the wine) is not permitted under the diocesan guidelines.

​Both of our Sunday services are live streamed on Facebook Live. It is our intention to keep the remote option for joining our worship for the foreseeable future.  

​Announcements: 

**THE TUESDAY NIGHT DINNER GROUP will gather together at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5th at Paco's Mexican Restaurant - 200 E. Foothill Avenue, Arcadia - 626-357-7270.   Please RSVP to Ray Smith at ray@madre.net or Ray’s cell phone # 626-233-1035.  All are welcome.**

**THE MEN’S GROUP MONTHLY LUNCHEON will meet at noon, Wednesday, July 6th at the Only Place in Town. Please RSVP to Fr. Michael.**

**American Red Cross Blood Drive in the church hall on Wednesday, July 13th from Noon to 6pm.  Appointments requested but not required.**

**COFFEE HOUR ~ please join us for coffee and fellowship in Hawks Hall after both services.**

**FLOWERS, ALTAR CANDLES AND COFFEE HOUR SIGN-UP SHEETS are on the bulletin board outside Hawks Hall.  You can also sign-up for flowers and altar candles using Sign-up Genius.  Contact the parish office for the links.**

**BETWEEN THE MASSES - The adult discussion group has resumed meeting in person today in the Parish Hall. The group meets during the hour after the 8:00 am service and the 10:15 am service.**

** THURSDAY MORNING MASS ~ July 7, 2022 ~ 8:15 AM**

** RECTOR'S FORUM  ~ July 7, 2022 ~ 9:00 AM in the Rectors office or via Zoom. **
 
**FAVORITE HYMN ~ Do you have a favorite hymn?  Let us know what it is!  Drop a note in the box at the back of the church (or email it to robertwilliamson05@gmail.com) and Robert Williamson, our organist and choirmaster, will play it sometime this summer.  (Please keep in mind that the hymns need to come from our approved list of Episcopal Music Resources -The 1982 Hymnal, Wonder Love and Praise, Lift Every Voice and Sing, etc.)**

**FRIENDS IN DEED 2022-2023 Back-to-School Backpack & School Supply Drive**

As the school year ends and summer approaches, we are looking forward to making a fresh start in the fall. The Food Pantry community is pleased that our young students will again return to be with their friends and teachers in the classroom next school year. With anticipation, we have already started planning our annual “Back-to-School” event. Our FID families continue to face many financial challenges including frustrations over rising prices and supply shortages. Economic instability and the pervasive uncertainties of our time make it even more difficult for families to prepare their children for the new school year. This makes our 2022-2023 “Back-to-School” event so vital to the families we serve. Your participation is more important than ever. Your help and support are imperative to the success of this special event. We cannot do it without you. Every year, we come to you, our Friends In Deed family, to help us make the Back-to-School Backpack & School Supply Drive a success. Last year, we gratefully distributed over 330 backpacks filled with school supplies to school-aged children representing over 60 schools in Pasadena and the neighboring communities. We hope that you will join us in this effort! On two consecutive Saturdays, July 30 and August 6, we will be distributing backpacks and supplies to families in our community. If you would like to support this event, here are some things to consider:
 
  1. Please avoid all red and all blue backpacks. This is very important to our schools.
  2. Backpacks should be sturdy enough to handle the rigors of a student's day and the tremendous supply of books students heft around, especially high school students.
  3. The school supplies needed are recommended by the Pasadena/Altadena area schools and the list is included below.
  4. Empty backpacks and school supplies must be delivered to Friends In Deed, by Friday, July 22, 2022 in order to be included in the distribution.
  • College ruled notebook paper (more popular than “wide-ruled” paper)
  • Spiral notebooks
  • Composition notebooks
  • Hardcover 3-Ring binders: 1"- 3" (prefer with clear view pocket on front)
  • Tab dividers for binders
  • 2 pocket folders (prefer poly folders)
  • Copy paper (for printing)
  • Pens: red, blue, and black ink
  • Pencils: #2 pencils and mechanical pencils
  • Erasers and pencil-top erasers
  • Zipper pouches for pens and pencils (3 hole-punched to fit in binders)
  • Dry-erase markers
  • Colored markers (NO Sharpies or Permanent Markers)
  • Highlighters: all colors
  • Colored pencils
  • Sharpeners for colored pencils (must hold shavings)
  • 24 colors crayons (prefer Crayola Brand)
  • Student scissors or softgrip student scissors (such as Fiskars)
  • Rulers (metric & standard)
  • 3" x 5" index cards
  • Glue Sticks (preferred to glue in bottles)
  • Wide ruled notebook paper (for lower grades)
  • Pocket pack tissues
  • Hand sanitizer
  • and Disinfecting wipes

**EPISCOPAL RELIEF & 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.**

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

Archbishop Justin Welby
Archbishop Stephen Cottrell

I pray everyone is well and staying safe.
​ 
Blessings, 
Father Michael+
​
Weekly Prayer:
​
O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; 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