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Giving Up or Adding Something

In the season of Lent, the practice of the church is to pray, fast, give alms. Like most people, I start contemplating what I will “give up” for the next forty days. A couple of weeks ago in Sunday School, we were discussing the season of Lent. The question immediately asked was, “Ms. Shana, aren’t we supposed to give up something?” For some this was familiar, to others a brand new concept. Keep in mind children have no filter. (Kinder thru 5th Grade) Some of the answers were cackle worthy and others you could tell there had been much thought. “I am going to give up dumplings. Not the ones I like. Just the yucky ones!” “I am going to give up feeding my fish!” WAIT WHAT?! To which a sibling replied, “You don’t even have a fish!” Phew! As we worked our way around the circle, I heard, in a thoughtful tone, “Ms. Shana, I am going to give up Legos.” Knowing how much Legos mean to this child I asked, “Are you sure buddy? Forty days without Legos is a lot!” To which he responded, “Well, it is not supposed to be easy. Isn’t it to be something that means a lot to me and that would be hard to not do for 40 days? It will be fine! I can do it!”


I thought about that conversation all week. In a time when taking the easy path seems to be the only path, this young one chose the uncomfortable one. Over the years and attending many studies regarding the seasons of the church and practices within, my approach has changed a bit. I tell the children that the reason we “give up something” is so when we go to do that thing, it gives us pause to remember the season we are in, to help us remain focused and connected to our faith. With children “giving something up” for such a time span does not seem doable. This year, we are committing to “adding” something for forty days. A simple prayer each day, making your bed, being extra kind to your brother or sister were among the top choices.


Chaplain Erin and I took S.W.A.G. (6th-12th grades) to Peter Piper Pizza this past Sunday. We had a small but fabulous group of teens. We ate, chatted, laughed, played games and won prizes. (Skee Ball was the Chaplain’s game of choice) It became apparent to me, that unknowingly, these children were “adding” something very special in this season of Lent. They were creating a space to be present with like-minded, like-hearted youth and just be present. It was beautiful to be part of the day.


Whether you are “giving up something” or “adding something” in these forty days, may your heart, mind and spirit be full of the love of Jesus and may it remind you of the sacrifice that was made for you.


God does mighty things through little people.


Shana Halpin

Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries

Christ Church of the Ascension

Merry Christmas!

By The Rev. Fr. Rod Hurst+ • January 4, 2024
Merry Christmas! Today, this Eleventh Day of Christmas (for us who begin counting on December 25th), I’d like to share some wisdom from the pen of Michael Ramsey, the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury. As Bishop of Durham, he was part of the episcopal entourage and inner circle of bishops surrounding Queen Elizabeth II at her Westminster Abbey Coronation in 1953 and, later, Archbishop of York before his elevation to Canterbury in 1961. In the 1980’s, after his retirement from Canterbury, Ramsey was a regular presence at my seminary in Wisconsin where I first learned about him years later. The following is an excerpt from one of Bishop Ramsey’s annual letters to his diocesan clergy on New Year’s Day. This is also good advice for all the people of God and us at Christ Church of the Ascension as we go into 2024 expectant of what lies ahead and grateful for all our many blessings, past, present and future. Here are The Baron Arthur Michael Ramsey’s five tips for the new year. 1. Thank God. Often and always. Thank him carefully and wonderingly for your continuing privileges and for every experience of his goodness. Thankfulness is a soil in which pride does not easily grow. 2. Take care about confession of your sins. As time passes the habit of being critical about people and things grows more than each of us realize. [He then gently commends the practice of sacramental confession.] 3. Be ready to accept humiliations. They can hurt terribly but they can help to keep you humble. [Whether trivial or big, accept them he says.] All these can be so many chances to be a little nearer to our Lord. There is nothing to fear, if you are near to the Lord and in his hands. 4. Do not worry about status. There is only one status that Our Lord bids us be concerned with, and that is our proximity to Him. “If a man serve me, let him follow me, and where I am there also shall my servant be” (John 12:26). That is our status; to be near our Lord wherever He may ask us to go with him. 5. Use your sense of humor. Laugh at things, laugh at the absurdities of life, laugh at yourself. Through the year people will thank God for you. And let the reason for their thankfulness be not just that you were a person whom they liked or loved but because you made God real to them. *** Amen! and Happy New Year !!  Grace & peace, Fr. Rod+

Rector's Note for 12/21/23

By The Rev. Fr. Rod Hurst • December 21, 2023
Rector's Note for 12/21/23 As we enter this season of giving in celebration of the Incarnation of our Lord, I want to thank you for your generosity to Christ Church of the Ascension during 2023 in your gifts of time, talent and treasure. I want to say a special thank you also to those who have pledged for 2024! As our 2024 Stewardship Campaign continues, if you haven’t yet completed your pledge card or pledged online, I encourage you to do so as an act of spiritual worship and tangible prayer for the future of the Church in thanksgiving for all of God’s many blessings these past 60 years. Please join me in giving from the heart for the building up of this community of faith to inspire hope and love through worship and service in the Church and in the world. Make Christ Church of the Ascension part of your daily spiritual practice as you prayerfully discern what God is calling you to give in 2024 starting now. PLEDGE HERE Grace and peace, Father Rod+

A Note for Thanksgiving

By The Rev. Fr. Rod Hurst • November 16, 2023
A Note for Thanksgiving My series on the Collects of Thomas Cranmer will continue at a later date; but today I’d like to share with you one of my favorite stories by pastoral care pioneer Howard Clinebell. It speaks to us about the fact that the Church, our church, is not only a house of worship and prayer but a hospital for the broken, where Christ welcomes each person, where they are and for who they are. As Christ's hands and voice we then bring the healing arts of spiritual friendship and Christ-like love to all Christ brings our way. If we were all Christ-like all the time we would have no need for Christ and his Church; but everyday experiences tell us all that we have need of Christ each and every day of our lives—the healed and the healers alike. This charming and cautionary tale tells us what we are meant to be, and what we could become if we lose sight of our mission; but it is a reminder of our potential when we retain and, as necessary, reclaim our Christ-centered focus. Thus we give thanks! Please touch or click the link below to read the story. Lifesaving Station Grace and peace, Fr. Rod+
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