THE HEART OF ASCENSION Save the date/mark your calendars for these upcoming events: If you have been attending Ascension Lutheran Church and have considered, thought about, or maybe would like to join this body of Christ, now is the time to become a part of the joy of this fellowship. New members will be welcomed on Sunday, February 26, 2017. If you would like to join, please see Pastor Gaertner, Mike Fiffik or Gordon Marquette (Elders). Choir rehearsals resume on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at 7:00 PM. Practices are scheduled for February 2, 9, 16, and 23 (Thursdays) at 7:00 PM. For those who don't like paper checks, we are now offering the ability to donate money to Ascension on our secure website from your bank account or credit card. If you are interested, please visit https://ascensionpgh.com/give/. ASCENSION COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON will be held on Monday, February 13, 2017, in the Fellowship Hall from 11:30 AM until around 2:00 PM. Lunch is served at Noon. This free luncheon is offered as a time for food, fellowship, and the gathering of a community of people who can share their lives with each other. All are invited! If you have not already joined us at this monthly luncheon, please do so and invite a friend! Any questions, contact Ron Davis, Jr. at 412-709-9860. February 2017
Transcript
THE HEART OF ASCENSION
Save the date/mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
If you have been attending Ascension Lutheran Church and have considered, thought about, or maybe would like to join this body of Christ, now is the time to become a part of the joy of this fellowship. New members will be welcomed on Sunday, February 26, 2017. If you would like to join, please see Pastor Gaertner, Mike Fiffik or Gordon Marquette (Elders).
Choir rehearsals resume on Thursday, February 2, 2017
at 7:00 PM. Practices are scheduled for February 2, 9,
16, and 23 (Thursdays) at 7:00 PM.
For those who don't like paper checks, we are now offering the ability to donate money to Ascension on our secure website from your bank account or credit card. If you are interested, please visit https://ascensionpgh.com/give/.
ASCENSION COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON will be
held on Monday, February 13, 2017, in the Fellowship Hall from 11:30 AM until around 2:00 PM. Lunch is served at Noon. This
free luncheon is offered as a time for food, fellowship, and the gathering of a community of people who can share their lives with each other. All are invited! If you have not already joined us at
this monthly luncheon, please do so and invite a friend! Any questions, contact Ron Davis, Jr. at 412-709-9860.
LUTHERAN WOMEN’S MISSIONARY LEAGUE: Our next meeting is scheduled
for Saturday, February 4th. Copies of the Winter Issue of the Quarterly and the Eastern
District LINK are on the table in the narthex.
The 75th Anniversary National Convention will be held on June 22-25 in Albuquerque,
New Mexico. Registration opens on March 14th. Several of our members are
considering going. If you would like more information, please see Janet Seitz.
With only three months until the end of the biennium to meet the mite goal of $2,000,000
for national, we have a way to go as we still need $359,833.69. Our districts are
encouraged to submit our mites monthly. If you would like to donate, please use the
small mite boxes on the table in the narthex. When they are filled, return it to the large
mite box on the table. Some of the grants that are partially paid are Redeeming Life
Maternity Home, Hope & Healing to the Navajo People, Opportunities in Uganda and
Providing Hope for Detroit. Of all the grants given for 2015-2017, 11 have been paid in
full, four have been partially paid and four have not been funded at all.
THE NEXT SOAR RESPITE NIGHT will be held at Ascension
on Friday, February 10, 2017 from 6-9 PM. SOAR (Special
Opportunities, Abilities, and Relationships) is for children with
special needs and their typical siblings ages 2-10. This free
event is a “night off” for parents where children will have fun
playing games, creating crafts, making music, and forming relationships with their
buddy and other children. This event is held on the second Friday each month. As
this outreach to the community continues to grow, we need more volunteers.
Please pray about and consider helping with Respite Nights as a way to reach
out to those with special needs in our community. Volunteer applications are
available on the table in the narthex. If you have any questions, please email
[email protected] or call Emily Marcellus at 724-799-5635. Please keep
the SOAR Respite Nights and all the participants in your prayers.
This month the Men’s Group will meet on Saturday, February 18, 2017. This group meets on the 3rd Saturday of every month. Doors are open at 8:30 AM for fellowship followed by a time of study/discussion from 9 AM-10 AM. All men (young and old) are welcome to attend. For more information, please see Bill Seitz.
February Birthdays: 1 Michael Marsula 1 Tyler Vasil 3 Brian Leonard 4 Charlotte Beiter 4 Mark Bocian 6 Grace Fiffik 11 Paul Young 13 Rebecca Diak 13 Janet Seitz 16 Shannon Schroeder 18 Chris Bocian 20 Ron Davis, Sr. 23 Sherri Kirk
IF WE MISSED YOUR BIRTHDAY OR ANNIVERSARY, PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE AT 412-364-4463.
Thrivent Choice Dollars® directions can help support Ascension Lutheran Church!
Are you a member of Thrivent Financial who’s eligible to direct Choice Dollars®? Eligible Thrivent Financial members who have been designated Choice Dollars have until March 31, 2017, to direct any remaining 2016 Choice Dollars. Think of the impact you—along with other eligible Thrivent members—can help make by directing Choice Dollars® to Ascension.
Choice Dollars charitable grant funds can make a world of difference to Ascension. By directing Choice Dollars, eligible Thrivent members recommend where they feel Thrivent should distribute a portion of its charitable grant funds. Directing Choice Dollars is easy. Simply go to Thrivent.com/thriventchoice to learn more and find program terms and conditions. Or call 1-800-847-4836 and say “Thrivent Choice” after the prompt.
We’ve all heard that stewardship is giving to the church of our time, talents, and treasure. This alliterative trinity helps us see that giving is not just about money, but about our whole lives. For God has given us everything we have and enjoy as we confess in the meaning to the First Article of the Apostle’s Creed. And what we confess first among those is that God gives us “our body and soul, our eyes, ears, and all our members, our reason and all our senses.” Only then do we confess that he gives us material things. Thus the time, talents, and treasure trinity places before our eyes the fact that we are to give something of all of these things toward the mission of the church in thanksgiving for what God has provided. For everything we have and indeed everything we are comes from God’s fatherly divine goodness and mercy. The problem with this alliterative trinity comes when we replace one little word with another little word—when we replace the word and with the word or. It is always written with the and, but when we read it, we read it with the or. Thus this quite helpful trinity, which extolled that everything that we have and are is a gift from God and which is to be pressed into the service of God in His church, turns into a trinity that we can pick and choose which of the trinity we use into the service of God. The giving of our time, talents, and treasure turns into the giving of our time, talents, or treasure. Then the question arises: Can we give of our time and talents instead of our treasures? Or perhaps it is the other way round: Can we give our treasure and not of our time and our talents? But these are the wrong questions. The right question is, can we give of our time and our talents in addition to our treasure? Yes, indeed, we are called to give of all three. The things that God gives us are not to be pitted against one another. They are given to us and we are to press them all into God’s service for benefit of His church and our neighbors in need. Thus we give all three. We give our treasure in the form of a generous, first-fruits, proportion of our income. We give of our time in generosity for the benefit of Christ’s holy church. We give of our talents in the same manner. Since God gave us all these things, we are called to give generously of all these things in faith toward Him and in fervent love to our neighbors. For God has provided all these things to us. Out of His fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, He gives us each time, talents, AND treasures as a means to bless those around us. We serve our neighbors with these things, blessing them with the blessings in which God has blessed us. We give of our time, talents, and treasures to our families, our society, and to our church, our local congregations. And we do this because we know that we are not our own. Rather, we belong to God. We have been bought with a price—with the holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. He gave everything—His time, His talents, and His treasure—to have us as His own and to live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness. We have these things as gifts and blessings from God. Let us then press them all into service for the sake of His love—time, talents, and treasures together.
40 DAYS FOR LIFE – Christians throughout Pittsburgh are invited to take part in the international 40 Days for Life campaign from March 1-April 9, 2017. The mission of 40 Days for Life is to unite the Body of Christ in the spiritual battle to end abortion. Through 40 Days for Life, 12,668 lives have been spared from abortion, 141 abortion workers converted, and 75 abortion facilities have closed! Join us for 40 days of prayer & fasting (March 1st through April 9th) and a peaceful vigil held every day from 7 AM-7 PM in front of Planned Parenthood at 933 Liberty Avenue. To find out more about how you can be involved, go to www.40daysforlifepittsburgh.com or www.40daysforlife.com/pittsburgh. Contact Nikki Bruni at 412-926-9413 or [email protected].
HOLY LAND TOUR (April 26 – May 7, 2017) – A Biblical tour of Israel
and Jordan where Scripture is read and explained at each Biblical site –
the trip of a lifetime! Contact Rev. Darold Reiner, retired LCMS pastor
and former LWML International Counselor, for a brochure at 406-890-
If you are impatient or being tested, read the book of Job. If you are strong-willed, read about Moses. If you are feeling weak, read about Elijah. If there is no song in your heart, read David’s Psalms. If you do not have courage, read Daniel. If you are getting sordid, spend a while with Isaiah. If you feel mean, let the beloved disciple John tell you about real love. If your faith is low, read about Paul. If you are getting lazy, read James. If you are losing sight of the future, read the book of Revelation and get a glimpse of heaven. If you have other concerns/needs, read your Bible and come to church.
Highpointe at Rebecca, A Concordia Community Presents an Educational Seminar
The public is invited to Concordia at Rebecca Residence on Thursday or Friday, February 16 or 17 from 10 – 11:30 AM for an educational session and project overview titled “Retirement Community Living: The Lifestyle.” The third in a series of educational meetings for individuals who are interested in making a move to a retirement community is brought to you by Highpointe at Rebecca, a premier retirement living community that is currently under construction. Refreshments and valet parking will be available. Registration is required, as seating is limited. To RSVP, call 724-444-1521 by Tuesday, February 10. Please provide your name, phone number, which time you plan to attend and how many are in your group. The Highpointe at Rebecca Retirement Community is scheduled to open in August/September 2017. With our 6% pre-construction discount on the entrance fee, monthly fee and second person fee, now is the time to see why thousands have chosen Concordia’s quality, security and value.
Concordia Retirement Living Hosts Open House Events
Concordia Haven Apartments is hosting Open House events on Sunday, February 19 from 1 – 3 PM and Monday, February 20 from 9 AM to 3 PM at Haven II, located at 148 Marwood Road (Entrance 5) in Cabot. Those interested are invited to learn more about the Concordia Haven Apartments. Tours of the Haven II building and model apartments will be offered, and guests will have the opportunity to ask questions about retirement community living. Learn more about why Concordia is the best retirement living value in the area. Ask about our veteran’s discount, too. For more information or to register, call Peggy Trettel at 724-352-5378 or visit www.concordialm.org/ events-news/havenfeb2017openhouse. Personal tours are available by appointment for those unable to attend.
Concordia Offers A Free Speakers Bureau
Experts from the Concordia Lutheran Ministries staff provide an extensive Speakers Bureau free of charge to community and service organizations. Topics in the areas of Senior Care such as Planning for Long-Term Care, Senior Care Lingo, or Understanding Senior Living Choices as well as Health and Wellness, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease Education; Nutrition, even Estate Planning and Independence in Your Home are available. If you are interested in scheduling a speaker for your group, call the Speakers Bureau Coordinator at 724-352-1571, extension 8560, or e-mail [email protected] at least four weeks in advance. Please include time, date, location, size of group and any other important information. A complete list of topics and speakers is available at your request.
Personal priorities are often closely linked to family concerns. For Christians, spiritual precedence binds the importance of values we consider significant. Such unification combines the primacy of family and ministry motivations. Throughout life, such priorities tend to show up in our actions. Whether laden with mistakes, or framed by good works, the priorities of our lives will be made known in the fruits that result from those actions. God’s Word clearly brings family and ministry priorities together on the same road. We don’t need to look any further than the Ten Commandments to see ample evidence of this. It begins with the top priority - love for God, and moves to the second priority - love for our fellow man. All societies in history build on the foundational layer of family as the footing for humanity. The beginning of a new year is an excellent time to encourage all parents with children to put in place or review their last will and testament that blends the spiritual priorities of family and ministry life. This is done using Christian preambles, charitable bequests and appropriate gifts to family members that will serve to bless and not curse them. Parents with minor children will find it especially important to establish a minor’s trust to protect dependent children and to manage property or nominate Christian guardians who can be trustworthy in continuing consistent parental values. Stewarding all of life includes managing risks that surround us during the days God gives. Preparing a Christian estate and gift plan should reflect a person’s priorities and merge family and ministry goals. If you haven’t completed your plan or updated it recently, you can give witness to your priorities for family and ministry by resolving to start, with our help, in the year of our Lord, 2017. For more information, contact Robert Wirth, LCMS Foundation Gift Planner @ [email protected] or 716-863-4427.
Jr.’s daughter); Mark, Rob, Randy; Brad; Mike; Sam; John; Jake; Debbie; the Kowalewski family; those who
are experiencing a crisis of faith; women with unplanned pregnancies
GENERAL PRAYER, GUIDANCE, AND PROVISION
That God would raise up leaders here at Ascension and especially for our youth; for SOAR Respite Nights and
participating families; Concordia College (Bronxville, NY); Barry family; Gene Williams, Jr. and
DiscipleMakers; Pastor Eric Andræ and Campus Ministry in Oakland; seminary students; the residents and staff of Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Shepherd’s Heart Fellowship; Food For The Poor; Christian
Counseling Associates counselors and their clients
Upcoming Lutheran Hour Broadcasts:
February 5, 2017 "Nothing But Jesus!" Amid life's commotion and clamor, what will give us peace? Nothing but Jesus! (1 Corinthians 2:1-16) Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz February 12, 2017 "Here's to Life!" Even as the world becomes a meaner, angrier place, God calls us to share His life with others. (Deuteronomy 30:15-20) Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz February 19, 2017 "Love Your Enemies—Jesus Does!" God calls us to love and forgive our enemies the way He loves and forgives us. (Matthew 5:38-48) Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz February 26, 2017 "Guilt's Gone" A guilty conscience accuses; a forgiving Savior brings peace to troubled hearts. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Lutheran Hour broadcasts can be heard on WJAS/1320 AM at 7:00 AM Sunday mornings. You may also read the sermon or listen to it at www.lutheranhour.org.
ATTENTION MARRIED COUPLES: Have you signed up for your 2017 Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend? Marriage Encounter invites married couples on a journey—a deepening of your love. The program allows husband and wife to eliminate all distractions and focus solely on each other for the weekend. A $100 per couple registration fee gets you signed up; plus toward the end of the weekend, you will be given an opportunity to make a confidential contribution of whatever amount you wish toward continuation of the program. Two nights lodging, 5 meals for each of you, and all supplies are included. The 2017 Northeast US Weekends are:
March 24-26, 2017 at Toftrees Golf Resort Conference Center – a peaceful resort nestled in 1500 wooded acres in State College, PA.
April 28-30, 2017 in Lancaster, PA, at the all newly-renovated Heritage Hotel Lancaster, home of the unique tree-house-inspired restaurant, “Loxley’s.”
September 15-17, 2017 at Spruce Lake Retreat Center, Canadensis, PA, a new hotel-style facility on Spruce Lake in the heart of the Pocono Mountains – an hour north of Allentown.
October 6-8, 2017 at the Black Swan Inn in Lee, Massachusetts. Nestled in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, a hidden gem overlooking Laurel Lake – an hour north of Hartford, CT.
To sign up online, go to: www.GodLovesMarriage.org and pay the $100 registration fee using your credit card, or mark the option to mail in a check For questions, or if you would like a brochure mailed to you, contact Northeast US Directors of Lutheran Marriage Encounter, Fred & Julie Schamber, at 724-325-3166 or email: [email protected]. Registrations are limited, so act TODAY to ensure that you can attend the Weekend of your choice!
NHCO’s Annual Citrus Sale is underway – NHCO is taking orders through February 6 for its annual Citrus Sale. Boxes of grapefruit, oranges, tangerines and pears are hand-checked by volunteers and are available for pickup March 4 and 5 in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1965 Ferguson Road. Purchases fund NHCO’s programs, which served 3,804 local families in need last year. Boxes of fruit can also be donated to NHCO’s food pantries. To order online, please visit nhco.org/fruit.cfm or call 412-307-0069 x 3311 for more information.
NHCO offering Money in Your Pocket FREE Tax Preparation – NHCO is once again offering FREE tax preparation for eligible individuals through the United Way Money In Your Pocket tax preparation program. Appointments are required and can be made by calling United Way’s helpline, 2-1-1. The following income eligibility requirements apply. For households with ONE PERSON, annual income must be $25,000 or less. For households with MORE THAN ONE PERSON, annual income must be $45,000 or less. NHCO’s Bellevue/North Boroughs site will be open for tax prep appointments Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:30 to 7:30 PM. NHCO’s Millvale site will be open for tax prep appointments Saturdays, 9:00 AM to Noon.
NHCO offers free employment counseling for job seekers – Underemployed or unemployed job seekers who live in NHCO’s service area of northern Allegheny County can receive free career counseling from a WorkAble professional career counselor from the Career Development Center. Services include one-on-one career counseling and assessment, guidance with resume/cover letter writing, job search strategies, networking and interviewing; job search assistance, including a Weekly Jobs Update and WorkAble career fairs; access to Career Development Center workshops, computer training and Online Learning Center and more. Please contact Brady at 412-408-3830 x 3217 or [email protected] to schedule an appointment or learn more.
Ask the Attorney sessions for low-income families – Free legal consultation for issues such as divorce, bankruptcy, credit issues, family matters, rent disputes and more is available for families in need at NHCO locations the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM except December. The next ATA sessions are at NHCO North Boroughs on February 15 and NHCO Allison Park on March 15. Attendees MUST preregister for these sessions by contacting Brady at [email protected] or 412-408-3830 x 3217.
NHCO General Volunteer Orientations – NHCO will host Volunteer Orientation sessions at 10 AM Thursday, February 9 at NHCO Millvale, 416 Lincoln Avenue, and 10 AM, Thursday, March 9 at NHCO Allison Park, 1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton. Volunteer needs include substitute drivers and on-board dispatchers for Free Rides for Seniors shuttles, drivers to transport seniors to appointments, volunteers and runners for the Pittsburgh Marathon, groups or individuals to hold collections and fundraisers, and more. Please register with Harriet at [email protected] or 412-408-3830 x 3204.
Working families are waiting: Donate your car to Community Auto - Your unwanted running vehicle can help a low-income, working individual. Vehicles donated to Community Auto are repaired and sold at below-market value to local, working families who need them to get to work. Cars not suitable for repair are sold at auction and the money is used for the program. Ask us about donating fleet cars! Please contact Community Auto, a program of NHCO, at 724-443-8300 or www.communityauto.org. You could change a life and get the maximum tax deduction when your car goes to a working family in need. FREE pickup and notary.
