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Immanuel Highlands Voice Immanuel Highlands Episcopal Church May 16, 2021 | Volume 18, Number 18 | The Seventh Sunday of Easter In this issue: Restoration project meeting From the Rector Stewardship options and information Children's Sunday School Adult Sunday School Highmark Virtual Walk Sign up for church service Lessons and readings Birthdays and anniversaries Musical CDs fundraiser for Rector's discretionary fund This week in the parish Sunday, May 16 9:30 am - Holy Eucharist 11:00 - Adult and Children's Sunday School 6 pm - Compline Monday, May 17 6 pm - Vestry Wednesday, May 19 12:15 - Holy Eucharist, Chapel Lessons and Readings Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 1 John 5:9-13 John 17:6-19 Psalm 1 Link to readings: Lectionary Page Adult Sunday School 11:00 am The Way of Love Bible Challenge Join us via Zoom or in the Common Room Sunday, May 16. Leader: Maria DuPont Preparation: Read Days 1-4, pp 30-45; John 14: 15-23, Acts 8:26-40, Phillippians 2:1-8, Phillippians 4:4-9 Contact Lyn Newsom for more information lynnewsome@gmail.com Zoom link: Adult Sunday School Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 856 9386 1369 Passcode: Bb55Yg Join a Friendship House Team on June 5th for the Virtual Highmark Walk Any team who registers 20 walkers and raises $2,000, an additional $1,000 will be donated by an anonymous donor. To join the Immanuel Highlands virtual walk team please click the link below to register- Team Captain- (Connie Shultz) ICH Team MAY BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES Birthdays May 1 Cheryl Richter May 3 Sam Fernandez May 4 Sherry Capwell May 4 Connie Shultz May 7 John Day May 9 Carl Burnam May 9 Timothy English May 17 Sarah Elizabeth Hunt  May 17 Janis (Jan) Murray May 20 Linda Young May 21 Alex Lehr-Maunder May 23 Vicki Anthos May 23 Cis LeSieur May 24 Steven Gwinn May 25 Kirk Bailey May 25 Richard Sharpe  May 25 Marianne Dages May 26 Darla Max May 30 Janet Kerr May 31 Brendan Jeynes   Anniversaries May 7 Julie and Matthew Donohue May 16 Laura and Jason Deitcher  May 23 Barb and Rob Volko  May 28 Jillian and Taylor Morgan May 23: Cornerstone II project review, after the service Join us for a review of the Cornerstone II masonry restoration project and get answers to your questions. WHY: Repairs to the masonry are needed to address leaks that threaten the sanctuary and integrity of the Church structure. WHO: All are welcome For more information: ICH website Stewardship Statements for pledges and other donations from 1/1/21 to 4/30/21 were mailed last week. If you haven't received you statement or have a question, leave a message at the church office. A Receiving Treasurer will respond. No matter how you give, our Immanuel Highlands family is deeply grateful for your acts of love, service, and financial giving. Here are some ways to make a financial contribution: Visit our website and click "Give to Immanuel https://www.immanuelhighlands.church Mail a check or drop it off Set up online bill pay with your bank Bring your contribution to a service Children's Sunday School 11:00 am Sunday School classes for elementary school age children and older children meet every Sunday. Zoom Links: Children's Sunday School Upper Sunday School Come to church! Attend: Please remember that the worship services will begin promptly at the appointed time. Please arrive early enough to have your temperature checked and to be seated. Regathering Guidelines Sign up for services: You must register to attend each service at Eventbrite, using the following link: Eventbrite Link Watch online: Immanuel Church Highlands Facebook Livestream Classical and contemplative piano works raise funds for the Rector's Discretionary Fund Two new classical and contemplative piano albums, performed and arranged by Fr. Curt, are now available:   LOST IN WONDER: A Collection of Hymns YEAR AFTER YEAR: A Collection of Piano Solos, both classical and contemporary   Suggested donation: $20. Proceeds benefit the Rector's Discretionary Fund. If you’re interested, please reach out to Fr. Curt: @ ckennington@immanuel-highlands.org From the Rector Ascension Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. - Luke   So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it. - Mark   These are the two principal accounts of the Ascension of Jesus Christ – remembered and celebrated today – forty days after the Resurrection.   Today, the church is literally the Body of Christ – Jesus’ presence in the world – and it is only as we live out that truth in our lives that the good news of the Gospel will spread throughout the world. We are his presence in the world, seen by all in our relationships, in our work and in our service. This is an remarkable responsibility.    We all know, or have known, people who wear this mantle with great grace, and live it out faithfully day after day. For them, it seems to come so naturally, while for most of us it is an ongoing struggle. We are called to move with God in the power of the Spirit as it is being given, and in particular to move outside our usual circle to seek and serve God’s presence and life in every corner of creation, even where it is dark and uncomfortable. This will be for us both a struggle and a delight.   We share this calling and give ourselves to be lifted up by Christ and with Christ. We ask God to forgive and heal us, to send us forth empowered, just as Jesus was sent into the world. With Jesus, we are to be fully alive to Jesus’ call, to speak truth to power, to extend a healing touch to those some call untouchable, and to take up the crosses we are given. We are to follow Jesus, even through death, into new life. This is the Way of Love. To TURN, and reorient ourselves in the direction of grace, love and hope.   Above are the two specific tellings of Jesus’ ascension. I tend, though, to lean into the last words of Matthew, who tells it a different way, and prepares us for what is to come. Matthew’s telling also offers a promise of hope and anticipation. I leave you with his commission and promise, and the hope of the Spirit to come.   CK+   …the disciples went to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them…Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ - Matthew     Immanuel Church, HIghlands immanuelhighlands.church ‌ ‌ ‌