St. Catherine’s Altar Guild
Formed during the 1800s, St. Catherine’s Altar Guild is a behind-the-scenes force that assists Ascension’s rector by preparing the altar or God’s table for each service of Holy Communion. It is work of creating a thing of beauty and reverence as well as doing the humble chores of cleaning. Its tradition is long, time-honored, and much loved.
The Guild currently has approximately 30 members, who serve on four teams, each comprised of five to six members, who serve for a two-week period. While largely unsung, the work of the Altar Guild is integral to worship at Church of the Ascension. The intricacies of preparing God’s table offer an outlet to those who wish to express their creativity or simply roll up their sleeves.
New members—women, girls, men, and boys—are always welcome. Please talk with the chair person of the Guild or contact the church should you decide this ministry is for you.
Episcopal Church Women
Affiliated with the National Episcopal Church Women (ECW), this active Ascension group enjoys a long and rich history in our national church, beginning in 1871 when the General Convention authorized the Board of Missions to organize the Women’s Auxiliary. Its first meeting was held in New York in 1874.
Open to women of all ages, ethnic origins, socioeconomic backgrounds, and viewpoints, ECW members are united by love of God and the wish to do His work. Centered in congregations, ECW empowers women to do Christ’s ministry in the world. Its vision for all women of the Episcopal Church is that they become a vibrant blend of women, who come together as a peacemaking, healing part of the Church. The women of ECW aspire to be a Godspark—shining and sharing the love of Christ. Its goals are to strengthen lines of communication; establish Women of Vision and Call to Action programs in every diocese; and encourage familiarity with and participation in its programs.
ECW of the Church of the Ascension offers spiritual growth in a community of women, fellowship, education, leadership training, focus for mission and ministry, opportunities for service, social action, and advocacy, and a link to a global network of Anglican women through its Web site and numerous affiliations. Meetings are held monthly in the Parish Hall.
Pastoral Care Committee
The Pastoral Care Committee shares a mission of providing “inreach” to members of the Ascension family, people who cannot worship with us because they are ill, shut in by age or infirmity, experiencing a crisis in their lives, or simply lonely and in need of comfort. To meet these diverse but similarly isolating needs, members of the committee reach out to these parishioners with telephone calls, personal visits, cards and letters, seasonal remembrances, and, when needed, deliveries of food, medications, or other items.
The Pastoral Care Committee meets the first Sunday of each month after the 10:30 a.m. service. For further information, contact Nedra Lundberg, who chairs the committee at 227-7196.
Education for Ministry (EFM)
In the early church, everyone was required to learn what it meant to be a Christian through an extended period of study prior to baptism. This basic education prepared members with a sound understanding of scripture and theology as well as great depth in understanding or consideration of their call to be a Christian. In other words, they learned during this period of instruction what Christianity means.
Today, there is an in-depth education available for Christians who want to deeply explore the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament, church history from the period of the Apostles to the 21st. century, philosophy of religion, and theology. This is offered as an education-at-a-distance program by the School of Theology at the University of the South (Sewanee). Education for Ministry (EFM) was developed by Sewanee Theological School faculty nearly 35 years ago as way to provide education to Christians who want to broaden their knowledge and understanding of their faith. Today, EFM is considered to be the gold standard for parish-level theological education.
The program lasts approximately nine months each year, from September into early June, meeting for some two hours one evening a week. No session has more than 12 participants, but Ascension has multiple sessions on different nights and at several locations. EFM is a four-year course of study, with each year being a separate curriculum. Year one is an intensive review of the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament; Year two does the same for the New Testament; Year three focuses on Church history from the 1st through the 18th centuries; and Year four covers the church from the early 1800s through today, emphasizing the development of movements, reforms, and theology. There is a fee which is paid to the University of the South for materials and the provision of trained certified mentors to facilitate the sessions.
Ascension’s EFM program is the largest in the Lexington Diocese and has participants from several other denominations and faith communities. Please contact the Parish Office for information about EFM.