Over the past 65 years of Ascension’s history the congregation has had the typical practice of offering Holy communion on the first and third Sundays of the month. And as we look forward to the coming years of our life together as a congregation, I would like you to consider changing this pattern to every week. We could still use the fifth Sundays of the month for our non-communion Matins service, but for the months with only 4 Sundays imagine if we gathered around our Lord’s Table each week.

We want affirmation for a job well done. Recognition for when we had to carry more than our fair share. Thanks in various forms. A trophy when we sacrifice for the sake of the team. A public deposit into our emotional well-being bank. We yearn for praise. The Bible bursts our bubble.

I can remember as a kid that shopping with adults was not one of my favorite activities. They took far too long, and I know that I was not always the fun kid to have on a shopping trip.

The tooth ache wouldn’t leave, and I was out of town. You know that pain. Like a great-uncle on the 100th re-telling of the African safari where he almost got gored. That pain. Only everyone’s left the room.

I can’t be bored for even a moment, so I pick up my phone and begin to scroll. So what's the big problem?

This picture used to hang in my dad’s barber shop. Not out where customers would wait for their turn to sit in his barber chair, but in the backroom. As a young child I looked at this picture and found it to be heartwarming and endearing.

“These are my fancy shoes. My mom told me to be careful.”

As we turn to the new year of 2026 there is so much to give thanks to God for the past 365 days and much to look forward to in the coming year.