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MESSENGER

“Loved By Christ Sharing Christ’s Love”

Celebrating Sherry’s Service Dear people loved by Christ, “Good morning, Ascension Lutheran Church, this is Sherry, how may I help you?” Have many times have you heard this greeting when calling Ascension’s church office? Sherry Elliott, our Administrative Assistant, has been asking people, “how may I help you” for years—30 years to be exact! For 30 years Sherry has been a staff member at Ascension and has served and helped in countless ways. For Sherry, serving as Administrative Assistant is more than just a job. She cares deeply about God’s people at Ascension and Word of Life. She sees them as her faith family. Yes, Sherry does the important tasks that are associated with being a secretary, but, in addition to all these duties, she also ministers to people. Sherry prays with those who need prayer, cries with those who are sad, and rejoices with those who celebrate. Sherry truly cares! We now have the opportunity to show Sherry how much we care about her! Sherry will be retiring at the end of 2019. So, we have scheduled an opportunity to wish Sherry well and celebrate her many years on Ascension’s staff. On Sunday January 5, during the 11 am service, we will have a special time to say farewell and Godspeed as we pray for Sherry. Immediately after the service, there will be a luncheon and celebration in the Fellowship Hall. It will be a wonderful time to reminisce, rejoice, and give thanks. All are welcome! Looking forward to celebrating with you, Pastor Matthew Clark

January 2020

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ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH 5347 Donovan Avenue

St. Louis, Missouri 63109-2695 Church Office: (314) 832-5600

www.ascensionstl.com

REV. MATTHEW CLARK - Pastor MARIE MUHLKE - Administrative Assistant

PAMELA FOX - Office Manager GABE MAICHEL- Director of Music

JOSHUA BRAKHAGE – Pastoral Assistant BARBARA HARTUNG - Parish Nurse

KATHY THIES - Housekeeper GAGAN GURUNG - Nepali Evangelist

REV. ADAM & DEAC. MELISSA DEGROOT-New Mexico

ERIN MACKENZIE-Dominican Republic REV. MATTHEW AND KALI WOOD-Indonesia

DCE KRISTA & JOEL YOUNG-Africa Missionaries Supported through Together In Mission

Pastor’s email address is pastor@ascensionstl.com

Staff email addresses are “firstname”@ascensionstl.com

ASCENSION MINISTRY COUNCIL MEMBERS Nathan Decker-President Rob Bremer-Vice President Marcia Passanise-Secretary Brad Muhlke-Treasurer Mike Gibbs-Member at Large

Chhatra Gurung-Member at Large Anna Johnson-Member at Large Marla Lopez-Member at Large Mark Pfaff-Member at Large Debbie Schmidt-Member at Large Dianne Thies-Member at Large

You can contact Council Members via email: firstname.council@ascensionstl.com

ASCENSION ELDERS

A to K. Clar - Rich Schaefer (314) 644-0897 Lew to – Morg – Randy Agne (314) 353-7633

B. Clar to F – Joe Benda (314) 645-7938 Mort – Pra - Clarence Goetsch (314) 647-3077 G-Hofe - Mark Maxfield (314) 776-6001 Pre to Sl - Jack Pendleton (314) 353-5412

Hofm – to Let – Jeff Stiles (314) 540-2746 Sm to Z – Gene Bockelmann (314) 752-1159 Elder at Large - Paul Brock Sr. (314) 556-7384

Elder to Nepali Members Gagan Gurung – (314) 708-9554

Elder Chair is Randy Agne - (314) 353-7633

You can contact Elders via email: firstname.elder@ascensionstl.com

ASCENSION WORD OF LIFE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

President, Troy Hansen (314) 703-6037 Diane Bracken (314) 560-4152 Amy Hyde (314) 479-5715

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Member Changes . . . Births: Harlowe Vida Hernton born on 12/16/19 to Markus Hernton & Tiffanni Watz Lutheran Family & Children’s Services appreciates the gifts and gift cards that were generously given for some of our foster children in care. Over the years Ascension folks have helped with everything food, diapers, coats, toys and on and on. Without your help we couldn’t serve as many children as we do. May you have a Happy Healthy New Year. If there is anything we can ever do to help you in anyway our intake worker is Jenny Thomas at 314 754-2807. So grateful,

Bev Schaefer, Foster Care Coordinator Thank you to all who helped make Advent by Candlelight become a reality on December 7. Almost 150 women enjoyed a wonderful evening because so many of our members (and some of their friends) partnered together for weeks ahead of time putting in lots of energy and tons of organizational skills. I don't want to list individual names of everyone who helped for fear of missing someone, but the groups that were involved included the Youth, Young Adult groups, Men's Club and other male helpers, WINGS, and the adult choir. Individuals who helped included all the table hostesses, table name-card creator, the readers, the babysitter, the artist for the covers, the program designer and assembler, the musicians and music planner, the greeter, the reservation taker, the tablecloth washers, the men who set up the sound system, and the women who are my right hand workers that are always willing to pitch in where needed. God bless all of you, and may you have a wonderful New Year! Lisa Holderle DONATE FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE! Scan the image you see here by using your phone's QR code reader (bar code scanner). You will be taken directly to Ascension's on-line giving page. Simply set up your account, using your credit card, debit card, or checking account and donate electronically. Smart Phone users can also download the GIVE+Mobile app from the Apple or Google Play Store

As of November 30, 2019, we had a positive November, so we now have a $4,976 surplus due to Contributions exceeding budget while expenses were held in check. Donations also began coming in to support our Capital Campaign. Thank you for your continued support of our ministry! Total Cash received year-to-date in 2019 was $905,442, not including the $26,345 endowment fund distribution received on January 15, 2019. In 2019, there have been several larger donations and bequests to support our ministry, and several large donations were made in November to start the support of our Capital Campaign. Through November 2018, we had received $708,205 in cash. Total Expenses year-to-date in 2019 was $622,948, while it was $583,348 in 2018. In 2019, contributions were $82,303 over budget, and expenses were $37,219 over budget (primarily due to boiler, heater, plumbing and A/C repairs). If you have any questions or comments about our financial position, please do not hesitate to speak to anyone on the Ministry Council.

YEAR-END GIVING DONOR - RETIREMENT PLANS/IRA’S IRAs, 401(K), 403(B) and other retirement accounts grow tax-deferred, often becoming quite large over the years. Unlike many other types of investments, funds withdrawn from retirement accounts can be taxable to you and, eventually, to your heirs. Designating Ascension Lutheran

Church as the beneficiary of your retirement account may be a very tax-savvy thing to do. Retirement accounts left to the work of our church are removed from your estate for federal estate tax purposes. Plus, there is no income-tax assessed against your estate or your heirs when the funds are transferred to Ascension, allowing you to avoid multiple taxes.

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CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FOR 2019 can be made using a Designated Gift envelope or a plain envelope; be sure to clearly mark "Capital Campaign" on the envelope. Please return your pledge sheets as soon as possible. The envelope can be placed in the offering basket or in the locked wooden box on the shelf in the narthex. In 2020, there will be yellow-bordered envelopes in the offering envelope boxes that can be used for Capital Campaign contributions. Thank you for your participation!

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FOUR-PART FOCUS Who are we as a congregation? What are Ascension’s priorities? Where do we focus our stewardship of time, talents, and treasure? How do we live out our mission “Loved by Christ, Sharing Christ’s Love?” To help answer these questions, Ascension has

adopted a Four-Part Focus: 1. Outreach through Word of Life 2. Christian Friends of New Americans Partnership 3. Worship and Spiritual Life 4. Multigenerational/Intergenerational Ministry.

Partnership with Christian Friends of New Americans Updated Goals

1. Nepali representation on Ascension’s Ministry Council and Board of Elders 2. Increate Ascension members’ participation in the ministry of CFNA 3. Build bridges between Nepali and American youth 4. Raise funds for new Americans who attend Word of Life (especially preschool) 5. Equip current ethnic leaders for greater service and leadership

For many years Ascension Lutheran has helped support mission work through Together in Mission (TIM). By partnering with missionaries in their global ministry, we have the opportunity to journey with them and share God’s Word with all the nations. We have the opportunity to pray for missionaries, encourage them through communication, perhaps send a short-term team to work

alongside them, and help financially support our missionaries. Ascension’s Ministry Council has decided to support four missionaries as a congregation. Our goal is to provide $2,500 in annual support to each missionary. Ascension’s missionaries are.

Rev. Adam and Deaconess Melissa DeGroot serve the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as national (domestic) missionaries in Albuquerque, N.M. In this role, Adam and Melissa are responsible for planting a new mission congregation in Albuquerque. They see to the needs of many military families and indigenous Native American, Central American, Mexican American and South American immigrants.

Erin MacKenzie serves the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as a missionary in the Dominican Republic. In this role, she coordinates the short-term team strategy for the LCMS Latin America and the Caribbean regional mission team and its local partners. She develops policies and priorities for short-term mission teams, as well as assists in the recruitment, placement and support of short-term volunteer missionaries.

Rev. Matthew and Kali Wood serve on behalf of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Indonesia, based in Medan. Matthew works closely with the Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church (GKLI). He helps train pastors and lay leaders by providing resources through educational workshops, translation projects and other efforts in cooperation with this LCMS partner church.

Krista Young serves the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya. As the LCMS area volunteer coordinator for Eastern and Southern Africa, she works closely with other LCMS missionaries and ministry teams to develop and strengthen relationships with local church partners. Krista connects the LCMS and its partner churches to provide short-term volunteer missionaries, short-term mission teams and medical mission teams in the countries of these two African regions.

Hintze Library Book of the Month- January “Grounded in God’s Word- Commentaries on Life”

God’s Word gives life. God’s Word concerns life. God’s Word of life reveals what He has done, how every human life has value and dignity, and how everything God created was for the sake of His children—for us! We cannot consider this without awe. The fallen, broken world, however, does not acknowledge this. It promotes instead the self above all, champions an “anything goes” theology, and brings hurt and confusion. Bad things happen. People are deceived. Lives are destroyed. Collected here are easy-to-read commentaries concerning topics such as moral worth, abortion, evolution, suffering, life and death decisions, biblical manhood and womanhood, and other sanctity of life issues. Grounded in Scripture, these relevant essays explore what is revealed in God’s Word and discuss a wide array of topics pertaining to human life, God’s grace, and His perfect love for us in Christ Jesus.

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Thrivent Grants Sunday School - Birthday party for Jesus Advertisement in STL Hills Newsletter for upcoming Quarter Action in the Spring Advertisement in STL Hills Newsletter for THINK SPRING flower sale

Something to Be Thankful For . . . Luncheon at MAC 12/5/19 Decorating the Church 12/8/19

Live Nativity 12/14/19

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Ascension Activities . . .

ASCENSION FAMILY CARE MINISTRY

What is Ascension Family Care Ministry?

• caring for members of our Ascension family who are home bound

• making regular visits to Ascension family members that can no longer make it to church

• establishing a relationship with a home bound member

• being a Christian friend

• visiting as a family, couple, or on your own Please contact Laura Brink at (314) 249-9219.if you would like to serve in this way.

MEN’S RETREAT January 10-11, 2020 from 6:00 pm Friday to 2:00 pm Saturday. The cost is $50 per person, to be paid upon registration. Registration deadline is “Three Myths about the Crusades and Why They Matter” presented by Dr. Paul Robinson professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Seminary. Explore the history and impact of the crusades through tree common myths: the

crusaders were motivated by land, powers, and wealth rather than m, how they think about the church. Recognizing that and learning by religion; the crusades were wars of conversion; the crusades initiated conflict between the west and the Muslim world that continued uninterrupted to the present. Each one of these myths has shaped the way people today think about the crusades and, what’s more important, how they think about the church. Recognizing that and learning the truth can help us speak more effectively to others about our hope in Christ. For more information, contact Pastor Clark at (314) 832-5600 or pastor@ascensionstl.com of Mike Gibbs at (314) 352-12978 or jackfan39@yahoo.com. Register online at campwartburg.com. See the flyer on the bulletin board in the church lobby.

THANK YOU, SHERRY! Ascension’s Administrative Assistant, Sherry Elliott, will be retiring at the end of 2019. On Sunday, January 5, 2020, we will be celebrating Sherry’s many years of service to the Lord and His people at Ascension. Please join us as we recognize Sherry in worship at the 11 am service as well as at a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. All are welcome as we give thanks to God for His blessings through Sherry!

Sunday School Scene . . .

WHERE DO I GO TO STUDY THE BIBLE? Sunday School and Bible Class are in full swing again! Here are a few changes to keep in mind:

• Preschoolers through high schoolers all meet in the same place at 9:45—the sanctuary—for an opening.

• Adults with little ones (babies, toddlers, or too young for preschool) will meet at 9:45 in the Bethany C room (directly below the church nursery).

• Pastor Clark will lead his Bible class for all adults in the Fellowship Hall starting at 10:00 am. He will be teaching the same lessons as the children will be learning, digging deep as well as equipping adults to reach out to children in the Ascension family with God’s Word.

WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study-9:45 am Contact Pastor Matthew Clark (314) 832-5600 Tuesday Adult Bible Study Contact-9:30 am Pastor Matthew Clark (314) 832-5600 Wednesday Morning Women’s Bible Study-9:30am Contact Marlene Maxfield (314) 846-3880 Wednesday Evening ABI (Ascension Bible Institute)-7:00 pm Contact Lisa Holderle

(314) 849-9945 Thursday Morning Men’s Bible Study-6:15 am Contact Mike Gibbs (314) 352-1297 Thursday Evening Men’s Bible Study Contact Chris Thies (314) 910-3148 Sunday Evening Young Adult Bible Study and Fellowship-6:30 pm Contact

Pastor Clark (314) 832-5600

4th Sunday of the Month 30’s & 40’s Group Contact Mark & Sarah Maxfield (314) 913-6318

Ascension Youth Fellowship Calendar 1/4-26/20 Game Day Sub Sales

1/4/20 Youth Disciples 12:30 pm-3:00 pm

Jr. Youth 3:00 pm-5:30 pm

Sr. Youth 4:30 pm-8:00 pm

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SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE CLASS/SUNDAY SCHOOL

Class Room Teacher(s) Parents & Bethany C Jasmine Duerr Little Ones & Friends Pk3-Kdg WOL Kindergarten Ellen Hetz & Friends Gr. 1-3 Bethany A & B Cheryl Chambers Kim Schave & Friends Gr. 4-5 Music Room Carl Anderson/ Rich Schaefer & Friends Gr. 6-8 Youth Room Dcs. Anna Johnson Sem. Joshua Brakhage Sem. Joel Her Gr. 9-12 Church Lobby Lisa Clark Rob Bremer Sem. Joshua Brakhage Adult Bible Class Fellowship Hall Rev. Matt Kobs Pastor Matt Clark Sem. Joshua Brakhage Nepalese Fellowship Hall Pastor Clark/ Bible Class 1st Sunday of Month Gagan Gurung Sunday School Coordinator Lisa Clark

Word of Life Highlights . . .

2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR THEME: This year’s school theme is based on This year’s school theme is based on Matthew 17:20 “Our faith can move mountains” ENROLLMENT FOR THE 2019/2020 SCHOOL YEAR-TO DATE PreK - 38 Kdg-8 - 150 If you are looking for preschool serving ages 3 - 5 or Kindergarten - 8th grade and would like to tour, please contact Joel Akridge at (314) 832-1244, ext. 112 or admissions@wordoflifeschool.net. We invite you for a tour to learn more about any of our three campuses.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION We are looking for graduates of Ascension Lutheran School/Word of Life Lutheran School who are interested in helping further develop an Ascension/Word of Life Alumni Association. If you are interested

in this exciting opportunity to connect with former classmates, please contact Pastor Clark or Joel Akridge (Word of Life’s Director of Admissions and Marketing). Information on Education Savings Plans

WOL ONGOING FUNDRAISER CALLED DONATE YOUR CHANGE This program allows you to “round up” your purchases made on credit or debit

cards every day. When you sign up, you set the limit on your per day round up. Donate Your Change is a website. You are invited to create an account and donate your “loose change” to Word of Life. Please go to http://wordoflifeschool.donateyourchange.com to sign up. If you would like additional information or instructions, please visit our school site at www.wordoflifeschool.net, scroll down to "Announcements" and click on "Donate Your Change". You are also welcome to call the school office at (314) 832-1244 with questions. Thank you for your support of our school ministry!

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WOL SEEKING SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS We are in need of a few more people to add to our substitute teacher list for this school year. While we are a PreK - 8th grade program, subs are able to share their preferences in grade levels as well as days they are available. Interested and qualified applicants can call the school office at 314-832-1244 or email Mrs. Melissa Bergholt at mbergholt@wordoflifeschool.net. PTL TRIVIA NIGHT! February 29th, 2020 - Stay tuned for more information.

Neighborhood News ….

CONCORDIA CEMETERY, 4209 Bates, is owned by Holy Cross and Trinity Lutheran Churches. The cemetery has a 3,000 square foot garage portion of the main building available for lease with six garage doors, full bathroom and a gas furnace. The leased area also includes an additional 2,500 square foot of outside space, Please contact Rich

Iezzi at (314) 550-3017 for information concerning this great space.

HOW COMFORTABLE ARE YOU HAVING

SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS? Lutheran Hour Ministries is offering a number of free workshops in 2019 and 2020 on how to have more meaningful spiritual conversations with others. Our engaging presenters will guide you through research-based insights and give you tools that will help you more comfortably engage in spiritual conversations. Register today at a workshop near you and received a FREE Spiritual Conversation starter kit ($63 value) filled with tools, research and resources that will help you put into practice what you learn in the workshop! Registration is FREE – food and refreshments are provided. The current schedule of workshops: January 25, 2020 10am – 2pm St. Paul DesPeres Lutheran Church, DesPeres, MO February 8, 2020; 10am – 2pm

Lutheran High School North February 15, 2020 10am – 2pm

Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, St. Peters, MO Register at LHM.ORG/WORKSHOPS

80s TRIVIA NIGHT at Salem Lutheran Church, 5025 Lockwood, StL, MO 63123 on Saturday, January 18, 2019. Doors open at 6 pm, Trivia begins at 7 pm. $120 for a table of 8 or $15 per person. Reservation deadline is January 5th. Contact Lindsay Ervin at lindsayjervin@gmail.com or (314) 5994371, text or call. BYOB and food. Popcorn and Pepsi products will be provided. The event is sponsored by the Salem Lutheran Men’s Club. Proceeds will benefit Boy Scout Troop #331.

LUTHERAN SOUTH BANDS PRESENT “Big Band Swing” featuring “The Ambassadors of Swing” on Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 7:00 pm-10:00 pm in the Kuhlmann Center at LHSS. Beer wine & appetizers provided. Free swing dance lessons at 6:30 pm $20 per ticket when purchased in advance, $25 at the door.

LACLEDE GROVES CONVALESCENT HOME AUXILARY MEETING on Monday, January 27, 2020 at 11:30 pm at 723 S. Laclede Sta. Rd, StL, MO 63119 in the Laclede Groves Auditorium. Featured is John Kotovsky VCEO of LSS, “What’s Happening in 2020”. A light lunch of a sandwich and dessert will be served, unless

otherwise noted. At each meeting, baskets are on the tables for your voluntary gift to cover the cost of the meal. Reservations are required for all meetings. Residents sign up in Activity Book. The Activity Book is available on the fifteenth day of each month at 1:00 pm. Non-residents contact Elaine Richter Bryant at (314) 733-5157 for reservations or for more

WOMENS RETREAT “Making Room- The Power of Relationships in a Task Driven World” presented by Angie Walston, a Certified Family Life Educator on February 28-29, 2020 from 6:00 pm Friday evening to 1:00 pm on Saturday. As we work through the

check off lists of life, connection often get put aside as lower priority items, Join us this weekend as we connect, reflect, and explore how God is calling us to make room for worship, for His word, for friends, and for our neighbor. Escape your to-do list and step into a room of women ready to make room for you in a seat next to them. This retreat is perfect to attend with small group members, friends, and family. Romans 12-15 will be the basis for the study. The cost is $50 per person to be paid upon registration. Register online at campwartburg.com. Registration deadline is February 24, 2020. See the bulletin board in the lobby for more information.

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Please join us in recognizing those in our congregation who are celebrating birthdays and anniversaries when you see them in worship. Contact the church office if your birthday or anniversary is not listed so we can add it to our member data base. Our In-Home Ministry

members are indicated by an*

Happy Birthday to . . .

1/1 Gary Crockrell, Bal Gurung,

Bema Gurung, Bi Gurung,

Devi Gurung, Khadga Gurung,

Nanda Gurung, Phul Gurung, Purna

Gurung, Ran Gurung, Shiva Gurung,

Gerry Hilkerbaumer, Shari Hill-Stout,

Ganga Monger, Dro Rai, Phul Rai,

Sanja Tamang

1/2 Clarissa Depew, Deepshaysh Gurung,

Grant Maxfield

1/3 Mackenzie Moore

1/4 Robert Favier, Allie O’Toole

1/6 Gary Notch, Rebekah Rhyne

1/7 Blake Patzius

1/8 Kristine Schneidewind

1/9 Lilliah Danneman

1/11 Savannah Breitenfeld, George Morris

1/12 Gabrielle Ferranto

1/13 Manoj Gurung, Ava Morton

1/14 Melissa Fox, Brian Hilkerbaumer

1/15 Jill Munoz, Melvin Sheets.

Leslie Todd

1/16 Sandi Kitson

1/17 Timothy Danneman,

Christina Rosenberg

1/18 Elizabeth Nease

1/19 Scott Anderson, Kayelyn Coleman,

Joyce Meckfessel

1/20 Oliver Duerr, Phul Tamang

1/21 Isabella McMeans, Dylan Moore,

Laurie Wallach

1/23 Kim Abney, Helen Crawford,

Donna Marohn

1/24 Norma Gabriel, Pa Her, John Powers

1/26 Eugene Gebhart, Bill Maxfield

1/27 Ken Clark

1/28 Randy Breitenfeld

1/29 Rowan Hartung, Ezra Maxfield,

Robert Praechter, Lucille Ware

1/30 William Arand, Barbara Hartung,

Roger Jensen, Tracy Middleton

Happy Anniversary to . . .

1/2 Roy & Kathy Migneco

1/4 Cindy & Jack Winter

1/13 Troy & Sarah Hansen

1/20 Terry & Nancy Nickolotsky

1/21 Marcus & Sarah Tanurchis

1/26 Scott & Codi Anderson

1/27 Gene & Mary Ann Gebhart