In-person Ministry Pause

Come, consider this new and wonderful deluge, greater and more important than the flood of Noah’s day. Then the water of the flood destroyed the human race, but now the water of Baptism has recalled the dead to life by the power of the one who baptized.

In the days of the flood the dove with an olive branch in its beak foreshadowed the fragrance of the good odor of Christ the Lord; now the Holy Spirit, coming in the likeness of a dove reveals the Lord of mercy.

Homily on Theophany by St. Proclus of Constantinople

Dear Ascension Community,

Kronia polla! Blessed feast!

As we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany and begin the new year, we pray that we are able to acquire ‘the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding, the Spirit of the fear of God’ which has been imparted to us through God’s appearance upon earth (Idiomelon from the Great Blessing of the Waters on the Feast of Holy Theophany).

As you are aware, the Omicron Variant of COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly. We have already worked as a community to ensure that we are taking reasonable steps in response, including pausing coffee hour fellowship.

Beginning today, January 6th, 2022, we will also pause all other in-person adult and youth ministries. Divine Services will continue to be offered as scheduled, and we continue to require that all those in attendance wear face coverings. As the current surge progresses we will evaluate when we can appropriately and safely return to in-person ministries.

We thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to respond to the current conditions of the pandemic. In the meantime, please keep the health and well-being of one another foremost in your actions and your prayers.

May our Lord and Savior who condescended to be baptized in the Jordan by John continue to blessed, preserve and sanctify all of us.

In Christ,

Fr. Tom & Fr. Nick