Christopher Hogin Homily December 1st 2024

What will Jesus be like when he returns? #jesusiscomingsoon #jesus #christian

Which King will we follow? #ressurection #christtheking

Important Thanksgiving update: Join us tomorrow for a Thanksgiving service at 4:30pm in the Labyrinth. We will NOT have a Lectionary class or Mid-week Eucharist and the church office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. We hope all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

What is the greatest power in the world? #compassion #godslove #mindfulness

Our compassion comes from God who first loved us #compassion #mindfulness #godslove

Jesus is coming, what kind of King will he be? #truth #god #jesusiscomingsoon

What is Christ the King Sunday? #ChristTheKing #christtheking #advent

Amy Morehouse November 24, 2024 Christ the King Sunday

A Writing From Saint Hilda of Whitby

The Olive Oil Sale continues this Sunday! $16/bottle or $92/case for six bottles. These funds go to support the farmers market in Ramallah in the West Bank.

The Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of our parents, Norbert and Mary Goekner and Verna Moore and Ray Moore by Gretchen Edwards and Scott Moore.

The Call to Follow Jesus is a Call to be All In #allinforjesus

God Be In My Head and My Understanding #jesus #God #contemplative

What would it look like to be shaped by God in new ways? #episcopal #followjesus #god

Jesus helps us remain hopeful in light of bad news around us

Ascension's "Lunch Bunch" which meets once a month got to hear from Jim Wright talking about FISH and how it feeds over 7,000 families a month in and around Knoxville alone.

Ascension's "Lunch Bunch" which meets once a month got to hear from Jim Wright talking about FISH and how it feeds over 7,000 families a month in and around Knoxville alone.

Who we are as Christians Continues to be Good News to Everyone#Election2024 #election #christianity

The Christian Gospel is Not White Christian Nationalism#election #jesus #godslove #Godslove

November Celtic Service With Bishop Brian Cole The Right Rev. Brian L. Cole delivers a sermon for the Feast of St Hilda of Whitby and Matthew 19:27-30 at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Knoxville, TN.

God Be In My Head and My Understanding

Bo Townsend Homily November 17th 2024

Pre-order your smoked pork tenderloins November 17th after each service. Tenderloins available for pick up on Saturday Nov 23 and Sunday Nov 24. They may be picked up on Saturday between 11:30 and 1:00 pm. and on Sunday the 24th after each service. We ask for a $15 donation per tenderloin. In addition to pre-ordering after church services you can order by emailing smokinbrothers@knoxvilleascension.org

The Church is a place for the broken and wounded

Please join us to for a fun and informative day trip to Oak Ridge to visit the Oak Ridge History Museum on Nov 14. We will carpool from the church. The museum located at 102 Robertsville Road tells the story of day to day life during the Manhattan Project. It also includes the largest collection of Ed Westcott photographs. The entrance fee is $10.00. Before returning to the church we will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Please sign up in the church office. Carpool from the church at 9am.

Meet Amy THIS Sunday in the Parish Hall between 9-10am

Go Forth in Peace!

The Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God and in memory of Douglas Johnson, and in honor of my children, grandchildren, and great-grandson by Joy Johnson. They are also given in thanksgiving for Fr. Christopher Hogin and in celebration of his birthday today by Lanny and Lisa Cope.

Christian response to the election- We are all one in Christ

A Prayer for Our Armed Forces from the Book of Common Prayer Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

If you find yourself emotional after the election...

Christopher Hogin Homily November 11th 2024

FISH volunteers from Ascension reeled in 44,000lbs of donated canned goods from this week's Tower of Cans food drive at UT, organized by the Homecoming Committee. Ascension is blessed to have so many active ministries and volunteers making a difference here in Knoxville and abroad.

Brotherhood Ministry Highlight

The Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God and in memory of our parents, Ted and Masie Vreeland and Gene and Virginia Wells, by Jerry and Emily Vreeland.

Election Message with Fr Christopher

Ascension's doors are open if you need a quiet place to come and pray. A Prayer for today's election: Most merciful God, whose son Jesus Christ taught us to love and to serve, may we be guided by Your Holy Spirit in this time of decision for our nation. Grant us wisdom in our discernment as we choose our leaders, and the grace to accept the results with humility. And once the election is decided, give us all the strength and compassion to work to heal this divided nation, that we may be empowered in common purpose to work toward the noble ideals that are the foundation of our republic, and that we may together love and serve the least of these. All this we ask in Your name. Amen.

What a blessing to have Amy with us on Sunday, accompanied by her parents and her husband David. After the service, we celebrated with a reception and handed out over 300 brownies that our Youth and Tweens cooked on Friday night! Almighty and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift: Send down upon our bishops, and other clergy, and upon the congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace: and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Ascension is blessed to have so many women in leadership roles. Pictured is our new Associate Rector Amy Morehous, Warden Mary LeMense and Assisting Priest SuZanne Seavey. Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Amy Morehous Homily November 3rd 2024

Daily Office Celebrates Thirty Years Tonight You are cordially invited to Evening Prayer at 5:45 pm tonight Friday November 1, 2024 (All Saints’ Day) - followed by wine and snacks - to celebrate 30 years of reading Daily Offices at Church of the Ascension. Join us in the Chapel transept or via a Zoom broadcast. To access Zoom, go to the church website at knoxvilleascension.org, click on ‘Worship’ in the top menu, then on ‘Daily Prayers,’ or on your cell phone click the ‘Worship’ icon and scroll down to ‘Daily Prayers.’ The password is ‘riseup.’ The first service was held on All Saints Day, 1994. Ian Anderson was officiant and Ann Lamb was lector

Our visioning process begins this Sunday, October 3rd!

Amy Morehouse preaches THIS Sunday!

This Sunday, we celebrate All Saints and All Souls! Bring pictures of any loved one who has died over the last year

This Sunday we highlight the Acolyte Ministry

The Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God and in celebration of our wonderful clergy and staff and all they do to make Ascension the wonderful, spiritual place it is by Karen McKinney. They are also given In loving memory of Evelyn Palmer by Vicki and Geoffrey Lea, and Bob and Flo Palmer.

What a great time at our annual Boo Bash and All Hallows Eve service last night. More pictures to come and thank you to everyone who helped set up, served or sang in the service, brought food or candy and decorated their trunks for the kids!

The cross brings hope and healing, not fear!

Christopher Hogin Homily October 27th, 2024

This weekend, high schoolers from across the Episcopal Church in East Tennessee met at Grace Point for Happening, a spiritual retreat and renewal weekend. They will return home this afternoon, so please keep them in your prayers! Four Youths from Ascension and many others from parishes across the diocese participated.

This Sunday we highlight the Ushers Ministry

An update from Ascension's hiking group: Hey Trekkers – Fall is here, and we've had fantastic outings! Though Hurricane Helene disrupted our West Prong trail plans, we enjoyed a hike at Lakeshore Park and a scenic but challenging Rugby trail with naturalists teaching us about local flora. November’s hikes include Haw Ridge Park near Oak Ridge on Wednesday, November 6, for a moderate 5-mile hike with some elevation. On Saturday, November 16, we’ll hike the Alley Ford Trail in the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, around 5 miles, moderately challenging. Finally, on Monday, November 18, we’ll take an easy 2-mile walk on the Holston River Greenway, near Knoxville Botanical Garden. Leaders needed – please reach out to help keep this great ministry going!

God never pushes us away for not getting it right

Ragan Schriver Celtic Reflection

The Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God and in memory of Bruce and Virginia Elrod, her parents, and Stan Elrod, her brother by Francie Elrod.

God never pushes us away for not getting it right

This Sunday Ragan Schriver will be delivering the reflection at our monthly Celtic Service to celebrate the Feast of St Luke. Join us Sunday at 5pm.

Lectors and Intercessors Ministry Highlight

We are so excited that the Rev. SuZanne Seavey will be preaching this Sunday morning at Ascension and helping with the Celtic Service in the evening. SuZanne, who is a Texan by birth, has been serving at Ascension for over ten years assisting on Sunday mornings, the widow-to-widow ministry, funerals, Lectionary Class, our mid-week Eucharist, serving as the Chaplain of the Daughters of the King and even hanging up new atomic clocks around the church last week! We are very thankful and blessed to have SuZanne with us at Ascension.

The Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God and in celebration of the birthday of John Law by Jarrod Blue. They are also given by Faye and Larry Beach in celebration of 63 golden years of marriage, and with thanksgiving for our children and grandchildren.

Thank you to ALL who helped with Family Promise this week including @churchstreetumc and @familypromiseknoxville . Ascension was able to host two families with 6 kids including a baby who was just born last week! A special thanks to Barbara Corey who help organize our families and volunteers. Pictured are one of the families wearing hats as well as Bill Wood, Monty Harris and Greg O'Connor who helped load materials back into the trailer early Sunday morning. Those who helped this week are Ann O'Connor, Kathy Ambrose, Johnny Miller, Jennifer Moffitt, Emily Vreeland, Caroline Graber, Donna Wertz, Sarah DeWitt and family, Vicki and Geoffrey Lea, Gretchen Edwards and Scott Moore, Kerri Seaton, Barbara Corey and Joy Johnson, and Church Street Methodist, Natalie Harris, Scott Moore, Mary LeMense, Barbara Corey, Marlys Staudt, Susan Pannell, Mary LeMense, Posey Congleton, Pat Rutenberg, Karen McKinney, Anne Hillmer, Ellen Morgan, Vivian Ryme, Kay Rogers, Jennifer Moffitt, Louella McElroy, Karen Ladd, Bettie Corey, Gretchen Edwards, Amanda Rowcliff, Gretchen Edwards, Johnny Miller, Nancy Jones, Catharine Petty, Joy Johnson, Kathleen Fenton, Pam Douglass, Janet Kannady, Donna Riggs, Emily Vreeland and the Brotherhood of Saint Andrew.

Ascension's Fall Festival is THIS Friday!

I need to be saved by Jesus

Bishop Brian Cole Homily October 13th 2024

We need your help! Decorate your trunk for festive fun and pass out candy to the boys and ghouls!

Bishop Brian Cole will be preaching at Ascension this Sunday at the 8am and 10:30am services.

Daughters of the King Ministry Highlight

The Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God and in thanksgiving for Cynthia Lynn Henning and Carrie Louise Langston and in loving memory of Carole Leigh Psencik by Carole Lundin. They are given in loving memory of Donald F. Bowman by Nancy Bowman. They are also given in celebration of the marriage of Carmen Marie Ingles and William Paul Deaderick on Saturday, the fifth of October

Ascension hosted our Blessing of the Animals last night in celebration of St Francis of Assisi. During the service, we pray this prayer which is attributed to him. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Christopher Hogin Homily October 6th, 2024

Last night we honored Fr Bo and Beth Townsend for their dedication and service to Ascension over the years. Thank you both for all you have done at Ascension and for the many more years of ministry together in the future.

This week we highlight the LAMBS Pet Ministry

The Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Helen Beachy by Anngelle and Talmon Larmee. They are also given in celebration of Mike Combs’s eldest granddaughter, Emma King, whose 23rd birthday is today.

There is a lot of work going around at Ascension right now. Our gutter spouts have been fixed and the chimney has been recapped to prevent flooding (it survived the rains over the past week). Thank you to Bart the Facilities Manager, Sara the Administrator and the Buildings and Grounds Committee for taking such care of our building.

Fr Christopher's new office is getting a makeover! Paula, Jeffrey and Craig from the "Painting Crew" are a family-run painting business who are painting the office this week. More pictures to come!

Alexander Thomas Homily September 29th 2024 Michaelmas

Flower Guild Ministry Highlight

The Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God and in memory of my sister, Elizabeth Jeffreys Schmitt, on what would have been her 38th birthday September 16th, by Ryn Rowlett. They are also given in loving memory of Marcy E. Peek by the Peek family.

Christopher Hogin Homily September 22, 2024

Make plans to attend the brass concert this Sunday afternoon at 5 pm. The five ladies of the Seraph Brass Quintet will offer music for all to enjoy. The event is presented by Friends of Music and the Arts free of charge. Find out more about them at www.seraphbrass.com

Ascension welcomes the Rev. Amy Morehous as our new Senior Associate Rector. This is a message from her: Greetings, friends I know, and those I have yet to meet! It is with joy that David and I return to Church of the Ascension beginning November 1st, along with our kiddo, K, who is now 20 (yes, really). I have had the privilege of being the Rector at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Loudon for the last seven years. While there, I’ve served my congregation, my community, and the diocese in all kinds of ways, whether it was forming partnerships with our local ELCA congregation to participate in a Meals-on-Wheels type program for the homebound, teaching lay preachers through the Episcopal Preaching Foundation pilot program, or serving as the current Co-Chair of the Commission on Ministry, helping to shepherd folks discerning their own call to ministry. I’ve traveled to Tanzania, and participated in the first priestly ordinations of women in the Diocese of Kondoa. All along the way, I have sought out ways to walk with people of all ages and stages of life as they seek where God is calling them to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ: in worship, in laughter, in healing, and in service, whether they are 5, 15, 55, or 95. If you don’t know me yet, you’ll find out I lean toward curiosity, creativity, honesty, a sense of wonder at God’s deep grace, and humor in (almost) all things. I love to hear a good story, and I have been known to tell a few. I have lived experience of those times when we weren’t sure where the road was leading - or where, exactly, we find God along the way. And yet - I have been continually surprised by the ways God continues to seek us out and love us unconditionally. I look forward to seeing you all in November. May the peace of Christ surround you, and laughter find you when you need it most!

On the third Tuesday of every month Ascension hosts a Lunch Bunch with fine food and a speaker. This past Tuesday we had Julieanne Foy from @lakeshorepark come out to speak about conservation. On October 15th the @knoxgarden will share with us about the Botanical Gardens. Thank you to both!

This Thursday our Journey Through the Bible begins a study on the Gospel of John. We will be looking at an overview of the whole book and meeting Jesus again from the 4th Gospel book. All our welcome to attend at 11:45am or 5pm or by watching online. Find out more and our reading schedule at www.knoxvilleascension.org/#bible

Stephen Ministry Sunday is THIS Sunday

Christopher Hogin Homily September 15th, 2024

The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee and Union Ave Books are excited to present Bishop Brian Cole in conversation with Jamie Quatro, author of Two-Step Devil and East Tennessee Episcopalian, at Church of the Ascension on Friday, September 20, at 7:00 PM. This event is free of charge. Register by visiting www.knoxvilleascension.org/Book �Jamie Quatro is the New York Times Notable author of I Want to Show You More, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Art Seidenbaum Award and the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize, and Fire Sermon, a Book of the Year for the Economist, San Francisco Chronicle, LitHub, Bloomberg, and the Times Literary Supplement. A new novel, Two-Step Devil, is forthcoming from Grove Press in September 2024, to be followed by a story collection, Next Time I’ll Be Louder. Quatro holds an MA in English from the College of William and Mary and an MFA in fiction from the Bennington College Writing Seminars. She teaches in the Sewanee School of Letters MFA program and lives with her family in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

This Sunday we will highlight the Altar Guild Ministry, watch this video to learn more!

The Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God and in memory of Pauline and Gum Johnston by Laura and Joe Johnston. They are also given in memory of George Butler by Frances Butler.

Rally Day Skit 2024

The Vestry and clergy getting ready for Rally Day tomorrow. Be prepared for our celebration at the 10am service and directly following the service!

On Friday, September 6th the Ascension Youth Group is going to Main event from 5:15pm-8pm. We will gather, eat pizza, play laser tag together and then play individual games at the arcade. Friends are invited and welcome to come! The church will pay for Pizza, laser tag and drinks. All are welcome! Please RSVP by commenting below and Alexander will reach out if you haven't signed up already.

Please join the women of Ascension for an enjoyable dinner on Thursday September 12 from 6-8:00 pm at P.F. Chang's Restaurant at 6741 Kingston Pike. For a reservation please RSVP to Charlotte Wood by Tuesday Sept. 10 by calling the church office.

You are invited to join Susan Parker Weatherford as she teaches 10 free Senior/Chair Yoga classes in the Parish Hall of Church of the Ascension on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00am. We will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 17th. The classes will be 45 minutes long and they are accessible to anyone who can sit and stand. Please bring your own yoga mat, wear loose fitting clothing, and show up five minutes early to get settled in your chair.

Beginning September 15th, the Episcopal Churches in Knoxville will combine our Youth Groups on Sunday afternoons. View the full September Youth update here: https://conta.cc/3ZaqLqC

Ascension's Senior Adult Ministry hosted an "Ascension's Got Talent" with an AMAZING art show where everyone could share their talents. More pictures to come so stay tuned!

The Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God and in celebration of our thirty-one years of marriage by Carla and Les Hargrove.

Bo Townsend Homily September 1st 2024