Ascension Memorial Church

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Ascension Memorial Church

~ About Our Services

~ Chalice Bearers

~ Ushers/Welcomers

Music at Ascension





Ascension Memorial Church offers three services on Sunday morning, and three services during the week (described below). Sunday services are greatly enriched and made possible with the help and participation of numerous service volunteers. Serving in whatever capacity you choose on a Sunday morning is fun, rewarding and a needed gift in support of our common liturgy. ~ Sunday ~ 8:00 a.m. Service of Holy Eucharist ~ offers a quiet, traditional liturgy attended mostly by adults, followed by a time for conversation and refreshments in the St. Matthew’s Parlor. ~ Sunday ~ 9:00 a.m. Children’s Service ~ is designed to appeal to children and their families, though numerous others attend as well. The service is brief and includes some music and a children’s homily. The Our BEACH children’s experiential learning program follows the service at 9:45 a.m. and welcomes parents and guardians to relax with coffee and enjoy conversation in the parish library while their children are at the BEACH. ~ Sunday ~ 10:15 a.m. Service of Holy Eucharist (Morning Prayer on Third Sundays) ~ offers a contemporary liturgy supported musically by the Ascension Church Choir. Newcomers will find this service a helpful introduction to our parish (unless, of course, you wish to learn about more our Children’s Service and Our BEACH program by attending the 9 a.m. service). Conversation and refreshments in St. Matthew’s Parlor following the service provides members of the parish a chance to introduce themselves to newcomers and field questions. Weekday Services ~ Monday ~ 12:15—12:45 p.m. Holy Silence/Silent Meditation ~ offers a 30-minute silent meditation open to people of all walks of life who value the regular practice of sitting mediation. On The Observance of a Holy Silence The wisdom of the Psalmist (46:10) tells us: “Be still, and know that I am God.” If there is a God and the presence of God in our lives is not simply a wishful notion, an empty promise, then it is within our reach to know for ourselves, first hand, the experience of dwelling in the very presence of God, to feel with heart, mind and soul the joy of resting in the embrace of God. Holy Silence is nothing more, yet nothing less, than the practice of stilling the mind, of watching and observing how our busy minds so hold our attention that we forget to notice a simple, profound truth: namely, that though we have thoughts and feelings, we are more than our thoughts and feelings. We exist apart from them, we are alive in God, there we abide before, during and after every thought and every feeling that passes through our awareness. The more we practice observing a Holy Silence, the more we learn again and again and again to let go gently and kindly to our thoughts and feelings and to rest again in the very presence of God.

Sunday Service Volunteering
		Chalice Bearers are trained to assist the celebrant at services of Holy Eucharist by offering the chalice during the Communion portion of the service. They vest, process, sit in the chancel beside the altar during the service, and lead the congregation as Intercessor during The Prayers of the People. Contact: Rector 978-356-2560 Acolytes come in all sizes and ages and serve in support of the liturgy at all three Sunday services. Acolytes serve in a variety of ways to help make worship services at Ascension Church possible--everything from lighting candles, to leading the choir and clergy in procession, to assisting the celebrant at the altar. Acolytes add a degree of dignity to the service and provide an important ministry to the parish and its guests every Sunday morning.

Top Ten List for Acolytes 1) Relax, smile, and no need to be so serious. 2) Arrive at church in time (15 minutes before service) to put on vestments, light candles, gather with choir in the parlor for prayer prior to procession into the church. 3) Crucifer Acolyte leads procession carrying the cross. Gospel Book Acolyte follows the choir in procession just ahead of Rector/Celebrant. 4) Stand to sing. Sit to listen. Kneel to pray. When in doubt, do as the congregation does. 5) Try not to stare at the congregation or draw needless attention to yourself. Blend in and do your part to support the movement and direction of the service. 6) Never feel rushed. Take your time. If you are unsure when or where to move during the service, look to your fellow acolyte, or to the celebrant for direction. 7) Crucifer Acolyte need not bow before the altar while holding the cross. A moment’s pause is enough to express reverence. 8) Gospel Book Acolyte holds Gospel Book with both hands, slightly raised up for people to see. Place the Gospel Book on the altar, in the center, the binding of the book facing outward. 9) You are encouraged to sing, pray, listen along with the congregation. You will find a service bulletin at your seat. 10) Thank you, thank you for offering this ministry to the parish and its guests, and do take responsibility to find a replacement ,if necessary, by calling a fellow acolyte.
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Ushers/Welcomers are the first faces seen on a Sunday morning at Ascension Church. These parishioners wear nametags, greet folks as they enter the church and offering a Sunday bulletin. They also collect the offering, bring the bread and the wine to the altar, close and open the communion rail, and do a quick clean-up after each service. Contact: The Rev. Bradford Clark 978-356-2560 *Top Ten List for Ushers/Welcomers* 1) As Usher/Welcomer, your gift is hospitality. Give people space, but do not neglect to acknowledge them with a greeting. Please wear a name tag. These will be provided to you from the Parish Office and kept in the desk in the narthex. 2) Greet people in the narthex rather than in the nave of the church (not our current practice). This will allow you to invite them, if they are guests, to sign the guest book. Greeting people in the narthex allows you to speak more freely with people without disturbing the quiet within the church prior to the service. 3) Please be at church at least 15 minutes prior to the service. Open the outer doors in good weather. Offer everyone a service bulletin. Ask the disabled if they would like the priest to offer them communion in their pew. Count the number of people attending the service and record the figure on the attendance slips provided. 4) Ring the bell (button found in narthex) to begin the service. Let them ring for the length of the processional at the 8AM service. Allow some 7-10 rings for the 9AM and 10:15 AM services. 5) Bring forth the Wine and Bread (from small table at the rear of the nave) and present to the acolyte at the start of the Holy Communion (following Announcements). 6) Receive Offering Plates from acolyte. Pass the Offering Plates throughout the congregation from front pews to the rear pews. Bring forth Offering Plates to present to the acolyte at the start of the Doxology (10:15AM); or once celebrant has prepared the altar to Holy Communion (8AM). 7) Put altar rail into place along with kneeler cushion. Remove after last person has received communion (most likely you and your fellow usher/welcomer). 8) Invite people to receive communion by moving from front pews to rear. 9) Please collect bulletins from pews and tidy Hymnals and Prayer Books, etc. 10) Have fun, smile and thank you for being a great host to parishioner and guest alike!
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Lectors are parishioners who read verses from holy scripture for our services. Unlike Chalice Bearers, Lectors do not vest, but come forward from the congregation to read from the lectern. Talents needed for this ministry are clear diction, a love of Scripture, and a desire to speak with authenticity and humility. We are blessed with many fine Lectors, but more are always welcome. Contact: The Rev. Bradford Clark 978-356-2560 *Top Ten List for Lectors* 1) Be sure to read the passage at least three times as practice. 2) Be sure you know the meaning of the passage—it will be obvious if you do, or don’t. 3) Be sure not to feel rushed in any way. Take your time. Read slowly. 4) Be sure to you are able to pronounce correctly every word of the passage. 5) Be sure to read with clarity, enunciate so as to be understood clearly. 6) Be sure to read loudly, yet without need of shouting. 7) Be sure to begin with , “A Reading from…” and end with, “The Word of the Lord.” 8) Be sure to arrange for a substitute ahead of time if you cannot serve when scheduled. 9) Be sure to check the schedule each month to see when your are scheduled to read. 10) Most of all, Thank you!! Go easy and enjoy yourself—its only a reading!!