Parish Announcements

Growing Holy Community: Interview with Callahan Thompson, Lay Eucharistic Minister

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 14:11:13 GMT

Growing Holy Community:

Interview with Callahan Thompson,

Lay Eucharistic Minister

Introduce yourself:

I joined Ascension three years ago when Emily asked me to consider becoming the youth minister... I served in that role for two years and really loved it. I attended school at UAB, where I received a degree in nursing. Now I work at UAB in the bone marrow transplant ICU, and I am currently studying to become a Nurse Practitioner.

Why did you become a LEM?

I decided to become a Lay Eucharistic Minister because I wanted to serve the Ascension community in some way... I didn’t grow up Episcopalian. One thing that drew me to the Episcopal Church was the Eucharist and how the service centers around it... I enjoy using my gifts to build up this community, and in turn, I have felt my own faith life being built up, too. I also love experiencing Eucharist from a different angle, not just receiving it, but helping others receive it, too.

How has serving as a LEM shaped community here?

I have always felt comfortable speaking in public, and I knew I could take that gift and use it for the benefit of the community by reading scripture and prayers during our worship services... Becoming a LEM allows me to help facilitate communion and share that sacrament with others.

Why is giving important to you?

I was raised on the idea of tithing... Giving is like anything you want to get better at – the more time and energy you invest in it, the easier it becomes. By practicing generosity and making a pledge, I know I am investing in the church and in my own faith journey at the same time.

How is God growing Holy community here?

As a new member, I have seen big changes in only the last three years. When I first came to Ascension, I felt immediately welcomed, even as a young, single woman... I don’t feel like the young adults are separated out here. They are included in the broader life of the parish and taken seriously as members of the parish... I hope more young people can be here and be welcomed and included and that their faith life is taken seriously here, too.

Vestry Nominations Now Open

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 14:05:06 GMT

Vestry Nominations Open until November 22

Dear Friends,

Each year, the congregation gathers to elect members of the parish to serve on the Vestry . In secular terms, the Vestry functions as the Board of Directors for the local congregation. This governing body bears fiduciary responsibility for the legal, financial, and property matters of the parish and, in partnership with the Rector, helps set the parish’s policy and vision.

The Episcopal Church is not congregational in its governance. This means the parish does not vote on the budget or the direction of our ministries. Instead, the congregation entrusts those decisions to the Vestry with the Rector presiding over the group.

The Vestry has 12 members, each serving a three-year term , and each year the congregation elects four new members unless there is a vacancy. These 12 members speak and vote on behalf of the entire parish, which makes the Vestry election one of the most important decisions we make together.

Because the Vestry tends to the temporal matters of the church, it seeks to be shaped by spiritual ones. Each meeting begins with prayer and devotion as we seek to do God’s will. Our conversation centers on what God is up to in our midst and how we can organize ourselves to pursue God’s call for us in this time and place.

Talking about property, finances, and policy may sound mundane, but they are what make it possible for us to respond in a faithful way. Tending to them well is one of the ways we live into our mission to make Christ known by our love for all.

To serve on the Vestry , a person must be a confirmed member of the parish and canonically resident at Ascension, at least sixteen years old, faithful in corporate worship, and known to the Rector and to the Treasurer as a regular contributor to the parish’s program. Members who have served on the Vestry within the last year are not eligible to be nominated. The exception is a member who was appointed to complete an unexpired term and served less than a year.

Vestry members do not need to be experts in finance, law, or building maintenance. We look for people who love God and are committed to following Jesus , who are active and knowledgeable about the life of the parish, and who bring enthusiasm and vitality to this ministry.

We also look for a willingness to check our egos at the door, speak less, and listen more, remembering that God’s vision for the parish is bigger than any one person’s. Vestry members pray daily for the parish and its leadership, pledge financial support, offer their talents, and help foster understanding, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

Vestry members attend monthly Vestry meetings, quarterly team meetings, and the annual Vestry retreat (January 8-9, 2027) . They are also regular in weekly worship and active in the life of the parish through programs, classes, and service.

To nominate someone, complete the online nomination form by Sunday, November 22 . Paper forms are also available in the parish office and may be returned to the Vestry box in the workroom. Please talk with the person you are nominating first so they can prayerfully consider it. Someone other than the candidate must submit the form.

Additional nominations may also be made at the Annual Meeting.

We will gather for the Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, December 6 , to elect four Vestry members to serve three-year terms (Class of 2027-2029).

In the meantime, I invite you to prayerfully consider those whom you think may be called to this ministry. If you have questions about what Vestry service involves, I would be glad to talk with you or connect you to a current Vestry member.

Faithfully,

Jack+

Growing Holy Community: Interview with Katy Mac Dillon, Hospitality Guild Chair

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 15:45:45 GMT

Growing Holy Community:

Interview with Katy Mac Dillon,

Hospitality Guild Chair

Stewardship Talks: October 11, Ellen Cutshall

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 19:11:16 GMT

Finding Our Place at Ascension

by Ellen Cutshall

When Carolyn asked me to talk about why we give to Ascension, my mind immediately went to the community we’ve found here, the community we gather around God’s table with, as Jack spoke about earlier in the service.

We’re a blended family. I brought a pup into the marriage, Jeff brought two kids. And before Ascension, neither of us had a church home.

Jeff was raised Methodist and I was raised Catholic. When we started searching for a church together, we wanted sermons that would challenge and nurture us, a church that walked the walk and invited us to do the same, and an authentic community.

Our Church Search

It turned out to be the shortest church search ever. A family member invited us to one church that wasn’t quite the right fit, and then we visited Ascension.

On that first Sunday, we were greeted by several of you. We heard a really thoughtful sermon from Jack, and in the Sundays that followed, got to experience the heart Emily brings to her sermons, too. We also started reading about everything happening here: ways to connect with people in a similar stage of life and across generations, and all these outreach opportunities led by church members.

And then…the choir. The way they wrap around the wings of the church at the end of the service? I remember whispering to Jeff, “This must be how we’re welcomed into heaven.” Or at least I hope it is.

True to our personalities, I was all in and ready to join after the first couple visits. Jeff has a little better impulse control and wanted to give it some time. We joined a couple months later.

What We’ve Found Here

It’s been such a good decision for us. And since then, we’ve had so many experiences that have made us grateful to be part of this community:

It’s learning about the Episcopal Church alongside the Mims, Brennens, and others in Episcopal 101.
It’s Rebecca driving me to Cursillo and the friendships I’ve found in my reunion group with Rebecca, Mary Beth, Kelly, Jeanie, Amanda, and Maria.
It’s meeting even more of you because Shannon invited me to be a greeter.
It’s receiving a text from Jack letting me know my mom was being prayed for when she was in the CICU this year.
It’s Jeff coming home from a men’s fireside chat and telling me he’s glad he went.
It’s thoughtful conversations over beer at Martin’s Pub Theology.
It’s double-dipping in two Pier groups because we’ve found such wonderful friendships and fellowship in both.
It’s talking about how our freshman daughters are liking college with Kelly and going to Every Brilliant Thing with Caroline.
It’s picking up trash alongside Emily, Eric, and Mary with Black Warrior Riverkeeper a few weekends ago.

I could keep going. And I think that’s probably the point.

Why We Give

When we first came here, we were looking for a church. What we found was a community we wanted to be part of.

And that’s why we give.

Because you all have created something truly special here, and we’re grateful for the way you’ve welcomed us into it.

And because we believe in what Ascension is doing and want to help make sure all of this keeps happening: the worship, the outreach, the friendships, the opportunities to serve and just be together.

For all of us, and for the next family who walks through those doors looking for a church home and finds one here at Ascension, just like we did.

Dinner's Ready!

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:17:17 GMT

Dinner's Ready: Sermon from The Reverend Jack Alvey

Proper 23, October 11, 2026

As a parent, there are only so many times I can ask my children to do something nicely before a flip is switched inside of me, and I feel I have to raise my voice. I don't like to be that dad, but sometimes it feels like the only way they will take me seriously.

In today's gospel, we meet a Jesus who seems to be done saying things nicely. In Matthew’s telling, this is Holy Week. He has ridden into Jerusalem, overturned the tables in the Temple, been challenged on his authority, and told parable after parable to the religious leaders who just don't get it. You can feel the exasperation rising in his voice.

He tells them a parable about an enraged king who binds a man hand and foot and throws him into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Why? Well, because he isn't wearing the right kind of clothes. I wonder, does he have their attentionnow? Does he have ours?

What happened to the Jesus who takes little children into his arms and blesses them? That's the Jesus we grew up hearing about in Sunday School. That's the Jesus we want for our Lord and Savior, not the one who turns over tables and gets angry. Like it or not, that is not the Jesus we get this morning.

When I raise my voice at my kids (justly or unjustly), a part of what is underneath that frustration is a desire for connection. I want them to come to the table. I want to know how their day was. Their joys, their challenges, their questions, their insights. I want to know how I can help. I want to be in relationship with them.

I wonder if the urgency we hear in Jesus today is born of that same love. He has life-saving news for his people, if they will just take him seriously. He wants them to know that life is meant to be a gift. That there is abundance and joy and belonging in his loving presence.

And to convey this truth, he tells them about a banquet.

A king throws a wedding banquet for his son. He sends his servants to tell the invited guests, it's dinner time. But they do not come. So, he tries again. He sends more servants. Dinner's ready, he says again.

But they send their regrets. One goes to his farm. Another has to leave town on a business trip. And the rest simply kill the mailman. Can you imagine that? Why would you kill the mailman over a wedding invitation?

At this point, I'd have already canceled the party. But the king does not. He tells his servants to invite anyone and everyone they can find, good and bad alike. The banquet hall is filled.

Think about the last time you put together a guest list. Maybe it's a simple get-together for the football game. Maybe it's a wedding. Maybe it's a big birthday. Who gets invited? Who gets left off? If you invite Aunt Jane, you have to invite Uncle Joe too. And do you really want to invite Uncle Joe? Is Aunt Jane even worth the invitation?

But this king sends his servants out to gather everyone they can find. Rich or poor, good or bad. There is no application process. No background check. No credit check. No cover charge.

Nobody is asked to explain why they deserve a place at the table. Nobody is asked to prove that they belong.

So why is it so hard for us to accept the invitation?

For the same reason most of us have a hard time accepting grace. Grace is love we did not earn and cannot pay back.

We live in a culture that has taught us we have to work for everything we get. We don't want it if it's free. Free is for people who can't help themselves. Which is exactly the kind of people we would rather not admit we sometimes are.

And if we're honest, that is the part we want to reject. Not just because we're a proud people, but because we don't quite trust grace. If it's free, what's the catch? If I didn't earn it, can I keep it?

We would rather pay our own way, even when the host has already paid for everything. If we pay for it, we can keep it. We can control how it is used.

But think about what it means if love has to be earned. It stops being a gift and becomes a payment of sorts. And if I have to earn it, I have to keep performing to make sure I don't lose it.

Worse, if I earned it, then I can look at the person who hasn't and say to myself, "Thank God I'm not like that sinner." Paul puts it plainly, if we could make ourselves righteous through our own efforts, Christ died for nothing.

Before the parable concludes, though, there is one more guest the king must deal with.

The king comes in to greet his guests, and he notices that this man is not wearing a wedding robe. "Friend," he says, "how did you get in here?" The man is speechless.

He was invited like everyone else. Nobody screened him at the door. And yet the king's response is severe. This is the part of the story that is hardest to reconcile with the generosity of the invitation.

Robert Capon, an Episcopal priest who trusted grace more than most, offers a way of thinking about this tension. The tragedy of the story is not that someone failed to earn a place at the banquet. It is that someone could be welcomed into the feast and still fail to live into the gift he had been given.

The robe is not the price of admission. Everyone got in the same way, by invitation. But the invitation is more than permission to enter. It is an invitation into a new life.

We don't put on the robe to make the king love us. We put it on because we have been welcomed into the feast.

Grace is free, but it is not inconsequential. God's welcome does not depend on our transformation, but neither does that welcome leave us unchanged.

The robe of grace may feel too big at first. We might not feel worthy of these new clothes. But the more we come to the table and receive the gift of grace, the more we grow into the life we have been given.

We begin to see other people as God sees them. We become more generous with what we have been given. We make room for people we might otherwise leave out.

Maybe this is what Jesus is so angry about. Not that people have failed to be good enough, but that they have failed to receive the gift. They keep acting as though they have to earn their way to the table, and in doing so, they miss the life God is offering them.

And perhaps this is why Jesus is so persistent. His anger is not the opposite of his love. It is what his love looks like when he refuses to give up on us.

He wants us to come to the table and accept the gift. We can stop trying to earn our way in, stop keeping score, stop wondering if we belong. The invitation has gone out.

So what does that mean for us as we begin this annual giving season? It means we give from gratitude, not obligation. Don't think of your pledge card as the price of admission. Rather, think of it as your response to what made it possible for you to have access to this table, that is the sacrifice of our Lord. Christ gave his own life on the cross so that you and everyone else could belong.

We give so that this table will continue to be set. And that table looks like the carpet in the Godly Play room where our children grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord. That table looks like the feeding tray in the hospital room where a beloved member of this parish takes their last communion.

That table looks like the Pickleball court where the body of Christ grows when new connections are made. That table looks like the parking lot in Avondale where the body of Christ is fed by bringing people who are worlds apart together. That table is set for anyone and everyone who wants to draw closer to the Lord.

My kids don't have to earn a seat at our table, and neither do we at our Lord’s. So, come. Gather round beloved children of God. Dinner’s ready! Amen.

Q & A with Elizabeth Tanner

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:00:43 GMT

Growing Holy Community:

Interview with Elizabeth Tanner,

Sr. Warden and Lay Pastoral Care Chair

Q. Tell us about your family. What brought you to Ascension?

A. The first time I walked through the doors of Ascension was with my husband Tony and 3 children in June 1984. The music, and especially the choir, brought us, but we stayed because we were warmly welcomed.

Q. How has Pastoral Care shaped your experience of holy community?

A. In 2004 our congregation was smaller... with no associate nor deacon. Recognizing how difficult it was for our rector to meet every pastoral need, I approached him about creating a ministry to coordinate care. People were sometimes overlooked when the church was not informed of their circumstances. Soon after, Tony and I attended a service at Trinity Church in Apalachicola, Florida, where a Pastoral Care Ministry was being commissioned. I whispered to Tony, "This is why we are here today."

Our ministry included visitation, prayer, bereavement support, correspondence, transportation, and handyman crew. I was going out of my comfort zone; visitation was not something I had ever done; however, the Lord provided. He guided me through each visit, teaching me to listen to those I visited, giving me the words when I prayed for them at their bedside. I would encourage anyone who has a passion to serve others in this way, who is a good listener and who would like to build new relationships to be a part of pastoral care.

Q. Why is giving to this holy community important to you?

A. Until later in my life, I pledged in order to support the budget: to pay the bills. However, in my later years, it has become more of a spiritual practice. Our time and talent are critical, but we also need the financial support to meet the basic needs of the lives of the poor and hungry.

Q. How do you see God growing this holy community?

A. Ascension is growing. Increased funds will allow us to increase our programs, Christian formation, worship offerings, staff, etc. Anyone who comes through our doors will feel welcomed, experience a beautiful worship service, be inspired by our Christian formation opportunities, and feel the positive energy in the air.

Parish Picnic

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:44:23 GMT

Parish Picnic: October 25, 10:30am, Wald Park Amphitheatre

Join Us for the Parish Picnic!

Come and enjoy a fun-filled morning at our annual Parish Picnic!

We will begin with outdoor worship at 10:30 at the Amphitheater in Wald Park and have lunch together following.

Bring your own lunch or make it easy by purchasing a lunch box from Newks Deli for $15.

Lunches from Newks will include: A sandwich or wrap, chips, and dessert. When registering, please indicate your lunch box selection (Ham & Cheese Sandwich, Turkey & Cheese Sandwich, or Chicken Salad Wrap).

Please register by October 20th.

Following lunch, we’ll have games, activities, and plenty of fellowship.

Bring your friends and family – everyone is welcome! Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. See you there!

Note: 8:00 AM WILL meet at church as always. There will be NO breakfast or Sunday school.

St. Francis of Assisi

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:27:53 GMT

Saint Francis of Assisi

On Sunday evening, October 4, the Feast of St. Francis , we will hold a Blessing of the Animals with Holy Communion (Casual Church) in the Memorial Garden. We will honor St. Francis of Assisi, one of the church's most beloved Christians, and fittingly, we will gather around the statue of St. Francis that stands in the garden.

St. Francis is particularly known for his love of animals, which grew out of his choice to give up worldly goods as a young man. Born around 1182 to a prosperous merchant in Assisi (central Italy), Francis spent his early years in "harmless revelry and fruitless attempts to win military glory."

After a number of experiences, including being taken prisoner of war, encountering a leper he felt moved to embrace, and hearing God call him in a dream, he was moved to a "life devoted to Lady Poverty."

Praying before the ruins of Chapel of San Damiano, Francis heard Christ ask him to rebuild his church. To finance the operation, he sold cloth from his father's shop (without permission) to pay for the repairs. His father was furious and took Francis to the bishop's office. Francis then gave back his inheritance and even the clothes on his back. He "renounced all material values" to serve the poor.

Around 1210, Pope Innocent III gave verbal approval to the way of life of the Order of Friars Minor. The word minor was used to emphasize that Francis desired to be counted "least" among God's servants.

By 1221, Francis had stepped back from leading the rapidly growing order, as very few friars were able to maintain his "ideal of strict and absolute poverty." According to tradition, in his later years he was ordained a deacon and declined a call to the priesthood.

Having given up everything he owned, Francis came to see the whole world as his family. Some biographers describe him calling even the birds and animals brother and sister.

Many of the well-known stories, such as his preaching to the birds, were written down after his death. Whether or not every detail is literal history, the stories reveal a man who owned nothing but was rich with the knowledge of God's goodness and grace.

Francis died on October 3, 1226, and was canonized in 1228 by Pope Gregory IX.

The bird on our statue of Francis recalls the story of his preaching to the birds, and the peace he found only after letting go of nearly everything else. On Sunday at 5 p.m., bring your dogs, cats, and other companions to the garden as we give thanks for them and for all of God's creation. If you have a pet who has died or can't be with you, bring a photo so they can be remembered and blessed too.

Sources: Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2022, p. 450, and early biographies of Francis.

River Cleanup Day and the Season of Creation

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:53:05 GMT

River Cleanup Day and Season of Creation

On Saturday members of Ascension, and a group from UAB, teamed up with Black Warrior Riverkeeper (1) to protect the watershed from which our drinking water flows.

The team collected over 367 POUNDS of trash from the Pinson area! By picking up trash before it can make its way into our river systems, we helped keep our water supply safer for people and wildlife in the greater Birmingham area.

The Anglican Communion is a partner in the worldwide ecumenical movement which "encourages the faithful to take time to care for creation during the month-long celebration" (2) known as Season of Creation . This year's theme, "Living Water," (3) comes from chapter 47, verses 9 and 12 from the book of Prophet Ezekiel, " Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing. ”(4)

As first stated in the book of Genesis within the great origin stories of our creation, we are created in God's image and called to be stewards of God's creation. Our call from God “ for stewardship of creation,” is beautifully and faithfully written by anonymous author as a collect, commonly prayed, “ O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs your loving providence ; and grant that we, remembering the account hat we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (5)

For reflection:

God’s call to us to be stewards of creation is present throughout the Old and New Testaments. Can you think of ways in both in which creation is used to teach us about our love for God and for neighbor?
In Eucharistic Prayer B, we pray together, "We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation;.." (368 BCP). As you enjoy the cooler weather this week, take note of when and where you feel the presence of God around you.

References and for Further Learning:

“Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s mission is to protect and restore the Black Warrior River and its tributaries. We are a citizen-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting clean water for the sake of public health, recreation, and wildlife habitat throughout our patrol area, the Black Warrior River watershed. This vital river basin is entirely contained within Alabama, America’s leading state for freshwater biodiversity.” Black Warrior Riverkeeper Website
“The Anglican Communion Environmental Network (ACEN) is a global network within the Anglican Communion that encourages churches, dioceses and provinces to respond faithfully to environmental challenges. Grounded in the Fifth Mark of Mission — ‘to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth’ — ACEN promotes care for creation as an essential expression of Christian mission and discipleship.” Anglican Communion Environmental Network
“The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. During the Season of Creation, we join our sisters and brothers in the ecumenical family in prayer and action for our common home.” Season of Creation Website
Chapter 47 of Ezekiel, Bible Gateway
Collect for Stewardship of Creation, 259 BCP
Learn more about the Episcopal Church’s Creation Care Ministries here

The Collects

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:59:11 GMT

The Collects

Casual Church with Pet Blessing!

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:55:58 GMT

Join us in the Memorial Garden on October 4 for Casual Church and Pet Blessing!

On October 4 we celebrate the life and ministry of Saint Francis of Assisi by blessing the animals!

Bring your furry friends and join us for worship at 5pm in the Memorial Garden.

In addition to the pet blessing and casual church service, Club 345 will be collecting donations for the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Supplies needed included wet and dry food, towels or small blankets, newspaper, and toys & treats for cats and dogs. Bring your donations with you to the pet blessing!

Join a Breakfast Crew

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:29:07 GMT

Join a Breakfast Crew, build friendships and learn culinary skills!

Ascension Men's Fall Gathering with Bishop Richard!

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:27:19 GMT

Join us on the Patio for a Special Fall Gathering on October 20

The Ascension Men are invited to a special Fall Gathering with Bishop Richard on October 20th.

We’ll gather on the Ware Hall Patio from 6-8 for food and fellowship.

$10 will cover the cost of food and drink.

Please register in Realm or email Martin by October 13th!

We can't wait to see you there!

The Bible

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:22:49 GMT