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.