Dear Friends,

This last year seems like something of a blur. As I get older, and hopefully – wiser -time seems to have sped up for sure. My gosh, it’s almost summer! Life has changed along the way – or is changing - for the Davenports. Our daughter Christie was recently married to Tom Breitbeil and we are thrilled to have passed another milestone in life. Both of our boys have great jobs and are living locally, and both have great girlfriends whom we like a lot. Lauren, our second daughter, and Brett are pregnant again. They are expecting a girl in August. Lee is retiring in June after a very long and fulfilling career with Norfolk Public Schools. This August will mark our 20^th anniversary. 2008 has shaped up to be a very important year for our family and everyone is healthy and well.

Life around Ascension also continues to be fulfilling for me. I still struggle with the time to get critical things done, never mind the less critical items, but I have decided that this is just the nature of things. I am grateful to our staff for all the responsibilities they handle which – in turn - makes my ministry as manageable as it is. I couldn’t function without them and that fact has become clearer to me every day that goes by. We have been blessed with a wonderful group of people who work well together for a common cause; i.e., being the body of Christ in this world, as best we can. Thank you to Samantha, Frank, Nellwyn, Vernon, Lauren, and Lynn. Thanks also to Capt. Chuck and Jane for all the daily efforts they contribute to our financial management. We have also been blessed with extraordinary efforts by our Vestry and committee volunteers. Each of our Commission Chairs has been terrific. I want to give a special thanks to the folks that are rotating off this year: Sylvia Stewart, Bob Brown, Chuck Beers, and Sam Webster. Alas, we are losing both of our wardens. However, I know Sam and Chuck will still be around and – as always – prepared to help in whatever ways they can. They have been a constant support to me and I am in their debt in more ways than I can express. Normally, Ken Meek would also be in this list, but he has agreed to stay on for a few more months as we make a transition into a new Buildings and Grounds chair. He and Marilyn have been Godsends in innumerable ways.

So many improvements have happened – or are happening - around Ascension in these recent months that it is difficult to enumerate them all. If you are even mildly observant, you have noted at least some of them. We are particularly pleased with the lounge and our stained glass windows. Several more projects are in the works: more stained glass windows, and renovating the chapel, vesting rooms, and the main bathrooms come to mind. We hope to replace the bell tower soon, as well. On a programmatic basis, our pastoral care ministries are alive and well as is our Christian Education program. On the stewardship end of things, many people have given what they can, but we are still anxious over our parish giving since you are probably well aware of our deficit budget. I trust that the Lord and our members will work together to ensure that we will come out of this challenge in hopeful ways by the end of the year. The VISION process is also a challenge and you will read more about that in the report by Mark Wheeler elsewhere in this publication. All I want to say here is that I am convinced that implementing a well thought-out strategic plan for Ascension (as this plan has been) is vital to our future growth as a parish. I hope everyone will take the time to work constructively with this program.

Finally, I simply want to say again how much your support means to me. Last, but far from least, I am thankful to our Lord for continuing to give me the many resources I need to sustain a ministry here as your Rector. May God’s peace and love be always with you.

Faithfully yours,

David ⁺

It is hard to believe that I have been at Ascension for almost three years. It was only in this third year that I was able to see the youth program really blossom. While there is still plenty of room for improvement and growth, we have made huge strides in establishing a stable and healthy group. This year we brought back some popular activities from last year. These activities included Water Wars, Laser Tag, Ice skating, helping with NEST, Jr. EYC retreat, youth worship service, and our regular meetings at the church. We also added some new and different events. In the fall we went on the Haunted Hayride. We also made 19 pies for the food pantry to hand out in Thanksgiving. In December, we joined churches from the Norfolk area to sing Christmas carols outside of the jail. In December we also attended a Christmas party with youth groups around Norfolk. We painted the EYC room and it is now decorated with original artwork by members of the EYC. In March we had our first Seder meal in Rose Hall. In May we participated in our first Habitat for Humanity project with the EYC from St. Paul’s Church. We plan on making this a semi annual event.

I feel very good about the fact that we have added a little more depth to EYC this year. While laser tag and ice skating are fun, it is important to try different things and to contribute to the community. All these things could not have been accomplished without the help of the adult leaders who have given their time to the group. Both Tim Westfall and Catherine Thomson have been indispensable and a huge support to me and the group. The following adults have also contributed to EYC this year: Matt Kane, Erin Kane, Pamela Winslow, Solveigh Raske, Julia Madden, Courtney Wheeler, and Lynn Farlin. Parents of the youth have also contributed a great deal. They have helped with driving, provided extra supervision for special events, and donated tasty snacks. This year, due to the initiative of Lynn Farlin, we were able to provide safe church training for all adults working with youth. We have also conducted background checks on every adult who works with youth. The fact that we have so many adults who are willing to help is indicative of the fact that the youth of our parish are important to the whole congregation. This does not mean that we could not use more help. This is an area where we are always looking for brave souls to lend their talents and time.

I have felt blessed to work alongside our new Christian Education Director, Lynn Farlin. We have been able to work together on Christian education and EYC, providing a more fully integrated youth program. Both Lynn and Susan Meredith have been very dedicated teachers for the junior class. I have also had the pleasure of teaching the senior class with Lavette Porter. It is extremely important that EYC and Christian education remain connected. Both the junior and the senior high teachers have also been involved in EYC to some extent. This has helped immensely and provided some continuity for the youth.

The Young Adults have accomplished many things this year. We finally have an official name, Young and Far From Old (YAFFO). (For the record, that was not my idea. I suppose when we get older we can call it Young and Not Far From Old...YANFFO). We have continued with our monthly gatherings and social events. This year we added a new dimension of outreach. Once a month, members of the group prepare and serve a dinner for the youth from the Mission of the Holy Spirit. I think if you look around, you will see that young adults are involved in many facets of the church. You will find them on the evangelism commission, the library committee, volunteering in all aspects of NEST, serving at the Pig Pickin, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school, helping with EYC, helping with the fruit sale, participating as lay readers, volunteering for the food pantry, working on the day school committee, acolyting, attending adult education, etc.

There are still many challenges ahead. I hope to find more way to address the needs of those in the 18-25 age group. I would also like to see the church as a whole participate in a Mission Trip. It would be nice if we could find something that youth, young adults, and all others could do together. I continue to be in awe of the people of this church and feel privileged to be a part of the Ascension family.

Faithfully,

Samantha

I am again both humbled and honored to be completing my year as Senior Warden and my last year on the Vestry. These three years have been both challenging and gratifying. Challenging because we have become an increasingly active and complex Parish family, ably led by both David and Samantha; we fared well through David’s sabbatical; we continue to grow in the ministry of Christ’s word. Gratifying because we have accomplished a lot; the list is almost too long and exhausting to put in. At the risk of omission, for which I apologize in advance, I note the following activities from the past twelve months:

Adoption of a Gift Acceptance Policy and appointment of the Gift Acceptance Committee;

Adoption of the VISION Guidelines;

Celebration of David’s Tenth Anniversary as Rector at Ascension;

Installation of the majority of the stained glass windows;

A youth mission trip to Queens, New York;

Installation of the Labyrinth;

Creation of a new Parish directory and augmenting it by a new Parish picture directory;

Enhanced pastoral care efforts;

Refurbishment of the lounge;

Increased use of the food pantry and the food pantry ministry;

Continued interesting and fun special projects to augment funding;

An excellent Newsletter;

Continued excellent Fellowship experience;

Increased youth activities;

Invigorated YAFFO group.

The list goes on and on. However, (to quote the Rector) the year has not been without its rough spots.

I am disappointed and take some responsibility for the less than smooth and complete implementation of the VISION guidelines. I had some notion that the implementation of the VISION guidelines would be a panacea for getting more folks involved in more activities at Ascension, thereby lightening the load on everyone. While I sense more people’s involvement, I am not sure the load lightening has occurred. I think the desire and effort exists for implementing of the VISION guidelines but that maybe we are just too busy being about the business of the Church that we have not been able to focus upon the guidelines themselves.

This "busy-ness" has a plus and a minus. The plus is that for the most part that "busy-ness" has been about our ministry both within the Parish and beyond. The minus is that the "busy-ness" has slowed down the very serious and vital process of examining our ongoing ministries in an effort to lighten the load. I ask that we all pray for the ongoing success of the VISION process.

My second disappointment should be no surprise to those of you who know me. That involves the Treasure part of Stewardship. Yes, the economy is tight and folks are taking a closer look at every expenditure. But I firmly believe that our ministry at Ascension is vital not only to our own spiritual growth, but also to our outreach to the community and the world. I am certain that as a Parish family we collectively have the wherewithal to pledge amounts sufficient to fund an aggressive but nevertheless lean budget. That pledging is dependent upon embracing the notion of proportionate giving – returning to God a proportion (percentage) of all that he has given us. Again, I need only look in the mirror for a partial cause of that disappointment; I did not take as strong a leadership role as possible in the past year’s Fall stewardship campaign. Freed from the "busy-ness" of Vestry and Warden service, I have promised Anne Lewis to become more involved.

Finally, although I have not been intimately involved in the process, I think I speak on behalf of the Vestry at the collective disappointment after more than eighteen months of hard work and struggle that the Day School Project has hit a major snag in terms of the cost of complying with building code requirements. While I believe the Day School Committee and the Vestry will continue to struggle with how we might still implement the project, we face a $45,000 startup cost to comply with applicable fire and safety codes, none of which was anticipated at the beginning of the project. My heartfelt thanks goes out to the members of the Day School Committee who have devoted so much of their time and effort. I continue to believe that we have a good business plan for the project, but we presently have no way of overcoming this much larger than expected start up capital cost.

I would be remiss in this, my last annual report, if I did not thank folks for their efforts on behalf of the Ascension family. Again, I apologize in advance for the omissions, and I start with a thank you to everyone who has worked to make Ascension a fairly smoothly functioning place where we all have room to grow spiritually. I want to thank the Vestry members for their energy, care and support over the last twelve months. From what I continue to hear around the Diocese, Ascension is functioning above average from a standpoint of stability, activities and finances.

I give thanks to God for the calm spiritual and theological leadership that both David and Samantha provide to the Parish. They both have been a source of individual support to me, and I hope that I have reciprocated. I have also been blessed to work very closely with a Junior Warden who also is one of my closest friends, Chuck Beers. He has been the prod behind a lot of the activities that have occurred this past year at Ascension, and he has always been available for consultation.

We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to our Treasurer, Chuck Steinbruck, and Financial Secretary, Lauren Craun. Working together, they have actually reduced the amount of time required for attention to the daily financial affairs of the Parish, freeing both for more policy-related and program-related financial activities. Both bring wonderful temperaments to what can be very sensitive tasks in a Parish family.

Finally, I want to thank publicly the one person singularly responsible for getting me through my years on the Vestry and as Senior Warden, truly my "better half," my wife of almost 35 years, Jane. Most everyone knows that when the Parish gets one of us for some activity, they actually get both of us. She has been a regular sounding board, complaint department, "slap upside my face," and valued advisor throughout the year. Thanks to Jane for always being there for me and sharing this ministry.

Ascension continues to face daily challenges in its ministry and program. We are blessed with outstanding clergy and a stable Parish family. Evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work at Ascension abounds; we must continue to listen and observe that evidence and respond to it, seeking always to do God’s will. I am grateful for my three-year tenure with the Vestry. I have had the opportunity to work with a diverse and multi-talented group of folks during those three years, and I hope that I have learned from them and am a better person because of them.

Sam Webster, Senior Warden

Dear Friends in Christ:

Happy Trinity Sunday to all our friends at Church of the Ascension! It is odd that this will be the first year in 10 years that at least one member of the Ferguson family has not been in attendance at the Annual meeting, and both Kathy and I send our greetings to our Church family at Ascension.

This past year has been a fruitful one for me. I’ve completed the first of three years at Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) in Alexandria. We have been richly blessed to be in this diverse and wonderful community at VTS, yet we have missed our family and friends at Ascension. We have missed participating in the ACCESS dinner, N.E.S.T., the Wine Tasting, Pentecost, and the Feast Days at Easter and Christmas. You all have been on our minds and we continue to pray for you all even though we are separated from you.

This year has been challenging for me academically and communally as I’ve transitioned from military to Seminary life. Our transition would have been more challenging if it hadn’t been for your constant prayers - thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Academically, I would also like to single out Anita Mitchell for her dedicated teaching in her classes about the Bible and studying the Bible - those classes have been especially helpful this year.

I have completed the foundational work in Biblical Hebrew, Old Testament, New Testament, Church History, and Liturgical Music and I’m looking forward to applying what I’ve learned in the coming years. I did a detailed study on the Book of Revelation to round out my scriptural studies this year. I also got a better glimpse into the workings of the Church and theology in classes about "Answering the Tough Questions about Our Faith," Education for Children, "Re-visioning Pastoral Ministry," the Ministry of Spiritual Direction, and Drama in Ministry. From an extra-curricular perspective I have been a member of a weekly Contemplative Worship group, a member of the Executive Board, and a member of the team that is developing a disaster preparedness plan for the Seminary. I’d call it a full year for me in Seminary.

My education will not stop this summer as I begin an internship focusing on Clinical Pastoral Education at the end of May. I will serve for 11 weeks as a Chaplain at the Children’s National Medical Center (Children’s Hospital) in Washington DC. I feel God has called me to serve there this summer as part of my greater spiritual and pastoral education and I expect that it will be a trying and emotional time for me and Kathy, for her as she copes with my interaction with sick and injured children. I would treasure any and all prayers that you can offer for us during the summer.

What is due in the coming year? I will begin my practical work in Field Education in September as I serve as a Seminarian at St. Anne’s Church in Reston. That experience will be different than any other I’ve had in 45 years in the Episcopal Church because they have about 600-700 people attend between 4 services on Sunday, including more than 200 children. I’m looking forward to learning about how that many people work and participate in their parish life.

This has been a fantastic year even if we have been separated from our church family at Ascension. We hope and pray that you all continue to be richly blessed in your ministry for God in the world. You are making a difference with all you do. Our prayers are with you now and in the time to come. We also pray that we can see you all in the near future but please be assured that you are never far from our thoughts and prayers.

God’s speed to all,

Les and Kathy

The objective of this commission is to maintain and create the most attractive and functional physical plant and grounds which serve to support and complement worship services and the various activities of the parish, striving to make its appearance appealing to everyone.

Under the guidance and leadership of Chairman Ken Meek, the commission has been busy with many projects. To list all the jobs undertaken and all the parishioners who have worked so hard and diligently to accomplish all that has been done would take much too long and run the risk of inadvertently omitting someone or something.

A brief summation of the major accomplishments includes as follows:

All these things were done along with the continued maintenance and improvement of the outside and inside appearance of the church and grounds. A great deal of thanks is due to the tireless efforts of the members of this commission.

Bob Brown, B&G Vestry Liaison

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It has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve on the Vestry and be the chairman of the Christian Education Commission. The year has sped by, as they seem to do as I get older! My job this year has been made easier because of the awesome leadership of our Christian Education Director Lynn Farlin.

David and Samantha have overseen the Adult education along with the help of Sally Miller, Jean Rutherford, Anita Mitchell and Lynn Farlin. We offered one adult class in the fall and added a newcomer’s class in the spring.

One cannot say enough about the dedication and commitment of the Christian Education Commission. They are all Sunday school teachers too! They have helped spread the Good News at Ascension by helping plant seeds for future pearls in our children. Thank you Lynn, Lori, Anne, Erin, Lavette, Samantha, Amanda, Diana, Kim, Courtney, Libby, Lee, Marilyn, and Jean.

I also want to thank all those who help run and organize our library. It is a wonderful asset to Ascension and a great resource for our parishioners!

It has been an exciting year in that our numbers are up in all classes. God is blessing us as we do His work. And I believe the kids feel true Christ-like love and understanding from their teachers.

This year the nursery was run by Diana and Amanda Fehlhaber. We continue to use the pager system. There is much more interaction between the leaders and the toddlers and babies.

We are in our third year using the Godly Play©. The children are learning to tell the Bible stories and find how they relate to their lives. We encourage them to wonder and experience the mystery of God. We have purchased some new supplies for use and enhanced the rooms.

The middle school kids moved into the EYC room which was repainted by volunteers. Thank you! They have been studying topics relevant to their lives. We have looked at being a good listener, being a good friend, listening for God, dealing with stress and having God handle it, knowing yourself and knowing God has a plan for all of us. They have all received Bibles of their own this year and we encourage them to read it.

The High School kids meet this year on Thursday night.. They are led by Lavette and Samantha. They have been learning stories from the Bible. The numbers have been consistent. Next year we are planning on having a Sunday High school class.

Once the day school is up and running, we will be working with them to share our space.

This year the Sunday school has helped in Youth Sunday and the Christmas Pageant.

We are planning on holding Vacation Bible School in mid summer during the day and partnering with Church of the Epiphany.

Susan T. Meredith, Christian Education Commission Chair

The Commission continues to work hard to "spread’ the word.  The Newsletter Chief Editor, Rhonda Flowers, continues to do a wonderful job of editing and producing the Newsletter; it contains lots of good and interesting news, including creative artwork and pictures for all.

The Ascension web site is current and operational, with much thanks to Ken Meek. The additions of Vestry policies and links to other organizations make the website even more useful: it now includes all the pictures that will be in the new Church Directory and will be updated with additional pictures of new members.

Speaking of the Directory, as soon as the new Vestry is elected and we have their picture, the directory will go to the printers. Thank you to all who helped out so much with its production; Ken Meek, Elaine Spence, Tim Westfall and of course Nellwyn who keeps track of all the needed pictures. 

Our Email list continues to send quick "info" and the weekly announcements to those who desire that means of communications.  

Nellwyn Beamon has also kept the "Who Is Who" List up to date so that we can find out the points of contacts for all of our activities.  The "Please Join Us Board" continues to be full of timely information on many of the activities at Ascension in a card form that someone can take and use at home.   All of the Bulletin Boards are under the care of a commission and/or activity so they may display their interests, information, and needs. 

Our Military Member Board has been maintained and updated by Rebecca Hirschler.  We have continued to update the data base to recognize our deceased Veteran family members on Memorial Day, active duty on Armed Forces Day and all Parish Veterans on Veterans Day in the Bulletin and the Herald. 

The Church Bylaws have been revised and adopted by the Vestry. They are posted on the Web site.

The Parish Employee Manual has been updated. I-9 forms for the Government have been filled out for all employees.

"Safe Church" records have been maintained for training with Lynn Farlin, DRE.

An Automatic Electronic Defibrillator (AED) has been authorized for purchase by the Vestry for use in the facility.

The Ascension Ornaments were procured and we have sold many; there are still some available so we can make some money for Special Projects.

The Church Secretary took some computer training on Church Windows in North Carolina.

We purchased a new folding machine to assist the weekly bulletins and the News Letter.

Thank you to every one who assisted with /in the Commission this past year.

Chuck Beers, Communications/Administration Commission Chair

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Our commission members are as follows: Betsy Hussey, Rebecca Hirschler, Robert Thornton, Stacey O'Toole, Susan Motley, Suzi Montagna, Tiffany Landis, Sherlyn Horton, and Sarah Munford.

We are thinking about a kick-off Sunday this fall as "back to school" time will be busy after a slow summer. Christ & St. Luke's does this each year and each commission has a booth manned with a person and information about that commission.

We are thinking about enhancing the Blessing of the Animals towards evangelism by connecting our church to other churches, perhaps to include inflatable toys for the children, sell mugs, T-shirts. etc.

Our next meeting will be Thursday, July 17 at 7:00 pm.

Sarah Munford, Evangelism Chair

The end of Spring draws near and Fellowship folk go into a period of less intense work, but will still prepare for 'full speed ahead' in the Fall.

This year was a more intense one than usual for activities, with an average of 3 events per month that involved Fellowship people preparing, serving or cleaning up. More weekday events were hosted than in many a year.

All of Fellowship's activities could not have been successfully accomplished without people, and in fact the Easter Reception saw more individuals and families contributing and participating than ever before. It is impossible to individually thank all who have given time and treasures to Fellowship, as essentially ALL people of Ascension are part of this commission. However, I have to single-out some individuals as having contributed above and beyond the average, and without whose efforts none of the year's events could have taken place:

My wife, Roni Porfert, without whose consistent support and efforts I couldn't have even begun the job of Fellowship; Jane Webster, although no longer chairperson, still called upon and volunteering to do way too much in the kitchen and behind the scenes; Margaret Daly, ever-present, whether asked to help or just lending a hand; Kate Rhea, who with enough to do running NEST, still works regular and long hours for Fellowship functions; Pat Kirby, routinely braving the trek to and from the Peninsula to toil in the kitchen; Peggy Hackett, Tina Coleman, Sally Todd, Lynn Farlin: always pitching in where needed. The over-worked dish washing and clean-up brigade: Don Daly, Sam Webster, David Stallings, Warner Coleman, and a host of others.

Summer will see the return of ice cream following the 10 am service. However, still to come is the Annual Picnic on June 8th: Fellowship supplies the hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks (not to mention the people to cook, set-up and clean-up!!), and the congregation is asked to Bring a Dish to share: picnic food of salads, desserts, baked beans, mac n' cheese, etc. Come out and have fun!

Harry Porfert, Fellowship Commission Chair

The bottom line figure for the 2008 church budget is that for the entire year, expenses are greater than income. So far this year, our expenses are less than the amount budgeted and our income is above. However, we are still operating with a deficit budget so we have more going out than coming in. Obviously, we cannot continue to operate like this and in order to avoid cutting any of our programs, we still need to increase income. The commitment of EVERY member is very, very important.

In addition to giving through pledges, members of the church have inquired about making gifts to the church through estates, similar to gifts given to universities and charitable institutions. Recent examples of people who have donated to the church through their estates are Dr. Melissa Warfield and Sterling Yoder. A Gift Planning brochure will be available with further details on how planned gifts may be made to the Church of the Ascension.

Handling the finances of the church requires a lot of time, experience, and dedication from many people that work behind the scenes. I would like to take this chance to say that I truly appreciate all of the hard work that Chuck Steinbruck, Jane Webster, and Lauren Craun provide to the church and to the Finance Committee. In addition to keeping all of the expenses straight, there are over thirty funds that need to be managed. All of this is done through a very capable team of the treasurer, assistant treasurer and financial secretary. The Finance Committee would like to take this opportunity to say that we are very thankful for all of your hard work and dedication.

Here are the financial details of where we stand so far this year:

The good news is that our pledges to date are more than 10% over the amount budgeted and our expenses are 4% under budget. On the other hand, for the entire year, we have a deficit budget so we need to CONTINUE at this performance. With the price of gas rising and other associated price increases, we may see our personal incomes decreasing but please remember that the expenses of the church continue, even in tough times. Your financial commitment to the church really does matter! Thank you.

Cindy Shinault, Finance Chair

The Liturgy and Worship Commission is responsible for planning and carrying out the regular and special worship services of the church. As always, this year has been a very busy one for the Liturgy Commission. Many of the service elements that we enjoy week after week and never really think about happen because of the hard work of many people behind the scenes. The Liturgy Commission is the umbrella for a myriad of work groups who carry out the work necessary for us to enjoy beautiful worship services every week and on special occasions.

We have had a busy year, not only with our annual "Holy Days," but also with some special services. We have enjoyed two Instructed Eucharists, the first in August and another during Lent (March 08). These special services provide valuable instruction on the meaning of our liturgy to new Episcopalians, as well as giving timely reminders to those who are long-term or "cradle" Episcopalians.

We have enjoyed participating with our neighboring congregations on special holiday services this year. We tried a new venue for the Thanksgiving Service – Wednesday evening – in partnership with Talbot Hall Baptist Church and Royster Presbyterian Church. The feedback from this service has been very positive and it will likely continue in future years. Our Lenten program this year was also a partnership with St. Andrews and Epiphany congregations. The service rotated among the congregations and was well-received by all. Plans are currently underway for a July 4^th celebration with Talbot Hall Baptist and Royster Presbyterian.

In addition to these special services, we have had a number of special dedications this year. We continue to dedicate our beautiful stained glass windows as they are installed. In addition, we dedicated our refurbished organ and our labyrinth in October.

Thanks, too, to those "regulars" on the Liturgy commission who are always ready to help when called upon: Gertrude Betts, Lynn Farlin, Pam Knight, Julia Madden, Harry Porfert, Lavette Porter, Sally Todd, and especially our clergy, David and Samantha.

Theresa Bryant, Liturgy Commission Chair

The Music Ministry continues to evolve and progress.

The Church Choir has maintained its marvelous ability to provide choral music for the life of the congregation of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension. The choir leads the congregation in the singing of hymns and service music. It also provides anthems during the Offertory in English and other languages, and is capable of the singing of both accompanied and a cappella style pieces. We have a great mix of personalities and backgrounds, and have a wonderful time together, while working on the music we are going to present during the Liturgies.

The balance between traditional and contemporary music remains a challenge; one which makes our congregation grow as a Christian community. We need to continue our quest to provide a ministry of music to the congregation, one which gives everyone a meaningful religious experience during all liturgies. Charles Porter has been indispensable while playing the guitar during the liturgies twice a month.

This year, we had a gift of music from one of Tidewater’s premier musicians, Dell Ridge. She composed a setting of The Lord’s Prayer for our congregation. This was a significant event in the life of our church.

Frank E. Whitman, Jr.

Director of Music Ministries.

OUTREACH COMMISSION

A church that works together is one where healthy interdependence is supported. Leadership is essential, but strong kinship is dependent upon every member of the team. Trust, shared responsibilities and good communication are essential. Each member must be encouraged to find his or her appropriate expression, and contribution.

The Outreach projects that are so much a part of this church are successful because of dedicated Ascensionites who never hesitate to lend their skills to provide a firm foundation.

They say to fertilize the soil, and all of society benefits. The Food Bank and Blood Drive are a shining example of this thought. Not to be left out is an abbreviated list of the many important projects supported in our community and elsewhere on a yearly basis.

Empower Hampton Roads Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy

Camp Wakonda Camp Chanco Mission of the Holy Spirit St. Mary’s Home for the Disabled Dwelling Place F. O. R. Kids Full Circle Aids Hospice N. E. S. T. Canterbury House St Mary’s Soup Kitchen Episcopal Relief and Development American Red Cross

There is more to do…….it is important that each one be willing to assume an appropriate role in any project you support. A good team player is very valuable to others.

Many thanks to those who have devoted their time and talents to our past efforts with warmth and compassion.

Respectfully, and in God’s name,

Sylvia Stewart, Outreach Chairperson

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The Pastoral Care Commission has teams of people who do this ministry - the focus of the groups are a little different.  What they have in common is their purpose to pray for, support and care for parishioners when there is a need.  Love and action. 

The Pastoral Care Givers are called to visit when someone is in the hospital or when there is a death in the parish.  They are trained to listen and pray with the person in crisis.

The Pastoral Visitors spend time with an assigned person who is homebound or in a residential care facility - developing a caring friendship, being their connection  to Ascension and be helpful any way they can.

The Prayer Chain consists of dozens of people who have committed to pray for someone in need when they receive a call and pass on the request.

The Healing Team is ready to pray with people during Eucharist on scheduled Sundays.  Requests  can also be made for some of the team to go to a person  who desires healing prayer on an individual basis.  Our recent evening with the Rev. Sandy Kerner explained about "soaking prayer."  We look forward to her return in the fall.  This weekend will offer in depth discussion and experience in healing, and is for anyone who wants to learn more.

The Prayer Board is a reminder to people in church who needs prayer.

The Prayer Shawl ministry prays while knitting or crocheting shawls for those who need to feel surrounded by love and prayer - the sick, the grieving and children being baptized.

The Meals Ministry can make the lives of persons home from the hospital or in mourning a little easier.

Lastly, this year we joined with the Flower Guild to arrange and distribute the altar flowers (when available).  This activity is open to anyone who wants to help with the flowers or wants to take a vase to someone who may need a little joy.

This winter I attended a series of classes about Sentara Hospice Care to be able to let families know what services are offered, what to expect and when to call them.

A workshop I attended on creating sacred space for conscious transitions (death midwifery) was also very interesting..

Following the lead of our dedicated clergy, David and Samantha,  we in Pastoral Care are available to those who need our help.  We serve out of faith and love.  Thank you for allowing us to share a part of your journey. And thank you to all who serve in this ministry.

Nancy Morris, Pastoral Care Commission Chair

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This year has been a learning curve for me. While I understood the basics of raising money to assure that the community of God at Ascension had enough funds to fulfill our ministry, I did not know how involved it is in counting pledging units and cards and so forth. This past year, 133 pledging units said they would give $306,000 to support Ascension’s programs. While this figure was somewhat under what we had hoped for, if national church trends are to be believed, other giving will make up for this deficit. But pledging units and pledge cards were only part of my learning curve.

I also did not fully comprehend the notion of proportionate giving. Our gift of Time, Talent and Treasure truly is a response to God’s love for us, and a recognition of His gifts to us. Everything we have – job, money, children, house, clothes, food, even life itself – are gifts from God. All He asks is that we return a proportion (not just a portion) of those gifts. We return a proportion of our Time through service at church, in civic, arts, and other charitable organizations, and through love for our fellow humans. We return a proportion of our Talent by sharing it at Ascension and in our daily lives. And we return a proportion of our Treasure by pledging a percentage of our money to Ascension’s ministry.

As part of the Time/Talent piece, we are looking at the power of small groups to help people understand their part in this spiritual community and what they can offer to make it run smoothly to meet God's needs. VISION was a time for looking into the Parish to see where we are and where we need to be. Now, we need every member to provide talent and time to make this VISION work. The congregation is not a thing set in steel that must remain always the same and meet all the same needs year after year.

Our Stewardship still has some problems. The $30,000 gap between income and a very lean 2008 expense budget raises a tough fundamental question. The people of Ascension collectively must make a difficult decision. We must truly become a people of faith who will work hard to position ourselves for 2009 to eliminate the disconnects. The alternative is not very palatable: recognizing that we are living beyond our means and making severe cutbacks in programs. The latter course is not healthy for us as a Parish or any of us individually.

Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and our coming together to share the Truth around the Eucharist will keep us moving forward in directions that will help our community, as well as strengthen our ties to God. Thank you for this opportunity to learn. I am grateful to the careful stewardship of our Treasurer, Chuck Steinbruck, and the Finance Committee, who stretch our funds to meet our parish needs. I look forward to more active help from each member of this parish as we continue God's work at Church of the Ascension.

Anne Lewis, Stewardship Commission Chair

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The Vision Commission was added to the Vestry in 2007 following the completion and approval of the strategic plan this past Fall. This new commission was created to foster an ongoing "working" dialog with the Vestry and congregation as we begin to understand and interpret the strategic plan for our use, and ultimately, to put the plan into action.

I commend the Clergy and Vestry for creating this new position which further emphasizes the perceived importance of the strategic plan for our continued growth and vitality. I would like to thank Sarah Munford, who served as the first Vision Commission Chair, for her dedication and efforts to initialize this new entity. As you may know, Sarah has moved on to the Evangelism Commission and I have assumed the Vision Commission Chair position since January of this year.

The Vestry and congregation are key components in the interpretation and implementation of the strategic plan. I believe that it is absolutely critical that the Vestry fully understands and appreciates the meaning of the strategic plan to our parish prior to thoughts of implementation. In order to do so, the Vestry must take an "active" role in the strategic plan process if the plan is to be successful and sustainable.

Early attempts have been made with varied success to begin implementing components of the strategic plan. Reflecting on these experiences, I feel that we had "put the cart before the horse" in an effort to see some initial results. This has given me more of an appreciation of the complexity of this task and now better realize that we need to crawl before we can walk. In the upcoming months, together with the Vestry, my plan is to refocus the strategic plan, determine what the plan means to us at Church of the Ascension and how best to move forward together.

Mark T. Wheeler, Vision Chair

As I write these words for our annual report, I am aware that they are the first "official" words I have composed for Ascension since I left on my sabbatical in February. So, I want to devote them to saying thank you again for making this wonderful opportunity available to me. By way of review, I’ll offer a quick re-cap for you. I returned to my "roots" for a time in north Georgia and experienced some of the connections that were important in shaping my experiences – including visiting the church I grew up in and seeing some of the folk from my childhood. I also realized how much has changed from those days – how many people had gone and how you can’t go home again, to quote an old phrase. However, I had a great visit over a few days with my sister and her family in the process. I also attended a conference at our provincial conference center, Kanuga, in Hendersonville, NC. The speaker, the Rev. Fleming Rutledge, spoke eloquently on the place of the Bible in contemporary, political society. Doing Bible study with people from all over the church in the midst of our current issues as a church and society was stimulating, provocative, and worthwhile. My next trip was out to the deserts of New Mexico for a spiritual retreat to read, pray and reflect on life and faith issues. This was followed by a visit from my brother who flew in from Dallas; we took a road trip up to the northern part of the state and visited Indian ruins and caught up with each other again. Unfortunately, we have rarely found time to get together much over the years, so this was a special treat for us. I was also able to visit my niece and have some spiritually reflective conversations with her since she seems to be in a "searching" mode with her faith. This was good time for both of us.

I returned for awhile to Tidewater to tackle some things around the house and spent time catching up with my family here. Then, Lee and I took off to our companion Diocese of Belize. You will hear a good deal more about this part of my sabbatical since we were exploring future mission opportunities for Ascension in the midst of our travels. We were very moved by our visit to a school that is being built by missionaries from our own diocese, Francis and Vernon Wilson. Yes, we have pictures! I celebrated Easter for a parish in San Ignacio and that was also quite an interesting experience using a liturgy that was familiar but different in many ways. This parish of about seventy-five or so had not had a priest in over six months, so the Bishop of Belize had asked if I would help out, and Lee and I were glad to do so. Belize is a poor country and the poverty was very evident there and in Guatemala where we also visited; however, I must confess to having avoided much of it since we were playing tourist much of the time and had a marvelous time exploring Mayan ruins and floating down underground rivers and diving and checking out the animals. We returned again for some home time and I began to reckon with my return to more routine parts of parish life. However, I have just returned last week-end from the final sabbatical jaunt to Scotland. I went to my favorite "haunts" again into the northwestern "hills" of Celtic country and climbed a few mountains and rambled down some beautiful coastlines. Along the way, I visited old abbeys and abandoned castles. It all gave me a deeper sense of God’s spectacular world and our transient place within it. You’ll hear more reflections about all this over the months ahead.

So, I finish up this "report" by again saying thank you for this wonderful opportunity. I am indebted to Samantha for her ongoing presence and leadership which made it all possible. I knew she would be fine – even if she didn’t – and from all reports, things unfolded as positively as I expected. I am also indebted to Nellwyn – our highly capable and organized parish secretary; to Sam and Ken, our wardens; to Chuck and Lauren and Jane, our financial team; to Anne and our Christian Education folk; to Rick and our incredibly committed choir; to our ever dependable teams of flower and altar folk; our vestry at the heart of everything; Vernon; our nursery workers; our acolytes; our teachers who are at the center of our program; and any number of special project people who devote time and energy to making Ascension as vital as it is. Thank you to all of you who continue to devote yourselves to this beloved community of faith and hope. I am so delighted to be a part of it.

I also look forward to devoting some renewed energies to our VISION plans. I have become more and more convinced that the energy we spend on implementing the recommendations listed in this plan will spell the difference in the kind of parish we have in the future. I hope and pray that you will familiarize yourselves with this plan and enthusiastically join those of us who will be working on these goals over the months and years ahead. Meanwhile, I trust we will keep each other in our prayers and move into the next phase of our life together with a sense of our Lord’s peace as well as a deep hope and faith in His Abiding Presence. Thanks be to God!

The past year has been a blur. The summer was very busy indeed. Our Vacation Bible School went very well. We were hosted by Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The Mission of the Holy Spirit joined us as well. We also had several adult volunteers who were wonderful. After speaking with David and Anne Russell Zobel, we have decided not to continue with Vacation Bible School this year. The major problem is that there is very little interest from our church. The day before VBS last year, we only had one child signed up. Like many things in the church, this is something we will have to talk about in the Vision process.

After being ordained as a priest in June, I was able to do more things in the church. We continued the Contemporary Worship service in David’s absence and through September. It was at that point when David and I realized we need to discontinue the service until we were able to reevaluate it through the Vision process. One of the strengths and blessings of Contemporary Worship is that it includes lay leadership. We cannot continue the service until we can find more creative minds to contribute. This kind of worship can and should be a form of evangelism for the church. In the near future, I hope to gather a group together to talk about how this can happen.

Both the Junior and Senior EYC are plugging along. Both groups are making slow but steady progress. This year the Junior EYC participated in a neighborhood food drive for the Food Pantry. This was very successful and it was nice to be able to contribute to such an important ministry in our church. The Jr. EYC also went on a weekend retreat to Makemie Woods. It was a great opportunity for the youth to get to know each other in a new environment. I hope to make this an annual event. Senior EYC has been very active. They made dinner one night for Nest. The Senior EYC also came out for the Pancake Supper. I have been very impressed with the commitment of the Senior EYC. They are very steady, in the sense that they all show up whether it is "fun" or not. This year will be the first mission trip for the group. This is a big step for the church as a whole. Members of the parish have been very supportive of this endeavor. Approximately 14 people have taken on the role of being a sponsor. Phil and Sally Todd have agreed to organize a talent show with the proceeds going to the EYC Mission Trip. Barb Aurand is also organizing a car wash. I am grateful for these efforts.

All that said, it has become more and more apparent that we are in desperate need of steady adult leadership. I have been able to do very little in the past three months for these groups. The Senior EYC has continued to meet, but the Jr. EYC has only met occasionally. The problem is that both groups depend on me, and that is not a healthy environment. I do appreciate the help of Catherine Thomson with the Senior EYC and Solveigh Raske with the Junior EYC. Matt and Erin Kane have also been available for the Senior EYC as well as Elisa and Andy Willoughby for the Junior EYC. While this is progress, it is still not enough.

The Young Adult group continues to grow. We meet monthly and have occasional events that tend to attract more people. We had a Murder Mystery Dinner, which was very well attended. It was nice for people to see the more dramatic side of their peers. The area that I now need to focus on is the 18 to 25 age group. This is a very difficult age group to reach. Many people come back to church when they have kids, but with people having children so much later in life, there is a huge span of time when people are not in church. Yes they might come back, but wouldn’t it be better if they never left?

I have really enjoyed my first year as an ordained priest. I really cannot imagine a more supportive church than Ascension. Thank you and God Bless!

Faithfully,

Samantha Vincent Alexander

I am humbled by completing another year as Senior Warden. The Ascension family continues its growth in the ministry of Christ’s word. Thanks to everyone who has contributed so mightily to all that we have done through the year on all fronts. I could not possibly begin to name either the activities or the persons, but rest assured that the Vestry is grateful for your efforts. I want to specifically thank the members of the Vestry for their energy and support over the last twelve months. From what I hear around the diocese, we are functioning above average, which is both heartening and exhausting. Particular thanks go to Vestry members completing their terms: Lynn Farlin, Les Ferguson, Ken Meek and Jane Webster. Those four people leave big holes. While we have accomplished a great deal, three things deserve particular mention.

First, Ascension has done something about which many parishes only dream – we have honored our covenant with the Rector to provide a Sabbatical. This event involved risk-taking on everyone’s part as we headed into uncharted waters. I have developed a healthier respect for the Rector and all that he does. I think we came through that three month period with flying colors, due primarily to Samantha’s energy, growth and talent as Assistant Rector, and through the support of our parish family and the support and work of the Vestry. More about Samantha later. We now welcome David back to our parish family. I know we will hear about and learn from his Sabbatical experience. Thus, we all become enriched. I am glad that he has returned.

Now about the Assistant Rector. Ken Meek and I have had the privilege and joy of working closely with Samantha. I only hope that she has grown from working with us as much as I have grown from working with her. She has been enthusiastic and energetic and, best of all, willing to challenge not just the Wardens but the Vestry and our parish family. We are blessed to have Samantha as our Assistant. I also know that she joins me in being glad that David has returned.

Finally, this year marked the completion of the VISION Committee’s study and presentation to the Vestry. As reported in the Herald, the VISION Committee’s work provides a blueprint for furthering our mission and ministry in Christ’s name, a detailed guideline for analyzing and evaluating all of the programs at Church of the Ascension to determine whether they fulfill our Mission Statement. It also provides guidelines for identifying, developing and training parish leaders so that we may spread the ministry-load. All that we do at Ascension does not occur serendipitously. Rather, each activity at Ascension happens because one or more dedicated individuals takes on that ministry. The VISION process seeks to identify more such persons and involve more people in all of our activities.

Like other parishes, Ascension faces daily challenges. We are blessed with outstanding clergy and a stable parish family. The VISION guidelines will lead us in an even better way. Evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work at Ascension abounds; we need only listen and observe that evidence and respond to it.

As usual the last year has been a busy one, especially so since we combined Buildings and Grounds and the Junior Warden responsibilities. Aside from the almost daily routine of making sure everything works, some of the major projects we are working on include;

We continue to work to make our church a more pleasant and desirable place for all of our members, and attractive to anyone looking for a new place to call "my church".

Don’t forget about our web site, go to www.ascension-norfolk.org. We are adding new information regularly.

It has been an honor to serve Ascension as Chairperson of the Christian Education Commission for the past three years. As I began writing this report I reviewed three years of commission minutes and was stuck by how far we have come during that time period.

One constant I noted was the consistent dedication of our teachers. I would be remiss if I did not begin by thanking the individuals who make up the Christian Education Commission. These individuals serve both as committee members and teachers and are the foundation upon all that has been accomplished. My thanks go to the following blessed souls who served: Anne Russell Zobel, Courtney Wheeler, Lori Hoden, Amanda Fehlhaber, Diana Fehlhaber, Kim Limbaugh, Libby Trampenau, and Susan Meredith.

It’s with a sad heart that I acknowledge that Anne Russell Zobel AKA "Miss Anne" is being called to work her magic elsewhere. Her sage advice and guidance, along with the teachers’ willingness to take a leap of faith, have made our program strong. While we will dearly miss Anne, we are confident as a commission that she has given us an unshakable foundation to continue to build our Christian Education program. One of the reasons Anne was willing to come to Ascension was because of the teachers’ vision and their commitment to our children. Make no mistake- that commitment is even stronger than it was when Anne joined our ranks. We have seen our new philosophy/format work, and are confident that this is only the beginning. Many thanks, Anne, for your gifts and your unshakable faith in us!

Prior to our acceptance of the Godly Play based philosophy we experimented with various packaged programs that always missed the mark. However, our children now experience stories of the Bible, led by our teachers, and follow up these stories with wonder and work. The children are free to wonder about each story, search for current day connections, and in the process are making the stories their own. The insight our children have is amazing to witness.

The result has been a true awakening in our children’s understanding of their faith. A willingness to make connections with all those faithful people who came before them. Our children have learned how to make the stories of God real. They are on a journey to embrace the mystery of our faith and it is a wondrous ride! It‘s difficult to put into words how miraculous this transformation has been. The Christian Education wing looks different, sounds different and feels very different. Have you noticed the change? Have you witnessed it during church services? Could you see it/feel it in the Christmas pageant? The children see their place in our community and have been encouraged to grow in their understanding of their faith as core members of our Ascension community.

Our teachers have also been blessed with a transformation. While we are unable to attend adult Christian Education, for the first time in many years the teachers are being fed with some spiritual manna and it is an awesome gift! We too are experiencing the stories of God and of our faith, and it is powerful.

However we still have work to do. We continue to infuse elements of the Godly Play philosophy into the offerings for the older students. While they do not hear the stories of God in the same fashion as the younger students, the same invitation to join in and engage in our faith is being infused into their lessons. The transformation with the older students has not been as dramatic, but once again we are thoughtfully laying the foundation.

Over the years the Christian Education Commission has focused on the youth, and the task of planning adult Christian Education events has largely happened under the direction of the Rector and Assistant Rector. A decision had been made to form a subcommittee to focus on adult education needs. We are currently developing a list of "possible" committee members but urge you to volunteer for this important subcommittee if you feel called.

After Mary McMahon's long period of service to our Parish, she retired this past year. A new nursery worker was selected. We appreciate Mary's dedication and service to our children and Parish. In addition, a pager system was purchased for the nursery. This enhancement has been well-received by parents using the nursery.

We have attempted to be more purposeful in our endeavors and are mindful not to repeat an activity just because we have always participated. Vacation Bible School is one example of an event that we are taking a step back from to evaluate. This year we decided not to sponsor the program, based on low participation and an evaluation of the time needed to offer a quality program. However our sister churches will have program offerings and we will attempt to notify parents of those programs if they wish to have their children participate.

It has been a privilege to serve as the Christian Education Commission Chair.

Lynn Farlin

The Commission continues to work hard to "spread" the word.  The newsletter Chief Editor, Rhonda Flowers, has done a wonderful job of editing and producing the newsletter; it contains lots of good and interesting news, including creative artwork and pictures for all.

The Ascension web site is up and operational; some people have actually found us and attended church through the web site. Additions of Vestry policies and links to other organizations make the website even more useful. Our e-mail list continues to send quick "info" and the weekly announcements to those who desire that means of communications. Kristina Banks has steadfastly maintained the Welcome folders so that a person new to the church can learn about our activities in one convenient location. We have placed an information card in the Narthex for visitors that explains our Christian Education programs. Kristina Banks and Nellwyn Beamon have also updated the "Who’s Who" list so that we can find out the points of contacts for all of our activities.  The "Please Join Us" board continues to be full of timely information on many of the activities at Ascension in the form of cards that someone can take home to reference. We placed a "Welcome to the Church of the Ascension" laminated page in every pew to explain to visitors some of the customs and information about the service, and we produced the pew "requests" cards so that the Rector or office can receive information via the collection plates.

We continue to update the Parish Directory to maintain its usefulness; we hope to prepare a picture directory in the coming year if we can master the technical aspects of the software. All of the bulletin boards are under the care of a commission and/or activity so they may display their interests, information, and needs.  Our Military Members board has been maintained and updated by Rebecca Hirschler.  We have undertaken a project to recognize our deceased veteran family members on Memorial Day and all parish veterans on Veterans Day in the Bulletin and the Herald. Max Dale has taken on updating the Vestry By Laws for the incoming Vestry members.

The Evangelism Commission would like to thank all the people who have volunteered their time and talents in the following projects:

1) The Church Ad in the ODU Campus Map.

2) Birthday Cards sent to members monthly.

3) Bulletin Board notes and newsletter submissions of cartoons, jokes and articles that cause one to ponder and smile.

4) A special "thank you" for Margaret Daly’s time and talent in making the beautiful cross-stitched name tags.

5) A special " Thank you" for the greeters that man their stations weekly at each service. They are a group of dedicated people who welcome all to our Church. They are usually the first person a newcomer or member meets at the door. They provide a warm and cheerful smile and kindly welcome to all.

6) Decorated the Church for Pentecost Sunday.

7) Sponsored "Bring a Friend" Sunday.

The Evangelists

Who was the one who first brought you to Christ:

Grandparent, father, mother or a good friend:

Your older brother, sister of a twin?

This was your Evangelist.

Who was the person who welcomed you to church?

An older person sitting in your pew?

A radiant teenager who smiled at you?

This was your Evangelist.

And when you helped a good friend come to Christ,

Or called upon a stranger to your church,

Or fed the hungry gathered at its door,

You were their Evangelist.

And so Christ calls for all to follow him,

And help our many friends to know his love,

Witness the Holy Spirit through our love,

And be his Evangelist. Amen.

Yours in Christ,

Betsy Hussey

Becoming a new vestry member and Finance chair has been a rewarding experience, allowing me to learn about the church’s finances and serve the Lord. Although I had always been impressed by the Treasurer’s Reports and the dedication of Chuck Steinbruck, I found that the other members of the Finance Commission were equally dedicated and had a lot to teach me. Doug Thompson, the former chair, was willing to continue serving as one of our members and has provided me with invaluable guidance. Also, Max Dale, Chester Long, and Sam Webster have taken a lot of their time to explain church history and the nuances of church finances to me. Chuck’s enthusiasm to his position as the church’s Treasurer is an invaluable inspiration. All of the Finance members are extremely patient and very willing to provide me with whatever help I need, and for this I would like to thank them. Their actions provided me with personal examples of how to share the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. Each of the members takes personal responsibility in safeguarding the money of the church, making it possible to uphold the church’s Mission Statement.

So far my main task has been to work with the Finance Commission to come up with a Vision Budget to present to the Vestry and then the church members. We decided to take a bold step forward in the budget and show our belief in the church’s vision and commitment by increasing the budget by 13.6%. We are very excited about our new Assistant Rector and her energy and positive attitude she brings with her. Samantha has done a wonderful job of keeping the church going and allowing David to have a well-deserved three month sabbatical. From a financial standpoint, the pews and pledges have been full even though David has been gone. Thank you, Samantha, for allowing David to take time off, especially during one of the busiest church seasons. You have done a great job, and I know we will be rewarded when David comes back and shares his experiences with us.

Here are the financial details of where we stand:

Pledges $286,000 $291,361 1.8%

Total Income $368,200 $367,178 -0.3%

Expenses $368,527 $344,612 -6.5% Surplus/(Deficit) ($327) $ 22,566

Amount Budgeted Actual

Year April

Pledges $285,000 $ 92,530 $ 95,910

Total Income $387,100 $110,346 $116,247

Expenses $386,468 $134,315 $130,240

Surplus/(Deficit)$ 632 ($ 23,969) ($ 13,993)*

*NOTE: Although we budgeted $20,000 of last year’s surplus to balance the budget, we have not used any of it to date.

The Liturgy and Worship Commission is responsible for planning and carrying out the regular and special worship services of the church. As always, this year has been a very busy one for the Liturgy Commission. Many of the service elements that we enjoy week after week and never really think about happen because of the hard work of many people behind the scenes. The Liturgy Commission is the umbrella for a myriad of work groups who carry out the work necessary for us to enjoy beautiful worship services every week and on special occasions.

One of the primary emphases in the past year has been the incorporation of more creative liturgy elements in the 11:00 service. It is hoped that the use of these new elements will provide additional avenues for us to worship God and to expand our own spirituality. Many, many thanks to the almost 40 parishioners who responded to our survey on these creative liturgy activities. With the exception of a very few overall negative responses, most people generally like the new activities. Many people remarked that they liked keeping many traditional aspects of our worship along with trying some newer things. After reviewing the survey responses, the Liturgy Commission recommends continuing to include creative liturgy activities and music in our services, and fine tuning some of the aspects of new activities to make them blend more smoothly into the overall service.

The Liturgy Commission was pleased to recommend that the Vestry purchase the new Gather Hymnals you see in the pews. This purchase was made through the generosity of an anonymous donor. A new fair linen was given in memory of Lynne Osteen Beale, and the white altar hangings have replaced the old white hangings that were made by Mary Jane Martin and now retired.

Special thanks to those individuals who head up these committees as a part of the Liturgy Commission:

Choir – Rich Waynick, Choir Director

Flower Guild – Sarah Munford

Lay Readers, Chalicers, and Lay Eucharistic Ministers – Roy Burton

Altar Guild – Lori Hoden

Acolytes – Bill Willey

Creative Liturgy – Lavette Porter

Thanks, too, to these "regular" Liturgy Commission members who are always ready to help when called upon: Harry Porfert, Gertrude Batts, Pam Knight, Sally Todd, Joanne Bishop and Ann Meng.

The Ascension music ministry must start with the best use of existing resources and look to build where there is a clear opportunity. Ascension recently welcomed to the music staff Charles Porter. Charles plays the guitar and helps us learn new hymns as we continue to blend traditional and contemporary music. Through a very generous gift, Ascension was given a new hymnal-Gather Comprehensive. Along with Gather, The Hymnal 1982 and Hymns of Praise, the congregation is given the opportunity to sing with spiritual perception. Let everything that can breathe...praise the Lord! This is indeed very broad and inclusive. The Gospel challenges us to have hearts that are generous and inclusive. It seems to me, if we are truly filled with the Spirit, our appreciation of all kinds of sacred music and artistic expression will naturally be expansive-not restrictive. Of all people on Earth, Christians ought to be the most eager to expand and grow. In doing so we harmonize with the expansive, innovative Spirit of God.

The Adult Parish Choir provides leadership for congregational singing and enhances the liturgy by singing Offertory and Communion anthems, introits, psalms, and Mass settings. This very special group of singers enjoys a very special fellowship while improving their musical and vocal skills. Superior vocal or musical skills, while desirable, are not a prerequisite for participation-rather taking seriously the responsibility and commitment of being a faithful member. The Adult Parish choir rehearses weekly from September to June on Thursday from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. in the choir room. Many members have taken the opportunity to learn to be better sight readers and to learn music theory when offered during the summer.

The Handbell Choir, directed by Mark Wheeler, rehearses from 9:30-10:25 a.m. most Sundays from September to June. This special choir performs voluntaries and accompanies psalms and anthems. Like all the choirs, you are invited to share your musical talent and participate.

The Chorister program is a choir for children in grades 1-5. This year parents requested to have rehearsals on Sunday morning from 9-9:20 a.m. While reluctant, I agreed. Two very faithful and talented young men-Charlie Todd and Kyle Wheeler continue to develop their fullest singing potential. Trying to meet the needs of the parents and rehearse on Sunday has in reality hurt this exceedingly important choir. It is indeed my hope that next year we will be able to rehearse during the week for 50 minutes and involve students in grades 1-5. This choir really is only possible if parents support it.

The Music Committee is chaired by Chuck Spence. The leadership of this committee is responsible for our "in-house" hymnal, HYMNS OF PRAISE. Nellwyn Beamon has been very helpful in copying hymns and songs for inclusion in this publication. Thank you, Nellwyn. HYMNS OF PRAISE is, of course, a work in progress.

Informative articles concerning sacred music and liturgy as well as information on the Hymn of the Month appear regularly in the Ascension Herald.

Lastly, I want to offer my sincere appreciation and thanks to all Parish musicians for sharing their talents and for the opportunity of continuing education at the Virginian Wesleyan Sacred Music Conference during the summer.

May we as a congregation of God's people always have the attitude of David when it comes to singing...Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Psalm 146: 1-2.

Rick Waynick

Director of Music

In our daily lives seldom do we focus on joy. We are often faced with so much pain and suffering we use all of our energy to come to terms with these issues, forgetting to look for the small pieces of joy that surround us.

The Outreach projects that are so much a part of this church create joy. The dedicated Ascensionites who never hesitate to lend their skills are a true blessing. The blood drive for the American Red Cross or the many hands needed to host the adult homeless population during NEST week. Those same folks organize the Full Circle "Dinner is Served" event.

Not to be left out is the Food Bank so well managed by Marilyn Meek and her team.

This is just a smidgen of the many projects that are supported by your Outreach Commission.

The commission takes a serious approach to budget and how best to be good stewards of the monies entrusted to us. The following is an abbreviated list of the many projects supported in our community and elsewhere on a yearly basis:

Empower Hampton Roads Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy

Camp Wakonda Camp Chanco Mission of the Holy Spirit St. Mary’s Home for the Disabled Dwelling Place F.O.R. Kids Norfolk Urban Outreach Full Circle Aids Hospice N.E.S.T. Canterbury House St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen Episcopal Relief and Development American Red Cross

.

There is more to do….work to be done….and joy to give.

Many thanks to those who have devoted their time and talents to our past efforts and we look forward to welcoming many more helping hands as we grow together.

Respectfully, and in God’s name,

Sylvia Stewart, Outreach Chairperson

Pastoral Care Ministry is done person to person with God at the center: a hospital or nursing home visit, a conversation sharing a burden or joy, a prayer that is requested or a healing prayer in the context of the church service, even a meal to someone. In each of these situations we ask God to be in the middle of the interaction and relationship.

Our Prayer Shawl Ministry is particularly touching: both in the making and the delivering. The person in need is left with a physically comforting symbol that becomes spiritually comforting. Check the bulletin board for thank you's from parishioners, extended family, and friends as they express what this ministry has meant to them.

More people are coming to the Healing rail to ask for healing prayers for themselves or someone in their lives. Healing comes in various ways and does not necessarily mean "cure." That is in God's hands. You will feel heard, loved and supported through the prayers we offer to ask God for healing in this confidential setting.

There are Care Notes in the narthex to give you supportive, faithful ways of handling life situations. We are developing a form for information on parishioners so we will be able to respond to personal emergencies or in a disaster.

Many people are committed to pastoral ministry and have blessed us with all they do. I am grateful to all, particularly with Father David on sabbatical. With leadership from Samantha and Nellwyn, your wiling response whenever needed has been especially appreciated this spring.

Nancy Morris, Chair

The comprehensive stewardship program at Ascension takes many forms which use the time, talents, and treasures of its parishioners. As part of the overall program, monthly articles were written for the parish newsletter, and especially during our annual pledge campaign, pertinent bulletin items were contributed. Planning for the annual pledge campaign commenced in September with meetings including the Rector and Wardens. We established the methods and schedule of events for the campaign.

We held Stewardship Sunday on October 20th with an excellent presentation of the 2007 Vision Budget by the Finance chair and the treasurer, following a typically exceptional Fellowship breakfast. A host of volunteer "callers" contacted parishioners who were not able to attend this event. Although we did not reach our goal of fully funding our proposed budget, we did receive 136 pledges totaling $300,734.00.

Of course, throughout the year, there were countless examples of active and purposeful stewardship throughout the many programs of the church, and for all these efforts, we are sincerely grateful.

Submitted by Bob Brown, co-chair