
In Prayer this week, please remember:
ILL OR HOSPITALIZED: Dellas Cole; Jan Fjeldos; Dave Graper; Brian Harmdierks (friend of Ardis and James L. Johnson);
Al Johnson; Alice Johnson; Roger Klinghagen (Lorraine Kracke’s brother-in-law);
Kimberly Miller; Anetis Pohl (Steve Pohl’s mother); Gary Sackmann.
MOURNING THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE: Pastor Fred and family on the death of his grandmother, BettyJane Bartelt.
HOMEBOUND: Arne Brown; Brian Jorgensen; Dorene Lotzer; Bruce and Donna Neyhart; Artis Walton.
MILITARY SERVICE: Andre Jorgensen.
FOR OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS: health and ability to serve community, ability to make difficult decisions, ability to weather stress.
Congregational Annual Meeting
Sunday, January 24, 2021, 9:30am - Mark your calendars for the Annual Meeting
Ascension's Annual Meeting of the Congregation will be held via Zoom on Sunday, January 24. Watch for more details in the January Insight. We will need a quorum (79 confirmed members) present to conduct business, so please mark your calendars and plan to zoom in. At the November Council meeting, the Council passed the following resolution to amend the Constitution to allow meetings by electronic means. The resolution will need to be approved by the congregation at the Annual Meeting. It should be noted that our current Constitution does not preclude meetings by electronic means, but this amendment specifically allows them.
Resolution
Be it resolved that Ascension amend the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions by addition of C10.08 of the Model Constitution for Congregations, stating:
C10.08. This congregation may hold meetings by remote communication, including electronically and by telephone conference, as long as there is an opportunity for simultaneous aural communication. To the extent permitted by state law, notice of all meetings may be provided electronically.
*Copies of the Annual Report will be sent out prior to January 17, 2021.
The readings for January 23-24 services are: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:5-12; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
and Mark 1:14-20.
USHERS NEEDED: Starting February 6-7, we will again be needing ushers for ALL services. If you are willing and able, please let the church office know as soon as possible. Please indicate any preferences of service times, frequency you are willing to serve, or other requests. Thank you for your service!
In Person Services resume in February (socially distanced). We WILL also continue streaming online (via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascensionbrookings/?ref=bookmarks and via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_HhdqaTwIvx6_lTeKxLK3w) for those who prefer to watch online.
The Rebekah Book Group met on December 2 via Zoom and discussed American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. Please email Kathy Reid if you would like to be included in the next discussion, krltr@brookings.net. The next meeting will be January 27.
To ensure your church contributions are tax deductible, do not file your 2020 income tax return until you have received a written acknowledgment of your contributions from the church. Some of your contributions may not be tax-deductible if you file your tax return before receiving this written acknowledgment.
Christikon Hiking Trip: Do you like a sense of discovery and seeing all that God had made? Have we got a trip for you! Join us for the annual hiking trip to Christikon camp! Explore the beautiful wilds of Montana for a week. For more details contact Rich Reid, Les Olive, or either Pastor! Trip open to HS youth and up! Scholarships available! Zoom link is in your Update.
Warm clothing collection: Although the Christmas Trees are down, you are still encouraged to consider bringing new (or gently used) warm winter clothing to share with those needing them. Items can include gloves, mittens, scarves, ear muffs, hats, as well as socks and sweatshirts. Baskets are placed inside the church, near the office. The main doors of the church are open 11am to 3pm weekdays (10am to noon on Friday). If you need more info, please contact Shari at wsbavery@yahoo.com. Be warm and well!
Thank you to all Ascension members who have donated money, food and/or time to support the Feeding Brookings mission in 2020. Thanks to Ascension and the Brookings community, in December 2020, a total of 1104 households were provided food assistance. This included a total number of 3051 individuals, 1182 of them being children. Feeding Brookings distribution is on Thursday from 4:00-5:00pm in the church parking lot, weather permitting. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available. Please contact Bill Alsaker at William.alsaker@sdstate.edu if you can help. All in need are welcome. Please come if you can use the groceries.
Open Doors: The main entrance to the church building will be unlocked, Mondays through Thursdays from 11:00am until 3:00pm and on Fridays from 10:00am until noon. Office staff will still be available to answer the phone (692-6565) or email during regular office hours, Monday through Thursday from 8:30am until 4:00pm, (possibly closed during lunch time) and Fridays from 9:00am until noon. Remember staff is unavailable to answer the phones during weekly staff meetings on Thursdays from 9:00-10:45am (in case of holiday, meeting time may change). If you have an emergency during that time, please call Pastor Steve at 592-0028.
Church Building Use: The church is available for regularly scheduled group meetings; however, we ask that you please contact the church office if you plan to meet in the building. The building will remain locked and access allowed only for those scheduled groups. We ask that you observe social distancing guidelines and wear masks if you prefer. To minimize contamination, please remain in your designated area.
Please note that the staff is unavailable to answer phone calls during their weekly staff meeting on Thursdays from 9:00-10:30am (in case of holiday, meeting time may change).
Upcoming Activities:
To ensure your church contributions are tax deductible, do not file your 2020 income tax return until you have received a written acknowledgment of your contributions from the church. Some of your contributions may not be tax-deductible if you file your tax return before receiving this written acknowledgment.
Christikon Hiking Trip: Do you like a sense of discovery and seeing all that God had made? Have we got a trip for you! Join us for the annual hiking trip to Christikon camp! Explore the beautiful wilds of Montana for a week. For more details contact Rich Reid, Les Olive, or either Pastor! Trip open to HS youth and up! Scholarships available! Zoom link is in your Update.
Warm clothing collection: Although the Christmas Trees are down, you are still encouraged to consider bringing new (or gently used) warm winter clothing to share with those needing them. Items can include gloves, mittens, scarves, ear muffs, hats, as well as socks and sweatshirts. Baskets are placed inside the church, near the office. The main doors of the church are open 11am to 3pm weekdays (10am to noon on Friday). If you need more info, please contact Shari at wsbavery@yahoo.com. Be warm and well!
Thank you to all Ascension members who have donated money, food and/or time to support the Feeding Brookings mission in 2020. Thanks to Ascension and the Brookings community, in December 2020, a total of 1104 households were provided food assistance. This included a total number of 3051 individuals, 1182 of them being children. Feeding Brookings distribution is on Thursday from 4:00-5:00pm in the church parking lot, weather permitting. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available. Please contact Bill Alsaker at William.alsaker@sdstate.edu if you can help. All in need are welcome. Please come if you can use the groceries.
Open Doors: The main entrance to the church building will be unlocked, Mondays through Thursdays from 11:00am until 3:00pm and on Fridays from 10:00am until noon. Office staff will still be available to answer the phone (692-6565) or email during regular office hours, Monday through Thursday from 8:30am until 4:00pm, (possibly closed during lunch time) and Fridays from 9:00am until noon. Remember staff is unavailable to answer the phones during weekly staff meetings on Thursdays from 9:00-10:45am (in case of holiday, meeting time may change). If you have an emergency during that time, please call Pastor Steve at 592-0028.
Church Building Use: The church is available for regularly scheduled group meetings; however, we ask that you please contact the church office if you plan to meet in the building. The building will remain locked and access allowed only for those scheduled groups. We ask that you observe social distancing guidelines and wear masks if you prefer. To minimize contamination, please remain in your designated area.
Please note that the staff is unavailable to answer phone calls during their weekly staff meeting on Thursdays from 9:00-10:30am (in case of holiday, meeting time may change).
Upcoming Activities:
- Annual Meeting January 24, 9:30 am on Zoom. Please attend; quorum is required to do business.
- 2-year-old Milestone on Prayer January 30-31
- In Person Services all three services will resume February 6-7
- Installation of Council & Ministry Teams February 6-7
- 4-year-old Milestone on Worship February 6-7
- Ash Wednesday February 17