PRAYERS REQUESTED FOR:
In Prayer This Week, Remember:
*THOSE WHO ARE ILL OR HOSPITALIZED: Monica Campbell; Dorothy Carlon (Diane Olive’s mother); Rick Holm (Arne Brown’s friend); Orlyn Johnson; Roger Klinghagen (Lorraine Kracke’s brother-in-law); Dick Lee; Aaron Olson; Ron Olson; Amy Pedersen; John Schultz; Bonnie (Mary Fiedler’s sister-in-law);
*THOSE WHO MOURN THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE: Bev Bjerke and family and friends on the death of her husband, Gerald
*THOSE WHO ARE HOMEBOUND: Ruth Lindsey; Bruce & Donna Neyhart; Harold Widvey
*THOSE ACTIVATED FOR MILITARY SERVICE: Becky Reid (daughter of Rich & Kathy Reid).

---

Weekly Announcements from the UPDATE

OUTDOOR WORSHIP - Weather permitting,  worship will be outside this Sunday, August 19th. You are invited to bring your lawn chairs or blankets to sit out on the north lawn for worship. 

Blessing Backpacks: Bring your backpack or school bag to worship on August 18 or 19 and receive a special “beginning of the school year” blessing. This milestone is for students of all ages starting or returning to school this Fall.
This Tuesday, August 21, at 7 pm, Lt. Coon of the Brookings Police Department will lead an Active Shooter Training for our Staff and congregational leadership. ALL are welcome to attend and we especially encourage members of the Operations and Maintenance Board, and ushers and greeters to participate.

SNL Fall Kickoff Picnic - Sunday August 26th Sunday Night Live is a family-friendly fellowship group that meets regularly during the school year. It is a great place to connect with other Ascension families! We will start the year with a family picnic. Head to Moriarty Park (corner of 17th Ave and Pebble Beach) for fellowship and play time following the 9:30 service. We will plan to eat around noon - bring a dish to share. Come and go as you are able.

8th & 9th Grade Confirmation dates: An orientation meeting for Confirmation parents and students, both 8th & 9th grades, will be on September 12 at 6:00pm. Pastor Fred and the small group leaders will meet on September 19 at 7pm. Confirmation classes begin on September 26, at 6:45pm.

Noisy Offering: The noisy offerings in August will support Ascension’s Member & Community Assistance Fund.

Church Floors: Note that the church will be closed on August 27 while the carpet is being cleaned. Expect restricted access to parts of the church for a few days to allow the carpet to dry. Your patience and understanding is appreciated.

7th Grade Milestone on Holy Communion  will be held at Schade Vineyard on August 25, at 10:00am. Worship recognition takes place on Sunday, August 26, at the 9:30am service.

Walkers needed for Faith Walk and Talk: Prior to being Confirmed this fall, Ascension’s 10th graders will participate in a “Faith Walk and Talk” with adult members of the congregation. During the walk, the Confirmands will engage in conversations about their faith, the promises made at Baptism now affirmed at Confirmation, and how the two are part of their lives. We need both female and male adult walkers for this year’s Walk and Talk on Sunday September 9th from 2:30-5pm. Adult walkers are asked to attend a short training after Sunday worship on either August 26 or September 2nd. Take this opportunity to connect with our youth. Contact Gail Tidemann (tidemanng@hotmail.com, 690-6767) or Pastor Fred (fredb@brookings.net, 692-6565) if you are willing to walk and talk with our 10th graders.
​​
Church Directory Picture Retakes are scheduled for Monday, September 17, 2-9 pm. If you missed getting your picture taken last year or would just like to have a new picture taken, please watch for further information. Lifetouch requires a minimum of 18 households to do the picture retake session. Please sign up as soon as possible, the sign-up sheet is available on the table outside the office. 

Thunder Road Night for youth: All Ascension Middle School Youth and their friends are invited Friday, September 7th, to an evening of fun at Thunder Road in Sioux Falls. Parents and their kids meet at 7:00pm at Ascension for a brief planning meeting. Students depart at 7:45pm and plan to return to Ascension at 2:00am. Cost for Ascension Youth is $10 and $15 for friends (Ascension will pick up remaining expense). Please sign up by August 29! Sign-up and permission forms are available on the kiosk. Completed permission forms need to be returned prior to departure. Volunteers to drive and/or chaperone would also be appreciated.

Sunday School begins with Rally Day on September 16! Classes are held for ALL ages from 9:45-10:45am each Sunday. Registration and volunteer signup is on the kiosk and on the website. Teachers are still needed for every grade level. For more information on Youth Sunday School, contact Heather Kepner (heather.kepner@gmail.com) and for questions on adult classes talk to Elaine Rietz (e2drietz@outlook.com).

ATTENTION YOUTH!!!    Need a place to have fun and get some schoolwork done? Come to church! Join us Wednesday afternoons for a time of study (some help available) before a time of games, activities, fellowship and fun. Starts Wednesday August 29th from after school until 6pm. Grab a participation form in the Welcome area for more details.
Adults with expertise in various areas invited to help the youth in their studies and join in the fun. Contact Pastor Fred, fredb@brookings.net, for more informtion.

Bylaws Review: The congregation president has appointed a Bylaws Review Committee.  Please submit any Bylaws suggestions in writing to Kathy Miller (kathymiller909@gmail.com) before Aug. 27, 2018.

Lutheran World Relief needs school kits! Take advantage of summer school supply sales and help ensure that they can say YES to every student who needs a school kit. Go to lwr.org/schoolkits to get started.

Trinity Teens and Joy Singers start their rehearsals on Wednesday, August 29th. Trinity Teens will be at 2:45pm; Joy Singers are going back to a 5:30pm rehearsal time. If you want your middle/high schooler to ride the BATA bus from school to Trinity Teens rehearsal, please call BATA to add them to the list. As always, the church will pay for the ride, but BATA askes that parents call to schedule their children for a ride.

Feeding Brookings is a free food distribution for those in need that takes place at Ascension from 4:00-5:00pm each Thursday.
AUGUST ITEMS OF THE MONTH: Canned Meat (tuna/chicken/spam/
ham). You are also encouraged to bring in your extra garden produce.
HYGIENE ITEMS: toilet paper, bar soap, shampoo, toothpaste
Volunteers are always needed. (Please sign up at www.feedingbrookings.org)
Mondays at 8:30am: help unload freight
Thursdays at 2:00: set up tables and items for distribution OR drive truck to pick up items from Walmart and Hy-Vee
Thursdays from 3:45-5:30pm: share in devotion and prayer, distribute items, cleanup and finished by 5:30pm
Feeding Brookings is a United Way sponsored organization and an equal opportunity provider.

Music Ministry for children and youth at Ascension:
Grades 1-5
Joy Singers will start on August 29. Rehearsals are Wednesdays from 5:30-6:00pm. This choir is for all children grades 1-5. We sing twice a month in worship alternating between services.
Grades 6-12
Trinity teens will start on August 29. Rehearsals are Wednesdays from 2:45-3:30pm. We sing at both services on the second Sunday of the month. If your middle schooler plans to ride the BATA bus from MMS to the church, please call BATA (692-2222) to set up the ride and let Naomi know those plans.
If your children are interested in any of these opportunities or if you have more questions, please contact Naomi Stout at naomis@brookings.net or 692-6565. Thanks!

​​Mikah Meyer will be here preaching and singing on September 16th at both services. Mikah is currently becoming the youngest person to experience all 417 National Park Service sites. He is using the journey publicity to spread a message of hope and acceptance for LGBT people and LGBT Christians.