A Community

One Tree Many Branches welcomes Chris Forte and his Band with their album release of "Skywatching" to the Listening Room @ Ascension October 24th, 2026 @ 4:30PM

St. Tim's welcomes Twangtown Paramours to the Listening Room @Ascension October 10, 2026 @ 7:00PM

Sunday Mornings for Children at Ascension  We are excited to welcome children and families to another wonderful program year at Ascension! Whether your family has been part of our congregation for years or you are visiting for the first time, there is a place for your children to learn, worship, make music, build friendships, and grow in faith. Our children and youth ministries include Godly Play, Godly Play+, Children’s Music, First Communion, and Confirmation. We’ll share more information about First Communion, Confirmation, and other special activities throughout the year. We’re Back September 13! Our regular Sunday morning children’s programming returns Sunday, September 13: 9:30 a.m. — Children’s Music 10:00 a.m. — Godly Play for children age 3 through grade 3 10:00 a.m. — Godly Play+ for children in grades 4–6 Godly Play & Godly Play+ Godly Play is a creative, Montessori-inspired approach to Christian faith formation that invites children to explore Bible stories, wonder together, ask questions, and discover the language of our faith. We welcome children aged 3-3 rd grade. Godly Play+ continues that journey for older elementary children in grades 4–6, offering age-appropriate opportunities to explore faith, Scripture, worship, and what it means to live as people of God. Both groups meet at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Throughout the year, our children will also be invited to participate more fully in worship. They will have opportunities to serve as readers and to work alongside our ushers in gathering and presenting the offering. Sundays Without Godly Play Godly Play and Godly Play+ will take a break on several holiday weekends during the program year: Thanksgiving weekend December 20 & 27 — Christmas break Additional special Godly Play activities and events will be announced throughout the year. Children’s Music Children’s Music meets with Minkyoo at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays. Children will learn and make music together and will have opportunities to sing during worship throughout the program year. Our children will also take part in special seasonal celebrations, including our Christmas Program on December 5. Special rehearsals will be scheduled in the weeks leading up to the program. Come Grow With Us! We are looking forward to another year filled with learning, music, worship, friendship, and growing together in faith. New families are always welcome. Mark your calendars for September 13—we can’t wait to see you at Ascension!

David Heim is former editor of the Christian Century magazine. (For a flavor of the magazine and some of his contributions, see the publications link below.. He has served ELCA congregations in Rolling Meadows and Palatine and has been interim pastor in Park Ridge, Naperville, and Oak Park. He is a graduate of Yale Divinity School and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He grew up in Vermont and was a reporter for his hometown newspaper before going to seminary. He lives in Oak Park with his wife, Barbara Hofmaier, who is an editor and coordinator of a local GriefShare program. They have a son who is an ELCA pastor. Pastor David is part of a Lutheran-Jewish dialogue group in Chicago and was a member of the Christian Leadership Initiative at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem in 2016–17. He likes history, fiction, travel, and sports.

Let's Learn Together For more than 14 years, a wonderful group of Ascension women has gathered on Monday mornings to grow in faith through thoughtful Bible study, meaningful conversation, and fellowship. The group continues to thrive—and you're invited! Whether you've participated in Bible studies for years or are just getting started, you'll find a warm, welcoming community where questions, insights, and conversation are encouraged. We meet most Mondays, from 10:15-11:45 a.m. Join us from the comfort of your kitchen table with a cup of coffee—or participate while you're traveling! Zoom makes it easy to stay connected wherever you are. What to Expect: Each session includes: Friendly, engaging discussion A short video connected to the week's study Conversation centered on one chapter of the study book The only "homework" is reading the assigned chapter before each session and bringing your questions, observations, and "aha!" moments. No previous Bible study experience is necessary. Our First Study Begins Monday, September 21! We will begin the year with: Embracing the Uncertain: A Bible Study for Unsteady Times To allow time to order and distribute study books, please let us know you'll be joining us by August 17. Looking Ahead: Our studies throughout the 2026–2027 program year will explore a variety of timely and engaging faith topics. Together we'll journey through: Embracing the Uncertain – Finding hope and courage during life's unsteady seasons. Advent Studies – Two special Advent series exploring the biblical birth narratives and the many voices of hope that prepare us for Christmas. The Holy Spirit – Discovering God's presence and power at work in our everyday lives. The Gospel of John – Exploring one of Scripture's most beloved Gospels with fresh insight and historical context. Genesis – Returning to the Bible's first stories to discover how creation, covenant, mercy, and promise continue to shape our faith today. Post-Season Study – We hope to conclude the year with Stories Jesus Told, an engaging look at the parables of Jesus and how they continue to speak into our lives. Each study is designed to spark thoughtful discussion, deepen our understanding of Scripture, and encourage us in our daily walk of faith. Contact the church office with questions.