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Sunday Services |
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| 8:00 A.M. |
| Offering quiet meditation and music from the Hymnal 1982 |
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| 10:00 A.M. |
| A rich blend of traditional and contemporary music; nursery care and Sunday school for children |
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Wednesday Services |
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| 12:15 P.M. |
| This short service held in the chapel includes scripture reading, a homily and the traditional Rite I Holy Eucharist. |
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| 7:00 P.M., First Wednesday each month |
| Holy Eucharist with Prayers for Healing: a caring service using the new liturgies from Enriching Our Worship. |
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| Church of the Ascension is located about 2-1/2 miles from downtown Denver. The Denver Country Club is five blocks south of the church, and Colfax Avenue is 10 blocks to the north. In between the sedate Country Club and jazzy Colfax, there are older homes that are increasing in value, and young people with children are moving in. Ascension itself is in the Seventh Avenue Historic District. |
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| Our History |
In 2004, The Church of the Ascension celebrated its 100th anniversary.
In April 1904, in a tent about six blocks from where the church is now, Mrs. Thomas Ward started a little mission called Arlington Mission because she felt the need for a neighborhood Sunday School. Denver was rich and rowdy. Arlington Mission outgrew its space by 1909 and the property at Sixth and Gilpin, the current site of the church, was purchased.
In 98 years, Ascension has had only had nine rectors. We are a church of continuity.
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| We are also a church of commitment: |
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Almost 50 years ago, we started a mission in Castle Rock that is now the thriving Christ's Church. |
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One of our rectors, Fr. Edwin Thayer, was called to be Bishop of Colorado in 1960. |
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Twenty-four years ago, we trained the first girl acolytes in the Diocese of Colorado. |
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We mentored two women who became ordained Deacons in the Diocese. |
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In 1999, we perceived the need for quality childcare and started Bright Star Early Learning Center. Bright Star has served Social Services children, children from the neighborhood, and some refugee children.. |
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In recent years, two parishioners went to Africa to work with the Kenyan Children Foundation, a Denver-based organization committed to helping the most needy children in Kenya. We have also sent individuals and groups to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and St. Paul's Episcopal Church and School in Petit Trou de Nippes, Haiti. Attendance is on the increase and, currently, average Sunday attendance is 130. |
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Over the past five years, attendance has increased to an average of 150 each Sunday. Our Sunday School enrollment has grown to 55 this year. Our music programs continue to develop and improve. Ascension is a parish with deep roots and an exciting future. |
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| Our Staff |
| About our Pastoral Assistant |
| The Reverend Tom Long, an Episcopal priest and professional counselor recently joined our clergy team. He works directly under Father Harlan's supervision in a collaborative way. We can expect to see Fr. Tom participating in the Eucharist and occasionally preaching and serving in other capacities as our clergy team develops. |
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Father Long tells us about himself:
I was born and raised here in Denver, attending East High School and the University of Denver before heading off to Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA. Since returning to Colorado in 1975 I have served at Ascension, Pueblo; St. Bartholomew's, Estes Park; Christ Church, Denver; and St. Timothy's, Centennial. Each of these churches has offered unique opportunities for ministry and for growth, and I am looking forward to seeing what my time among you will bring. No doubt, many wonderful blessings.
Beth and I were married June 22, 1991. We each brought three children into our marriage, the oldest now 28 and the youngest, 17. We have one grandson, Benjamin from my oldest daughter Erin and her husband Matt. We take incredible pride and give great thanks to God for the presence of these wonderful young people in our life. This is just one of the many ways that our Lord has blessed us.
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In 1985, while serving at Christ Church, I felt a call to move the focus of my ministry toward Pastoral Counseling. I currently work as a full time psychotherapist, focusing my ministry in the areas of individual, couple and family counseling. I am also a Member of The American Association of Pastoral Counselors. This move out of full time ministry in the church has allowed me to do supply work around the Diocese, a great way to get a feel for how "The Church" is doing. It also allows me to be here at Ascension, which I am very excited about.
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This life journey that God has provided reminds me continually that The Spirit of God calls, guides, and sustains us in all that we do. I have learned that the Word of God must be at the center of life. Our journey must be about transformation: we are called to be a changed people and we are called to be among a community of people who are seeking the same. It is here, among a people who listen to the Spirit, live by the Word, and seek transformation that we will find the power of God to serve, call, and offer God's healing to others. This is who we are and who we are called to become.
I feel honored to have an opportunity to serve Christ among you and look forward to knowing Him more fully as I get to know each of you.
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| About our Deacon |
The Reverend Bobbie Girardin has also recently joined the pastoral team at our church. She will focus our congregation on outreach issues and opportunities to serve the world, especially the needy and the poor. Her role in the liturgy reflects this focus. On appropriate liturgical occasions, Deacon Bobbie will preach. Again, she is directly supervised by Father Harlan to work as part of this collaborative team of clergy.
Deacon Bobbie tells us about herself:
I was born in Oakland, California but grew up in Pasadena, California. I was twelve when I came to Denver to live with my aunt and family after my parents died. My family was attending Christ Church so I started going and was baptized and confirmed there.
| After three years in Denver I moved to Alaska with my brother and graduated from Sheldon Jackson High School in Sitka. I was married after graduation and three years later my daughter Tanya was born. We moved to Seattle and while there I went to college and earned a degree as a veterinary technician. Unfortunately my marriage didn’t last and after the divorce I returned to Denver, to be close to family, where I have been ever since. |
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I met Kerry in 1976 and we were married in February of 1977. I had worked as a vet tech for quite awhile then started working as a distributor of electronic components. In 1993 Kerry and I started attending St. James Episcopal Church in Wheat Ridge. We loved the congregation and were both active within the parish. One Sunday a woman asked me if I had ever thought about the ministry. She said I had a real presence on the altar. I laughed and said no, it had never occurred to me. I did talk to my priest though and he said we ought to pray about it. I started the process to be ordained a vocational deacon in 1996 and was ordained in November 1999. My ministry has mostly been at a battered women’s shelter where I started working in July 1999. Within the church I serve at the altar, read the Gospel and co-ordinate the Lay Eucharistic Ministry program among other things.
Beginning October 1, 2002, with the Bishop’s approval, I have taken a leave of absence from St. James. Since that time Kerry and I have moved from Arvada to Aurora. We have tried other churches in this area, but really liked the feeling we got at Ascension. I had known Fr. James previously, as he was a teacher of church history while I was in the Diaconal Formation Process, and it was nice to renew our acquaintance.
I talked to the Bishop on February 4th, and he approved my becoming part of the staff at Ascension. I am looking forward to being your deacon and getting to know you. |
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