Meet our New Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry, Tina Clark!
Tina was born in New York City and lived in Westport, CT until her family moved back to her mom's hometown of Denver when she was a young child. Her parents were married at Ascension by Father Thayer, shortly before he became the Bishop of Colorado. After returning east for college and spending a few years in the DC area, she returned to Colorado and has lived in Evergreen and Denver ever since. Ministry to children, youth, and their families is not just her work, it is her vocation. She has been blessed to build and nurture this ministry at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church and most recently at Saint John's Cathedral. She is delighted to continue this ministry at Ascension. Alongside her ministry, she is a writer, an animal lover, and an avid traveler. Tina will earn her Masters in Spiritual Development in May of 2026. She lives in Denver with her partner, Ray, and their blended houseful of teenage boys and rescue dogs, where there is quite literally never a dull moment.
Send a note of welcome and introduction to Tina here.
Meet & Greet with Tina!
Our new Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries would love to meet and begin getting to know Ascension families better, and to that end, is holding offsite office hours around Denver this summer. Please join whenever it's convenient:
Ascension Families at Chatfield Lake | Monday, August 4, or Monday, August 18 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Join Cheryl and Tina for a day of swimming, splashing, boating, and tubing at Chatfield Lake. We will meet at Chatfield Swim Beach (click for directions), on the south side of the reservoir, where there are restrooms, a snack bar, and a roped-off swimming area. Cheryl will have her boat, and take all willing participants for a spin on the lake, including tubing for those who can swim (life jackets in various sizes provided). Can't make it on the 4th? We will go back on Monday, August 18 at the same time for any kids who aren't in school yet. Bring a picnic, plenty of water, sunscreen, towels, sun shirts, swim shoes, and hats/tents/umbrellas for shade, and join us for either of these fun summer days on the water!
Thursday, August 7, 5:30-7 p.m. | Middle and High School Youth and Parents | Pizza and Playtime at Cranmer Park. Tina will bring pizza and drinks, youth may bring your favorite outdoor games. Parents, please plan to stay and chat for this event. While younger siblings are welcome, this will primarily be a youth group event. (If your youth has dietary restrictions please let Tina know!)
Youth Ministry
For youth in grades 6-12, we are building a youth group where tweens and teens come together in an inclusive and supportive environment to pray, play, and grow together. Youth group will explore God’s place in our lives and our place in God’s world through scripture and prayer with a lot of time for the big conversations, and plenty of time to unwind and play, too.
Middle School Youth gather weekly on Sundays during formation hour, between the morning services, in the library. During this time, youth are invited to explore scripture, faith, and their own spirituality. Questions are not only welcome, they’re encouraged.
As our youth group grows, Confirmation Class for High School youth will be offered yearly as an opportunity for teens to explore and embrace their maturing faith alongside adult mentors from our parish community.
High School Youth are encouraged to work with Tina to discover their unique spiritual gifts and how they fit into our parish life during formation hour. High School Youth will also meet regularly to have big conversations along with laughter, play, and prayer.
Super Sundays
Everyone in the family is invited to stay after church once a month for parents’ brunch while kids have lunch and playtime. Youth will have lunch and help with the younger kids before their own youth group outing in the afternoon with Tina and Cheryl. The first Super Sunday is September 28; please watch for details to come!