Life and Growth:

Members of the Life & Growth Committee assist in planning a variety of events with fellowship and fun as our main ingredients. We enjoy planning parties for our Church family and friends. There are also a variety of different activities for everyone.

 Many of the activities our committee sponsors vary from month-to-month and year-to-year but also included on a regular basis are: Attending the Theatre twice per year, Summer BBQ’s and we try to choose a different theme each year, V.I.P. Luncheons which are the 3^rd Sunday of the month. Our 40+ Active group sponsor activities monthly. The Men’s breakfast is the first Saturday of each month. If you enjoy quilting our WELCA (Women of the ELCA) offer a quilting group that makes quilts for those in need and they meet on a monthly basis.

 Along with these groups we also sponsor the coffee hour fellowship following each service. We also sponsor our “Kids Table” during the coffee hour fellowship. We are also putting together a new pictorial directory and updating our Living Wall. And we never miss Sunday Funday at Rusch Park.

 All in all we put together a variety of activities and fun for the whole family. We look forward to seeing you. Together we can welcome ALL people to faith in Jesus Christ.

Properties:

Our Properties Committee is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of our Church and grounds.

Our Properties Committee sponsors work days throughout the year to give our members the opportunity to tackle some of the larger routine cleaning and maintenance jobs that need attention from time to time.

Members of our Property Committee are also skilled at fine carpentry and often plan and build specialty items for our church.

We are blessed to have dedicated and skilled volunteers to manage our church facilities.

Social Ministry:

Lutheran Church of the Ascension provides a caring ministry to bring God’s Love to those in need through its social ministry activities. These programs offer assistance to our brothers and sisters in Citrus Heights, the Greater Sacramento Area and around the World. The following are ongoing missions here at Ascension:
(please see below for further contact and scheduling information)

Youth
Mercy Ministry:  This mission provides bonnets, crib sheets, blankets, and items used specifically for the care of pre-mature babies. These are hand-made by the ladies of our church and delivered to the neo-natal nurses at Mercy San Juan Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente Roseville.
Mustard Seed School:  Funds are collected annually to buy student supplies and nutritious snacks for Mustard Seed School, which provides a caring and structured environment for homeless children.
WIND:    Ascension collects clothing and delivers it to WIND (Working In a New Direction), which is a non-profit organization that supports homeless teens in Sacramento.

People In Crisis
Prayers for the Mentally Ill:  During our regular Sunday service on one October Sunday each year the entire congregation at Ascension joins Lutheran churches across America in praying for comfort and support for the mentally ill and their caregivers and loved ones.
Prayer Shawl Ministry:  The ladies at Ascension knit and crochet prayer shawls to be given to people in time of crisis. The unknown future recipients are prayed for as the shawls are being made. Those who do not knit or crochet can participate if they wish with monetary donations to cover the cost of yarn.

Housing
Habitat for Humanity:  Ascension participates in the building of homes for Habitat for Humanity. This program provides responsible people with the opportunity to own their own home by using their own work-equity.

Feeding The Hungry
Loaves & Fishes:  Members of Ascension serve meals at Loaves & Fishes, a ministry for the homeless and hungry in Sacramento.
Sunrise Christian Food Closet:  Ascension volunteers work one day a month at this facility where residents of Citrus Heights come to receive free groceries for their families.
Bread for the World:  Ascension members write letters to their Senators and Representatives in Congress urging support for federal programs that benefit hungry and poor people everywhere.

Caring for the Elderly
Elder Care:  Each month congregation members do a brief worship service and sing old favorite hymns with the residents of Mission Carmichael and Manor Care. These two local facilities provide skilled nursing care for the elderly and those recovering from surgery or illness.
Sermon Ministry:  Ascension provides CD’s of Sunday services to people who may not be able to attend in person. This ministry allows families to stay connected to our church, and feel a part of the congregation.

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE / CONTACT LIST

Sunrise Christian Food Closet:  Distribute groceries to local needy                                     
   Contact Karen Moser – 409-0531
3^rd Wednesday from 11 am to 3 pm                                              

Manor Care Health Care Service:  Sing hymns with residents

Contact Robert and Bernice Kent – 481-4040
2^nd Sunday from 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

 Mission Carmichael Care Center:  Sing hymns with residents

Contact: Mark Messina – 721-6814
3^rd Saturday from 1 pm – 2pm

 Neo Natal:  Sew, knit, or crochet items for premature babies in the NEONATAL Units at Mercy Hospital and Kaiser Permanente Roseville

Contact Gail Palmer – 989-3466
Meet with Pins and Needles
2^nd Monday at 10 am in Conference Room 1

 Prayer Shawl Ministry: Knit or crochet shawls for persons in crisis

Contact:  Karen Walton – 728-1246
Meet with Pins and Needles
2^nd Monday at 10 am in Conference Room 1

For more information please contact:
Rich Peterson (916) 773-5478 / Susan Van Vliet, Parish Assistant (916) 723-5223

Stephen Ministry:

Stephen Ministry is: our Christ centered one on one, confidential, caring, lay ministry for members and friends of Lutheran Church of the Ascension and the community.

Holy Scripture tells us that in order to help fulfill the law of Christ we are to "Bear one another's burdens." (Gal 6:2) thus, Ascension began its association with Stephen Ministry of St. Louis, MO in October of 1991. At that time, as now, the goal of our congregation was to become more supportive and caring of people in need, both within the church and in the surrounding community.

A Stephen Minister's primary objective is to bring God's love and forgiveness to our assigned Care Receivers through weekly visits.

We are not professional counselors. Instead we listen with open hearts and minds as we share in the journeys of our brothers and sisters in Christ. That which is shared in confidence, stays confidential. Our strength comes from knowing that, although we may be the care giver, God is ultimately the CURE giver. While parishioners with critical and immediate needs are visited often by a pastor, this is usually not possible over an extended period of time. Crisis may arise for the hospitalized, terminally ill, grieving, elderly, disabled, or those struggling with unresolved spiritual issues.

For further information, contact Doris Preston @ toptrans@surewest.net

Worship and Music:

The Worship and Music committee works with the pastor's to ensure that our worship services promote the Word of God and the Sacrament in a reverent, orderly manner. In addition to Sunday morning services, we provide occasional special services such as quarterly Healing services.
Our committee provides many ways to participate in our worship services:
•altar guild
•musicians
•ushers
•communion assistants
•choirs
•liturgists
•special music
•lay readers

In addition, we provide bulletins, children's bulletins and flowers each Sunday.

Stewardship:

The Stewardship Committee's primary responsibility is to plan, initiate and promote an on-going program of sound Christian stewardship. The stewardship program educates and encourages congregational awareness and growth in giving of one's time, talent, abilities, and gifts.

 At Ascension Church our Evangelism Committee serves to share our faith with:
 Our Visitors:

• As honored guests in our church home
• Through our Greeters Ministry
• And informative New Members classes with lunch provided

 Our Community:

• Through outreach with congregational donations to many programs and   organizations such as Loaves and Fishes, food closets, Domestic Violence Intervention, and missionaries

 Our Congregation:

• With information about our outreach programs
• Opportunity for new member sponsorship
• And spiritual growth through involvement in church ministries

Education:

The Education Committee is responsible for all the educational programs in the church including, children's Sunday school, starting at age three and running through eighth grade, Adult education, confirmation, Bible studies, and Vacation Bible School.

Vacation Bible School for children ages 3 years through sixth grade is usually held during the last week of June. Sunday morning education hour begins at 9:15 A.M. We also have a number of weekday and evening Bible study groups. These groups are listed on the web site's on the monthly calendar.

The Finance Committee is responsible for preparing the budget, paying the bills, and providing financial reports to the Congregation.

Every child is a creation of God and possesses special unique gifts. Every child is an individual with the privilege and right to develop at their own rate. Ascension Christian Preschool offers your child a Christian program with opportunities for emotional, social, physical, intellectual, and spiritual growth.