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The Episcopal Church of The Ascension at Fork   183 Fork-Bixby Road  Advance,   NC.   27006
PHONE: 336.998.0857
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Altar

We Bring You Glad Tidings

from the people of

The Episcopal Church of The Ascension at Fork 

Steeple Cross


Home About Us | History | Calendar | Christian Formation | Newsletter | The Vicar Speaks | Links

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Schedule of Events

    Sunday School for all ages begins at 10 AM each Sunday and the worship service is at 11 AM every Sunday. 

To parents of young children:  Our nursery is now staffed during the worship service.

Upcoming Events:    Mark your calendars!

                        **********************

Services during Holy Week and Easter 

Sunday, Mar. 28 @ 11 am:             Palm Sunday

Wed., Mar. 31 @ 7 pm:        Holy Eucharist & Healing

Thurs., April 1 @ 7 pm:       Holy Eucharist w/o foot washing

Fri., April 2 @ 12 noon:       Episcopal Churches of our Convocation gather at St. Paul’s  in Winston Salem for a service of Good Friday Lessons and music

Sat., April 3 @ 8 pm:           The Great Easter Vigil at Grace Church In Lexington, NC

Sun. April 4 @ 8 am:            Country breakfast in our Parish Hall followed by:

Sun., April 4 @ 9:30 am:     Easter Eucharist


It’s spring cleaning time at The Church of the Ascension (inside and out):  We need your help on Saturday morning, March 27th.  Please mark your calendars.  Questions?  See Eddie Everhart

 Episcopal Youth Choir Concert: Sunday, March 21 at 3 pm at Grace Episcopal Church Lexington.


A Note about Our Service Schedules
 There is a fellowship time beginning at 10:40AM.  If you have children, you are reminded that the worship of the Church is for all ages and your children are welcome to attend the service with you.  A nursery, however, is available for preschool children on Sundays.  Our vacation bible school program will resume this year at our parish.  Our program will have classes for all ages (that includes adults).

To parents of young children:
  Our nursery is now staffed during the worship service.

Bessie Faircloth is now teaching a pre-school age Sun. School class at 10 am every Sunday.


Christian Formation: 
 Normally there are  five classes which meet on Sundays at 10:00 AM.  There are three adult classes and two children's classes.  Two of the adult classes are bible study classes (one is a systematic study of selected book and the other is based on the lectionary readings assigned for each Sunday) and one explores the Episcopal Church and its traditions. 


In the Event of Inclement Weather
  •  In the event of inclement weather the Church will follow the lead of the Davie County Public School System. 
  •  Whenever the public schools are closed, all scheduled activities will be canceled. 
  •  This applies to Sunday School, Centering Prayer, Evening Services, Choir Practice, Vestry meetings or other meetings.
  • There will, however, always be an eleven o’clock  service on Sunday

WANTED! 

 

YOU are needed!  Volunteer today to help with Sunday School!   If you can help, please contact Karen Deadmon, Cori Everhart or Denise Whitaker!  

Help is also needed for Nursery Duty during services to keep our little ones while their parents attend services.

 

Want to know more about Sunday School?  Do you want to attend Sunday School?  Please talk with Rev. Sealy Cross and get involved with our Sunday School program. 


We are THANKFUL for Shirby Eagle and Brenda Beck, our Organists.  They give of their time weekly to serve as our musicians.  We are PROUD of both of these ladies.


5 Things that do not take a lot of effort that you can do for OUR Church….

      TELL ONE (ok, two if you want to.) other person about Ascension! This is the best kept secret in Davie County!
    *
      SUPPORT our Pastor. Sealy has a tough job.... just keeping up with all of us is a full time job!
    *
      GROWTH doesn't come easy and without pain. Be patient as we grow and provide new services and events!
    *
      PRAY for one another and our Church. Never underestimate the power of prayer.
    *
      INVITE! Pick up that phone now and invite someone to go to Church with you this Sunday morning!

10 Facts about

The Church of the Ascension

    1.  There are no strangers at Ascension.  Ascension is a warm, friendly Church.  In fact “we’ll talk you to death before we feed you!”  There has never been a stranger at the Church of the Ascension!

    2. No one leaves Ascension empty handed.  We ALL get more than we give on Sunday!

    3. We care.  We care about each other; we care about our community and the world.  The folks at Ascension are willing to “step up to the plate-“ we’re not benchwarmers!

    4. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you are, what you wear, how you speak or where you are from.  “Those front doors” swing open wide-open to welcome you at Ascension.

    5. There is a sickness at Ascension and it is contagious.  The sickness is characterized by being happy, friendly and forthcoming.  It is a good sickness.

     6. The folks at Ascension are from all walks of life and all ages. The Spirit is evident at Ascension.  It works quietly at most times.  Sometimes it moves and we get to move. 

    7. Accomplishment. Activeness.  Attentiveness.  Able (and willing).

    8. The people at Ascension care about you.  They are there when the going gets rough…. And, they are there in the good times.  We rejoice in the good times!

    9. Better friends can be found no where else.  Davie County is unique.  So is Ascension

    10.  You are invited and welcome to become a part of this active, growing congregation!


Save Our Siblings

A third-grade Sunday school teacher was giving a Bible lesson on the commandment, honor thy father and thy mother.
"Now, does anyone know a commandment for brothers and sisters?"
One sharp girl raised her hand and said, "'Thou shalt not kill.'"

—Jack Seberry, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Christian Reader, "Lite Fare."


Worth Repeating.......

"A new study shows that large doses of Vitamin E do not
protect against heart attacks and cancer, and might
actually raise the risk of heart failure. The study was
published in this month's Journal of Things that Scientists
Told You to Do Last Month That Turned Out to Be Harmful
This Month." --Dennis Miller Men's Shopping Habits


"You just go ahead," the man in the shopping mall said to his wife. "While you're shopping, I'll browse in the hardware store."

An hour later, she returned and saw him at the checkout counter.

The clerk was ringing up the last of a pile of tools and supplies that would fill two wheelbarrows.

"Are you buying all this?" his wife asked incredulously.

"Well, yes," he said, embarrassed. Then waving his arm toward the interior of the store, he added, "But look at all the stuff I'm leaving behind!"



The New Baby
 
When my wife Diane came home from the hospital with our second baby, she hired Myrna, a live-in-nurse, to come along and help out for the first few weeks.

Having read up on sibling rivalry, my wife watched our eighteen-month-old daugher Chelsey for signs of jealousy or insecurity. But Chelsey adored her little brother from the start. She loved to help Myrna feed and bathe the baby. She even offered to share her toys.

Several weeks passed and the mother of my two children, convinced that Chelsey was suffering no ill effects. decided she could manage without a nurse.
 
As she watched Myrna walk out to her car that last day, she heard an unmistakable cry of distress. "Myrna!" yelled Chelsey, running after her. "You forgot your baby!"
 
From Da Mouse Tracks Compliments



School Days

Early one morning, a mother went in to wake up her son. "Wake up, son. It's time to go to school!"

"But why, Mom? I don't want to go."

"Give me two reasons why you don't want to go."

"Well, the kids hate me for one, and the teachers hate me, too!"

"Oh, that's no reason not to go to school. Come on now and get ready."

"Give me two reasons why I should go to school."

"Well, for one, you're 52 years old. And for another, you're the Principal!"

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh


The mission of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension at Fork is to serve God, his church and his people as a loving and caring Episcopal family.


*All who seek God and are drawn to Christ are welcome at our table to receive Holy Communion.

The Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry, Bishop of NC
The Rt. Rev. Chip Marble, Assisting Bishop
The Rt. Rev. William O. Gregg, Assistant Bishop
The Rev. E. Sealy Cross, Vicar
The Rev. Kermit Bailey, Deacon
Organists:  Brenda Beck & Shirby Eagle

www.ascension-fork.org

*About Communion: All who seek God and are drawn to Christ are welcome at this table to receive Holy Communion.  You may stand or kneel at the Altar rail.  Please eat the bread when placed in your hand, then drink the wine from the chalice when it is brought to you.  If you wish to intinct (dip), please hold onto the wafer (bread) until the chalice is brought to you and then touch the wafer to the wine.

Welcome! The Church of the Ascension extends a warm welcome to all who  join us in worship.  If you are a guest, please sign our register and fill out a guest card.  These are located on the table in the Narthex (entry hall).


Welcome to the Episcopal Church:

Episcopalians welcome all Christians to participate fully and express their faith through a unique blend of biblical text, the Catholic tradition and one's individual conscience.

It is a church in which we are free to entertain the notions that no theological proposition is beyond challenge and that doctrine is theology in cement, yet it is where we can celebrate the eucharist in all its liturgical manifestations to transcend such notions.

The Book of Common Prayer reminds us that our `sins of omission' are equally as serious and require as much attention as our `sins of commission.'

QUESTIONs?

  • Are you interested in joining the Church of the Ascension? 

  • Do you want to transfer your membership to our Church from another Church? 

  • It is an easy process!  Contact Rev. Sealy Cross!  Everyone is welcome at Ascension! 


Did you hear about the fellow looking for a good Church?

Well, he searched around and found a little fellowship where the preacher and the congregation were reading out loud.

"We have left undone those things which we ought to have done and we have done those things which we ought not to have done."

The fellow dropped into the pew and with a big sigh of relief said,

"Hallelujah! I’ve found my crowd at last!"

Roan Ridge Committee Meets

     Our Church recently received a $12,000.00 grant from the Roan Ridge Foundation to study possible future uses for our Parish House.  Our goal is for this building to be used on a regular basis for a variety of reasons and needs.  Rev. Kermit Bailey submitted the grant and is an adviser to the committee.  Committee members include:  Rev. Sealy Cross, George Peterson (chairman), Kim Brown, David Joyner, Karen Deadmon and Monte Taylor.  


A look back in history:  Source: Diocesan Journal 1910, pg. 71;
Bishop Cheshire writes in his journal:  “Oct. 15, 1909, being the sixteenth anniversary of my consecration, I had the pleasure of consecrating the Chapel of the Ascension, near Fork Village, Davie County, built by the faithful labors of the Misses Hairston of that county.  The petition of consecration was read by the Rev. Thomas L. Trott, priest in charge, and the sentence of consecration by Archdeacon Osborne.  The sermon was preached by the Rev. Henry Teller Cocke.  The Rev. Simeon J. M. Brown also assisted in the service.”

Per David Joyner’s History of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, the sermon came from Luke 19:46.  “It is written, my house is the house of prayer.”
A look back in history:  Source: History of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension: “My earliest memory of the Church of the Ascension is serving as acolyte when Mr. C.E.B. Robinson was there.  I remember we knocked on the front door with a wood crucifix at the beginning of the service…Mr C.E.B. Robinson was Uncle CEB to some…but, we were taught to say Mr. and Mrs. to everyone.”  Memories of Kermit Bailey when he was a young boy growing up at The Church of the Ascension.

Note:  The Rev. C.E.B. Robinson served as Vicar at Ascension from 1931-1945 and is the longest serving priest in Ascension’s 100 year history.


A look back in history:  Source:1919 Diocesan Journal:: Chapel of the Ascension: Priest Salary $120; Pension $9; Baptisms-Infants: 6; Adults: 1:: Baptized Persons: 29; Communicants: 12:: Services; Sunday’s: 12; Holy Days; 2::Students in S. School: 35:: Receipts: $187.05::Value of Church; $1,300:: Sittings; 150:: Treasurer: Mr. Sanford Kimmer

Eva Deadmon
 wrote “A Journey to Bethlehem” in 2006.  She also hand painted several of the figurines used in the nativity set.  The glass nativity figurines were given in honor of Judge Hairston three years ago.

A Dozen Reasons for Becoming an Episcopalian,
or At Least for Checking Us Out

God loves you, and there is not a thing you can do to change that!  
  1. It's one of the few denominations that allow alcoholic beverages to be served on the grounds.
  2. The options: Rite One or Rite Two; back-to-congregation or facing  congregation; traditional or contemporary music; all are allowed and welcome!
  3. We use cool words like 'verger', 'thurifer', 'amice', 'warden', 'aumbry' and  'columbarium'
  4. Otherwise, I'd be unchurched. 
  5. I ask too many annoying questions.
  6. One is expected ask all irritating questions and to use their brain.
  7. It has a beautiful Liturgy.
  8. I do not have to understand; I only have to believe.
  9. Here laughter and fun are appropriate. 
  10. The 'fashion police' don't come to our church; the Holy Spirit does.
  11. The clergy are not only smart, gifted, and spiritual -- they are fun!
  12. Episcopalians spend less time beating on the Bible and more time actually reading it.

I became an Episcopalian because of the Prayer of Humble Access (Book of  Common Prayer, p.337). At a time when I, as an ordained Presbyterian Minister,  was burdened with particular guilt, this prayer let me admit the seriousness of my failure, but confronted me with the 'property' of God 'always to have mercy.' -- The Rev. Jim Workman jworkman@desertsaints.org


Gracious and Loving God, Be with us this day as we begin a new season, a new century of growth. 

Breathe life into the seed of our endeavor to build a new fellowship hall, through which, like a vine from the budding cross, we may reach out in increasing fellowship and service to all within our growing community. 

Give us the grace, wherever we may pass, to make strangers welcome among us, speaking to them through words and deeds of Christian love, and greeting them with joy and blessings. 

Grant that, in our nurture of each other, we shall find that most ancient joy of humankind, working in the fields of God’s great dream for us.  Through this work, may we reap harvests of peace and understanding that reflect your love for all your children. 

Lord, be the beginning, the increase, and the consummation of this work, this growth, to the glory of your name and the fulfillment of your dream.  Amen.



Worth Repeating......

The 7 modern sins:
  1. politics without principles,
  2. pleasures without conscience,
  3. wealth without work,
  4. knowledge without character,
  5. industry without morality,
  6. science without humanity,
  7. worship without sacrifice.

      -- Canon Frederic Donaldson

From www.heartlight.org




Mom's Special Brownies

Remove teddy bear from oven and preheat oven to 375. Melt 1 cup margarine in saucepan.

Remove teddy bear from oven and tell Jr., "No, no."

Add margarine to 2 cups sugar.

Take shortening can away from Jr. and clean cupboards.

Measure 1/3 cup cocoa.

Take shortening can away from Jr. again and bathe cat.

Apply antiseptic and bandages to scratches sustained while removing shortening from cat's tail.

Assemble 4 eggs, 2 tsp. vanilla, and 1-1/2 cups sifted flour.

Take smoldering teddy bear from oven and open all doors and windows for ventilation.

Take telephone away from Billy and assure party on the line the call was a mistake. Call operator and attempt to have direct dialed call removed from bill.

Measure 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 cup nuts and beat all ingredients well. Let cat out of refrigerator.

Pour mixture into well-greased 9x13-inch pan. Bake 25 minutes.

Rescue cat and take razor away from Billy.

Explain to kids that you have no idea if shaved cats will sunburn. Throw cat outside while there's still time and he's still able to run away.

FROSTING

Mix the following in saucepan: 1 cup sugar

1 oz unsweetened chocolate

1/4 cup margarine Take the darn teddy bear out of the @#$% broiler and throw it away -- far away.

Answer the door and meekly explain to nice policeman that you didn't know Jr. had slipped out of the house and was heading for the street. Put Jr. in playpen.

Add 1/3 cup milk, dash of salt, and boil, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.

Answer door and apologize to neighbor for Billy having stuck a garden hose in man's front door mail slot. Promise to pay for ruined carpet.

Tie Billy to clothesline.

Remove burned brownies from oven.

Collapse and call the baker for delivery.

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh


In the office where I work, there is a constant battle
between our technical-support director and customer-service
personnel over the room temperature, which is usually too
low.

The frustrated director, trying to get us to understand his
position, announced one afternoon, "We need to keep the
temperature below seventy-five degrees or the computers
will overheat."

Thinking that this was just another excuse, one of my
shivering colleagues retorted, "Yeah right. So how did they
keep the computers from overheating before there was air
conditioning?"
===
From Clean Laughs.  To SUBSCRIBE: http://www.gophercentral.com/
===

CenturyThe Episcopal Church of The Ascension at Fork
 
183 Fork-Bixby Road  Advance,   NC.   27006
PHONE: 336.998.0857
Get Directions to our church

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