Vicar

Dearly beloved in Christ,
We have spent the six months of yet another year leaning on God’s grace and mercy. Halfway
through the year, we have witnessed and experienced many things to be grateful about and praise
God and some things that we might regret about. Whatever happens in our lives we should
always realize that it is the amazing grace of God that leads us through and forth.
During the past months we observed and celebrated Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day. The Sunday
School and the Youth Fellowship made the celebrations all the way more meaningful and heart
touching. It is a fact that appreciations and expressions of love make our lives more worthwhile.
People feel more positive when someone encourages them, appreciates what they do or
acknowledges the significance of their presence in someone’s life. Celebrating the existence of
special people in our lives and being grateful for them makes our lives happier and significant.
Family is one of God’s choicest blessings in our life. Spending time with each other, caring for
and loving each other and praying together makes your family a replica of heaven on earth.
Being there for one another in both highs and lows matter a lot. Spending quality time together
helps to bring warmth to relationships. Be mindful not to disregard the time that we set apart to
be with God, to pray and praise God for his blessings. In James 4:8 we read “Come near to God
and he will come near to you”. May our families grow strong rooted in Christ’s love and true
faith in Him. Summer is a great time for family time. Gearing up for getaways and planning
some vacations might be something that everyone looks forward to during this summer. I wish
you all a happy, safe, and blissful summer filled with fun and frolic.
Our church picnic was a blessed experience and opportunity for the Ascension family to come
together and spend time to revive the fellowship and strengthen the relationships.
The Vacation Bible School is from 12 th July through 15 th July and the theme for this year is
“Shine a light on Jesus’ love”. Setting apart the 4 days during your summer schedule to make it
possible for the kids to take part in this year’s VBS will be truly rewarding and worthwhile.
Please do not neglect the relevance of the scripture that says, “Start children off on the way they
should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” (Prov. 22:6) Giving Jesus to
our children, showing them and guiding them to the light of His love should be the top priority of
our lives.
I would also like to congratulate all the graduates of the year 2023. May God’s guidance and
divine providence lead you in the paths ahead. May you find success in all your future
endeavours.
During this quarter we will be having our harvest festival. Harvest festival is again an
opportunity to come together and praise God by offering the best of your harvests and giving
glory to God for all that God has blessed you with. I seek your wholehearted participation in the
harvest festival, realizing the fact that it is one of the major sources of income for the parish.
Your generous contribution is solicited toward this. I also request your active involvement and
cooperation in the sale and auction that will be held in the month of August.

I am glad that many of our youngsters have registered to be a part of the Junior and Senior
conference which will be held from 29 th of July at Bryn Athyn, College. This year’s theme is
“Created and Empowered” based on Ephesians 2:10. I hope and pray that the conference will be
a platform for learning more from the Word of God and for the enrichment of their faith in
Christ.
It is a matter of great joy that this year the Annual Diocesan Family Conference is being hosted
by the South- East RAC in Philadelphia. Many of our members have registered for the
conference and are actively involved in the organizing committees. Let us uphold the conference
that is scheduled to be held from July 8 th to 11 th in our personal and family prayers so that it will
be a blessing to all the participants and to the church at large.
A parish thrives when the spiritual wellbeing and upliftment of its members are ensured. The
parish convention is a time for spiritual renewal and a time to look back at the ways in which
God guided us throughout the past days. It is a time to pause, ponder, and sincerely praise God
for His everlasting love, grace, and mercy. Singing to the Lord, worshipping Him, and
meditating upon the Word of God are all experiences that draw us closer to our saviour. May this
year’s convention be a blessed experience for the parish. I request you all to pray, participate and
be blessed.
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before
him with joyful songs.   Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are
his people, the sheep of his pasture.   Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with
praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.   For the Lord is good and his love endures
forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalms 100: 1-5).
May the love of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy spirit be with
us forevermore!
Yours in His mission,
Bibi Achen