Ascension Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod)
December
Sundays
December 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Mondays
December 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Choir Christmas Cantata - December 16
Christmas Eve - December 24
Christmas Day - December 25
Special Services in December
Wednesday Midweek Advent Services
December 4 & 18
5:30 PM - Meal
6:30 PM - Advent Midweek Service
December 11 - CDC Christmas Program
6:30 PM with Refreshments afterwards
December 16 - Choir Christmas Cantata
6:00 PM
December 24 - Christmas Eve
7:00 PM - Lessons & Carols, Candlelight
December 25 - Christmas Day
Worship Service with Communion -10:00 AM
December Worship
The LCMS follows a set series of readings (lectionary) for each Sunday of the Church Year. The readings for this months, are as follows:
1st Sunday in Advent (December 1) Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 19:28-40 or Luke21:25-36
Advent Midweek 1 - December 4
2nd Sunday in Advent (December 8) Malachi 3:1-7b; Philippians 1:2-11; Luke 3:1-14 (15-20)
Advent Midweek 2 - December 11
3rd Sunday in Advent (December 15) Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 7:18-28 (29-35)
Advent Midweek 3 - December 18
4th Sunday in Advent (December 22) Micah 5:2-5a; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45 (46-56)
Christmas Eve (December 24) Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)
Christmas Day (December 25) Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6 (7-12) John 1:1-14 (15-18)
1st Sunday after Christmas (December 29) Exodus 13:1-3a, 11-15; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:22-40
Advent begins the church year because the church year begins where Jesus' earthly life began — in the Old Testament prophecies of his incarnation. After Advent comes Christmas, which is about his birth; then Epiphany, about his miracles and ministry; then Lent, about his Calvary-bound mission; then Easter, about his resurrection and the sending of the apostles; and then Ascension (40 days after Easter) and Pentecost, with the sending of the Holy Spirit.
Advent specifically focuses on Christ's "coming," but Christ's coming manifests itself among us in three ways — past, present, and future.
The readings which highlight Christ's coming in the past focus on the Old Testament prophecies of his incarnation at Bethlehem. The readings, which highlight Christ's coming in the future, focus on his "second coming" on the Last Day at the end of time. And the readings that highlight Christ's coming in the present focus on his ministry among us through Word and Sacrament today.
The traditional use of Advent candles (sometimes held in a wreath) originated in eastern Germany even prior to the Reformation. As this tradition came down to us by the beginning of this century, it involved three purple candles and one pink candle.
The purple candles matched the purple paraments on the altar (purple for the royalty of the coming King). The pink candle was the third candle to be lit (not the fourth) on Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent. "Gaudete" means "Rejoice!" in Latin, which is taken from Phil. 4:4.
("Rejoice! ... the Lord is near"). Hence a "pink" candle was used to signify "rejoicing." Some also included a white "Christ candle" in the middle to be lit during the 12 days of Christmas (Dec. 25 to Jan. 5).
The concept of giving each candle a name, i.e., Prophecy, Bethlehem, Shepherd and Angel, etc., is a relatively novel phenomenon and probably originates with certain entrepreneurial publishers seeking to sell Advent candles and devotional booklets.
Sunday Worship
8:00 & 10:45 AM, Traditional with Communion
9:30 AM - Bible classes for ALL ages
Monday Worship
6:00 PM - Traditional with Communion
Zoom
All Sunday Services
are available as a Zoom event. The link to use this service is https://tinyurl.com/58pzvs3x
Missional Outreach
Sundays - 9:45 AM - Regency
Wednesday - 10:15 AM - HHR
12/11
Thursday - 10:45 AM - Regency
12/5 & 12/19
Welcome to Ascension!
We are located at 3801 Oakwood Avenue NW in Huntsville, Alabama. We also have a preschool and child development center (Ascension Lutheran CDC) that is behind the main church building.
We have two worship services on Sunday morning with Bible study for children, youth and adults between the two services. We also conduct a Monday evening service. Special services are held during the seasons of Advent (four weeks before Christmas) and Lent (six weeks before Easter). Our schedules are posted for these services as the special seasons approach. Private Confession and Absolution with Pastor is available by appointment.
The church's office hours are from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Our phone number is (256) 536-9987.
Ascension's preschool and child development center has openings for infants through preschool this year. We are licensed by the state of Alabama. The hours for the the CDC are from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM Monday through Friday. For more information, please call (256) 536-5245 or check out the CDC website.
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
LCMS - Southern District
Concordia Seminaries
Concordia Universities
Black Ministry - TimeLine Newsletter
Lutherans Engage
KFUO Radio Station
Worship Times
Sunday Morning
8:00 AM - Worship Service
9:30 AM - Sunday School
10:45 AM - Worship Service
10:45 AM - Zoom Service
Monday Evening
6:00 PM - Worship Service