Prayer Ministry

Devoted to Prayer

Colossians 4:2

Our Prayer Ministry at Ascension is comprised of several components that involve different types of prayer opportunities including the following:

Devoted Daily

We encourage everyone to be “devoted to prayer” daily, as we pray for “the church, the world, and all those in need.” As you pray for your family and friends, remember to pray for our congregation (staff, members, ministries, school, foundation), community, country, creation, government and the nations of the world (for life, justice, peace and health for all). We invite you to join in our Ascension campus prayer walk as we hold in prayer all the parts of our One Ascension ministry. Also please pray for our Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), for our presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and our synod Bishop Murray Finck (Southwest CA Synod), and for the work of the whole church on earth. In addition to those prayers you are invited to daily pray five of the Psalms (Jesus’ prayerbook!) and that way pray through the whole book of Psalms each month! If you would like to pray as you walk, we have the labyrinth in the garden on the east side of the sanctuary and occasionally we will schedule prayer walks in and around our neighborhood.

Devoted Monthly

“Word Pray Heal” is our Service of the Word for Healing. This service is held on special occasions, and scheduled as requested. Call the church office to check dates. (The prayer chapel entrance is on the patio near the west entrance of the sanctuary.) During this service there is a short teaching from the Bible (Word) on prayer and healing. Petition prayers are prayed that are personal or intercessory (for another person). The service ends with anointing of oil and laying on of hands for those who want to be prayed for. This is a Spirit-filled time of listening to God’s Word, speaking with God, reflection, meditation and prayers for specific needs.

Devoted Weekly

We have a strong Email Prayer Team of people willing and wanting to pray for the needs of others.

At each Saturday/Sunday worship service, in the sanctuary, you will find a Blue Card in the pew rack. By filling out a Blue Card you will find choices of:

being prayed for that Sunday only;

authorizing placement of your prayer request in the Prayer Focus list in the weekly bulletin;

requesting your prayer to be on the Email Prayer Team’s list;

giving an update on prayer request previously made;

writing a message to the pastors on the back of the card.

Devoted through the Year – Yearly Events

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January

The Lenten Season with a special focus on prayer and study

National Day of Prayer – the first Thursday in May

Memorial Day weekend – the end of May

July 4th – special prayers for our country

Early September – Celebration of Ministries at Ascension

Blessing of the Animals – the first Sunday afternoon in October at 5:30

Thanksgiving Eve worship service, 7:15 p.m.

Advent – a season of prayer and preparation

Prayer Resources

ELCA Prayer Ventures

Pray for the World

Conejo Valley Healing Rooms

With Jesus’ first disciples, we ask, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1) and guide us by your Holy Spirit to be devoted to prayer!

Back

Sam's Tram Rolls Again

by Brian Festerling, SAM’s Tram Coordinator

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the SAM’s Tram service from Ascension has been pretty quiet. However, now that many of us have vaccines and feel more comfortable being out and about, it’s time to reintroduce the program! SAM’s Tram is Ascension’s Senior Adult Ministries transportation service. We match seniors from our congregation that need rides to local appointments with Ascension volunteers that are willing to drive.

RIDERS

If you’re a senior who needs a ride (or a caregiver for one), please contact me with the ride details. My contact info is at the end of the article. The more lead time you can give me -- at least a week or two is best -- the more likely I can find a driver for you. I’ll let you know either way. The service is free! If you feel compelled to give something, you can give your driver a dollar to go to Ascension’s Caring Ones to help the needy in our area.

DRIVERS

We’re always looking for more volunteer drivers to add to our roster. There is NO long-term commitment. I blast out detailed ride requests via e-mail to all of our drivers. You need only say “yes” to a ride that works for your schedule, and your only commitment is for that one ride. Many of us work and can only drive occasionally. That’s OK! The more drivers we have on our roster, the more likely we can fulfill a given request, and the workload gets spread around. This is a simple and effective ministry and we’d love to have you join us! Please call or e-mail me if you’re interested.

TESTIMONIAL

“[SAM’s Tram was] a blessing to my mom when she could not drive anymore. The friendly drivers got her to her weekly hair appointments, and occasional other doctor/dentist appointments. The social interaction with the drivers gave her a lift and became a bright spot in her declining life quality. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased when two drivers who were more frequent came to my mom’s celebration of life service. What a dedicated group of people, making a difference in the lives of our elders!” — Excerpt from a thank you note written by the daughter of one of our riders

FAST FACTS

- Pastor Steve started SAM’s Tram in 2011.

- Since 2017 we have had 287 ride requests and fulfilled 220 of them (77%)

- 69% of our requests are for doctor appointments, 9% for worship services, 8% for beauty/barber, and 14% “other”

Please pray for our SAM’s Tram riders and drivers, and contact me anytime if we can be of service to you, or if you you’d like to join us as a driver.

Sincerely,

Brian Festerling SAM’s Tram Coordinator

805-558-8076 (cell)

ps - we've had an uptick in requests and could always use new drivers.