Hello hello dear readers!! How are you today? I am doing quite well! I gave a homily in Chapel yesterday that a teacher I hadn’t met before said was one of the best he had ever heard in chapel history. I’m not sure if he’s the sort to be hyperbolic because I literally just met him minutes after preaching, but it was a really nice thing to say. BUT my theology professor DID text me to say HE also liked it AND that my theology was canonically sound! Is that screenshot printed and framed? No, but that’s only because I’ve been busy. AND SPEAKING OF BUSY (how DOES she do these transitions so well?) WE HAVE SOME IMMEDIATE ANNOUNCEMENTS!!!
Ash Wednesday Service: TONIGHT @ 7pm
Today marks the beginning of Lent. Join us at Ascension tonight @ 7 for our Lenten service to receive ashes. And this beautiful prayer was part of the noon service; I wanted to share it with you!
Confession: Be Alex’s First Confessants!
Though any Christian may take part in confession year-round, many make it a spiritual practice to take part in the Sacrament of Confession during Lent. And CAYG just so happens to have its very own new priest who would LOVE to walk through it with you!
Q: Do I have to be Anglican to do Confession with Alex?
A: “All May, None Must, Some Should.” (No, denomination does not matter.)
Q: Why would I do Confession?
A: You know how when you have really bad food poisoning and your insides feel awful and you’re trying to keep it down but eventually you run to the restroom and finally let your body throw it up? You know how it feels so much better having that poison out of your system? Sin, shame, and pain is often like that food poisoning, and ya just gotta spit it out.
Romans 8:38-39 reminds us how NOTHING can separate us from the love of God… but sometimes it doesn’t FEEL like it, does it? While the Bible says we can be assured of our forgiveness, sometimes we need to HEAR the words “You are forgiven.” Confession is a time to share your sin, shame, and pain with someone who cares for you, and can help you accept the love and forgiveness of God.
Q: How does it work? (And do I need to know what I’m doing?)
A: We Anglicans use The Book of Common Prayer, and there’s a “chapter” just for confession! Alex will show you what to do in a very patient and friendly manner. There will be a point in time where he’ll invite you to speak your sin, shame, or pain, and you might talk about it for a bit. (I often find it helpful to have it written down before I go because in the moment I kinda blank…) Alex will listen very well, and the two of you will pray together.
Q: Will Alex tell my parents what I told him?
A: Things said during the confessional cannot be repeated, by law.
Q: I don’t want to disappoint or burden Alex with my spiritual food poisoning.
A: He cares about you and wants to be there for you. And anyway, youth group leaders AND priests are well versed in spiritual vomit. Shoot him an email.
Q: How do I arrange a time?
A: Email him! alex.banfieldhicks@ascensionpittsburgh.org
THIS SUNDAY: 3 Things!
- Senior Church Tour!
When: 10am
Where: Parish Hall, then to the church.
Lunch?: Of course.
Who: Juniors, Seniors, and Gap Years!
RSVP: Warn Alex. Text him now!
2. Build Your Band at 4:45pm
Do you hate your neighbors? Do you desire fame, fortune, and the ability to induce instant migraines? Have you seen or heard a horrific cover of a mediocre song and though “I could do that better… if only I had a tambourine!!”? In short, have you dreamed of starting your own band??? Well now’s your chance because we are getting rid of a bunch of old band equipment!!!!!!
Come to CAYG early at 4:45 to stake your claim on any number of old band equipment that we don’t use anymore. Drums! Aux Chords! A Tamborine! Speakers! Maybe much more (I don’t know, it is the ONE part of CAYG I don’t take part in)!!
3. Normal CAYG! ELLSWORTH entrance!
Drop-off and Pick-up at the Kitchen entrance on Ellsworth!!
6pm Pizza, 8:30 departure!
And now dear readers, I bid you g’day! Much to do and sort through- Since activating my online dating accounts on Feb 14th I have received (and I’m not even joking) over 300 “Likes” and requests from guys with ages ranging from 18 to 65, and as far away as California as well as 6+ countries! *Tosses hair that is too short to toss.* Turning 31 in 3 weeks and I’ve still got it.
Shout out to the CAYG volunteers a week ago who came to me during set-up asking if I needed any sort of support, and I asked them to pettily hold my irritation at being ghosted that day (👻Ghosted: When someone arranges to meet with you for coffee but never shows up and their account has mysteriously vanished so you were basically set-up and you’re not exactly upset per say, but seriously we are ADULTS here so at least cancel on me you coward). 3+ leaders responded to this plea with immediate verbal venting and raging on my behalf, thereby mentally freeing me to hook up the projector which I honestly found a lot more troublesome.
Anyhoo, hope to see you tonight! Gotta run- these requests are not gonna delete themselves!
Much love,
Kelsey Nienna ❤
Church of the Ascension Youth Group 