Ascension online giving now supported by Vanco

Ascension Lutheran Church has signed up with a new payment provider called Vanco, which specializes in non-profit organizations. This not only allows for online donations via credit card or ACH payment, but also allows for automatic weekly or monthly donations.

The fees associated with ACH payments, which draw from your checking account, are even lower than credit card payments, so we would encourage members to try it out! You can create a new account in minutes. For those interested, please visit our web page on Giving:

https://ascensionpgh.com/giving/

Pearl Harbor Day, 2019

From Pearl Harbor to Calvary

On Sunday, December 8th, 2019, please join us for church service and hear a special message about the incredible story of Captain Mitsuo Fuchida, the man who led the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, but later discovered the grace of God, and became a Christian evangelist in the most unlikely of stories.

For those interested to read more about this story, take a look at this article:
https://www.christiantreasury.org/content/mitsuo-fuchida-forgotten-story-faith

Welcome, Pastor Martin Lee!

Ascension Lutheran Church is pleased to announce that Pastor Martin Lee has accepted the call to serve as our Intentional Interim Pastor. For those who would like to know more about Pastor Lee, he has provided a brief biography which can be found below.

Biography

I was born into a bi-racial family and named after Martin Luther King Jr., who of course was named after the first Martin of the Reformation.  By the age of 7, I had lived in seven foster homes and was then adopted by two incredible Lutheran school teachers. God is good. I attended Lutheran schools from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

I received a BA degree from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI and a Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN, and am a doctoral student at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO.  While a student at Concordia Theological Seminary, I also studied at the US Navy Chaplain’s Candidate School and graduated from the officer’s school in Newport, RI. Since graduating from college, I have been a professional church worker in ten different churches (four with schools) over the last twenty-six years.  I have served in small, program, large, and corporate sized congregations; in positions varying from youth ministry to senior administrative pastor.

My first call out of seminary was to a “mission” congregation in southern California requesting me to seek outside employment. I was hired by UBS PaineWebber, where I had oversight of a large portfolio of private investments, including many non-profit endowments. I have served in the securities industry providing financial planning advice, developing planned gifts for churches, and developing estate and retirement benefit plans for church workers over the last 20 years.  I also serve as the financial and recording secretary on the Intentional Ministry Conference (IMC) Board of Directors.

In 1994, I married Anne R. (Lockwood), who is an estate planning attorney. Together we have been blessed with five children: Kyle (23), Kelsey (20), Justin (18), Rachel (16), and Katie (12).  I enjoy spending time with my family, running, landscaping, and reading. I also love spending time with God’s people, and am passionate about working with congregations in times of transition.

 


 

 

 

Passover Seder Meal – March 28th, 2018

We are excited to announce that we will celebrate Jesus in the Passover on Wednesday evening of Holy Week, March 28, 2018. We will start serving dinner at 6:00 pm. Those who cannot make it at six can be served up until the presentation begins.

At 7:00 Abraham Sandler, Congregational Leader of the Rock of Ages Messianic Jewish Congregation, will lead us in the ritual of the Seder with an emphasis on seeing Jesus in the Passover.

More information on Pastor Abraham can be found at http://www.rockofagesmjc.org