Advent 2024

The Church of the Ascension welcomes you to partake in special observances, community events, and faith formation opportunities this Advent.
An asterisk (*) indicates services that will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube.

Advent Lessons & Carols*
Sunday, December 1
​4:00 p.m.

Join us as we celebrate the season with this traditional Advent service. A festive reception will follow the service. 
This year’s choral repertoire includes:
✠ adapted from Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525-1594) Matin Responsory
✠ Kathryn Rose, Advent (2015)
✠ Nathanael Deward Rahm BSG, Adam lay y bounden (2002)
✠ George Frideric Handel, And the Glory of the Lord, from Messiah
✠ Bob Chilcott, O Emmanuel, from Advent Antiphons (2004)
✠ arr. Barry Rose, People, Look East
✠ Paul Nicholson, Gabriel’s Message (1996)
✠ Felix Mendelssohn, Im Advent, Op. 79, No. 5

Advent Faith Formation

Annunciation (det.), 1333, Simone Martini and Lippo Memmi, Uffizi, Florence

Ma​ry in Art,  Prayer, and Scripture
Sunday, December 8, 15, & 22
Following the 11AM Solemn High Mass

Mary holds an estimable place in the arc of salvation history. In the words of the Rev. Dr. Amy Peeler, "The fact that God was born of a woman - the mode of the incarnation - determines how all Christians view the triune God as well as all people made in the divine image. " Join us for this three-part series as we come to know our Lord more fully by encountering Mary in art, prayer, and Scripture.​

​December 8 | Mary in Art
Hail, Holy Queen: ​Pilgrimage to Our Lady of  Guadalupe and Our Lady of Walsingham

Presented by Dr. Matthew Milliner, Professor of Art History, Wheaton College, and author of "Mother of the Lamb: The Story of a Global Icon."

December 15  | Mary in Prayer
Pray For Us Sinners: Mary, Our Spiritual  Companion and Intercessor

​Presented by the Clergy of the Church of the Ascension.

December 22 | ​Mary in Scripture
​​Blessed Art Thou Among Women: Images of  Mary's Life 

​Presented by the Rev. Dr. Amy Peeler, Kenneth T. Wessner Professor of New Testament, Wheaton College, and author of "Women and the Gender of God."

The Immaculate Conception, Diego Velazquez, c. 1618, National Gallery, London

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Monday, December 9 (observed)
​7:00 p.m. Sung Mass

Christmas at Ascension

The Mystical Nativity, 1500–1501, Sandro Botticelli, National Gallery, London

Adoration of the Magi (det.), Gentile da Fabriano, 1423, Uffizi Gallery, Florence

Tuesday, December 24
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
10:30 p.m. Organ Voluntaries & Congregational Carols
11 p.m. Procession to the Crèche & The First Mass of Christmas​

Wednesday, December 25
Christmas Day
10 a.m. Solemn High Mass with Ascension Choir

Thursday, December 26
St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr
8 a.m. Low Mass

Friday, December 27
St. John the Apostle
12 p.m. Low Mass

Saturday, December 28
Holy Innocents
10 a.m. Low Mass

Sunday, December 29
First Sunday after Christmas Day
9 a.m. Sung Mass
11 a.m. Solemn High Mass

Wednesday, January 1
Holy Name
Sung Mass at 7 p.m. *

Sunday, January 5
The Second Sunday after Christmas Day
9 a.m. Sung Mass
11 a.m. Solemn High Mass*
3:30 p.m. Organ Concert*
4 p.m. Choral Evensong and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament​*

Monday, January 6
The Epiphany of Our Lord
12 p.m. Low Mass
7 p.m. Sung Mass*