St. John the Divine & Ascension | Where God Is Leading Us

Dear Friends in Christ,

Earlier this year, I shared with you the exciting news that St. John the Divine was entering into a communion partnership with Ascension Episcopal Church (AEC) as part of our calling to be A Light for the City. As you may know, Ascension is located just off Westheimer Road on Seagler Road near Beltway 8. Our purpose is appropriately missional: under the guidance of the Spirit, we want to help revitalize Ascension Episcopal Church through growth in worship, fellowship, Christian formation, evangelism, and childhood education. This communication is to share some important new developments in this partnership and to encourage your participation.

Healthy churches do not simply preserve the gifts God has entrusted to them; they share them.

First, beginning this fall, the Rev. Trent Pettit will serve as Priest-in-Charge of Ascension Episcopal Church. As part of this ministry, Trent will spend Tuesdays and Thursdays each week at Ascension and will lead worship there two Sundays each month. At the same time, he will continue serving as associate rector at St. John the Divine, preaching, celebrating the sacraments, offering pastoral care, and sharing in the life of our parish.

As Trent begins this new role, we will also be giving careful attention to how his gifts are best shared in service to both congregations while also honoring the needs of his family. I am very grateful for Trent’s strong sense of call to step into this important leadership role.

Second, I am also thankful that Ascension Episcopal School has called a new Head of School, Kami Day. This is an outstanding hire. Kami’s leadership creates an exciting new opportunity for the church and school to move forward together. Alongside Trent, Kami will help strengthen Ascension's ministry and reach into the Briargrove Park community and beyond.

Third, a strategic goal emerging from this partnership is the creation of a family-friendly worship service at Ascension that reflects the same joyful, welcoming spirit so many families at SJD experience in Awesome Worship. As part of that vision, Ascension Episcopal School is seeking a music teacher who will lead music classes and chapel services in the immediate term and eventually lead music for this new Sunday family service. If you know someone who may be interested in this unique opportunity for ministry, I encourage you to share the position with them.

Fourth, I wish to express my tremendous gratitude for our parishioners who have already “gone forth” to participate in this partnership with AEC, ranging from the hard work of discernment and establishing strategic goals with AEC leaders, volunteering to serve the Day School, attending worship services, to showing up this past Saturday morning for a landscaping work day to enhance the grounds. There are tangible signs of revitalization already appearing, but so much more to anticipate. And I am not at all surprised that our members who have engaged in this partnership have already experienced rich blessings in new relationships with friends of AEC.

As I wrote earlier this year, healthy churches do not simply preserve the gifts God has entrusted to them; they share them. It is both my fervent conviction and past experience that the more a congregation is inspired to “go forth” beyond itself for the sake of Jesus, the more it energizes the internal life of the congregation. Indeed, for years a major point of emphasis in my own pastoral ministry is that there is an undeniable and mutually reinforcing relationship between the vitality of a local congregation and its commitment to mission outside the congregation. Every step we have taken together with Ascension has only deepened this conviction and confirmed for me that the Holy Spirit is at work in this partnership.

Thank you for embracing this vision with generosity and hope. I am excited about what lies ahead and look forward to sharing additional milestones as this partnership continues to unfold. But we need more of our members to become involved (see below). Please join me in praying for Trent, the people of Ascension Episcopal Church, Ascension Episcopal School, and all those who will encounter the love of Christ through this growing ministry. And may the Spirit continue to guide and empower us as we seek to be A Light for the City.

Faithfully,
The Rev. Dr. R. Leigh Spruill, Rector

How You Can Be Involved

• Pray | Join the Ascension Renewal Prayer Group (Tuesdays at 12:15 pm, in-person or on Zoom).
• Worship | Would you be willing to attend Sunday worship at AEC once a month for one year? Let us know or just show up. Even the presence of a few SJD members there on a Sunday will make a big difference.
• Tell | Do you know someone who lives near AEC and may be looking for a church community? Tell them about this ministry partnership and encourage them to check it out.
• Share | Do you know someone who might be called to serve? Share the Music Teacher/Worship Leader opening.
• Watch | More opportunities for worship, service, and fellowship will be announced this fall.