About Ascension

Worship Hours

We are now on our summer schedule with one service at 9:30 a.m. Each Sunday is a traditional service with Holy Communion.

During our winter schedule we have two worship services on Sundays. At 8:00 a.m. we celebrate with a traditional Service of the Word except on the first Sunday of each month when Holy Communion is also celebrated at that time. Holy Communion is always celebrated at 10:30 a.m. and on the first Sunday of the month that service is a contemporary praise. September 19 is the beginning of the winter schedule with two services.

Our Vision

Celebrating Faith and Trusting in God's Grace and Salvation Through Jesus Christ.

Our Mission

We Worship in Word and Sacrament, Care for God's Creation, Serve People in Need, and Respect Differences.

Our Staff

 

Rachel Stampul, Director of Youth and Family Ministry

Rachel comes to Ascension with ten years of professional youth ministry experience, certified life and career coach training, a Bachelor's of Science in Physics from Ramapo College and a Master’s in Divinity from Drew University Theological School. For over a decade her work with young people has centered on developing leadership and empowering them to change the world little bit by little bit. Rachel is the mother of two girls, Anya age 7 and Lia age 5, and has been married to George for almost nine years. They have lived in the south end of Burlington for the last two years. Music is one of her greatest joys as well as a primary spiritual discipline and she has been singing since she was in the cherub choir of her home church. These days you might find her singing with her guitar out on Church Street in Burlington on sunny afternoons! She is also an avid outdoor enthusiast and collects outdoor adventure sports from backpacking to rock climbing to mountain biking. She looks forward to great games of capture the flag and deep conversations wherever the Spirit leads! You can follow Rachel on Twitter, friend her on Facebook, and contact her via e-mail at RachelStampul@gmail.com. Here’s to a new adventure!

Sandra Short, Administrative Assistant

Sandra studied fine art at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and graduated, cum laude, from Castleton College in Castleton, Vermont with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. She studied for a Masters degree in counseling from UVM while raising two daughters, and has four grandchildren. Her work experience has ranged from managing director of a Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) jobs center, which she enjoyed for ten years, prior to working as office manager and bookkeeper for various businesses, such as restaurants, a landscape architectural firm, and an innovative company involved in waste water management using fish and plants. Sandra produces the monthly Ascension newsletter, The Church Mouse, the weekly E-News, Sunday bulletins, and updates to this website. She lives near Lake Champlain with her little Shih Tzu, likes playing Scrabble, loves "Skyping" her grandchildren, creating and eating delicious meals, playing the piano, and reading mysteries. She especially enjoys working with all the lovely folks at Ascension Lutheran Church!

Charles Child, Organist

Our organist/choir director has served as organist in churches in New Hampshire and Vermont since the age of 16, more than 45 years. He has sung with the New Hampshiremen male glee club while an undergraduate at UNH including Symphony Hall/Boston Pops, the Yankee Male Chorus including the Pops at Tanglewood (Arthur Fiedler, director) - July 4, 1976, and The Dartmouth Handel Society including Carnegie Hall (Skitch Henderson, director) in New York. A 30+ year member of the American Guild of Organists, he served as Dean of the Vermont Chapter from 1989-91. Charlie attended the AGO national conventions in Detroit, Houston, and Boston, and regional conventions in Syracuse, NY, Pittsfield, MA, New Haven/Yale, CT and served as program chair for the Burlington VT event in1993. While music has been a passion and hobby, Charlie has served as a math educator in New Hampshire and Vermont for more than 40 years. Other interests include stamp collecting, landscaping, photography, fire services, and travel experiences. He has enjoyed joining the team of people that make music happen in so many ways at Ascension.  

Kathy Kemp, Custodian -Kathy Kemp

Kathy ws born and raised in Findley Lake, New York. Her faith journey began at her baptism and childhood in the Methodist Church. She attended and graduated from Houghton College, Houghton, New York, with a B.A. in Latin in 1972. After graduation Kathy taught Latin in Broadalbin, New York (50 miles NW of Albany). In 1976 she obtained her M.A. from College of St. Rose in Albany and taught at St. Colman's school in Watervliet - north of Albany. for the past forty years she has made hotel hospitality her main career. Kathy has two children, Daryll, 27, and Timothy, 24. Daryll is pursuing a career in elementary teaching and Timothy is a student at CCV with a concentration in creative writing. When Kathy has free time she enjoys reading, walks, concerts, plays, bowling, and volleyball. She has been a member of ALC since October 1987 and has enjoyed participating in the Contemporary Worship group. She feels "each of you are like family and it is truly a pleasure to continue my faith at ALC."

History of Ascension

Ascension Lutheran Church was formed in February 1966 to share the good news of God in Jesus christ with people in the greater Burlington area. Our faith community attracts people from as far away as Isle-LaMotte, St. Albans, Morrisville, Waterbury, Hinesburg, Charlotte, as well as Burlington, Essex Junction, Williston, Bristol, Middlebury, Stowe, Vergennes, and Colchester. Rev. Dale Gustafson, fresh out of seminary, was sent by Synod to be our first Pastor and as a mission developer. The new congregation met at Orchard School for 3 years using the folded up lunch tables as an altar covered by a cloth fashioned by Mable Fisher.

We are now located on Allen Road, off Shelburne Road (Route 7) and Spear Street, and have been called "the church in the trees" because of the massive pines which grace our property.

We continue to grow in faith and participation, serving the needs and interests of a diverse, multi-generational congregation. W hope we will get to know one another!

Outreach and Community Service

We believe strongly in being servant-leaders by encouraging involvement in social projects and concerns. Ascension is one of the founding congregations of the Good News Garage and has been involved with Burlington Meals on Wheels since its inception. We support other community service organizations. See the list below.

Who We Are

Our Worship services include:

  • Christ-centered attention
  • Focus on prayer
  • Sermons that address our everyday life
  • Musical diversity
  • Choirs - Senior, Junior, Bell
  • Reverence for life

We challenge our members to grow:

  • Sunday School - age 2 - adult
  • Youth Ministry
  • Adult Bible Listening

We support our community through service:

Many local agencies, including:

  • Good News Garage
  • Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf
  • SCHIP Resale Shop
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Burlington Emergency Shelter

We share international concerns:

  • Our sister church: Christmas Luteran Church, Bethlehem, Palestine
  • E.L.C.A. Global Hunger Appeal

We enjoy getting together for:

  • Annual Women's Retreat
  • Relay for Life charity event
  • Small discussion groups
  • Youth groups
  • Progressive dinners
  • Movie nights
  • Time and talent shows
  • Easter Egg hunts
  • Hikes
  • Heritage dinners
  • Annual pig roast