Community through Mercy

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Ascension works with Faith, Hope, and Peace Ministries to conduct a weekly worship service for the residents of Glenbridge Nursing Home in Niles.  Pastor Gunia or another local pastor lead worship while volunteers from Ascension play the keyboard, help turn pages in our song book, and show Christian love to residents.   In this endeavor, Ascension partners with Faith, Hope, and Love Ministries, which seeks to bring the joy of Christ to those in residential living facilities.

The Niles Food Pantry is run by Niles Family Services.  They are always in need of  volunteers, food and monetary donations.  Food collections are held every month to support the ongoing care of those struggling in the community.

Age, injury, or illness sometimes cause a person to be unable to leave his home or assisted care facility.  Ascension Lutheran Niles is committed to its community and all its patrons even those who have lost the ability to onsite for worship. Pastor Gunia visits each homebound member every month, bringing Holy Communion.  Others call regularly, send cards, and show our homebound members that they are loved and remembered.

 Rachel Meyer is a missionary of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod serving in Uganda.  Presently, she is serving on the faculty of Hope Lutheran Church and School in the town of Bufuula where her duties include classroom instruction and the development of a comprehensive theology curriculum.  A trained musician, Rachel also serves a neighboring Lutheran congregation by playing the piano for worship services and introducing new hymns.

Bethesda helps thousands of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities realize a greater sense of independence by providing resources, opportunities and encouragement. They work with every person they support to help them live the life they want.  Ascension is thankful to be able to contribute to Bethesda's work.

We believe that all human life is created by God, redeemed by Christ, and purified by the Holy Spirit.  To that end, Ascension supports Lutherans for Life in their efforts to confess the Biblical teaching on life, especially as it relates to abortion, euthanasia, and bioethics.  We are in the process of establishing a "food pantry" for young women with an unintended pregnancy to provide for their needs during pregnancy (e.g. prenatal vitamins) and post-partum (e.g. diapers and formula).  We hope to have this project active by the Spring of 2020.

Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me."   Then the righteous will answer him, saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?"   And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."