Ascension Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, Minnesota

09/06/2026

On Sunday, Sept. 6, you are invited to attend Ascension's in-person worship service (including Holy Communion) at 8:30 a.m. There is no Book Club today.

Send a message to learn more

09/06/2026

The Gospel for Sunday, Sept. 6 is Matthew 18:15–20.

Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If that person refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

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08/29/2026

On Sunday, August 30, you are invited to:
A. Attend Ascension's in-person worship service at 8:30 a.m., and/or . . .
B. Join (via any telephone, tablet, or computer) Ascension's Samuel Book Club at 11:30 a.m. By phone: call 1-312-626-6799; enter meeting ID 675 185 9971 #, password 992219.
By tablet or computer, use this link: https://zoom.us/j/6751859971
, then password 992219

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

08/29/2026

The Gospel for Sunday, August 30 is Matthew 16:21–28.

From that time on, after Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me, for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?”

“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

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08/29/2026

Christ Rebukes Peter, Flemish school, 1600

08/22/2026

On Sunday, August 23, you are invited to:
A. Attend Ascension's in-person worship service at 8:30 a.m., and/or . . .
B. Join (via any telephone, tablet, or computer) Ascension's Samuel Book Club at 11:30 a.m. By phone: call 1-312-626-6799; enter meeting ID 675 185 9971 #, password 992219.
By tablet or computer, use this link: https://zoom.us/j/6751859971
, then password 992219

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

08/22/2026

The Gospel for Sunday, August 23 is Matthew 16:13–20.

When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist but others Elijah and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

08/15/2026

On Sunday, August 16, you are invited to:
A. Attend Ascension's in-person worship service (including Holy Communion) at 8:30 a.m., and/or . . .
B. Join (via any telephone, tablet, or computer) Ascension's Samuel Book Club at 11:30 a.m. By phone: call 1-312-626-6799; enter meeting ID 675 185 9971 #, password 992219.
By tablet or computer, use this link: https://zoom.us/j/6751859971
, then password 992219

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

08/15/2026

The Gospel for Sunday, August 16 is Matthew 15:10–28.

Jesus called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that moment.

08/15/2026

Christ and the Canaanite Woman, by Pieter Lastman, 1617