The Church of the Ascension in the City of New York
A Historic, Inclusive Church in New York City's Greenwich Village
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A Historic, Inclusive Church in New York City's Greenwich Village
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Father Ed explores René Girard's mimetic theory—how we unconsciously learn what to desire through imitation. Drawing on gospel examples like John the Baptist's death and Pilate, he suggests Jesus repeatedly helps listeners recognize their unwitting participation in violence. This Sunday's gospel shows Peter spectacularly illustrating this mimetic contagion. Father Ed invites us to examine how we're unknowingly directed toward violence, subtle or overt.
Listen to the sermon preached by our intern Yunjeong McSeol on the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 23, 2026.
This week our associate rector, Father Ed, reflects on late summer's quieter rhythm in the city and the subtle shifts in energy he observes while making pastoral calls. He contrasts the effects of anxiety-inducing news cycles with the neurological benefits of worship and faith community—the oxytocin and endorphins that come from fellowship. He encourages us to keep returning to church, trusting that our shared spiritual practice sustains hope.
Listen to the sermon preached by the Rev. Ed Chinery on the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, August 16, 2026.
Father Ed explores the viral trend of people (especially men) frequently thinking about the Roman Empire, then reveals his own: God. The Roman Empire references in Luke's gospel first connected him to God's presence in human history. With Sunday's scriptures focusing on reconciliation (Joseph, the Canaanite woman), he invites us to consider how reconciliation happens at ground level, guided by the Spirit, and asks: What's your Roman Empire?
Listen to the sermon preached by the Rev. Ed Chinery on the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, August 9, 2026.
Father Ed shares his deepened meditation practice from July, describing how simply abiding—being present without judgment—becomes a place of refuge and peace. While this personal solace is valuable, he emphasizes the greater intention of cultivating universal compassion and equalizing self with others. He invites us to reflect on our own refuge and how faith deepens our practice of loving-kindness.
Listen to the sermon preached by the Rev. Ed Chinery on the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 2, 2026.
Mother Liz shares Joseph Fasano's poem on soul nourishment as she heads on vacation. The poem teaches that our souls need exposure to nature, beauty, holiness, and connection—that they require tending through rest, reading, and attention to what has been forgotten. It reminds us to, from time to time, let our soul kneel "in a place that is holy like the simple cathedral of the willows."
Listen to the sermon preached by the Rev. Liz Maxwell on the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, July 26, 2026.
