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"I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV) |
Our Mission
The Mission of Ascension of Christ Lutheran Church
“The Mission of Ascension of Christ Lutheran Church is to lead people to believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior and strengthen each other in faith for service in and through the Church.”
Learn more about Ascension of Christ in our Missions and Ministries document and also in our our pew brochure. (Both documents are in the Adobe Acrobat PDF format)
Our
Church
Ascension of Christ Lutheran is a Christian community of believers gathered together to celebrate Jesus and all He has done for us. We are located at the intersection of 14 Mile Road and Pierce in the Village of Beverly Hills, MI (Approximately 1 mile west of Woodward Ave.). Our office hours are Monday/Wednesday 9-4:30 and Tuesday/Thursday 9:30-4:30. The office is closed on Friday. Our phone number is 248.644.8890. At any time, you may leave a message for the Pastor, Ronald Farah, or the Office Manager, Cindy Grove.
Throughout the week, members and visitors have ample opportunity for Worship, Bible study, Service, and Fellowship.
Our Worship
Our worship service is at 10:15am and includes the Lord’s Supper every Sunday. Our worship and music tends to be more traditional, yet always with the goal that it be upbeat and meaningful. We want all who attend to know the love and joy of a relationship with Jesus Christ.
At the same time, we desire to apply His love to our lives and live out our God-given faith. Each “Message” from Pastor Farah or Pastor Ritt is geared to understanding how we can share Jesus with others in all aspects of our lives. Whether it’s at home, school, work, or play, the goal is that the Christian learn the relevancy of the Bible to faith and life.
Our Bible Study
Our Bible Studies are meant to challenge and equip all of us to live out our faith and to share the story of Jesus Christ with others. The studies are often topical, spanning several weeks to cover a certain topic. The goal is to show all participants how they can apply the Scriptures to their own life and story. We do, however, recognize and emphasize the preeminent need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the importance of being in God’s Word to know more about Him. Therefore, each Bible Study class attempts to show just exactly what a relationship with Jesus means in the context of our lives as seen through those topical studies.
Our children’s Sunday school is at 9am and the Adult Bible Study is at 9am. For information regarding Sunday morning classes or weekday classes, please look under the “Discipleship” link or call the church office.
Our Service and Fellowship
Ascension of Christ is a giving community. Over the years, it has been a leader in donating time, talents, and treasure in telling the community and the world the story of Jesus. At the same time, church members are desirous to live out their God-given faith and express it in a variety of ways. Our “Women of Ascension” is a dedicated group of Christian women who gather to not only enjoy one another’s company, but also to share their faith and love with others in need through various acts of service. At the same time, our small-group Bible studies meet twice per month and are challenged to take on one service project a year with the benefits of that project affecting someone outside our church community.
Our Values
AN ATMOSPHERE PERMEATED BY LOVE
We believe that God’s Holy Spirit empowers us to love and be loved. Christ’s love flows through us as we reach out to our neighbors near and far.
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:10-11
A HEART HURTING FOR LOST PEOPLE
Lost people matter to God and therefore, matter to us. We will not be a closed group of church-goers but a welcoming family of Christ-followers.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20
AN ATTITUDE SEEKING COMMUNITY
In all of our relationships, we strive to be upfront and honest. Lovingly, we receive and give correction so that the enemy has no ground in which to fester a past hurt.
"Live in harmony with one another. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:16,18
A LIFE LED BY INTEGRITY
While all of us are sinners and we continue to sin, we strive everyday personally and corporately to live in a way that honors God. With the help of the Holy Spirit, our good character will grow and our example will be noticed in the world.
“Live decent lives among unbelievers. Then, although they ridicule you as if you were doing wrong while they are watching you do good things, they will praise God on the day he comes to help you.” 1 Peter 2:12
A MINISTRY WORKING WITH EXCELLENCE
In everything we do, we strive to give our best to the Lord. We go the extra mile in all aspects of ministry so that God is honored.
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Col. 3:17
What We Believe
ABOUT GOD
We believe that God has revealed Himself as one God, yet 3 persons.
- God the Father is our creator
- God the Son (Jesus Christ) is our Savior and
- God the Holy Spirit is our help throughout our journey here on earth.
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:5-6
ABOUT GRACE
We believe that God freely forgives all believers and makes them His children, affirming His love and grace through His Word and the sacraments of Baptism and Communion.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God“ Ephesians 2:8
ABOUT FAITH
We believe in God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit for our eternal life in heaven as well as our daily life on earth.
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
ABOUT THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, providing a sure footing for our lives.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Tim. 3:16-17
ABOUT PRAYER
We believe that we can come before God, in the name of Jesus Christ, to honor Him, thank Him for His blessings, confess our sins, and seek his guidance in all aspects of our daily life.
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18
ABOUT WORSHIP
We believe that we respond to God’s unconditional love by honoring and glorifying Him through both our individual lives and together as a family of God in a meaningful and relevant manner.
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” John 4:23
ABOUT GIFTEDNESS
We believe that the Holy Spirit endows each of us with blessings and abilities that we are to use to bless others and to glorify Him.
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” 1 Cor. 12:7
ABOUT BAPTISM
We believe that God’s grace extends to all people and through the waters of Baptism, God cleanses us of the guilt of sin and connects us the Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4
ABOUT THE LORD'S SUPPER
We believe that we receive Jesus’ body and blood through the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sin and strengthening of faith.
“Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?” 1 Cor. 10:16
These descriptions are by no means exhaustive, but are here to highlight some of the characteristics of our Christ-centered community. Keep checking back for more info!