The 40th Anniversary - May 2000

  A Family Ministry Fund was established in 1997 to assist our families in financial crisis.
          Also in 1997, two members, Don Bergstrom and Eric Schorn attended Stephen's Ministry training. In September 1998 they began training five members of the congregation to work in this ministry. All were commissioned on May 16, 1999.
          In 1998, Cindy McKelvey began training a bell choir on a set of two octave bells on loan from Lutheran Brotherhood 'Texas Lone Star #8006 Branch'.
          In December of 1999, Pastor Ensrude accepted a call to Zion Lutheran in Fredericksburg, Texas. Pastor Manfred Holck became our interim pastor and a call committee was elected to find a new pastor for Ascension.
          In May 2000, we observed our 40th Anniversary with a month of celebration.
          Through these 40 years, the people of Ascension congregation have been involved in the Lord's work, both individually and as a group in many ways - making quilts for Lutheran World Relief, clothing drives, Caritas, Altenheim and Adult DayCare Center, health kits and school kits, layettes for County Health Dept., Habitat for Humanity, Foster Care, Meals-on-Wheels, Allen Park, Oncology Center, World Hunger, Christ Care groups, Casa Marianella, East Austin Pre-school, AIDS - Christopher House, Via de Cristo, Food Bank, Camping Ministry. These are some of the activities our members have shared in.
            We pray that God will continue to bless this congregation that it may grow in grace and love and serve the Lord well.
                              Helen Kneten