Our Invitation To You...

Welcome to Church of the Ascension, an Episcopal parish in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle. We are a community in which visitors, friends and members experience the welcome of God, and find encouragement and refreshment for life at home, at work and in public life.

No matter who you are or where you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome here! We invite people looking for healing, love, forgiveness, and acceptance, and seeking to find a home in Christian community, including families, children, young people, older people, couples, singles, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. Join us as we sing, as we walk the faith, as we care for each other, and as we come together around the common Eucharistic meal: all who seek Christ are welcome here.

Our Invitation To You...

Welcome to Church of the Ascension, an episcopal Church in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle. We are a community in which visitors, friends and members experience the welcome of God, and find encouragement and refreshment for life at home, at work and in public life.

If you are new to Seattle or seeking a spiritual home, we invite you to join us for Sunday worship and Bible Study and/or celebration of Morning Prayer on Thursdays. The schedule for these services can be found on this website as well as the printed bulletins available at Ascension.

We are an energetic and engaged community of about 128 households who gather for weekly worship and nourishment for going out into the world to be Jesus' compassion in action. Children, the elderly, young parents, single and divorced persons, as well as married and partnered couples make up the remarkable mix of people who call Ascension their spiritual home.

All that we do reflects our commitment and care for others and the earth. What we say and do in worship nurtures, informs, and guides our actions for peace and justice.

e•pis•co•pal

“Episcopos” is the Greek word for “bishop.” Thus “Episcopal” means “governed by bishops.” The Episcopal Church maintains the three-fold order of ministry as handed down by the Apostles — deacons, priests and bishops — in direct descent, via the laying on of hands, from the original Apostles. By the way, “Episcopal” is an adjective: “I belong to the Episcopal Church.” The noun is “Episcopalian”: “I am an Episcopalian.”

What To Expect

When you visit you will be greeted in the entryway before the liturgy. After the service, please come to Coffee Hour and let us have a chance to hear a bit about how you came to visit us. We would enjoy answering questions you might have about what you experienced.

Visitors often speak of the positive energy in our traditional worship as well as the excellence of our music program. We are a friendly crowd but not pushy, respecting the dignity and wishes of those who attend.

As an Episcopal parish, we celebrate the ancient rituals of Christianity with silence, prayer, music, engaging preaching, physical gestures and a profound sense of the presence of the Holy One that unites the worshipping community.

When you visit, we don’t want you to feel as if you need to get everything “right” in terms of participating in our liturgy. You can simply let the beauty and the prayerfulness of the liturgy wash over you. We provide a printed bulletin containing all the readings and instructions for the service.

What We Believe

A good question. A vast amount has been written on this subject. Theology has been debated and authority has been called into question. Here is a very basic overview of what Episcopalians and the Episcopal Church is all about:

We believe in God, the Father

We believe in Jesus Christ, God's Son

We believe in the Holy Spirit

We believe in love

We believe in forgiveness

We believe in freedom

We believe in listening

We are steeped in tradition, but not mired in it

We are committed to compassionate action

We are committed to care for the planet and its creatures

We inherit history

We turn to the future

Adapted From

Diocese of Olympia