Episcopal Church of the Ascension - Vestavia Hills, AL

Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost, October 4, 2026

Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 5:1-7

Psalm 80:7-14

New Testament Lesson/Epistle: Philippians 3:4b-14

Gospel: Matthew 21:33-46

Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost, September 27, 2026

Old Testament Lesson: Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32

Psalm 25:1-8

New Testament Lesson/Epistle: Philippians 2:1-13

Gospel: Matthew 21:23-32

Sermon Quote: "Grace frees us from believing that we have to be a somebody in this world to be loved...We already are.”

View Rev. Jack's Sermon Transcript Here

Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost, September 20, 2026

Old Testament Lesson: Jonah 3:10-4:11

Psalm: 145:1-8

New Testament Lesson/Epistle: Philippians 1:21-30

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon Quote:"The economy of fairness says the reward depends on what we've earned. The economy of grace says the gift depends on the generosity of God.”

View Rev. Jack's Sermon Transcript Here

Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost, September 13, 2026

Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 50:15-21

Psalm 103:8-13

New Testament Lesson/Epistle: Paul's letter to the Romans 18:21-35

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon: "We must do the work of decentering the self so that we can recenter God, of emptying the self so that God has space to fill us up with things that give us life. " The Reverend Emily C. Collette

Click Here for a Transcript of Emily's Sermon

Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost, September 6, 2026

Old Testament Lesson: Ezekial 33:7-11

Psalm: Psalm 119:33-40

New Testament Lesson/Epistle: Romans 13:8-14

Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

Sermon Quote: "There is nothing more cruel than the leniency that abandons others to their sin. Nothing is more merciful than the sharp reprimand that calls another back from the path of sin.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

View Rev. Jack's Sermon Transcript Here

Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost, August 30, 2026

Old Testament Lesson: Jeremiah 15:15-21

Psalm: Psalm 26:1-8

New Testament Lesson/Epistle: Paul's letter to the Romans 12:9-21

Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon: "We must do the work of decentering the self so that we can recenter God, of emptying the self so that God has space to fill us up with things that give us life. " The Reverend Emily C. Collette

Click Here for a Transcript of Emily's Sermon

Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost, August 23, 2026

Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 51:1-6

Psalm: Psalm 138

New Testament Lesson/Epistle: Romans 12:1-8

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20

Sermon: "We don't have to know the whole story. We just need eyes to know Jesus in the other. Lord, give us those eyes." The Reverend Jack Alvey

Click Here for a Transcript of Jack's Sermon

Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost, August 16, 2026

Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8

Psalm: Psalm 67

New Testament Lesson/Epistle: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

Gospel: Matthew 15:10-28

Sermon: "She didn't come to Jesus with an M.Div or EfM diploma... She came with a need and a cry for mercy. And Jesus called that great." The Reverend Jack Alvey

Click Here for a Transcript of Jack's Sermon

In this episode of our summer podcast series, On the Road Again, Jack is joined by Olivia Hill Sheffield, Church of Ascension's new parish office manager. Jack and Olivia discuss the relationship between doubt and faith: wrestling with the question, "Is doubt faith's mortal enemy or her lifelong dance partner?"

This episode will conclude our summer series. Let us know what you think we should discuss next!

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost, August 9, 2026

Old Testament Lesson: 1 Kings 19:9-18

Psalm: Psalm 85:8-13

New Testament Lesson/Epistle: Romans 10:5-15

Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33

Sermon: "Jesus has promised to be truly and deeply with us in everything we go through in life. Our job is simply to trust that this will be true." The Reverend Emily C. Collette

Click Here for a Transcript of Emily's Sermon