May 5, 2016

“And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”  Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them.  While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.” Luke 24:49-53

“Might it not be that even in heaven Jesus-now-resurrected is still blessing his disciples? Well, those disciples did what Jesus asked. They returned to Jerusalem and waited. And then, shakily at first, they did what Jesus-now-resurrected had asked them to do: Proclaim and Witness. And that is how the Greek word for “witness” has come to be known and used as an English word – martyr.” (Larry Broding, Holy Textures website)

Might it be that Jesus continues to bless his disciples while in heaven? I sure hope so. On this Ascension Day, we pause to gaze in awe at Jesus ascending into heaven, and then begin to wonder what we should do next. The disciples, after watching Jesus ascend, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were in the temple day and night blessing G-d. Knowing we cannot be in church day and night worshipping G-d, we can seek special times to attend worship when special opportunities appear to us.

Ascension Day is one of those special opportunities. The bible only gives us three or four descriptions of people who did not die – but were taken up into heaven. Moses, though we are given the impression that he died, some argue that there is the distinct possibility that G-d took Moses. Enoch was taken into heaven (without any fanfare), and so was Elijah, on a fiery chariot. The final description we have of someone being taken by G-d is Jesus. And there is no uncertainty about it – though there is plenty of mystery around it. Although we do not necessarily think that heaven is “Up” there somewhere, the word ascension implies Jesus was taken upward. But the exact details leave us wondering what it must have looked like, and how it could have happened.

But though we do not know much of the details, we do know that Jesus is all around – not just up but everywhere we look, in the Trinitarian mystery. And so we might raise our eyes to Jesus, we can just as well sit next to an empty chair and have a conversation with Jesus. Jesus may have ascended, but he is all around – and ready to have that conversation with you no matter where you are.

Pastor Dave

May 4, 2016

“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!  Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!…
Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord!”
Psalm 148:1-4,11-14

We hear these words from the Psalmist and we remember that one of the most important parts of being a follower of Jesus is to gather for worship, to give praise and thanks to G-d for all that G-d has done in our lives. Paul, when he goes to Macedonia, in the city of Philippi, he goes to find a place of worship when it is the Sabbath. It is there that he meets a group of women, and in particular meets Lydia, who eventually is baptized along with her entire household. Going to worship means we meet people who may benefit from our knowledge and understanding of G-d’s activity and G-d’s Grace in our lives.

The greatest thing G-d did for all of humanity was to become human and dwell among us as Christ, who frees humanity to be more loving and merciful toward one another. Week after week, Sunday after Sunday, we join with family, friends, and even strangers to worship G-d who continues to choose us, despite our failures, chooses us to be agents of love and mercy and Grace in the world.

G-d arrives in the form of Jesus. G-d loves in the ministry and person of Jesus. G-d frees us from the bondage of sin in the cross of Jesus. G-d abides, calls, and sustains us through the sacraments which we receive in worship. Following begins with worship – and throughout our lives we continue to return to worship to be equipped for the continual journey.

Pastor Dave