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Sunday of the Ascension 2023 Abrgd
Guest Speaker
Sunday, May 21, 2023
Scripture
Playlist

As we gather, we recognize that we live, work, pray, and play
in the traditional, unceded lands
of the Cowichan Tribes and Coast Salish People. 
We continue to commit ourselves
to the work of reconciliation and relationship-building
with our First Nations neighbours.     

 

Call to Worship:

 Go and make disciples of all nations,
says the Lord;
I am with you always,
to the close of the age.      

Matthew 28. 19, 20
 

 Gathering

Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hidden.
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the
inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Collect for Today

Almighty God,
your Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven
that he might rule over all things as Lord.
Keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit
and in the bond of his peace,  
and bring the whole of creation to worship at his feet,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.  Amen. 

The Proclamation of the Gospel:

Luke 24. 44-53 

Sermon:  The Ven.  Brian Evans

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of
our hearts be ever acceptable to you, O Lord.  Amen.

       “Looking for Jesus"

Who remembers these lines from the cartoons?

He is a hot pink, anthropomorphic mountain lion, with a collar, two cuffs and a black tie.
He's best known for his famous catchphrase, "Heavens to Murgatroyd!"
along with phrases such as "Exit, stage left!"
(Or stage right, and sometimes even up or down),
a phrase used in theatrical stage directions to this day.

“SNAGGLEPUSS”  

To borrow a phrase, 'Heavens to Murgatroyd!'

When I went searching for some history on the often-used stage phrase, I learned in the innocence of my childhood years, what I was not aware of, and how, his witness to the communities changed lives.                

Reading a variety of accounts of The Ascension, one can get this sense of Jesus being present and then, as if in a whirlwind, he just disappears!

The witnesses are left there in awe.

I am reminded of a video from this week, of a young childrens’ ball game this week, when the back catcher experienced a “dust devil” blowing around him, and folks were worried he would just disappear.          

Hence the word on our board today, SWOOSH!

All of a sudden, Jesus just disappeared! I was tempted to title my sermon thus!!            

Instead, we have this: Looking for Jesus.            

Except in Acts today, we hear:  

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  

The disciples are told to not gaze up into heaven to look for Jesus.

We to need find Jesus’ presence among us as we proclaim the Word, and share the Easter feast.

We, too, long to enliven our faith, and invigorate our mission.

The Scripture readings set the scene for this conclusion of the underlying message of Ascension.     

In Acts, before Jesus is lifted up to heaven, he gives a promise. Jesus says the missionary work of the disciples will spread from Jerusalem to the ends of the world.            

I am reminded of our first stop when on a tour to the Holy Land.

We were in Jordan, and they took us to the ancient crossroads in Aman Jordan. There, in the cobble stone street, were the worn track of the ancient “chariots” indicated travelling east to west, and north to south.

I recall the guide giving reference to these tracks as a metaphor to this reading from Acts.
Of how God’s message was spread.  

This spread of the of the word of God will be made possible by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will accompany us on the journey. It will spread to all the corners of the earth.  

How will this happen?

The simple answer is: through you and I.

As we read in Ephesians today:

‘I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.'             

What we have here are images the author uses to indicate to the world the power of God through Christ.

Except, back to the Acts reading.  

We have heard today, we need to make the transition from Christ's doing it all for us--to us.            

We are God’s power at work in the world, not just Christ.

Christ's body extends from the heavens to the earth. We are the earth.            

Then this becomes an “aha” moment. It is now up to us?  

Each Sunday we recite this line in the Apostles Creed:
“He ascended into heaven; he is seated at the right hand of the Father.”  

When we recite this line week by week, what is our interpretation?            

The point, I believe, the lessons today are making is:

Jesus is not seated on some glorious throne in some faraway place.

Rather, Jesus is seated right beside you right now.            

How many of you looked to see if he was there?   

Well, yes, Jesus is seated beside you, each, and every day. Jesus is the person seated next to you.     

Now, that does change the scene for us just a little.            

We have just completed 40 days with Christ's attempting to prove he is alive.            

AND how do we interpret this today?  

What about the new believer who shows up on Sunday morning and they hear these words?

We might want to ask this question:  

Would our words and actions offer evidence of what we believe ‘in the resurrection’ to the new community of believers?            

After all, did we not just read in Luke’s gospel: “You are witness of these things.”            

Then in Ephesians, the writer prays God might give the people a spirit of wisdom and revelation.            

The other part of this lesson is: Paul opens his prayer with an offering of thanksgiving.

‘I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.

"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."             

From my vantage point, this is what I witness week by week, day by day, in every parish:

the witness of Christ to the world.  
Parish work is alive today, as it was yesterday and will be tomorrow.  

Why are we looking up for Jesus?

Jesus is here, sitting right beside us. 

Thanks be to God. Amen. 

Let Us Pray

United in the hope of joy and resurrection,
let us pray
for the Church, the world, and all in need.

Ever-present God,
root your church firmly in you.
Let us neither become entranced staring up into the heavens,
nor distraught by the suffering of the world.
Teach us to see you in every face, every place, and every moment. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

God of the cosmos,
you cradle creation in your loving arms
and anoint it with signs of your presence.
In the budding of flowers, the birth of a baby,
and the formations of the land and sky,
reveal your abundant life. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

Eternal God,
your reign is above us, around us, beneath us, and beside us.
As you rule the cosmos with justice and mercy,
pour out your Spirit upon those in authority,
that they serve humbly and justly. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

God of companionship,
provide clarity and direction
for those experiencing life transitions-
in births and deaths, new employment,
and new relationships,
divorces and departures.
We pray for those receiving new diagnoses,
or undergoing treatment for illness or injury. 

We continue to pray for those in need, particularly in our parish:
Roy & Gail; Daryl & Sue; Roy; Jay;  Sheila;
Elaina; Sharlene; Jasmine; Liza and her sister, for housing; and those on our hearts.   

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

Immanent God,
in you we live, move, and have our being.
Draw us closer to you and clothe us in your power.
Encourage those preparing for baptism, those affirming baptism,
and all who are assuming new roles in this congregation’s ministries. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

God of welcome,
you call us to feast at your eternal banquet.
We give thanks for those who came before us,
whose lives witnessed to your love. 

Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great. 

Rejoicing in the victory of Christs resurrection,
we lift our 
prayers and praises to you,
almig
hty and eternal God;
through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. 
Amen. 

As our Saviour taught us:
Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,

Thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against us.

And lead us  not into temptation,
but deliver us fom evil.
 
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory,
forever and ever.  Amen.

Eternal God,
we give you thanks today for your love and power,
and for your confidence in us,
as our Saviour has ascended into heaven.
May we continue to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth, 
and confirm in our lives the mission
you have bestowed upon us,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

Blessing: 

The peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and
love of God, and of his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with you, and remain with you, always

Let us share the Word of God
as we go about our lives this week. Amen.