Ascension of Jesus

Dear Congregation,

Ascension Day was yesterday, Thursday, May 14th. You may remember that the bodily Ascension of Jesus into heaven occurred forty days after Easter. It’s celebrated on the Sunday after, as we’ll do in worship this Sunday. My favorite part of the Acts 1:6-11 passage on the Ascension comes at the end of the text, after Jesus has promised that the Holy Spirit will give his followers power and they will be his witnesses.

“When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?” (Acts 1:9-11a) The implication of their words, their unspoken message, is, “Get busy doing the work that Christ has given you to do. Move away from the vertical and look to the horizontal.” As we know there’s a lot of horizontal in our world calling for our Christian response, calling for witnesses!

In our Peace, Love, and Protest activity after worship this Sunday you’ll have the opportunity to join in on one of the historical forms of witnessing—the Protest March. Our march will be short, from Kelsey Hall to our church sign out front where we’ll stand for justice, display the signs we’ve just made and sing a few protest songs. We’ll witness to those who are driving, biking, or walking by what we as a church stand for (or against) as followers of Jesus Christ.

A light lunch will be available to enjoy while we create our signs. Materials will be available. You’re invited to dress 70’s /Hippie style. A few accessories will be provided. Let’s embody radical love with our witnessing.

Peace to you.

In Christ’s love.

Pastor Candy