Church of the Ascension

Archives for November 2019

Get Ready! The season of Advent is upon us!

The Story
Dec 1, 2019
First Sunday of Advent

Matthew 24:36-44

But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

Something to Do

Advent Readiness

The First Sunday of Advent demands that we take Advent seriously – because the end of the world is serious business. Our traditions of Advent wreaths and Advent calendars are not simply countdowns to Christmas but rather are meant to keep us paying attention.

So how will you stay awake this Advent season? Some possibilities:

The Advent Wreath – all you need is four candles plus one for Christmas. They can be in a traditional wreath of winter greenery or simply on the table. They can be the traditional Advent colours of blue/purple or simply all white. Eat dinner by candlelight all Advent long, lighting one more candle each week. Say a simple grace, sing a favourite Advent song, or use the prayers we’ll be using at Ascension this year.

Reverse Advent Box – each day, add an item from this list of needed gifts for Ottawa’s community ministries. If you feel festive or have young family members at home, decorate your box (or come to this Saturday’s Celebration Saturday and decorate it with us!). Bring the items to church after Christmas and before Jan. 5th for distribution.

#AdventWord – join this international project and read or share meditations and images on Advent Words each day.

Something to Wonder

So many things to wonder…

If we can’t know when the Son of Man is coming, why have humans spent so much time trying to figure it out?

How do we watch for something we can’t even begin to prepare for?

Is it better to be taken or left?

Is Jesus the thief? If so, what might that mean?

And something to wonder about ourselves…

How does a reading that raises so many questions make you feel?

How does this reading, with its strange warnings make you feel?

What ideas do you have about “the rapture”? Where do they come from? How do you feel about it?

Something to Learn

A Close Study

Left Behind and Loving It offers a guided translation from the Greek, along with insightful commentary. It is one of my favourite resources for sermon prep – which means if you read it, you might hear something of it on Sunday! But there is so much of value here, it’s worth the risk, especially for a text as tricky as the one we have this week!

The History of Advent

In Advent, Explained , Alissa Wilkinson discusses the history of Advent and its various observances from the perspective of a secular participant.

Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.

Blessed be the Lord! A song of praise for the Reign of Christ

The Story
Nov. 24, 2019
The Feast of the Reign of Christ

Luke 1:68-79

The Song of Zechariah

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Something to Do

Sing with Zechariah

Zechariah was an elderly priest, married to Elizabeth (Mary’s cousin). Zechariah and Elizabeth had never had children. One day, an angel appeared to Zechariah while he was carrying out his duties in the temple. The angel promised a child, who was to be named John and who would grow up to become John the Baptist. Zechariah was openly doubtful about the promise and the angel, as punishment or as proof, took away his voice until the moment of John’s birth (and naming).

When the wonderful day came, Zechariah’s voice was restored and the first words out of his mouth were the song, now known as the Benedictus or the Song of Zechariah.

Since it is a song, sing it! Or at least listen to it being sung. Some versions are linked below.

Guide our feet in the way of peace

Zechariah sings of God’s promises, ending with the beautiful image of God guiding God’s people’s “feet in the way of peace”.

Allow God to guide your feet this week. How might you follow the way of peace? Is there something you can do to bring peace to your own heart or to a relationship that is sometimes (or always) conflictual? Can you be a peaceful presence in your workplace or school or neighbourhood?

Something to Wonder

Herald of the King

The Song of Zechariah is read instead of a psalm on the Sunday of the Reign of Christ (also known as Christ the King Sunday). It is sung to a baby who will be the one to prepare the way for the the Lord, the King, who is to come.

How do we prepare the way for the Lord?
What do you do to open yourself up to hear the call of Jesus?
What might you do to prepare the way for someone else to encounter Jesus?

Freedom under the King

Freedom and monarchy do not often go together but freedom is a defining feature of the reign of Jesus – freedom to worship; freedom from oppression; freedom from judgement; freedom from fear; freedom from death.

Imagine the power of these promises for a people living under occupation.

Imagine embracing these promises fully for yourself. What would you do if you lived into this freedom that has been offered to you?

Something to Learn

Praying the Daily Office

The Song of Zechariah is traditionally said during the service of Morning Prayer (or the Morning Office). The practice of the daily office – or any deliberate, consistent prayer practice – reminds us that our time and our attention belong first to Jesus, our true ruler.

Learn more about the ancient practice of the office and consider incorporating it into your own prayer life.

A brief history of the development of the modern Anglican daily office pattern.

A personal reflection by the Bishop of Tennessee on why praying the offices is important to him.

A few versions to try for yourself:

Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.

Terrifying Signs that the Kingdom is Coming

The Story
Nov. 17, 2019

Luke 21:5-19

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?”

And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them. When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.” 

Something to Do

Terrifying Signs of the Coming of the Kingdom

The picture Jesus paints for the disciples is terrifying – wars and famines and earthquakes and persecution. It is also pretty familiar – Jesus could be describing almost any decade in human history. This is why people see the end of the world in every generation, both before Jesus and after him.

But if the end of the world is the the same thing as the coming of the Kingdom of God, the realization of God’s vision of perfect justice and peace for all creation, then why is it so scary? Why does it come with such destruction and suffering?

Because people with something to lose – people who don’t actually want perfect justice and peace – fight its coming. All too often, justice seekers and peacemakers are met with violence. Which means that their work is a double sign. When we see love and hope and self-sacrifice in action, we catch a glimpse of the Kingdom itself. And when we see the war and persecution that rises up to stop it, we know that the Kingdom is near.

So name both signs this week. Look for the glimpses of the Kingdom and rejoice. But also hold fast to the hope that what looks like destruction is actually birthpangs.

the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another…

Do a little internet searching for pictures of glorious temples that have fallen, whether due to war or simply the passing of time. Some suggestions: Coventry Cathedral, the Parthenon, the 2nd Temple, the Luisenstädtische Kirche, the Temple of Zeus at Aizanoi.

Something to Wonder

Beware that you are not led astray

There are many teachers competing for our attention and our loyalty, offering alternative ways to follow rather than the way of Jesus.

When have you been attracted by another teacher? What was appealing about that way? What made you realized you were being led astray?

Are you, perhaps, currently following another teacher some of the time? How can you make sure the way you are following is in keeping with the way of Jesus?

I will give you words of wisdom

Have you ever had the experience of finding words you didn’t think you had? Perhaps when you had to speak in your own or someone else’s defence or at a time of grief or a time of healing? If so, what was it like?

Perhaps words are not the way you move through the world. If that is the case, have you ever been the ability to do something you needed to do but didn’t know how you could? Or the means to communicate something you didn’t know how to communicate? How did that feel?

Have you ever thought of naming that gifted capacity as the Holy Spirit? If not, why not?

Something to Learn

A variety of apocalypses

Shades of Millenarianism from the Economist
This article addresses the role of apocalyptic thought in Iranian theological and political thinking – because the end of the world does not only interest Christians!

Millenarianism and Violence is a short, accessible scholarly article that takes a sweeping look at millenarian movements around the world and the risks they have posed.

Facing a possible Climate Apocalypse puts the climate crisis in conversation with dangers of the past and offers (a rather bleak) kind of hope for the future. Note: this is NOT a politically neutral piece!

And, finally, this article from the Irish Examiner looks at the backlash against Greta Thunberg: Does Greta Thunberg make you uncomfortable?

Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.