Church of the Ascension

Archives for January 2021

A New Teaching

The Story for the
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
January 31, 2021

prepared by the Rev’d Adam Brown

Mark 1:21-28

The Man with an Unclean Spirit

21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Something to Do

“Be silent”

Sometimes the anxieties and depression and all the other negative unhealthy stuff in our minds overwhelms us without us even realizing it. Take a moment to be quiet for a bit. Identify all the layers of how you’re feeling, why you’re feeling them, and then let them go with a deep breath.

Declutter

Take a moment to find a corner of your house gathering dust or clutter and tidy it up. When you’re finished take a moment to feel good about how good it looks.

Something to Wonder

Societal unclean spirits

What are some “unclean spirits” plaguing our society (Globally? Nationally? Locally?) and notice how education and dialogue often make no room for these unclean spirits anymore. How will you educate yourself and grow in empathy and understanding?

“Have you come to destroy us?”

Notice how the unclean spirit asked if Jesus came to destroy him. Rather than choosing the path of destruction Jesus told the unclean spirit to simply be quiet and leave – that it was no longer welcome here. How might that inform how we personally deal with things, people, or events that trouble us?

Something to Learn

The Immovable Ladder

The Rev’d Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a monumental advocate for striving for social change through the use of nonviolence.

You can read more about his journey to nonviolence, as well as his practical and theological thoughts on it, here: https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/nonviolence/

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.

Called to Follow

The Story for the
Third Sunday after Epiphany
January 24, 2021

prepared by the Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Mark 1:14-20

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. 

Something to Do

And immediately they left their nets and followed him

You don’t necessarily have to leave your nets to follow Jesus – after all, you may well have followed Jesus to your particular nets. Sometimes, though, we can lose sight of the One we follow in the midst of the day-to-day. This week, as you go through your routine, ask Jesus to make you mindful that each step is intended for his service.

Begin like this:
Jesus, teacher and Saviour, be in my waking and fill my preparations for the day with thoughts of you.

Proclaiming the Good News

It might seem like there’s not a lot of good news around these days but the good news is still around – you just might have to look a little harder.

Look for the good news. Every day, make a point of noticing and celebrating good news, big or small. Write it down or tell a friend or just hold it close to your heart.

Something to Wonder

Following the Leader

What makes a good leader? Whose leadership do you admire? What kind of leader are you most comfortable following?

Does your description fit with how you might describe Jesus? In what ways yes and in what ways no?

Called by Jesus

Think back on your life and the decisions you have made. When have your decisions been shaped by a sense of Jesus’ call? What did that feel like? Is there a pattern or familiar shape to that sense of Jesus’ call? How do you attune yourself to it?

Something to Learn

Called to Follow

The Theology of Work Project maintains that God calls us all to work, whether that work is paid or unpaid. (Fortunately, they also maintain that work is only one aspect of our lives.). While I do not necessarily endorse everything on their website, it is a valuable source of reflection on how work can be – and needs to be – an expression of our Christian faith.

Two articles relevant to this week’s story:

The Calling of the First Disciples (Mark 1:16-20)
Calling & Vocation (Overview)

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.

Under the Fig Tree

The Story for the
Second Sunday in Epiphany
January 17, 2021

prepared by the Rev’d Adam Brown

John 1:43-51

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you,[m] you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Something to Do

Epiphany Tree

If you’re like me, you may be procrastinating and still have your Christmas Tree up in your living room. If you do, make a decoration inspired by this week’s readings and hang it on the tree. If you’ve already gone ahead and thrown it out or put it away, make a decoration anyway and find somewhere else to hang it for the week.

Under the Tree

Take a walk sometime this week and stand under a tree. Where do you see Jesus? What is he saying to you?

Something to Wonder

“Come and See”

We often associate the invitation of “come and see” to Jesus, but in this passage it’s Philip who who invites Nathanael. How have you heard the call of others to “come and see”? What about the saints? Do any stand out to you?

Gathering Places

Fig trees are often the symbol of people coming together and congregating for community or study. As we are in another lockdown, how have you or others found innovative ways to still maintain a sense of community?

Something to Learn

The Immovable Ladder

The phrase, “…you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” calls to mind the story of Jacob’s Ladder (Genesis 28:10-19) with the ladder being a symbol or a prophecy of Jesus. Another, more visible and infamous, ladder in our own times is the “Immovable Ladder” at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. A product of centuries of disagreements and division, both between the Church and the secular governments that come and go, and amongst Christians themselves, the ladder has remained a symbol of a desire for Christian ecumenism and unity for hundreds of years. In 1964 Pope Paul VI declared that the ladder would only be taken down when all Christians have finally reunited.

You can read more about the Immovable Ladder here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_Quo_(Jerusalem_and_Bethlehem)

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.