Why do you stand looking up to heaven?
a sermon on Acts 1:6-14
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters
Jesus ascends and leaves us with a lot of questions…

The Story
Feast of the Ascension
(transferred)
May 24, 2020
Acts 1:6-14
So when they had come together, the apostles asked Jesus, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
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? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Something to Do
It is not for you to know the time…
We are unpleasantly familiar with the experience of not knowing when the time will come – so this week, turn not knowing the time into a game instead of a burden.
Choose one day to live without any knowledge of the time (this is trickier now because of our phones). Cover up all the clocks in your home and try not to worry about what time it is. What does it feel like?
a cloud took him out of their sight
Growing up on the prairies, I have always known that scenery is not only what happens on the ground. Whether you are going out for walks or sitting in your backyard or gazing out an open window, spend some time directing your sight upwards. Pay attention to the colours of the sky and the shapes of the clouds. What do you see? What do you find yourself thinking about?

Something to Wonder
devoting themselves to prayer
The disciples responded to the astonishing experience of watching Jesus ascend and to the promise of the power to come by going home and devoting themselves to prayer.
Consider your prayer life this week. How would you describe it? How do you feel about it? Is there anything you would change? If so, what and why?
Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?
On the one hand, this is a ridiculous question. They are looking up toward heaven because they just watched Jesus disappear into the sky! On the other hand, perhaps it is not so ridiculous – how often do we look for God where we last saw God instead of paying attention to where God is going?
Where are you looking for God these days? Why are you looking there? Might you be looking in the wrong direction? Where else could you look?

Something to Learn
Church of the Ascension
Last year, we celebrated the Feast of the Ascension with a spectacular potluck dinner and community talent night. The hall was filled with people eating, singing, hugging, and laughing – it was like a different world!
This year, we are celebrating from our homes as we continue to learn what it is to be a the Church of the Ascension when we can’t enjoy one another’s company in our beloved, beautiful building.
This article discusses the idea of “distributed church” – an idea that has been discussed for some time but has taken on new weight in a pandemic world. It is long but easy to read and worth a few minutes of your time.
Distributed Church and the New Normal of a Pandemic World
“Every church is a “distributed” church now, whether we like it or not. Distributed simply means “spread” or “shared.” It has been a word that we of the Fresh Expressions movement have often held together in creative tension with the “collected” church”.

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.
Sixth Sunday of Easter – May 17, 2020
We have another Advocate
a sermon on John 14:15-21
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters
Turning our attention to the Holy Spirit

The Story
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 17, 2020
John 14:15-21
Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

Something to Do
Look for the helpers
Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as an Advocate, someone who stands up to provide care and justice for another. We are living in an age full of advocates, each of whom reveal the Holy Spirit to us. Take a note from Mr. Rogers and really notice them this week. Make a list of them. Then use the list:
- write a poem
- make some art
- say a prayer
- send thank you notes.
Be an advocate
Our world needs advocates. Even from your living room, you can speak up on behalf of those who need you to add your voice to theirs. Write a letter or make a phone call to decision-makers, to the newspaper, and to your friends to talk about ways to draw our world closer to God’s will – a world of justice, peace, and compassion for all humans and all creation.
One local resource for one important issue which you might want to take a look at is Housing Emergency Ottawa.

Something to Wonder
I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
Repeat this sentence a few times. Try to picture it – like a set of Russian dolls except, somehow, the biggest doll both holds and fits inside the smallest doll.
What does it mean for you to be in Jesus?
What does it mean for Jesus to be in you?
Which of these ideas makes the most sense for you? Or feels the most true? How might really embracing them impact the way you live?
…because I live, you also will live
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
In Christ’s resurrection, we have life. Some folks might find this promise harder to trust in the context of social isolation. Some might find it easier. Where do you find yourself along that spectrum?
What has made you feel alive in the last few days? Why? Are there ways you can build on that feeling?

Something to Learn
another Paraclete
The Greek word Jesus uses to describe the Holy Spirit (translated in our version as “advocate”) is paraclete. This is a very interesting and complicated and significant word and here are two attempts to unpack it.
The Holy Spirit as Paraclete by Alex Rowe – a short article on medium.com
“Though to describe the Holy Spirit as “Paraclete” may sound rather abstract, difficult to comprehend, it is perhaps the most personal of all depictions.”
Paraclete by Barry Cooper, in both audio and transcript form
“There’s an important Greek word in the New Testament that is similarly tricky to translate. The word is paraclete, and it’s used by Jesus both as a name for the Holy Spirit and also for Himself.”

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.
Fifth Sunday of Easter – May 10 2020
Lord, show us the Father…again and again and again
a sermon on John 14: 1-14
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters