Church of the Ascension

The Story at Home

John the Dunker dunks Jesus in the river

The Story for the
Baptism of Jesus
January 10, 2021

prepared by the Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Mark 1:4-11

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 

Something to Do

Baptized with Water

The celebration of Jesus’ baptism is the perfect time to reflect on our own baptisms. If you have not been baptized, reflect on whether God is calling you to take this step of faith and don’t hesitate to contact Rhonda for a conversation.

If you have been baptized and/or you live with children who have been baptized, consider doing some or all of these things, perhaps at a meal or just before bed:

  • Fill a bowl with water and use it to sign your forehead with a cross to remember that you have been marked as Christ’s own forever.
  • Light a candle (maybe even your baptismal candle) to remember that you have been given the light of Christ to share with the world.
  • Read the promises you made at your baptism and ask God to help you keep those commitments (find a copy here).

Baptism of Repentance

The most important symbol of baptism is the water – in fact, baptism requires at least a drop of water and should, ideally, have lots of it (a whole river, even!) Water is a powerful symbol of renewal . It restores us when we are thirsty. It cleanses us when we are dirty.

This week, add a prayer to every encounter you have with water. When you drink it, ask God to give you newness of life. When you wash with it, ask God to wash away anything that separates you from God. When you use it to nourish pets or plants, ask God to make you a channel for God’s love.

Something to Wonder

Baptized with the Holy Spirit

The word baptize is the Greek word for dip or dunk – like a cookie into milk or a toe into a swimming pool or a tired body into a warm bath. John the baptizer was literally dunking people into the river, baptizing them with water, and he pointed to Jesus who would baptize with the Holy Spirit – dunking people into the Holy Spirit.

How do you feel / what do you think about the idea of being submerged in the Spirit? Is it similar or different from how you usually think of encounters with Spirit? Does is describe something you have experienced before? Something you would like to experience? Something you would rather avoid? Why?

You Are Beloved

You are beloved. Is this an easy thing or a hard thing for you to hear? To believe? Either way, it is true. You are beloved.

Something to Learn

The Gospel according to Mark

The liturgical year begins in Advent and this liturgical year is a “Year B”, meaning with will be reading the Gospel according to Mark. Because of our special Advent series, however, we did not begin our year with Mark and so instead come to it for the first time in three years this Sunday.

Mark’s account is the first to be written down and is the shortest of the four Gospels. It moves with great urgency and an astonishing economy of language – which results in a frustrating lack of detail as well as a very compelling story.

The two short essays provide an excellent overview of the context, composition, and history of Mark’s account.
The Gospel of Mark: A story of secrecy and misunderstanding
The Gospel of Mark: The first attempt to tell the story

The Bible Project video provides a clear and engaging explanation of the structure and themes in the Gospel according to Mark.

And, if you have a couple of hours, I highly recommend letting actor David Suchet read the whole book out loud to you.

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.

Living Hope

The Story for the
Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 20, 2020

prepared by the Rev’d Rhonda Waters

This Advent, we are not reading the usual lectionary readings. Instead, we have crafted an Advent series that tells the story of God’s saving work through the lens of four pairs or individuals from the Bible who reveal the
transformative power of hope in God.
On Sunday, we will hear these stories in a variety of ways – Bible readings, stories, poems, and songs.

The Story of Mary

On the fourth Sunday in Advent, we are going to hear from Mary. In fact, we are going to present our Christmas pageant so we are going to hear from Mary and Joseph and angels and shepherds and even Caesar Augustus. But, in preparation, you are invited to focus on Mary (who really is the star of the show – at least until the baby is born).

Read the Biblical story of Mary’s visit from the angel, her visit to Elizabeth, and the song she sings here: Luke 1:26-56

Read the story as developed in Rhonda’s sanctified imagination and shared as a progressive pageant over the 4 Sundays in Advent plus Christmas Eve last year here: Mary’s Story

Something to Do

From Generation to Generation

Mary’s song, often called The Magnificat because that is the first word in its Latin translation, links her hope and her faith and her experience of God to her ancestors. She reaches all the way back to Abraham and Sarah – the people with whom we began our Advent journey.

What hope lives in you that has its roots in your ancestors – either the literal past generations of your biological family or the past generations of your chosen lineage? Tell someone a story about those ancestors.

Living Hope

We called this week “Living Hope” because Mary is quite literally bringing hope to birth. Celebrate living hope this week by rejoicing in the greenery of the season.

  • If you haven’t yet put up a Christmas tree, consider putting it up but leaving it without decorations for a few days. If you have already put up your Christmas tree, bask in its beauty.
  • Find other places to bring greenery into your home – wreaths or bows or garlands. Get a new houseplant or pay extra attention to the ones you already have.
  • Go for a wintery walk and admire how much green there actually still is, even with the leaves gone for the winter.

Something to Wonder

Mary

What is your relationship to Mary? Do you think of her mostly as a character in a story? Does she have a role in your faith? Do you mostly forget about her except at Christmas time? Does she make you uncomfortable?

However you answer the question, take some time to wonder about it. Why is that your response to Mary? Where did you learn it? What impact has it had on your faith?

If you are responsible for the faith formation of someone else, what relationship to Mary would you like to teach? Why? And how might you do that?

Living Hope

What hope are your nurturing?
What are you doing to help it grow?

Something to Learn

Mary in Art

Mary is the subject of a great deal of art in all forms, spanning centuries. Take a look at these collections:

A beautiful array of timeless images — both classical and modern — to honor the Virgin Mary, the spiritual mother to us all. by

The Cult of the Virigin Mary in the Middle Ages: The Metropolitan Museum in New York City

Looking at Mary with modern mom eyes – for a good laugh but also a good point

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.

Patient Hope

The Story for the
Third Sunday of Advent
December 13, 2020

prepared by the Rev’d Rhonda Waters

This Advent, we are not reading the usual lectionary readings. Instead, we have crafted an Advent series that tells the story of God’s saving work through the lens of four pairs or individuals from the Bible who reveal the
transformative power of hope in God.
On Sunday, we will hear these stories in a variety of ways – Bible readings, stories, poems, and songs.

Isaiah 1:1-4,12-20 and Isaiah 40

On the third Sunday in Advent, we will hear two passages from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. The first passage comes from before Judah was occupied and the people sent into exile. The prophet speaks God’s judgement on the nation and calls them to return to righteousness. The second passage was written after the exile had taken place and seeks to assure the people that God has not abandoned them but will ultimately see them restored to their home.

Something to Do

The Messiah

The salvation described in the Book of Isaiah has been understood by Christians throughout history as the coming of the Messiah in the person of Jesus (Jewish readers of the text obviously have different interpretations). As a result, the traditional Advent readings draw on Isaiah and many Advent hymns are crafted around the poetry of the book.

Most famously, the words for Part 1 of Handel’s Messiah are largely drawn from Isaiah. Make time for this beautiful piece of music this week.

  • You can singalong with CAMMAC’s virtual Come Sing Messiah (with links to online scores).
  • Check out the Toronto Symphony Orchestra‘s multi-media contemporary Canadian interpretation.
  • Or simply find a recording, pour a drink of your choosing, and listen.

Patient Hope

We called this week “Patient Hope” because Isaiah is clear that the people have no choice but to wait, even if he is also clear that what they are waiting for is a very good thing.

Practice patience this week by waiting deliberately at every little opportunity. Standing in a line up? Boiling a pot of water? At a stoplight? Computer updating? Build your patience muscle every chance you get!

Something to Wonder

You, plural

Isaiah – like the whole Bible – is not written to an individual or even a group of individuals but to a people. That people can be understood in different ways: the nation of Israel; the Body of Christ; the community of faith; the family of God; humanity itself. But the you is almost always plural.

Does keeping this idea at the front of your attention change how you read these passages from Isaiah? Who do you think God is addressing today with these very strong words? Are they listening? Where do you (singular) fit into all this?

Patient Hope

How does the idea of patient hope make you feel?
How does it fit (or not fit) with the call to justice?
What is your relationship to the idea of patience itself?
Would you have chosen a different phrase?

Something to Learn

More on Isaiah

The Book of Isaiah was not, in fact, written by one prophet but rather is rooted in the writings of one prophet but continued by those who came after. The events covered in the book span over 100 years and it serves as history, political analysis, and theology – often in the form of poetry.

Wikipedia’s overview is, as always, good place to start.

Myjewishlearning.com has an excellent article on the person and history of Isaiah ben Amoz who wrote the first part of the book.

And The Bible Project’s videos explain why, as Christians, we see Jesus revealed so clearly in the Prophet’s words.

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.

Defiant Hope

The Story for the
Second Sunday in Advent
December 6, 2020

prepared by the Rev’d Adam Brown

Exodus 2:1-10; 3:1-12; 15:1, 20-21

Birth and Youth of Moses

Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. 4 His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.

5 The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him. “This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,” she said. 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” 8 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Yes.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed it. 10 When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, “because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

Moses at the Burning Bush

Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

7 Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. 10 So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.”

The Song of Moses

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
    horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.

The Song of Miriam

20 Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. 21 And Miriam sang to them:

“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.”

Source for the Miriam poem included on Sunday

https://velveteenrabbi.blogs.com/blog/2010/11/seven-miriam-stories.html?fbclid=IwAR1c-1tueYcXzpwywTXLIX1GQKsLiAAZSS2VQUyRlvkfN4tR_uMwv-klghc

Something to Do

Baskets of Hope

Using whatever crafty materials you might have in your home, spend time making together a makeshift basket. (Or use a small bag or box) Inside, place three pieces of paper, each with a hope of yours written on them. When you close the basket or bag and put it on a shelf for the week, remember how your hope is always there, even when you can’t see it. At the end of the week, take them out of the basket and ask yourself how you can nurture that hope and help it grow.

Holy Ground

During your prayer or quiet time this week, take off your shoes (if you’re wearing any) and try to become aware of, and cherish, your physical space and time as holy.

Something to Wonder

Holy Creation

Have you ever come across somewhere in nature or in the city where you could hear God calling out to you?
What about that place was special?
How did it change you?
What did God say?

Something to Learn

The Community Beneath the Mountain

Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Egypt is one of the oldest monasteries in the world, with the first monks settling the area in the 4th Century. Besides being a significant historic site with a continued goal of preservation of its thousands of historic documents and artefacts, Saint Catherine’s claim to be near the site where Moses met God in the burning bush. The short video below is a relaxed introduction to possibly learning more about this living holy place.

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.

Hope, Lost & Found

The Story for the
First Sunday of Advent
November 29, 2020

prepared by the Rev’d Rhonda Waters

This Advent, we are not reading the usual lectionary readings. Instead, we have crafted an Advent series that tells the story of God’s saving work through the lens of four pairs or individuals from the Bible who reveal the
transformative power of hope in God.
On Sunday, we will hear these stories in a variety of ways – Bible readings, stories, poems, and songs.

Genesis 16:1-11; 18:1-15; 21:1-20

On the first Sunday in Advent, we will hear pieces of the stories of Sarah and Hagar, as written by Ralph Milton in the Family Story Bible. The link above takes you to the Biblical text on which the story rests. It is too long to reprint here so follow the link and then come back.

Something to Do

Mark the days

Sarah waited and waited for her promised baby (not always with good grace). Our Advent waiting is much shorter and much easier – but it is symbolic of all the much harder waiting we are called on to do. By offering our Advent waiting to God, we sanctify all the other waiting, too.

Mark the days of Advent with Advent candles. Maybe you have the Defiant Hope Advent Candles from our kits this year. Maybe you have your own well-loved Advent wreath. Maybe you just have 5 candles on a plate. Maybe you have 5 toilet paper tubes with cutout flames. It doesn’t matter.

What matters is setting aside a little time each day – at dinner, perhaps – to light this week’s candle and offer a prayer of waiting and of hoping for the fulfilment of God’s promises and the coming of Jesus.

Download this year’s prayers and reflection questions.

Sarah and Hagar

Sarah and Hagar had a profoundly complicated relationship, to say the least. The Bible doesn’t record much in the way of conversation between the two of them but they must have talked a great deal, one way or another. Imagine some of those conversations – or write or draw them.

After giving yourself time to do some of that work, read this dramatic dialogue: The Other Woman: A Conversation Between Hagar and Sarah

Something to Wonder

Hope, lost and found

We see the consequences of lost hope in both Sarah and Hagar – anger, despair, desperation, making choices that hurt themselves and those they love. We also see them find hope again, restored by God’s faithfulness.

Have you ever lost hope? What happened?
Did you recover the same hope or did you find a new hope?

Waiting in Hope

What are you waiting for in these days? What are you hoping for?

Hagar and Sarah

Where do you find yourself in this story?

  • Are you getting older and older while you wait and wait and find it harder and harder to hope?
  • Are you in the desert, confronting death?
  • Are you laughing at God’s messengers?
  • Are you reaching for your own solutions?
  • Are you in awe at God’s work in your life?
  • Are you jealous of those who seem to have what you so desperately want?
  • Are you flaunting what you have?

Something to Learn

More on Hagar

Hagar deserves our attention. Start with the Wikipedia articles: Hagar and Hajar in Islam. Then move on to these two articles:

Hagar (the Jewish teaching from Chabad.org)
The amazing story of Hajar and how it’s relevant to you (an Islamic teaching from Hadithoftheday.com)

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.