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.

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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?

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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?

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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”. 

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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.

The Story
Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 10, 2020

Psalm 31:1-5,15-16

In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness. 
Incline your ear to me;
make haste to deliver me.

Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag and my stronghold;
for the sake of your name,
lead me and guide me.
Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me,
for you are my tower of strength. 

Into your hands I commend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.

Make your face to shine upon your servant,
and in your loving-kindness save me.”

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Something to Do

Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe

For kids (probably…) – Build a fort. Use pillows or boxes or blankets or furniture. How does it feel to be in your fort? How is God’s love like a fort?

For crafters of all ages – Make a model castle. Use toilet paper/paper towel tubes and cereal boxes and sticks from the yard. Use whatever you can find! What does your castle look like? How does it represent the strong rock of God’s love?

For praying people of all ages – Use this image of God in your prayers this week. Address God as “My strong rock” and meditate on this aspect of God. See what emerges in your prayers.

Into your hands

Really examine your hands. Look closely at the lines and joints and shapes of them. Think of all the things your hands can do – holding and touching and moving and shaping the world around you in so many ways.

Trace or draw your hand. Pray with your hands open.

Now imagine yourself in God’s hands and rest.

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Something to Wonder

Make haste to deliver me

Have you ever felt that you were in danger or in need of rescue? What was the situation? Did you pray in that moment? If so, how did you pray or what did you say? How did you get out of that situation? Did you pray once you felt safe again? How/what?

Does the current situation feel dangerous to you? Why or why not?
Who (else) might feel endangered by the pandemic?

Can you see signs of God’s deliverance?

Make your face to shine upon your servant

What does a “shining face” look like?
What does is mean for God’s face to shine upon you? How would you know God’s face is shining upon you?

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Something to Learn

The Psalms

The Psalms are a collection of poems, prayers, and songs that speak to human emotions and communal experiences. They do not shy away from the highest of highs or the lowest of lows and offer us examples of praise, lament, anger, and hope.

The Bible Project video on the Psalms offers an accessible introduction to the structure of the book as a whole.

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Deeper Dive

For something a bit more rigorous (and portable), try listening to this interview with Old Testament scholar Walter Breuggeman on the topic of the psalms, which he calls “subversive and countercultural”.

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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.

The Story
Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 3, 2020

Acts 2:42-47

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. 

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Something to Do

Glad and Generous Hearts

The vision of the earliest community of Christians is so beautiful – people gathering together with joy and love to worship and study and take care of one another. It is the vision we have for own communities, too, even if we sometimes also squabble or worry more about ourselves than other people. And these days, we miss being together whether happy or grumpy – but we can still have glad and generous hearts when we hold one another close in Spirit.

Reach out to someone in your church family. Send an email or make a phone call or – gasp – send a letter. If there is someone you would like to contact but you don’t know how, contact the office or your priest to pass on your message. Gladden someone else’s heart and find your own heart gladdened in the process.

Glad and generous hearts

There are people in the community who are experiencing real difficulty right now. If you are able, offer some of what you have to help by making a donation. Some possible options:

• Ottawa Food Bank
• PWRDF COVID-19 Response
• Community Ministries

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Something to Wonder

Awe came upon everyone

The life of this community can be counted as one of (perhaps even the greatest) of the signs and wonders performed by the apostles in the power of the Spirit. We know that it cannot simply be the work of people – and we know that it doesn’t last in quite such a perfect form (just read Paul’s letters!).

• What do you imagine it would have been like to be part of it, for however long it lasted?
• What parts of it sounds wonderful to you? What parts sound less so?

Community Dreams

What would your ideal community of the Spirit involve? What aspects of that dream can you work towards?

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Something to Learn

Utopias & Intentional Communities

There is a long and ongoing tradition of Christians seeking to create communities that live up to the vision of the Gospel. This collection of articles includes historical overviews and reflections from both historical and current members of intentional communities.

Utopia: Nine of the most miserable attempts to create idealized societies from The Independent
“…some “intentional communities”, as those who study them like to call them, have flourished. But here are a few, imagined and historical, that show how acting on a dream can sometimes land you in a nightmare.”

The Return of the Utopians from The New Yorker
“Contradiction and hypocrisy have always hovered over the utopian project, shadowing its promise of a better world with the sordid realities of human nature. ”

A How-to for Intentional Christian Community A Q&A with David Janzen
“The Holy Spirit is using the longing for community that is universal in human beings, along with the specific cultural forces in our time to call people to this more intentional way of community life as disciples of Jesus.”

Living in Community A collection of essays on Plough, the publishing arm of one of the oldest intentional community networks, Bruderhof.

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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.

The Story
Third Sunday of Easter
April 26, 2020

Luke 24:13-25

Now on that same day two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?”

They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?”

They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.”

Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.

They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. 

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Something to Do

Breaking of the Bread

Our collective desire to bake bread in response to the pandemic is a fascinating thing – and a frustrating one if you are trying to supply yourself with the necessary supplies. If you are fortunate enough, however, to have a stock of flour and yeast or sourdough starter or even baking powder/soda, bake some bread this week. When you eat it, take a moment to bless it and break it and remember that Jesus is with you.

If you are in need of a recipe, you could give Thomas’ no-knead sandwich loaf a try (our household plus the senior youth group can attest to its deliciousness):

• 6 cups all-purpose white or whole wheat flour (or a mix)
• 1 tbsp instant yeast
• 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 3 cups water, room temperature

1.       In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together.
2.       Add the water and mix well.
3.       Cover and let rise 4 hours.
4.       Butter a 12 x 4.5 inch loaf pan.
5.       Using hands, scoop dough into loaf pan, squishing it to fill the pan.
6.       Cover with tea towel and let rise 1 hour.
7.       Heat oven to 425 F.
8.       Bake  for about 30 minutes. The loaf will sound hollow when tapped.

Or, if you need something with no yeast, you could try one of these :

• Altar Bread from the Society of St. John the Evangelist (this is the bread Derek makes for us at church)
• Bannock for either the oven or the stope top
• Irish Soda Bread (or do a quick google search for a version with raisins and sugar)

“Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?”

I wonder if the occasion to tell the story of Jesus death was a relief or a frustration to the disciples. If you think it might have been a relief, perhaps you would like to imagine you are meeting someone who has just arrived on earth and has no idea what is going on. Why are the stores closed? Why is no one at school? Why is everyone online all the time? How would you tell the story of the things that have taken place these past weeks?

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Something to Wonder

Recognizing Jesus

One possible explanation for why Jesus’ own friends seemed to have a hard time recognizing him after his resurrection is that their brains simply refused to suggest something so obviously impossible to them. Jesus is dead. This man I am talking to is not dead. Therefore, this man I am talking to cannot be Jesus.

In this week’s story, the disciples are finally able to recognize him when he breaks and blesses the bread at dinner, something they must have seen him do many times before.

• What are the things that help you recognize Jesus or that help you realize you are in God’s presence?
• What are the assumptions you make that get in your way to see God’s presence?

“How slow of heart…were not our hearts burning within us”

We are reminded that our hearts are an important source of knowing, offering us wisdom and insights and pathways to understanding that should not be ignored.

• What is your heart telling you these days?
• What is your heart resisting?
• What is your heart yearning for?

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Something to Learn

Bread in a pandemic

People are making bread! These two articles reflect on why that is:
The science behind why everyone is suddenly baking bread from the Globe and Mail
Stress baking more than usual from the New York Times

Being disciples

The question of what it means to be a disciples of Jesus was active before Jesus’ death as well as after his resurrection. The Story at the Rectory will be reading Rowan Williams’ book on the topic, Being Disciples: Essentials of the Christian Life, beginning with chapter 1 on May 7th. The book is easily available in both print and e-book versions and the first chapter (only) is available as a PDF. Read it on your own or join us via Zoom in a few weeks and explore what being a disciple means to you.

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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.