But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” (Matthew 28:5-7)

These verses are from the Resurrection story in Matthew’s Gospel. 

Many of you know that my daughter Annabel and I have just returned from the Holy Land, where we made a pilgrimage with our Bishop, Shane, and nearly 30 other pilgrims. 

One of the last things we did in Jerusalem was to walk the Via Dolorosa and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which according to tradition dating back to the 4^th century, contains the sites of Jesus’s crucifixion and the tomb where he was buried. As I knelt at the site of the crucifixion, I felt an overwhelming heaviness, and profound grief. I had expected to feel this kind of emotion. What I felt at the site of the tomb, though, was unexpected! I thought I would feel similar grief and sadness there, but not so! What I felt, reverberating, was what we hear in Matthew’s Gospel: he is not here, for he has been raised as he said. He has been raised, and he has gone ahead to Galilee; there you will see him. We left Jerusalem and made our way to Galilee the very next day and we spent the remaining days of our pilgrimage there. The “he is not here” at the tomb was not absence, but rather a profound sense that Jesus was not in the tomb because in being raised, his presence saturates all of creation. 

This – this saturating presence – is what we celebrate in the Resurrection. We celebrate this all the time, but especially on this feast of the Resurrection, Easter Sunday. 

The Resurrection has never been about about cold hard facts. It’s not about a convincing telling of what happened with all the right details. It’s about God’s passionate and powerful love, made known in Jesus, saturating not only the walls of that empty tomb, but all of creation. It’s about the Resurrection – the Risen Christ – infusing our lives, infusing all of creation.

Matthew’s Gospel tells us that the women go – they run! – with both fear and joy. Jesus is raised, and that infuses their fear with deep assurance that lets them feel joy at the same time. God’s assurance in Jesus that death is not the strongest power, that love is, infuses all our dark emotions – especially fear – with joy, with hope, and with the potential for transformation.

May each of you feel that saturating presence this Easter. May your hearts and minds and souls be infused with the assurance that love is stronger than fear, stronger than death, stronger than anything. Every blessing to you and yours,

Victoria+

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Warm greetings to you all. As we approach our first Christmas together, I continue to give thanks that we are with one another at Ascension. 

Christmas is a season when we feel more deeply. Both joy and sorrow are sharper at this time of year. In my sermon last Sunday, I mentioned the way that Sam Wells, Vicar at St. Martin’s-in-the-Field” contrasts “for” and “with”. He says: 

“What our world needs most of all are communities of trust and support and love that show the kind of life that is possible when we believe that God is with us and rest in the hope that God’s ways will finally prevail.” (https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/the-second-sunday-of-advent/)

“Emmanuel” literally means “God-is-with-us”, and the seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany offer us an opportunity to reflect on God with us. 

The prologue in John’s Gospel is one of the readings we hear at Christmas. The first verse: 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

And a few verses later: 

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us…” (John 1:14)

The Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word was, and is, with us. 

If we look to God, and to Jesus as problem solvers we will wonder why there is so much turmoil, suffering, messiness, and confusion in our world. Why hasn’t God sorted it all out for us yet? We will wonder this more than ever, as we face a third Christmas with pandemic restrictions. God didn’t choose the word “for” though, God chose “with”. 

God said, together, with compassion, and grace and peace and justice we are with each other. We are with each other in joy and in sorrow. In suffering and in health and happiness. All of creation is a with and it’s in living out that with that we will find – see, kindle – a light and a love that darkness cannot extinguish.

I pray that this Christmas, we will all feel the radiance and warmth of God’s light and love. The Word among us, with us. God, with us, is the hope in Christmas. It infuses all the pain and suffering and injustice of our world with hope.  God came to us in Jesus as love – endless, limitless love – embodied.  To dwell among us to show us that it is possible to live with God – to live fully: body, mind and spirit. 

May God’s light and love infuse this Christmas with hope. May Ascension continue to be a community of trust and support and love that shows the kind of life that is possible when we believe that God is with us and rest in the hope that God’s ways will finally prevail. May the Word – God’s light and love – take flesh in us, this Christmas, and all our days. In Jesus name. 

Blessings to you all, 
Victoria+

It’s just about six weeks ago that I wrote to you and borrowed Bruce Epperly’s phrase “living a holy adventure”, expressing hope and excitement that our journeys had been linked and that we were embarking on a “holy adventure” together. 

Today, as we approach Thanksgiving weekend, I write to express gratitude for the unfolding of our “holy adventure” so far. I give thanks for the ways that you have all welcomed me with such openness and warmth. I give thanks for our worship together, and for the ways we have navigated the change in the pattern of our Sunday morning worship, moving from a morning of both Zoom and in-person worship, to one service at 10 a.m. I give thanks that we were able to respond to volunteer fatigue with this change, and I am grateful for the understanding of those for whom Zoom was meeting a need on a Sunday morning. Part of living a “holy adventure” is living with eyes, ears, hearts and minds open to opportunities to move with God already at work, and we will continue to do that with all things, including being open to opportunities to connect on Zoom. I give thanks for the ways we are getting to know one another in community, in meetings, and one-on-one as our 
“holy adventure” continues. 

Last Sunday, I preached about “and”, suggesting that it is one of the most important words we have as human beings. Life is full of “ands”: joy and sorrow, praise and lament, faith and doubt, celebration and conflict. “And” frees us from striving for either/or and helps us to move between these things. We are both ourselves and an interconnected collective. We live both inner and outer lives. We are each uniquely and wonderfully made, and we are inextricably linked in the great collective of creation. “And” helps us to be in the midst of difference and diversity. I give thanks for “and”!

It is “and” that makes community – all of you, and me – and community includes both “being”and “doing”. We’re going to stay after the 10 a.m. service next Sunday (October 16^th) for a Volunteer Fair. We will celebrate the dedicated group of volunteers who are already “doing” on a Sunday morning: taking on the roles and responsibilities that combine to make our Sunday morning worship what it is. Heartfelt thanks to them! We also need to do some rebuilding and expanding of our volunteer groups. I invite you to do some discerning about what you are “doing” at Ascension. Please do plan to stay after church next week. There will be lots of space for questions, and for “demystifying” what you’ll be getting into if the Spirit moves you to take on more “doing” on a Sunday morning. 

This Thanksgiving, I give thanks that Ascension is a place where we can meet one another and feel all the “ands”, together. I give thanks that it is a place where we tend to both our inner and our outer lives, balancing being and doing. I give thanks that God is with us and we are with each other in the “ands”, on this “holy adventure”.  

Blessings to you and yours this Thanksgiving, and always, 

Victoria+

Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 22, 2022

John 14:23-29

Jesus answered, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.” 

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Something to Do

Those who love me keep my word

Love is revealed in living so love Jesus by keeping his word – care for others, practice compassion and non-judgement, seek peace, speak out against injustice. There is no shortage of opportunity.

For example, Ascension member Debbie Grisdale invites us to join the campaign of Ban the Bomb Ottawa to call on the city to become a signatory to the City Campaign of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. The Cities Appeal is a commitment by a city or town indicating its support for the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and its willingness to call on their national government to sign and ratify the Treaty without delay. 17 Canadian cities have already signed on. City Council will vote on the motion on May 25th.

Bishop Shane and Ascension’s Executive Committee have sent letters of support for the motion to Mayor Watson. You can read Exec’s here (and use it for crafting your own!).

Do not let your hearts be troubled

This is often easier said than done but practice helps. When you feel troubled or afraid, take time to ground yourself in the peace of Jesus. Breathe deeply and know you are being filled with the Holy Spirit, our Advocate and teacher. Remind yourself that Jesus, having gone to his Father, has become available to us in all times and places. He is with you now, in the midst of trouble, and so you can experience the troubles of the world without fear.

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Something to Wonder

the Holy Spirit…will remind you of all that I have said

Is there something you need the Holy Spirit to remind you of? Perhaps it is something that God once whispered just to you. Perhaps it is something that Jesus taught everyone but you have forgotten it – entirely or occasionally. Perhaps it is something that you make a habit of forgetting.

Sit quietly and invite the Holy Spirit to be your teacher.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you

What fills you with a sense of peace?
When was the last time you felt peaceful? What was that like?
What does peace feel in your body? In your mind?
How would you describe it to a child?
How would you describe it to someone who knows you very, very well?

Is peace a difficult thing for you to experience? How does Jesus’ promise of peace make you feel?

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Something to Learn

Christians and Disarmament

There are many Christian groups involved in peacemaking around the world and at home. Project Ploughshares is the peace research institute of the Canadian Council of Churches, engaging in research and advocacy at all levels of civil society with the goal of preventing armed conflict and creating peace.

Explore their website to learn about their findings and how you can support their work: Project Ploughshares.

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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.

Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 8, 2022

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 
   He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters; 
   he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
   for his name’s sake. 
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
   I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff—
   they comfort me. 
You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows. 
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
   my whole life long.

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Something to Do

Go for a walk with your shepherd

Go for a walk somewhere you feel safe; somewhere that restores your soul. Walk in silence, breathing slowly and deeply, and know you are walking in the company of God.

Consider finding your way to the labyrinth at the church and walking there, winding your way into the centre and back out.

Have a feast with your shepherd

Make yourself a meal that you will really, really enjoy. It might be fancy or it might be simple. It might be one your own or it might be with other people. It might be a whole dinner or simply an afternoon snack. Whatever it is, make it something that will nourish your body and delight your taste buds. This is what God’s love feels like.

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Something to Wonder

Where are you walking?

Last year, I shared a guided reflection on Psalm 23 in our Fourth Sunday of Easter service. Walk your way through it again with this video. (the guided reflection starts at about the 2:50 mark.

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Something to Learn

Vocations Sunday

The Fourth Sunday of Easter, often called Good Shepherd Sunday, is also Vocations Sunday – a day of intentional prayer in many provinces of the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Church, and the Roman Catholic Church that God would call people to ordained ministry (priests and deacons) and the religious life (to be nuns and monks). Learn more about Canadian Anglican religious communities here.

Of course, God also calls people to ministry that doesn’t involve ordination or taking vows and so this is a good day to pray for the development of lay vocations, too! The Body of Christ needs lay people to exercise their own ministries of oversight, pastoral care, evangelism, education, exhortation, prayer, peacemaking, and more – both within the church and in the whole of their lives.

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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.