The Church of the Ascension

Saturday March 20 John 7:3752 Psalm 7:611 J Jeremiah 11:18-20... Today we read part of a psalm, a vivid passage from Jeremiah, and some verses from John mostly about a crowd tagging after Jesus. They pull together around the theme of judgment, something we do think about a lot, don't we? Which of us does not curry the favor of others for fear that we be judged? (Surely you remember junior high school.) And which of us has not thought that our whole lives might be given a single, regrettably uninflated grade? Both the psalmist and Jeremiah are clear about who is the judge and who is the defendant. Both hope they are righteous and are pretty sure that the wicked are not. Both are pretty black-and-white scenes. As is so often true in stories about Jesus, this passage from John is complicated. The apparent judges are earthly (the Sadducees and Pharisees) but the jury, rather unexpectedly, is us. The people are asked to judge Jesus and although they've been instructed not to bother to think, they do, and seem to find him compelling. He offers them the living water and its promise seems sweet. It's a world turned upside down. Thus, surprise!, the real defendants are ourselves and the real judge walks among us and offers us the chance to choose our own final grade. -Robin Clements

Friday March 19 St. Joseph’s Day Luke 2: 41-52 Psalm 89:1-29... 2 Samuel 7:4, 8-16 Romans 4:13-18 In the reading for St. Joseph’s Day, Joseph himself does not speak. We hear only Mary’s voice, addressing Jesus for your father and I. Joseph shares with Mary the terrible anxiety of searching for a lost 12 year old boy over three days in a big city crowded with pilgrims. The adolescent Jesus does not apologize when he is found in the temple, but rather says, You should have known I would be in my Father’s house. This is the only story in scripture about the years between Jesus’ infancy and the beginning of his ministry. It raises so many questions! What kind of person was Joseph? How did he handle his son’s mysterious calling? How was Jesus shaped by his father’s love? What did he learn from Joseph about service, faith and caring for others? These questions remind us that Joseph, Mary and Jesus had real human relationships, involving real struggles, mistakes, joys and growth. This story reminds me that parenting (literal or otherwise) is a spiritual practice. It requires commitment to keep loving when we do not fully understand another’s journey, especially when our differences deeply impact and challenge us. Such parenting invites respect for and curiosity about ourselves and our loved ones, constantly discerning where we need to stretch, what boundaries we need to hold and when to let go. -Mother Liz

Thank you for this powerful message about Anti-Asian Violence, Bishop Shin, and thanks to our other bishops for their words of support.

Please ask your NY State legislators to support SB4543/A5421 and create a Worker Bailout Fund for Excluded Workers!

Thursday March 18 John 5:3047 Psalm 106:67,1923 Exodus 32:7-14... I grew up in Seattle where it is overcast and grey roughly 308 days out of the year. Oftentimes when you’re flying out of SeaTac airport, you don’t see anything but clouds and rain as you take off from the ground. But even on the darkest of days, once you hit a certain altitude, the plane breaks through the clouds and all you see is bright blue sky and the blinding sun. Some days, when it’s dark, cold and rainy, I have to remember that above the clouds, there is a blue sky and the sun continues to shine even when I don't feel her warm presence on my face. The effects of sunshine aren’t only found in her warmth. Her light can be found even on the darkest of days in flowers, friendship, phone-calls, and food. Faith is not waiting for the summer days to feel warm again. Faith is putting on your sweater, rain boots and raincoat, and stepping into the rain. And on some days, after a rainy walk in the clouds, the skies will part, the sun will shine, and as rain and sun meet, you’ll find a rainbow. -Arielle Boucher

Wednesday March 17 Isaiah 49:815 John 5:19 Psalm 145:819... The Lord is Gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. If this is at the core of our conscience with trust, that’s all we need to know. -Shep Skiff

A favorite 12th Night Celebration tradition experienced a bit differently this year - The Twelve Days of Christmas. Virtually acted out, but every bit as exceptional of a performance as ever before, by our beloved Rev. Liz Maxwell.

Meditation for December 13, 2020 https://youtu.be/_gOyjejPHGw

Ascension Advent calendar 12/13 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.- John 1:8 (photo Russ Gibson)

Ascension Advent calendar 12/12 Then Elijah arose, a prophet like fire, and his word burned like a torch. - Sirach 48:1 (photo Gretchen Dumler)

Ascension Advent calendar 12/11 Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds. - Matthew 11:18b

Ascension Advent calendar 12/10 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. -Isaiah 41:17 (photo John Grimes)

Ascension Advent calendar 12/9 Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. -Matthew 11:28 (photo Liz Hill Care Pater)