Wednesday Words for May 28, 2014
From Pastor Carrie Smith
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Thought for the Day:
"The early church's belief in the Ascension can be read as its refusal to allow its Lord to be localized or spatially restricted. The Ascension in its simplest terms means that Jesus is mobile."
- Harvey Cox
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This weekend at Bethany: It’s time for the Annual Church Basement Sale and Eco-Fair!
Basement Sale: Friday, 9 am – 3 pm and Saturday, 9 am – noon
Eco-Fair: Saturday, 9 am – noon
Sunday at Bethany: Christians across the world celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord on Thursday, May 29. Because it falls in the middle of the week (and in a busy time of year for our community), we often miss the story of what happens between Easter and Pentecost! This year, therefore, we will hear the Ascension readings on Sunday, June 1st. Pastor Paul will be preaching, and we will sing hymns that remind us of how Jesus is still Lord, just in a new way after the Ascension: “Crown Him with Many Crowns”, “Beautiful Savior”, and “O Christ Our Hope.”
Congratulations, Graduates! At both the 8:30 am and 10:30 am services, we’ll be honoring those who are graduating from 8th grade, high school, college, and other schools. Please come and let your faith community honor your great accomplishments!
De-cluttering as a lifestyle choice: As part of our preparation to serve in Global Mission, our family has been undertaking a dramatic paring down of our possessions. I’ve found it to be freeing! So I was interested to read this article. I think I’ll check out the book, too, called “Everything That Remains.” What do you think? What do we gain by letting go? And what would Jesus say about this?
Thoughts on transitions: It’s hard to believe I only have three Sundays left at Bethany! Pastoral transitions are difficult for everyone—for those of us who are leaving, for those of you who are staying, and especially for the staff and the leadership at the church who are making sure everything stays on track.
I’d like to say thank you to Pr. Paul, the church office staff, and the Council, who are working so hard to ensure a positive transition, and for being so generous with my family during this time. Please, take time to say thank you to them when you see them as well!
A few updates, since many of you have asked:
- The synod has secured an interim pastor for Bethany, and as soon as that is official, the Bethany Council will share the details with you.
- June 15 is my last Sunday at Bethany. I’ll be in town for about 10 days after that, packing everything up and saying goodbye to friends. You won’t see me at church, but if you see me at the store or at the park, it’s ok to say “hi!” And we appreciate your prayers during our transition.
- My family will spend the first two weeks in July visiting family in Oklahoma and Texas, then two weeks in missionary training in Chicago. We fly to Jerusalem on July 25.
- Keeping in touch: As an ELCA missionary, I will most likely be publishing a blog with pictures, sermons, and updates from my ministry in Jerusalem. I’ll be sure your interim pastor has this information, so those who are interested can pray for us and see what life is like for Lutherans in the Holy Land.
- Did you sell the house yet? No, not quite! It seems we’re getting close. We’d appreciate your prayers for everything to go smoothly!
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Texts for this week: Ascension of Our Lord
Almighty God,
your only Son was taken into the heavens
and in your presence intercedes for us.
Receive us and our prayers for all the world,
and in the end bring everything into your glory,
through Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST READING Acts 1:1–11
Before he is lifted into heaven, Jesus promises that the missionary work of the disciples will spread out from Jerusalem to all the world. His words provide an outline of the book of Acts.
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; 5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
6So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But 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." 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They 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."
PSALM (ELW) (ALTERNATE) Psalm 93
1The LORD is king, robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed in majesty and | armed with strength.
The LORD has made the world so sure that it can- | not be moved.
2Ever since the world began, your throne has | been established;
you are from | everlasting. R
3The waters have lifted up, O LORD, the waters have lifted | up their voice;
the waters have lifted up their | pounding waves.
4Mightier than the sound of many waters,
mightier than the breakers | of the sea,
mightier is the LORD who | dwells on high.
5Your testimonies are | very sure,
and holiness befits your house, O LORD,
forever and for- | evermore. R
SECOND READING Ephesians 1:15–23
The risen and exalted Christ reigns over the entire universe. The author of Ephesians prays that we would be given the wisdom to comprehend this and display it through love toward others.
15I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
GOSPEL Luke 24:44–53
On the day of his ascension, Jesus leaves his disciples with a commission, a blessing, and a promise of the Holy Spirit.
44Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you — that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." 45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
50Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
Peace,
Pastor Carrie Smith
