Reflection from your Co-Pastors, May 13

Reflection from your Co-Pastors

Thursday, May 13, 2021

The Ascension of the Lord

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem… 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" Acts 8-9

Today is the Feast of the Ascension. Jesus was taken out of sight, lifted up Into a cloud, and disappeared into the heavens. All the disciples could do was to gaze upward, most likely in awe, grief, disbelief and bewilderment. Jesus, in his Ascension invites his disciples- his friends- to enter into a new relationship with him that will no longer depend on his physical presence but will rely instead on trusting in his love and growing into the community that Christ has called them to become. It is time for them to become his Body, to continue his transforming work In the world.

Joyful, sorrowful, bittersweet, planned or unexpected, welcomed or resisted, no matter how a leave-taking happens it always brings an invitation and it makes a space for the Spirit to come.

As you navigate the leave-takings in your own life, how do you keep your eyes open for the invitations they hold? What blessings do they offer and what blessings do they invite?

Blessing for the Ascension

In the leaving

In the letting go

Let there be this

To hold onto

At the last:

The enduring of love

The persisting of hope

The remembering of joy

The offering of gratitude

The receiving of grace

The blessing of peace

Amen

(Adapted from Jan Richardson)

The last part of Jesus seen as he ascends .

Chapel dedicated to the Ascension,

Our Lady of Walsingham, England

Prayer Requests and Service Recordings

Praying for peace, health and well-being through challenging times

+Jarrid Stout - friend of Michael Six

+Rob Frank - friend of Kerrie Anderson - member

+Jerry Padilla, father and Ryan Cordova nephew of Lisa Jones - member

+Aidan - grandson of Mother Kae.

+Lauren Roob - friend of Rosanna Bateman

+Liz and Ken Zornes and family, whose daughter is struggling with addiction - friends of Sandra and Dick Life

+Michael Keefe, son of member Yvonne Keefe

+Dona Bosse - member

+Rosemary - Fr Michael's mother

+Dani - niece of the Cloyds - members

+Joanne Gallagher - member, and for her sister, Dr. Barbara Immroth

In gratitude for all who pray for and with our community.

+Jim and Lucille Bowen friends of Suzanne King, member

+Ruth Parker, sister of Dori Carroll

+Leo Six – father of Michael Six

+Mike Gudim

+Suzanne King - member

________________________

For the peaceful repose of souls for those who've passed and comfort for the families.

Mary Crosby - member

Clint Wisdom - brother-in-law of Joan Chapman-Smith

Leon - father of Mother Cynthia

Kristin - daughter of ECC priest Scott Jenkins.

Joan Kneeland - sister-in-law of Bill Kneeland

Rita Ortiz, friend of Deacon Rosean

Margie Weitz - member

Chris Bachman, friend of Lisa Jones

Bob, husband of Joyce Dehaven - friend of Cathy Engel

David Heyman -member

Photo by Grant Ritchie on Unsplash

Service Recordings

View the recording for 6th Sunday in Easter,

May 9 here . For the homily of Co-Pastor Dcn Rosean Amaral, click here. Here is a printed version of the liturgy to assist with prayer.

For all bulletins, reflections, Sunday recordings during, visit our webpage . Please contact us with questions, concerns and ideas for better connection with and for the community - marymagdalafc@gmail.com

Newsletters of Trinity Lutheran Church and the St. Paul's Episcopal

What are our partners in ministry up to? Go here for the Trinity Lutheran Church monthly newsletter, "Tidings". And here is St Paul's weekly bulletin

Click here to visit the Mary of Magdala, ECC website