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A faith is a necessity to a man. Woe to him who believes in nothing. – Victor Hugo
Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith. – Henry Ward Beecher
Thursday May 17 is Ascension Day, one of the six major festivals of the church year, however most Lutheran, Episcopal and Catholic congregations will celebrate it on Sunday, May 20.
Acts 1:1-11 - Ascension. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.
God has gone up with a shout. (Ps. 47:5)
or - Ever since the world began, your throne has been established. (Ps. 93:3)
Ephesians 1:15-23 - With the eyes of your heart enlightened, may you know the hope to which God has called you.
Psalm 47 - Psalm 93
Luke 24:44-53 - I am sending what the Father promised, so stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.
If you are inclined to celebrate Ascension on Thursday the 17th, the lessons appointed for Easter 7B are:
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 - Selection of the final disciple.
Psalm 1 - The righteous flourish.
1 John 5:9-13 - I write that you may know you have eternal life.
John 17:6-19 - Susan Hedahl (Gettysburg Seminary) tells us this gospel reading is the first half of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples before his crucifixion. The prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane in the Synoptic gospels does not appear in John.
The Feast of the Ascension marks nine days of prayer for the gift of Holy Spirit before the Feast of Pentecost, which we celebrate May 27 this year.
The ascension is a foreshadowing of our entrance into heaven. It is a mystical understanding of the transition from this life to the next both in body and spirit.
Several characters in the Bible are declared to be assumed into heaven: Jesus, Enoch and Elijah. Lutherans do not subscribe to the Assumption of Mary, but in 1950 Pope Pius XII declared:
“By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”
Other religions besides Judaism and Christianity believe in ascensions. For example, in Hinduism, Yudhishthira of the Mahabharata is believed to be the only human to cross the plane between mortals and heaven in his mortal body. In Islam, Muhammed is believed to have ascended into heaven at the site of Dome of the Rock.
The Ascension is professed in all three creeds. Ascension is a public holiday in some countries. It is not mentioned by Matthew, Mark or Paul, though the author of Ephesians mentions cryptically that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, who has placed all things “under his feet.” It is unknown if these authors are unaware of the story of the ascension or if it simply doesn’t figure prominently in their theology. It appears in Acts (Luke) and is mentioned in John.
Here is a website of some of Luther’s sermons, from an LCMS congregation in Kentucky, arranged by the liturgical year: http://www.orlutheran.com/html/mlserms.html. There are five Ascension Sermons, three on Mark’s commission (the not-so-great commission) and two on John. The former focus on the things the post-resurrection Jesus said to the disciples in the 40 days between the resurrection and ascension. I am struck with how long these sermons are, and how mission-focused. It’s Luther the evangelism guy. The John sermons are shorter, focused on faith and gospel, as usual. None of them spend time on the actual physical rent of ascension. He seems more interested in the implications: Jesus’ expectations for the church.
Brueggeman picks this up. The Ascension is about Jesus’ departure, instructions and promise to return. To wit:
1. Stay here
2. Receive the gift of power.
3. Be witnesses.
The net affect is to turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
Would we get accused of this today? Turning the world upside down?
Homiletical opportunities abound. The ascension looks to the future, to being clothed with power, power to go forth and be a witness to hope in Christ and to Christ’s return. “Why do you stand there gazing into heaven?” perhaps this is a warning for a hyper-spiritualized church. Getting lost in an other-worldly spirituality that doesn’t focus on the suffering of this world is not consistent with Jesus’ reality-engaging earthly ministry. The church is called to mission. Perhaps this is a good Sunday to preach a sermon on mission, as did Luther.
Collect for the Feast of the Ascension (from the Mass of St. Pius V):
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who believe Thine only-begotten Son, our Redeemer, to have this day ascended into heaven, may dwell in spirit amid heavenly things. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
> ELCA NEWS SERVICE
>
> May 14, 2012
>
> James Nieman elected president of Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago > 12-30-MRC/JB*
>
> CHICAGO (ELCA) – The Rev. James R. Nieman was elected May 14 to > serve as the 17th president of the Lutheran School of Theology at > Chicago. He will begin his service Aug. 1. An installation service will > be held at Rockefeller Chapel here Oct. 28. The seminary is one of eight > of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
> In presentations given during the presidential search process, > Nieman said that he sees the seminary as distinctly situated in the ELCA > to meet challenges facing denominational seminaries. He cited the > seminary’s core strengths in the vision he outlined for innovative, > faithful forms of theological education befitting the church in this time. > “While our seminaries must form leaders of an ever more diverse > variety,” said Nieman, “the real purpose of leaders is that they > encourage and support bold, creative witness by every disciple in the > many places those leaders may never go. The future of theological > education relies on shifting our weight onto just such a witness to the > gospel, with leadership formation in service to that. The Lutheran School > of Theology at Chicago impresses me as having just the right blend of > character, setting, resources and purpose to model new ways of doing this > in the years to come.”
> “Dr. Nieman brings a compelling vision for theological education as > well as a depth and breadth of experience to lead (the seminary) into the > future,” said Sarah Stegemoeller, chair of the seminary’s board. > “His extensive work in the areas of context and change within the > church will help the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago form > visionary leaders prepared to be even more effective in sharing the > gospel within the communities they service,” said Stegemoeller. > Since 2005, Nieman has been professor of practical theology at > Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Conn. He was professor of homiletics at > Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, from 1992 to 2004. > Wartburg is also one of the eight ELCA seminaries.
> Nieman served as pastor of the Inupiaq Lutheran Church in Anchorage, > Alaska, and Zion Lutheran Church in Clayton Center, Iowa. He is a > consultant and facilitator for the ELCA’s “Living into the Future > Together: Renewing the Ecology of the ELCA” task force.
> Nieman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pacific Lutheran > University in Tacoma, Wash.; a Master of Divinity degree from Wartburg; > and a doctorate from Emory University in Atlanta. Pacific Lutheran is one > of 26 ELCA colleges and universities.
> Nieman is published in the areas of practical theology, > congregational studies and preaching. He is married to the Rev. JoAnn A. > Post, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Manchester, Conn. They are > the parents of two daughters.
> —
> About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
> The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United > States, with 4.2 million members in 10,000 congregations across the 50 > states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of “God’s work. > Our hands,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in > Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA’s > roots are in the writings of the German church reformer, Martin Luther. >
> *Jan Boden is director for communication and marketing at the Lutheran > School of Theology at Chicago.
>
> For information contact:
> Melissa Ramirez Cooper
> 773-380-2956 or Melissa.RamirezCooper@ELCA.org
> http://www.ELCA.org/news
> Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Lutherans
> Living Lutheran: http://www.livinglutheran.com
Many commented on your enthusiasm and spirit. It felt joyful, like we’re in a new place. One pastor said it was the best assembly she’d ever attended. Guests and speakers raved to me about the hospitality. An assembly in spirit is a product of all of us.
This sign is available to purchase from:
Religious Supply Center
Website: www.religoussupply.com
Phone:800-533-0025
Church Sign Ordering Information:
Catalog No: RSEL1
Item Name: ELCA Road Sign
Lettering: Roman Lettering
Price Each: $133.00
Description: ELCA Road Sign. 24″ x 45″. Includes your church name and up to 3 lines of custom wording (please specify your church name and up to 3 lines of custom wording in the “comments” section during check-out). Roman or Block lettering (please specify). Made of .063 aluminum with a powder coated finish. Pre-drilled holes; posts not included.
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