“When Jesus had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up
Gospel of Luke 24: 50-53
His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them
and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshipped Him and returned
to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple
praising God.”
Dear Friends in Christ,
I hope you had a blessed Easter. We had quite a Holy Week and Easter here at St. John’s. From the Palm Sunday Procession to the Hallelujah Chorus at the close of the service on Easter morning it was wonderful and inspiring. On Maundy Thursday we celebrated a Christian Feast of the Passover and Holy Communion. Holly and the Confirmation Class (Kyra, Samantha, Clay, and Cassidy) planned and led the service and did a beautiful job of sharing the meaning and message. Good Friday was a somber and quiet service that recalled the Passion of Christ and we left the Church in silence the effect was meaningful. Then on Easter Sunday we celebrated the most important day of the year for Christians. Special thanks to the Altar Guild, Worship and Music, the Choir, musicians, and all the committees and volunteers that helped. To God be the Glory and Praise to Jesus Christ!
But Easter is not merely a one day celebration. It is a 50 day season that runs from the Day of the Resurrection of Jesus to the Day of Pentecost. The season is one seventh of the year and is a victory celebration. It is a time for all Christians to share their faith freely in a Risen and Victorious Lord. Without Easter there is no Christianity. It was a miraculous moment when the women went to the tomb that morning and found it empty.
Forty days after Easter we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord who was taken into heaven. There is more to come with Pentecost but let’s remember the Ascension that is commemorated on Thursday May 26 this year. We won’t have a service that day but we will be remembering it on the Sunday before and after. At that time as we read in Scripture, Jesus removed His visible bodily presence from the world and remains in an invisible spiritual presence. Although it is something that is difficult to comprehend it reminds me of the old scotch tape commercial that says, “You can’t see it but you know it’s there.” With Jesus “You can’t see Him, but you know He’s there.” Praise God.
May the Lord be with you,
Pastor Dan