Praying for the Spirit from Ascension to Pentecost

Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Dear Friends,

Today is the Feast of the Ascension.  Celebrated forty days into the season of Easter, here we mark the day that the resurrected Christ ascended, in full view of his disciples, to the heavens.

Ascension can be one of the more confounding celebrations on our calendar.  Why, after all, would Jesus Christ, whose life and teachings focused so intently on the coming of God’s to renew the world, be seen departing from his followers and leaving them to fend for themselves?  (Even now, amidst so many difficulties in this world, we would sure love to have Jesus of Nazareth walking among us, teaching us, healing, us, encouraging us to endure.)

One response to this big question comes in the blessings and promises of Jesus after the resurrection.  Appearing to the doubting Thomas, Jesus pronounced a blessing for all who would believe without seeing or touching him for themselves (John 20:29).  Speaking to his disciples, the Jesus predicted that, as marvelous and wonderful as all his teachings and good works certainly were, those who follow him would do even greater things (John 14:12).  And predicting his ascension, Jesus promised not to leave his people alone or powerless, but to send the Holy Spirit to fill us and empower us and well within us to be his living body for the life of the world (John 14:16).  

I want to tell you that the Ascension is a very important day in our story, because it is when followers of Jesus are challenged to accept our identity as the continuation of the risen Christ in this world.  We are here to be the hands and feet and heart and mind of Jesus for the sake of the world we inhabit and God seeks to renew.

So then, let us pray with those first disciples for the Holy Spirit to come.  Let us pray for the Spirit to blow fresh winds among us, and warm us with the fire of love, and to flow through us as living water to restore a parched land.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally has invited Anglicans (including Episcopalians) and Christians around the world into eleven days of prayer from now till Pentecost, in an ongoing initiative called “Thy Kingdom Come.”

Here, we share a collection of nightly prayers in English and Spanish (links below) and commend them to you for daily meditation, as we prepare for the Feast of Pentecost on May 24.  Please undertake to hold in prayer all those who are sick or suffering, who are anxious or alone, who feel unloved or unwanted, who are overwhelmed or afraid, and for all of us who seek to be faithful witnesses to resurrection life in the face of daunting injustice, terror and death.

In all these prayers and preparations, I am praying with you, asking God to bathe us in love and courage to continue as Christ’s body in the world.

Scott+
The Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector

Thy Kingdome Come
English Novena | Spanish Novena

Celebrations in the Seasons of Easter & Pentecost

Dear Friends,

Somehow, we are already at the doorstep to the month of May!  If it weren’t for the warming weather, blooming flowers, and exploding canopy of green leaves overhead, we might not believe that time could carry us here so quickly.  Summer is in sight.

In the church, time hews closely to the changing natural seasons.  As we walk together through these weeks of the Easter season toward Pentecost, there will be celebrations and milestones to mark along the way.  This Sunday is the Easter Play at 9:00 and 11:00 services, featuring children of our parish community in “The Tale of Three Trees.”  From there, the excitement continues…

• On May 10, we will celebrate the high school graduations of five beloved St. Michael’s Seniors.  Watch next week for a feature on each of them, with photos, retrospectives, and plans for their steps.  Plan to be with us to bless them during the 9:00, 11:00, and 1:00 services and share a special coffee hour reception.
• On May 17, we’ll celebrate with our Administrative Assistant Joy Fithian, as she prepares for upcoming marriage to fiancé Joe in June.  Friends are planning a special coffee hour shower for her that day, with an invitation to bring cards and gifts to celebrate Joy & Joe. (Keep reading further down for details.)
• May 24 is the Feast of Pentecost, a great celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower the church for ministry as Christ’s Body in the world.  There are 6 baptisms planned for that day in two different services!  
• The week of May 29-30 is our annual Broadway Night fundraiser for Music Ministry at St. Michael’s.  I’ll also invite you to join me that Sunday (5/31) for a Rector’s Town Hall, where we can reflect on the wonder of our life together so far this year and look ahead to what is coming in the second half.

Finally, I want to share plans for an important celebration on June 7.  As we have previously announced, Leslie Sackett will be retiring this summer as Associate for Ministry to Children & Families at St. Michael’s.  Leslie has loved, adored, taught, comforted, celebrated, and connected children and their families in this community for nearly 35 years as a member of the staff.  While June 7 won’t be her “last day,” and mindful that Leslie and Tim will not be departing this community, we want to celebrate Leslie and her innumerable gifts to us before folks scatter for the summer.

Please plan to attend worship that day, and join us for a special Coffee Hour reception from 10-11:00.  The Vestry invites you to give toward a purse—an expression of our great gratitude and love for Leslie and her ministry among us.  Let us bless and send Leslie into this new season with a generous financial outpouring to send Leslie with our love into the season of retirement.  

Click here to make a financial gift to Leslie

Amidst these many celebrations, we will also remember dear ones from among us who have died. The service for Virginia Rouffy, who died on Easter Monday, will be next Friday May 8 at 2:00pm.  We also learn that our beloved friend and brother Dan Bagwell died on Tuesday of this week.  A service for Dan will be on July 11 at 2:00pm.

Please remember their families and all in their circles of care in your prayers.

From the mountaintops of jubilation to the valley of the shadow of death, we walk together in the gift of one another in this community.

With you,

Scott+
The Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector