Welcome to Church of the Ascension 2 Riverside St. Rochester, NY 14613
585-458-5423; fax 585-458-7226
find a place for you and yours at:
Please help Celebrate the "Birthday of the Church"
and Trinity Sunday
Theophanes The Greek, The Holy Trinity, fresco 1378
WE WELCOME ALL VISITORS AND SEEKERS OF GOD.
**************
ALL BAPTIZED CHRISTIANS ARE INVITED TO RECEIVE THE HOLY COMMUNION.
LORD, LET US PRAY AND WORK TO HEAR YOUR WORD, CHANGE OUR HEARTS
AND GO FORTH TO DO YOUR WILL, EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
Dear Friends, May 24, 2010
Yesterday was the day of Pentecost - 50 days after the Resurrection on Easter. Often regarded as the Birthday of the Church, Pentecost marks the startling arrival of the Holy Spirit to inform, energize and counsel the disciples, including us! It is the culmination of all the preparations of the birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. Now the rest is up to us, with God's help. This week is a good time to begin our work! Here is a link to a short discussion of Pentecost:
http://www.sundayschoollessons.com/pentecst.html
Also, attached above and set out at the end of this email are a few thoughts on Pentecost - God's invitation to us, and our response.
Next Sunday, The Rev. Carolyn will return to be with us through the end of June.
Please keep in your prayers those in need of healing, and all who serve in our military forces. Please pray that we may have a successful rector search. Kindly also pray for the Wardens and their work in this time of search.
The family of Bob Kesselring invite all to his memorial service tomorrow, Tuesday, May 25th at 11 AM in the Church.
Our building tenant, Greater Rochester Community of Churches is working with Habitat for Humanity to build a house. Want to help? Call Tim Calkins at 585-218-2060 for details.
Please visit or call a friend who is not able to get out or whom you've been meaning to call. There are many who would love a call and an invitation to church or an inquiry as to when you might pay a visit.
To donate altar flowers, please contact Laurie Phillips, 865-2802 or email LBP@rochester.rr.com There are openings on several Sundays.
Thursday Bible Study is in the Library at 9 AM. Please 'Come and See'. In this season, the lessons confirm the unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the glory of Jesus, the power of The Holy Spirit and what we are to do as disciples. There is food for thought and often refreshments to share. The study is of the Gospel Lesson for next Sunday, found below. If we wish to share our love of God, we need to know the stories of the Bible. Here is a good way to begin.
The Women's Club annual Steak Roast will be on June 3. Husbands and guests are invited. Cost is $5.00 per person and a dish to pass. Please call Jan Wills, 621-3900.
Kindly mark your calendar for the Lobster Dinner on Friday, June 4, 5:30-7:00 PM! A great time! For over 50 years, this has been a wonderful event for fellowship and gourmet dining. If you would like to help, please call Mike at 645-3601. Cost is $18, with additional options. Please call Church Office 458-5423 for reservations.
A congregation first grows like a seed, in the heart of each faithful person; and only then it can spread. If we want to grow, we must love God, love our friends and then speak to them. God will help us share the Bread of Life.....We never know how ready a friend may be to hear a word of encouragement in faith. We never know when God will bring someone to speak to us, and enrich our own life.
When we see new people on Sunday or at an event, let's be sure to introduce ourselves and make them welcome. An invitation to chat at Coffee Hour is a great ice-breaker. So is sitting with a new person and even inviting them to brunch after church. This is a part of God's work for each and every one of us.
Do you have a pocket card to hand to a friend who asks about Ascension? Cards are available in the back of the church. Please take a few, and be ready to share. We have pocket crosses in the table drawer in the rear of church to hand to those who answer the call to "Come and See"..
If you have a new or better email address for yourself, or know someone who might like to receive this weekly e-letter, please email me that information.
Blessings,
Dyson
D. Dyson Gay
585-317-4039
P.S. The anthem for next Sunday will be Ralph Vaughn-Williams' O How Amiable....
The Gospel for next Sunday, Trinity Sunday, is:
John 16:12-15
Jesus said to the disciples, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."
*********************************.
Some thoughts on Pentecost
.
God’s Invitation to Us in Pentecost
and our response
“Here we are – send us.”
The cycle of astonishing biblical events continues…. Jesus’ birth, which now seems so far in the past, his ministry on earth, his brief exaltation as King of the Jews, his Passion, death and mighty resurrection – and then the mysterious appearances to his disciples, the apostles and many others.
The key word right now is “Pentecost”, denoting 50 days since the resurrection of Jesus. It had been a busy 50 days. And it culminated in an event so astounding that there is no other occurrence quite like it. We all recall that there was a remarkable instance of illumination at Jesus’ birth – the star over Bethlehem, so unprecedented that scholars both secular and religious have sought for two thousand years to explain it [or to explain it away]. Then there was the frightful sound and light show that accompanied the last moments of Christ’s life – the thunder and lightning that rent the veil of the temple in two. And of course the light that accompanied Paul’s conversion [so strong that it may have blinded him with scales on his eyes].
So – fifty days after Easter we have the disciples gathered, about 9 in the morning. Then the unimaginable and unpredictable happened – a mighty rushing sound came from heaven like a violent wind, which filled the house. And then, another spectacular sound and light show… divided tongues of fire came; and one rested on each disciple. The disciples began to speak in other languages, miraculously. This all caused a commotion that spread to the street and captured the attention of many devout Jews residing in Jerusalem, who were of diverse backgrounds – hundreds of witnesses [some wryly remarked that it was early-morning drinking by the disciples that started the ruckus].
Then Peter, showing the leadership that earned him the title “The Rock”, stepped forward and spoke to the assembly. He reviewed Old Testament passages from Joel and David to emphasize that Jesus was Lord and Messiah and that the miraculous outpouring of the power that morning was the Holy Spirit in action. Now, these people did not go home to think about what was transpiring, to consider their options – no, about three thousand of them were baptized that very day. [Acts 2:41] They seized the moment. They answered the call. What a day, what teaching by Peter! What faith by the crowd!
In historic perspective, the New Testament series of miraculous events is now nearly done. What began in Bethlehem has now become the lifework of the followers of Jesus. So - what does this Pentecost extravaganza say to us? Are we affected? Are we inspired? Then we ask – how shall all this change our lives.
The answer lies in our own hearts and souls. If we believe, we will want to share in the knowledge and conviction of Peter. We will choose to share our own stories with family and friends and even with safe strangers. For we are all charged by the same tongues of fire that greeted the disciples on that wondrous morning. Whether we use that electrifying charge for the good of Christ and the Church depends on us, acting with and in the power of the Spirit.
The prophet Isaiah [6:1-8], in a remarkable foreshadowing of the Pentecost marvel, wrote of a blazing incident, whereby a live coal had touched the lips of a sinner, and blotted out all guilt and sin, -- and the call to action came:
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’”
Let us join together in this season of Pentecost and answer as did that ancient and faithful one “Here we are, send us”.
.