"...While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, 'Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.' Then they returned to Jerusalem..."
Acts 1:10-12
THE CO-MISSION
The disciples had been on a roller coaster ride: Crucifixion on Friday, an empty tomb on Sunday and then Jesus appears to them and eats with them and teaches them over the next 40 days!! WOW! And now they see him ascending into heaven and leaving them yet again!! Talk about ups and downs on your discipleship journey! Now what do they do? Jesus told them to go back to Jerusalem and wait for the power of the Holy Spirit and because they trust him they do. He has a mission for them and for all of us. The Gospel reading tells us what the mission is and so does this wonderful tune from CAIN:
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Thank Goodness the Great Commission is really a CO-MISSION! We often think that we aren't good enough or smart enough to be evangelists or we worry about knowing enough or having the right words. But we don't have to worry! We are fully equipped because Jesus promised he would be with us as we go out to share about him by the way we live lives of grace, mercy, kindness, humility, forgiveness and love. I can't think of better "equipment" than to have Jesus with me!! The disciples trusted him and went out to share the good news of all that they had seen and experienced. This last week of Easter, let's pray for trust like that because with it, we can change the world!
SPRINGTIME TOGETHER TIME
FAITH BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED
Join us on Tuesday, June 6 from 6:30 pm-8:30pm as we craft our own individualized and meaningful set of prayer beads. Like rosaries, a string of prayer beads serves as touch points while we pray with different stones and pieces having different meanings.
For more information and to register head to the website:
https://www.blessed-midland.org/2023/05/10/faith-beautifully-crafted/
A TASTE OF SUMMER
Join your Blessed Sacrament Family for our 4th annual taste of summer bike ride on Sunday, June 11! We are gathering at the Tridge at 1:00 pm and will roll our way to Cottage Creamery via our bikes, scooters, skates, and skateboards. Bring a non-perishable food item for the Emergency Food Pantry Network and receive a coupon for a free small ice cream cone.
**If the distance is too much for you, please join us at Cottage Creamery between 1:30 and 2:00 and celebrate being together.
Garden Stroll
Come celebrate the beauty of God’s creation by joining us on Sunday, June 25 from 1:00 pm-4:00 pm.
The following parishioners are generously inviting you to enjoy their gardens as well as the company of one another:
Cathy and Tim Richard:
The Joyful Garden, 2 Lexington Ct
Angela Pasek and Ginny Zorn:
The Prayer Labyrinth Garden, 5109 Drake St
Ginger and Steve Dombrowski:
Tranquility Garden, 460 E Old Pine Trail
Elaine and John Warakomski:
The Serenity Garden, 2701 Mt. Vernon Dr
You can visit the gardens in any order, but please be sure to register on the website or by calling the Parish Center.
A few last thoughts about the opening Scripture verses. This week as I was reading the different accounts of the Ascension of Jesus I was struck by the angels in this story basically saying "Why are you just standing there staring up at the sky??? Jesus isn't here! Jesus told you what to do, go do it!" And I couldn't help but draw the parallel between the words of the angel in Matthew 24:5 when the disciples found the tomb empty: "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" It made me think about the crazy places that I sometimes look for God particularly when I am angry, scared, or confused. I have turned my pleading heart and eyes upward and have even dwelt in the misery of my own tombs... I forget that our God is the God of the living!!! When I am at my lowest, these messengers of God are reminding me that God is present to me every moment of every day as near as my breath and most especially God sends me people like you to remind me of his loving presence! When I feel like God is far from me, all I have to do is look to this beautiful community. Thank you.
One week until Pentecost... are you ready?
With Joy and Gratitude,
lyn