Christ is Risen!
Welcome to your online worship marking Ascension on this Sunday, May 21, 2023.
Last week, I updated you on the fact that Bishop Todd has ended all the remaining mandatory restrictions and protocols that were put in place during the pandemic. Good news, for sure, as continue to come out of a very difficult and challenging time for our world and for our church families.
I do also want to echo the words of the Bishop, who in that same letter, encouraged us to remain careful and cautious as the continued contagiousness of both COVID-19 and influenza remain a concern for us and especially for those who are vulnerable to them. I know there will be times when I still might feel most comfortable being protected by wearing a mask or keeping myself distanced from others personally, but I will say that to share my smile and to see other’s smiles more often is a joy and delight!
Today’s Opening Sentence
“Go and make disciples of all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, to the close of the age.” – Matthew 28:19, 20
Today’s Reading – Luke 24:44-53
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.1
Your Online Message and Prayers
Click on the above image to view our online worship on YouTube.
Reflection questions for the week:
- Forgiveness is a powerful thing. Take a moment to reflect on a time when you were forgiven by another person that impacted you powerfully.
- We all make mistakes in our lives. Some are easy to fix, but some are hard, especially when those mistakes hurt others. Reflect on a time when you have been challenged to repent and to ask forgiveness of someone you have hurt. And how have you faced the call for forgiveness when you have been hurt by another person?
- The desire for forgiveness goes hand and hand with the desire to change or to stop the behaviour that cause our need to be forgiven. How have you changed your actions in your life, because of a behaviour that brought hurt and the need for forgiveness?
- For us as Christians, God is always part of forgiveness. God wants us to be in right relationship with each other and also with God, so when we find ourselves in need of forgiven or we are being asked to forgiven, our own relationship with God is involved. How has your relationship with God been impacted by repentance and forgiveness?
This week music is provided by Ryan Van Dijk, our Music Director, and the choir. Thank you to them all for their ministry of music!
A continued reminder that if you are at all uncomfortable being in-person for worship, or if you are not feeling well, please join us here online.
Thank you again for joining with your parish family in our online worship today.
Find out how you can support our ministry and good work in the community here.
God Bless you and have a blessed week. Be well!
Peace,
The Rev’d Canon Rob Park
- Scripture quotation is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.