Ultimately, a parable may leave multiple impressions over time. Why? Perhaps because Jesus is asking his hearers not only to listen, but to think as well. And that’s a combination that is not only a challenge, it’s an art – some would say a lost art. Lost because it involves too much effort.
O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Karl Rahner was a German Jesuit, a brilliant man, a deep thinker and a very familiar name in Christian theology – some would say his work fairly dominated Christian Theological thought in the 20th century. And yet it’s said he claimed that if the doctrine of the Trinity were to quietly disappear out of Christian theology, never to be mentioned again, most of Christendom would never even notice its absence. That sounds like a pretty provocative statement, but, let’s face it…
Photos by parishioner Hunter Clark and others from the installation of Ascension’s 12th rector, the Rev. Elizabeth Maxwell, by the 16th bishop of the diocese of New York, the Rt. Rev. Andrew Dietsche, are available here and as part of our Flickr galleries. [flickr_set id=”72157651542233017″]
This Sunday, May 31st, we will celebrate Trinity Sunday: 9am Holy Eucharist in All Saints Chapel; 11am Holy Eucharist in the church with sermon and soloist; 7pm Service of Meditations and Sacrament including chant, interfaith readings and communion. Prelude at 10:45am and postlude after the service on The Manton Memorial organ. Special Coffee Hour this Sunday: We will celebrate Charles Hill’s 90th birthday after
Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Thursday, May 21st at 8 pm Voices of Ascension will perform their last concert this season with a Renaissance program including Palestrina’s Stabat Mater. Tickets available door from 7:30pm, 5th Ave/10th Street.
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
While I have observed many Ascension Days in my life, I honestly don’t think that I’ve ever preached on Ascension Day. Being a lover of liturgical history, it was rather fun boning up on some of the church customs around the feast day. Traditionally, it was on Ascension Day that there was a blessing of the first fruits — usually grapes and beans. In
The celebration continues for our new ministry with The Reverend Elizabeth G. Maxwell, installed as the twelfth Rector of The Church of the Ascension. On the evening of May 13, 2015, hundreds gathered in the church for her installation by the The Rt. Rev. Andrew M.L. Dietsche, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. The procession included the vestry, search committee, church staff,