Worshipping at Home 21st May 2023
Home Worshipping 
21st May 2023

Welcome to Home Worshipping 21st May 2023!
Sunday After Ascension

Bible Reading

Acts1: 1-11

Luke 24: 44-53


In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’


Then they gathered round him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’


After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.


They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’

Thought for the Day

Have you ever had an idea about doing something or other in your life and when you first start it seems that you could be pretty successful quite quickly? Maybe an idea to have a business of your own, or perhaps an invention that could make you famous of fortunate in material terms. Well, I suppose that I certainly have although many of my ideas have faded into obscurity over time. One interesting one around 60 years ago was to deliver bottles of toilet disinfectant to peoples’ houses. The bottle went in the toilet cistern and released a small amount of blue coloured disinfectant every time the toilet was flushed. The bottle emptied out after a couple of weeks or so and then I would deliver a fresh refill and take the old one back!

Not a bad idea in those days but one that was quickly overtaken by modern manufactured products that were much cheaper, easier to use and more effective. My dreams of being a toilet millionaire were soon dashed and I decided to cut my losses and pull out. 
I wasn’t really committed and was looking for a quick and easy way to earn my fortune. But I soon realised that lasting success in anything usually required long term serious commitment; in other words I would need to be in it for the ‘long haul’; for the ‘duration’ you might say!

In a strange sort of a way long term endeavour, commitment and strategy have a connection with our bible readings this week especially as we celebrate Jesus’ ascension to his rightful position at the right hand of the Father. Taking Jesus time of ministry on earth as only being 3years or so, with his resurrection manifested only 3 days after his anguish on the cross and then his ascension to heaven only 40 days after that, we could be forgiven for thinking that after more than 2000 years of waiting for Jesus, The Messiah, it all seemed to be over very quickly. But that was not God’s intention.

 God’s plan crucially necessitated the involvement of mankind themselves. Jesus’ ministry and teaching not only brought clarity of purpose but also a template of lifestyle, values, worship and faith along with the future hope of eternal life. Jesus certainly came to fulfil the prophecies that were recorded in the ancient scriptures but it was not to be an ‘instant fix’.
We, mankind as a whole, found ourselves on a long journey which was to be driven by faith in the now ascended Jesus Christ and dedicated to fulfilling the foundation of the Kingdom of God here on earth that had already been inaugurated by him.

This work stretched out into the future without a final target date being given or announced but the vision and the method were left in place by Jesus and the means to achieve the ends also. His defeat of the powers of darkness, evil and death through his ministry, death and resurrection, and then his ascension to heaven, left us with new ideals, new lifestyles, new values and a clearer understanding of our God. 

We could envisage what was expected of us and were emboldened with the hope of eternal life in this Kingdom of God - a kingdom to come here on earth as heaven and earth finally merged under the kingship of Christ. An aspiration well worth us committing to for the duration and preparing for the long haul! 

Amen

Let us Pray

Lord Jesus, as we hear of your Apostles being dazzled and bewildered by your ascension to The Father we become acutely aware of the significance of your physical presence. We feel privileged to have our scriptures that reveal the Holy Spirit that you left in your place to guide and care for us all. Grant Lord that we may take our places and accept our duties and responsibilities in continuing to build your Kingdom here on earth in your name and for your glory. Amen

Prayer for the interregnum of the Parish of Beaudesert with Henley and Ullenhall (to be said during intercessions).

Almighty and everlasting God as we travel together through this period of interregnum we thank you for your everlasting love for us. Give us strength to accept this time of change and send us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with encouragement and hope for the future. We ask that you will help us to share responsibilities growing in faith and love with one another. We look forward to the appointment of a new Rector and believe you will send us a priest best suited to your disciples in this parish and who will encourage many to join with us on our journey of faith.

Amen 
The Blessing

Christ our ascended King pour upon us the abundance of his gifts and bring us to reign with him in glory; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always.


Amen.

 The Collect Prayer

Risen ascended lord, as we rejoice at your triumph, fill your church on earth with power and compassion that all who are estranged by sin may find forgiveness and know your peace, to the glory of God the Father.


Amen

If you have any thoughts, questions or concerns, please contact us

Henley in Arden The incumbent   (Vacancy)



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I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors.
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