Ascension Day, Thursday May 9, Service 12 noon
A Sermon given by the late Most Rev. John T. Cahoon, Jr.,
then Metropolitan, Anglican Catholic Church and Rector of St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland, on Ascension Day 1998
Jesus said to his disciples, "When the Holy Ghost is come, he will reprove the world of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more." He was telling them--one of the things the Holy Ghost is going to do when I send him is to show the world who was really right about God. The proof that I am the one who knows what he is talking about when he talks about God is that I am going to go back up to be with my father, and you are not going to see me any more.
The Ascension is the most astonishing and wholly and unquestionably miraculous event of Jesus' life. So he was born--lots of people are born, and since he looked convincingly human, who knows if the whole thing about the angel and the virgin mother was true? Resurrected from the dead--maybe he never really died, maybe he faked it somehow-maybe he only let himself look dead so it could seem that he rose again.
But an Ascension into the sky--it is difficult to imagine how one would go about faking that. If we can take what St. Luke tells us at face value--and there is no reason to take in everything else he says and question this--if we take St. Luke at his word, then Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and in plain sight of his disciples took off from the earth up up and away into the sky until he went into a cloud and they could not see him any more.
There are two other quite obvious reasons the Ascension took place. First of all, he told the disciples, "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."
Jesus had to go away so the Holy Ghost could come. As long as Jesus was on earth, the presence and power of God were localized in him. If he went back to heaven, the presence and power of God could be everywhere all the time and available to everyone.
The second most powerful reason for the Ascension is that it gives us a preview of our own ascensions. We shall follow Jesus up into heaven just as we follow him through birth, death, burial, and resurrection. Again he told the disciples, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
For us now, in the midst of this transitory life, we have the guarantee of how our story is going to end--exalted to the right hand of the throne of God, sitting in heavenly places with Christ. If it were not so, he would have told us.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
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SERVICES & EVENTS
Wednesday, 12 noon, Holy Communion and anointing for healing, (for online participation for the service go to: https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland/ )
Wednesday, 7:30 PM, Bible study with Father Bragg, church undercroft, "The Gospel of Saint Mark in the World of Saint Mark"
Ascension Day Service, Thursday May 9, 12 noon
Sunday Services, 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM, & 11:15 AM (for online participation for the services go to: https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland/ )
Sunday School, 10:30 AM
Wednesday, 12 noon, Holy Communion and anointing for healing, (for online participation for the service go to: https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland/ )
Wednesday, 7:30 PM, Bible study with Father Bragg, church undercroft, "The Gospel of Saint Mark in the World of Saint Mark"
Saturday, May 18, MEN'S GROUP, 8:30 AM, breakfast by Chef Extraordinaire Claude Crump and Bible study by Fr. Bragg. Great food, Bible study and fellowship
Monday, June 3, Next Vestry Meeting, 7:30 PM
MaRIH Center (crisis pregnancy center) Needs Our Help Now
MaRIH Center with its all volunteer staff provides help to mothers-to-be and mothers in need. Please provide some of the items that are needed.. (You can leave the donations where the food for the food bank is collected on the pew in the undercorft.)
Especially Needed
In Bold are a critical need.
Diapers (sizes newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6)
Lovies
Baby wipes
Diaper rash ointment
Spring/Summer Clothing: 0-3 month 3-6 month, 2T
Baby shampoo
Baby blankets
Bibs
Formula: Simulac Advance Formula
Formula: other but not recalled
Wash clothes
Hooded towels
Grocery gift cards
Food Donations
Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Christ House is very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar). Current needs include the following:
• canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
• peanut butter
• jelly
• tuna
• canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
• individual fruit cups (low sugar)
• canned fruit (low sugar)
• boxed cereal (low sugar) and instant or old fashioned oatmeal (18 oz or 42 oz)
• pasta (regular and gluten-free)
• instant potatoes
• Macaroni & cheese kits
Soups: Chunky or Progresso; Chicken broth
• Coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
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St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
1607 Dewitt Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301-1625