Ascension’s Mission Statement
“DISCIPLES OF CHRIST CALLED TO SERVE NEIGHBORS NEAR AND FAR”

Greetings and a warm welcome to all.

I first want to thank the Reverend Peggy Muncie for serving as your guest celebrant and preacher last Sunday. I saw her on Thursday at a meeting in Greenville, and she expressed her appreciation for your hospitality.

Today is the first Sunday of the “long green season” of Ordinary Time. For the next several weeks our readings from the Hebrew scriptures will come primarily from I or II Kings. Our New Testament readings will come from Galatians, and our Gospel continues from Luke’s writings about Jesus’ ministry. During this period of time, from now until Advent, Luke’s Gospel stories will focus on Jesus’ ministry. These stories illustrate for us our own call to ministry and discipleship in and out of the church. Luke’s Gospel is also referred to as the “social gospel” because he focuses on Jesus’ ministry to the poor, the outcast, the ill, and to those who are alone in life. We hear this message loud and clear in our Gospel reading today. A widow is considered an outcast in the society of Luke’s day, and to lose a son compounds the tragic situation and the sorrow. Through God’s power working in Jesus, he has the authority to raise this man from the dead. This event points to Jesus’ own resurrection, his compassion for others, and the hope and promise he gives for new life and new beginnings. I hope that today’s Gospel reminds us all to give gratitude to God for our blessings in this life and the life to come. We thank God each Sunday for the Great Banquet feast of the Holy Eucharist when we pray together our “thank you” note to him which begins, “Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,…”(BCP, 365). Or for Rite I, “Almighty and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee for that dost feed us, in these holy mysteries,…”(BCP, 339).

May we remember that it is the holy mysteries of our Christian life together which sustain us and bring us energy and faith, and inspires us to do those things which God has given us to do.

Ecce quam bonum,
Deedie+