This week.

It’s up to you. This is a sentiment we’re hearing increasingly as life goes forward, and as the debate between politics and public health about how to, well, do whatever it is we’re supposed to do. Whatever the politicians or public health workers say, what happens will happen because of you and what you do or don’t do. The decisions, the choices, the attitudes, we have will create the tomorrow for you and many others. There is uncertainty, and living with uncertainty requires endurance; as New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote last week, “Endurance is the knowledge that the only way out is through and whatever must be borne will be borne.”

Jesus knows we need endurance too, and as we come to the end of Eastertide we hear Jesus preparing us for the time when he’s no longer with us in body, and what must be borne will be borne by us. This Thursday is the feast of the Ascension; as Luke’s gospel puts it, Jesus leads the disciples to Bethany, blesses them, and then is carried up into heaven.  The response of the disciples was, first, to worship Jesus; and second, return to Jerusalem, to the Temple, with great joy. The story that began in the Temple with Zechariah ends in the Temple with the disciples. And yet, we wait for something more to happen.  What’s next?

It’s up to you.  The power is given to us.  The mission is ours.  The participation and engagement with the world is our work on behalf of God. The Ascension may be the day Jesus goes from earth to heaven, but it’s also the day when we realize it’s up to us. Worship, blessing, healing, teaching, feeding, all of these are up to us. Compassion, mercy, patience, endurance, all of these are up to us. There’s not really a clear way forward, and that uncertainty requires endurance.  But it also requires you, your voice, your action, your participation to make tomorrow better than yesterday. Whether the world, your faith, the future, makes any sense to you or not the important thing is to engage with others, endure what comes, and share the good news for those still waiting for the revelation of good news.

–Thomas

Gathering Online: https://bit.ly/TCZoom

Tuesday Checkin on Zoom @ 6 pm
Join Thomas and Kelley on Zoom. This is a time to check-in or just say hello.

Thursday Theology & Pop Culture on Zoom @ 6 pm 
Join us as we explore our faith through popular culture. This week you are invited to listen to Episode 1 of Nadia Bolz-Weber’s podcast The Confessional. This episode features Megan Phelps-Roper, a former member of Westboro Baptist Church. You may remember Nadia from our Lenten series in 2019 and our discussion of her book Shameless.

Sunday Evening Prayer on Zoom @ 6 pm
Join us on Zoom for a service of prayers and scripture.