A
Special Day in May
Most
Christian churches, including Lutheran, follow a pattern in our worship
schedule every year. This is commonly
called the “Church Year”. You can find a
copy of it in the Lutheran Service Book.
In the “Church Year” there are various special celebrations which you are very
familiar with such a Christmas, Easter, Trinity Sunday, Pentecost, etc., Each Sunday in fact has a designated title. Even as Lutherans we recognize “Saints Days”,
not to venerate or in any way to worship them but to call attention to their
example , which we as Christians want to follow.
Other
special days remind us of events in Biblical history that are important to our
faith.
One such event that is commemorated but often overlooked is
Ascension Day which this year falls on May 30.
It is a “movable feast” day since it falls forty days after the
Resurrection (Easter) which is also a “movable feast”. We however will take the opportunity to
celebrate it on Sunday, May 26th.
Scripture,
under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, denotes that following the Resurrection,
Jesus remained on earth for forty days.
During that time He showed Himself a number of times to His disciples,
not only the original eleven, but to a least five hundred people. His visible contact assured them that He did
indeed rise bodily from the grave and that those who believe He died for their
sins have eternal life. This message
gave them the faith to proclaim Him—the rest is history. We are now part of His holy Christian church.
Ascension
Day was the culmination of that forty day period. It was on that day in the sight of His
followers that He visibly ascended into heaven. As He did so He gave them (and us) the
command to go, teach and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit. He also promised to be with them
and all believers (including you and me) until the end of time. This is a promise in which we have assurance
and certain hope.
No matter
where we are, whatever problems we have, whatever strength we need, He is there for us, to turn all things into
good as we love, trust and follow Him.
Please look forward to joining together to worship our Risen Lord on May
26th and each Sunday as we continue in the joy that is yours as a member of His
Body, the Holy Christian Church.
