A hymn for Ascension
1 Doubt and worship, mixed emotions
shimmered through their troubled minds;
gathered near the mountain's summit,
each remembered words and signs.
2 Jesus spoke with calm assurance,
brought to mind all that had past
poignant mem'ries, talk and laughter,
treasured thoughts, yes these would last.
3 All his words held their attention
as they listened to their friend:
they would teach the way of Jesus
to the world's remotest end.
4 Then one final contradiction as
he moved to leave earth's stage:
'I am with you, always ever,
to the limits of this age'.
5 Now we stand and offer worship,
proof that Jesus' words were true:
God is here, will never leave us,
timeless Spirit ever new!
Andrew Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2011 Stainer and Bell Ltd., London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.
Metre: 8 7 8 7
Tune: CROSS OF JESUS
Click here to see a this previous post - toward Ascension
Tag: Ascension
A hymn for this time and context -when a world calls out for healing – Christ’s Body has been broken
Toward Pentecost – when a world calls out for healing - Christ's body has been broken
1 Christ's body has been broken,
not bread but human lives,
each family has scattered,
just memory survives;
the parents cry in anguish,
the children cry in fear,
we label them as migrant,
not wanted over here.
2 These are our human neighbours,
relations from our birth,
each sister, child or brother,
as one on this wide earth.
If we claim God as parent,
'our Father' as we say,
when will we own the the meaning
of empty words we pray?
3 God, help us welcome others,
God break the barriers down,
that tears may turn to laughter,
and smiles displace each frown;
then may we live together,
forgiven by your grace,
the Pentecostal promise,
one Godly human race!
Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2018 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd
Metre: 7 6 7 6 D
Tune: AURELIA
Toward Ascension
The 9th May, 2024 is Ascension Day. That takes my memory back to school days going to, what would now be seen as, a very old-fashioned boys grammar school. On this day we were marched in the morning to a local church for a service. Other than having a morning off from lessons, I remember little of this and grasped nothing of its significance. It makes me wonder what we make of this today, if anything.
Easter was early this year. Then it was over. What then? Actually, in terms of the church calendar, it’s not over until Ascension. So what do we do in these weeks?
Over recent Sundays we have been recounting stories of resurrection. Outside the world moves toward the next commercial opportunity for retailers and hospitality. As to Ascension, what’s that? Good question.
Let’s take it literally from the point of view of the disciples. They had witnessed crucifixion. Then Jesus was back with them. Forgiveness was given, peace proffered. Back to normal. Remember when the lockdown of Covid was lifted. Back to normal, yes. But I’ve recently had another vaccination. Not all is ‘normal’. We have adjusted. I think the disciples experienced a similar rhythm. Jesus death left them orphaned. But Jesus was back. Then this ascension took him away again – ‘Handed over to orphaned, comforted, now comfort less…lost, bereft, as now he leaves them, homeless, friendless, scarred, unblessed’…as a hymn puts it. The gospel according to Matthew says, ‘and some doubted’.
Once beyond this moment what was the new normal for them? Perhaps it can teach us something. Firstly, they had to recognise that Jesus really was dead, not there. Gradually the way beyond this realisation was that the old normal was not coming back. They had to think and act for themselves. This was not just trusting for life after death, but for living life before death.
Without the Ascension they would never have reached this point. Realising this they needed a real new normal. This involved repentance for real. A total and complete change of mind. Following Covid the so called ‘new normal’ drifted back to business as usual. If we have grasped the intention of Ascension there are choices to be made, a new mindset to be adopted and a new life to be lived for real, no drifting back. That new life, for the disciples, began to express the very spirit of Jesus.
So this time coming up to Ascension what are we going to do? A time for reflection? What real new normal do we need to embody that we, you and I, might see Christ in others and they might see Christ in us – that same Spirit of Jesus?
Buzzard; Copyright Andrew Pratt 2024
Reflection for Ascension Day
Up! Up and away – Ascension hymn
Up! Up and away! - Ascension hymn Up! Up and away! Was it really that crazy? Seems too much like magic, so hard to believe. His ministry ended. The cross was behind him. Disciples commissioned, so much to receive. The Spirit was coming, the mission beginning, the world was their parish to love and to hold. Disciples went on in the strength of that Spirit, a Spirit of power to inspire and enfold. But that would come later, for now they were waiting, in hiding, reflecting on all they had seen; on all Jesus taught them, in words and through wonders, in all they had heard, of whom Jesus had been. This Jesus had promised, had challenged, encouraged, had offered them peace that the world could not give. And soon all the earth would be spun on its axis, and we share that Spirit, in Christ we will live! Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 2011 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd. 12 11 12 11 Tune: STREETS OF LAREDO
Image extract from iPad art Andrew Pratt
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