Wednesday 20 May 2020

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Tomorrow is Ascension Day. This is a significant day in the church year when we remember the end of Jesus' earthly ministry and his return to the Father. There will be an online Ascension Day service available here.

If you want to celebrate this 'together', please join us at 6.30pm tomorrow. But, of course, you are free to listen to the service anytime.

Earlier in the day tomorrow, we will have our lectio divina meeting at 10.30am, via zoom. This involves listening to a short passage of Scripture several times with periods of silence in between. At the end of the silence there is an opportunity to share our insights together. It is a wonderful opportunity to meditate on some words of Scripture and allow those words to feed our hearts and minds. If you would like to join us, please let me know and I can send you the link.

For the last few years, the ecumenical initiative Thy Kingdom Come has encouraged Christians of all denominations across the world to pray particularly during these ten days between Ascension Day and Pentecost (the day we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first disciples). We are encouraged to pray 'Thy Kingdom come' and 'Come, Holy Spirit.'

If you want to know more there are a series of very short videos you can watch which you might find inspiring with short messages from Pope Francis, Archishop Michael Curry and others:

There are many other resources to help us pray. Below are some of them:

There is a booklet for daily prayer, morning and evening.

A prayer journal

There are five ideas for families. and a family adventure map.

We are also encouraged to pray for five friends, colleagues, or family members who do not know God's love in Christ that they may be open to receive it.

It would be good if we all made whatever time and space we can during these coming ten days to pray for our world, our country, our church, our work colleagues, our families and friends, and especially remembering those in need.

Perhaps we could all make a commitment to saying the Lord's Prayer at 12 noon every day.

Below is a special prayer for these ten days:

Almighty God,
your ascended Son has sent us into the world
to preach the good news of your kingdom:
inspire us with your Spirit
and fill our hearts with your love,
that all who hear your Word
may be drawn to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Thy Kingdom come.
Come, Holy Spirit.

With love in Christ,
Helen