Church of the Ascension

It was not simply the first disciples who witnessed to the life of Jesus--we do too.  A reflection on the Acts of the Apostles 10:34-43.

The story of Mary and her courage to anoint the feet of Jesus.  A reflection on John 12:1-8.

God offends us with his lavish excesses doted upon us and we have no control over it.  A reflection on Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32.

what does your soul cling too?  A reflection on Psalm 63 and Luke 13:1-9.

A reflection on Luke 13:31-35

Jesus is tempted in the wilderness not as an example of how we resist temptation but as an opportunity for us to choose who we become.  A reflection on Like 4:1-13.

Jesus' beatitudes are not the criteria that determines one's entry into Heaven.  They are the way in which God offers us accountability in learning to live in the kingdom now.  A reflection on Luke 6:17-26.

There are a lot of ideas floating around the world about what love is--but few of us understand or are even willing to embrace that love is about vulnerability.  A reflection on I Corinthians 1:1-13.

Too often we pray to the gods of transaction in our daily lives as he seek and hold on to the idols of money and power.  God's gifts are not transactional.  They are about an overwhelming transformation of love through the abundant gifts God offers us.  A reflection on John 2:1-12.

Baptism is less about "being saved" and more about committing to a relationship with Jesus Christ and others.  A reflection on Luke 3:15-17, 21-22.

The Creche or nativity scene originated in 1223.  It has influenced our understanding of the very first Christmas in significant ways.  Yet, it doesn't capture the full picture of what happened in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.  In this week's reflection, find out the rest of the story and what it means for our world today.  A reflection on Matthew 2: 1-21.

Two pregnant women plot to overthrow the government--that is what we read on the Sunday before Christmas.  its still Advent folks--Christmas is soon, but not yet.  A reflection on Luke 1:39-55.

In the midst of the doom and gloom of Advent preachers like John the Baptist calling us a brood of vipers, we are also reminded to REJOICE!  A reflection on Philippians 4:4-7 and Luke 3:7-18.

For two thousand years, Christians have tried to follow John the Baptist's call to turn away from sin and yet, sin still plagues us.  Maybe the call is less about denying our sins and more about moving through our vices to discover the virtuous we truly desire.  A reflection on Luke 3:1-6.

In a world in which the Left Behind series has shaped a false narrative of the Second Coming of Christ, we would do better to examine Van Gogh's The Starry Night painting for a more hopeful perspective of the world when Christ will come again.  A reflection on Luke 21:25-36.

Hot Lips Houlihan and Hawkeye Pearce were a source of constant provocation toward one another throughout the series MASH.  Today's reflection on Hebrews 10:11-14(15-18)19-25 offers some insight on how we might provoke one another on toward love and good deeds.

Our origin story is important to us.  Not simply to know where we come from but to discover who we are and thus there is hope wherever we find ourselves.  On this All Saints' Sunday, we reflect on the Book of Revelation 21:1-6.

Ritual can help shape and grow our relationships be it a family ritual of putting up Halloween decorations in the front yard or the more ecclesial rituals found in church.  Either way, the ritual requires our presence.  This week's reflection on Hebrews 9:11-14 offers insight into the incarnational presence of Christ found in the church.

Jesus dies to liberate us to love, not simply to save us from our sins.  That liberation reminds us of our belovedness, that we are first children of God before we are ever sinners in need of redemption.  The stories we share with one another connect our past to our future in order to remind us that we are loved into being by God and one another.  A reflection on Hebrews 7:23-28.

Jesus is not for us.  He is with us.  We know what it means to be human because God became man and dwelt among us.  A reflection on Hebrews 5:1-10.

Believe is more than a sign on a locker room wall--it is an action.  To believe means we do something--go to church, get baptized, take communion, be Christian.  In this first of a seven-part series on the Letter to the Hebrews, we look at how complacency and worldly distractions shift God out of the center of our lives.  A reflection on Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12.

Living into community means the willingness to accept others and not reject them.  Even if and when they aren't really "doing it right". In this week's reflection on Mark 9:38-50, we learn the Jesus always appreciates us and encourages us on "The Way."

We spend all our time trying to be the best.  In reality, its what we get to do that helps us feel connected and gives us true fulfillment in life.  a reflection on Mark 9:30-37.

When other people, including God, don't meet our expectations we tend to stop listening and even try to stop them from speaking.  This defines Peter's rebuke of Jesus and even Jesus' rebuke of Peter.  A reflection on Mark 8:27-38.

This week we explore that age-old question, "Why do some people's prayers get answered and others don't.  A reflection on Mark 7:24-37.