Another year of ministry begins here at Ascension! As we continue on the mission of proclaiming the kingdom of God, each year through our different ministries we try to innovate and do new things together.
In my sermon on the fourth Sunday of Advent I said this “We are carriers of a multicultural ministry where the grace of God is revealed in many ways and with many traditions that you never imagined would take place in this place, for example seeing a donkey walking around the building at Las Posadas. If that is not enough, seeing its three shepherds walking around pulling their sheep….”
As you already know, Las Posadas is an event that has become a tradition in the Advent season at Ascension. This year before our traditional walk around the Church we incorporated a live nativity. The angels and three shepherds joined the holy family in their stay in the manger next to the donkey and two wonderful sheep in very, very cold weather. The cold weather did not prevent the holy family, the angels, the animals, the shepherds, you and many visitors from enjoying a wonderful live Christmas and our journey with the holy family in their search for refuge.
As we began planning, in a moment of weakness I mentioned that it would be nice to have luminaries again. The secretary of Latino ministries, who besides being the musician in our Spanish worship is also my wife, liked that idea, but she told me it would be better to use them on the pathway to the Ash Gardens. She said it would give people another thing to do if they arrived early for the live nativity and it would connect the nativity to the empty crosses. She said it would look more beautiful than in the parking lot. To be honest, I did not want to add anything else to the event. I told my wife that if she wanted to be in charge she could do it. She told me that many of you would like it. You know what, my wife was right, the idea of adding the illuminated walkway in the middle of the snow to the memorial garden was beautiful and added something special to the event and will likely be a new part of our tradition.
I am so grateful to everyone who helped with the posadas event, all the families from the Latina ministry were there cooking the food, some of you from the English ministry helped with the Christmas preparation, with the bonfires, the lights, donating money, washing dishes and setting up the Spanish ministry sanctuary after work! That is the kind of kingdom of God that Ascension offers to our community. A place where God’s mission is actively working through us.
Stephen Bouman in his book The Mission Table says, “Life in Christ asks us to step out continually into wider world, deeper spiritual insights, passionate engagement with the calling we have from God.” As we walk into this new year of ministry, may the star that guided the wise men to the light of the world continue to guide each of you and our congregation in 2025.
Happy New Year!
Pastor Edwin
