While I was on vacation last month and then had my time away extended because of an unwelcome covid quarantine, I had lots of time to reflect on the amazing life that has and continues to take place at Ascension.
To be alive is to live the love of Jesus! Love is the heartbeat that pumps life throughout the church. A church that isn’t loving isn’t alive. People of God, we are alive! We are living the love of Jesus! And over the nine years that I have served with you in God’s mission at Ascension, I have seen the love of Jesus alive in you.
As you faithfully pray for those in your lives and in the world who need love in their life. As you gather to be filled with Jesus’ love through the gift of his body and blood and grow through learning and serving opportunities. As you have named your fears and honored your hopes for your life, for Ascension, and for the world. As you have welcomed new people to our faith family and continue to care for each other in love. And as you have gathered donations and generously contributed to give away the love of Jesus to others.
It is evident that we are alive and filled with the love of Jesus not only for those within our family of faith but those outside of it. Ascension is alive! There is excitement and positive energy about how much we have grown coming out of the pandemic along with all the possibilities the future holds as we continue living in the love of Jesus!
I would like to take a moment to say thank you for your faithfulness, for the ways you live in love, for the ways you support the ministries of Ascension that spread this love to those who are most in need of receiving it. We would not be alive without each other nor without the love of God flowing in us and through us. So let us continue to focus on the ways that we are alive, that we live the love, that God is at work in and through us. And let us recommit ourselves to each other and to God to remain invested in living in love.
Part of that investment involves us showing up to receive what we need for life – to be fed and nourished by God in worship and fellowship so that God’s love can flow into us. Part of that investment involves us giving what God has first given us – sharing our gifts and abilities in the life of the congregation and supporting the ministries through financial gifts that not only give life to Ascension but in combination with the gifts of other churches give life to the whole world. Part of that investment involves us making time to grow in faith – to learn more about who God is, who we are as God’s beloved people, and how God wants us to share that love with others; through discipleship and outreach opportunities.
To be alive is to live the love of Jesus! So show up to receive, give what God has given you, grow in faith, and live God’s love today and always.
~ Pastor Tony