A glimpse of Birmingham Cathedral's amazing Ascension window to celebrate this year's Ascension Day.In many parts of Europe today has been a public holiday. But how many people in Britain - both 'churched' and 'unchurched' - would know that today brought one of the major celebrations of the church calendar?
How did you mark Ascension Day in your church? Or perhaps you didn't mark it at all?
In fact, does Ascension Day matter in 2008?
Is it one of those quaint customs that's set to become a sort of churchy museum piece?
Or is it a vibrant opportunity for celebrating a profound truth about the work and identity of Jesus, the Good News?
So, Ascension Day:
- should we delight in it and 'do' it"
- or definitely dump it?
Photo credit: Webrarian of Plymouth
4 comments:
Our church had zilch to mark Ascension Day. Partly my fault. If as choirmaster I had got the choir to learn some special music and insisted on an evensong to sing it at, we would have had a celebration.
But it raises the whole question of the Christian Year. Is it now the 'evangelical' thing to play down the cycle of festivals? It certainly seems to be here (I won't say where I am). People who wish to live through Holy Week and Easter in the fullest way have to toddle off to the cathedral, while here in the parish there are a few services and an inter-church march on Good Friday. At least we have dropped the Beetle Drive on Easter Eve!
Thanks, Anon!
What do others think?
Re Ascension - and the whole church calendar: anachronisms or opportunties?
PS: In defence of beetle drives, at the right time they can be wildly exciting events. Or maybe I need to get out more!
Ascension has to be a major Christian Festival. It has to be as it recalls the Risen Lord Jesus returning to heaven, having blessed and commissioned his friends and promised the coming of enbling Spirit. We 'kept the Feast' and used the Anglican liturgy for the occasion, and a great experience it was too!
Thank you! I think you are probably a different Anon form the first Anon.
Things are, er, looking up for Ascension Day.
The preacher at my church began with a reference to Frank Lampard's skywards gesture following his goal in the recent Chelsea/Liverpool match....
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