Ascension Written Sermons

“In the bleak midwinter lies the seed that becomes the rose” The Rev. Canon Patricia M. Grace Advent IV Year B Church of the Ascension                            December 24, 2017 R ejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.        1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 December 17, 1979. Nearly forty years go, but I remember it well. It was a Monday, it was snowing. I awoke with the painful awareness that it had been nearly three months since my father had died…suddenly, at only 51 years of age …and I was definitely my daddy’s girl. Oh, things

The North is the South Rob Gieselmann, Advent 2B, December 10, 2017 Have you ever noticed that some things at Ascension seem backwards? Entering the “Old Transept”, from the offices, a sign on the door tells you that you are entering the South Transept. Thing is, this “South Transept” is located on the north side of the building. The South Transept, you see, is called the north transept, the south transept is by corollary called the north transept. Similarly, the altar faces west, yet we pretend that it faces east. We call this, “ liturgical east”, because in the old days, churches were built facing east, in anticipation of Christ’s return. Also - the front of the church - have you noticed? – faces the back of the property, rather than the front. The front should be streetside, not the back.   The back is front, and the front is back. The last shall be first, and the first shall last. Ascension’s actual address - is 800 South Northshore. South Northshore – if not ironic, t