Here in the Seventh Sunday following Easter, we celebrate the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. This movement of being lifted-up and carried away on a cloud into heaven is described in the book of Acts. This cycle of ascent and descent made me reflect on how important it is to not only cultivate our soil, but how this act of soil tending can impact our soul as well. It is a spiritual act of rebellion in our modern world to reclaim the simple act of growing delicious food and to nourish our soil at the Garden Church. The composting that takes place at the Garden Church is sophisticated and elaborate, taking time in order to produce what is lovingly referred to as, “Black Gold”. That newly created soil that is so very important in being able to grow healthy and delicious fruits and vegetables. As we wrestle with these big theological concepts such as the incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension before the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, I am reminded of our primal connections to this earth and her soil. Is soil tending also soul tending? Join us Sunday as we explore this topic and especially how the concept of 'fully human' and 'fully divine' intersects with the work of Garden Church.
Readings:
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God. But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy. Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds--his name is the LORD-- be exultant before him. Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land. God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel. Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished; your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, Selah O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel; and whose power is in the skies. Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
Acts 1:6-14
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
In Faith,
Rev. Dave
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