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Christ is Ascended!
The resurrection of the Lord is our hope, the Lord’s Ascension our glorification. Today we are celebrating the feast of the Ascension. So if we are to celebrate the Lord’s Ascension in the right way, with faith, devotion, with reverence as God-fearing people, we must ascend with Him and lift up our hearts. In ascending, however, we must not get above ourselves. Yes, we should lift up our hearts, but to the Lord… We say to the One who has ascended, Lord, you have become a refuge for us (Ps. 90:1). He rose again to give us hope because what rises again is what first dies. So Christ’s resurrection was to save us from despair at dying and from thinking our whole life ends with death. We were anxious about the soul, and by rising again, He gave us assurance even about the flesh. He who ascended is He who descended. He descended to heal you; He ascended to lift you up. – St. Augustine
Our Savior, dearly beloved, has ascended into heaven; therefore, let us not be disturbed on earth. Let our spirit be in heaven, and peace will be here. Meanwhile, let us ascend with Christ in heart, and when His promise day comes, we shall also follow in body. Nevertheless, we ought to know that pride or avarice or dissipation did not ascend with Christ. No vice of ours will ascend with our Physician. And for this reason, if we desire to ascend and follow the Physician, let us strive here to lay aside our vices and sins. For all of our iniquities surround us as if with chains, and they strive to bind us in the network of our sins. Therefore, with God’s help, according to what the psalmist says, “Let us break their chains” (Ps. 116:16-17). Then we will be able to say to the Lord with assurance, “You have loosed my bonds; to you will I offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving.” The resurrection of the Lord is our hope; His ascension is our glory. – St. Caesarius of Arles
Church Announcements:
- We are fundraising for the purchase of the neighboring church. To donate, click here.
- Fundraiser Lunch Cruise
- Feast of the Ascension:
- Wednesday: Vespers at 6pm
- Thursday: Liturgy 8:10:30am
- Women’s Meeting
- Women’s Meeting this Friday, May 26th at 6:30pm
- Men’s Meeting
- Men’s Meeting Thursday, June 1st at 7:30pm
- Sermon:
Summer Camp:
- Now open to Jr. High School
- To register, use the QR Code below.
This Week’s Schedule:
- Monday:
- Midnight Praises: 8:00-9:30pm
- Midnight Praises: 8:00-9:30pm
- Tuesday:
- Bible Pleasure: 7:30-8:30 (In-Person and on Facebook)
- Wednesday:
- Liturgy: 8:00-10:30am
- Vespers: 6:00-6:30pm
- Thursday:
- Liturgy: 8:00-10:30am (English)
- GYP Meeting: 7:00-9:00pm
- Friday:
- Liturgy: 8:00-10:30am
- Youth Meeting: 8:00-9:30pm
- Saturday:
- Hymns: 5:00-6:00pm
- Sunday School: 6:00-7:00pm
- Vespers: 7:00-7:30pm
- Midnight Prayers: 7:30-9:30pm
- Sunday:
- Liturgy: 8:00-11:30am