Sunday after Sunday after AscensionAscension

May 17, 2015May 17, 2015

Acts 1: 1-11Acts 1: 1-11Ephesians 1: 15-33Ephesians 1: 15-33

Luke 24: 44-53Luke 24: 44-53

Martyrs of SudanMartyrs of Sudan

16 May 1983 – 9 16 May 1983 – 9 January 2005January 2005

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

Dem

og

rap

hic

Sketc

h: M

arty

rs f S

ud

an

Dem

og

rap

hic

Sketc

h: M

arty

rs f S

ud

an

Martyrs of Sudan

1983 - 2005

•Martyrs of Sudan. On 16 May 1983, after the fundamentalist Islamic government in Khartoum imposed Shariah Law & outlawed Christian worship, Christian bishops, tribal chiefs, military commanders, clergy & people of Sudan declared they would not abandon their faith in Jesus Christ. For the next 22 years--until 9 January 2005, when warring factions signed the Naivasha peace accord in Kenya--the Episcopal Church of the Province of the Sudan suffered persecution & devastation imposed by civil war. An estimated 2.5 million Sudanese died, half of whom were Episcopalians or Anglicans. Clergy & lay leaders were often singled out & killed for no reason other than being religious leaders within their communities. •Today, in an area the size of Alaska, no churches, schools, or other buildings remain. Four million people are on the United Nations list of internally displaced persons, a million of whom are scattered across Africa & beyond in a Sudanese Diaspora. The Samuel & Alice Lupei family, who occasionally worship with us at St John’s Centreville, are among them. •Twenty-two of Sudan’s 24 dioceses exist in exile in Uganda or Kenya & the majority of clergy are unpaid. The good news is that before 1983, barely 5% of the population in what is now the Republic of South Sudan was Christian; today over 85% of its 6,000,000 residents are affiliated with either Episcopalian or Roman Catholic congregations. A faith rooted deeply in God’s mercy has, therefore, renewed its spirits throughout & despite years of strife & sorrow.

Collect for Sunday after Ascension BCollect for Sunday after Ascension BAlmighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens so he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of time; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

 

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA -- Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

Prayer for Sunday after Ascension B [Martyrs of Sudan]Prayer for Sunday after Ascension B [Martyrs of Sudan]O God, steadfast in the midst of persecution, by your providence the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church: As the martyrs of the Sudan refused to abandon Christ even in the face of torture and death, and so by their sacrifice brought forth a plentiful harvest, may we, too, be steadfast in our faith in Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Su

nd

ay a

fter A

scen

sio

n: W

hat A

re Y

ou

Waitin

g F

or?

Su

nd

ay a

fter A

scen

sio

n: W

hat A

re Y

ou

Waitin

g F

or?

[Acts

1:1

-11

][A

cts

1:1

-11

]

Before ascending gloriously into heaven, Jesus promises to empower the church through his own gift of the Holy Spirit.

Address to His Apostles (Vv 1-8)

Dedicates narrative to a Christian pupil, Theophilus (Vv 1-3)Truth of Christ’s resurrection and Ascension evidenced in GospelsSummary of Christ’s mission on Earth (Vv 4-8)

Christ’s Ascension (Vv 9-11)Narrative of Christ's ascension into heavenDisciples' discourse with him before he ascendsAngels' discourse with them after he ascends

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes & a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly 2 men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will return in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

Time Stamp: c. 35-40 AD

Paul stresses authority & power vested in Christ because of his resurrection.

Enlightening Eyes of One’s Heart

•Thankful for genuineness & fruit of their faith, evident in love they show for one another & “all saints” (Vv 15-16)• Prays Ephesians receive insight & deeper understanding of God’s plan for them (V 17)•Why V 17: God has already eliminated spiritual blindness & wants them to be enabled to do more (V 18)•Prays Ephesians may truly know God’s awesome power (Vv 19-20)•Once again praises lofty position Christ enjoys in God’s realm (Vv 21-23)

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead & seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule & authority, power & dominion…

Su

nd

ay a

fter A

scen

sio

n: E

yes o

f On

e’s

Heart

Su

nd

ay a

fter A

scen

sio

n: E

yes o

f On

e’s

Heart

[Ep

hesia

ns 1

: 15

-23

][E

ph

esia

ns 1

: 15

-23

]

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

…& every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet & appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 & said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer & on the 3rd day rise from the dead, 47 & that repentance & forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses.

Time Stamp: c. 31 AD

Before his Ascension, Jesus blesses his disciples & fills them with divine power for the work that awaits them.

These Are the Words•Now resurrected, Jesus commands his Disciples to remember,, heed and doo all that he has taught them (V 44)•Law…Prophets…Psalms: 3 divisions of OT scripture•Expresses Christ's immediate access to the human spirit & absolute power over it (V 45)•Apostles’ manner of interpreting OT has Christ’s direct sanction•Don’t say you didn’t know (V 46)•Jews first: Start with the metropolis at the heart of God’s (V 47)•Present tense switches focus to what Christ now gives them—Holy Spirit –to carry out Apostolic missions (V 49)

Christ’s Ascension•Christ solemnly departs on mission to reconcile Heaven & Earth•Disciples turned Apostles now return to Jerusalem, with new spirit of evangelism planted deep within them

Su

nd

ay a

fter A

scen

sio

nS

un

day a

fter A

scen

sio

n: Y

ou

Witn

essed

Me [L

uke

: You

Witn

essed

Me [L

uke

24

: 44

-53

24

: 44

-53

] ]

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.