Easter - The Directors Cut

Today is marked in the church calendar as Ascension Day! It falls 40 days after Easter Sunday, and is the day that we celebrate the ascension of Jesus back into heaven. This moment is described in most detail by Luke in his gospel (Luke 24:50-53) and in the book of Acts (Acts 1:9-11), as well as featuring in Peter’s sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:32-36).

Steve Page has written a blog to commemorate the day, you can read it below.

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Sometimes a movie gets edited down to a nice neat 3 acts, but you just know you’re missing something.  There’s a story line that has no neat conclusion.  Someone’s back story seems a little off.  The ending feels – well, it feels unfinished, despite the high drama.

[I could add a pop culture reference here about Zack Snyder’s Justice League, but that will probably lose most of you, so I’ll keep quiet about that.]

Easter got great reviews this year – time off in the sunshine; lots of references to new starts; plenty of chocolate and a few bunnies thrown in for good measure.  It gave us a much-needed lift.  

But it wasn’t the director’s cut.

• Triumphant entry into Jerusalem – check.

• Last Supper – check.

• Horrific torture and death scene on the cross – check.

• Disillusioned disciples – check.

• The miracle of the resurrection on Sunday morning – check.

Then what?

There’s a scene missing that fell on the cutting room floor.  It’s a scene some 40 days after Resurrection Sunday and it’s celebrated by the church on 13th May this year (the 6th Thursday after Easter Sunday). 

After his resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days meeting with his friends, walking with them, fishing with them, eating with them, explaining what his death and resurrection was all about.  Then he re-joined his father in heaven.  The Apostles Creed describes it like this:  

“He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.”

This is one of the fundamentals of the Christian faith.  It’s why we pray to Jesus Christ and we don’t simply remember a great teacher and miracle worker.  Jesus ascended to heaven.

No chocolate, no bunnies – but a resurrected and ascended God.

If you see a Christian with a smile on their face this month – it might be because we’re celebrating the Ascension.  You see, it was worth waiting for that post credit scene in the director’s cut. 

Carols, Community and Celebration!

This Sunday we had the privilege of hosting our annual Carols by Candlelight event at Ealing Town Hall! Always a time of celebration, this year was no different, with people coming together to sing carols, enjoy a free glass of mulled wine and a mince pie, and get into the Christmas spirit!

What a fantastic event it was this year! Over 300 people gathered in the Town Hall, we sang more carols together than we ever have before, yet there was still time to listen to outstanding performance songs and poetry and learn from Pete Cornford about what it really means to be home at Christmas time. He reminded us that home is not always about a physical place but that we truly find what it means to feel at home in our relationships with those that we love. We as Christians believe that we are welcomed home when we seek relationship with God, that he waits for us with open arms. Jesus talked about this as part of his teaching, and you can read about it in Luke 15:11-32.

If you were one of those that joined with us this Sunday we hope you felt welcomed and at home amongst us, and if you haven’t already, see if you can spot yourself in the family photo we took at the end of the evening!

If you want to find out what it looks like to be a member of the Redeemer family, you are so welcome to join us at our family service this Sunday (the 23rd of December) at 10am in the Town Hall for festive songs, a nativity and even a few games!

Finally, there is also still an opportunity to contribute to the collection which was taken on Sunday evening to support the work of St Mungo’s, an organisation which aims to help those without a physical home to go to this Christmas.