Feb. 8. Under the direction of the Rev. Walter E. Smith, Chapel of the Ascension moved to 1906 Washington St. and was consecrated by Bishop H. Paddock as Church of the Ascension. Our founding rector F.D. Huntington, by then Bishop of Central New York, returned to preach the inaugural sermon. At that time its Sunday School had 15 teachers and 200 registered students, and there were 175 congregants.
Monthly Archives: February 2013
1886
Our mission to the South End, renamed Chapel of the Ascension, moved to 69 West Concord St.. Minister-in-Charge, the Rev. Walter E.C. Smith expanded its youth activities.
1881
Emmanuel Chapel was established as a mission at 114 W. Canton Street in the South End. After 1885, it became Chapel of the Ascension, then Church of the Ascension in 1890.
1867
The Rev. Dr. F. Dan Huntington founded Church of the Good Shepherd on Cortes St. in the South End.
windows
Like a Hen
Lent 2C, February 24, 2013; The Rev. Pamela L. Werntz
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 I am your shield.
Philippians 3:17-4:1 He will transform the body of our humiliation.
Luke 13:31-35 How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.
Philippians 3:17-4:1 He will transform the body of our humiliation.
Luke 13:31-35 How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.
O God our shield and defender, grant us the strength, the wisdom and the courage to seek always and everywhere after truth, come when it may, and cost what it will.
Today’s Gospel text strikes me as a little strange. It’s strange to be catapulted from Luke’s account of Jesus in the wilderness before his ministry began, past miles of travel, teaching and healing all around the Galilee and beyond, to the middle of the Gospel of Luke, at the end of chapter thirteen. (Next week the scheduled portion is back in the beginning of chapter 13.) The slow, almost leisurely pace of Jesus’ ministry which includes story-telling, prayer and Sabbath meals gets completely eclipsed in our Lenten reading of Luke’s Gospel. Continue reading
Get ready to celebrate!
Lent 1C, February 17, 2013; The Rev. Pamela L. Werntz
Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.
Romans 10:8b-13 How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!
Luke 4:1-13 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.
Romans 10:8b-13 How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!
Luke 4:1-13 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.
O God of our callings, grant us the strength, the wisdom and the courage to seek always and everywhere after truth, come when it may, and cost what it will.
The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit in the wilderness. It’s a little gentler version than the Gospel of Mark’s description of Jesus being driven out to the wilderness by the Spirit. It was after he was baptized, according to Luke, but not before Luke recites Jesus’ genealogy. It’s a curious place to put a 77 generation genealogy – four chapters in to the story. But for Luke, it becomes the connective tissue between the baptism and the wilderness in which Jesus began his work – his ministry. The genealogy demonstrates that Jesus is a child of Israel, a child of all humanity, and a child of the Creator. Our lectionary does this crazy thing of splitting the story of Jesus’ baptism which we heard at the beginning of Epiphany, early in January, and this time in the wilderness. In the last six weeks we’ve heard all kinds of other stories in between the baptism and the wilderness, like last week’s account of the Transfiguration which comes much later in Luke. But the Gospel narrative is that Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit at baptism goes immediately into a harsh place of physical and spiritual danger. Continue reading
Shehecheyanu
Last Sunday After the Epiphany (C), February 10, 2013; The Rev. Pamela L. Werntz
Exodus 34:29-35 the skin of his face was shining and they were afraid to come near him.
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:12 Since then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness.
Luke 9:28-43a And all were astounded by the greatness of God.
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:12 Since then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness.
Luke 9:28-43a And all were astounded by the greatness of God.
O God of faithfulness, grant us the strength, the wisdom and the courage to seek always and everywhere after truth, come when it may, and cost what it will.
One of the benefits for me of regularly sharing the pulpit of Emmanuel Church with a Rabbi is that it continues to challenge and change the way I encounter Holy Scripture. My sensitivity to the need for “corrective lenses” is heightened. My desire to preach against the ways that the Christian Church has promoted supersessionist theology is even more keen than before I got here five years ago. Christian supersessionism is very much like racism as far as I am concerned – it’s systemic, it’s oppressive, it’s often internalized, and it’s always wrong. It distorts our vision and damages our souls. Continue reading