Dear Peace members and friends,
I’m guessing that yesterday was likely a fairly normal day. I know it was for me. We welcomed a group of Peace older adults for lunch. We heard the musical group, Bloomingtone’s sing. There was no rain. The sun shone. That was Thursday.
Which is too bad because yesterday was also the 40th day after Easter and a red-letter day on the church calendar—the Ascension of Our Lord. Ascension Day marks the end of the earthly ministry of Jesus. He is no longer here. No longer about performing miracles. Preaching, teaching, or healing. No more breakfasts on the beach. He is gone. However, He is not absent!
In Sunday worship (9:30am), I’ll have more to say about Jesus’ Ascension in a message entitled, “Living the Resurrection: What’s Next?” And because it’s the last Sunday of the Education Hour for the summer, we’ll be celebrating ministry to youth: the Sunday School Singers will sing, the teachers and all of those who make Sunday school happen will be honored, Pastor Joe will have a children’s message, we’ll conclude the Easter season with the last few Easter hymns we haven’t sung yet, and we’ll celebrate and pray for mothers everywhere on this, Mother’s Day. A joyous Sunday ahead!
Here at Peace, I am often surprised the variety of ways that you bring the risen Christ to your everyday lives. Take, for instance, this new effort that comes to us from Julia Wiessner and the Service and Mission Committee: Games and Outreach with Spanish-Speaking Refugees. Hennepin County operates a shelter for new-to-the-country people to live in until they find housing. While the families are at the shelter, their children attend Bloomington schools. A group from Peace has been going to the shelter on Saturday mornings to play bingo with families, practice English skills, but mostly, to have fun!
Our next visit will be on Saturday, May 18, 10:00am. If you are interested in joining the group in May or for future volunteering opportunities, please send an email to Julia Wiessner ([email protected]) and Julia will send you the event location and address. Thank you to all!
See you Sunday!
Mark