If Ascension Day is not celebrated on the actual day (Thursday 2 June) then you may choose rather to use the resources for Ascension Day on this Sunday. However, if it is possible to celebrate Ascension Day mid-week, then this Sunday becomes a powerful bridge between the Ascension and Pentecost which follows next week. Part of what creates this meaningful journey is the focus, in the readings for Easter 7A, on Jesus’ longing for glory, and the gift of glory which he brings to his followers (which in this context is almost synonymous with ‘home’) and the ‘refugee status’ both of the incarnate Christ and of his followers who await the coming of God’s reign in fullness.

May our worship give us a glimpse of home, and lead us into a willing commitment to the life of a refugee for the sake of the Kingdom.

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Sometimes it feels like the celebration of Pentecost has become an exercise in missing the point. What was a radical, communal, inclusive and world-shifting event has become, in much contemporary practice, and individualist, exclusive, status-quo sustaining experience with little more to commend it than a sense of euphoria. If only we could recapture some of the Church-birthing impact of this significant day, both the Church and the world around it would, like the Pentecost spectators, be amazed by what God is doing among us.

May the Spirit of Pentecost disturb, challenge and empower us as we worship.

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The doctrine of the Trinity can, at times, feel like an awkward and embarrassing Christian belief. It is also, almost certainly, a deeply misunderstood one. For this reason, Trinity Sunday may well be one of the days in the year where we are tempted to depart from the Lectionary and focus our meditations elsewhere. If, however, we can resist all these temptations, and embrace the mystery and majesty of this day, the worship we enjoy, springing from our reflections on our Trinitarian God, can be deep, transforming and deeply inspiring.

May we find new creativity and connectedness as we gather to worship the God who is revealed to us as Divine Parent, Incarnate Child and Ubiquitous Spirit.

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So now we move, finally, into Ordinary Time. When I think of worship as intimacy with God, I think of the three movements of intimacy – listening (your story), sharing (my story) and time (history). The first half of the Church Year can be thought of as the "listening" movement – God’s Story. Now, this second half is the "sharing" movement – Our Story – where we focus on how to live out what we have encountered through the first half. As we do this year after year, we build a History with God, which takes us ever deeper into intimacy with God. What a privilege this journey is, and, as we focus on hospitality this week, what a wonderful way to start this new movement in the year.

Note: While I am aware that the Lectionary makes provision for two sets of Old Testament readings (a "continuous" selection and a "related" selection), I find it helpful to explore all of the readings to find connections and draw out a single shared theme. I recognise that not all Lectionary practitioners subscribe to this way of using the Lectionary, but I find it opens up the readings in the best way for me to offer resources that can be used and applied irrespective of which readings may be used in the local context. I hope you find this helpful, but I am happy to hear any suggestions or feedback that may make this blog even more useful for you.

May our worship lead us into deeper connection with God, and into greater Christ-likeness in our daily living.

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