Just a few...

Funny how feasts and festivals once considered peripheral take center stage in our lives and the things once considered part of the core of our confession lie forgotten and ignored...  So it is for Ascension.  Where once this was a festive day right up there with the biggies, many Lutheran congregations have abandoned the Ascension Day service and others have banded together to do in common what might be lost to them separately.  In our case we hold two services -- one at 11 am and one at 7 pm.  Consider it my little attempt to push some more attention to the largely forgotten day.  The last few weeks of Easter I mention Ascension and our services.  It does not fail that someone will ask me what I am talking about (and I am not referring to those so new to the faith or the church year that it might be expected).  When I describe the day, I usually get an "Oh, yeah... are we still doing that?"

So if you are in the area, join us for the Divine Service at 11 am and 7 pm this Ascension Day at Grace Lutheran Church, Clarksville, Tennessee....

    Clap your hands, all peoples!
        Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
    For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,
        a great king over all the earth.
    He subdued peoples under us,
        and nations under our feet.
    He chose our heritage for us,
        the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
    God has gone up with a shout,
        the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
    Sing praises to God, sing praises!
        Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
    For God is the King of all the earth;
        sing praises with a psalm!
    God reigns over the nations;
        God sits on his holy throne.
    The princes of the peoples gather
        as the people of the God of Abraham.
    For the shields of the earth belong to God;
        he is highly exalted!

(Psalm 47 ESV)