Church of the Ascension

Come Holy Spirit upon all of us this Day! Like a mighty rushing wind that blows through those doors and ignites that flame within all of our hearts today and forevermore.

Jesus wants to share a gift with those who follow him that is only realized through relationship with the Father that will be achieved through the Holy Spirit.

We may all wrestle with God from time to time, but in doing so we realize that we have never let go of God, and He has never let go of us.

If we live the way Jesus lives then we don’t have to worry about finding our way to the kingdom—we will already be a part of it.

Jesus is trying to keep all of us in a community together. A community that loves each other and looks out for each other. Not a community that looks at differences but a beloved community that embraces differences and grows together, stronger as one.

Maybe Jesus swag comes to us in grace, that unearned and underserved love of Jesus that everyone sees in how we love and care for our neighbor.

Be an act of God's presence in someone else’s life

May your Easter be filled with love, laughter, and joy!

From king to cross. It is finished. Yet, when Jesus breathes his last, we know that truly it has just begun.

The Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.

Many have sight but few have vision.

Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty.

Find joy in the little things in life because one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.  Appreciate the blessings God gives us all. 

Though our feelings come and go, God's love for us does not.

It is not what you have but what you give that brings happiness.

Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.

Sometimes you need to look at life from a different perspective.

There is light in darkness, you just have to find it.

Our relationship with God is transformational, not transactional.  It is a partnership in which we grow together, rooted in covenant.  

God ensures we know his name, not because we might exercise power or control over God, but because by knowing his name, we are granted power by him to spread that name through all the world.

Being fearless doesn't mean living a life devoid of fear, but living a life in which our fears don't hold us back.

Transformation is a journey without a final destination.

It's fine to look at the past as long as we learn from it and don't dwell in it.

The ability to cast light into even the deepest and darkest aspects of life should be cherished.

Rabbi Scott Looper gives the homily in a joint Thanksgiving service between Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Temple Beth Or, and First United Methodist Church.

I am, indeed, a king, because I know how to rule myself.

Be an example to others of all that is good in this world, for others will copy you and they also will become good examples.

If you judge a book by its cover you might miss out on an amazing story.

The more we genuinely care about others the greater our own happiness & inner peace.

Once there was a persistent widow and her name was God.  And she kept pestering us to love her and act justly until we finally did.

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

The gospel is the hope in the midst of suffering, the peace in the midst of the storm, the joy even in the times of sorrow.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands: One for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

The mere presence of the shepherd puts the sheep at peace. When he is near, they don't panic, and they don't fight. They can lay down in peaceful slumber. Nothing reduces stress like the presence of the Shepherd. When you are living in close connection to Jesus, you can sleep, you can relax, you can rest.

This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. Leaving something in its place I have traded for it. I want it to be a gain, not a loss; good not evil; success, not failure, in order that I shall not forget the price I paid for it.

It's not enough to do things in the right way.  What's more important is doing things for the right reasons.

Life is unpredictable and sometimes you need to adjust your schedules and plans to meet the demands of the day.  While you may not be be able to solve all of the world's problems, you can be there for others in need by providing hope and a path for them to follow.

Let our hearts be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path.

Let your faith be your spiritual GPS guiding you through life.

Loving one's self is not about what we can do but about what we can become.

Faith is not built off of mountaintops, but in the everyday living of Christian discipleship .  A reflection on Colossians 2:6-19.

What three things would you want if you were stranded on a desert island?  In this reflection on Amos 8:1-12; Colossinas 1:15-28; and Luke 10: 38-42, we discover what distracts us from our true purpose.

Finding hope and the fulfillment of God's faithfulness is no less accessible than a soggy tuna sandwich.  Listen for this week's reflection on Colossians 1: 1-14.

when you want to proclaim the Kingdom of God, just think Sawyerville.  A reflection on Luke 10:11, 16-20.

As Jesus followers we are called to proclaim the Kingdom of God--which is very real and right here.  A reflection on Luke 9:51-62.  

Even in the midst of darkness, baptism reminds us of the light that we shine as God's people.  A reflection on Psalm 42 in the wake of the shootings at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Vestavia Hills, AL.

We spend too much energy on trying to offend or not offend one another.  Maybe we ought to consider how we are offending God.  A reflection on the Trinity and John 16:12-15.

On this Day of Pentecost we are reminded of the power of our witness in the world. 

Lydia is a dealer in purple cloth.  She is also a dealer in salvation.  A reflection on Acts 16:9-15.

When the rules are meant to exclude, you can be sure they are not about living in the Kingdom of God.  A reflection on Acts 11:1-18.

Tabitha is raised from the dead, not because she is enduring some suffering or needs to be healed, but because God is not finished working through her to heal the community.  Her inconvenience becomes a path to salvation for many and a witness to us.  A reflection on Acts 9:36-43.

Davis Dickert shares a message of what it means to be a witness--not only as one himself, but all those who have been a witness to him to form his faith.  A reflection on Acts 5:27-32.

It was not simply the first disciples who witnessed to the life of Jesus--we do too.  A reflection on the Acts of the Apostles 10:34-43.

The story of Mary and her courage to anoint the feet of Jesus.  A reflection on John 12:1-8.

God offends us with his lavish excesses doted upon us and we have no control over it.  A reflection on Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32.

what does your soul cling too?  A reflection on Psalm 63 and Luke 13:1-9.

A reflection on Luke 13:31-35

Jesus is tempted in the wilderness not as an example of how we resist temptation but as an opportunity for us to choose who we become.  A reflection on Like 4:1-13.

Jesus' beatitudes are not the criteria that determines one's entry into Heaven.  They are the way in which God offers us accountability in learning to live in the kingdom now.  A reflection on Luke 6:17-26.

There are a lot of ideas floating around the world about what love is--but few of us understand or are even willing to embrace that love is about vulnerability.  A reflection on I Corinthians 1:1-13.

Too often we pray to the gods of transaction in our daily lives as he seek and hold on to the idols of money and power.  God's gifts are not transactional.  They are about an overwhelming transformation of love through the abundant gifts God offers us.  A reflection on John 2:1-12.

Baptism is less about "being saved" and more about committing to a relationship with Jesus Christ and others.  A reflection on Luke 3:15-17, 21-22.

The Creche or nativity scene originated in 1223.  It has influenced our understanding of the very first Christmas in significant ways.  Yet, it doesn't capture the full picture of what happened in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.  In this week's reflection, find out the rest of the story and what it means for our world today.  A reflection on Matthew 2: 1-21.

Two pregnant women plot to overthrow the government--that is what we read on the Sunday before Christmas.  its still Advent folks--Christmas is soon, but not yet.  A reflection on Luke 1:39-55.

In the midst of the doom and gloom of Advent preachers like John the Baptist calling us a brood of vipers, we are also reminded to REJOICE!  A reflection on Philippians 4:4-7 and Luke 3:7-18.

For two thousand years, Christians have tried to follow John the Baptist's call to turn away from sin and yet, sin still plagues us.  Maybe the call is less about denying our sins and more about moving through our vices to discover the virtuous we truly desire.  A reflection on Luke 3:1-6.

In a world in which the Left Behind series has shaped a false narrative of the Second Coming of Christ, we would do better to examine Van Gogh's The Starry Night painting for a more hopeful perspective of the world when Christ will come again.  A reflection on Luke 21:25-36.

Hot Lips Houlihan and Hawkeye Pearce were a source of constant provocation toward one another throughout the series MASH.  Today's reflection on Hebrews 10:11-14(15-18)19-25 offers some insight on how we might provoke one another on toward love and good deeds.

Our origin story is important to us.  Not simply to know where we come from but to discover who we are and thus there is hope wherever we find ourselves.  On this All Saints' Sunday, we reflect on the Book of Revelation 21:1-6.

Ritual can help shape and grow our relationships be it a family ritual of putting up Halloween decorations in the front yard or the more ecclesial rituals found in church.  Either way, the ritual requires our presence.  This week's reflection on Hebrews 9:11-14 offers insight into the incarnational presence of Christ found in the church.

Jesus dies to liberate us to love, not simply to save us from our sins.  That liberation reminds us of our belovedness, that we are first children of God before we are ever sinners in need of redemption.  The stories we share with one another connect our past to our future in order to remind us that we are loved into being by God and one another.  A reflection on Hebrews 7:23-28.

Jesus is not for us.  He is with us.  We know what it means to be human because God became man and dwelt among us.  A reflection on Hebrews 5:1-10.

Believe is more than a sign on a locker room wall--it is an action.  To believe means we do something--go to church, get baptized, take communion, be Christian.  In this first of a seven-part series on the Letter to the Hebrews, we look at how complacency and worldly distractions shift God out of the center of our lives.  A reflection on Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12.

Living into community means the willingness to accept others and not reject them.  Even if and when they aren't really "doing it right". In this week's reflection on Mark 9:38-50, we learn the Jesus always appreciates us and encourages us on "The Way."

We spend all our time trying to be the best.  In reality, its what we get to do that helps us feel connected and gives us true fulfillment in life.  a reflection on Mark 9:30-37.

When other people, including God, don't meet our expectations we tend to stop listening and even try to stop them from speaking.  This defines Peter's rebuke of Jesus and even Jesus' rebuke of Peter.  A reflection on Mark 8:27-38.

This week we explore that age-old question, "Why do some people's prayers get answered and others don't.  A reflection on Mark 7:24-37.

Gathering for meals helps form us into community--ay home, with friends, and in the church.  This week's reflection looks at Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23.

Sometimes I wonder why we are here...surely its not just for the food.  A reflection on I Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14 and John 6:51-58.

When the sins of the father weigh upon the sons, destruction and death often follows.  This week's reflection explores the brokenness and losses of King David through the story of the young man, Absalom, in 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33.

This week's reflection on John 6:24-35 compares the Body of Christ to a tray of pork ribs.  Which just might mean Dreamland is about as close to Heaven as it gets--at least in Alabama.  

In a culture that believes he who dies with the most toys wins, its hard to recognize real abundance.  A reflection on John 6:1-21.

The economics of man are always defined by transaction.  The economy of God offers transformation.  A reflection on Mark 6:30-34, 53-56.

Two kings of Israel--one brought honor to God and thus himself.  The other brought shame.  A reflection on the rule of King David and King Herod Antipas through the stories of 2 Samuel 6:1-5,12b-19 and Mark 6:14-29.

In this week's reflection on Mark 6:1-13, Drew+ looks at four presidents and how their courage in times of strife shaped them as persons and as presidents.  Jesus, too, was shaped in times of trouble and rejection--especially in his own home town among those who knew him best.  

Our world suffers from resistance--resistance to one another, resistance to creation, resistance to ourselves, and resistance to God.  Jesus is so non-resistant to life and healing and positive energy that even his clothes have healing properties.  We, as the church, are called to be the hem of Jesus' cloak--the place that all those who suffer can come and find renewed life.  In this week's episode, Candice Frazer+ offers a reflection on Mark 5:21-43 and what it means to practice non-resistance and simply say "Yes!"

We often like to think of the David vs. Goliath story as one in which the archetype of the weak defeats the strong.  In the story of David and Goliath,  David goes to battle against Goliath with God not only on his side; all of Israel has chosen the side of God!  Of course David cannot lose.  This week's reflection by Drew Brislin+ explores I Samuel 17:1, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49. 

Drew offers a reflection on this week's Gospel reading, Mark 4:26-34.  Planting even the smallest seed of friendship and hospitality with others will grow your friendship with God.

Too often we are told by the church that we are sinners in need of forgiveness and not that we are beloved children of God.  Approaching the world from a place of condemnation is much different and less spiritually fulfilling than a starting point of belovedness.  In today's reflection on Mark 3:20-35, we hear that those who blaspheme have no forgiveness because they deny the very God who always forgives.

Trinity Sunday is often called "Heresy Sunday" by preachers due to the difficulty in explaining the mystery of God in Three Persons and the Unity of One Being.  Instead, Drew takes the less treacherous path of exploring how doubt is not the opposite of faith but, like Nicodemus, can be an avenue of greater relationship with God.

We have begun to weaponize our words to either a liberal or conservative persuasion regardless of context--political, social, religious, medical, etc.  On this Pentecost Sunday, the Holy Spirit speaks in a unifying voice drawing people to God and one another.  

Just as many different threads are woven together to create a tapestry, so is life woven into relationship and fate.  In this week's reflection on John's Gospel, 17:6-19, we hear how Jesus' high priestly prayer is a prayer of connection that we might be bound together to glorify God.

The ascension of Jesus leads to the responsibility of the disciples and us by extension to be the church in the world and carry on Christ's work.  That work never becomes static but is always being renewed and that is no different for the post-pandemic church.  A reflection on Acts 1: 1-11.

A sermon reflection this Second Sunday of Easter on the power of peace and forgiveness as inspired by The Gospel of John (20:19-31) and the cartoon Bluey.

On this happy morning of Christ's resurrection,  take a moment to let the surprise of this story's ending capture you.  Based on the understanding that the shorter ending of Mark is really a new beginning into reading his entire Gospel as a post-resurrection story, this reflection opens up the wonder of Mark 16:1-8.

On this Good Friday, the Passion of Mark offers us a reflection on why we are prone to scapegoat others and how that has influenced the social constructs of justice in the world we live in today.

In this final episode of exploring The Book of Forgiving by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu, Candice talks about what it means to forgive oneself, seek forgiveness from others, and how forgiveness can transform the world. 

Many of us wrestle with understanding what sin really is.  In today's sermon, we explore what sin is and why it means something more than simply breaking the rules.

In today's episode we explore the final step of the Fourfold Path of Healing--releasing or renewing the relationship.

This week we explore the third step of the four-fold path to healing - "Granting Forgiveness" - as we continue our look at The Book of Forgiveness by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu.

Rite I worship from The Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Montgomery, Alabama. Sermon: Rev. Candice B. Frazer

In this second step of the Four-Fold Path of Forgiving, we explore "naming the hurt". 

Sermon: Rev. Drew Brislin

Reverend Candice B. Frazer talks about the second part of the Book of Forgiving Lenten Study

Sermon by Rev. Candice B. Frazer. The Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Montgomery, Alabama. 

This segment explores the first three chapters of The Book of Forgiving by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu.  It is the first of six podcasts that will explore forgiveness.

A reflection on Psalm 103 by the Rev. Candice B. Frazer.

Sunday livestreamed worship February 14, 2021. Sermon by Rev. Drew Brislin at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Montgomery, Alabama. 

Sunday worship at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Montgomery, Alabama for February 7, 2021. Sermon by Reverend Candice B. Frazer

Sunday Worship at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Montgomery, Alabama for January 31, 2021. Sermon by Reverend Drew Brislin.

www.coascension.org