Worship Weblog
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Symposium ‘08 Update 6
One of the seminars today dwelled on the significance of the Ascension—arguably the most underrated day, and most underrated theology, in the life of the church. The seminar was a reprise of sorts of a 2006 conference on the Ascension.
Among the statements I overheard as I listened in:
- Pastor Mike Abma asked if anyone in the room worshiped in a church that observed Ascension Day with a Thursday worship service. No one raised their hand.
- A comment was made that Ascension Day might be observed on the previous Sunday, but it often has to compete with Mothers Day—which is not exactly a liturgical holiday.
- Speakers encouraged worship leaders and preachers to highlight Ascension themes throughout the church year (for instance, Advent ties in to the second coming, which is predicted by the angel after the Ascension; the Transfiguration presents Jesus in a cloud, similar to the cloud that hides him when he ascends; Lent and Easter can be observed mindful of how John unites the passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ by talking about “the hour” in which “the Son of Man lifted up”—and they didn’t mention it by name, but Christ the King Sunday has clear Ascension overtones.
- In addition to liturgical seasonal connections, Gerrit Scott Dawson pointed out that “lift up your hearts” is the call to spiritual ascension that defines every worship service (and most explicitly, every celebration of the Lord’s Supper).
- Mike Abma said that music is one of the most important ways to celebrate the Ascension, in part because “we sing our theology.” He pointed to “Joy To The World” as an unlikely but fitting Ascension hymn.
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