Dear Friends,
Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension—a sacred moment when we shift our focus from Jesus’ arrival on earth to His return to heaven. The Gospel of Luke beautifully captures this arc of divine movement: it begins with His incarnation—His birth—and ends with His exaltation—His ascension. From expectation to fulfillment, from beginning to culmination, the story of Jesus reminds us that even in endings, there is purpose and hope.
Jesus’ earthly ministry, public at age 30 and concluded at 33, was filled with profound moments of teaching, healing, community, sacrifice, and ultimately resurrection. Yet even after rising from the dead, Jesus did not immediately depart. He remained with His disciples for 40 days—a time of preparation, transition, and deep fellowship. This was no hurried farewell; it was a well-orchestrated journey toward release and empowerment. On a hilltop, Jesus blessed His followers, gave them a mission, and then was lifted from their sight.
That moment—the Ascension—was not just a departure, but a celebration of transition. And transitions, as we know, require far more than a single ceremony or act. They require time, grace, and trust. They often involve both grief and anticipation, letting go and stepping forward.
In the same spirit, we as a church now prepare for our own time of transition. In the coming weeks, we will temporarily leave our beloved Christ the King campus and worship at St. Stephen’s while our building undergoes important work. This change,
