Ascension Day

Christ the Redeemer on a cloudy day Rio de Jeneiro.

Ascension Day for the year 2022 is celebrated/ observed on Thursday, May 26th.

 

Ascension Day often called Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, Ascension Thursday and Holy Thursday is held on a Thursday 39 days (40th day of Easter) after Easter Sunday. The day commemorates Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven. Some churches have changed this date depending on the Christian denomination to the following Sunday after Thursday.

https://www.calendardate.com/ascension_day_2022.htm

 

 

 

Freedom and Responsibility and Accountability



16One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. 17While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." 18She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.

19But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. 20When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews 21and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." 22The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. 24Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. 27When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." 29The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 34He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.

Acts 16:16-34

Jailer, Paul, Silas, and the Jailer’s Family

HUNT, Richard Morris

1893

Trinity Church (Manhattan)

New York, NY

United States

 

Notes:

The three sets of bronze doors of Trinity Church were donated by William Waldorf Astor in memory of his father, John Jacob Astor III. The jailer, Paul, and Silas panel is in the North door and was produced by Charles Henry Niehaus.
https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20220527233931886&code=ACT&RC=56940&Row=10


 

 



Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being.

With freedom comes responsibility.

For the person who is unwilling to grow up,

the person who does not want to carry his own weight,

this is a frightening prospect.

~ Eleanor Roosevelt









Freedom always comes with responsibility and accountability.

Freedom without boundaries not only harms other people

but also will cause chaos in our world.

~ Zaldy Gutierrez

 

 

 

 

 

Arvada Center for the Arts

Sunday, May 22, 2022

 

Lynn and Jim Gilbert and I thoroughly enjoyed the show!

 

Rotary Book Club

Monday, May 23, 2022

Holly Brekke was our hostess and we had a stimulating 

discussion and delicious dessert.  There were only six of us this time.

 

Paperback Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China Book

“Wild Swans” by Jung Chang

 

"The First Lady”

at Karla Byrd’s home theater

The First Lady' Cast vs. Real-Life First Ladies - Who Plays Who in 'The First  Lady'

Karla, Sondra, Marrilee, and I watched episodes 4 and 5 on Wednesday.

 

 

 

Congratulations, Robin!

外国語学部 坂本ロビン学部長が令和4年度春季善行表彰<国際貢献表彰>を受けました。
本賞は、様々な活動を通して明るく住みよい社会環境づくりや国際親善に貢献している人たちに一般社団法人日本善行会より贈られるものです。

 

Robin was nominated for a national award for her volunteer 

work in cross-cultural awareness.

Robin Alexander Sakamoto receiving her medal and certificate from

the Mayor of Mitaka in Tokyo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"When are we going to do something?” 

Kerr yelled, slamming his fists on the table. "I'm tired. I am so tired of getting up here and offering condolences to the devastated families that are out there. I am so tired of the, excuse, I am sorry, I am tired of the moments of silence. Enough!"

~ Steve Kerr *

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 29, 2022  Seventh Sunday of Easter - Year C

             Ascension of our Lord (Thursday, May 26, 2022)

 

Previous OPQs may be found at:

     http://www.dotjack.com/opq.htm

 

* Steve Kerr

"There's a reason why they won't vote on it," Kerr said. "To hold on to power."

Kerr has long been outspoken against gun violence. His father was shot dead in a terrorist attack in Beirut in 1984, and he has spent much of his professional life calling for gun law reform.

 

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33979219/warriors-steve-kerr-delivers-impassioned-plea-gun-control-texas-school-shooting-get-numb-this

 

 

** I love this one:

Jeanne M French

May 18·edited May 18

I will never forget the time I used a bad word in the hallway of my high school (1968) and defended myself with my right to free speech. Instead of being sent down to the Principal's office, I was sent to my history teacher Mr. Smith. He talked with me about how all rights and freedoms had to come with the responsibility to exercise them properly, and how in failing to do so, we had to be held accountable. Responsibility seems to have gone out of fashion right alongside accountability. Not to mention good taste, good manners and class.

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/free-speech-the-government-and-us?s=r

 

 

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 

 

Happy Memorial Day Thank You GIF - HappyMemorialDay ThankYou - Discover &  Share GIFs | Memorial day thank you, Happy memorial day, Memories

 

 

 

Lectionary

Acts 16:16–34 

Psalm 97 

Revelation 22:12–14, 16–17, 20–21 

John 17:20–26

 

THE WORD:

In John’s account of the Last Supper, after his final teachings to his disciples before the events of his passion begin, Jesus addresses his Father in heaven.  He begins praying for himself, that he may obediently bring to completion the work of redemption entrusted to him by the Father.  Next, he prays for his disciples, that they may faithfully proclaim the word he has taught them.  Finally (today’s Gospel pericope), Jesus prays for the future Church – us – that we may be united in the “complete” love that binds the Father to the Son and the Son to his Church, and that in our love for one another the world may come to know God.

https://connectionsmediaworks.com/sundaygospel.html#may29b

 

 

First Reading Acts 16:16-34

16One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. 17While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." 18She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.

19But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. 20When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews 21and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." 22The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. 24Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. 27When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." 29The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 34He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.

Psalm 97:1-12

1The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice;

let the many coastlands be glad!

2Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;

righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

3Fire goes before him,

and consumes his adversaries on every side.

4His lightnings light up the world;

the earth sees and trembles.

5The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,

before the Lord of all the earth.

6The heavens proclaim his righteousness;

and all the peoples behold his glory.

7All worshipers of images are put to shame,

those who make their boast in worthless idols;

all gods bow down before him.

8Zion hears and is glad,

and the towns of Judah rejoice,

because of your judgments, O God.

9For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;

you are exalted far above all gods.

10The LORD loves those who hate evil;

he guards the lives of his faithful;

he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.

11Light dawns for the righteous,

and joy for the upright in heart.

12Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,

and give thanks to his holy name!

Second Reading Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21

12"See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

14"Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates."

16"It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." 17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let everyone who hears say, "Come." And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

20The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

Gospel John 17:20-26

20"I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

25"Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. 26I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."