June 1, 2025 Ascension Day

by | Jun 1, 2025 | sermons

Gospel Reading: Luke 24:44-53 

{Jesus} said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Parent promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Sermon

  • When I was 5 years old, the movie Mary Poppins came out.
    • I loved this movie!
    • Of course, I loved all the fun scenes like when the carousel horses left the carousel and rode through the park and the chimney sweepers dancing on the roofs;
    • But by far my favorite scene was the ending:
      • after teaching the children lessons about how to find mystical joy in the world around them;
      • and teaching their parents how to focus more on loving their own children,
    • Mary Poppins sends the family off to fly a kite, unfurls her umbrella, and floats up and away, maybe forever (or maybe not?)
      • She leaves the family better than she found them.
      • It’s a satisfying happy ending for them…except that Mary Poppins is leaving, which is really sad
  • When you think about it, Mary Poppins is kind of a Jesus figure!
    • Jesus also came and taught people how to be together more joyfully,
    • He helped people see the mystical in everything
    • And even hinted at the perils of capitalism (that’s in Mary Poppins, too!)
    • Jesus also, in this story from Luke, rises up to the sky on Ascension Day, without anyone knowing if he would ever return.
    • That must have been bittersweet for the disciples; saying goodbye to him, maybe forever;
    • But also being left with that promise of Holy Spirit power.
  • Of course, I didn’t think about all that when I was 5!
  • All I knew was that Mary’s departure was the first time I had ever experienced that intense bittersweet: being happy and sad at the same time.
  • I loved it so much, I persuaded my mom to take me back and see that movie three times! And every time, I cried at the end!
  • Maybe that was where I received my first spiritual calling!
  • After I became an Interim minister, the story of Mary Poppins, the “mystical nanny” came back to me.
    • I sometimes aspire to be a mystical nanny with my bag of tricks,
      • To help people be happy together as a church family,
      • I always hope that a church has been a little transformed by the interim;
      • That you’ve confronted your dark side and sharp edges a little
      • Have re-connected with your core values and mission
      • Have strengthened the bonds between members
      • And have become more self-aware and self-determining,
      • so you can function without depending on a “mystical nanny” to define you.
      • And then I want an umbrella so I can fly away at just the right moment
  • An interim can’t do a lot in a year or two,
    • but a perceptive outsider can sometimes help you see things you have lost sight of in yourself.
  • I wonder if some transformation has happened here in small ways.
  • Think for a moment about how things were at Lyndale 3 years ago when Pastor Ashley left. What words would you use to describe that time?
  • Is anything different now? What are some words that describe this moment at Lyndale?
  • What have you learned in these past 3 years that you want to carry forward?
  • What I’ve seen in you over the last 17 months:
    • You are less anxious about your future
    • There is more curiosity about what might be next, about your neighborhood, about new ventures that might be possible with stable leadership
    • There is a renewed desire to engage in justice work,
    • And also for the spiritual nurture that will help strengthen you for the justice work you want to do
  • I shared some recommendations with your Council in my exit summary last week;

a few to touch on with all of you:

  • Share stories from Lyndale’s past with new pastor – the good and bad—so he knows you and your history better;
    • But also be ready to let go of any old hurt or resentment you’ve nursed, so your church isn’t burdened by old baggage
  • Help the new pastoral team flourish within the boundaries of their roles.
    • Having two pastors means the burden needs to be shared appropriately
    • Avoid favoritism or little “factions” that follow one pastor over another
    • Avoid those “triangles” where you talk to one pastor about another pastor
    • Be careful not to expect the pastors to do all the work – you have so much capacity in your congregation! Use it!
  • Get more familiar with the work of the CSJ as an extension of your ministry; that part of your ministry is touching other churches around the country with its reparations work; it is worth understanding, praying for, and supporting
  • Have a retreat! Invite everyone! Spend time visioning and dreaming with your pastors and lay leaders.
  • I want you to know I really did enjoy my time at Lyndale, even if some of the work was puzzling.
    • You were not difficult to work with;You were very respectful of the gifts I brought here, and I appreciate that.
    • But you do have a complicated system, with SpringHouse and the Center for Sustainable Justice and two pastors
    • Just your location in Uptown was a new culture for me than rural Wisconsin
    • (I told my husband early on: people in Uptown are really just like people everywhere else…but with more tattoos)
    • And we’ve been doing ministry in the midst of a really difficult year in our nation
    • You care so much about Lyndale’s ministry; you have high expectations of yourselves; you want to do a lot, and you want to do it well.
    • All those things made it a challenge and an adventure to be here!
    • But I learned so much from you. You have managed some simple innovations that make your ministry lively and meaningful
      • Like adult ed classes with interesting topics
      • Worship that is conversational and participatory
      • community prayer that is honest and deep
      • A non-hierarchical pastoral staff model – new for me
      • Sharing a building, staff and programs with 2 other churches
      • I have a lot more creative ideas to pollinate at other churches as I move on, that I’ll be borrowing from you.
  • This kind of innovation is so important in the time we’re living in
    • The institutional church and even our core values have been weakened in this culture, with all the mayhem we’re seeing around us.
    • But the Church is still an outpost of wisdom and Holy Spirit guidance;
      • You are here to exhibit a different way of engaging with each other and the world:
        • Of listening and mutual respect, using democratic principles
        • Sharing authority and healthy dealing with conflict
        • Day to day practices of honoring the earth and advocating for the vulnerable, generous sharing,
        • all that beautiful stuff we have pledged allegiance to as God’s people.
      • It is not an easy or safe time to be a Church that tries to reflect the teachings of Christ, but you are trying mightily to do that, and I’ve honored the opportunity to work beside you.
  • Thank you all, as lay leaders, for the devotion you give to this endeavor.
  • To Paul Thuras as Moderator for carrying the leadership load
    • Thanks to the staff:
      • to Rebecca, who has stayed open to my ideas and influence here, even when we didn’t always agree, and who has helped me to imagine true collaborative ministry a little better;
      • to Paul Kovacovic whose music always provides me with moments of true worship on Sunday mornings;
      • to Cali, who has brought wonderful energy, organization and cheerfulness into the office!
      • To the SpringHouse community and staff who, I think, are coming back from pandemic isolation and becoming more of a team again.
  • I wish I could be a mystical nanny like Mary Poppins, and completely “fix” you
    • But you don’t need to be fixed. You need to be honored as God made you to be;
    • And the real work will happen not through any magical leader, not me or T. Michael or Rebecca, but through the Holy Spirit and THROUGH YOU when you are receptive to the Spirit’s power;
  • Paul writes to the Church in Ephesus: I have heard of your faith…and for this reason,I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.