Saint Paul’s Sermons Dcn Bryan Dench

The Ascension of the Lord Jesus is important as his Resurrection because his Ascension completes the work begun with the Incarnation. Jesus returns to the Father, and in a sense, the Father brings him home restoring the unity of the trinity. We are also praying for our mothers on this day in appreciation for their loving service. "Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ, give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous, and all for your love's sake. Amen"

Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was a visionary walking a difficult path to bring Reformed Christianity to England. Henry VIII if anything remained Roman Catholic while making himself head of the English church, but his appointed Archbishop of Canterbury was solidly and biblically reformed. In developing the prayer book, Cranmer skillfully achieved several goals:

1. Unify all worship and practice into one "common" prayer book for clergy and laity.

2. Put it in English (not Latin).

3. Incorporate solidly reformed doctrine in place of the theology of Rome.

4. Reinforce belief regularly.

The work of this brave man, martyred for his faith, gives us a treasured legacy to this day.

This “Rogation Sunday” encourages to bring our needs and desires to the Father. The god who loves his children.

When Jesus told the disciples they would all fall away, ‘not me, Peter said. But fall away he did. That Jesus restored Peter gives hope to us, too.

During the upper room discourse Jesus tells his followers in a little while they won’t see him, then he says in a little while they will see him. He’s predicting his death followed by his rising again. Understandably they’re baffled. Jesus goes on to assure them of their future joy, the joy in him we who believe can share.

The Resurrection of Jesus is the key, pivotal fact upon which our faith and assurance rest. As Paul said, if Jesus isn't raised, our faith is false and foolish, and we have no hope. How reasonable is it to believe in Jesus's resurrection from the dead? It's the only reasonable conclusion to draw from the eyewitness evidenced other undisputed facts. an