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Spreading Love & Hope
on Ascension Day...
Welcome to today's devotion. These resources have been gathered for your use at home during these days of physical social isolation and virtual social connection. May this devotion and the links provided help you stay connected to God and the wider community.
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Thanks, Ted, for the photos of the fabulous flowers in your garden: Gardner's Glory Rose and Arum Lilies.
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Blessings & peace, Ana & Tod
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The Eternal One is close to the broken-hearted
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and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
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Today is Ascension Day observed on the 40th Day after Easter, the end of the Easter Season, like a bookend with Ash Wednesday which is observed 40 days before Easter.
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Ascension
by Duncan Wilson, UK
One minute he’s here
and the next minute gone
and no-one seems to know how.
‘Taken up to heaven’, says Mark.
‘As he was blessing them’, says Luke.
Not a word from John,
more concerned about Peter’s destiny.
And Matthew?
Just final instructions to his friends –
To baptize, to teach, to obey – but also –
a promise – ‘And I will be with you always
To the end of the age’.
Be thankful for that.
He was coming and going forty days,
kept surprising his friends who didn’t always
realise it was him,
like us, perhaps,
sometimes too dim, sometimes too fraught.
But just a glimpse will suffice,
that something familiar that finds us saying
‘There he goes again’ and a gentle reminder –
‘I did say I will be with you, didn’t I?’ –
‘To the end of the age.’
And so he will.
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I thank thee God, that I have lived
by Elizabeth Craven
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Thanks to Barbara for sharing this.
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I thank thee God, that I have lived
In this great world and known its many joys:
The songs of birds, the strongest sweet scent of hay,
And cooling breezes in the secret dusk;
The flaming sunsets at the close of day,
Hills and the lovely, heather-covered moors;
Music at night, and the moonlight on the sea,
The beat of waves upon the rocky shore
And wild white spray, flung high in ecstasy;
The faithful eyes of dogs, and treasured books,
The love of Kin and fellowship of friends
And all that makes life dear and beautiful.
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I thank thee too, that there has come to me
A little sorrow and sometimes defeat,
A little heartache and the loneliness
That comes with parting and the words ‘Good-bye’;
Dawn breaking after weary hours of pain,
When I discovered that night’s gloom must yield
And morning light break through to me again.
Because of these and other blessings poured
Unasked upon my wondering head,
Because I know that there is yet to come
An even richer and more glorious life,
And most of all, because thine only Son
Once sacrificed life’s loveliness for me,
I thank thee, God, that I have lived.
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Music
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Today be lifted by listening to two of Leslie's favourite classical pieces:
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- Rossini's 'Petite messe solennelle' door het Groot Omroepkoor o.l.v. Leonardo Garcia Alarcón
- John Garth, Cello Concerto in B-Flat Major, Op. 1, No. 2, I. Allegro moderato
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Send in your favourite music links to share.
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Sunday Worship on-line 10:30
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Andover, Broad Chalke & Salisbury congregations of the United Reformed Church gather for worship. Everyone is welcome. To join the Zoom worship service, click on the button above.
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Click on the blue button above to visit Worship Words for prayers and reflections related to the Lectionary Readings for this Easter season.
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Trouble seeing the photos?
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In case you missed it...
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Yesterdays' Daily Home Devotions
Missed a Daily Devotion? Find it here.
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Subscribe to these Home Devotions
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