Marking the Ascension and Pentecost
Following shortly after Easter are two of the major feasts in the yearly calendar of the Church. Firstly, the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord commemorates the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. As the Book of Acts relates:
‘Now having met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, has the time come for you to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, but you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit which will come on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to earth’s remotest end.’ As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring into the sky as he went, when suddenly two men in white were standing beside them, and they said, ‘Why are you Galileans standing here looking into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven come back in the same way as you have seen him go to heaven.’ (Acts 1: 6 – 11)
The Apostles went to Jerusalem where
‘When Pentecost day came round, they had all met together, when suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a violent wind which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and there appeared to them tongues as of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak different languages as the Spirit gave them power to express themselves.’ (Acts 2: 1 – 4)
This account, also from the Acts of the Apostles, tells of how, as promised by Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles while they were gathered together in Jerusalem.
Nursery Form Teacher, Miss Slight, reports on the recent marking of the Ascension and Pentecost by the Nursery and Preps:
‘Last week the Nursery, Prep I, Prep II and Prep III celebrated the Ascension and Pentecost together in a beautiful rainbow ceremony in the Prep Playground. We talked about Jesus sending the Holy Spirit down upon his followers and what that meant. We then said prayers together and released our colourful balloons up in to the sky. The children were extremely excited to take part in the celebration and were fascinated watching the balloons travel across the sky, spotting their colour as they rose in the air. After releasing their balloons all the children and teachers said a prayer together.’
The calendar of the Church is filled with commemorations of events that hold great meaning and depth for us all today. The Easter season reminds us to have faith, hope and trust in God. To have faith in Jesus’s Resurrection, hope in his return and trust that his promises will be fulfilled.
Categories: Faith Life Nursery Prep Whole School