There was a time when the village school all trooped up to church on Ascension Day, and was then released to play. So I suppose to previous generations of children the Ascension had good associations; perhaps of holiday and Spring happiness.

Today it is no longer the case, and indeed for many Christians, celebrating the Feast of the Ascension is an almost forgotton event.  In our Team of churches however, this Ascension (May 17th), we will mark the day with an evening Eucharist at St Andrew’s, followed by refreshments and a social gathering.

Ascension Day is preceded by Rogation Sunday (May 13th), traditionally a time to praise God in nature; when in Much Hadham we shall walk from the Ford to St Thomas’s for a special evensong. The two Festivals may seem at opposite extremes, with Ascension thinking of things heavenly and Rogation of things earthly. In fact the two are not so far apart. We believe that the God of Heaven is the same as the God of earth, sea and sky. At the Ascension we celebrate Christ’s human nature as it were taking its place with God. At Rogation we celebrate as it were God’s divine nature taking its place in the totality of human life, including the natural world that sustains us. Lifting our eyes to the heavens to seek a greater vision for humanity is not so far removed from lifting up our hearts as we walk through the bluebell woods. But as we lift our eyes to heaven, we are not blind to the problems both of humanity and nature.

Ascension coincides with Christian Aid Week, and our attention will be drawn to the poverty, war and disease that many suffer around the globe. There is the additional awareness of the specific consequences of climate change for all of us, so we will be collecting with even greater zeal to help those in dire poverty and distress.

Do come and join us in our celebrations as well as in our Christian Aid work across the Team if you can. You will be most welcome. I end with the words of Psalm 121,

”I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills: from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh even from the Lord: who hath made heaven and earth

The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in:

From this time forth for evermore.”

Chris Boulton