Tag: Luke

Pastor’s Notes 5/15/2026

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple blessing God. 
–Luke 24:50-53

This Sunday we come to the final week in our series on the endings of the Gospels, and the transition to Pentecost. We have listened closely to how each Gospel writer tells the resurrection story differently.

Mark leaves us standing in uncertainty and tension, with frightened disciples and an empty tomb that asks what we will do next. Matthew turns our eyes outward toward mission and discipleship. John slows everything down around a breakfast fire on the beach, reminding us that resurrection is often experienced through relationship, restoration, and love.

And now Luke.

Luke’s Gospel ends with Jesus lifting his hands in blessing as the disciples watch him ascend. But instead of sorrow, the disciples return to Jerusalem filled with joy. That detail matters to Luke. The story of Jesus does not end in despair or absence. It opens into worship, hope, and a calling that is just beginning.

What makes Luke especially interesting is that he tells the ascension story twice. Once at the end of the Gospel, and again at the beginning of Acts. In the Gospel, the ascension feels like the closing scene of Jesus’ earthly ministry. In Acts, the same moment becomes the opening scene for the Spirit moving through ordinary people. The focus shifts from what Jesus began to what the followers of Jesus are now called to continue.

While the events in Luke 24 seem to happen in one day, Acts follows the arc of the other gospels in identifying the time between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension as 40 days. It is helpful to think about it like a cliffhanger television show season finale (remember the old “who shot JR” season of Dallas).

The writers touched back into the same moment, but with a new purpose and perspective. Luke seems to do something very similar. The Gospel brings Jesus’ earthly ministry to its theological climax, while Acts reopens the scene, highlighting different details, to tell the story of the church.

Maybe that is part of the gift of Ascension Sunday for us too. We are reminded that faith is not only about looking back at what Jesus once did. It is also about recognizing how the Spirit is still moving through people willing to carry blessing, healing, mercy, and hope into the world today.

I look forward to worshiping with you Sunday in the sanctuary or on YouTube as we bring this meaningful series to a close, and perhaps discover together that the story is still unfolding.

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 1/5/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?  – Luke 2:49


“I have an idea.” 

“Here’s a thought.” 

“I wonder.”

I like those sentences. I will drop whatever I am doing and pay full attention every time someone (especially a member of Sun City Christian Church) has an epiphany. This is who we are and what we are called to do: manifest Christ into the world through our ability to love.

The season of Epiphany is about recognizing that Christ has come to the world for all. God’s love is greater than any power or might that humanity could wield, and it is available to all who wish to receive it.

I really wrestled with scripture passage to utilize for Sunday. Do we focus our epiphany energy onto the Magi finding the Christ child and paying him homage? Do we follow the lectionary and celebrate Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist? Both of those scriptures regularly appear this time of year, but I was drawn to another passage, Luke 2:41-52.

As we continue in Luke’s gospel, immediately after Jesus is dedicated in the temple, we find him back in the Temple 12 years later. After having journeyed to celebrate the Passover with his family and community, Mary and Joseph fail to recognize that he is not with them on the return journey.

“Where else would I be?” Jesus responds to his parents. Engaging about deeper questions of faith in the Temple was the obvious answer and the ah-hah moment for us readers as to what the following stories of Jesus’ life would hold in store.

Together we will explore our ideas for how to love fully as those who believe in Jesus. We will begin to give shape to our calling and purpose for loving others with all our mind, body, and Spirit.

As we forge ahead into a new year, we will do so together in worship and in prayer! See you Sunday in the Chapel as we will continue to worship there until further notice.

Brett