A translation of an old Dutch favorite.

City Bright with Pearly Gateways by George vP

A Wedding Song -- Psalm 45

 

psalm 45 six stanzas SATB by George vP

O Faithful Father, Hear our Plea.

Another prayer for preachers and congregations. This one was written in 1986 by Lenze L. Bouwers and was translated from Dutch. It is published here with permission. Prayer for the Preaching of the Word b by George vP

A prayer for preachers and congregations.

A Prayer for the Preaching of the Word by George vP This song is based on the prayer of Jan Utenhove, 1557. It is translated from the Dutch "Bedezanng voor de Predikatie, 1773 Oude Berijming."

Ascension Day

(As published in Clarion)

THE ASCENDED LORD GATHERS HIS CHURCH

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the apostles returned to Jerusalem. They gathered in the upper room along with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. (Acts 1:12-14)

The ascended Lord was gathering his church.

Just six weeks earlier, things had looked bleak. The crowds had abandoned him. Even his closest disciples had fled. Mark records those bitter words when the soldiers seized Jesus: “And they all forsook him and fled.” The Shepherd was left with no sheep. He died alone—a leader without followers.

After his resurrection, he sought out his scattered flock. Two had left for Emmaus. Mary was weeping in the garden. Judas had taken his own life. Ten disciples cowered behind locked doors. Thomas had disappeared, convinced all hope was lost.

But Christ gathered them again. He sent the two back from Emmaus to Jerusalem to report that they had seen him. He sent Mary to tell the disciples that he had arisen. He appeared to the Eleven. Now, in Acts 1, we see the fruit of his labour. His church is together again, gathered in the upper room, united in prayer.

Luke names them. Peter, who had denied his Lord three times, was there. John and James, the sons of Zebedee, who once vied for the best seats in the kingdom, were there. Thomas, who had doubted that Christ had arisen, was now worshipping his Lord and his God. Matthew, the tax collector, had not returned to his old ways of exploiting his people. Simon the Zealot, once part of a violent revolutionary movement, had come to see that Jesus would establish his kingdom not by the sword, but by the power of God. The other five disciples, of whom we know little, were also there.

Then there were “the women”—the wives of the apostles who were married, as well as Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and others who had supported Jesus from their own means. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was also there. She, too, had been gathered in—now worshipping her son as her Lord and God.

Even his own brothers, who had once thought him mad, were there—James, Judas, and Simon. They now believed, and all three would become leaders in the church.

And there were more. Verse 15 tells us that soon the number grew to about 120—men, women, and children.

The ascended Lord had gathered his church.

And he is still gathering today. Across the nations, he continues to build, defend, and preserve his people—his church, chosen for everlasting life. And we believe that we are, and forever shall remain, living members of that church.

 

For personal reflection  

1. How does Jesus’ gathering of his scattered disciples after his resurrection encourage you in your own faith journey?
2. Many of those gathered in the upper room had past failures, doubts, or misconceptions about Jesus. How does this challenge the way we view ourselves and others in the church today?
3. The early church was united in prayer as they waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit. How can we foster that same spirit of prayer and unity in our own churches and communities?