Ascension Day 2013

Ascension Day seems to be fading from view - which is a significant theological loss. Always celebrated on the 40th day of Easter and always on a Thursday. Here is a little inspiration...

From a longer poem- Meditation 20-  by Edward Taylor- 1664-1729

 

God is Gone up with a triumphant shout:

The Lord with sounding Trumpets melodies:

Sing Praise, sing Praise, sing Praise, sing Praises out,

Unto our King sing praise seraphick-wise!

Lift up your Heads, ye lasting Doore, they sing,

And let the King of Glory Enter in.

Art thou ascended up on high, my Lord,

And must I be without thee here below?

Art thou the sweetest joy the Heavens afford?

Oh! that I with thee was! What shall I do?

Should I pluck Feathers from an Angells Wing,

They could not waft me up to thee my King.

 

Lend mee thy Wings, my Lord, I’st fly apace,

My Soules Arms stud with thy strong Quills, true Faith;

My Quills then Feather with thy Saving Grace,

My Wings will take the Winde thy Word displai’th.

Then I shall fly up to thy glorious Throne

With my strong Wings whose Feathers are thine own.

 

 Here, too, are two images...the first from Giotto and the second from Dali...what do you make of them? 

 

And lastly, a performance from the choir of Wells Cathedral of Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise with text by Amos Bull and music by Charles Wesley.