Queerying Ascension C

Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Acts reading.

Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning ²until the day when They were taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the Sent Ones whom They had chosen. ³After Jesus' suffering They presented Themself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to the Sent Ones during forty days and speaking about the reign of God. ⁴While staying with them, Jesus ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Caregiver.

“This,” Jesus said, “is what you have heard from me; ⁵for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

⁶So when they had come together, they asked Jesus, “Lover, is this the time when you will restore the empire to Israel?”

⁷Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Caregiver has set by Xyr own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ⁹When Jesus had said this, as they were watching, They were lifted up, and a cloud took Them out of the Sent Ones' sight.

¹⁰While Jesus was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two beings in white robes stood by them. ¹¹They said, “People of Galilee, why do you stay looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Them go into heaven.”

Queeries for the text:
What first book?
What sort of proofs did Jesus present?
What is the promise of the Caregiver?
What happens when the oppressed become the empire?
How are we witnesses?
How did Jesus ascend?
Why do we stay looking?

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J. Pace Warfield-May queeries the Psalm.

Psalm 93
The Becoming One is Qween, Xe is wearing a majestic caftan;

the Becoming One is in drag; Xe is wearing a corset of strength.

Xe has established the world so that it cannot be moved.

Your stage is established from before the dawn of time;

you are from ancient times and beyond.

The floods have risen, O Becoming One,

the waters and floods have raised their voice;

the waters and floods raise a roar of waves.

More majestic and glittering than the thunders of these mighty waves,

more majestic and glittering than the waves of the sea,

the Becoming One is majestic and glittering on high!

Your witness is beyond reproach;

holiness overflows your house,

O Becoming One, from ancient times and beyond.

Queeries for the text:
How do you imagine the Becoming One as a drag queen?
What is a corset of strength?
What does the roar of waves sound like?
What does it mean to bear witness?


What are your queeries?



 

Queerying Ascension B

Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Acts reading.

 

First Reading: Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning ²until the day when They were taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom They had chosen. ³After Their suffering Jesus presented Themself alive to the apostles by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the reign of God. ⁴While staying with them, Jesus ordered the apostles not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Caretaker. “This,” They said, “is what you have heard from me; ⁵for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

⁶So when the apostles had come together, they asked Jesus, “Leader, is this the time when you will restore the dominion to Israel?” ⁷They replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Caretaker has set by divine authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ⁹When Jesus had said this, as the apostles were watching, They were lifted up, and a cloud took Them out of their sight. ¹⁰While Jesus was going and the apostles were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two beings in white robes stood by them. ¹¹They said, “People of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Them go into heaven.”

Queeries for the text:
What would the book of God’s work in the world look like if you wrote it?
Who’s writing books about God’s work in the world today?
What many convincing proofs would you need? What would you provide?
Why would the disciples need to stay in Jerusalem?
What are the times or periods of God?
What is it like when the Holy Spirit comes upon you?
What do witnesses do?
When else has the divine appeared at the feet of those who gaze upward?

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Guest queerier, Pace Warfield-May, queeries the Gospel reading. 

Gospel: Luke 24:44-53
⁴⁴Then Jesus said to Their chosen family, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled."

⁴⁵Then Jesus opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶and They said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Anointed One is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in Their name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹And see, I am sending upon you what my Caretaker promised; so stay here in the city until you have been bedazzled in the power from on high.” ⁵⁰Then Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up Their hands, They blessed them. ⁵¹While Jesus was blessing the chosen family, They withdrew from them and was carried up into heavens. ⁵²And they worshiped Jesus, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; ⁵³and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Queeries for the text:
Where have we heard this text before?
Who else entered heaven without dying?
What is significant about Bethany?
Where is heaven?
What happens to a body when it ascends through the stratosphere?

What are your queeries?

queerying ascending pentecost music

Ascension and Pentecost are almost upon us and I've cultivated another playlist! 

As with past playlists, the music comes from a variety of styles, queerying the boundaries that we have set up between what is deemed "religious," "secular," and even "profane."  This is definitely a labor of love for me as I am not very musically oriented and I am very grateful to friends and colleagues who have suggested songs for this list.

Ascension and Pentecost are unique days in the church year.  On Ascension we remember after Jesus' resurrection when they promised the coming of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost) to the apostles and then ascended into heaven, as told in Acts 1:1-11.  You'll probably notice this most clearly in the titles of the songs.  On Pentecost, we celebrate the birthday of the church, when the Holy Spirit blew into the locked and fearful room of the disciples like wind and fire and blessed them with the gift to preach the Good News in many languages (inspiring others to think they were drunk), as told in Acts 2:1-21.  Many of my favorite themes for Pentecost are made clear in the titles of the songs, though not exclusively there! 

While this playlist is quite intentional, it is also always a work in progress.  So, similar to Holy Week, but unlike Lent, it would probably be better if not set to shuffle, so that you can move with the playlist from Ascension into Pentecost.  If you want to listen to the songs associated with each day separately, check out this Ascension playlist and this Pentecost playlist, which you are welcome to put on shuffle or leave in order!  Because it is an ongoing work in progress, I am always open to more suggestions, so let me know if you have any songs that I should add to the list or questions about what is on the list or why!

In case you missed the other links, check out the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/user/22zoaq4yqbmnlyw5dfzp4mfty/playlist/1n7a7MsnTqmrdAaFfGfjMX

ascension day year b - acts

Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, Theophilus, 
     I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught 
          from the beginning 
               ²until the day when They were taken up to heaven, 
                    after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit 
                         to the apostles whom Jesus had chosen. 
     ³After Jesus' suffering  
          They presented Themself alive to the apostles 
               by many convincing proofs, 
                    appearing to them during forty days 
                    and speaking about the reign of God. 
          ⁴While staying with them, 
               Jesus ordered the apostles not to leave Jerusalem, 
                    but to wait there for the promise of Abba. 
               “This,” Jesus said, “is what you have heard from me;
                    ⁵for John baptized with water, 
                         but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit 
                              not many days from now.” 

⁶So when they had come together, they asked Jesus, 
     “Teacher, is this the time when you will restore the reign to Israel?”
⁷Jesus replied, 
     “It is not for you to know the times or periods 
          that Abba has set by Their own authority.
     ⁸But you will receive power 
          when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; 
     and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, 
          in all Judea and Samaria, 
               and to the ends of the earth.” 
⁹When Jesus had said this, 
     as they were watching, 
          Jesus was lifted up, 
          and a cloud took Them out of their sight. 
     ¹⁰While Jesus was going 
          and they were gazing up toward heaven, 
               suddenly two people in white robes stood by them.
     ¹¹They said, 
          “You Galileans, 
               why do you stand looking up toward heaven? 
          This Jesus, 
               who has been taken up from you into heaven, 
                    will come in the same way as you saw Them go into heaven.”

Queeries for the text:
What's the first book?
Who is Theophilus?
Why do we always need so much proof?
Why are they talking about timing when Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit?
Why are we so concerned about knowing all the details and exact timing?
What's it like when the Holy Spirit comes upon you?
Why does Jesus specify Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria?
Did the two people apparate?  
Why do we look to heaven for Jesus when Christ is present all around us?
Does "the same way" mean pressing rewind, head first, or something else?   

What are your queeries?