That We All May Be One
The Seventh Sunday of Easter | May 17, 2026
Opening Thought
There is a powerful sense of transition and expectant waiting in this week's readings. In our Gospel, Jesus is preparing to leave the world, looking up to heaven and praying for his disciples. He asks the Holy Father to protect them so that "they may be one, as we are one". Meanwhile, in Acts, we witness the Ascension; as the disciples watch, Jesus is lifted up and a cloud takes him out of their sight. Suddenly, two men in white robes ask them why they are looking toward heaven, reminding them that Jesus will return.
We find ourselves in a liminal space this Sunday—the Sunday after the Ascension and the Sunday before Pentecost. We are waiting for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon us. Yet, we are not waiting idly. Just as Jesus prayed for our profound unity, we are actively growing our family of faith. This Sunday, we have the great joy of presenting and examining candidates for Holy Baptism, welcoming new life into this unified body of believers.
Engaging the Word
Our readings today center on the Ascension, the promise of the Holy Spirit, and finding strength in God during times of trial.
Acts (1:6-14): The apostles ask Jesus if it is time to restore the kingdom. Jesus replies that it is not for them to know the times, but promises they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. He is then lifted up into heaven right before their eyes.
Psalm 68 (1-10, 33-36): A joyous and triumphant psalm proclaiming, "Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered". It praises God as the "Father of orphans, defender of widows" who rides in the ancient heavens and sends forth his mighty voice. We see this divine defense of the vulnerable reflected in the history of our own parish. Julia Jones answered this call when she created a benevolent home beside Christ Church for the widows and orphans of the Confederate War. Her foundation remains the backbone and chief financial cornerstone of our current Outreach programs. Her great work, alongside our flagship outreach ministry Weekend Lunch and other community organizations, is the epitome of the psalmist's declaration that "in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor". Julia Jones knew this, and her lasting legacy at Christ Church is one of the greatest assets our community has.
1 Peter (4:12-14; 5:6-11): This Epistle from Peter is truly amazing. He encourages believers not to be surprised by the "fiery ordeal" taking place to test them. Can you imagine the "fiery trials" that awaited the early disciples and followers of Christ? Talk about anxiety! Yet, amidst that fear, there is a still, calm voice that says, "fear not, for I am with you." Peter instructs us to cast all our anxiety on God, who cares for us and will not leave us comfortless. This passage gives us strength today, reminding us that we are not in this alone. We are all one in Christ, which means as children of God, we are on this journey together—through the good and the bad—trusting that in the end, Christ will raise us up to eternal glory where we will be reunited in heaven.
John (17:1-11): Jesus prays a beautiful, intercessory prayer to the Father. He asks that those who have been given to him may be protected and unified, praying, "so that they may be one, as we are one". Ultimately, this passage is a profound plea for humanity. Jesus is saying to his Father: I have done what you asked me to do. I have gone out into the world and proclaimed your name. Now, Father, take care of them. Jesus knows the work of the Kingdom is only just beginning, but he has absolute faith in us to carry on the good news—to share the love, to spread the Word, and to love one another as he loved us. He knows this will not be easy for us, which is exactly why he asks the Heavenly Father to be gracious, kind, and fiercely protective of his children.
A Journey in Song: Our Musical Guides
Our music today echoes the triumphant imagery of the Ascension, the petition for God's guidance, and the joyous welcome of new life in Christ.
Opening Voluntary: We begin our worship with Jeremiah Clarke's majestic Prince of Denmark's March. This well-known piece is a great example of kingly power, reminding us that the Kingdom on Earth is about to begin, heralding in this kingdom with the joyous, triumphant sounds of trumpets and pipe.
Entrance Hymn: We celebrate Christ's ascent into heaven by singing our opening hymn, Hail the day that sees him rise. Charles Wesley's classic text paints the very scene from Acts as Jesus is lifted into the clouds, setting our hearts looking upward as we process in and uniting our voices in the awe the disciples must have felt.
Sequence Hymn: We continue our joyous proclamation of the Ascension as we sing See the Conqueror mounts in triumph. Following the triumphant imagery of Psalm 68, this hymn beautifully bridges the lessons and the Gospel. We sing of Christ entering His glory, not to abandon us, but preparing to send the Spirit to bind us as one.
Baptismal Hymn: As we prepare to welcome our newest members into the household of God, we sing the fitting text, I want to walk as a child of the light. It is a perfect encapsulation of our baptismal vows; as Reaves and Stuart are presented, we are reminded of our own call to walk in the light of Christ and reflect that light to the world.
Baptismal Solo: Following the baptism, our hearts will be warmed by a special solo offering of Jesus loves me, this I know, sung beautifully by Anita Thomas. When we face the "fiery ordeals" Peter writes about in his Epistle, it is this simple, profound, foundational truth of God's tender and protective love that sustains us.
Offertory Anthem: The choir will offer L.J. White's A Prayer of St. Richard of Chichester. As the altar is prepared, the choir's offering mirrors Jesus's prayer in the Gospel. The text is a beautiful, intimate petition for deeper relationship and unity with our Lord: "may I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly, day by day".
Communion Hymn: As we partake in the Body of Christ together, we sing My God, thy table now is spread. This hymn emphasizes the profound unity Jesus prayed for in John 17; it is here, at this table, that we are truly made one body, sharing in the spiritual food that strengthens us for the journey.
Closing Hymn: We process out into the world to the triumphant and unifying strains of Jesus shall reign where'er the sun. Isaac Watts's text sends us out with a mission, reminding us that while Jesus has ascended, His kingdom is actively expanding through us as we carry the Good News into our communities.
Closing Voluntary: We conclude our grand morning of worship with a celebratory Intrada by Grayston Ives. This postlude acts as a final burst of joyous energy, propelling us out of the doors to do the mighty work God has given us to do.
A Closing Note on our Journey
As we stand with the disciples, gazing up at the clouds after the Ascension, it is easy to feel a sense of loss or anxiety about the work ahead. We might wonder how we will face the "fiery ordeals" of this world. But Jesus’s prayer in the Gospel echoes in our hearts: we are protected, and we are made one. Our call is not to stand looking at the sky, but to return to our communities and do the mighty work God has given us to do. Whether that means caring for the vulnerable like Julia Jones did, sharing the Good News with our neighbors, or simply walking as children of the light, we leave our worship fortified by this profound unity and the promise of the Spirit.
As I write this blog, I find myself thinking that I perhaps should have chosen the great British anthem by Hubert Parry, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, for this Sunday. The imagery of the earthquake, wind, and fire, and that "still small voice of calm" are echoing in my mind. My point is this: even in these tumultuous times, God himself is there. Even in the heartbreak and loneliness, God himself is there. Even in the anxiety and pressure of daily life and immense depression, God himself is there.
God is also there in our joys, and I could not imagine a more fitting day to celebrate those joys than by welcoming two new lives into the household of God. Today, we celebrate the baptism of Reaves Curfman Harrell and Stuart Evelyn Turk. As we say as one community and body of Christ, "I will, with God's help", we renew our own Baptismal Covenant and recommit to being the unified body Jesus prayed for.
Strengthened by this promise and bound together in His enduring love, let us go forth into the world with bold and joyful hearts, fully empowered to be the hands and feet of Christ to all we meet.
A Prayer for the Week Ahead
Let us pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the unity of the Church.
For our newly baptized, Reaves and Stuart, that they may grow in the Holy Spirit and know the unending love of God.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For all those undergoing a "fiery ordeal" or suffering in the world, that they may cast their anxiety upon God and know that He will restore, support, and strengthen them.Collect for the Seventh Sunday of Easter: O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.
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