Overland Park Christian Church
(913) 677-4646
  • Home
  • About OPCC
    • Guest Information
    • Vision & Core Values >
      • 2023 Missional Planning
    • Our Team
    • Our Story
  • Worship
    • Worship This Week
    • Virtual Worship
    • Sunday AM Worship
    • Worship Arts
    • Children in Worship
    • Children Worship & Wonder
    • Funerals >
      • Digital Funerals
    • Communion
  • Ministries
    • Stewardship Ministries >
      • Stewardship
      • Online Giving
      • Landscape Ministries
    • Children's Ministries >
      • Nursery
      • Children Worship & Wonder
      • Children in Worship
      • Vacation Bible School
    • Family Ministries >
      • Families, Youth & Children During COVID-19
    • Youth Ministries >
      • Youth Group
    • Young Adult Ministries
    • Adult Ministries >
      • Christian Ed for Adults
      • Empty Nesters
      • Men's Fellowship
      • Girlfriends Unlimited
    • Caring Ministries >
      • Pastoral Counseling
      • Congregational Care
      • Caregiver Support
      • Grief Support
      • 12-Step Support Groups
    • Music Ministries >
      • Choir Recordings
  • Outreach & Missions
    • Global Outreach >
      • Mission Trips
    • Local Outreach >
      • Local Assistance Info
      • OPCC Food Pantry
    • Building Use Ministries >
      • Wedding Information
      • Building Use Requests
  • Get Involved
    • Calendar
    • Opportunities to Serve >
      • Serve in the Church
      • Serve in the Community
      • Serve in the World
    • Joining our Faith Community
    • Affiliations
    • 2023 Missional Planning
  • News & Media
    • Newsletter
    • Virtual Worship
    • Worship Bulletins
    • Social Media & Blogs >
      • A Community of Voices (Blog)
  • Contact Us
    • Employment Opportunities

Looking for Jesus

5/30/2014

 
Picture
"We wander the streets, 
yearning to find you,
calling your name,
but it is only

a single mother who turns
and wearily smiles,

a street person
who whispers 'hello',

a little girl who pirouettes
and takes our hand.

Gone...

But you are still here, Lord,
Help us to see." 
- Howard Thurman

Luke 24:45-53
Then Jesus opened their minds to understand the scriptures.  He said to them, "This is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and a change of hear and life for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  Look, I'm sending to you what my Father promised, but you are to stay in the city until you have been furnished with heavenly power."

He led them out as far as Bethany, where he lift his hands and blessed them.  As he blessed them, he left them and was taken up to heaven.  They worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem overwhelmed with joy.  And they were continuously in the temple praising God.

Reflection:
When we think about the stories of Jesus, more often than not in the Disciples tradition, we aren't often focusing on the Ascension of Jesus.  While it is an important part of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the story of the ascension in the days following that first Easter morning are often confusing and full of question.

Some theologians say that the ascension points directly to the divinity of Jesus, that after living on this earth, he ascends to be with the Divine God who sent him in the first place.

Theologian Normal Pittenger actually suggests the opposite, saying that the ascension points to Jesus humanity.  Because like humanity, at some point Jesus must have an "end," and his life must be defined in some way.

What do you say?  Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead he continues to appear to his disciples and point to the Creator that continues to pour out love and grace through Jesus Christ.  But we do know that his earthly ministry DOES end, and Jesus ascends to be with God, promising the Advocate, the one that will continue to be present.  Does this speak more to Jesus divine nature? Or does it highlight his human-ness?  

Come join us on Sunday morning as we explore this paradox in the life of Jesus Christ.  We will also bless and commission our Costa Rica mission team as they will head off to Costa Rica during church next week.  All are welcome here at OPCC - no matter where you sit inside (or outside) this paradox of Jesus' life!


Comments are closed.
    Permission to use and stream music in our worship services obtained from ONE LICENSE #A-730652
    and CCLI #36152
    and CSPL #143030. 
    All rights reserved.
    ​

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2019
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

    Categories

    All
    Acts
    Advent
    All Saints
    Amy Luckenbill
    Ann Weems
    Bo Crowe
    Body Of Christ
    Bonhoeffer
    Children
    Compassion
    Crucifixion
    Discernment
    Early Church
    Eastertide
    Encounters With God
    Epiphany
    Faith
    Faith Community
    First Corinthians
    Forgiveness
    Fred Craddock
    Frederick Buechner
    Generosity
    Genesis
    God
    God As Present
    God In Our Image
    Gospel Of John
    Gospel Of Luke
    Gospel Of Mark
    Gospel Of Matthew
    Grace
    Holy Books
    Holy Friday
    Hope
    Humility
    Image Of God
    Isaiah
    Journey Of Faith
    Joy
    Justice
    Laura Phillips
    Lent
    Light
    Lisa-setty
    Living Faith
    Love
    Madeleine L'Engle
    Maya Angelou
    MLK Jr.
    Narrative Lectionary
    Peace
    Poetry
    Prayer
    Psalms
    Rainer Maria Rilke
    Reconciliation
    Reel Theology
    Reign Of Christ
    Resurrecting Easter
    Sacred In The Secular
    Spiritual Life
    Stewardship
    Struggle
    Thanksgiving
    The Lord's Prayer
    The Star Of Bethlehem
    Trinity
    Unity
    Vbs
    Vision
    Vision & Mission
    William Sloane Coffin
    Women In The Bible
    World Communion
    Zachariah

    RSS Feed

Picture
Picture
Donate to OPCC Online
Picture
Calendar
When viewing our calendar:

OPCC
= Overland Park Christian 
RAV = Rios de Agua Viva Iglesia
IHN - Interfaith Homeless Network

CMS = Case Management Services
AIM = Advocacy in Motion
​HBCS
 = Honeybee Community Services
Monarch = Monarch Montessori Preschool
Most other names of groups are 12-step support groups.

Church Office Hours: 
Monday - Thursday: 9:30am - 4:00pm
Friday: 9:30am - 3:00pm


©2013-2022 Overland Park Christian Church
​7600 West 75th Street
Overland Park, KS  66204
(913) 677-4646
office@opccdoc.org
Worship Schedule:
10:30am Sundays In-Person
and Online Live-Stream Worship
913-299-9002 Sunday Worship by Phone