Ministry Matters - The Ascension Is Easy to Miss. Don't.

Yesterday was Ascension Thursday. Most people didn't notice. It always falls on a Thursday, and Thursdays are not exactly prime church-going days. But this weekend, something worth your attention is waiting. Jim Harnish has published the final article in his Great Days for Great Living series, and he saved one of the best for last. In Week 7, Jim asks what it means to experience Christianity not as a form, but as a force. Drawing on Harry Emerson Fosdick's wartime sermons, Karl Barth's theology, and a story from a recent march for immigrant justice in Washington, D.C., he makes the case that the Ascension is not the end of the story. It is the launch pad. This Sunday, many congregations will observe Ascension Sunday. Jim's reflection is the perfect preparation. READ THE ASCENSION ARTICLE HERE This week also marks the end of a seven-week journey through the Great Fifty Days of Eastertide. From Mary weeping at the empty tomb, to Thomas's honest doubt, to the disciples on the Emmaus road, to this week's Ascension, Jim Harnish has woven together lectionary texts, Fosdick's WWII-era wisdom, and the very real challenges of ministry in 2026. If you missed any articles in the series, you can find all seven at the link below. READ THE SERIES HERE Thank you for reading. Thank you for the work you do. It is, indeed, a great time to be alive. The MinistryMatters Team