On Thursday evening, we held our second-ever Ascension Day service at school. Thank you to Mr van Haght for his inspirational message, Go.com (High School Christian Union Group), and the Worship Band which featured High School teachers Mr Nuves on the keyboard, Mrs Ingram on vocals, and High School parent Mr du Plessis on guitar. Thank you also to parent and High School teacher Mr Chinhamo, and parent Mrs du Plessis for the opening/closing prayers. Thank you to all who attended, and thank you to Mrs Ingram for organising the event and to the Parent Prayer Group for always holding the school in its thoughts.
Mr van Haght opened his message with “We are living in a world that has evolved where it has become easy to forget to practice faith, forget the significance of Ascension.” He thanked Cannons for giving him the opportunity to immerse himself further with God to deliver the sermon, and thanked those in attendance for making the sacrifice to witness Jesus Christ in amongst the Cannons community, especially since it was cold and High School exams started the following day.
He pointed out that salvation is a team sport, much like the Springboks’ slogan of ‘Stronger together’. Although the history of Ascension Day might be a bit blurry, it is a time for increased focus on faith, and what He was done for us.
Acts 1: 6-11 reads “Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Mr van Haght pointed out his three learnings from this passage – Confirmation, Hope, and Responsibility. He gave a tip to ‘pray and stay’ where we should pray every day, and stay in the community of Christians. He left us with a calming resolution in the form of ‘Grace’, where we all just need to focus on living our best lives.
