Celebrating Ascension Day (again) with Tintoretto, Austin's Blue Lapis Light and a Shaker hymn

Sharing again a post from last year's Ascension Day.  I find such hope in this celebration.  See two other years:  and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father (2012) & making space to wait (2011)

------------------

Meditating this week on the beautiful feet of our risen, ascended, reigning Christ.

The Christ who sits at the right hand of the Father, 

the whole earth a footstool for his (resurrected) human feet.

The Ascension, detail
Tintoretto, 1579-81

Read:  Acts 1:1-11  

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

Dance: Austin's Blue Lapis Light, Heaven ~ Earth ~ One , Septembe 2012 at the Long Center.  (This video shows rehearsal, go here to see video of the actual performance.)

Sing a hymn: Lord of the Dance written by English songwriter Sydney Carter , to the Shaker tune "Simple Gifts" (listen to the Choristers of Wells Cathedral Choir)

I danced in the morning when the world was begun,

And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,

And I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth;

At Bethlehem I had my birth.

(Refrain)

Dance then wherever you may be;

I am the Lord of the dance, said he,

And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,

And I'll lead you all in the dance, said he.

I danced for the scribe and the pharisee,

But they wouldn't dance, and they wouldn't follow me;

I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;

They came with me and the dance went on.

(Refrain)

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame;

The holy people said it was a shame.

they whipped and they stripped and they hung me high,

And left me there on a cross to die.

(Refrain)

I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black;

It's hard to dance with the devil on your back.

They buried my body and they thought I'd gone;

But I am the dance and I still go on.

(Refrain)

They cut me down and I leap up high;

I am the life that'll never, never die;

I'll live in you if you'll live in me:

I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.

(Refrain)

Dance, then wherever you may be;

I am the Lord of the dance, said he,

And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,

And I'll lead you all in the dance, said he.

(found via The Rising: Living the Mysteries of Lent, Easter, and Pentecost by Wendy M. Wright)