Christ sends the Holy Spirit who empowers and guides the followers of Jesus after he withdraws from them into heaven, at the Ascension.

After the Resurrection Jesus spent forty days with his disciples and then “ While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven” (Luke 24:51 NRSV).

How fortunate we are to be part of a vibrant, Christ centred, prayerful worshipping community.

Just imagine how our lives would look with the Spirit of Alleluia unleashed within us.

We also light the Paschal Candle signifying the light of Christ’s resurrection overcoming the darkness of the tomb, Christ defeating death.

Through Lent we focused on the spiritual disciplines of prayer, repentance, almsgiving and fasting.

Over the past 160 years the St Mark’s church has been a place of prayer, worship and community.

The fact that Christ is risen, that the tomb was empty, is central to our faith as disciples of Jesus.

We are confronted by how easy it is to go from the joyful singing of “Hosanna” to the baying for blood in shouting “Crucify”.

During this time the Church’s liturgy is somber and empresses a sorrowful mood as we focus more intently on the coming crucifixion of Christ.

This Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Lent the Gospel reading is that of the Prodigal Son, that great parable that gives us enormous hope and much to ponder.

In early medieval times it was called the “Annunciation of the Lord” or the “Conception of Christ,” indicating its focus as a festival of the Lord.

The church has at its core offered a daily cycle of prayer what is known as the daily office.

If in Christ we have been tempted, in him we overcome the devil. Do you think only of Christ's temptations and fail to think of his victory?

It is to Christ, the focus of our faith and worship, we direct our silence. Therefore an important part of our services is to be silent, as we open ourselves for Christs revelation.

“May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen” (NZPB p52).

Will we make the choice to live as those who love the way of God and therefore find the depth, refreshment from the true source of life? Or do we choose a life of being blown around in the breeze avoiding the true source of life that provides us with rootedness, security and life?

Isaiah has been called by God to bring the people to account for their actions. They had turned away from God and that was being shown in how they were treating their brothers and sisters. Isaiah recognises his own faults and he is forgiven by God.

Light is a powerful symbol that represents everything that is in opposition to the darkness that we experience as humans. Light is a symbol of the presence of Christ, the hope (trust) that we have in Jesus and the Good News, that which he both proclaims and embodies in human form.

Creation, law and heart are made perfect and united through God in which we are to be active participants.