Spiritual life: May 9 is Day of Ascension

LA GRANDE, ENTERPRISE — Faith Lutheran Church congregants recognize the Day of Ascension, which is on Thursday, May 9, this year. According to the Bible, Jesus was in his resurrected body for 40 days — and on 40 days after Easter, believers remember Jesus being raised up as the faithful are raised up.

Faith Lutheran will hold two services this Sunday, May 12: 10 a.m. in La Grande and 2 p.m. in Enterprise. The sermon will be based on words from Jesus' prayer in John 17: "Holy Father, keep them in Your name..." (verse 11b), "that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves" (verse 13b). These and other blessings come to us as Jesus prays, "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth" (verse 17). The faithful are intent on having God's word of truth in their lives.