With you always

It was one of the founders of St James's Church who left a bequest for a painting for the east wall of the church on the theme of the 'Ascension of Our Saviour.'

It has been there since 1844 and has inspired generations of Bermondsey people with its message about the ascension and reign of Christ.

Today is Ascension Day and it was good to gather for an informal service of Holy Communion, presided over, so to speak, by artist John Wood's depiction of the Ascension.

Later a text was added to the picture - from Matthew's account of the ascension - rendered in the King James Version: 'Lo, I am with you alway.'

The full text from Matthew 28 reads as follows: ^' Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.'

The message is clear: go and make disciples and I will be with you. 

That's a great message for the church to hear and see every time it gathers for worship in St James's, as it did tonight.