Back in 2009, while serving my internship as a vicar at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Seaford, I quickly learned an important lesson about preaching: know your audience.

My supervisor, Rev. Ron Klose, assigned me to preach for the Feast of the Ascension. Since the congregation’s confirmation class of about 30 students normally met on Thursday evenings, that week’s class was replaced with worship for the holy day. The students filled much of the front of the sanctuary.

I had built a great rapport with the kids, so I felt comfortable opening with a playful flourish. I strutted down the center aisle, arms flailing, doing my best George Jefferson imitation. Then (yikes!), I sang:

Well, we’re movin’ on up…
To the east side…
To a deluxe apartment in the sky…

I was met with cold, blank stares.

Aside from a few faint chuckles from the adults in the back, it became instantly clear: I had completely missed the mark.

Later, to my astonishment, I discovered these kids had never heard of The Jeffersons. One of the highest-rated sitcoms of the 1970s—still in syndication when I was younger—and yet utterly unknown to them. I might as well have broken into Up, Up and Away by The 5th Dimension. Same result. Same confusion.

My sermon’s point, of course, was to connect with the disciples gazing skyward as Jesus ascended into heaven. In the lesson from Acts, two men in white robes ask, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?” (Acts 1:11).

In my mind, the Jeffersons theme was brilliant.

It was not.

Well… perhaps the idea had some merit. The singing, however? Highly questionable. (You’ve heard me try.)

The real problem was context. The illustration fit my memories, not theirs. Had I chosen Pixar’s Up—released that very year—I might have landed the message much more effectively. Better yet, I still could have enjoyed a nostalgic connection, since Ed Asner voiced the main character. For my fellow vintage readers, yes, that’s Lou Grant from The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Thankfully, those confirmation students survived my botched sermon, moved on to high school, and are now presumably successful adults—possibly saying the very same things about today’s younger generation that I once said about them.

So here we are again.

Today is Ascension Day, and once more I’ll attempt to explain this important Church festival to a modern audience.

Join us tonight, Thursday, May 14, at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary for our Thoughts on Theology presentation exploring the Ascension of Our Lord.

Then, this Sunday, May 17, at 9:30 AM, we celebrate Youth Sunday. (Please see the attached worship bulletin.)

Let’s see if I connect with the kids a little better this time.

No singing promises.

Blessings,

Pastor Marc