The Ascension of the Lord – May 21, 2020
Please join in all the words in bold.
God has gone up with a shout!
The Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Psalm 47:5
Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you
And also with you.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, for forty days we have been celebrating with joyful hearts the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, his bursting from the tomb and his defeat of the power of sin and death. He appeared to his disciples many times and told them about the kingdom of God.
Today we recall how he left this earth and returned to his Father, ascending into heaven to take his throne over all dominions and powers. Trusting in his reign over all creation, and submitting to his kingly yet loving rule, let us hear the story of his parting.
The Ascension Reading
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 1.1-11
“In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. ’So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel? ’He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. ’When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.“ ’
At the end the reader says:
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Seeing we have a great high priest who has passed through the heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us offer him the praise worthy of his name.
GLORY be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Let us pray that our risen and ascended Lord will lead us to eternal life.
Silence is kept.
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens, so we in heart and mind may also ascend and with him continually dwell;who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Epistle: Ephesians 1:15-23
15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22 And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Psalm 47
Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy.
For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves.
God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.
God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted.
Gradual Song: “ A Dinka Alleluia”
The Holy Gospel
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke the Evangelist.
Glory to you, O Lord. (Luke 24:44-53)
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon – Revd. Canon Claude Schroeder
Confession of Faith
Let us affirm the faith of the Church which Christ commissions us to share with the world
Do you believe and trust in God the Father source of all being and life, the One for whom we exist?
I believe and trust in Him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Son who took our human nature, died for us and rose again?
I believe and trust in Him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit who gives life to the people of God and makes Christ known in the world?
All I believe and trust in Him.
This is the faith of the Church.
This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Intercessions
Let us join our prayers with those of our Saviour Christ, seeking the Father’s blessing and the gifts of the Spirit. Jesus Christ, great high priest, living for ever to intercede for us, pray for the Church, your broken body in the world …
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus Christ, king of righteousness, enthroned at the right hand of the majesty on high, pray for the world, and make it subject to your gentle rule …
Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus Christ, Son of Man, drawing humanity into the life of God, pray for your brothers and sisters in need, distress or sorrow …
Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus Christ, pioneer of our salvation, bringing us to glory through your death and resurrection, surround with your saints and angels those who have died trusting your promises …
Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus Christ, Lord over all things, ascended far above the heavens and filling the universe, pray for us who receive the gifts you give us for work in your service …
Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus Christ, keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at your feet; for you are alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit ,one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Being made one by the power of the Spirit, let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
Our Father…
Responsory
As we wait in silence,
Make us ready for Your Holy Spirit.
As we listen to Your word,
Make us ready for Your Holy Spirit.
As we worship You in majesty,
Make us ready for Your Holy Spirit.
As we long for Your refreshing,
Make us ready for Your Holy Spirit.
As we long for Your renewing,
Make us ready for Your Holy Spirit.
As we long for Your equipping,
Make us ready for Your Holy Spirit.
As we long for Your empowering,
Make us ready for Your Holy Spirit.
The Blessing
God the Father, who has given to His Son the name above every name, strengthen you to proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord. Amen!
God the Son,who is our great high priest passed into the heavens, plead for you at the right hand of the Father. Amen!
God the Holy Spirit,who pours out His abundant gifts upon the Church, make you faithful servants of Christ our King.Amen! And the blessing of God almighty,the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen!