Ascension liturgy
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Liturgy for Ascension service Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you All 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. Collect for Thy Kingdom Come Almighty God, your ascended Son has sent us into the world to preach the good news of your kingdom: inspire us with your Spirit and fill our hearts with the fire of your love, that all who hear your Word may be drawn to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.“ ’ Alleluia. Christ is risen. All He is risen indeed. Alleluia. All All nations shall come and worship You, O Christ, and share in the feast of Your kingdom.
1 Great and wonderful are Your deeds, Lord God the Almighty. 2 Just and true are Your ways, O ruler of the nations. 3 Who shall not revere and praise Your name, O Lord? for You alone are holy. 4 All nations shall come and worship in Your presence: for Your just dealings have been revealed. Revelation 15.3,4 All To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might, for ever and ever. Amen. All All nations shall come and worship You, O Christ, and share in the feast of Your kingdom.
The Great Commission A reading from Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” This is the word of the Lord All Thanks be to God.
We renew our commitment to our reigning Lord 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? All 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? All 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. All This is our faith. We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Intercessions
Lord, bless Your world All And fill us with Your Spirit Merciful Father, All accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen The Lord is here All His Spirit is with us. Lift up your hearts. All We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All It is right to give thanks and praise. It is indeed right and good, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give You thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ the King of glory. Born of a woman, He came to the rescue of our human race. Dying for us, He trampled death and conquered sin. By the glory of His resurrection He opened the way to life eternal and by His ascension, gave us the sure hope that where He is we may also be. Therefore the universe resounds with Easter joy and with choirs of angels we sing for ever to your praise: The Lord’s Prayer Being made one by the power of the Spirit, let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
All Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours now and for ever. Amen.
As we wait in silence, All make us ready for Your coming Spirit. As we listen to Your word, All make us ready for Your coming Spirit. As we worship You in majesty, All make us ready for Your coming Spirit. As we long for Your refreshing, All make us ready for Your coming Spirit. As we long for Your renewing, All make us ready for Your coming Spirit. As we long for Your equipping, All make us ready for Your coming Spirit. As we long for Your empowering, All make us ready for Your coming 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. All Amen. God the Son, who is our great high priest passed into the heavens, plead for you at the right hand of the Father. All Amen. God the Holy Spirit, who pours out His abundant gifts upon the Church, make you faithful servants of Christ our King. All Amen. And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. All Amen.
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