ASCENSION DAY

		Peter Rogers (1933- ) Acts 1: 6–11 In the centre of the picture Jesus ascends in a whitish-gold cloud, his body already off the ground, arms raised upwards and his head thrust back, almost horizontally, in profile, in a style reminiscent of William Blake. On the left, the two men clad in white are standing in the embrace of a deep-red flame that descends from the heavens and curves beneath them, while on the right a group of disciples, undifferentiated except perhaps for Mary in a brown robe, gaze upwards as Jesus is lost to view within the cloud and ascends to heaven. This all takes place against a black and inky background with a faint glow on the horizon. The Festival Of Ascension May 26, 2022 A Liturgy For Worship And Meditation
		SONG OF ASCENSION Alleluia! Sing To Jesus (Click Here For Music) Hymn written by William Chatterton Dix and Rowland Hugh Prichard. Performed by Sara Anthony, Randy Bachand, Wes Lockfaw, and Lori Royer. Christ Church, Easton, MD. 1. Alleluia! sing to Jesus, His the scepter, His the throne; Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone. Hark, the songs of His redeemed ones Thunder like a mighty flood: Jesus out of every nation Hath redeemed us by His blood. 2. Alleluia! not as orphans Are we left in sorrow now; Alleluia! He is near us, Faith believes, nor questions how. Though the clouds from sight received Him When the forty days were o’er, Shall our hearts forget His promise, “I am with you evermore“? 3. Alleluia! Bread of heaven, Thou on earth our food, our stay; Alleluia! here the hungry Come to Thee from day to day. Advocate and Intercessor, My Redeemer pleads for me, On the throne of the Almighty Now and to eternity. 4. Alleluia! sing to Jesus, His the scepter, His the throne; Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone. Hark, the songs of His redeemed ones Thunder like a mighty flood: Jesus out of every nation, Hath redeemed us by His blood. OPENING PRAYER Risen and ascended Christ, you surround us with witnesses and send us the Counselor, the Spirit of Truth, who opens our minds to understand your teaching. Bless us with such grace that our lives may become a blessing for the world now, and in the age to come. Amen. READING—Acts 1:4-11 4. On one occasion, Jesus told them not to leave Jerusalem. “Wait, rather, for what God has promised, of which you have heard me speak,” Jesus said. 5. “John baptized with water, but within a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6. While meeting together they asked, “Has the time come, Rabbi? Are you going to restore sovereignty to Israel?” 7. Jesus replied, “It’s not for you to know times or dates that Abba God has decided. 8. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; then you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” 9. Having said this, Jesus was lifted up in a cloud before their eyes and taken from their sight. 10. They were still gazing up into the heavens when two messengers dressed in white stood beside them. 11. “You Galileans—why are you standing here looking up at the skies?” they asked. “Jesus, who has been taken from you—this same Jesus will return, in the same way you watched him go into heaven.” —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. RESPONSE Jesus lingered awhile. It was hard to leave them. But the Beloved of God had to go so God could give them the gift of the Spirit. Christ, in your Spirit, let us be witnesses. Let us take your life gift of love and forgiveness to the ends of the earth. CANTICLE FOR ASCENSION—Revelation 15.4 "Mighty and wonderful are your works, O God Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O Ruler of the nations! Who would dare refuse your honor, or the glory due your Name, O God? Since you alone are holy, all nations will come and worship in your presence. Your mighty deeds are clearly seen.” —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. READING—Luke 24:44-53 44. Then Jesus said to them, “Remember the words I spoke when I was still with you: everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the psalms had to be fulfilled.” 45. Then Jesus opened their minds to the understanding of the scriptures, 46. saying, “That is why the scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. 47. In the Messiah’s name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48. You are witnesses of all this. 49. “Take note: I am sending forth what Abba God has promised to you. Remain here in the city until you are clothed with the power from on high.” 50. Then Jesus took them to the outskirts of Bethany, and with upraised hands blessed the disciples. 51. While blessing them, the savior left them and was carried up to heaven. 52. The disciples worshiped the risen Christ and returned to Jerusalem full of joy. 53. They were found in the Temple constantly, speaking the praises of God. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. RESPONSE Jesus, here are the rich and poor, world-wide. You take all of us who believe straight to the heart of infinite love, to the creator of all things. To the prime mover and our very reason and purpose of life. Godf sent you because God is love. Give us an understanding of the infinite love that dwells in us all. We are God's gifts to you. Then let us be gifts to one another. PRAYER Precious Love, your ascended One promised the gift of holy power. Send your Spirit of revelation and wisdom, that in the blessed freedom of hope, we may witness to the grace of forgiveness and sing songs of joy with the peoples of earth to the One who makes us one body. Amen. INTERCESSION We offer our prayers on behalf of our neighbors whose needs are known to us. We pray both for the sisters and brother we know and for those who are strangers. Almighty and Ever-Loving God, help us to understand the meaning of the Ascension and to accept it, in all its wonder, along with the glorious fact of your life-on earth. May our vision of it become fuller and sharper every day; so that we may share the blessings of your first disciples. God, in your mercy: hear our prayer. Eternal God, help us to accept your going from the world, and to understand it not as deprivation but as the pathway to power unlimited by time and space. Focus our eyes to look for your coming, not in flesh that we see and touch, but by your dwelling in our places of worship and by your spirit in our minds, hearts and souls. God, in your mercy: hear our prayer. Creating God by the gift of that same spirit, help us to live a life on earth which will give to all people everywhere a full, clear vision of your grace and truth, your beauty and your reality, here and now, until you come at the end of the ages with your Realm fulfilled. God, in your mercy: hear our prayer. Redeeming God, we thank you that you ascended as the Sovereign of heaven and earth and that you are in control of all things. Help us to trust you when life is difficult and obey you at all times. We pray for the sick and troubled, for the fearful and alone, for those in pain at home, at work, in the streets, and in the pews. We pray that all who suffer, may feel the Spirits healing presence. God, in your mercy: hear our prayer. Sustaining God, we pray for those kept fresh in our memory and for those long forgotten, For all who ever took the breath of life at home, at work, in the streets, and in this place. We pray for mercy and forgiveness for all people, and that those who have gone before us and those who mourn them, may they be at rest in the Spirit’s embrace as we commend them to your keeping for ever. God, in your mercy: hear our prayer. God of heaven and earth, Companion in Life, Spirit of Truth, to you alone we turn our eyes and lift our hearts to your ascended glory. Help us as we go out into the world to keep your commandments and to love one another as you love us. God, in your mercy: hear our prayer. Open our minds to understand the scriptures, O God, so that when the challenges of each day undermine our hope, we may discover the freedom of your forgiveness; when suffering and death overtake our lives, we may know the joy of your Kin-Dom; and when we feel abandoned, we may comprehend the power of the promised Spirit. Amen. SONG OF ASCENSION A Hymn Of Glory Let Us Sing! (Click Here For Music) St. Bede (AKA) the Venerable Bede Born c. 672-673 Died Ascension Day, May 26, 735 1. A hymn of glory let us sing! New songs throughout the world shall ring: Alleluia, alleluia! Christ, by a road before untrod, ascends unto the throne of God. Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! 2. The holy apostolic band upon the Mount of Olives stand, Alleluia, alleluia! and with his followers they see their Lord ascend in majesty. Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! 3. To them the shining angels cry, "Why stand and gaze upon the sky?" Alleluia, alleluia! "This is the Savior," thus they say. "This is his glorious triumph day." Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! 4. "You see him now, ascending high up to the portals of the sky." Alleluia, alleluia! "Hereafter Jesus you shall see returning in great majesty." Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! 5. Be now our joy on earth, O Lord, and be our future great reward. Alleluia, alleluia! Then, throned with you forever, we shall praise your name eternally. Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! 6. O risen Christ, ascended Lord, all praise to you let earth accord. Alleluia, alleluia! You are, while endless ages run, with Father and with Spirit one. Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! GOING FORTH In the peace of God we go to make peace in the world.