Opening Prayers

God has gone up with a shout,

the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

Psalm 47.5

 

Grant, we pray, almighty God

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.

 

Readings

 

Acts 1.6-14

 

Psalm 68.1-10,33-36

 

1 Peter 4.12-14,15-21

 

GOSPEL: John 17.1-11

Ascension image

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

 

Hymns

 

Rejoice, the Lord is King:
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Saviour, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He has purged our stains,
He took his seat above;
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail,

He rules o’er earth and heav’n;
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv’n:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord and judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

 

 

In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful.

In the Lord I will rejoice.

Look to God, do not be afraid.

Lift up your voices, the Lord is near; lift up your voices the Lord is near.

 

 

Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia!
to his throne beyond the skies. Alleluia!
Christ, the Lamb for sinners given, Alleluia!
enters now the highest heaven. Alleluia!

There for him high triumph waits; Alleluia!
lift your heads, eternal gates. Alleluia!
He has conquered death and sin; Alleluia!
take the King of glory in. Alleluia!

Highest heaven its Lord receives; Alleluia!
yet he loves the earth he leaves. Alleluia!
Though returning to his throne, Alleluia!
still he calls us all his own. Alleluia!

Still for us he intercedes; Alleluia!
his atoning death he pleads, Alleluia!
near himself prepares our place, Alleluia!
he the firstfruits of our race. Alleluia!

There we shall with you remain, Alleluia!
partners of your endless reign, Alleluia!
see you with unclouded view, Alleluia!
find our heaven of heavens in you. Alleluia!

 

Reflection

Thomas Merton

The mystic Thomas Merton once described the Feast of the Ascension as the feast of silence and solitude when we go up to live in heaven with Jesus: for he takes us there, after he had lived a little while on earth among us. He calls this the grace of Ascension Day: to be taken up into the heaven of our own souls, the point of immediate contact with God. To rest on this quiet peak, in the darkness that surrounds God. To live there through all trials and all business with the tranquil God who makes all things tranquil.

God be with us this day for ever.

 

Join the The Stations of the Resurrection Meditation.

 

Intercessions

Crucifix

from Joe Kohler

 

We pray for our church, and everyone in our community who gives so much to make it a happier, friendlier place.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

 

Lord, we pray for all those affected by Covid-19. We think of all those who have died, and their families and friends who will miss them so much. We admire our carers and keyworkers and their commitment to their work. We ask that you provide comfort to all those suffering from the many indirect effects of the virus.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

 

We pray for our leaders, that they may make wise decisions and bring us safely through this crisis.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

 

As summer arrives, we enjoy the warmth of the sunshine and the light in the mornings and evenings. We thank you for the glorious flora bursting into abundance, and the wildlife that explores them.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

 

We pray for the sick and for those who are worried about the sickness of people that they love.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

 

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayers now and listen for those we will utter up in the coming weeks and years.

 

AMEN

 

Closing prayers

Church Exterior from street

 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.

Waiting expectantly for the promised Holy Spirit,

let us go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.

All   Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

 

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