Sunday after Ascension Day Morning Worship - 24 May
St Anne's, Porirua Anglicans
Opening Sentence
God has caused light to shine in our hearts,
to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Christ.
Open our lips, O Lord;
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Alleluia.
Peace for the Nations
1 In days to come the mountain of the ′ Lord′s ′ house:
will be established as the ′ highest ′ of the ′ mountains.
2 It will be raised a′bove the ′ hills:
and ′ all the ′ nations · will ′ flock to it.
3 Many peoples will come and ′ they will ′ say:
‘Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the′ house · of the ′ God of ′ Jacob,
4 ‘that we may be taught the ′ ways · of the ′ Lord:
and may ′ walk · in the ′ right ′ paths.’
5 From the mountain of the Lord shall go ′ forth the ′ law:
and the word of the ′ Lord ′ from Je′rusalem.
6 The Lord will judge be′tween the ′ nations:
and settle disputes for ′ many ′ peoples.
7 They shall beat their ′ swords · into ′ ploughshares:
and their ′ spears ′ into ′ pruning hooks.
8 Nation shall not lift up ′ sword a·gainst ′ nation:
nor ever a′gain pre′pare for′ war.
9 Come O ′ house of ′ Jacob:
let us walk in the ′ light ′ of the ′ Lord.
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
68:1 Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.
68:2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire,
let the wicked perish before God.
68:3 But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy.
68:4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds--
his name is the LORD-- be exultant before him.
68:5 Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
68:6 God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious live in a parched land.
68:7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
68:8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God,
the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
68:9 Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished;
68:10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
68:32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, Selah
68:33 O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
68:34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel; and whose power is in the skies.
68:35 Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!
Glory to the Father and ′ to the ′ Son:
and ′ to the ′ Holy ′ Spirit;
as it was in the be′ginning · is ′ now:
and shall be for ′ ever. ′ A′men.
Theme: Jesus' Ascension
Scripture Sentence
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
1Peter 5:7
Prayer (Collect) for the Sunday after Ascension
O God of glory,
your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us
and ascended to your right hand.
Unite us with Christ and each other,
in suffering and in joy,
that all your children may be drawn
into your bountiful dwelling. Amen.
God has caused light to shine in our hearts,
to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Christ.
Open our lips, O Lord;
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Alleluia.
Peace for the Nations
1 In days to come the mountain of the ′ Lord′s ′ house:
will be established as the ′ highest ′ of the ′ mountains.
2 It will be raised a′bove the ′ hills:
and ′ all the ′ nations · will ′ flock to it.
3 Many peoples will come and ′ they will ′ say:
‘Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the′ house · of the ′ God of ′ Jacob,
4 ‘that we may be taught the ′ ways · of the ′ Lord:
and may ′ walk · in the ′ right ′ paths.’
5 From the mountain of the Lord shall go ′ forth the ′ law:
and the word of the ′ Lord ′ from Je′rusalem.
6 The Lord will judge be′tween the ′ nations:
and settle disputes for ′ many ′ peoples.
7 They shall beat their ′ swords · into ′ ploughshares:
and their ′ spears ′ into ′ pruning hooks.
8 Nation shall not lift up ′ sword a·gainst ′ nation:
nor ever a′gain pre′pare for′ war.
9 Come O ′ house of ′ Jacob:
let us walk in the ′ light ′ of the ′ Lord.
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
68:1 Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.
68:2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire,
let the wicked perish before God.
68:3 But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy.
68:4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds--
his name is the LORD-- be exultant before him.
68:5 Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
68:6 God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious live in a parched land.
68:7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
68:8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God,
the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
68:9 Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished;
68:10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
68:32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, Selah
68:33 O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
68:34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel; and whose power is in the skies.
68:35 Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!
Glory to the Father and ′ to the ′ Son:
and ′ to the ′ Holy ′ Spirit;
as it was in the be′ginning · is ′ now:
and shall be for ′ ever. ′ A′men.
Theme: Jesus' Ascension
Scripture Sentence
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
1Peter 5:7
Prayer (Collect) for the Sunday after Ascension
O God of glory,
your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us
and ascended to your right hand.
Unite us with Christ and each other,
in suffering and in joy,
that all your children may be drawn
into your bountiful dwelling. Amen.
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First reading: Acts 1:6-14
The Ascension of Jesus 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ 7 He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 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.’ 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 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.’ Disciples Return to Jerusalem 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers. Silence Second Reading: John 17:1-11 Jesus Prays for His Disciples 17 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, 2 since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. 6 ‘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. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8 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. 9 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. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11 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. |
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A Brief Reflection - Jesus' Ascension
To ascend is to rise up or rise above... above death (Resurrection); above this world (Ascension); above human limitation (Pentecost) - we are people of the Spirit.
- we'll discuss this next Sunday. The Spirit came spectacularly, because Jesus had ascended to be with the Father. Waiting and praying always offers us Something More - we rise up with Christ. In particular, we are empowered to recognise our unity with all God's people; in this life and in the life to come. |
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Silence
A New Heaven and a New Earth
1 I saw a new heaven and a ′ new ′ earth:
for the first heaven and earth had passed away,
and there was no ′ longer ′ any ′ sea.
2 I saw the holy city ′ new Je′rusalem:
coming ′ down · out of ′ heaven · from ′ God.
3 I saw no temple ′ in the ′ city:
for its temple is the Lord God‿
the Al′mighty ′ and the ′ Lamb.
4 The city has no need of sun or moon to ′ shine up′on it:
for the glory of God illuminates it,
and the ′ Lamb ′ is its ′ light.
5 The throne of God and of the Lamb will be ′ in the ′ city:
and the servants of God‿
shall ′ worship · be′fore the ′ throne.
6 They shall see God ′ face to ′ face:
and bear the name of their ′ God up′on their ′ foreheads.
7 There shall be ′ no more ′ night:
nor will they need the ′ light of ′ lamp or ′ sun,
8 for the Lord God will ′ give them ′ light:
and they shall ′ reign for ′ ever · and ′ ever.
9 To the One who is seated on the throne and ′ to the ′ Lamb:
be blessing and honour, glory and might ‿
for ever and ′ ever. ′ A′men.
Revelation 21:1,2,22,23; 22:3-5; 5:13
Silence
Thanksgivings and Intercessions
Sisters and brothers in Christ,
God invites us to bring our doubts and fears,
our joys and concerns, our petitions and praise,
and offer them for the earth and all its creatures.
Prayers of the People, concluding with
Receive these prayers, O God,
and transform us through them,
that we may have eyes to see and hearts to understand
not only what you do on our behalf,
but what you call us to do
so that your realm will come to fruition in glory. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
A New Heaven and a New Earth
1 I saw a new heaven and a ′ new ′ earth:
for the first heaven and earth had passed away,
and there was no ′ longer ′ any ′ sea.
2 I saw the holy city ′ new Je′rusalem:
coming ′ down · out of ′ heaven · from ′ God.
3 I saw no temple ′ in the ′ city:
for its temple is the Lord God‿
the Al′mighty ′ and the ′ Lamb.
4 The city has no need of sun or moon to ′ shine up′on it:
for the glory of God illuminates it,
and the ′ Lamb ′ is its ′ light.
5 The throne of God and of the Lamb will be ′ in the ′ city:
and the servants of God‿
shall ′ worship · be′fore the ′ throne.
6 They shall see God ′ face to ′ face:
and bear the name of their ′ God up′on their ′ foreheads.
7 There shall be ′ no more ′ night:
nor will they need the ′ light of ′ lamp or ′ sun,
8 for the Lord God will ′ give them ′ light:
and they shall ′ reign for ′ ever · and ′ ever.
9 To the One who is seated on the throne and ′ to the ′ Lamb:
be blessing and honour, glory and might ‿
for ever and ′ ever. ′ A′men.
Revelation 21:1,2,22,23; 22:3-5; 5:13
Silence
Thanksgivings and Intercessions
Sisters and brothers in Christ,
God invites us to bring our doubts and fears,
our joys and concerns, our petitions and praise,
and offer them for the earth and all its creatures.
Prayers of the People, concluding with
Receive these prayers, O God,
and transform us through them,
that we may have eyes to see and hearts to understand
not only what you do on our behalf,
but what you call us to do
so that your realm will come to fruition in glory. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
Dismissal
O God,
the well-spring of life,
pour into our hearts the living water of your grace,
that refreshed by you,
we may live this day in steadfast reliance
on the strength you give;
through our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Peace be to us all and love with faith,
from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia, Amen.
O God,
the well-spring of life,
pour into our hearts the living water of your grace,
that refreshed by you,
we may live this day in steadfast reliance
on the strength you give;
through our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Peace be to us all and love with faith,
from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia, Amen.
Cross and Rising Sun - early 21st century. Livingstonia - Malawi.
