The Ascension
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Cycle C, Series IV
Call To Worship
Leader: Let all who believe in the risen and ascended Christ give praise!
People: It is the Good News, witness of our salvation: Christ lives!
Leader: In Christ God defeated death and the grave, once and for all.
People: In our risen Lord we are called to be the Church, witness to the ages.
Leader: And this same Christ who ascended will, in God's holy time, return.
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Collect
O God, You have given us the message of salvation and the commission to proclaim it in all the world. Strengthen our faith, Lord, that nothing might impede us as Your messengers. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
O God, too often we seem to take for granted some of the awesome events that marked the early years of the Church. We read of saints who died terrible deaths because their commitment was so real they would not deny Your Lordship. Yet so often today our comfort seems more important than our faith in You. Forgive us, Lord, and strengthen us. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name"
"Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus"
"I Will Sing The Wondrous Story"
Ascension Of Our Lord
Second Lesson: Ephesians 1:15-23
Theme: Christ, the Exalted One
Call To Worship
Leader: Come, let us worship the Lord, the most high exalted of God.
People: Christ, crucified and resurrected, is now at the right hand of God:
Leader: Jesus, who was nailed to the cross that we might have eternal life;
People: Jesus, who was without sin, yet accepted the sins of all time.
Leader: Yet in God's wisdom and mercy it is this same Christ who saves us all.
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Collect
O God, even though as sinners we were rejecting You, in Christ You had the last word and opened the door of salvation to all who would have faith and serve. We praise You, Lord. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, too often we forget that You sought us out even when we were yet sinners. So often we choose not to remember it was Your love that saved us and not our deserving qualities or nature. Forgive us, Lord, and help us to reach out to others with the same loving and accepting personal openness You so freely extended to us. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing"
"Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know"
"My Jesus, I Love Thee"
Ascension Of Our Lord
Gospel: Luke 24:44-53
Theme: The gathering
Call To Worship
Leader: Come, let all who would seek the risen Lord gather now for worship.
People: In Christ we have been promised the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Leader: The Church was established to be God's light in the world.
People: Nothing may prevail against the saving Gospel of Christ.
Leader: Then let all who would serve the risen Christ join in true praise.
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Collect
O God, in Christ You have established Your Church and empowered it to stand even against the gates of Hell. Give us the strength and courage to help lead the way for You, Lord. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, so often we have listened to the voices of the world that would claim self is all there is to consider in life. Too often we have been unwilling to follow Your example and put the needs and well-being of others first, even as You did in allowing us to nail You to the cross. Forgive us, Lord, and help us more and more to love others. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Shall We Gather At The River"
"We Praise Thee, O God"
"Blest Be The Tie That Binds"
Leader: Let all who believe in the risen and ascended Christ give praise!
People: It is the Good News, witness of our salvation: Christ lives!
Leader: In Christ God defeated death and the grave, once and for all.
People: In our risen Lord we are called to be the Church, witness to the ages.
Leader: And this same Christ who ascended will, in God's holy time, return.
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Collect
O God, You have given us the message of salvation and the commission to proclaim it in all the world. Strengthen our faith, Lord, that nothing might impede us as Your messengers. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
O God, too often we seem to take for granted some of the awesome events that marked the early years of the Church. We read of saints who died terrible deaths because their commitment was so real they would not deny Your Lordship. Yet so often today our comfort seems more important than our faith in You. Forgive us, Lord, and strengthen us. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name"
"Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus"
"I Will Sing The Wondrous Story"
Ascension Of Our Lord
Second Lesson: Ephesians 1:15-23
Theme: Christ, the Exalted One
Call To Worship
Leader: Come, let us worship the Lord, the most high exalted of God.
People: Christ, crucified and resurrected, is now at the right hand of God:
Leader: Jesus, who was nailed to the cross that we might have eternal life;
People: Jesus, who was without sin, yet accepted the sins of all time.
Leader: Yet in God's wisdom and mercy it is this same Christ who saves us all.
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Collect
O God, even though as sinners we were rejecting You, in Christ You had the last word and opened the door of salvation to all who would have faith and serve. We praise You, Lord. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, too often we forget that You sought us out even when we were yet sinners. So often we choose not to remember it was Your love that saved us and not our deserving qualities or nature. Forgive us, Lord, and help us to reach out to others with the same loving and accepting personal openness You so freely extended to us. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing"
"Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know"
"My Jesus, I Love Thee"
Ascension Of Our Lord
Gospel: Luke 24:44-53
Theme: The gathering
Call To Worship
Leader: Come, let all who would seek the risen Lord gather now for worship.
People: In Christ we have been promised the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Leader: The Church was established to be God's light in the world.
People: Nothing may prevail against the saving Gospel of Christ.
Leader: Then let all who would serve the risen Christ join in true praise.
All: Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Collect
O God, in Christ You have established Your Church and empowered it to stand even against the gates of Hell. Give us the strength and courage to help lead the way for You, Lord. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, so often we have listened to the voices of the world that would claim self is all there is to consider in life. Too often we have been unwilling to follow Your example and put the needs and well-being of others first, even as You did in allowing us to nail You to the cross. Forgive us, Lord, and help us more and more to love others. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Shall We Gather At The River"
"We Praise Thee, O God"
"Blest Be The Tie That Binds"
