ASCENSION DAY
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III, Cycle A
CALL TO WORSHIP and INVOCATION
Let us worship God.
Let us pray
that our inward eyes may be illumined
that we may know what is the hope to which God calls us
that we may learn how vast are the resources of the Spirit's power
that we may value the wealth of the heritage that we share with Christ.
SILENT PRAYER
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of Moses, God of the Messiah, God of the church, forgive the doubts that plague us, the questions as to your timetable for history, the fears that the events of our time are beyond all control, even yours. Excuse our slowness in fulfilling our mission of proclaiming to all nations the name of Jesus and the repentance which brings forgiveness of sins. We need such forgiveness ourselves, for we have not properly acknowledged your majesty and power, nor received your gracious enablement to complete your work in the world. Have patience with us and the whole body of the church of which Jesus Christ is the head, in his name. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! Jesus sent his Father's promised gift of the Holy Spirit to arm us with power from above. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Keep your minds open to understand the Scriptures, for all that was written in the Law of Moses and in the prophets and in the psalms were bound to be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Be prepared to be a witness to all these things.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of our Lord Jesus Christ, All-glorious Parent, bless us with such insightful faith that we may worship you with great joy, spending in your house enough time to prepare us to be your witnesses everywhere in the world, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
We praise you, Lord Christ, ascended to the right hand of Divine Sovereignty. Since your mother, Mary, bore you, you have been resplendent in holiness. The symbol for your power is the empty cross, for you have vanquished sin and death. In the Spirit you give your church powers of wisdom and vision. Thanks to you, Son of God, we are given knowledge of the Father, and thanks to you, Divine Spirit, we are given knowledge of the Son, and the inspiration to witness before the world the good news entrusted to the church. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Our resources are limited, Lord God, but yours are not. What we give is multiplied beyond measure when we open ourselves to being used by the Spirit enlivening the church of the beloved Son. Amen.
PSALM 47:1-9
Clap your hands, all you peoples;
shout to God with loud songs of joy.
For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome,
a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves.
God has gone up with a shout,
the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the king of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm.
God is king over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted.
Let us worship God.
Let us pray
that our inward eyes may be illumined
that we may know what is the hope to which God calls us
that we may learn how vast are the resources of the Spirit's power
that we may value the wealth of the heritage that we share with Christ.
SILENT PRAYER
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of Moses, God of the Messiah, God of the church, forgive the doubts that plague us, the questions as to your timetable for history, the fears that the events of our time are beyond all control, even yours. Excuse our slowness in fulfilling our mission of proclaiming to all nations the name of Jesus and the repentance which brings forgiveness of sins. We need such forgiveness ourselves, for we have not properly acknowledged your majesty and power, nor received your gracious enablement to complete your work in the world. Have patience with us and the whole body of the church of which Jesus Christ is the head, in his name. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! Jesus sent his Father's promised gift of the Holy Spirit to arm us with power from above. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Keep your minds open to understand the Scriptures, for all that was written in the Law of Moses and in the prophets and in the psalms were bound to be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Be prepared to be a witness to all these things.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of our Lord Jesus Christ, All-glorious Parent, bless us with such insightful faith that we may worship you with great joy, spending in your house enough time to prepare us to be your witnesses everywhere in the world, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
We praise you, Lord Christ, ascended to the right hand of Divine Sovereignty. Since your mother, Mary, bore you, you have been resplendent in holiness. The symbol for your power is the empty cross, for you have vanquished sin and death. In the Spirit you give your church powers of wisdom and vision. Thanks to you, Son of God, we are given knowledge of the Father, and thanks to you, Divine Spirit, we are given knowledge of the Son, and the inspiration to witness before the world the good news entrusted to the church. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Our resources are limited, Lord God, but yours are not. What we give is multiplied beyond measure when we open ourselves to being used by the Spirit enlivening the church of the beloved Son. Amen.
PSALM 47:1-9
Clap your hands, all you peoples;
shout to God with loud songs of joy.
For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome,
a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves.
God has gone up with a shout,
the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the king of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm.
God is king over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted.
