The ascension of Jesus
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, was taken into heaven as his disciples watched.
People:
The ascension of Jesus was the crowning event in his ministry.
Pastor:
It was also the beginning of a new ministry for the church. The whole world became a mission field in which the church is sent to be witnesses of the risen Lord.
People:
God help us accept our mission, that we may prepare our world for our Lord's final triumph when he returns.
Collect
Father in heaven, who glorified your Son through his ascension, and who continues to glorify him through the witnessing faith of his church: Make us sensitive to our mission, that we may convince others to accept him as Lord and Savior. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are thankful for being a part of the world-wide church, Father. And we are thankful for those who witness to the risen Lord, enabling faith to reach to the ends of the earth. But we know there are still persons whose salvation depends on our witness. Forgive us for words unsaid, and love not shared. Revive us with zeal to be living witnesses of our risen Lord, that we may lead many into your kingdom. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name"
"Come, Let Us Rise with Christ"
"Crown Him with Many Crowns"
ASCENSION DAY
(Or the Sunday Nearest)
Second Lesson: Ephesians 1:15-23
Theme:
Christ is exalted above all other powers
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Christ our Lord now sits at the right hand of God the Father, with glory and honor!
People:
Glory be to God who has made his Son supreme Lord over all things.
Pastor:
God's great power with which he glorified his Son is the same power at work in us, enabling us to be his church at work in our world as the body of Christ.
People:
May God give his Spirit to us, that we may know the wonderful blessings of being his church.
Collect
Almighty God, who has exalted your Son with the highest honor and glory: Inspire your church with wisdom and power, that the exalted Christ may be honored as Lord of all. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Father, we are your church, the body of Christ, serving our world. And your power which was manifested in the risen Christ, whom you lifted into heaven, is the very power undergirding your church today. Forgive us for turning our backs to you, and then trying to stir up enough strength on our own to keep the church going. Lift our hearts and minds to things above where Christ is; that he may display his position of authority in the church, and in the world. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus"
"Look, Ye Saints! The Sight Is Glorious"
"Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned"
"The Head That Once Was Crowned"
ASCENSION DAY
(Or the Sunday Nearest)
Gospel:
Luke 24:46-53
Theme:
The great commission
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Our Lord's last message before he was lifted into heaven was his charge to go to all people inviting them into discipleship.
People:
The church in every age has accepted that commission to baptize and teach in the name of Christ.
Pastor:
Our Lord has not left us alone to carry out that assignment. He is with us at all times to help us in our ministry.
People:
Inspired by our Lord's presence, we desire to share the gospel with our world.
Collect
Gracious Father, whose Son has commissioned his followers to go into all the world with the gospel: Guide and uphold the church with his presence, that we may reach the unreached with our Lord's message of redemption. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We believe in a world-wide church with a world-wide mission, Father. But we neglect the commission Christ gave to us. We send missionaries to represent us; but our tight purse strings represent our resistance to our Lord's commission. Forgive us for hiding behind benevolent offerings which do not express true benevolence. Burden our hearts with the importance of being in mission at home and overseas, that we may do the work our Lord has sent us to do. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Christ for the World We Sing"
"Go, Make of All Disciples"
"O Zion, Haste"
Pastor:
Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, was taken into heaven as his disciples watched.
People:
The ascension of Jesus was the crowning event in his ministry.
Pastor:
It was also the beginning of a new ministry for the church. The whole world became a mission field in which the church is sent to be witnesses of the risen Lord.
People:
God help us accept our mission, that we may prepare our world for our Lord's final triumph when he returns.
Collect
Father in heaven, who glorified your Son through his ascension, and who continues to glorify him through the witnessing faith of his church: Make us sensitive to our mission, that we may convince others to accept him as Lord and Savior. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are thankful for being a part of the world-wide church, Father. And we are thankful for those who witness to the risen Lord, enabling faith to reach to the ends of the earth. But we know there are still persons whose salvation depends on our witness. Forgive us for words unsaid, and love not shared. Revive us with zeal to be living witnesses of our risen Lord, that we may lead many into your kingdom. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name"
"Come, Let Us Rise with Christ"
"Crown Him with Many Crowns"
ASCENSION DAY
(Or the Sunday Nearest)
Second Lesson: Ephesians 1:15-23
Theme:
Christ is exalted above all other powers
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Christ our Lord now sits at the right hand of God the Father, with glory and honor!
People:
Glory be to God who has made his Son supreme Lord over all things.
Pastor:
God's great power with which he glorified his Son is the same power at work in us, enabling us to be his church at work in our world as the body of Christ.
People:
May God give his Spirit to us, that we may know the wonderful blessings of being his church.
Collect
Almighty God, who has exalted your Son with the highest honor and glory: Inspire your church with wisdom and power, that the exalted Christ may be honored as Lord of all. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Father, we are your church, the body of Christ, serving our world. And your power which was manifested in the risen Christ, whom you lifted into heaven, is the very power undergirding your church today. Forgive us for turning our backs to you, and then trying to stir up enough strength on our own to keep the church going. Lift our hearts and minds to things above where Christ is; that he may display his position of authority in the church, and in the world. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus"
"Look, Ye Saints! The Sight Is Glorious"
"Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned"
"The Head That Once Was Crowned"
ASCENSION DAY
(Or the Sunday Nearest)
Gospel:
Luke 24:46-53
Theme:
The great commission
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Our Lord's last message before he was lifted into heaven was his charge to go to all people inviting them into discipleship.
People:
The church in every age has accepted that commission to baptize and teach in the name of Christ.
Pastor:
Our Lord has not left us alone to carry out that assignment. He is with us at all times to help us in our ministry.
People:
Inspired by our Lord's presence, we desire to share the gospel with our world.
Collect
Gracious Father, whose Son has commissioned his followers to go into all the world with the gospel: Guide and uphold the church with his presence, that we may reach the unreached with our Lord's message of redemption. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We believe in a world-wide church with a world-wide mission, Father. But we neglect the commission Christ gave to us. We send missionaries to represent us; but our tight purse strings represent our resistance to our Lord's commission. Forgive us for hiding behind benevolent offerings which do not express true benevolence. Burden our hearts with the importance of being in mission at home and overseas, that we may do the work our Lord has sent us to do. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Christ for the World We Sing"
"Go, Make of All Disciples"
"O Zion, Haste"
