Ascension Day Service
The order of service below is in a format that should enable you to print something off if you’d like to do so. Please note that the prayers and responses in bold print are the ones we all join in saying together(ish!).
As regards the communion part of the service, it is stating to obvious to say that this will be different from ‘normal’ church in all sorts of ways. There has been a lot of discussion in the wider church about ‘virtual communion’, and it is ongoing. If you’d like to think further about this, then I can email you a copy of a short paper recently produced by the Principal of my old theological college in which he explores some of the main questions/issues.
What I want to say is that when it comes to joining in at home - whether taking bread and wine/juice just after the Lord’s Prayer when you see me doing so, or else reflecting on the words of Jesus - please do whatever you feel comfortable with, and would help you. The main thing to remember is that the focus of the whole service is about our seeking to meet Jesus together, and that we need to keep the main thing as the main thing. A sacrament is defined in the Anglican Catechism as ‘an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace’. The bread and wine are the outward sign - the main thing is the inner spiritual communion with the Risen and Ascended Lord.
I shall look forward to seeing you again on Thursday evening. If you can ‘arrive’ by c 6.55, then we’ll try to make a prompt start at 7.00 pm.
The order of service below is in a format that should enable you to print something off if you’d like to do so. Please note that the prayers and responses in bold print are the ones we all join in saying together(ish!).
As regards the communion part of the service, it is stating to obvious to say that this will be different from ‘normal’ church in all sorts of ways. There has been a lot of discussion in the wider church about ‘virtual communion’, and it is ongoing. If you’d like to think further about this, then I can email you a copy of a short paper recently produced by the Principal of my old theological college in which he explores some of the main questions/issues.
What I want to say is that when it comes to joining in at home - whether taking bread and wine/juice just after the Lord’s Prayer when you see me doing so, or else reflecting on the words of Jesus - please do whatever you feel comfortable with, and would help you. The main thing to remember is that the focus of the whole service is about our seeking to meet Jesus together, and that we need to keep the main thing as the main thing. A sacrament is defined in the Anglican Catechism as ‘an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace’. The bread and wine are the outward sign - the main thing is the inner spiritual communion with the Risen and Ascended Lord.
I shall look forward to seeing you again on Thursday evening. If you can ‘arrive’ by c 6.55, then we’ll try to make a prompt start at 7.00 pm.
Ironstone Family of Churches Ascension Day Service with HC via Zoom
Thursday 21 May 2020 @ 7.00 pm
Opening Greeting, Welcome and Introduction by John Barr
Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you
All and also with you.
The Ascension Reading Acts 1. 1 - 11, read by David Burr
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’
So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 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.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 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.’
Alleluia. Christ is risen. All He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Confession
As we come to meet Christ in Word and Sacrament, let us open ourselves to the presence of the Living Lord, and confess our sins in penitence and faith.
You raise the dead to life in the Spirit:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
You bring pardon and peace to the broken in heart:
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
You make one by your Spirit the torn and divided:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
May the God of love and power forgive us and free us from our sins, heal and strengthen us by His Spirit, and raise us to new life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Gloria
Seeing we have a great high priest who has passed through the heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us offer Him the praise worthy of His name.
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to His people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship You, we give You thanks,
we praise You for Your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
You take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
You are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For You alone are the Holy One,
You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
The Collect for Ascension Day
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.
Gospel Reading Luke 24. 44 - end, read by Chris Alexander
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’ Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Reflection by Mike Alexander
Prayers of Intercession led by Sue Bradley
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord is here. His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give thanks and praise.
It is right to praise You, Father, Lord of all creation; in Your love You made us for Yourself. When we turned away You did not reject us, but came to meet us in Your Son. You embraced us as Your children and welcomed us to sit and eat with You.
In Christ You shared our life that we might live in Him and He in us. He opened wide His arms of love upon the cross, and made for all the perfect sacrifice for sin.
On the night He was betrayed, at supper with His friends He took bread and gave you thanks; He broke it and gave it to them, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of Him: His body is the bread of life.
At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine, He gave you thanks and said: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins; do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of Him: his blood is shed for all.
As we proclaim His death and celebrate His rising and ascension in glory, send your Holy Spirit that this bread and this wine may be to us the body and blood of your dear Son.
As we eat and drink these holy gifts make us one in Christ, our risen Lord.
With Your whole Church throughout the world we offer You this sacrifice of praise and lift our voice to join the eternal song of heaven:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory
Hosanna in the highest.
The Lord's Prayer
Looking for the coming of His kingdom,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us ...
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
If you would like to do so, please use this moment to take bread and wine/juice at home, knowing the presence of Christ, and the union of the whole Church. Or, if you prefer, simply reflect on these words of Jesus: ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ (John 6.35)
Post Communion Prayer
God our Father, You have raised our humanity in Christ
and have fed us with the bread of heaven:
mercifully grant that, nourished with such spiritual blessings,
we may set our hearts in the heavenly places;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Blessing
God the Father, who has given to His Son the name above every name,
strengthen us to proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord. Amen.
God the Son, who is our great high priest passed into the heavens,
plead for us at the right hand of the Father. Amen.
God the Holy Spirit, who pours out His abundant gifts upon the Church,
make us faithful servants of Christ our King. Amen.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always. Amen.
Waiting expectantly for the promised Holy Spirit,
let us go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thursday 21 May 2020 @ 7.00 pm
Opening Greeting, Welcome and Introduction by John Barr
Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you
All and also with you.
The Ascension Reading Acts 1. 1 - 11, read by David Burr
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’
So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 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.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 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.’
Alleluia. Christ is risen. All He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Confession
As we come to meet Christ in Word and Sacrament, let us open ourselves to the presence of the Living Lord, and confess our sins in penitence and faith.
You raise the dead to life in the Spirit:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
You bring pardon and peace to the broken in heart:
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
You make one by your Spirit the torn and divided:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
May the God of love and power forgive us and free us from our sins, heal and strengthen us by His Spirit, and raise us to new life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Gloria
Seeing we have a great high priest who has passed through the heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us offer Him the praise worthy of His name.
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to His people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship You, we give You thanks,
we praise You for Your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
You take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
You are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For You alone are the Holy One,
You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
The Collect for Ascension Day
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.
Gospel Reading Luke 24. 44 - end, read by Chris Alexander
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’ Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Reflection by Mike Alexander
Prayers of Intercession led by Sue Bradley
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord is here. His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give thanks and praise.
It is right to praise You, Father, Lord of all creation; in Your love You made us for Yourself. When we turned away You did not reject us, but came to meet us in Your Son. You embraced us as Your children and welcomed us to sit and eat with You.
In Christ You shared our life that we might live in Him and He in us. He opened wide His arms of love upon the cross, and made for all the perfect sacrifice for sin.
On the night He was betrayed, at supper with His friends He took bread and gave you thanks; He broke it and gave it to them, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of Him: His body is the bread of life.
At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine, He gave you thanks and said: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins; do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of Him: his blood is shed for all.
As we proclaim His death and celebrate His rising and ascension in glory, send your Holy Spirit that this bread and this wine may be to us the body and blood of your dear Son.
As we eat and drink these holy gifts make us one in Christ, our risen Lord.
With Your whole Church throughout the world we offer You this sacrifice of praise and lift our voice to join the eternal song of heaven:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory
Hosanna in the highest.
The Lord's Prayer
Looking for the coming of His kingdom,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us ...
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
If you would like to do so, please use this moment to take bread and wine/juice at home, knowing the presence of Christ, and the union of the whole Church. Or, if you prefer, simply reflect on these words of Jesus: ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ (John 6.35)
Post Communion Prayer
God our Father, You have raised our humanity in Christ
and have fed us with the bread of heaven:
mercifully grant that, nourished with such spiritual blessings,
we may set our hearts in the heavenly places;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Blessing
God the Father, who has given to His Son the name above every name,
strengthen us to proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord. Amen.
God the Son, who is our great high priest passed into the heavens,
plead for us at the right hand of the Father. Amen.
God the Holy Spirit, who pours out His abundant gifts upon the Church,
make us faithful servants of Christ our King. Amen.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always. Amen.
Waiting expectantly for the promised Holy Spirit,
let us go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.