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Feast of the Ascension
Acts 1:1-11
Psalm 47
Ephesians 1:15-23
Luke 24:44-53
Alleluia! Christ is Risen.
The Lord is Risen Indeed. Alleluia!
May his grace and peace be with you.
May he fill our hearts with joy.
Service of Morning Prayer:
We gather recognizing that we live, work, and play in the traditional lands of the Coast Salish People, Cowichan Tribes.
We continue to commit ourselves to the work of reconciliation and relationship building with our First Nations neighbours.
Today we hold up in prayer the Front-line Workers, in particular today, those in our grocery stores and pharmacies.
Call to Worship:
Go and make disciples of all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, to the close of the age. -Matthew 28:19-20
O come, let us worship.
Hymn:
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus! His the scepter, His the throne.
Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone.
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion Thunder like a mighty flood:
"Jesus out of ev'ry nation Has redeemed us by His blood."
Alleluia! King eternal, You the Lord of lords we own;
Alleluia! Born of Mary,
Earth Your footstool, heav'n Your throne.
You within the veil have entered,
Robed in flesh, our great high priest;
Here on earth, both priest and victim
In the eucharistic feast.
Introductory Responsory:
My life is in your hand, deliver me; * shine on your servant with the light of your love.
My life is in your hand, deliver me; *shine on your servant with the light of your love.
In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.
Shine on your servant with the light of your love.
Incline your ear to me; make haste to deliver me.
Shine on your servant with the light of your love.
Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; for the sake of your name, lead me and guide me. Shine on your servant with the light of your love.
I put my trust in the Lord; I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.
Shine on your servant with the light of your love.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
My life is in your hand, deliver me; * shine on your servant with the light of your love
Proclamation of the Word:
1st Reading: Acts 1:1-11
Acts picks up where the Gospel According to Luke ends, with a small overlap. Luke and Acts are by the same author, whom we call Luke. Both books are written to Theophilus, meaning lover of God. This may be a person, but it may be any reader who loves God.
2nd Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23
Paul has written of the Father’s wisdom, and insight, in making known to us his will, his plan for completion of the restoration of the faithful to oneness with him, as told by Jesus. That both Jews and Gentiles share so much he sees as a milestone in this plan.
Psalm 47
1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
2 For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.
3 He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.
8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the king of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.
Blessed are you, God of all the earth; you have called us out of every people and nation to be a royal priesthood and citizens of your holy city. May our words of praise call the world to turn to the joy of fellowship with you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Gospel:
The Lord be with you.
And also, with you.
The Holy Gospel according to Luke 24:46-53
Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ
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 worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy;
and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon: -The Ven. Brian Evans
May the words of my lips and meditations of our hearts be ever acceptable to you, O Lord.
Amen.
“That’s a Great Question”
Today begins a 3-Sunday journey to the beginning of our ministry, for which our preparation began at the baptismal font. (Rather nice, we don’t have to think of just how long that journey has been for some of us who were baptized as infants, or even a 3-year degree in theology.)
The journey begins today with The Ascension, then a week later with Pentecost, which is followed by Trinity Sunday.
The “Great Question” at this time of the year often goes like this:
What does Ascension mean?
Why do we have Pentecost?
What about the Trinity?
(I have left that question to Reverend Ted. We will have to wait and see!)
Acts gives us a review today of the past 40 days, gleaned from Luke’s first book, the Gospel of (according to) Luke
—like the year-end review when we attended high school—or, the convocation address, before being sent out into the world to get a job!
Jesus:
Appeared to them after the resurrection;
His appearance on the road to Emmaus;
These 40 days of phenomenal teaching moments we’ve had the good fortune of sharing in, as we, too, have walked along during these 40 days;
The many opportunities Jesus asked them to wait, to be patient;
The baptism.
Then there are those moments of mystery when Jesus would only say: wait and see.
It is kind of like the journalist asking questions, and the respondent acknowledging how the good the question is. Then what follows is not really an answer.
This is followed by the Ascension: The great moment when the two who were with Jesus are left standing there gazing, into the heavens.
I love the question, “What are you doing just standing there, looking up to heaven?”
70’s Bumper Sticker [Don’t just stand there, do something.]
It is with that back-ground, we have this affirmation of a community of faith from Paul in writing to the Ephesians--he could be writing to St. John’s Duncan
I have heard of your faith.
I give thanks for your ministry.
He prays for a spirit of wisdom and revelation for our ministry post-Covid.
Reminding us not to forget just how rich the blessings are in our community of faith.
To acknowledge this power, these blessings come as a result of our believing.
A reminder our power is something beyond all physical powers, something far greater.
To finish Paul says: just in case you may have forgotten, all things come from God
and he sent his Son to fulfill the Promise.
This is then completed with what we may call: “the-moment-when-you-are-about-to-leave-home-and-your-parents-sit-you-down-to-share-some-very-classified-advice-for-you.”
Or, as we are reminded, that in 2 weeks, we will hold a diocesan synod.
The Synod has a tradition of opening with the Bishop’s Charge.
Our Gospel today is like the Bishop’s Charge:
To preach the good news.
They are the witnesses.
To begin at home (Jerusalem).
To begin at home that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations.
This is all followed by the Ascension:
“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 were continually in the temple blessing God.”
Jesus’ ministry has now been given over to the Church with a clear mission—a mission summed up in our “Call to Worship” this morning:
Go and make disciples of all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, to the close of the age. Matthew 28:19-20
The Psalmist today paints a picture in words for us of just what this may look like:
1Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy.
2 For the Lord, the MostHigh, is awesome, a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves.
5 God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.
8 God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
9 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.
Or, as summed up in Hymn 357: “Let all the world in every corner sing; my God and King.”
What does the Ascension mean?
Glory
Ascension Day is a wonderful celebration of hope—a day to lift up our hearts, to rejoice – the Lord is King.
And maybe, an occasion to pledge that in the days ahead we will endeavor to be purveyors of hope—that we will so live our lives and so pray our lives, that others will know the hope to which we have been called.
That, however difficult or daunting our journey may be, we will continually lift up our eyes, and look to the glory. -Br. Geoffrey Tristram, SSJE
It is a great question, for the answer is this moment we learn about what our Lord is expecting of us: to have no fear, for Jesus will be with us.
Then, there WILL BE PENTECOST!
Thanks be to God. Amen!
Hymn
Rejoice, the Lord is King:
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains,
He took his seat above;
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
His kingdom cannot fail;
He rules o'er earth and heav'n;
The keys of death and hell
are to our Jesus giv'n:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
Affirmation of Faith
Let us confess the faith of our baptism, as we say:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers of the People:
On this festival day, let us ask Christ to mediate on our behalf with God, our Creator. Our response is: Risen Saviour, hear our prayer.
May your ascension into glory inspire your church to resound with praise and adoration. Send us your Spirit that we may worship in truth and love. We ask in faith:
Risen Saviour, hear our prayer.
May your exaltation to the right hand of God bring us every spiritual benefit. Send us the Spirit of holiness that we may be faithful disciples. We ask in faith:
Risen Saviour, hear our prayer.
May your return to Abba prompt us to seek your glory. Send us the Spirit to lead us into all truth. We ask in faith:
Risen Saviour, hear our prayer.
May your authority over the powers of sin and death fill us with hope. Send us the promised Counselor to sustain us on our pilgrimage. We ask in faith:
Risen Saviour, hear our prayer.
May your authority continue to lead: Anna our Bishop, Rev. Brian, Rev. Ted, & Rev. Heather;
Rev. Craig Hiebert & Rev. Dyan Davison, St. Mary the Virgin, Oak Bay;
and Bishop Lesley Wheeler-Dame, Diocese of Yukon as they continue to seek your voice and fulfill your will. We ask in faith:
Risen Saviour, hear our prayer.
May your glorious ascension fill us with a deeper respect for human life. Send us the Spirit of wisdom and courage to help us renew all humanity by your Word. We ask in faith:
Risen Saviour, hear our prayer.
May your eternal reign of mercy and love claim the divine life for all the dead. Send us the Spirit of consolation to comfort us in time of trial and sorrow. We ask in faith:
Risen Saviour, hear our prayer.
Abba God, you have given to Christ full authority over your new creation.
May our prayers come before you through the One who sits at your right hand, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Collect of the Day:
Almighty God, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven.
Mercifully give us faith to know that, as he promised, he abides with us on earth to the end of time;
who is live and reigns with you and the Holy Spirt, one God, now and forever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
As our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to say:
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.
Hymn:
Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king
through all eternity.
Crown him the Lord of love;
behold his hands and side,
rich wounds, yet visible above,
in beauty glorified;
no angels in the sky
can fully bear that sight,
but downward bend their burning eye
at mysteries so bright.
The Blessing:
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his son Jesus Christ our Lord;
and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.
The Dismissal:
Let us go in peace to love and serve God and our neighbour.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia.
Hymn: At the Name of Jesus
At the name of Jesus ev'ry knee shall bow,
ev'ry tongue confess him King of glory now.
'Tis the Father's pleasure we should call him Lord,
who from the beginning was the mighty Word.
At his voice creation sprang at once to sight,
all the angel faces, all the hosts of light,
thrones and dominations, stars upon their way,
all the heav'nly orders in their great array.
Humbled for a season to receive a name
from the lips of sinners unto whom he came,
faithfully he bore it spotless to the last,
brought it back victorious, when from death he passed.
In your hearts enthrone him; there let him subdue
all that is not holy, all that is not true;
crown him as your Captain in temptation's hour:
let his will enfold you in its light and pow'r.
Brothers, this Lord Jesus shall return again,
with his Father's glory, with his angel train;
for all wreaths of empire meet upon his brow,
and our hearts confess him King of glory now.