The Gathering
We know you and we do not know you
You are mysterious and full of joy
You know us and you understand us
You are loving and full of truth
You welcome us and you live in us
You are holy and full of hope
We look for you in each other
We look for you in our midst
Opening Prayer and Confession
Lord Jesus Christ, we remember today
how your apostles stood gazing into heaven,
troubled and wondering,
struggling to understand their second loss.
Lord, we too are troubled, wondering and struggling.
Open our eyes to your glory.
We remember how you had blessed them,
and opened their minds to understand the scriptures –
those scriptures that they knew so well.
Lord, we too have closed our minds to your word.
Open our eyes to your glory.
We remember how, despite fear and confusion,
they turned to prayer and praise,
anchored in their trust in you,
and supported by their fellowship.
Lord, we too are often in confusion and fear.
We have failed to put our trust in you;
and have not always supported those who depend on us.
Open our eyes to your glory.
Absolution
Almighty God, who in Jesus Christ has given us
a glorious kingdom that cannot be destroyed,
forgive you your sins,
open your eyes to God’s glory and truth,
strengthen you to do God’s will
and give you the joy of his kingdom,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Collect
Let us pray that our risen Lord will lead us to eternal life
Silence is kept
Risen Christ,
You have raised our human nature to the throne of heaven:
Help us to seek and serve you,
That we may join you at the Father’s side,
Where you reign with the Spirit in glory,
Now and forever Amen
Introduction
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, for forty days we have been celebrating with joyful hearts the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, his bursting from the tomb and his defeat of the power of sin and death. He appeared to his disciples many times and told them about the kingdom of God.
Today we recall how he left this earth and returned to his Father, ascending into heaven to take his throne over all dominions and powers. Trusting in his reign over all creation, and submitting to his kingly yet loving rule, let us hear the story of his parting.
The Ascension Reading
The Acts of the Apostles 1 4-11
Gospel Reading : Luke 24 44 – end
Sermon
The Creed
We believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
We believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
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,
He is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and He will come to judge the living and the dead.
We 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 Intercession
The Peace
Jesus says: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
If you love me, rejoice because I am going to the Father”
Alleluia
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you
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.
And now we give you thanks
because, after His most glorious resurrection,
He appeared to his disciples,
and in their sight ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us;
that where He is, there we might also ascend,
and reign with Him in glory.
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
We praise and bless you, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord;
and as we obey his command,
send your Holy Spirit,
that broken bread and wine outpoured
may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.
On the night before He died He had supper with His friends
and, taking bread, He praised you.
He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
When supper was ended He took the cup of wine.
Again He praised you, gave it to them and said:
Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did,
in Him we plead with confidence his sacrifice
made once for all upon the cross.
Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation,
we proclaim His death and resurrection
until he comes in glory.
Great is the mystery of faith
Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.
Lord of all life,
help us to work together for that day
when your kingdom comes
and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.
Look with favour on your people,
gather us in your loving arms
and bring us with St Andrew and all the saints
to feast at your table in heaven.
Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father,
for ever and ever. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Looking for the coming of his kingdom,
as our Saviour taught us, so we pray
Our Father in heaven
hallowed be your name
Your kingdom come, your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
And forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For yours is the kingdom,
the power and the glory
For ever and ever. Amen
The Breaking of the Bread
Lord, we died with you on the cross.
Now we are raised to new life.
We were buried in your tomb.
Now we share in your resurrection.
Live in us, that we may live in you.
The Giving of Communion
Alleluia. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
Prayer after Communion
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.
The Dismissal
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (1.12,13a,14)
Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying. They were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers
Responsory
As we wait in silence,
make us ready for your coming Spirit.
As we listen to your word,
make us ready for your coming Spirit.
As we worship you in majesty,
make us ready for your coming Spirit.
As we long for your refreshing,
make us ready for your coming Spirit.
As we long for your renewing,
make us ready for your coming Spirit.
As we long for your equipping,
make us ready for your coming Spirit.
As we long for your empowering,
make us ready for your coming Spirit.
Silence is kept
The Blessing
May the Spirit,
who set the Church on fire upon the day of Pentecost,
bring the world alive with the love of the risen Christ.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Waiting expectantly for the promised Holy Spirit,
go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.