Ascension

Ascensiontide is the time between Ascension day and Pentecost Sunday. It recalls Christ’s Ascension (see Acts 1) and the theme of waiting on God’s Spirit. This order shares some material with the order for Pentecost.

Together with all in Christ, we wait
Come Holy Spirit; soak into our deepest being
We pray together with all your people
Come Holy Spirit; breeze through our staleness.

We will hear the scriptures together
Come Holy Spirit; fire up our imaginations for good
…
Glorious Father, give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we may know you better. Open the eyes of our heart that we may know the hope to which you have called us, the riches of your glorious inheritance and your incomparably great power for us.
[from Ephesians 1]
Psalm[s] and reading[s] are announced and read. When all have been read …
Reader: God has sent forth the word
May it not return empty.
There may be a time of quiet and/or shared reflection. A framework for reflection, using the pattern of the Lord’s prayer may be used.
Together we say:
We will receive power
when the Holy Spirit comes upon us;
the same mighty strength
that raised Christ from the dead
and seated him at God’s right hand
in the heavenly realms,
far above all rule and authority,
power and dominion,
and every name that is invoked
in the present age and in the one to come.
And we will be Jesus’ witnesses
to the ends of the earth
[Acts 1.8 and Ephesians 1.20ff]

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
You have blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ
to the praise of your glorious grace,
which you have freely given us in the Beloved
…Prayers and/or songs of praise and thanks may be shared here…
And now we give you thanks because In Christ you take human life to yourself, and do not leave us orphaned but give gifts by the Holy Spirit, Our God In heaven, in love you adopted us through Jesus Christ:
Hallowed be your name!

God, send your Spirit: mend your creation, fulfil your promises and inspire your people for good.
Send forth your Spirit:
And renew the face of the earth
May your desires and values spring up and prosper throughout the world, your peace, wholeness and goodness come on earth
Send forth your Spirit:
And renew the face of the earth.
Work righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
Send forth your Spirit:
And renew the face of the earth.
Through the church, may the manifold wisdom of God be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.
Send forth your Spirit:
And renew the face of the earth.
We ask that all the Lord’s holy people have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God
…Other prayers or biddings may be voiced here the leader ending with:
Send forth your Spirit:
And renew the face of the earth.
Let love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other
Send forth your Spirit:
And renew the face of the earth.

Be the wind in the sails of our lives and as we are blown forward by your Spirit may we know your comfort and provision
…prayers or biddings asking for God’s provision may be added here the leader ending with
Send forth your Spirit:
And renew the face of our lives.

We have quenched your Spirit in our self-serving or grudge-bearing
…
Forgive us and renew us:
To know and to offer joyful forgiveness.
…

Blow upon us the breath of life:
And renew the face of our lives.
Make our hearts clean, O God
And reform a right spirit within us.
Let us attend; Christ breathes upon us the peace and forgiveness of God.
A moment for quiet reflection on our forgiveness.

As we seek to walk in the Spirit let us pause before the likely events and involvements and the unpredictable happenings that face us.
Pause for reflection
Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit.
[Gal 5:25 ]
Now to you who by the power at work within us are able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to you be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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