ASCENSION EVENING PRAYER WELCOME TO YOUR CHURCH Together

ASCENSION EVENING PRAYER WELCOME TO YOUR CHURCH Together: Growing, Caring, Sharing in God’s Love

WELCOME TO OUR EVENING PRAYER ON ASCENSION DAY. This Power. Point presentation will give you all you need to celebrate at home this service. For the Song/Hymn, just click on the titles, and the weblink will open it directly in your computer. Watch the video in full screen, then come back to this presentation. You have the choice between a modern song or a traditional hymn. The Psalm can be read by two people or two groups of people if you want. You may start by lighting a candle now.

(Time of quiet to be in presence of the Lord)

Lord, your throne has been established from of old. All You are from everlasting. Alleluia!

HYMN/SONGS Trad. Hymn: ‘Crown him Lord of all’ Modern Song: ‘Crown him Lord of all’

Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth. All to you be glory and praise for ever!

From the darkness of death, you have raised your Christ. All to the right hand of your majesty on high.

The pioneer of our faith, his passion accomplished: All has opened for us the way to heaven and sends on us the promised Spirit.

May we be ready to follow the Way: All and so be brought to the glory of his presence where songs of triumph for ever sound.

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: All Blessed be God for ever!

The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind.

All As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you; now and for ever. Amen.

THE WORD OF GOD Living and Powerful

PSALM (Good News Version) Psalm 8

O LORD, our Lord, your greatness is seen in all the world! Your praise reaches up to the heavens; 2 it is sung by children and babies.

You are safe and secure from all your enemies; you stop anyone who opposes you.

3 When I look at the sky, which you have made, at the moon and the stars, which you set in their places— 4 what are human beings, that you think of them; mere mortals, that you care for them?

5 Yet you made them inferior only to yourself; you crowned them with glory and honour. 6 You appointed them rulers over everything you made.

You placed them over all creation: 7 sheep and cattle, and the wild animals too; 8 the birds and the fish and the creatures in the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord, your greatness is seen in all the world!

Glory to the Father, by the Son, in the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.

NT READING (News International Reader Version)

10 While Jesus was going up, they kept on looking at the sky. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothing stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee, ” they said, “why do you stand here looking at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. But he will come back in the same way you saw him go. ” (Acts 1. 10 -11)

PRAYERS FOR THE WORLD (Present to the Lord all your prayers, for yourself, your loved ones, and the whole world)

For those who wait on God: that they may find renewal.

(We offer ourselves to the Lord)

All Risen Christ, you have raised our human nature to the throne of heaven: help us to seek to serve you, that we may join you at the Father’s side, where you reign with the Spirit in glory, now and for ever. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER Looking for the coming of the Kingdom, as our Saviour taught us, so we pray with confidence:

(Modern Version) Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name; Your kingdom come; Your will be done; on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen. (Traditional Version) 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. 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/SONGS Trad. Hymn: ‘Jesus shall reign’ Modern Song: ‘Christ was raised’

SENDING OUT May Christ who has opened the kingdom of heaven, bring us to reign with him in glory: All Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia: All Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

Some material in the service is © The Archbishops’ Council 2000, 2002, 2006