CALL TO WORSHIP
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.
Let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
—Hebrews 4:14,16
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Go and make disciples of all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, to the end of time.
—Matthew 28:19a, 20b
Alleluia!
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Why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.
—Acts 1:11
Alleluia!
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Almighty God, your Son, Jesus Christ, ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord. Keep the church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of his peace, and bring the whole of creation to worship at his feet, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
BANNER
This banner was originally done to be hung with the Pentecost banner that is described in RW 15. Like the Pentecost banner, it is a simple design and allows for any number of variations in size, color, and materials. Our Pentecost banner had a background of deep, dark colors with bright-colored flames. In contrast, the Ascension banner above used light pastel colors: white for the cloud outlines, light blue for the background behind the clouds, and a medium-blue border. Ours was made of appliqued felt and was about 2lA feet wide by 6 feet high.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Almighty God, you have raised Jesus from the grave and crowned him Lord of all. We confess that we have not bowed before him, or acknowledged his rule in our lives. We have gone along with the way of the world, and failed to give him glory. Forgive us, and raise us from sin, that we may be your faithful people, obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ, who rules the world and is head of the church, his body.
PRAYER OF THANKS
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Great and mighty God, we praise you that Christ has ascended to rule at your right hand. We rejoice before the throne of his power and peace, for he has put down tyrannies that would destroy us, and unmasked idols claiming our allegiance. We thank you that he alone is Lord of our lives. By your Spirit, give us freedom to love with his love, and to embrace the world with his compassion. Accept the offering of our lives, that we may obey your commands to serve in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
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Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Mighty God,
by your power you raised Jesus Christ to rule over us. We praise you that he puts down tyrannies that threaten to destroy us, and unmasks powers that claim our allegiance. We thank you that he alone commands our lives and gives us freedom to love the world. Glory to you for the gift of his life!
Glory to you for his saving death!
Glory to you for Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our risen Lord.
Amen.
Reprinted by permission from Liturgical Year, Supplemental Resource 7, © 1992 Westminster/John Knox Press, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202. (See review of this resource in RW 26.)