KINGTON PARISHES
THURSDAY 21ST MAY 2020
ASCENSION DAY
Sorry that we can’t welcome you in person but a warm welcome if you’re joining us for the live-stream Service.
HOLY COMMUNION
In the name of the Father,
And of the Son,
And of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen
Grace, mercy and peace
From God our Father
And the Lord Jesus Christ
Be with you
All: and also with you
Alleluia, Christ is risen
All: He is risen indeed. Alleluia
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 confess our sins.
Confession
You raised the dead to life in the Spirit;
Lord, have mercy
All: Lord have mercy.
You bring pardon and peace to the broken in heart;
Christ have mercy
All: Christ have mercy.
You make one by your Spirit the torn and divided:
Lord, have mercy
All: Lord, have mercy.
May the God of love and power
forgive you and free you from your sins,
heal and strengthen you by his Spirit,
and rise you to new life in Christ our Lord.
Collect
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.
All: Amen
The Ascension Reading – Acts 1.4-11
While staying with them, Jesus ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.
The reader says:
Alleluia. Christ is risen
All: He is risen indeed, Alleluia.
Psalm 47
Clap your hands, all you peoples;
shout to God with loud songs of joy.
For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome,
a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves.
God has gone up with a shout,
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the king of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm.
God is king over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
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.
Gospel Reading Luke 24: 44-end
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke.
All: Glory to you, O Christ.
Jesus said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, O Christ.
Address
The Creed
We declare the faith in which we all share.
Do you believe and trust in God the Father,
source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist?
All: We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Son,
who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again?
All: We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God
and makes Christ known in the world?
All: We believe and trust in him.
This is the faith of the Church.
All: This is our faith.
We believe and trust I one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen
Intercessions
Jesus our exalted Lord has been given all authority.
Let us seek his intercession that our prayers may be
perfected by his prayer.
Lord, hear us.
All: Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus Christ, great high priest,
living for ever to intercede for us,
pray for the Church, your broken body in the world
Lord, hear us.
All: Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus Christ, king of righteousness,
enthroned at the right hand of the majesty on high,
pray for the world, that you keep us under the shadow of your wing
in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Lord, hear us.
All: Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus Christ, Son of Man,
drawing humanity into the life of God,
pray for your brothers and sisters in need,
for those who are ill, afraid or in isolation.
Lord, hear us.
All: Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus Christ, pioneer of our salvation,
bringing us to glory through your death and resurrection,
surround with your saints and angels
those who have died trusting your promises
Lord, hear us.
All: Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus Christ,
keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit
and in the bond of peace,
and bring the whole created order
to worship at your feet;
for you are alive and reign with the Father
and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
All: Amen.
The Peace
The risen Lord now reigns at God’s right hand.
He is the Prince of Peace.
The peace of the risen Lord be always with you.
All: and also with you.
Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord is here.
All: His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give thanks and praise.
It is indeed right and good,
Our duty and our joy,
Always and everywhere to give you thanks
Holy Father, almighty and everlasting God,
Through Jesus Christ the King of glory.
Born of woman,
He came to the rescue of our human race.
Dying for us,
He trampled death and conquered sin.
By the glory of his resurrection
He opened the way to life eternal
And by his ascension,
Gave us the sure hope
That where he is we may also be.
Therefore the universe resounds with Easter joy
And with choirs of angels we sing for ever to your praise:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
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.
All: 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. Mary, St. Stephen, St. Thomas and St. Peter 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.
All: Amen.
Looking for the coming of his kingdom,
as our Saviour taught is, so we pray
All: 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.
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.
All: Jesus, Lamb of God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
Grant us peace.
Post communion prayer
All: 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
Dismissal.
Christ our ascended King pour upon you the abundance of his gifts
and bring you to reign with him in glory;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
All: Amen
Waiting expectantly for the promised Holy Spirit
go in the peace of Christ, Alleluia, Alleluia.
All: Thanks Be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia
Some of the material used in this service is copyright and has been used with permission:
The Book of Common Prayer: Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included in this service, is copyright The Archbishops’ Council 2000.
This order of service has been produced within the terms of copyright for the use in Saint Mary’s Church, Kington.
St. Mary's, Kington PCC is a registered charity and its number is 1185453. If you would like to make a donation to St. Mary's please visit: https://www.give.net/20273880.