Prelude O Christ, When You Ascended
LANCASHIRE arr. Joshua Evanovich
O Christ, when you ascended, you took your rightful throne
Your time on earth has ended - yet we weren’t left alone.
You reign o’er earth and heaven; your Spirit guides our way
Your prayers uphold your people; you lead the church each day
-Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
Welcome & Announcements
*Thanksgiving for Baptism
Blessed be the holy Trinity, the One who was, who is, and who is to come. Amen.
Baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection, and called to live the baptized life, let us give thanks for the gifts of baptism.
Holy God, we give you thanks for the waters of baptism, waters that make a people your own, that restore to wholeness, and empower us to be witnesses in your name.
Baptized into you, O Living One, make us one as you are one.
We give you thanks for the waters of baptism, waters that strengthen believers and give new life to beloved servants of your church; waters that extend your boundless love and cross barriers of our own making.
Baptized into you, O Living One, make us one as you are one.
We give you thanks for the waters of baptism, waters that open the hearts of believers and give a voice in the night to those in captivity; waters that set your people on a new path, rejoicing in the Spirit’s power.
Baptized into you, O Living One, make us one as you are one.
Grant us grace, love, and life, O Living One, that our every day is shaped by these waters that give us our very lives in you. We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Crucified and Risen One. Amen.
Kyrie
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
For the reign of God, and for peace throughout the world,
for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
For your people here who have come to give you praise,
for the strength to live your word, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, and defend us, O God.
Amen.
Hymn of Praise
*Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, your only Son was taken into the heavens and in your presence intercedes for us. Receive us and our prayers for all the world, and in the end bring everything into your glory, through Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading Acts 1:1-11
Luke writes: 1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he 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; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 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.” 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward 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.”
Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 93
1 The Lord is king, robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and | armed with strength. The Lord has made the world so sure that it can- | not be moved. 2 Ever since the world began, your throne has | been established; you are from | everlasting. R 3 The waters have lifted up, O Lord, the waters have lifted | up their voice; the waters have lifted up their | pounding waves. 4 Mightier than the sound of many waters, mightier than the breakers | of the sea, mightier is the Lord who | dwells on high. 5 Your testimonies are | very sure, and holiness befits your house, O Lord, forever and for- | evermore. R The Epistle Lesson Ephesians 1:15-23 15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may perceive what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22 And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
*Gospel Acclamation
*Gospel Luke 24:44-53 Glory to you O Lord
44 Jesus said to the eleven and those with them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.”45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Pastor Kurt Christenson
*Hymn of the Day Rejoice, for Christ is King!
*Prayers of Intercession
Response to each petition: Merciful God, receive our prayer.
*Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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.
I 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.
*Exchange of Peace
The peace of the Lord be with you. And also with you.
Offering
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Offering Music Lo! He comes with Clouds Descending
setting Engel
Yea amen, let all adore Thee, high on thy eternal throne
Savior take the power and glory, claim the kingdom as thine own.
Alleluia! Thou shalt reign and thou alone - Charles Wesley. Music by Thomas Olivers 1725-1799
*Offering Prayer
Merciful God, accept the fruits of our labor, gathered to give you glory. You have set a table before us, a glimpse of that great day when we will hunger and thirst no more. Nourish us with the body and blood of Jesus, that goodness and mercy may follow us and bless the world you love. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
*The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
*Preface
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ;
who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
*Sanctus
*Eucharistic Prayer
You are indeed holy, gracious and merciful God; everything is filled with your glory…
…Remembering his command to love one another, his life and death, his glorious resurrection and ascension, we pray for his coming again even as we cry:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit, that all of your promises may come to us and your whole creation. Amen. Come, Holy Spirit. Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.
This we pray through Jesus Christ, our Savior and our friend.
*The Lord’s Prayer
Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray:
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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Agnus Dei
Communion Distribution
Communion
Communion Hymn Choir
Now glad of heart be everyone! The fight is fought, the day is won, the Christ is set upon his throne. Who on the cross was crucified, who rose again, as at this tide, this tide, in glory to his Father’s side. Who baffled death and harrowed hell and led the souls that loved him well; all in the light of lights to dwell. To him we lift our heart and voice and in his paradise rejoice, rejoice with harp and pipe and happy noise. Then rise, all Christian folk with me and carol forth the One in Three who was and is and is to be. By faith, the shield of heart and mind, through love, which suffers and is kind, in hope, that rides up – on the wind.
Text: Based on “Wir wollen alle fröhlich sein” from Christliches Gesangbüchlein, 1568 tr. A. H. Fox Strangways, 1859–1948 Music: Carl Schalk, 1929–2021
*Communion Blessing and Prayer
O God, through this meal you have strengthened us and appointed us to be your servants. Send us to do good and to share our possessions with all in need. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
*Sending Hymn Jesus Shall Reign
*Blessing & Dismissal
God Almighty, who is the beginning and the end, Jesus Christ, the firstborn of the dead, and the Spirit, our advocate and peace, bless you now and forever. Amen.
Go in peace. Praise the Lord. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
Postlude Duke Street
Improvisation based on settings by Gerry Hancock, Frederick Swann and Bill Engel
