GREETING(Adapted from Mark 11:9b-10)
Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!
HYMN 312 “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise”
PSALM 47
PRAYER
(Consider the following subjects and concerns for prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, and petition. Follow with your personal prayer list.)
That God, our Father, reigns in heaven The victory of God’s will
That by ascension Jesus rose to his throne The triumph of God’s love
That Christ reigns with the Father The victory of real strength - love
That our future is in heaven with Father and Son The triumph of God’s grace
That Christ has made a heavenly future possible The victory that lasts forever
For the ability to call others to this heavenly future For a faith that trusts in Christ’s ascension
That ascension is another proof of Christ’s divinity For those already carried to heaven
Ascension’s mystery versus human understanding For those soon to leave for heaven
That ascension is more than just “up” and “clouds” For those without heaven in their future
That Christ bears our humanity to God in ascension For the joy of the reunions yet to come
That ascension connects us with God For the faith to live that joy now
That ascension connects us with those above For Christ to return for us soon
For help “in between” Christ’s ascension and return That we be ready for Christ’s return
The promised gift of the Holy Spirit ____________________________
The comfort provided us by the Holy Spirit ____________________________
The Spirit’s guidance for the “in between” times ____________________________
THE LORD'S PRAYER
SCRIPTURE LESSON
(Choose a passage of scripture to read. It can be a chapter, a paragraph, or a particular story. Daily lectionaries are available online or in print that assign a lesson each day from the gospels, epistles, Old Testament and psalms on a three-year cycle. Or you can create a plan to read a book of the Bible, or the whole Bible. Then follow the steps below.)
Read a passage of scripture. Read it out loud, very slowly and carefully as if for the first time. Continue reading until a word, phrase or sentence captures your attention. Stop there to repeat the word, phrase or sentence over and over, listening to it deeply in your heart.
Reflect on why the passage got your attention. Consider the area of your life to which this may apply. Is God saying something to you in this passage? Take time to listen carefully to whatever God may be saying to you.
Respond to God in prayer (or with journaling, music, art or whatever you choose) about what you have heard. Ask questions. Open yourself to God’s will for you.
Rest in God’s company. Be still and quiet. Move beyond thinking, practicing interior silence. Let yourself be open to God’s presence. Savor this moment with God.
PRAYER
God of the heights of heaven and earth below,
what powerful testimony – Christ ascended!
Not only does it proclaim him King of kings,
but also substantiates his heavenly origins.
And it tells all the world that this is the One,
who did all that you commanded him to do.
Jesus Christ, heaven bred, Bethlehem born,
is the One to whom we all look for salvation.
His regal scars combat our inclination to sin,
turn our hearts, and melt the ice in our deeds.
Crown him Sovereign of our lives, we pray.
To him we pledge our allegiance and love.
Our sovereign, our pride, our hope forever;
Christ lifts us up from this world’s struggles.
Persecution, crime, injustice, all are turned
and transformed to serve your holy purpose.
Suffering, disaster and all the crises of life
yield their power to our Christ’s Easter love.
Resurrection and ascension shine new light
on these ancient afflictions of all your people.
The Fountain of Life reborn rules in heaven,
and inaugurates there a lively eternity for us.
And, even as we wait to join Christ above,
he has not abandoned us to lonely struggles.
His Holy Spirit rushes in with loving power
to guide and correct, comfort and inspire us.
Our Sovereign reigns above, and within us,
and soon he returns to reign in a new world.
Our conquered hearts yield to his great love,
and earnestly seek your will for us, O God. Amen.
SILENCE AND COMMITMENT
(Pause to reflect and listen. Work to push out of your mind any distracting or irrelevant thoughts. Concentrate your thoughts on the words of the hymns and choruses you have sung, the prayers you have spoken and the scriptures you have read. Be aware of what you are feeling. Listen for anything that God might be saying to you in this time you have spent together. As God responds to your prayer-time, seek guidance for how you can best respond to God’s will. Then commit to serving God’s will for you.)
HYMN 326 “The Head That Once Was Crowned”
CLOSING PRAYER
God of good news, plant your gospel deep within us.
Let it sprout and grow penetrating roots and strong branches.
Let its fruit feed the hungry crowds and heal the sin-sick souls.
God of love, for such an exquisite pearl of good news
we would sell all we have, but you freely give this gift to us.
Now send us to employ this gospel to plow and seed your fields. Amen.
Copyright 2020. Robert D. Ingram, 32746 Jourden Rd., Albany, Ohio 45710 (dr.bobingram@gmail.com). Used by permission.
