The Feast of the Ascension is celebrated in many places on the Thursday prior to Easter 7, or alternately in place of the readings and prayers on the Sunday following. Except in the Roman Church, where the Gospel lesson varies with the lectionary year, the readings for Ascension lessons are the same every year (using Luke). Both sets of texts and prayers are offered below.
Easter 7C
Ascension Sunday
May 12 (Ascension Day is May 9)
Scripture (from the Revised Common Lectionary, with links provided by TextWeek.com – a source for thoughtful worship and preaching throughout the year):
For Easter 7:
Click on Scripture Lessons below for study links and resources:
Acts 16:16-34
Roman Catholic reading: Acts 7:55-60
Psalm 97
Roman Catholic reading: Psalm 97:1-9
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
Roman Catholic reading: Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
John 17:20-26
For Ascension Sunday:
Click on Scripture Lessons below for study links and resources:
Acts 1:1-11
Psalm 47 or Psalm 93
Roman Catholic reading: Psalm 47:2-9
Ephesians 1:15-23
Roman Catholic reading: Ephesians 1:17-23
Luke 24:44-53
Roman Catholic reading, Year A:Matthew 28:16-20
Roman Catholic reading, Year B:Mark 16:15-20
Roman Catholic reading, Year C: Luke 24:46-53
Suggested Hymns from Chalice Hymnal
Hymn of Praise: Any of the Easter hymns are appropriately used (with either set of lessons). Especially for Ascension: 233 Alleluia! Sing to Jesus! 234 Crown Him with many crowns, 91/92 All hail the power of Jesus’ name, 95 Jesus shall reign. For Easter 7 especially: 104 Of the Father’s love begotten, 699 Rejoice, the Lord is King
Hymn of Prayer or Invitation: Especially for Easter 7: 493 We’re united, 494 They’ll know we are Christians, 491 As grain on scattered hillsides. Especially for Ascension: 586 Open my eyes,
Communion Hymn: Especially for Easter 7: 397 Come, Risen Lord, 393 One Bread, one Body
Dismissal/Missional Hymn: 356 We, your people, God, confessing, 495 Weave
More hymn suggestions, as well as helpful references for use of the arts in worship, are available from the United Church of Christ website. Also see great Hymn References from Oremus Hymnal: http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/yearc.html
Dealing with the Psalm of the Day:
Since Chalice Hymnal does not provide a complete Psalter, there will be occasions when suggestions may be made for alternate Psalm use (or hymn equivalent). Psalm 97 (Ascension) is on 749; neither of the Easter 7 Psalms are easily dealt with.
Hymn of the Day from William Flewelling:
On Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
Lord Jesus, come, with beauty,
with mercy and with grace.
As coming soon, appear, Lord,
and wreathe us with your word.
As Alpha and Omega,
as first and last: so come!
Be here, O Lord, in all joy,
be here in full increase!
You call us, Lord, in earnest,
in eager longing now.
And we are bathed in your life,
the fullest tide of joy.
As in the call of desire,
come, Jesus: Jesus, come!
I drink; desire is flowing free
for you exalt all hope.
Amen! Lord Jesus, coming,
achieve in us your crown.
Discover in our longing
the welcome to our love.
Come now, Lord Jesus, in hope;
come in the promise shown.
And grace, your only grace, Lord
be with us, every one.
7.6.7.6.D Suggested tune: Ellacombe
Collect of the Day from Rev. William Flewelling (© 2013, William Flewelling; All rights reserved)
(for Easter 7)
John 17:20-26
Your unity be ours by gift, O God,
that in abandon to your joy you lift
our souls into your certainty.
For as you send us, so receive us,
keep us in your exquisite delight
that in our Lord we know you well
by love beyond all bounds.
RESOURCES from COMMON WORSHIP
For Easter 7:
Collect
O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Post Communion
Eternal God, giver of love and power,
your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world
to preach the gospel of his kingdom:
confirm us in this mission,
and help us to live the good news we proclaim;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Alternative Collect
Risen, ascended Lord,
as we rejoice at your triumph,
fill your Church on earth with power and compassion,
that all who are estranged by sin
may find forgiveness and know your peace,
to the glory of God the Father.
For Ascension Sunday:
Collect
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ
to have ascended into the heavens,
so we in heart and mind may also ascend
and with him continually dwell;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Post Communion
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.
Alternative 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 for ever.
Common Worship Almanac and Lectionary for the year beginning Advent Sunday 2012. Compiled by Simon Kershaw October 2012 from the Common Worship Calendar and Lectionaries using Almanac Maker; compilation © Simon Kershaw 2012; Almanac Maker © Simon Kershaw 2010. The Revised Common Lectionary is copyright © the Consultation on Common Texts 1992. The Daily Eucharistic Lectionary is adapted from the Ordo Lectionum Missae of the Roman Catholic Church reproduced by permission of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy. Adaptations and additions to the RCL and the DEL, together with Second and Third Service lectionaries and the Weekday Lectionary for Morning and Evening Prayer are copyright © the Archbishops’ Council 1997-2010. http://almanac.oremus.org/lectionary
Resources from the Jubilee Fund: This stewardship ministry serving the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) offers weekly emails, archived here at the Disciples Center for Faith and Giving Site, for each Sunday’s service.
You may also want to visit Worship Connection at MinistryMatters.com, which offers numerous helps, including electronic versions of print resources for worship and preaching planning.
Intercessions and other helpful planning materials geared to the Lectionary (using Roman Catholic version, but normally quite useful for all traditions) for preaching and worship are supplied for several weeks in advance at The Sunday Website of St. Louis University.
Liturgies created by Moira Laidlaw (Uniting Church in Australia) as a part of her doctoral dissertation are often helpful. Read more here.
NOTE: We hope you return to this posting often (and are subscribed to the feed by email, on Facebook or your favorite reader), since the content of each week’s posting may change several times before Sunday. We’d also like to include your content, even after the fact, since everything will roll around again in 3 years, and your contributions may find new life in the great cycle of the lectionary.
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