This is part of the worship series,
"The Great Fifty Days”
Series Introduction
Easter Morning | Eastertide 2 | Eastertide 3 | Eastertide 4
Eastertide 5 | Eastertide 6 | Ascension Sunday
Ascension Sunday
Theme: Ascension and Reign—Christ as King
Opening hymn
“Once in Royal David’s City” Alexander
Psalm: Psalm 47
Read responsively, alternating verses.
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.
—Psalm 47 NRSVUE
Hymn
“Rejoice, the Lord Is King” Wesley
Pre-resurrection gospel reading
Luke 1:26–33: His kingdom will never end.
Post-resurrection readings
Matthew 28:16–20: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus.
Acts 7: 54–60: Stephen sees Jesus at the right hand of God.
Sermon
Rejoice! The Lord Is King!
Sermon Outline:
- Christ is victor over Satan, sin, and death.
- Christ is judge over heaven and earth.
- Christ is with us.
Hymn
We Celebrate the Lord's Supper
Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is our joy and our peace,
at all times and in all places,
to give thanks to you,
holy Father, Almighty, everlasting God,
through Christ our Lord.
When we were unfaithful to you, you kept faith with us;
your love remained steadfast.
We thank you that you did not abandon us in our sin,
but sent prophets and teachers to lead us into the way of salvation.
Above all, we thank you for sending Jesus, your Son,
to deliver us from the way of sin and death
by the obedience of his life,
by his suffering upon the cross,
and by his resurrection from the dead.
We praise you that he now reigns with you in glory
and ever lives to pray for us.
We thank you for the Holy Spirit,
who leads us into truth,
defends us in adversity,
and out of every people unites us into one holy church.
Therefore with the whole company of saints in heaven and on earth
we worship and glorify you, God most holy, and we sing with joy.
Hymn
“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord” Sanctus
Institution
According to Luke, when our risen Lord was at table with two of his followers, he took the bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.
This is the Lord’s table. Our Savior invites those who trust him to share the feast, which he has prepared.
In thanks for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, in the joy of his resurrection, in the assurance of our union with him, we offer our very selves to you to be a living and holy sacrifice dedicated to your service.
Great is the mystery of our faith.
Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory.
Prayer of Consecration
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ, that we may be one with all who share this feast, united in ministry in every place. As this bread is Christ’s body for us, send us out to be the body of Christ in the world.
Communion
Our breaking of the bread is our sharing in the body of Christ. Take, eat, remember, and believe that the body of our Lord was offered for the complete forgiveness of all our sins.
Our giving thanks for the cup of blessing is our sharing in the blood of Christ. Take, drink, remember, and believe that the precious blood of our Lord was shed for the complete forgiveness of all our sins.
[For Easter Sunday, or throughout Eastertide, consider placing the baptismal font at the front of your center aisle and inviting people to come forward for communion: “As you pass by the baptismal font on your way to partake, you are invited to place the sign of the water on your forehead as a reminder that through your baptism, you have been united with Christ in his death and resurrection.”]
Communion songs
“O Christ, Our Hope, Our Heart’s Desire” Latin
“O Jesus, We Adore You” Russell
“Beautiful Savior” Gesangbuch
"Alleluia! Sing to Jesus” Dix
Revised Common Lectionary
Year A: Easter—Fifth Sunday of Easter
Year A: Season after Pentecost—Trinity Sunday
