With a Shout

Prelude

Call to Worship

Almighty God,

as we prepare to worship today,

we ask that you will stretch our imaginations

to sense the majesty and mystery of your ascension.

Help us perceive how Jesus’ presence in heaven

can give us confidence in our praying

and hope for the future.

Through Jesus, our Lord. Amen. (TWS O.1.1.1)

God’s Greeting

Grace to you and peace from him who is

and who was and who is to come,

and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,

the firstborn from the dead,

and the ruler of the kings of the earth. (Rev. 1:4-5, NRSV)

Opening Hymn: “God Has Gone Up With Shouts of Joy!” SNC 154

Opening Sentences

See the hard copy of this issue for the copyrighted Opening Sentences.

Song of Praise: “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus” CH 377, PH 144, PsH 406, WR 320

Service of Confession

Call to Confession

While we claim to celebrate the ascension of our Lord,

the way we live proclaims our lack of faith

in his power to deal with the world.

Let us confess the incongruity between our faith and practice.

Let us pray.

Prayer of Confession

We come, O Lord, on this day of glory to confess our lack of trust.

While we sing of your lordship over all creation,

we have too often acted as though you are powerless

in the face of today’s events.

Help us to live with confidence in your presence today

and in hope for life with you forever. Amen. (TWS O.2.2.2)

Hymn of Confession: “Lord, Have Mercy on Us” (sing twice) PH 565, 572-574, PsH 258, SNC 52, SFL 43

Assurance of Pardon

Hear the good news of the gospel:

If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father,

Jesus Christ the righteous;

and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,

and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

In Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God. (based on 1 John 2:1-2, NRSV)

Hymn of Response: “Christ Triumphant, Ever Reigning” WR 336

Scripture Reading: Psalm 47

Meditation: “Ascension Audacity” (listen to this sermon by Rev. Scott Hoezee at tinyurl.com/Hoezee-Ascension)

Sung Response: “Clap Your Hands, O Faithful People” (Michael Morgan)

Profession of Our Church’s Faith

[Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of all creation;

for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created,

things visible and invisible,

whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—

all things have been created through him and for him.

He himself is before all things,

and in him all things hold together.

He is the head of the body, the church;

he is the beginning,

the firstborn from the dead,

so that he might come to have first place in everything.

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things,

whether on earth or in heaven,

by making peace through the blood of his cross. (Col. 1:15-20, NRSV)

Ascension Day Prayer

Jesus Christ, mediator and high priest,

we thank you for becoming human and for experiencing

the joys and sorrows of life, which assures us that you

are able to sympathize and rejoice with us.

We praise you for the many joys of life:

for the beauty of creation,

for your work in this world,

for the growth of your kingdom,

for the greatest source of our happiness: the gift of eternal life.

As our mediator, you stand before God, petitioning him on our behalf,

so we boldly bring before you our prayers

for creation and its care,

for the nations of the world,

for our nation and its leaders,

for this community and those in authority,

for the church universal as it works on your behalf,

for this local church in its ministry,

for persons with particular needs.

We pray this in your strong name, O Christ,

our mediator and high priest. Amen. (based on TWS O.4.4.1)

Offering

Benediction

Grace and peace to you

from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,

and from the seven spirits before his throne,

and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,

the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,

and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—

to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Rev. 1:4-6)

Closing Hymn: “Jesus Shall Reign” CH 375, PH 423, PsH 412, TH 441, WR 341