Ascension Day

A responsive reading of Psalm 93 celebrating Christ’s ascension and reign

This is part of the worship series, "Worship Resources for Eastertide”Easter Sunday | Eastertide 2 | Eastertide 3Eastertide 4 | Eastertide 5 | Eastertide 6  Ascension Day | Eastertide 7 For those who may be looking for resources for the beginning of worship during Eastertide—the season after Easter—consider the following resources based on the texts from the Revised Common Lectionary, year B, but adaptable to any context. As I read through the lectionary readings for this season, many of them centered around love: God’s love for us and the call of Christ’s followers to love each other. Thus, that refrain echoes throughout these resources. Another theme that began with Mark’s account of the women at the tomb is that of doubt and faith and how closely the two reside in each of us.Title IMAGE: JESUS MAFA. Jesus appears at Emmaus from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48275 [retrieved April 2, 2024]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).NOTESA downloadable copy of all of the openings of worship from Easter through Ascension can be found in the resource section below.All material not written by the author is indicated and can be used in worship setting without additional permission. Please do include all copyright notices when using the material and add the following when utilizing the newly written material or referencing the resource as a whole: —Joyce Borger © 2024 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Used by permission.*Congregation is invited to stand in body or spirit.Seventh Sunday of Easter[The Ascension Day Resource may be substituted for this one if you recognize Ascension on the following Sunday .]God's Greeting*Christ is risen!Christ is risen indeed!Christ has ascended!Christ has ascended, alleluia! The God who has the powerto make what was dead alive again,and loved us so much that he sent Christto die for our sins so we may live—that is the God who calls us here today,and greets us with these words:"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are mine."—Isaiah 43:1Opening Words*Lord, our God, we trust your promise to be among us as we gather. We come in the name of Christ, drawn by your Spirit, eager to hear your Word. Fill our hearts with your Spirit and prepare us for faithful service. Amen. —The Worship Sourcebook © Faith Alive Christian Resources, 1.4.43. Used by permission.Song of Praise“Psalm 45: For the Honor of Our King” Leckebusch“Jesus is Lord” Chua“Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God” Getty and Townend Call to ConfessionPsalm 1 says, Blessed is the one    who does not walk in step with the wickedor stand in the way that sinners take    or sit in the company of mockers,but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,    and who meditates on his law day and night.That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,    which yields its fruit in season.—Psalm 1:1–3 NIVChrist summarized God’s law with these words: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"As Christ’s followers we know that we are not of the world and are called to a radical life of love, but we also know,that so often we fail to live out that calling. In sorrow for our failure but with assurance of God's loving compassion, let us offer our prayer of confession. Prayer of ConfessionMerciful God, you pardon all who truly repent and turn to you. We humbly confess our sins and ask your mercy. We have not loved you with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not done justice, loved kindness, or walked humbly with you, our God.Have mercy on us, O God, in your loving-kindness. In your great compassion, cleanse us from our sin. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Do not cast us from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. —based on Psalm 51:10-12 (The Book of Common Worship. © 1946, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), p. 26., alt., PD)Assurance of PardonPeople of God, be assured that in Christ you are forgiven. Joined with Christ in his death and resurrection, pattern your life after his, showing radical love to all people. Revised Common LectionaryYear B: Easter—Seventh Sunday after Easter