Ascension Day

This is part of the worship series, 
"Grounded and Growing—Bearing Fruit”

Series Introduction | Ascension Sunday | Pentecost
Love | Joy | Peace | Patience | Generosity & Kindness | 
Faithfulness | Gentleness | Self-Control | Communion Liturgy

Also in this year-long Grounded and Growing series: 
Advent and Christmas | Epiphany | Lent and Easter

Key Theme: Jesus is “the first fruits of those who have died” (1 Corinthians 15:20) and has ascended into heaven as fully God and fully man. That knowledge should give us hope, for we are united with Christ in his death, resurrection, and ascension.  

The Ascension is a part of the story of Jesus that doesn’t usually get as much attention as his birth or resurrection. But the ascension of Jesus into heaven offers us incredible hope, carrying us further up and further into the story of the redemption of all things.

1 Corinthians 15:20 tells us that Christ was raised from the dead, “the first fruits of those who have died.” In the Old Testament, God commanded his people to offer the first and best portions of their harvest as an offering of thanksgiving and trust. This first and best offering symbolized and consecrated the entire harvest to come.

When Paul writes that Christ is the first fruits of those who have died, he’s saying that Christ’s resurrection was a foretaste of the new life yet to come. For those who are in Christ, his resurrection is a pledge, a promise, of our own resurrection from the dead, of the life we have in Christ. We are the branches, abiding in the vine—the life that courses through the vine belongs to the branches, as well.

And this resurrection isn’t just spiritual. God is not merely interested in our souls, but our bodies. Christ came into the world as fully God and fully man; Christ was raised from the dead as both a divine being who could walk through walls and a man with physical wounds; that same Christ ascended into heaven in his body. Jesus, fully man and fully God, stands at the right hand of the Father. 

So Jesus brings the stuff of earth into the glories of heaven. He intercedes on our behalf, he who knows the hairs on our heads and who hears the call of the whale from the depths. And Jesus brings the stuff of heaven to earth. He who reigns over all creation calls us to seek his kingdom in each corner we inhabit. How do we do this? By following his command to his followers before his ascension to go and proclaim the good news of God through all the earth—to bear good fruit. 

Service Outline

Call to Worship

Opening Song

“Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise” ^Wesley

[Many churches have a children’s processional with palm branches on Palm Sunday, celebrating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Consider extending that celebration into Ascension, inviting the children to process through the sanctuary during this opening song, waving banners and ribbons, as we declare Christ to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.]

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 of the dead,
and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
—Revelation 1:4–5 ^NRSVUE

Songs of Praise

“Crown Him with Many Crowns” ^{Bridges, Thring}
“King of Heaven” ^Baloche

Call to Confession

On this day of celebration,
when we proclaim the Lordship of Christ,
we are confronted by the truth that our faith is often feeble,
and our voices often frail. 
Our celebration does not carry into the rest of our lives.
Let us confess our frailty before God,
asking for God’s mercy and God’s help.

Prayer of Confession

King of Kings,
today we proclaim your reign over all creation,
but tomorrow we will forget, 
and bow down to other powers and princes. 
Tempted by the promise of riches, prestige, and comfort, 
we close our eyes to inconvenient injustices, 
and keep quiet 
when we should be calling for those with power to seek shalom.
Forgive our greed, 
and move our hands to work for your kingdom.

Silence

Lord of life,
today we sing songs of your victory;
tomorrow we will quiet our voices, 
lest we appear foolish and naive. 
You told us to go and make disciples of all nations, 
but we speak of our faith almost apologetically. 
Our fear of appearing judgmental and triumphalistic causes us to hold back 
when we could share the good news of your kingdom.
Forgive our fear, 
and move our mouths to sing your praise.

Silence

Lord, of Love, 
today we cry out to you to intercede on our behalf, 
glad for our union with you;
tomorrow we will grumble about the burden of caring for our neighbour, 
annoyed by our union with one another.  
We want to be autonomous and untethered, 
but you call us to love one another as you love us. 
Forgive our selfishness, 
and move our hearts to serve. 

Silence

Lamb upon the throne,
forgive us, and help us.
May we seek first your kingdom.
Amen. 

Assurance of Pardon & Response of Praise

This saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
He who is the fullness of God, of life, of truth, of goodness,
redeems us and sanctifies us, 
even when our sin feels too great.
God alone has saved us; 
to him be honor and glory forever and ever. 
Amen.
—1 Timothy 1:15–17, adapt.

Song of Thanksgiving

“Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me” ^{Robinson et al.}

Passing of the Peace

Jesus said to his disciples, 
“Love each other as I have loved you.”
Having been reconciled with God, 
let us reconcile with one another, 
passing the peace of Christ.

Prayer for Illumination

Scripture Reading

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20–26
Psalm: Psalm 96
Second Reading: John 15:1–8

Sermon

“The Vine and the Branches”

Song of Response

“Be Thou My Vision” ^{Hull, Byrne}

Creed

[The Ascension affirms that all people and all bodies, who are in Christ Jesus are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. Consider showing this video from Faith Church in Indiana in which people of different abilities recite the Apostle’s Creed, before standing as a congregation to recite the creed together.]

Prayers of the People

Offering, Offertory Prayer

Song of Dedication

“Hear the Call of the Kingdom” ^{Townend and Getty}

Benediction

Doxology

To [Jesus Christ], who loves us
and freed us from our sins by his blood
and made us a kingdom,
priests serving his God and Father,
to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.
Amen. 
—Revelation 1:5–6 ^NRSVUE