Order of service: Thursday 21 May 2020

God has gone up with a shout,

the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

Psalm 47.5

In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you.

and also with you.

cf 1 Timothy 1.2

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, for forty days we have been celebrating with joyful hearts the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, his bursting from the tomb and his defeat of the power of sin and death. He appeared to his disciples many times and told them about the kingdom of God.

As Christ’s body in this parish we live this resurrection through our lives of faith, proclaiming in word and deed his victory over sin and death. Today we give thanks especially for the signs of growth in our midst as we renew our commitment to Christ remembering how on this day he left this earth and returned to his Father, ascending into heaven to take his throne over all dominions and powers.

Hymn

Hail the day that sees him rise, alleluia!
to his throne above the skies, alleluia!
Christ, the Lamb, for sinners giv’n, alleluia!
enters now the highest heav’n! alleluia!

There for him high triumph waits; alleluia!
lift your heads, eternal gates! alleluia!
Christ hath conquered death and sin; alleluia!
take the King of Glory in! alleluia!

Circled round with angel-pow’rs, alleluia!
their triumphant Lord and ours; alleluia!
conqueror over death and sin; alleluia!
take the King of Glory in! alleluia!

Lo, the heav’n its Lord receives, alleluia!
yet he loves the earth he leaves; alleluia!
though returning to his throne, alleluia!
calls the human race his own, alleluia!

See, he lifts his hands above; alleluia!
see, he shows the prints of love; alleluia!
hark, his gracious lips bestow, alleluia!
blessings on his church below, alleluia!

Still for us he intercedes, alleluia!
his prevailing death he pleads; alleluia!
near himself prepares our place, alleluia!
he the first-fruits of our race, alleluia!

Lord, though parted from our sight, alleluia!
far above the starry height, alleluia!
grant our hearts may thither rise, alleluia!
seeking thee above the skies, Alleluia!

Ever upward let us move, alleluia!
wafted on the wings of love; alleluia!
looking when our Lord shall come, alleluia!
longing, sighing after home, alleluia!

The Collect

Let us pray that our risen and ascended Lord will lead us to eternal life.

Silence is kept.

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.

Amen.

Reading from the New Testament.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Chapter 1. 4-11).

While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This,’ he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’

So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’

When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn

The head that once was crowned with thorns
is crowned with glory now;
a royal diadem adorns
the mighty victor’s brow.

The highest place that heav’n affords
is his, is his by right.
The King of kings and Lord of lords,
and heav’n’s eternal light.

The joy of all who dwell above,
the joy of all below,
to whom he manifests his love,
and grants his name to know.

To them the cross, with all its shame,
with all its grace, is given;
their name an everlasting name,
their joy, the joy of heav’n.

They suffer with their Lord below,
they reign with him above
their profit and their joy to know
the myst’ry of his love.

The cross he bore is life and health,
though shame and death to him;
his people’s hope, his people’s wealth,
their everlasting theme.

Gospel Reading

Alleluia, alleluia.

Go and make disciples of all nations, says the Lord.
Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Alleluia.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said to the disciples, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you – that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Preached by The Right Reverend Paul Slater, Bishop of Kirkstall .

Anthem

Sung by St Mary’s Choir, taken from the recording ‘A Year Full of Worship’.

God Is Gone Up

God is gone up with a merry noise
and the Lord with the sound of the trumpet.
Thou art gone up on high,
thou hast led captivity captive,
and receivèd gifts for men.
O sing praises unto our God,
O sing praises unto our King,
he hath led captivity captive,
and receivèd gifts for men.
Alleluia, alleluia.
God is gone up on high.

Words: from Psalms 47, 68
Music: Arthur Hutchings (1906-1989)

Profession of Faith

My brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess the faith of the Church.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Commission

As the people of God here I invite you to renew your commitment to follow in the way of Christ.

Will you continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, in prayers and in the desire to grow in the faith you have affirmed together?

With the help of God, we will.

Will you endeavour to deepen your faith and love for Christ by the study of scriptures together and alone?

With the help of God, we will.

Will you share your story with those you meet, proclaiming by word and example the good news of God in Christ?

With the help of God, we will.

Will you seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your neighbour as yourself?

With the help of God, we will.

Blessing and honour and glory and power!

Our words echo the praise of the angels as you, Jesus Christ, rise above the limitations of earth, to sit for ever on the right hand side of God.

Though now we cannot ascend to where you are, still raise our hopes and hearts,

That our discipleship in this world
may be touched with the glory of heaven
and our lives be signs and promises
of the fullness of life to come.

Amen.

Hymn

Christ triumphant, ever-reigning,
Saviour, Master, King,
Lord of heav’n, our lives sustaining,
hear us as we sing:

(Refrain)

Yours the glory and the crown,
the high renown, th’eternal name.

Word incarnate, truth revealing,
Son of Man on earth!
Pow’r and majesty concealing
by your humble birth:

Yours the glory and the crown…

Suff’ring servant, scorned, ill-treated,
victim crucified!
Death is through the cross defeated,
sinners justified:

Yours the glory and the crown…

Priestly King, enthroned for ever
high in heav’n above!
Sin and death and hell can never
stifle hymns of love:

Yours the glory and the crown…

So, our hearts and voices raising
through the ages long,
ceaselessly upon you gazing,
this shall be our song:

Yours the glory and the crown…

Prayers of Intercession

Written by James Black

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.

Let us pray.

Ascended Lord, you commissioned your followers to be your witnesses to the ends of the earth. We pray for your church today – for all who proclaim your name in all countries of the world. Give courage to us all to speak of your glory to those we meet, and open the hearts of everyone to your love and saving grace. We pray for those whose job is to support mission in our diocese; especially for our bishops and priests, and for the Rev Canon Andrew Norman, Director of Ministry and Mission.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

The Lord, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth. We pray for the leaders of all nations; for all in positions of power, authority, and responsibility. Grant them wisdom to govern effectively, and humility to govern justly. We pray for all struggling to lead during this pandemic; let them feel your presence beside them, and may they be guided by your Spirit to work for the good of all people.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

God amongst us, you walked beside us as one of us, seeing life as we do. We pray for all in our lives. For our friends and family – especially those whom we love but cannot be with. Bless us as we try to keep our lives as normal as possible; and empower us to be a blessing to those whom we meet. We give you thanks for those who selflessly care for others, and for those who simply check we are okay. Your Spirit is at work in the darkest of times, and we praise you for that gift.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Suffering Servant, look with compassion on all who are ill in mind, body, or spirit. Strengthen with your Holy Spirit all who are brought to the point of breaking by their suffering, all whose faith is damaged by their own pain or that of someone else. We pray for those in hospital, especially those suffering from COVID-19. Give them hope in their affliction, and show mercy to all who cry out. We pray too for those who give care – for doctors, nurses, and carers; and especially those who are bearing the strain of treating so many patients.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Risen Lord, you died as we do, but showed that even death is under your command. We hold before you all who have died, particularly those known to us. Comfort those who mourn, reassure those whose lives are drawing to a close, and help us all to prepare for the day we meet you face-to-face, whether that is on earth when you return, or standing before you when we die.

Looking for the coming of his kingdom, let us pray with confidence as our Saviour taught us.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.

Amen.

Hymn

Alleluia, sing to Jesus,
his the sceptre, his the throne;
alleluia, his the triumph,
his the victory alone:
hark, the songs of peaceful Sion
thunder like a mighty flood:
Jesus out of ev’ry nation.
hath redeemed us by his blood.

Alleluia, not as orphans
are we left in sorrow now;
alleluia, he is near us,
faith believes, nor questions how;
though the cloud from sight received him
when the forty days were o’er,
shall our hearts forget his promise,
‘I am with you evermore’?

Alleluia, bread of angels,
thou on earth our food, our stay;
alleluia, here the sinful
flee to thee from day to day;
intercessor, friend of sinners,
earth’s redeemer, plead for me,
where the songs of all the sinless
sweep across the crystal sea.

Alleluia, King eternal,
thee the Lord of lords we own;
alleluia, born of Mary,
earth thy footstool, heav’n thy throne;
thou within the veil hast entered,
robed in flesh, our great High Priest;
thou on earth both priest and victim
in the Eucharistic Feast.

Reading

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (1.12,13a,14)

Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying. They were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.’

Silence is kept.