Ascension Day marks the first day of Thy Kingdom Come - an annual
invitation to prayer called by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
Lasting for eleven days, the focus is specific prayer in churches,
households and as individuals for friends, families, communities and
countries to come to know the saving love of God in Jesus Christ, and for
ourselves that empowered by God’s Spirit we would grow in confidence to
show and tell of God’s love.
There is a wide range of resources, including daily videos, to support
churches on the dedicated Thy Kingdom Come app (available on iOS and
Android) or at https://www.thykingdomcome.global/.
God has gone up with a shout.
The Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Psalm 47:5
We meet in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
Amen.
Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you
and also with you.
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.
Today we recall how he left this earth and returned to his Father,
ascending into heaven to take his throne over all dominions and
powers. Trusting in his reign over all creation, and submitting to his
kingly yet loving rule, let us hear the story of his parting.
Collect for Thy Kingdom Come
Almighty God,
your ascended Son has sent us into the world
to preach the good news of your kingdom:
inspire us with your Spirit
and fill our hearts with the fire of your love,
that all who hear your Word
may be drawn to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Hymn: Thine be the Glory - https://vimeo.com/418992334
The Ascension Reading: Acts of the Apostles 1.1-11
“In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do
and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving
instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After
his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing
proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days
and spoke about the kingdom of God. 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 baptized
with water, but you will be baptized 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.“ ’
At the end the reader says:
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Hymn: Amazing Grace - https://vimeo.com/418988143
The Great Commission: Matthew 28:16-20
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus
had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but
some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in
heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of
the age.”
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Sermon - https://www.thykingdomcome.global/
We renew our commitment to our reigning Lord
Let us affirm the faith of the Church which Christ commissions us
to share with the world
Do you believe and trust in God the Father source of all being and
life, the One for whom we exist?
I believe and trust in Him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Son
who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again?
I believe and trust in Him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit who gives life to the
people of God
and makes Christ known in the world?
I believe and trust in Him.
This is the faith of the Church.
This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Our Prayers
God of our salvation, hope of all the ends of the earth, we pray:
Thy kingdom come.
That the world may know Jesus Christ as the Prince of Peace, we pray:
Thy kingdom come.
That all who are estranged and without hope may be brought near in the blood of Christ, we pray:
Your kingdom come.
That the Church may be one in serving and proclaiming the gospel, we pray:
Your kingdom come.
That we may be bold to speak the word of God while you stretch out your hand to save, we pray:
Thy kingdom come.
That the Church may be generous in giving, faithful in serving, bold in proclaiming, we pray:
Thy kingdom come.
That the Church may welcome and support all whom God calls to faith,we pray:
Your kingdom come.
That all who serve the gospel may be kept in safety while your word accomplishes its purpose, we pray:
Your kingdom come.
That all who suffer for the gospel may know the comfort and glory of Christ, we pray:
Your kingdom come.
That the day may come when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, we pray:
(pause to pray for 5)
Your kingdom come.
The Peace
Jesus says: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
If you love me, rejoice because I am going to the Father’. John 14.27,28
Alleluia.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
Song: Bless the Lord O My Soul - https://youtu.be/U8655uV3plI
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
Almighty God, good Father to us all,
your face is turned towards your world.
In love you gave us Jesus your Son
to rescue us from sin and death.
Your Word goes out to call us home
to the city where angels sing your praise.
We join with them in heaven’s song:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Father of all, we give you thanks for every gift that comes from heaven.
To the darkness Jesus came as your light.
With signs of faith and words of hope
he touched untouchables with love and washed the guilty clean.
This is his story.
This is our song:
Hosanna in the highest.
The crowds came out to see your Son,
yet at the end they turned on him.
On the night he was betrayed
he came to table with his friends
to celebrate the freedom of your people.
This is his story.
This is our song:
Hosanna in the highest.
Jesus blessed you, Father, for the food;
he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and said:
This is my body, given for you all.
Jesus then gave thanks for the wine;
he took the cup, gave it and said:
This is my blood, shed for you all
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this in remembrance of me.
This is our story.
This is our song:
Hosanna in the highest.
Therefore, Father, with this bread and this cup
we celebrate the cross
on which he died to set us free.
Defying death he rose again
and is alive with you to plead for us and all the world.
This is our story.
This is our song:
Hosanna in the highest.
Send your Spirit on us now
that by these gifts we may feed on Christ
with opened eyes and hearts on fire.
May we and all who share this food
offer ourselves to live for you
and be welcomed at your feast in heaven
where all creation worships you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours for ever and ever. Amen.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
Every time we eat this bread
and drink this cup,
we proclaim the Lord’s death
until he comes.
Lord, we died with you on the cross.
Now we are raised to new life.
We were buried in your tomb.
Now we share in your resurrection.
Live in us, that we may live in you.
Prayer of Spiritual Communion
Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits you have given me,
for all the pains and insults you have borne for me.
Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,
I ask you to come spiritually into my heart.
O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,
may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly, day by day.
Amen.
Prayer after Communion
We thank you, Lord,
that you have fed us in this sacrament,
united us with Christ,
and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet
prepared for all peoples.
Amen.
The Dismissal
Hymn: And Can it be - https://vimeo.com/418989774
Reading: 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.
No responses are used at the end of the reading.
Silence is kept.
Responsory
As we wait in silence,
make us ready for your coming Spirit.
As we listen to your word,
make us ready for your coming Spirit.
As we worship you in majesty,
make us ready for your coming Spirit.
As we long for your refreshing,
make us ready for your coming Spirit.
As we long for your renewing,
make us ready for your coming Spirit.
As we long for your equipping,
make us ready for your coming Spirit.
As we long for your empowering,
make us ready for your coming Spirit.
The Blessing
God the Father,
who has given to his Son the name above every name,
strengthen you to proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord.
Amen.
God the Son,
who is our great high priest passed into the heavens,
plead for you at the right hand of the Father.
Amen.
God the Holy Spirit,
who pours out his abundant gifts upon the Church,
make you faithful servants of Christ our King.
Amen.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
The Dismissal
Waiting expectantly for the promised Holy Spirit,
go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
A little more about Thy Kingdom Come…
During the 11 days of Thy Kingdom Come, it is hoped that everyone who
takes part will:
Deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ
Pray for God’s spirit to work in the lives of those they know
Come to realise that every aspect of their life is the stuff of prayer
After the very first Ascension Day the disciples gathered with Mary,
constantly devoting themselves to prayer while they waited for the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Like them, our reliance on the
gift of the Holy Spirit is total – on our own we can do nothing.
Through the centuries Christians have gathered at that time to pray for
the coming of the Holy Spirit. ‘Thy Kingdom Come ’picks up this tradition.
Over the past three years more and more worshipping communities have
dedicated the days between Ascension and Pentecost to pray ‘Come Holy
Spirit’.
We are praying that the Spirit will inspire and equip us to share the Good
News of Jesus Christ with our friends and families, our communities and
networks. It has been amazing how many varied ways there have been in
which people from every tradition have taken up this challenge. The
effects have been remarkable.
It is our prayer that those who have not yet heard the Good News of Jesus
Christ and his love for the world will hear it for themselves, and respond
and follow Him. Specifically, we again invite each and every Christian
across the country to pray that God’s Spirit might work in the lives of 5
friends who have not responded with their ‘Yes ’to God’s call.
Whether you have joined in ‘Thy Kingdom Come ’before or not, we invite
you to take part – along with churches from over 65 different
denominations in over 170 countries around the world.
