Preludes: Improvisation on ‘Veni, Creator Spiritus’ Noel Rawsthorne; Adagio Joseph Hector Fiocco
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
May God’s grace and peace be with you.
May God fill our hearts with joy.
to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray,
Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord. Keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of his peace, and bring the whole of creation to worship at his feet, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking 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 toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward 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."
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God
Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with a cry of joy. For the Lord Most High is to be feared; he is the great king over all the earth.
God has gone up with a shout.
He subdues the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet. He chooses our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves.
God has gone up with a shout.
God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of the ram's-horn. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our king, sing praises.
God has gone up with a shout.
For God is king of all the earth; sing praises with all your skill. God reigns over the nations; God sits upon his holy throne.
God has gone up with a shout.
The nobles of the peoples have gathered together with the people of the God of Abraham. The rulers of the earth belong to God, and he is highly exalted.
God has gone up with a shout.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said to them, "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.
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he was buried; he was raised to life on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures;
afterwards he appeared to his followers,
and to all the apostles: this we have received,
and this we believe. Amen. cf 1 Corinthians 15.3-7
Let us join our prayers with those of our Saviour Christ, seeking God’s blessing and the gifts of the Spirit, saying: hear our prayer.
We pray for General Synod and the election of a new Primate. We pray for the unity of the Church; may we love as Christ loved in order that the transforming nature of Christ may be seen in us. We pray for the young people and their leaders from Trinity Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, visiting the Island this week. God of love,
Jesus Christ, king of righteousness, enthroned at the right hand of the majesty on high, pray for the world, and make it subject to your gentle rule.
We pray for all people and for the leaders of the nations, that peace, justice and reconciliation may be known throughout the world. Bless us in our work, education and leisure; bless our homes and all people in their daily life and work. God of love,
Jesus Christ, Son of Man, drawing humanity into the life of God, pray for all in need, distress or sorrow.
We pray for the honouring of human rights, for the relief of the oppressed, for an end to bigotry and misunderstanding. God of love,
Jesus Christ, teacher and healer, the lifeforce of the Divine, pray for hope.
We pray for those who are ill at home or in the hospital, especially…
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And others that we may name out loud or in our hearts.
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We give thanks for all who bring comfort, care and healing. God of love,
Jesus Christ, pioneer of our salvation, bringing us to glory through your death and resurrection, surround with your saints and angels those who have died trusting your promises … remembering especially,
…that by the resurrection of Jesus, they may rejoice forever with the Living One. And we pray for all who mourn. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Jesus Christ, Lord over all things, ascended and filling the universe, pray for us who receive the gifts you give us for work in your service.
Hear our prayer.
Jesus Christ, who commanded that we love one another, pray for us in our daily lives.
We give thanks for love and friendship and for all that enriches our lives: for the forgiveness of our sins and offenses, that by your love and mercy we may know the joy of freedom won by the risen Christ. God of love,
Jesus Christ, keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at your feet; for you are alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ
be always with you
and also with you. Alleluia!
Let us pray,
Eternal God, our Saviour Jesus Christ has promised to be with us until the end of time. Accept all we offer you this day, and renew us in his transfigured life; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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 our thanks and praise.
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.
we remember his death,
we proclaim his resurrection,
we await his coming in glory;
As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
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. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
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.
Alleluia! Christ our passover
is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
grant us your peace.
PB 129 There’s a Sweetness of His Presence (repeated)
PB 101 Dwelling Place
Let us pray,
Eternal Giver of love and power, your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world to preach the gospel of his kingdom. Confirm us in this mission, and help us to live the good news we proclaim; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The doxology
Glory to God,
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God
from generation to generation,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever. Amen.
May the Spirit,
who set the Church on fire upon the day of Pentecost,
bring the world alive with the love of the risen Christ.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
379 Rejoice the Lord is King
rejoicing in the power of the risen and ascended Lord.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
