Ascension Sunday May 17, 2026, 10:00 am St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI

Ascension Sunday
May 17, 2026, 10:00 am
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
 
The Easter Proclamation  
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.
 
The Collect for Purity
Almighty God,
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.
 
Hymn: 491 The Head That Once Was Crowned
 
The Collect of the Day
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
A Reading From The Book Of Acts
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."
For the Word of God in scripture, among us and with us.
Thanks be to God
 
Psalm 47
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.
 
Hymn: 405 Alleluia No. 1
 
The Holy Gospel: Luke 24:44-53
The Lord be with you.
      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.
 
Sermon
 
The Prayers of the Community
Intercessions
Almighty God, you have exalted your Son Christ Jesus to your right hand and made him the head over all things for his body the Church: hear us as we pray for the world, saying: hear our prayer.
 
We pray for the Church: for Shane our Primate and Sandra our Bishop, make us receptive to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, that we may use them to your glory, and the building up of the body of Christ. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for this parish of St. Paul’s: Your Son has promised to be with us always, to the end of the age: Grant that we may be so aware of his presence with us, that people may take note of us, that the scriptures have been opened to us. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Compassionate God, as you know each star you have created, so you know the secrets of every heart; in your loving mercy bring to your table all who are fearful and broken, all who are wounded and needy, that our true needs may be satisfied in the presence of your peace. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We praise you for the beauty of creation, its richness and variety; yet, through greed and ignorance, we scar your world with waste. Help us to tread gently on our common home, and breathe your Spirit on us, that we may care more deeply for your Earth. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Grant that we may know (even in this time) the things that make for peace, and may strive for the reconciliation of all people in your realm of justice and love. For peace in the Middle East, in Ukraine and all places of conflict. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Your Son lives to make intercession for us: hear us as we pray for those in any kind of need, remembering especially those we know who are ill at home or in the hospital:
-
and those we may name out loud or in our hearts:
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May Jesus who has borne our infirmities strengthen and heal them, that they may find grace to help in time of need, and rejoice in his salvation. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For those who have died in your peace, remembering especially,
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…that by the resurrection of Jesus, they may rejoice forever with the Living One. And we ask you to be a comfort to all who mourn. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Open our hearts and minds to understand the scriptures, O God, that we may discover the freedom of your forgiveness; that we may know the joy of the risen Christ; that we may comprehend the power of the promised Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
The Peace
Alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ
be always with you
               and also with you. Alleluia!
 
Announcements
 
Hymn: 309 Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet (vs 1, 2, 1)
 
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
Prayer Over the Gifts
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.
 
Eucharistic Prayer 3
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.
 
Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord, who after his glorious resurrection appeared to his disciples, and in their sight ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us; that where he is, there we might also be, and reign with him in glory.
 
Therefore we praise you with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your name.
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 give thanks to you, Lord our God, for the goodness and love you have made known to us in creation; in calling Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
 
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, a death he freely accepted, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
 
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
 
Therefore, Father, according to his command,
we remember his death,
we proclaim his resurrection,
we await his coming in glory;
 
and we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
 
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts, that they may be the sacrament of the body of Christ and his blood of the new covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we, made acceptable in him, may be sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
 
In the fullness of time, reconcile all things in Christ, and make them new, and bring us to that city of light where you dwell with all your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation;
 
by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Lord’s Prayer
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.
 
The Breaking of the Bread (Easter Season)
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.
Alleluia! Christ our passover
is sacrificed for us.
               Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
 
Lamb of God
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.
 
Hymn-during-communion:
PB 19 I Come By Faith
PB 135 Gathered in His Name
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
Hymn: PB 135 Gathered in His Name
 
Prayer after Communion
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.
 
Blessing
Risen and ascended Christ,
you surround us with witnesses
and send us the Counselor
who opens our minds to understand your teaching.
And may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
 
Hymn: 485, Love, Divine, All Loves Excelling
 
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Alleluia! Go forth into the world,
rejoicing in the power of the Risen Lord.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!