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:
-
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,
-
…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!
The Sixth Sunday
of Easter
May 10, 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: 374 Alleluia! Sing to Jesus
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray,
Faithful God, make our hearts bold with love for one another.
Pour out your Spirit upon all people, so that we may live your justice and sing
in praise the new song of your marvellous victory; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (2002) alt.
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Acts
17:22-31
A Reading From The Book Of Acts
Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said,
"Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I
went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I
found among them an altar with the inscription, 'To an unknown God.' What
therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the
world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live
in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he
needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all
things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and
he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where
they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him
and find him - though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For 'In him we
live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said,
'For we too are his offspring.' Since we are God's offspring, we ought not to
think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the
art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human
ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has
fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man
whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him
from the dead."
For the Word of God in scripture, among us and with us.
Thanks be to God
Psalm 66:7-18
Bless our God, you
peoples; make the voice of his praise to be heard; Who holds our souls in life,
and will not allow our feet to slip.
Be joyful in God, all you lands.
For you, O God, have
proved us; you have tried us just as silver is tried. You brought us into the
snare; you laid heavy burdens upon our backs. You let enemies ride over our
heads; we went through fire and water; but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.
Be joyful in God, all you lands.
I will enter your house
with burnt offerings and will pay you my vows, which I promised with my lips
and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble. I will offer you sacrifices of
fat beasts with the smoke of rams; I will give you oxen and goats. Come and
listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he has done for me. I
called out to him with my mouth, and his praise was on my tongue. If I had
found evil in my heart, the Lord would not have heard me; But in truth God has
heard me; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, who has
not rejected my prayer, nor withheld his love from me.
Be joyful in God, all you lands.
Hymn: 645 Come Down O Love Divine
The Holy Gospel: John 14:15-21
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ
according to John
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus
said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the
Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is
the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him
nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world
will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.
On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those
who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself
to them."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon
The Prayers of the Community
Intercessions
Holy God, you have called us to follow in the way of your
risen Son, and to care for one another, with words of comfort and acts of love.
We offer our prayers on behalf of the church and the world saying: hear our
prayer.
For the Church: remembering
especially Shane our Primate and Sandra our Bishop, that with the Spirit of
Truth we may abide in the living Christ; that our shared ministries may be
marked by prayer and service to those in need. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For this parish of St. Paul’s: help us live our calling to be
a people who show the transforming love and justice of God in action. God of
love,
Hear our prayer.
For all women: on this Mother’s Day we give thanks for all
women, especially those who have mother’s us: who’ve taught, coached,
instructed us: who’ve hugged us and loved us when we’ve most needed it. Be with
and bless those who mourn the loss of a mother or a child. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For all who struggle with their faith, lead us in right paths, help us make
wise decisions, that your presence and love may
be made known to all people and bring light to our common journey. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For a renewed stewardship of the whole creation: For
all who work on land and sea, that they may use their skills wisely to feed the
human family, and that you will give them favorable weather and an abundant
harvest. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For leaders and legislators, that they may serve with wisdom,
equity and compassion for the good of all. For peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and all places
of conflict, that tempest, turmoil and temptation may give way to a search for
the common good and the building of communities of peace. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, 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:
-
…that they may find healing in the name of the Risen Christ.
God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For those who have died in your peace, remembering
especially,
-
…that by the resurrection of Jesus, they may rejoice forever
with the Living One. And be a comfort to all who mourn. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We pray that you will send the fire of your Holy Spirit upon
us, that we may be forgiven all our sins and bear faithful witness to the
resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Guide us in the path of discipleship, so
that, as you have blessed us, we may be a blessing for others, bringing the
promise of the kingdom through our words and deeds. This we pray in Christ’s
name. Amen.
The Peace
Alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ
be always with you
and also
with you. Alleluia!
Announcements & Birthday Song
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
Hymn: 484 In Christ there is No East or
West
Prayer Over the Gifts
Let us pray,
God of glory, accept all we offer you this day, and bring us
to that eternal city of love and light, where Christ is King. We ask this in
his name. Amen.
Eucharistic
Prayer 1
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.
It
is indeed right that we should praise you, gracious God, for you created all
things. You formed us in your own image: as your children you created
us. When we turned away from you in sin, you did not cease to care for us, but
opened a path of salvation for all people. You made a covenant with the
Hebrews, and through your servants Abraham and Sarah gave the promise of a
blessing to all nations. Through Moses you led your people from bondage into
freedom; through the prophets you renewed your promise of salvation.
Therefore,
with them, and with all your saints who have served you in every age, we give
thanks and raise our voices 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.
Holy
God, source of life and goodness, all creation rightly gives you praise. In the
fullness of time, you sent your Son Jesus Christ, to share our human nature, to
live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.
He healed the sick and ate and drank with outcasts and sinners; he opened the
eyes of the blind and proclaimed the good news of your kingdom to the poor and
to those in need. In all things he fulfilled your gracious will.
On
the night he freely gave himself to death, 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.”
Gracious
God, his perfect sacrifice destroys the power of sin and death; by raising him
to life you give us life for evermore.
Therefore
we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ
has died.
Christ
is risen.
Christ
will come again.
Recalling
his death, proclaiming his resurrection, and looking for his coming again in
glory, we offer you, Father, this bread and this cup. Send your Holy Spirit
upon us and upon these gifts, that all who eat and drink at this table may be
one body and one holy people, a living sacrifice in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Through
Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory
is 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:
61 As We Gather at your Table
73 One Bread, One Body
The Sending Forth of the Community
Hymn: 73 One Bread, One Body
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
Father, you restored us to life by raising your Son from
death. May we who receive this sacrament always be strengthened to do your
will, in the name of Jesus Christ the risen 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
May the Risen Christ empower us to show forth God’s love
with gentle word and reverent deed to all people.
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: 425 Joyful, Joyful
The Scattering
(Mark 4:20)
Alleluia! Go forth into the world,
rejoicing in the power of the Risen Lord.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
