Worship Bulletin for Thursday morning, the Ascension Day  We hope you find this helpful in following along with the service. You are encouraged to respond in the appropriate places. The service is taken from the Book of Common Prayer. If you do not have a copy, you can access it at either https://www.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/BCP.pdf  or    http://prayerbook.ca/resources/bcponline/.

St. Stephen’s Anglican Parish

11:00 am St. Stephen’s On-line Service, Chester

Ascension Day

21 May 2020

Our mission is to worship God and care for

God’s people in the spirit of Christ.

Ascension Day

The Lord’s Prayer & Collect for Purity – page 67

The Summary of the Law – page 69

“Kyrie” and Mutual Salutation – page 70

Collect:

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.

Reader: A Reading from 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."

All: Thanks be to God

Psalm:           47 – p. 389

Reader: A Reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Ephesians (1:15-23) 

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hid-den with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Reader: The Word of the Lord

All: Thanks be to God

Presider : The Lord be with you.

All: And with thy spirit.

Presider: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke (24:44-53)

All: Glory be to thee, O Lord.

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.

Reader: The Word of the Lord

All: Thanks be to God

Presider: The Gospel of Christ.

All: Praise be to thee, O Christ.

The Nicene Creed - p. 71

The Homily – The Rector

Offertory Sentence & Preparation of the Altar

Prayer over the Gifts – p. 74

Biddings & Intercessory Prayer – p. 75

Invitation, Confession, Absolution, and Comfortable Words – p. 76-78

Thanksgiving & Consecration, with Preface for Ascension – p. 78-83

Please respond in the appropriate places, as indicated in the Book of Common Prayer. The Celebrant gives voice to the prayer alone, on behalf of the congregation. However, the “responses” at the appropriate moments, and especially the “Amen” at the end of the Prayer of Consecration are vital for the people to offer.

The reason the responses, and especially the “Amen”, is important, is to assist in receiving what is called “Spiritual Communion”. According to the Book of Common Prayer, anyone who believes the Prayer of Consecration, and that the bread is truly the Body of Christ, and that the wine is truly the Blood of Christ receives all the benefits of Holy Communion, without actually physically receiving the elements themselves. This belief is signified by saying “Amen” to the Prayer, and when the bread and wine are received by the Priest.  In this respect, the Priest receives Communion on behalf of the people. “Spiritual Communion” is to be used in extenuating circumstances only – which this time certainly is.

The Peace & Prayer of Humble Access – p. 83

“Agnus Dei” - p. 84

Presider: The gifts of God for the people of God.

All: Thanks be to God.

Again, at the receiving of bread and wine, the people respond “Amen.”

The Lord’s Prayer, Prayer after Communion, “Gloria”, & Blessing – p. 85-86