A Service for Ascension Day 21st May 2020
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A Service for Ascension Day 21st May 2020
Welcome online to St Peter & St Paul
It is a joy and a privilege for us to host this service this evening, bringing together
churches from across Kettering.
We gather together on Zoom or Facebook, separate yet united as the Body of
Christ.
We’re grateful to all those from other churches who have helped prepare for this
service and who are taking part in it.
God loves Kettering; and the people of our town need to be able to see that love
as they see Christians from different churches working and worshipping together.
God bless you all as we enter this season of ‘Thy Kingdom Come’.
The Revd David Walsh
Rector
rector@peterandpaul.org.uk
2Introduction and Welcome
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you
and also with you.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
The Rev’d David Walsh introduces the service.
Prayers of Penitence
Seeing we have a great high priest who has passed into the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God,
let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith,
and make our confession to our heavenly Father.
You offer us new life, through the resurrection of your Son,
yet we prefer the comfort of the familiar and sinful.
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
You promised your Holy Spirit among us
Yet we keep looking up towards heaven.
Christ, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Your witnesses proclaim you to the ends of the earth
yet we fail to make you known in this town.
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
May the God of love and power
forgive you and free you from your sins
heal and strengthen you by his Spirit
and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen
3Let us pray that our risen and ascended Lord will lead us
to eternal life.
All are invited to light a candle in their homes.
Jesus Christ,
you came into this broken world to bring light,
to enlighten all people.
We light these candles now as a symbol of that light,
and we pray for that day when all will know your presence
and your salvation.
Amen
Hymn
Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia!
To his throne above the skies; Alleluia!
Christ, the Lamb for sinners given, Alleluia!
Enters now the highest heaven: Alleluia!
There the glorious triumph waits: Alleluia!
Lift your heads, eternal gates; Alleluia!
Wide unfold the radiant scene; Alleluia!
Take the King of glory in! Alleluia!
4Though returning to his throne, Alleluia!
Still he calls the world his own; Alleluia!
Him though highest heaven receives, Alleluia!
Still he loves the world he leaves. Alleluia!
See! He lifts his hands above; Alleluia!
See! He shows the prints of love; Alleluia!
Hark! His gracious lips bestow, Alleluia!
Blessings on his church below: Alleluia!
Still for us he intercedes, Alleluia!
His prevailing love he pleads; Alleluia!
Near himself prepares our place, Alleluia!
He the first-fruits of our race. Alleluia!
Lord, though parted from our sight, Alleluia!
Far above the starry height, Alleluia!
Grant our hearts may thither rise, Alleluia!
Seeking thee above the skies: Alleluia!
There we shall with thee remain, Alleluia!
Partners of thy endless reign; Alleluia!
There thy face forever see, Alleluia!
Find our heaven of heavens in thee! Alleluia!
Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Tune: “Llanfair” by R Williams (1781-1821)
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (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
5receive 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.’
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Homily David Roberts, Central Vineyard Church
Affirmation of Faith
Do you believe and trust in God the Father,
source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist?
We 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?
We 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?
We 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.
6Prayers of Intercession
We invite you to kneel, sit, or stand in your own homes to pray.
A prayer for the town of Kettering
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
A prayer for the unity of God’s people and the churches of Kettering
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
A prayer for our nation and all who make decisions at this time
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
A prayer for all working on the frontline
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
A prayer for those in need
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Our prayers conclude with the prayer that Jesus taught us:
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.
7Worship Song
All hail the Lamb,
enthroned on high;
His praise shall be
our battle cry,
He reigns victorious,
forever glorious,
His name is Jesus,
He is the Lord.
Dave Bilbrough
Community Slot
A reading from the book of Ephesians (1:15-end)
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,
and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in
my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so
that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope
to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance
among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us
who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power
to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right
hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and
dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in
the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the
head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who
fills all in all.
We keep silence
8Responsory Prayer
As we watch a video, we pray the following over our town:
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.
Blessing and Dismissal
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
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.
9And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Waiting expectantly for the promised Holy Spirit,
go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Closing Hymn
We have a gospel to proclaim,
good news for all throughout the earth;
the gospel of a Saviour's name:
we sing his glory, tell his worth.
Tell of his birth at Bethlehem
not in a royal house or hall
but in a stable dark and dim,
the Word made flesh, a light for all.
Tell of his death at Calvary,
hated by those he came to save,
in lonely suffering on the Cross;
for all he loved his life he gave.
Tell of that glorious Easter morn:
empty the tomb, for he was free.
He broke the power of death and hell
that we might share his victory.
Tell of his reign at God's right hand,
by all creation glorified.
He sends his Spirit on his Church
to live for him, the Lamb who died.
10Now we rejoice to name him King:
Jesus is Lord of all the earth.
This gospel-message we proclaim:
we sing his glory, tell his worth.
Edward J. Burns (b. 1938)
Tune: “Fulda” by W Gardiner (c1815)
11Upcoming Events for Thy Kingdom Come For 'Thy Kingdom Come 2020' we are hosting 5 evenings of prayer from Monday 25th - Friday 29th May, from 7.30pm-8.15pm. The focus for our times together will be for people to come to know the love, hope and peace found in Christ. We invite everyone to access as many of these times of prayer as they wish, via Zoom. The details to access these meetings are as follows: Monday 25th at 7.30pm: Hosted by Ian Hames and John Burdett: Christ the King Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88092722129?pwd=NDJ4c2dwOHZxdkRXMU5heGlzVUt ndz09 Meeting ID: 880 9272 2129 Password: 467856 Tuesday 26th at 7.30pm: Hosted by Hannah Jeffery: Kettering Deanery Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82365973681?pwd=NU10cU9tdWNxNHdCT01vZkZndU R1QT09 Meeting ID: 823 6597 3681 Password: 627608 * Please come ready to light a candle in your home (but do not use anti-bac hand gel immediately before the meeting begins!) Wednesday 27th at 7.30pm: Hosted by Nigel Govier: Kettering Salvation Army Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/94731440303?pwd=NHQ0YS9VTkhNNkN3OHdaREJwVEVhdz09 Meeting ID: 947 3144 0303 Password: 982546 Thursday 28th at 7.30pm: Hosted by Dave Nunn: Open Door Join Zoom Meeting https://us04web.zoom.us/j/2217399597?pwd=Njc5RWpPcVd0QnlCcjY2MVp0U0dBdz 09 Meeting ID: 221 739 9597 Password: 780160 12
Friday 29th at 7.30pm: Hosted by David Roberts: Central Vineyard
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85110174408?pwd=SHE0VVg4RTRrVC9xc1F5d3VIeGNUd
z09
Meeting ID: 851 1017 4408
Password: 926097
Sunday 31st at 9.00pm – Pentecost: Night Prayer from St Peter and St
Paul
Via Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/peterandpaulkettering
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