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Call to Worship

L: Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers.
P: but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.
L: They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
P: For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
L: Come, let us draw near our Lord in the fellowship of His people!

 

Call to Worship

L: Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
P: To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and migth forever and ever.

Or Psalm 47 or 93 responsively

 

Ascension Day Litany of Illumination

P:       Jesus Christ is the Light of the world,

C:        the light no darkness can overcome.

P:       Stay with us, Lord, for it is evening,

C:        and the day is almost over.

P:       Be our light and scatter the darkness,

C:        and hear our evening hymns of praise.

P:         Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who led your people Israel with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Enlighten our darkness by the light of your Christ. May his Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path; for you are merciful, and you love your whole creation. We, your creatures, glorify you: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

C:        Amen.

 

Prayer of Confession (borrowed from Rev. David Beswick, http://www.beswick.info/rclresources/E7B97OS.htm)

You are the King of Glory, O Christ, and yet we must confess that we forget that God has honored you above everything in heaven and on earth.
Forgive us Christ, King of Glory, and help us to remember you in glory.

In your glory with God the Father, you continually pray and intercede for us, yet we forget to pray for ourselves and for others.
Forgive us Christ, our great high priest, and continue to pray for us.

From your glory you have promised to come again to judge the living and the dead, and yet we lose hope and forget to look for you.
Forgive us Christ, our Saviour and Lord, and restore confidence in your eventual victory over all our enemies. In your name, Amen.

 

Memorial Day Prayer

            Lord of the nations, on this day when we remember the struggles through which our country has gone in its efforts to preserve our liberties, we thank Thee for having made our country great and our people free. Above all do we thank Thee for the blessings of religious liberty to preach Thy Word without hindrance and to worship Thee according to the dictates of Thy holy and infallible Word.

    We pray Thee to hold Thy gracious protecting hand over us and over all the people of our country. Guide those in authority and grant them wisdom so to rule that peace and prosperity may be ours according, to Thy will.

    Thou hast told as that that nation is blessed whose God is the Lord and therefore we pray most of all that Thy Gospel, which alone can make men truly free, may be preached in all its truth and purity throughout our land. Thou hast granted us religious liberty.

    Help us to use this freedom to the fullest extent, so that through the length and breadth of our nation men may hear from Thy people the good news of their salvation in Christ. Bring to us and to them and to all men all over the world that peace which passes all understanding and which is to be found in the knowledge that Jesus loves us and has redeemed us from all our sin. We ask it in His name. Amen 

 

Memorial Day Prayer (responsively)

L: Lord of the nations, on this day when we remember the struggles through which our country has gone in its efforts to preserve our liberties, we thank You for having made our country great and our people free.
P: Above all do we thank You for the blessings of religious liberty to preach Your Word without hindrance and to worship You in Spirit and in Truth.

L: We ask you on this day to bless all those who have given of themselves in service to freedom, justice, and religious liberty.  On this Day we remember our veterans--all those who have died in the service and for those who live and serve on active duty.

P: We pray that you would multiply your blessings upon them and we give you thanks for them.  We also pray for those who are serving in the trouble spots around the world, we ask you for protection and for added comfort and peace to their families.

L: We ask You to hold your gracious protecting hand over us and over all the people of our country.
P: Guide those in authority and grant them wisdom so to rule that peace and prosperity may be ours according, to Your will.

L: You have told us that the nation is blessed whose God is the Lord and therefore we pray most of all that Your Gospel, which alone can make us truly free, may be preached in all its truth and purity throughout our land.
All: Help us to use this freedom to the fullest extent, so that through the length and breadth of our nation men and women may hear the good news of the salvation in Christ.  Amen. 

 

Prayer for Faithfulness and Service (gospel lesson)

We bow out hearts in grateful adoration before you, Lord Jesus; you who bowed so low that you could reach out and lift us up to be with you forever.

Lord, we desire to overflow with endless praise and adoration to you for having called us, because we know that your calling is the highest calling in this life and eternity.

May we be found diligent in continuing your work here on earth; may we be serving you and others selflessly; may our right hand not know what our left is doing; may we be found faithful until the day you come back for us.

Master, instill in us a deeper sense of wonder and awe, adoration and worship, humility and service as we more keenly perceive your continuing presence and love among us through the power of your Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Prayer of Faith in Christ (epistle lesson)

Almighty God, who gave your Son Jesus Christ a realm,
where all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him;
make us loyal followers of our living Lord,
that we may always hear his word
follow his teachings, and live in his Spirit.

Almighty and everlasting God,
it is your will to restore all things to Christ,
whom you have anoinited priest for ever and ruler of creation.

Lord, hasten the day when every knee shall bow
and every tongue confess that he is Lord
to your eternal glory.

Grant that all the people of the earth,
now divided by the power of sin,
may be united under the glorious and gentle rule of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns forever.  Amen.

Prayer (first lesson)
adapted from a prayer of the Augustinian Friars

Let us pray to the
Lord of the harvest who calls men
and women to serve him in love.

All glory and praise are yours,
God of truth, light of our hearts, for
you guide your people in
the ways of holiness.

Help us
and our fellow Christian brothers and sisters
to seek you through mutual love and worship
and to be servants of your Church as
examples that others may follow.

Enlighten men and women
to see the beauty of the Christian life;
strengthen them in your service
so that the work you have begun in
them may be brought to fulfillment.

Amen.

 

Prayer for Christian Unity (Responsively)

L: Triune God, we come before you with our deep longing for true community between young and old men an women, rich and poor, between all nations. We long to overcome the many divisions within our human society. Help us to overcome the many barriers we erect. Help us to dispel our suspicions.

C: that we may see the good intentions in those we meet.

L: Help us to put aside our own uncertainty
C: that we may appreciate the dignity of others.

L: Help us to cast out our fears
C: that we may allay the fears of others.

L: Help us to conquer our own pride
C: that we may love our neighbors as ourselves.

L: Grant us the gift of true community in reconciliation with others.
C: In the Name of Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. Amen.

Ascension Day Prayer of Preparation

Ever-living God,
your eternal Christ once dwelt on earth,
   confined by time and space.
Give us faith to discern in every time and place
   the presence among us
   of him who is head over all thinks and fills all,
even Jesus Christ our ascended Lord.  Amen.

Ascension Day Prayer--Petitions by the People

P:     Blessed Jesus, you ascended to the right hand of your Father’s majesty, power, and glory and now reign as eternal King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

C:      We praise you for your victory over sin, death, Satan, and hell.

P:     O ascended Prophet, equip your church to proclaim the precious gospel message of God’s love for all the world.

C:      Give courage to our hearts, power to our words, and success to our efforts.

P:     O ascended High Priest, represent us before the Father as his own dear children and heirs.    Defend us against Satan’s every accusation.  Ask for the Father’s rich blessings in our everyday lives.

C:      Plead for his mercy and grace on our behalf.

P:     O ascended King, direct the affairs of governments and nations that they may serve the best interest of your church.

C:      You are our Lord, Master, and King.

Special prayers and intercessions may follow.

P:       Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.

Silent prayer.

P:       As the disciples lifted their eyes to watch your ascension, so lift our eyes daily to look for your coming again in glory.

C:     Lord Jesus, come quickly.  Amen.

P:    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C: Amen.

Closing Prayer for Ascension Day

O God, the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven.
Do not leave us comfortless,
but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us,
and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before, one God, in glory everlasting.  Amen.