Jesus' reminder to, and departure from, the disciples
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Planning Ideas And Resources For The Entire Church Year
Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
Try this:
Welcome to Ascension Day - probably a day of mystery for most of us. Begin with where the people are by asking them to share their first image when they hear "Ascension Day." Give them time to respond. Maybe they will offer only silence or confusion or ignorance. For the time being, do not respond; do not clarify until later.
You may want to develop a responsive call to worship with the phrase: "Christ has risen!" Put the emphasis on different words and ask the people to repeat. Then, use the phrase, "Christ is Lord! " emphasizing different words, and ask the people to repeat.
In order to re-emphasize the fact that Christ has risen and Christ is Lord, continue with this response between pastor and people:
Pastor:
Who are you?
Ministers: We are described in many ways: as persons, by occupations, as husbands, wives, children, parents ...
Pastor:
And who do you say that you are?
Ministers: Each of us sees ourselves somewhat differently; and as we worship, we see ourselves as children of God, related to each other, sometimes tightly, sometimes loosely - yet always as the body of Christ.
Pastor:
You say that we have received life from God, and we are related to each other.
Ministers: Yes, and in worship, we look for ways by which we will make this specific in the lives of all.
Pastor:
I'm for that! I invite us to come with anticipation.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Consider this:
Begin the confession with this idea from William Law's book, A Serious Call to Holy Living. What kind of a faith do we have? Is our faith only a formal compliance with our traditional forms of worship, study, giving, mission in our congregation. Does it cost us any pain, trouble, inconvenience? Does it put us under any discipline? Ask the people to sit silently for three to four minutes to consider the kind of discipline under which they live. Ask them to consider their barriers to discipline under Christ; and what they're willing to change this next week.
For the assurance of pardon, ask three or four people if they would be willing to share their decision, a decision to change their behavior, in order to make Christ the sovereign of their lives. You may or may not want to ask a couple of people to be prepared to share. However, if no one else responds, take a risk with the congregation; and tell the people what you, the pastor, are willing to do. Following this, ask the people to share sentence prayers of new obedience.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Suggestion:
Bring Christ is Lord into the experience of the children; for children are just as much the church of the present, not the future, as are the adults.
You may want to use an idea developed by a church school class. The teacher asked the children to compare the church with a firework's display, a prison camp, a ski resort, a recycling operation, a telegraph office. To the latter, one student replied, "We receive information from Christ and relay it out to others." Then ask them, "When do you show faith?" Some answers could be 1) when we put money in the bank; 2) when we cross the street on a green light; 3) when we take aspirin; 4) when we go to a doctor we don't know personally; and on many other occasions. Tie that in with how we trust Jesus even though he is no longer on earth with us.
Proclamation of the Word
Consider this:
How do we allow the ascended Christ to become Lord of our lives. Refer to William Law's book, A Serious Call to Holy Living, when he suggests that obedience is a full-time vocation. He insists that part-time Christianity is about the same thing as part-time intelligence; and I add, part-time parenthood, part-time breathing, part-time marriage.
Stewardship Challenge
Consider this:
Olivia Newton-John sings a song with this line in it: "Why is all that we have simply never enough?" If we believe that, we may well spend most of our life seeking the things that make for anxiety; we may spend much of our time playing it safe, as persons, families, congregations, with out time, talent, treasure.
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
After the Resurrection, Jesus said to Mary, "Go, tell; don't stand here clinging to me. Go to my people; go to my world. I have been installed in authority and power.
To whom will we go this week in Christ's authority and power?
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 47
Psalm 110
Acts 1:1-11
Ephesians 1:15-23
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"Ancient of Days, Who Sit Enthroned in Glory"
William C. Doane, 1886; alt., 1972
"The Friends of Christ Together"
David W. Romig, 1965
"O God, Whose Glory Shines Afar"
Jane Parker Huber A Singing Faith, Jane Parker Huber Westminster Press, Philadelphia
Response to the Benediction
"Go Into All the World"
Modern Hymn Tunes
Music for Dismissal
Same as the Benediction Response
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir dfrector:
Music for Preparation
"Praise the Lord! You Heavens Adore Him"
Based on Psalm 148
Sts. 1, 2, anon. 1801; alt., 1972
St. 3, Edward Osler, 1836; alt., 1972
Response to the Confession
Contemporary Version of "You Are the Lord, Giver of Mercy"
Response to the Children's Message
"We Are Jesus' People"
Words and Music by Shirley Whitecotton Folk Encounter, Hope Publishing Co.
Response to the Proclamation
"Praise the Lord Ye Heav'ns Adore Him"
Frederick Parsonage from Modern Hymn Tunes
Hansen Publications, Inc. 1824 West Avenue Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Response to the Benediction
"Go Into All the World" Patrick Appleford
Modern Hymn Tunes
Music for Dismissal
Same as the Benediction Response
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
Try this:
Welcome to Ascension Day - probably a day of mystery for most of us. Begin with where the people are by asking them to share their first image when they hear "Ascension Day." Give them time to respond. Maybe they will offer only silence or confusion or ignorance. For the time being, do not respond; do not clarify until later.
You may want to develop a responsive call to worship with the phrase: "Christ has risen!" Put the emphasis on different words and ask the people to repeat. Then, use the phrase, "Christ is Lord! " emphasizing different words, and ask the people to repeat.
In order to re-emphasize the fact that Christ has risen and Christ is Lord, continue with this response between pastor and people:
Pastor:
Who are you?
Ministers: We are described in many ways: as persons, by occupations, as husbands, wives, children, parents ...
Pastor:
And who do you say that you are?
Ministers: Each of us sees ourselves somewhat differently; and as we worship, we see ourselves as children of God, related to each other, sometimes tightly, sometimes loosely - yet always as the body of Christ.
Pastor:
You say that we have received life from God, and we are related to each other.
Ministers: Yes, and in worship, we look for ways by which we will make this specific in the lives of all.
Pastor:
I'm for that! I invite us to come with anticipation.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Consider this:
Begin the confession with this idea from William Law's book, A Serious Call to Holy Living. What kind of a faith do we have? Is our faith only a formal compliance with our traditional forms of worship, study, giving, mission in our congregation. Does it cost us any pain, trouble, inconvenience? Does it put us under any discipline? Ask the people to sit silently for three to four minutes to consider the kind of discipline under which they live. Ask them to consider their barriers to discipline under Christ; and what they're willing to change this next week.
For the assurance of pardon, ask three or four people if they would be willing to share their decision, a decision to change their behavior, in order to make Christ the sovereign of their lives. You may or may not want to ask a couple of people to be prepared to share. However, if no one else responds, take a risk with the congregation; and tell the people what you, the pastor, are willing to do. Following this, ask the people to share sentence prayers of new obedience.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Suggestion:
Bring Christ is Lord into the experience of the children; for children are just as much the church of the present, not the future, as are the adults.
You may want to use an idea developed by a church school class. The teacher asked the children to compare the church with a firework's display, a prison camp, a ski resort, a recycling operation, a telegraph office. To the latter, one student replied, "We receive information from Christ and relay it out to others." Then ask them, "When do you show faith?" Some answers could be 1) when we put money in the bank; 2) when we cross the street on a green light; 3) when we take aspirin; 4) when we go to a doctor we don't know personally; and on many other occasions. Tie that in with how we trust Jesus even though he is no longer on earth with us.
Proclamation of the Word
Consider this:
How do we allow the ascended Christ to become Lord of our lives. Refer to William Law's book, A Serious Call to Holy Living, when he suggests that obedience is a full-time vocation. He insists that part-time Christianity is about the same thing as part-time intelligence; and I add, part-time parenthood, part-time breathing, part-time marriage.
Stewardship Challenge
Consider this:
Olivia Newton-John sings a song with this line in it: "Why is all that we have simply never enough?" If we believe that, we may well spend most of our life seeking the things that make for anxiety; we may spend much of our time playing it safe, as persons, families, congregations, with out time, talent, treasure.
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
After the Resurrection, Jesus said to Mary, "Go, tell; don't stand here clinging to me. Go to my people; go to my world. I have been installed in authority and power.
To whom will we go this week in Christ's authority and power?
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 47
Psalm 110
Acts 1:1-11
Ephesians 1:15-23
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"Ancient of Days, Who Sit Enthroned in Glory"
William C. Doane, 1886; alt., 1972
"The Friends of Christ Together"
David W. Romig, 1965
"O God, Whose Glory Shines Afar"
Jane Parker Huber A Singing Faith, Jane Parker Huber Westminster Press, Philadelphia
Response to the Benediction
"Go Into All the World"
Modern Hymn Tunes
Music for Dismissal
Same as the Benediction Response
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir dfrector:
Music for Preparation
"Praise the Lord! You Heavens Adore Him"
Based on Psalm 148
Sts. 1, 2, anon. 1801; alt., 1972
St. 3, Edward Osler, 1836; alt., 1972
Response to the Confession
Contemporary Version of "You Are the Lord, Giver of Mercy"
Response to the Children's Message
"We Are Jesus' People"
Words and Music by Shirley Whitecotton Folk Encounter, Hope Publishing Co.
Response to the Proclamation
"Praise the Lord Ye Heav'ns Adore Him"
Frederick Parsonage from Modern Hymn Tunes
Hansen Publications, Inc. 1824 West Avenue Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Response to the Benediction
"Go Into All the World" Patrick Appleford
Modern Hymn Tunes
Music for Dismissal
Same as the Benediction Response
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
