Call to Worship

Easter people, in this season of Eastertide, we remember the blessings God gives us—the blessings of Resurrection, salvation, and new life in Christ.
We come to praise God for the blessings of Easter!

We recall the blessings of creation—of clean air and water, of food and shelter, of beauty and awe.
We come to praise God for the blessings of creation!

We share in the blessings of community—of family and friends, of church and home, of help that is given and received.
We come to praise God for the blessings of community!

Easter people, we gather today to remember Christ’s Ascension, when Jesus was taken up into heaven while blessing his disciples, marking not the end but the next chapter of God’s salvific work among us.
We come to bless God with our praise as God continues to bless us with all that we need to live as God’s Resurrection people. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, October 2025.

Pastoral Prayer

Today, Jesus, we are faced with a wonderful truth to proclaim,
but also an awesome and uncomfortable responsibility.
We praise you and celebrate you as Ascended Lord;
we recognise that you have authority over all things,
but we live in a world where greed and power and violence
seem to be in control.
And so, as you call us, we pray:
Come as Lord, Jesus, and set the world to rights.

We praise you and celebrate you as the Way, Truth, and Life;
we recognise that in you our life is made whole and full;
but we live in a world where death, brokenness, and need
appear to be everywhere.
And so, as you call us, we pray:
Come as Lord, Jesus, and set the world to rights.

We praise you and celebrate you as God among us;
we receive your invitation to live God’s dream;
but we live in a world where dreams and hearts
are broken daily, and hope seems all but lost.
And so, as you call us, we pray:
Come as Lord, Jesus, and set the world to rights.

And we pray as you taught us: Our Father…

Written by John van de Laar and posted on his http://sacredise.com/Sacredise website. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/04/prayers-of-people-ascension.htmlhttps://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/04/prayers-of-people-ascension.html.

Prayer of Confession

While we claim to celebrate the ascension of our Lord,
the way we live proclaims our lack of faith
in his power to deal with the world.
Let us confess the incongruity between our faith and practice.
Let us pray:

We come, O Lord, on this day of glory to confess our lack of trust.
While we sing of your lordship over all creation,
we have too often acted as though you are powerless
in the face of today's events.
Help us to live with confidence in your presence today
and in hope for life with you forever. Amen.

From It’s a Good Thing He Left: John 16, posted on the http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/it-s-a-good-thing-he-left-john-16Calvin Institute of Christian Worship website. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/04/ascension-prayer-of-confession.htmlhttps://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/04/ascension-prayer-of-confession.html.

Benediction

May God bless you with the understanding, wisdom, and grace to follow the way of Christ, that in all things, your life may be a blessing of praise to God. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, October 2025.