Ascension Day Litany: Because Jesus Ascended

Here’s a thoughtful litany on the significance of Ascension Day (May 29) from Christine Sine’s Godspace website.

Litany for Ascension Day

Because Jesus ascended and sits at the right hand of God,
a new world has broken into ours—
a world in which justice does come for the poor,
freedom comes for the prisoners,
and healing for the sick.

Because Jesus ascended and sits at the right hand of God,
a new community has been formed—
a community that loves and cares for all members,
a family that welcomes all who are abandoned and rejected,
a place where all find a place of belonging.

Because Jesus ascended and sits at the right hand of God,
a new creation has begun— 
all that was distorted is being restored,
all that is corrupted is being renewed,
all that was broken is being made whole.

Because Jesus ascended and sits at the right hand of God,
God’s new world has begun. 

~ written by Christine Sine, and posted on Godspace. http://godspace-msa.com/2014/05/13/ascension-day-what-is-it-all-about/ 

For other Ascension Day resources on that website, visit http://godspace-msa.com/2014/05/13/resources-for-ascension-day-2014/ 

Prayer: Our Great High Priest

Here is a prayer inspired by verses from Hebrews 4 and 5.  It was written by Hughes Oliphant Old and published in Leading in Prayer: A Workbook for Ministers (see link below).

Prayer
(inspired by Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 5:7-10)

Father, O God most high,
who dwells in the highest of heavens,
we praise you.

Father, O Lord most exalted,
beyond our thoughts and imaginations,
we praise you.

We celebrate the victory of your Son,
who has overcome death
and saved us from the power of sin.
We rejoice in his exaltation!

Our great high priest
has gone before,
has entered into the Holy of Holies,
and has opened up a way for us to follow.
In his name, we too would enter into your eternal presence,
for he is our priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.
To him be all praise,
together with you, O Father,
and the Holy Spirit,
one Lord, the same in every age.

Amen and Amen.

~ Hughes Oliphant Old, Leading in Prayer: A Workbook for Ministers http://www.amazon.com/Leading-Prayer-A-Workbook-Ministers/dp/0802808212.

Ascension Day Prayer

Here is a pastoral prayer for Ascension Day by Rev. Bryce Calder. It was posted on the Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website.

Prayer
(inspired by the events in Acts 1:6-11)

Almighty God,
We come today reminded of your greatness and glory,
your sovereign power and eternal purpose
all expressed so wonderfully in Jesus Christ, our Lord,
Risen and Ascended.

We thank you for the wonder of Ascension,
that marvelous yet mysterious moment
in the life of the Apostles
which left them gazing heavenwards in confusion
yet departing in joy.

We thank you for the way that it brought the earthly ministry of Jesus
to a fitting conclusion;
signifying his oneness with you,
and demonstrating your final seal of approval
on all that he had done.

We thank you that through his Ascension
Jesus is now set free to be Lord of all:
no longer bound to a particular place or time,
but with us always—able to reach even to the ends of the earth.

We thank you that through his departing
Jesus prepared for his coming again:
through his Spirit,
his Church,
and his coming again in glory.

Gracious God,
Forgive us for so often failing
to grasp the wonder of Ascension,
for living each day as though it had never been.

Forgive the smallness of our vision,
the narrowness of our outlook,
the weakness of our love,
the nervousness of our witness,
our repeated failure to recognize
the fullness of your revelation in Christ.

Give us a deeper sense of wonder,
a stronger faith,
and a greater understanding of all you have done.

Father God,
Like the Apostles,
we too will never fully understand all Ascension means.
We accept, but we do not fully understand.
We believe, yet we have many questions.
Help us, despite our uncertainty, to hold firm to the great truth
that the wonder of Christ Jesus
goes far beyond anything we can ever imagine,
and in that faith may we live each day
to his glory and honour. Amen.

~ written by Rev Bryce Calder, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website.  http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/5981/starters_05_06_11.pdf

Prayer for Father's Day

Our Father in heaven,
we pray today for the many fathers around the world
who are struggling to provide for their families:
those who despair about finding safe shelter,
who watch in anguish as their children starve,
who desperately search for adequate medical care,
or safety from violence that surrounds them.

Be with these fathers this day.
Strengthen and encourage them as they seek to care for their families.
Grant them grace and courage in the midst of impossible circumstances,
and bless them with hope as they look toward the future.  Amen. 

Prayer of Praise: Mother's Day

Here’s a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for Mother’s Day or Mothering Sunday. It was written by Nick Fawcett.

Mothering Sunday Praise

Gracious God,
as a mother loves her child, so you love us.
For that great truth
we praise and thank you.

We owe our very lives to you.
You have watched over us from our birth,
tenderly nurturing us,
showering us with love.
When we have needed you, you have been there.
For that great truth
we praise and thank you.

You have given us strength in times of need,
comfort in times of distress,
encouragement in times of despair,
guidance in times of uncertainty.
Whatever we have faced, you have been with us.
For that great truth
we praise and thank you.

Gracious God,
we have not always appreciated your love,
all too often ignoring what you would teach us,
disobeying your instructions,
taking you for granted and wandering far from your side.
Yet through it all your love has remained constant.
For that great truth
we praise and thank you.

Gracious God,
caring for us more than you care for yourself,
sacrificing your all for our sakes,
loving us with an unquenchable love,
you have called us to be your children.
For that great truth
we praise and thank you,
in the name of Christ. Amen

~ written by Nick Fawcett, in Prayers for All Seasons (1998), and posted on Make a Mother’s Day. http://www.makeamothersday.org/sites/default/files/documents/A4Prayer.pdf