Here’s
a pastoral prayer for Ascension from Rev Bryce Calder on the Church of
Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website.
Ascension Day 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 marvellous 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 (now Weekly Worship) website. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/5981/starters_05_06_11.pdf
