Ascension
Evening Prayer II

Greeting

God ascends to shouts of joy.
The Lord amid trumpet blasts, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Praise the Lord, all you nations.
Acclaim God, all you peoples. Alleluia, Alleluia!

Doxology

Psalm 93

You reign with glory, Lord, the beauty of holiness fills you forever.

Lord, you reign with glory,
draped in splendor, girt with power.
The world stands firm,
not to be shaken,
for your throne, ageless God,
has stood from of old.

Onward roll the waves, OGod,
onward like thunder,
onward like fury.
Thundering above the waters,
high above ocean breakers,
you, God, rise with might.

Your decrees stand unshaken;
the beauty of holiness
fills you forever, Lord

Colossians 1:15-18

In Christ all things in heaven and on earth were created.

Christ is an image
of the God we cannot see.
Christ is firstborn in all creation.

Through Christ the universe was made,
things seen and unseen,
thrones, authorities, forces, powers.
Everything was created
through Christ and for Christ.

Before anything came to be, Christ was,
and the universe is held together by Christ.

Christ is also head of the body, the Church,
its beginning as firstborn from the dead
to become in all things first.

Reading: 1 Peter 3:18

Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.

Canticle of Mary

Christ ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God, Alleluia!

I acclaim the greatness of the Lord, I delight in God my savior, who regarded my humble state. Truly from this day on All ages will call me blest. For God, wonderful in power, has used that strength for me. Holy the name of the Lord! Whose mercy embraces the faithful, one generation to the next. The mighty arm of God scatters the proud in their conceit, Pulls tyrants from their thrones, and raises up the humble. The Lord fills the starving And lets the rich go hungry. God rescues lowly Israel, recalling the promise of mercy, the promise made to our ancestors, to Abraham’s heirs for ever.
Intercessions

Jesus, you died that we might live. In you we have been offered the gift of intimacy with God and eternal joy. At the close of this day we pray to you:

--Let our hearts rejoice in you.

As the day fades into night…
As young people grow to maturity…
As the season of our lives turn…
As our ambitions and hopes are released into your hands…
As pursuit of our own priorities is transformed into passion for your mission…
As you become the canter of our lives...

Our Father

Prayer

God of heaven and earth, your glory fills the universe. All peoples praise you for the wonders you have worked among us. As we remember the mystery of Christ’s death and rising, help us to remember that he has not left us orphans. We have not known his touch or seen his face, but we believe that he is with us now. Deepen our faith. Open our eyes to see his presence in our midst. Amen.

Blessing

Christ be before me and behind me. Amen.
Christ be on my right and on my left. Amen.
Christ be within me and around me, never to part. Amen.