Call
to worship:
From
Psalm 2
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in
vain?
The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band
together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their chains and throw off their
shackles.”
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger.
I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become
your father.
Ask me! says the Lord, and I will make the nations your
inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
Blessed is everyone who takes refuge in Christ, enthroned in heaven.
All
hail, ascended King!!
Prayer
of adoration and forgiveness of sins.
Merciful God, who in your mighty
power raised Jesus form the dead and raised him into heaven, we come into your
presence in the name of our Lord Jesus, the ascended Christ and our King who is
enthroned in heaven.
And now we give you thanks, o God, because in his
risen body Christ appeared to his disciples, and in their sight was taken into
heaven, to reign with you in glory.
We bring honour to you, our
Saviour, whom we call Christ, our Lord, who victoriously reigns now, and reigns
forever at the Father’s right hand.
You, our Lord, dealt with
our every need, delivered us from every enemy, healed us from all sin, harm and
injury and you are worshipped when heaven and earth bow down before you as Lord
of all.
One day every knee shall
bow and every tongue confess that you, Lord Jesus, are the Lord of all and the King
of kings.
Through the gift of your
Holy Spirit, equip us to first of all seek your Kingdom that we may understand
your love, and humbly turn to you in faith as we beg your forgiveness for our
sins and your deliverance from our disobedience.
As we silently confess our
transgressions, forgive, heal, purity and sanctify us today.
(a few moments of quiet prayer)
By the cross of Jesus,
teach us how to love - and by the resurrection and exaltation of Christ – teach
us how to live.
Lord, in your mercy, listen
to our prayer!
Through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Amen.
Hymns
and songs of praise and worship!
Prayers
of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Our Father in heaven, we give thanks and praise,
because the Lord Jesus, the King of glory,
triumphant over sin and death,
has ascended to the highest heaven
as the angels and all your children looked on in
wonder.
Christ, the Mediator between God and humankind,
Judge of the world and Lord of the heavenly powers,
has not forsaken our human lowliness when he
ascended to heaven,
but has given us the hope that we, his members,
might follow him to heaven,
where he, our Head and our beginning, has gone
before us.
Father
we give thanks.
Lord,
we give thanks!
Jesus
we give thanks!
Majestic Lord Jesus Christ,
everything promised about your glorious, heavenly reign has not happened on our
earth yet! You are the King, and yet, your dominion is in many ways not visible
and is now coming to us and to our world, even as we pray.
We live in hope, and in
faith, that we truly heard the Word of God, that testifies that you will return
in glory in the same way you ascended to heaven, to effect your glorious reign in
the smallest detail of everything on earth, as it is in heaven.
Exalted, enthroned King
Jesus, thank you that you not only bring salvation to us, but through your work
done through the ministry of your Church, you bring redemption and salvation to
the world, yes, to the ends of the earth.
Your people accept the
grace that you bring, and commit their lives to the power of the Holy Spirit
who empowers your children and your Church to fulfil your commission to preach
the gospel to everyone.
Now bring justice wherever
we serve you and bring hope and light where darkness still hides your glorious
reign and salvation.
Dear Lord of every aspect
and facet of our lives, help us to live only for your honour and glory. Help us
to be obedient, by the power of your resurrection and of your Spirit.
We pray for all your
servants, majestic Lord! For those who preach your Word and for those who
listen.
Protect and guide all
missionaries sent to the ends of the earth to proclaim salvation in you. Guide and
keep them and bless their work for you.
Call many more servants to
do your work and make us obedient to your call.
In your power and mercy,
heal the sick and comfort those who are weeping. Set the captives free and
grant relief to the poor.
Sanctify those who are
powerful and influential and remained humble and bring to fall those who are
proud, selfish and corrupt.
Bring to an end the kingdom
of darkness and let your majesty shine as the light of the world.
Lamb of God, who takes away
the sins of the world, grant us your peace.
And now, great King of
kings and Lord of lords –
have mercy on us, and on
all your people.
In your all powerful Name,
Lord Jesus Christ, and by your grace, we pray through the true faith that in
you we are more than conquerors.
Amen.
