We are Witnesses:
Worship for Ascension Day

Call to Worship

One:    Now what?  That is what the disciples must have been wondering

            on the day we call Ascension Day.

All:      Now what? 

One:    They had been overcome with joy

            when they met their beloved Teacher in his resurrection. 

            He was back.  Things could go back to normal, whatever normal might be.

All:      Now what? 

One:    But once again, he was taken from them.  Their grief renewed. 

            Their sense of disbelief returned.

All:      Now what?

One:    Jesus said, Now it’s time for you to be my witnesses.  

            To witness to the love of God.

All:      Now what?

One:    It’s time to say, “I’m a witness.”

All:      To a peace that passeth understanding;

            to a joy that dances in the morning;

            to a table that welcomes all;

            to a vision of justice that is beyond human imagination.

One:    It’s time to be a witness for my Lord.

Invocation

 As an introduction to the prayer:

The story of Jesus’ ascension stretches our capacity to accept Christianity.

Resurrection follows “logically” after the crucifixion because,

among other things, it affirms that the forces of hatred and injustice do not win.

It makes “sense” in a way we have come to affirm, not without some difficulty.  

Yet, we don’t want to reduce God to something we can rationalize. 

We don’t want to take mystery and awe away from our faith.  So instead of

trying to figure out what the Ascension means literally,

let us pray that whatever its gifts, we might receive them graciously. 

Let us pray:

All:      O God, we are a community of believers and seekers and sceptics

– a blessed community trying to understand and live by your teachings. 

We thank you for becoming a model of humanity for us. 

For walking among us, for freeing us from a fear of death,

for healing our wounds, and for coming back to tend to our grief.  

But most of all, we thank you for believing in us,

in our capacity to carry out your will on earth. 

On this day when we are handed the responsibility of

continuing the work of Jesus, take us now from being your disciples

in training to your apostles in action.  Amen

Prayer of Confession

All:      O God, whenever we claim inaction because of disbelief,

            remind us it is not about a belief in miracles that matters. 

            What matters is a life of love beyond reason,

            a life of mercy beyond consequences. 

            Sometimes we make excuses, but whenever we feel inadequate,

            may we be reminded that Jesus prepared us well.

Assurance of Grace

One:    Let us remember what Jesus told Peter in his last days.  Do you love me?

All:      Feed my sheep.

One:    Do you love me?

All:      Tend to my sheep.

One:    Do you love me?

All:      Feed my sheep.

One:    The “sin” of Peter’s denials were forgiven with those simple instructions. 

            So go and do likewise.

All:      Thanks be to God!

Call to Share our Tithes and Offerings

            It is time to be a witness to the abundance of blessings in our lives. 

            Miracles waiting to happen. 

            Give with a great profusion of hope that God multiplies our gifts

            in proportion to the world’s needs.

Blessing of the Gifts

            O God of Ascension Power,

            we lift these gifts to your glory and honor,

            just as you lifted the gift of Jesus back to heaven.

            Make us witnesses to the power of letting go. 

            Release us from captivity to our own needs,

            relying on the grace of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

Benediction

            The Ascension of Jesus may not be an absolute article of faith for us,

            but what it teaches is. 

            Don’t stand around looking up. 

            Don’t wait for someone else to do it. 

            All of you are now Christ’s witnesses, and he challenges us: 

            “So feed my sheep, love my people,

            turn over the tables of oppression,

            share your possessions with anyone in need.” 

            Go forth – whether up, down, or all around – in the name of Christ.

We are Witnesses: Worship for Ascension Day was written by the Rev. Dr. David Bahr, pastor of Park Hill Congregational United Church of Christ in Denver, Colorado.   

 Copyright 2010 Local Church Ministries, Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.