Cycle C – ASCENSION SUNDAY - May 8, 2016
“Stay here … until you have been clothed with power from on high…”
OPENING PRAYER (Psalm 47):
Leader:Clap your hands, all you peoples;
shout to God with loud songs of joy.
All:For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome,
a great king over all the earth.
Leader:God has gone up with a shout,
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet
All:Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
Amen.
Gospel Reading – Luke 24:44-53
Luke’s Gospel begins and ends in the temple. Where Luke’s Gospel ends, Luke’s Acts begins – last minute instructions and words of farewell before Jesus is taken up into heaven. After Jesus’ death the apostles had often locked themselves up out of fear, now, Luke tells us, they feel “great joy” and go to the temple frequently to praise God.
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- Through faith the disciples believed that Jesus ascended into heaven and will return again. How are you/we preparing to meet him?
- Which words of Jesus are particularly meaningful to you?
- Have you ever experienced being blessed for a particular mission or task?
LIVING THE WORD
What is God’s challenge to me/us this coming week?
PRAYING THE WORD
Intercession: For all baptized women and men who are commissioned to spread
the Gospel to all corners of the world, in particular those who work in
developing countries. We pray to the Lord.
(Invite personal intentions, ending with “Our Father…”)
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader:God Almighty,
in your Son Jesus You made your home with us,
All:make us worthy vessels of your message of love and mercy.
Leader:Jesus, you sent us out into the world
to announce the Good News of your resurrection;
All:turn our fear into courage, our sorrow into joy.
Leader:Holy Spirit, you gave courage and wisdom to the apostles
All:be with us as we go out from here
announcing to all that Christ is risen – risen indeed.
Alleluia. Amen
Let us offer to each other a sign of Christ’s peace, a peace the world can not give.