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Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
SERVICE OF LIGHT
Greeting/Invocation
We light the EASTER CANDLE and say or sing:
Christ our Light!
~Thanks be to God!
God goes up with shouts of joy, alleluia!
~Our Love goes up with trumpet blast, alleluia!
HYMN FOR ASCENSION
Refrain: ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!
Eternal Sov’reign, God Most High, Your life has brought salvation nigh,
By whom the death of Death was wrought, And conquering grace’s battle fought.
Ascending to the throne of might, And seated at your Abba’s right,
All pow’r in heaven is now your own, That here no hu-man has ever known.
Yes, angels tremble when they see How changed is our humanity;
The Flesh that purged what flesh had stained And God, the Flesh of God, has reigned.
You are, O Christ, our Joy and Guard; And you alone our great Reward;
Grant us the grace that makes us free to sing your praise eternally.
Text: AETERNE REX ALTISSIME (5th century) tr. J.M. Neale, alt ; Tune: PASCHAL LAMB L.M.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Evening Psalmody
Antiphon
People of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven?
This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven,
will come in the same way. Alleluia!
109/110
Adonai, to the One who will reign:
“Come and be My companion;
We will undo selfishness and sin.”
The Spirit will bring from Zion
The power and strength to save:
Love changing foes into friends.
Precious from the day of your birth
on the holy mountain;
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.
The Promise holds true forever:
Your ministry is Loving-Kindness–
A priest like Melchizedek of old.
Companions of the Most High are ready
To liberate all who suffer from evil.
The One who calls us to justice
Invites us to join in the struggle:
Enlightening all who are unaware of the truth.
Drink from streams of Living Water,
Lift your head and celebrate the feast.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
People of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven?
This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven,
will come in the same way. Alleluia!
Antiphon
And while they were gazing up to heaven
as he went, they said, ‘Alleluia!’
Psalm 110/111
I will thank Adonai with all my heart
wherever the just meet or assemble.
Great are your works O my God;
a delight to explore and ponder.
Your creation is majestic and glorious
Your justice remains forever.
Who can forget your wonders!
filled with compassion and love!
You give food to all the faithful,
ever-mindful of your sacred covenant.
You revealed your strength to this people
by giving them land among the nations.
You rule with justice and truth;
Your decrees are helpful and certain;
each law reveals you can be trusted
and can be lived with faith and assurance.
Adonai has delivered this people
and established a covenant for ever.
Your holy Name fills us with awe!
Reverence for the Holy One is the beginning of wisdom,
wise are those who know how to live it!
Praise Adonai forever!
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
And while they were gazing up to heaven
as he went, they said, ‘Alleluia!’
Canticle from the Book of Revelation
Antiphon
We have a great high priest, Jesus the Word of God.
He has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of majesty
in the heavens, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Salvation. glory and power to our God, Alleluia!
Whose judgments are honest and just: , Alleluia, Alleluia!
Sing praise our God, all who serve Adonai, Alleluia!
Those living with reverence and awe, small and great. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Adonai Elohim, the Almighty reigns, Alleluia!
Let us rejoice, sing praise, and give God the glory. Alleluia, Alleluia!
The wedding feast of the Lamb has begun, Alleluia!
And his bride is prepared to welcome him. Alleluia, Alleluia!
She has been given for her clothing, Alleluia!
Fine linen glistening and pure. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.
As always before, so now and evermore. Amen.
We have a great high priest, Jesus the Word of God.
He has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of majesty
in the heavens, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READING ACTS 1: 10-11
And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them and said, “People of Galilee, why do you stand there looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come back to you in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem.
Responsory
R. Our Love ascended into heaven * alleluia, alleluia!
V. In the same way, he will come again. * alleluia, alleluia!
V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.
Gospel Canticle
Antiphon
I am ascending to my Abba and to your Abba,
to my God and to your God. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Canticle of Mary
My heart + is radiant with the Lord,
My whole being delights in God my Savior.
All people now will call me blessed
For God has loved this humble handmaid.
The Almighty has shown me great favor
Holy is the NAME,
Whose mercy embraces the faithful,
From one generation to the next.
The mighty arm of God,
Scatters the proud in their own conceit,
Pulls tyrants from their thrones
While lifting up the lowly:
Fills the famished with bounty,
And reveals the emptiness of riches.
Rescues lowly Israel,
Sharing such loving kindness,
As promised to our ancestors
To Abraham and Sarah, and their descendants forever.
Glory to the One and to the Word
And to the Breath of Love
As always before
So now and evermore. Amen
I am ascending to my Abba and to your Abba,
to my God and to your God. Alleluia, Alleluia!
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany of Intercession
O Jesus, Our Lover, help us to love you
~and to keep your commandments.
O Jesus, Our Mother, do not leave us orphans
~ come back to dwell in our hearts.
O Jesus, Our Way, show us the path to freedom
~and lead us to abundant life.
O Jesus, Our Truth, open our eyes, our minds and our hearts
~that we may seek and find you.
O Jesus, our Life, send us the Advocate, the Gift of you Abba
~ the Holy Spirit of Truth.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Dear Abba in heaven…
Closing Prayer
We bless and thank you, O Gracious God, for you have raised Jesus to sit at your right hand and to put an end to all that limits or destroys life. May this celebration of his Ascension into heaven empower us to express in our lives the love we celebrate. We ask this in the Name of Jesus, the Risen and Ascended One, who lives and loves with you and the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.
Blessing
May the Risen Christ, ascended to the Abba, send us the Holy Spirit and bless + us with abundant life, Alleluia!
~Amen, Alleluia!
Let us bless Adonai, Alleluia, Alleluia!
~Thanks be to God, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Marian Antiphon for the Easter Season.
Regina Caeli laetare, alleluia!
Quia Quem meruisti portare, alleluia!
Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia!
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia!
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia!
For our Love is truly risen, Alleluia!
Let us pray.
Holy, Immortal and Mighty God, you have brought joy to the world by raising Jesus from the dead. By the prayers of Mary his Mother, and of all the myrrh-bearing women,
raise us up with Jesus and bring us to the fullness of life. We ask this through the same Jesus Christ, our Risen Love.
~ Amen.