submitted by Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo, Watchung Avenue Presbyterian Church, North Plainfield, NJ
Easter 7A Communion Prayer
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church
Blessed are you, O Lord, our God, Ruler of the Universe,
for you have kept your promises.
In the beginning, you called for yourself a people and you promised them a home.
Though it took many generations,
and though they were separated from their home by water and a desert,
you brought your people to a good land.
When your people turned away from you,
you promised us you would come among us.
In your Son Jesus we see you and your love,
living and real and for us.
He showed us how to follow you,
eating with sinners, touching the outcast,
loving all.
After his resurrection,
he told us to wait for your calling and your power.
He promised us that you would go with us as we proclaim the good news
that you have triumphed over death,
that love has the last word.
And now we wait to feel again the movement of your Holy Spirit,
giving gifts and expecting us to use them.
We give you thanks for your unending love for us,
and for this table,
where you have prepared a feast.
As we come to this meal, may we be made one with each other and with you.
Pour out your Spirit again on us and on these gifts of bread and wine,
show us a glimpse of your heavenly banquet.
Make this table the meeting place of earth and heaven,
that together we might be strengthened to go out
to be your witnesses in this place and even to the ends of the earth.
We pray in the name of our Risen Lord Christ, who taught us to pray together…
Ascension Day Collect
Submitted by Rev. Brian Merritt, Palisades Community Church.
Holy One,
You are one who distracts, confuses and distorts.
Pupils dilating at your light
become cast into darkness.
Our peace is shattered into chaos
and our placid water struck by lightening.
We who cling to soaring chariots
are found wandering the desert’s emptiness.
In our desolation your servants
hope even in the sight of footstools
made out of your enemies.
Even they, in your great destruction,
see the immensity of justice.
In the midst of absence
form something we may call creation.
Inside this ash sprinkle waters of life,
so that our roots will deepen
and our branches blossom with eternal fruit,
yet, seen as holy by others needing revelation.
prayer of illumination: lift our eyes
A prayer of illumination for reading Acts 1:1-14 (Ascension/Easter 7A).
Submitted by Andy James, First Presbyterian Church of Whitestone, Queens, NY
Ever-rising God,
just as you lifted the eyes of the disciples
to the rising Jesus at his ascension,
so lift our eyes to you as we hear your holy word today,
that we too might turn our eyes toward the need of the world
and follow in your way through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Sing a new song–Sanctus et Benedictus
Here are several sung Sanctus/Benedictus texts, set to familiar tunes. Submitted by Carl Wilton.
Aberystwyth (“Jesus, Lover of My Soul”)…
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and God of might:
heav’n and earth are full, this day,
of your glory come our way.
Blessed is the one who comes
in your name to lead us home
to the place where we may sing
glad hosannas to our king!
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and God of might:
heav’n and earth are full, this night,
of your glory, beaming bright.
Blessed is the one who comes
in your name to lead us home
to the place where we may sing
glad hosannas to our king!
Love Unknown (#76 “My Song Is Love Unknown”)
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, great God of pow’r and might:
The heavens and the earth are filled with glory bright.
Hosanna is our grateful song
To him who in the Lord’s name comes!
St. Kevin (#115 “Come Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain”)
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of pow’r and might,
Heav’n and earth are full this day of your glory bright
Glad hosannas now we raise, raise them in the highest
To the one who in God’s name comes to dwell beside us.
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