Worship
Ascension Day
Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  Thursday, May 13, 8:00 o'clock in the evening Our current Book of Common Prayer provides a wealth of liturgies for use in the Episcopal Church. Two such orders come from the daily monastic evening “offices” (think “liturgies”) of the early Christian church and still are practiced today. The first is Vespers, somewhat clumsily called An Order of Worship for the Evening in our BCP, found on page 108. The second is An Order for Compline — or simply, Compline (pronounced KOM-plin) — on page 127. It was from these two offices that Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) beautifully distilled and crafted our most Anglican of liturgies, Evening Prayer (p.61), or Evensong as it has come to be known when sung. He understood the structural value of these offices and knew a service of practical use needed for the worship life of the newly formed Church of England could be patterned effectively after these ancient models. You may recall that we followed the order of Evensong for All Saints’ last November, that of Vespers in March, and we will follow the order for Compline on Ascension Day, Thursday, May 13th at 8:00 pm. The Saint Francis Choir will lead us with seasonal music in the parish church as we commemorate the ascension of Christ into heaven. A reception follows in the undercroft. Please come and join us for this Music at Eventide event. |  | Jesus replied, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." Acts 1: 9 – 11 Finding Your Way to Saint Francis (click here for a map). Need more help? Contact the church office at (301)365-2055. |