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A Celebration for Ascension Day听

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St Martin-in-the-Fields听

Thursday 18 May 2023听

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HYMN: Hail the day that sees him rise听

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1听听听听听听 Hail the day that sees him rise,听

Alleluia! 听
听听听听听听听听 To his throne above the skies;听

Alleluia!听听

Christ, the Lamb for sinners given,听听

Alleluia! 听
Enters now the highest heaven:听听

Alleluia!听听

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2听听听听听听 There for him high triumph waits:听

Alleluia!听 听
听听听听听听听听 Lift your heads, eternal gates;听

Alleluia! 听
He hath conquered death and sin:听

Alleluia! 听
Take the King of Glory in!听

Alleluia!听听

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3 See, he lifts his hands above;听
听听 Alleluia!听听

see, he shews the prints of love;听
Alleluia!听听

hark, his gracious lips bestow听
Alleluia!听听

blessings on his church below.听

Alleluia!听听

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4听听听听听听 Lord, though parted from our sight,听

Alleluia! 听
听听听听听听听听 Far above the starry height,听

Alleluia! 听
Grant our hearts may thither rise,听

Alleluia! 听
Seeking thee above the skies:听

Alleluia!听
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听 Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788) and Thomas Cotterill (1779-1823)听听

Music: 鈥楲lanfair鈥� Robert Williams (1781-1821)听
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GREETING听

Celebrant:听 Welcome to St Martin-in-the-Fields. A special welcome to the Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Bishop of Chelmsford, our preacher tonight.听 Ascension is the moment Jesus completes his work on earth, returns to the Father鈥檚 right hand in glory, and promises the disciples they will shortly be clothed with power from on high. It is the day we perceive God鈥檚 original purpose and our final destiny that we might be with Christ, with one another and with the renewed creation forever. It is a day of mixed emotions: our very human sense of loss, and our feeling of wonder and joy at the life God has prepared for us.听

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PRAYER OF PENITENCE听

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Celebrant:听 Seeing we have a high priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, and make our confession to our heavenly Father.听听

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The choir sings the Kyrie from Jazz Missa Brevis by Don Gillthorpe.听

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ABSOLUTION听

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Celebrant: Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.听听

All: Amen.听听

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The choir sings the Gloria from Jazz Missa Brevis by Don Gillthorpe.听

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COLLECT听
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Celebrant:听听 Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens, so may we in heart and mind also ascend, and with him continually dwell; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.听听

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All:听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Amen.听

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READING听

Read by Revd Michaela Youngson听

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MICHAELA: A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.听听

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In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. 鈥楾his鈥�, he said, 鈥榠s what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.鈥櫶�

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So when they had come together, they asked him, 鈥楲ord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?鈥� He replied, 鈥業t is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 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.鈥� 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 towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, 鈥楳en of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards 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.鈥櫶�

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Acts 1:1-11听

The word of the Lord听

All: Thanks be to God听

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HYMN:听 O Worship the King听听

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1听听听听听听 O worship the King all glorious above;听
听听听听听听听听 O gratefully sing his power and his love;听
听听听听听听听听 our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,听
听听听听听听听听 pavilioned in splendour and girded with praise.听
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2听听听听听听 O tell of his might, O sing of his grace,听
听听听听听听听听 whose robe is the light, whose canopy space;听
听听听听听听听听 his chariots of wrath the deep thunder clouds form,听
听听听听听听听听 and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.听
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3听听听听听听 Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite?听
听听听听听听听听 It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;听
听听听听听听听听 it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,听
听听听听听听听听 and sweetly distils in the dew and the rain.听
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4听听听听听听 Frail children of dust and feeble as frail,听
听听听听听听听听 in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;听
听听听听听听听听 thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end!听
听听听听听听听听 our maker, defender, redeemer, and friend.听
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5听听听听听听 O measureless might, ineffable love,听
听听听听听听听听 while angels delight to hymn thee above,听
听听听听听听听听 thy humbler creation, though feeble their lays,听
听听听听听听听听 with true adoration shall sing to thy praise.听
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William Kethe (fl.1559-1594), Robert Grant (1779-1838)听

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GOSPEL听

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Read by Dr Krish Kandiah听

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KRISH: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.听

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All: Glory to you O Lord.听

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Then he said to them, 鈥楾hese are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you - that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.鈥� Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, 鈥楾hus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.鈥櫶�

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.听

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Luke 24: 44-53听

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This is the Gospel of the Lord.听
All:听 Praise to you, O Christ.听

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SERMON听

Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani听听

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Growing up as part of the small Anglican Community, in Iran, which still has a Persian Christian presence in the country, I remember Ascension Day as one of the highlights of the church calendar during my childhood. Being an Islamic country, there was no question of a public holiday and so every year as children we鈥檇 need special permission for a day off school when we鈥檇 attend an all-day picnic at a farm, which belonged to a member of the church, on the outskirts of the city of Isfahan. There would be an outdoor service of worship but also games, entertainment, food, fun and friendship. Ascension Day was the climax of the Easter season, the gateway to Pentecost and the birth of the Church and, as such, it was an important feast to be celebrated fulsomely.听听 Yet, in this country, for many Christians Ascension Day passes almost unnoticed.听

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I鈥檓 not sure why it鈥檚 fallen from prominence. But perhaps there鈥檚 some embarrassment about the way in which the traditional story relies on a 3-tier view of the world with hell below, heaven above and earth sandwiched between the two.听听 Consider for a moment the artwork inspired by the account of Jesus鈥� ascension. Much of it, particularly associated with the Medieval period, has Jesus, hands outstretched in blessing, hovering above his band of disciples, variously looking amazed, shocked or piously prayerful. Some of the paintings show only Jesus鈥� feet dangling below the veil that separates heaven from earth, his body already lifted out of sight, and sometimes an impression of his footprints left on the ground below.听听听

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But let鈥檚 be clear, whether you鈥檙e a fan of the artwork or not, and despite the details of the biblical accounts, the Ascension isn鈥檛 essentially about Jesus鈥� levitation 鈥� it鈥檚 not a magic show to seal his capacity to overcome human limitation.听听 It is rather about the need for Jesus to depart and, crucially, it鈥檚 about what he would leave his followers.听听

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So reflecting on the account of the Ascension today, Christians are still left as bystanders, along with the early disciples, observing Jesus鈥� withdrawal and hearing the promise of the power that is to come. And this is an important point. Jesus doesn鈥檛 leave power but the promise of power. 鈥淪tay here in the city鈥�, he says in verse 49 of our reading from St. Luke鈥檚 Gospel chapter 24 -听 鈥淪tay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high鈥�. Jesus ascended to the heavens 鈥� exactly what that means we may not fully comprehend 鈥� but it was time for him to depart and he left behind a confused people, with the promise of power to come.听

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Some might say that power arrived at Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit and that is, of course, correct. And yet today the church still often feels like a confused people, living with the promise of power rather than power itself. And I believe that is because the Holy Spirit did not come once only but rather the Holy Spirit comes again and again; and Christians must always remain watchful if we are continually to be led into deeper truth and greater understanding of what it means to follow the way of Christ. So like the early disciples we too must be prepared, to stay here in the city, as it were, until we have been clothed with power from on high.听

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This phrase 鈥渢o stay鈥� 鈥� as Jesus prepares to depart 鈥� reminds me of his words to Mary on Easter Sunday. 鈥淒o not cling to me鈥� he said to a bewildered Mary who longed to touch and hold him once again; to be assured she could keep him that way forever. We all too often seek to hang on to the risen Christ and claim him for ourselves, to tie things up neatly, claim the Spirit鈥檚 power in our lives and hang on to the truth as we see it.听 But we should be wary - for me there is real wisdom in waiting and in letting go 鈥� of entering the uncertainty and waiting with an open heart for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.听 Go to your place of waiting, Jesus seems to say. You will receive power, but how and when you are not really to know. Do not cling to me, for in clinging you ruin and harm the object of your love. Sit lightly to the promises of God, and live with the hope of knowing they will be fulfilled in good and perfect time. In God鈥檚 time, not your own.听听

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The Church of my childhood in Iran, and indeed the persecuted Church across the world, knows something of the meaning of waiting, sometimes through long winters and periods of darkness. They know the reality of what it means to be powerless, to let go of certainty; and often they feel confused and fearful in the face of the challenges they encounter. Disempowered and with little control they stay, and they wait for the promise of what is to come.听听

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In this country there is a tendency so often to rush to solutions, to claim the truth, to try and control the outcome of events to suit ourselves and our certainties, in the church, but also in our lives as individuals. The events of easter and the Ascension are, for Christians, a reminder to let go of the illusion of control, to know that none of us can claim Christ for ourselves, but always to remain open to the stirrings of the Holy Spirit. To play our part as far as we鈥檙e able in creating a better, more just and peaceful world, but with confidence and in humility, to wait upon the promises of God.听听

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So as we now listen to the choir sing words by St. Augustine, set to music by Elaine Hagenberg may God bless you if you are fearful, struggling or anxious; may the risen and ascended Lord Jesus bring comfort and encouragement wherever it is needed and may the Holy Spirit continue to guide the church and all Christians through times of waiting and uncertainty:听

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All shall be Amen and Alleluia.听

We shall rest and we shall see.听

We shall see and we shall know.听

We shall know and we shall love.听

Behold our end which is no end.听

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The choir sings Alleluia by Elaine Hagenberg.听

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Celebrant: This is the Good News 鈥� God raised Christ from the dead听

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All: and enthroned him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.听

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Celebrant: We died, and our life lies hidden with Christ in God.听

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All: We set our minds on things above.听

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Celebrant: When Christ, who is alive, is revealed,听

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All: then we too will be revealed with him in glory.听

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Celebrant: Christ has gone up on high!听

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All: Alleluia!听听听

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INTERCESSIONS听听

Led by Chine McDonald and the Rev Imogen Ball.听

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Chine McDonald:听

Beckoning God, you drew Christ back into your heavenly places and so prepared a way for us to join him forever with you. Visit us by your Holy Spirit when we remain bewildered and uncertain, searching for certainty and security yet dwelling in mystery and hardship. As your Son鈥檚 disciples felt lost and bereft, uphold all who feel the absence of one who made their hearts sing. As the disciples prepared to become apostles, bless any who face the challenge of exams, the prospect of new responsibility, or the fear of the unknown.听

Lord, in your mercy听听

All:听 Hear our Prayer.听

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The Choir sings the prayer chant 鈥極 Lord, listen to my prayer鈥� by Margaret Rizza.听

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Rev Imogen Ball:听

Empowering God, your Son at his ascension left a promise of power. Dwell with those who rest on promises, any who feel the pain of promises not kept, all who bear the weight of promises they cannot keep. Embrace your children where they are beset by powerlessness and vulnerability, at work, in their neighbourhood, or in their own home. Bestow those with power over communities and nations with wisdom and understanding, courage and compassion, empathy and kindness. Show each one of us where we are powerful, and how best to use that power for the sake of others.听

Lord, in your mercy听听

All:听 Hear our Prayer.听

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The Choir sings the prayer chant 鈥極 Lord, listen to my prayer鈥� by Margaret Rizza.听

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Chine McDonald:听

Abiding God, your Son counselled his disciples to stay in the city. Bring hope to those who stay in places the world seems to have gone beyond. Give courage to those who stay in Bakhmut, and on the front line in Ukraine. Bring consolation to any who stay in Iran, amid discrimination and persecution. Inspire all who stay in Hong Kong, in Syria, in Sudan, in Yemen. Bless all in this country for whom the cost of living is too high, the prospects of better times too dim, and the options for change too limited.听

Lord, in your mercy听听

All:听 Hear our Prayer.听

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The Choir sings the prayer chant 鈥極 Lord, listen to my prayer鈥� by Margaret Rizza.听

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Rev Imogen Ball:听

Transforming God, in the garden with Mary and on the mountain with the disciples your Son encourages us not to cling to you. Be with any who tonight don鈥檛 know where to turn for help. Bring hope to all who face profound pain or terminal illness, any who face poverty or humiliation alone, and those who live in daily fear of others or themselves.听 As we let go of our terror, our anxiety and our hardness of heart, surround us with your everlasting arms that we may know, even as we let go, that you never let us go. As your Son now reigns at your right hand in glory, let him reign in your church, in our communities and in our hearts, now and forever.听

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The Choir sings the prayer chant 鈥極 Lord, listen to my prayer鈥� by Margaret Rizza.听

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Merciful Father听听

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All:听 Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.听

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OFFERTORY HYMN: Praise My Soul the King of Heaven听

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1听听听听听听 Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;听
听听听听听听听听 to his feet thy tribute bring;听
听听听听听听听听 ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,听
听听听听听听听听 who like me his praise should sing?听
听听听听听听听听 Alleluia, alleluia,听
听听听听听听听听 praise the everlasting King.听
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2听听听听听听 Praise him for his grace and favour听
听听听听听听听听 to our fathers in distress;听
听听听听听听听听 praise him still the same for ever,听
听听听听听听听听 slow to chide, and swift to bless:听
听听听听听听听听 Alleluia, alleluia,听
听听听听听听听听 glorious in his faithfulness.听
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3听听听听听听 Father-like he tends and spares us;听
听听听听听听听听 well our feeble frame he knows;听
听听听听听听听听 in his hands he gently bears us,听
听听听听听听听听 rescues us from all our foes:听
听听听听听听听听 Alleluia, alleluia,听
听听听听听听听听 widely as his mercy flows.听
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4听听听听听听 Angels, help us to adore him,听
听听听听听听听听 ye behold him face to face;听
听听听听听听听听 sun and moon, bow down before him,听
听听听听听听听听 dwellers all in time and space:听
听听听听听听听听 Alleluia, alleluia,听
听听听听听听听听 praise with us the God of grace.听
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Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)听

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EUCHARISTIC PRAYER听
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Celebrant: The Lord is here.听

All: His Spirit is with us.听

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Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.听

All: We lift them to the Lord.听

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Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.听

All: It is right to give thanks and praise.听

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Celebrant: Glorious God, in Moses, the prophets, and the psalms you showed your purpose for your people and your love for your world.听 In Jesus you fulfilled your promises and opened to us your heart, and in his passion and death we saw the consequences of our rejection of that purpose and love.听

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Yet you raised Jesus from the tomb; in his resurrection you invited us into the company of your eternal joy, and in his ascension on high you sealed as complete his work among us.听听听

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So, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, we praise you for ever, singing:听听听

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The choir sings the Sanctus and Benedictus from Jazz Missa Brevis by Don Gillthorpe.听

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Celebrant: Gracious God, your son at his Ascension promised the disciples they would be clothed with power from on high.听 Send now your Holy Spirit, that we may be clothed with the presence of your Son among us, and that bread broken, and wine outpoured, may be for us Christ鈥檚 body and blood.听听

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Who, at supper with his disciples, took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying, 鈥楾ake, eat: this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.鈥櫶� After supper he took the cup.听 Again he gave you thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying, 鈥楧rink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.听 Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.鈥櫶� Great is the mystery of faith.听听听

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All:听 Christ has died.听

Christ is risen.听

Christ will come again.听

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Celebrant: Generous God, your son told his disciples to stay in the city until they were clothed by the Spirit; give courage to those whom you call to stay in places of danger and confusion when their hearts are full of doubt and disillusion.听

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Your son withdrew from the disciples when they did not know what the future would hold; be close to all who face an uncertain future and deeply know their need of you.听

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Your son鈥檚 disciples were continually in the temple praising you; give your church a fresh outpouring of your Spirit and make it a blessing to all the children of your earth.听 Until the completion of your son鈥檚 ministry becomes the completion of your whole creation, and you are all in all, one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.听

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Celebrant: In the broken body of Christ听

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All: We enter the broken heart of God.听听

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THE LORD鈥橲 PRAYER听

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Celebrant: Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:听

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All: Our Father, who art in heaven,听

hallowed be thy name;听

thy kingdom come;听

thy will be done;听

on earth as it is in heaven.听

Give us this day our daily bread.听

And forgive us our trespasses,听

as we forgive those who trespass against us.听

And lead us not into temptation;听

but deliver us from evil.听

For thine is the kingdom,听

the power and the glory,听

for ever and ever.听

Amen.听听听

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INVITATION听

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Celebrant: Christ lived and died and rose that we might join the heavenly banquet as God鈥檚 companions forever.听 Come, share the feast prepared for us from the foundation of the world.听听听

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DISTRIBUTION OF THE EUCHARIST听

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The choir sings the Agnus Dei from Jazz Missa Brevis by Don Gillthorpe.听

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The choir sings Pange Lingua by Katy Cooper.听

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POST-COMMUNION PRAYER听

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Celebrant: God our Father,听

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All:听听 you have raised our humanity in Christ and have fed us with the bread of heaven.听 Mercifully grant that with such spiritual blessings we may set our hearts in the heavenly places; through Jesus Christ our Lord.听 Amen.听

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HYMN: Crown him with many crowns听听

1 Crown him with many crowns,听
the Lamb upon his throne;听
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns听
all music but its own:听
Awake, my soul, and sing听
of him who died for thee,听
and hail him as thy matchless King听
through all eternity.听
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2 Crown him the Lord of Love!听
Behold his hands and side,听
rich wounds yet visible above听
in beauty glorified:听
no angel in the sky听
can fully bear that sight,听
but downward bends his burning eye听
at mysteries so bright.听

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3 Crown him the Lord of peace, 听
whose power a sceptre sways听
from pole to pole, that wars may cease,听
absorbed in prayer and praise:听

his reign shall know no end, 听
and round his pierced feet听
fair flowers of Paradise extend听
their fragrance ever sweet.听
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4 Crown him the Lord of years,听
the Potentate of time,听
Creator of the rolling spheres,听
ineffably sublime.听
Glassed in a sea of light,听
where everlasting waves听
reflect his throne-the Infinite!听
who lives-and loves-and saves.听
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Words: Matthew Bridges (1800-1894), Alternative text, Godfrey Thring (1823-1903)听

Music: 鈥楧iademata鈥� G.J. Elvey (1816-1893)鈥�听

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BLESSING AND DISMISSAL听

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Celebrant: Christ, our ascended King, pour upon you the abundance of his gifts and bring you to reign with him in glory; and the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you now and for ever.听

All: Amen.听听听

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Celebrant: Go in the peace of Christ.听 Alleluia, Alleluia!听

All: Thanks be to God.听 Alleluia, Alleluia!听听听

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The 主播大秀 Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year, runner up, Luca sings the Irish Blessing by Bob Chilcott.听

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