2020-05-21 (Ascension Day 2020)

The Eucharist Ascension Day

21 May 2020 19.00

Welcome to Bradford Cathedral The seat of the Bishop of Leeds and a Centre of Worship and Mission One of three Cathedrals in the Anglican Diocese of Leeds

Our purpose is to serve Jesus Christ as a vibrant community of worship and mission enriching the City, the Diocese and further afield.

❖ Please join in at home, by saying or singing the words in bold type in this order of service. ❖ This is a service of Holy Communion. The term ‘Spiritual Communion’ has been used historically to describe the means of grace by which a person, prevented for some serious reason from sharing in a celebration of the Eucharist, nonetheless shares in the communion of Jesus Christ. The Church of which we are members is not defined by the walls of a building but by the Body of Christ of which we are members. In making our communion spiritually, we are joining with Christians everywhere to be nourished by the one who tells us, ‘I am the Bread of Life’. ❖ You may wish to use the following prayer, after Richard of Chichester: Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits you have given me, for all the pains and insults you have borne for me.

Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart.

O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen. ❖ Members of the Music Department lead this morning’s worship. The choral settings are John Rutter’s Communion Service (Series 3) and Alex Berry’s Missa sub clavis.

HOSPITALITY info@bradfordcathedral.org www.bradfordcathedral.org

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FAITHFULNESS

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WHOLENESS

Bradford Cathedral, Stott Hill, Bradford, BD1 4EH T: 01274 777720 2

Voluntary: Prelude in G, BWV 860 by J. S. Bach

Welcome The Very Reverend Jerry Lepine, Dean of Bradford

Hymn Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia, to his throne above the skies; Alleluia, Christ, the Lamb for sinners given, Alleluia, enters now the highest heaven. Alleluia!

There for him high triumph waits; lift your heads, eternal gates.

He hath conquered death and sin; take the King of Glory in.

See, he lifts his hands above; see, he shews the prints of love; hark, his gracious lips bestow blessings on his church below.

Still for us he intercedes, his prevailing death he pleads; near himself prepares our place, he the first-fruits of our race.

Lord, though parted from our sight, far above the starry height, grant our hearts may thither rise, seeking thee above the skies.

Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788) Tune: LLANFAIR; CP 167

Greeting God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

Psalm 47.5

Introduction Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, for forty days we have been celebrating with joyful hearts the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, his bursting from the tomb and his defeat of the power of sin and death.

He appeared to his disciples many times and told them about the kingdom of God. Today we recall how he left this earth and returned to his Father, ascending into heaven to take his throne over all dominions and powers.

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Gloria in Excelsis

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Prayer of the day Let us pray that our risen and ascended Lord will lead us to eternal life.

Risen Christ, you have raised our human nature to the throne of heaven: help us to seek and serve you, that we may join you at the Father’s side, where you reign with the Spirit in glory, now and for ever.

Amen

New Testament Reading

Acts 1.1-11 read by Ian Price

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3After 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. 4While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; 5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’

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So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ 7He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But 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.’ 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand 5

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.’

This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God Silence

Gradual Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!

The heavens are not too high, his praise may thither fly, the earth is not too low, his praises there may grow.

Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!

Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!

The church with psalms must shout, no door can keep them out; but, above all, the heart must bear the longest part.

Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!

Words: George Herbert (1593-1633) Music: R. Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.

Go and make disciples of all nations, says the Lord.

Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Matthew 28.19,20

Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Reading Read by the Revd Philippa Slingsby, Curate of Tong, Holmewood and Laisterdyke Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Glory to you, O Lord Luke 24.44-53 Then he said to them, ‘These 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.’ 45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And see, I am sending upon you what my Father 6

promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’ 50

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.52And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53and they were continually in the temple blessing God. This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Silence

Sermon The Reverend Canon John Bavington, Area Dean of Inner Bradford Silence

Prayers of Penitence Christ has gone up on high, leading captivity captive and bringing gifts for all people.

As we prepare ourselves to meet him in the courts of heaven let us call to mind our many failures and sins.

Silence O King enthroned on high, filling the earth with your glory: holy is your name, Lord God almighty.

In our sinfulness we cry to you to take our guilt away, and to cleanse our lips to speak your word, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Almighty God, who in Jesus Christ has given us a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, forgive us our sins, open our eyes to God's truth, strengthen us to do God's will and give us the joy of his kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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Prayers of Intercession

led by Canon Mandy Coutts

Let us join our prayers with those of our Saviour Christ, seeking the Father’s blessing and the gifts of the Spirit . . .

Lord in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

Jesus Christ, keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at your feet; for you are alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

Giving and Receiving Peace Jesus says: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

If you love me, rejoice because I am going to the Father’. Alleluia.

John 14.27,28

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Table is set with bread and wine Our offerings are received: www.bradfordcathedral.org

Prayer of Thanksgiving Eucharistic Prayer B with Ascension Day Preface The Lord is here God’s Spirit is with us Lift up your hearts We lift them to the Lord Let us give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is indeed right and good, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ the King of glory.

Born of a woman, he came to the rescue of our human race.

Dying for us, he trampled death and conquered sin.

By the glory of his resurrection he opened the way to life eternal and by his ascension gave us the sure hope that where he is we may also be.

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Therefore the universe resounds with Easter joy and with choirs of angels we sing for ever to your praise:

Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness; grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your holy will, these gifts of bread and wine may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying: Drink 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.

Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Jesus Christ is Lord: Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free.

You are the Saviour of the world.

And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross, his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world; rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming in glory, we celebrate this memorial of our redemption.

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As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, we bring before you this bread and this cup and we thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you.

Send the Holy Spirit on your people and gather into one in your kingdom all who share this one bread and one cup, so that we, in the company of all the saints, may praise and glorify you for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer Looking for the coming of his kingdom, as our Saviour taught us, so we pray Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

Breaking of the Bread Lord, we died with you on the cross.

Now we are raised to new life.

We were buried in your tomb.

Now we share in your resurrection.

Live in us, that we may live in you.

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Giving of Communion I heard the voice of a great multitude crying, Alleluia.

The Lord our God has entered into his kingdom.

Blessed are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb.

Alleluia.

The president receives the consecrated bread and wine

If you would like to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, you may wish to use the following prayer, after Richard of Chichester: Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits you have given me, for all the pains and insults you have borne for me.

Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart.

O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day.

Amen.

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Prayer after Communion God our Father, you have raised our humanity in Christ and have fed us with the bread of heaven: mercifully grant that, nourished with such spiritual blessings, we may set our hearts in the heavenly places; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Hymn Thy Kingdom Come – Lord teach us how to pray For all to know your joy, your peace and love And know your friendship each and every day The breath of Christ, the Father’s gentle dove Thy Kingdom Come – Christ’s prayer to make us one That all may know the Father sent the Son To celebrate the victory He has won In love and grace we pray: ‘thy will be done’ Thy Kingdom Come – we pray for those we know To turn and follow you for all their days and in your love find peace and service grow Our one desire and hope your highest praise Thy Kingdom Come – transform our human ways Our lives laid down in mercy, truth and care Nations renewed, in giving thanks and praise To see God’s Kingdom come: this is our prayer Thy Kingdom Come – we praise your Holy name Your sacrifice and rising sets us free That by our words and lives we may proclaim

By Jesus’ risen life, God’s victory!

Tune: WOODLANDS; CP 362

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Dismissal As we wait in silence, make us ready for your coming Spirit.

As we listen to your word, make us ready for your coming Spirit.

As we worship you in majesty, make us ready for your coming Spirit.

As we long for your renewing, make us ready for your coming Spirit.

As we long for your empowering, make us ready for your coming Spirit.

May the Spirit, who set the Church on ďŹ re upon the day of Pentecost, bring the world alive with the love of the risen Christ.

And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.

Waiting expectantly for the promised Holy Spirit, go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.

Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

Voluntary: Synfonia: Wir danken dir, Gott – BWV 29. Played by Jeremiah Stephenson.

The concluding voluntary is offered as part of our worship

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Material in this Order of Service is taken from Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, copyright © The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2000 and Common Worship: Times & Seasons, copyright © The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2006. Scripture readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (Anglicised Edition) of the Bible, copyright © 1989, 1994 The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Copyright hymns and songs are reproduced under the Christian Copyright Licensing scheme: licence number 3887. This compilation is copyright © 2020 The Chapter of Bradford.

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