Ascension Celtic Service

Trinity †St. Peter’s Episcopal: San Francisco Celtic Vision Service 9am

Musical prelude by David Miles on flute

Silent contemplation (begun and ended with a tone)

Opening acclamation

Presider: The God of heaven has made a home on earth.

All: Christ dwells among us and is one with us.

Collect for Purity

Presider: Let us pray together.

All: Almighty God to you all hearts are open, all desires known and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your Holy Name; through Christ our Brother.

Amen.

Collect

Presider: Great high ruler of heaven and earth, sun behind all souls, prepare our minds and open our hearts as we seek you in the sacraments of Word and Table.

All: Amen

First Reading

Acts 1:1-11

A Reading from the First Letter of John

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 during 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. “This,” he said, “is 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.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It 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.” 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.”

Psalm or Reflection (Psalm 1 by Frank McEleny)

Plant me by the rivers, Oh Living God That I may drink of thee

Plant me by the rivers oh Living God Make me like an evergreen tree

My delight is in the law and it is my roots Sunk down deeper ever closer to thee Lead me to the Rock that is higher that I Make me like an evergreen tree

Though the landscape turns to desert And the world turns its back on thee Night and day I shall come before you Make me like an evergreen tree

So may I walk in the council of the Godly Walking ever closer to thee May I be a vessel for thy good pleasure Make me like an evergreen tree

The Holy Gospel Before: All:

Luke 24:44-53

The Holy Gospel according to Luke Glory to you O Christ.

Jesus said to his disciples, “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.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus 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.” 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 worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. After: This is the good news of God in Christ.

All: May the Word be made flesh in us.

Silence (while we absorb the message of the readings)

Homily

The Prayers of the People

Leader: Christ above us, Christ below us, Christ to our left, Christ to our right, Christ to follow us, Christ to lead us, Christ hear our prayer as we seek to follow only you.

All: Hear our prayer, O Christ of our heart

Leader: Christ of wisdom, keep us silent when the only words we have to utter are ones of judgment, exclusion or prejudice.

All: Teach us to face the wounds in our own hearts

Leader: Christ of Justice, give us power of speech to resist injustice, oppression and hate, not only on our own behalf but for others who are not heard.

All: Make us courageous in doing your work and peacemakers in the face of conflict.

Leader: Christ of the poor, let us be a glimpse of your love to those in need.

All: Give us chances to be your hands, minds and hearts in the world.

Leader: Christ the healer, we lift up to your tender care those in need on the Trinity St. Peter’s prayer list, and those we mention either silently or aloud.

Presider: Gracious God, you form us in your own image and call us to dwell in your love. You give the world into our care that we might be your faithful stewards and live with one another in grace. Yet, we don’t do this well. We violate your creation. We stumble in darkness. We are troubled by conflict. We are burdened by hurt.

All: We long for wholeness, and we desire peace. Forgive us and restore us in your own image. Amen.

Absolution

The Affirmation (from Grace Church, Bainbridge Island)

With the whole church WE AFFIRM THAT WE ARE MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE, BEFRIENDED BY CHRIST, EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT.

With people everywhere WE AFFIRM GOD’S GOODNESS AT THE HEART OF HUMANITY, PLANTED MORE DEEPLY THAN ALL THAT IS WRONG.

With all creation WE CELEBRATE THE MIRACLE AND WONDER OF LIFE; THE UNFOLDING PURPOSES OF GOD, FOREVER AT WORK IN OURSELVES AND THE WORLD

The Offertory

Presider: Christ invites us to share ourselves, and our gifts and to be part of His kingdom both on earth and in heaven. Come forward now and claim your place at the table that Christ sets himself.

The Celebration of the Sacred Meal

God be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to our God. Let us give thanks to our most holy God, It is right to give God thanks and praise.

The presider continues….

All of creation praises you, rocks and rivers praise you, sun, moon and stars praise you, sea otter and sea foam, fertile earth and earthworm, fresh breezes and rustling trees praise you.

All: And we will praise you, Creator of all that exists on heaven and earth. We join our voices with the whole company who evermore praise you, saying:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is our brother Jesus, who walks with us the road of the world’s suffering and who is known to us in the breaking of the bread.

On the night before he died, Jesus was with his friends. He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them saying:

All: “Take eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

As the supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine. Again he gave thanks, gave it to them and said:

“Drink this, all of you: This is the cup of the new Covenant, which is poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Faithful God, as we present to you these gifts –this bread, this wine –and as we come forward and present ourselves, prepare us for the incarnation of Christ. Come to us. Be with us. Help us know your goodness. Pour out your Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine.

All And pour out your Spirit upon us, that we may love one another, work for the healing of the earth, and embody your tender mercy.

All this we ask through Jesus Christ. By him and with him and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty God, now and forever. Amen.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray:

All: Our father and mother who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Presider: Look the body of Christ is broken for the life of the world. Here is Christ present for us in the bread and wine.

Silence

The Post Communion Prayer

All: God of creation, you have fed us with your Word and with bread and wine. Send us out to do the work you have given us to do with gladness and singleness of heart, through Christ our Savior. Amen.

The Blessing

The blessing of holy work and holy stillness be upon you. And may God who made us, God who journeys with us and God who safely holds us, be with us now and always. Amen

The Announcements

The Peace

Trinity†St. Peter's Episcopal Church 1620 Gough Street San Francisco, California 94109-5308 415.775.1117 office, admin@trinity-stpeters.org

Trinity†St Peter's Bishop’s Committee, and Personnel (with *); Mr. Patrick Andersen, Senior Warden, pwandersen@yahoo.com Ms. Terry Speiker, Junior Warden, brumfieldspeiker@gmail.com Ms. Amanda Aweh, amandaaweh@gmail.com Mr. Justin Kleinwaks, Justinck31@gmail.com Mr. Scott DeBonville, Skdebonz@aol.com Ms. Murrey Nelson, murrey.nelson@me.com Mr. Steve Roger, srogerinsf@yahoo.com Ms. Sandy Kameron, Secretary, singsonsundays@earthlink.net Mr. Mike Chambers, Treasurer, mcham31153@aol.com Ms. Lois M. Webb, Asst. Secretary, lodisgt@yahoo.com

Trinity†St. Peter's Clergy and Staff The Rev. Patricia Cunningham, Vicar, vicar@trinity-stpeters.org The Rev. Molly Elizabeth Haws, Priest Associate, assisting-priest@trinity-stpeters.org Mr. Robert Gurney, Director of Music, RobertGurney11@gmail.com Mr. Bruce Huston - Taizé Officiant Ms. Sandy Kameron, Taizé Cantor Mr. David Miles, Sexton, CityofRobots@fastmail.fm Ms. Lois M. Webb, Archivist, lodisgt@yahoo.com Br. Karekin Yarian, BSG, Parish Administrator, admin@trinity-stpeters.org

Trinity Center for the Arts Chanticleer, The New Century Chamber Orchestra The San Francisco Lyric Chorus

Services at Trinity†St. Peter's Church Celtic Prayer Service, 9:00 a.m.

Choral Holy Eucharist, Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

First Sunday each month: Bring and Share Potluck after 11 a.m. service Taizé Candlelight Meditation, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Confession and Absolution – please contact one of the clergy.

Web information: www.trinity-stpeters.org; Office: admin@trinity-stpeters.org; newsletter: TSPnewsletter@trinity-stpeters.org