Ascension 2025. Holy Communion
7 PM Central, May 29th, 2025
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
The melody is linked to the name of the hymn.
The lyrics are linked to the Bethany Lutheran Hymnal page.
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Introit
Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?
Hallelujah!
This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Psalm. Oh, clap your hands, all ye people: shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to have ascended into the heavens,
so may we may also in heart and mind thither ascend and
with Him continually dwell; who liveth, etc.
Gradual
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. God is gone up with a shout:
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Hallelujah!
V. Thou hast ascended on high:
Thou hast led captivity captive. Hallelujah!
The Gospel Mark 16:14-20
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #413 I Walk in Danger
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #413 I Walk in Danger
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #409 Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #409 Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus
In Our Prayers
Dr. Lito Cruz, Lynda Roper, Sarah Buck; Tom Fisher, Kermit Way; Pastor Jim Shrader and Christine.
The Little Great Event
If we measured this as a great event today, very little would be said. The non-religious majorities have many different thoughts, not very focused. It is strange about how often people use the Name of Jesus, but not its meaning.
Here we have a perfect example of the use and splendor of Jesus' Ascension. The last days after the Resurrection solidified and confirmed the confused believers and began the miracles that we have with us today. He let a few ascend into heaven before their eyes, the angelic hosts enhancing this and asking - Why stare into the heavens?
From that time on, the bedrock of the Empty Tomb and the Ascension farewell (but only in a sense) backed and strengthened Jesus in His supreme ministry for all of earth, which spread the Gospel to every corner, every race, every type. As Luther wrote, Jesus did not go to Heaven for the Savior's need but for those who needed Him...prayed to Him...and shared the Gospel that came from Him.
If you do not believe in Him - faith dwindles away. The many declarations of the Good Shepherd are aimed at helping and healing us. The old ways are never going to work:
- Shunning
- Getting even
- Revenge
- Hurting others.
Those four traits above do not accomplish anything and instead make people more bitter or worse on both sides.
- Kindness is just the opposite of the list above and it comes from the Shepherd.
- Understanding another's emotions and sufferings.
- Helping with losses, whether personal or material.
- Offering humor, levity, and personal parallels.
We cannot fully explain the nature of Christ and His will for each and every one of us, but we can marvel at what He has already done, even in the worst of circumstances.
Since I was teaching about Acts 12 today, I thought I would add up all the Luther Melanchthon Chemnitz videos. The readers have added up 65,000 views. That is a small amount compared to millions churned out by big media methods. But the Word of God is the power, not the showmanship and the glitter.
