The Ascension Of Our Lord ~ 2025

May 29, 2025 - Ascension Day

 

 

Today's Service Leader - Rev. Michael W. Mohr, Associate Pastor, Holy Cross Lutheran Church & CID President

 

Today's liturgy is the Divine Service, Setting One, LSB pages 151ff.

 

493 A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing

 

5 Be now our joy on earth, O Lord,
And be our future great reward.
    Alleluia, alleluia!
Then, throned with You forever, we
Shall praise Your name eternally.
    Alleluia, alleluia!
    Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

 

D 6 O risen Christ, ascended Lord,
All praise to You let earth accord:
    Alleluia, alleluia!
You are, while endless ages run,
With Father and with Spirit one.
    Alleluia, alleluia!
    Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Text: Bede, 673–735; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978, alt.
Tune: Geistliche Kirchengesäng, 1623, Köln
Text: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

Please Stand

 

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

 

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

 

Exhortation LSB 151

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

"Silent Reflection before Confession"

 

Confession of Sins LSB 151

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

 

Absolution LSB 151

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

 

Introit Psalm 47:1–2, 5, 8; antiphon: Acts 1:11

Men of | Galilee,*
why do you stand looking into heaven? Alle- | luia.
This Jesus, who was taken up from you into | heaven,*
will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. Alle- | luia.
Clap your hands, all | peoples!*
Shout to God with loud | songs of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, is | to be feared,*
a great king over | all the earth.
God has gone up | with a shout,*
the Lord with the sound of a | trumpet.
God reigns over the | nations;*
God sits on his | holy throne.
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*
and to the Holy | Spirit;
as it was in the be- | ginning,*
is now, and will be forever. | Amen.
Men of | Galilee,*
why do you stand looking into heaven? Alle- | luia.
This Jesus, who was taken up from you into | heaven,*
will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. Alle- | luia.

 

Kyrie LSB 152

 

This Is the Feast LSB 155

 

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P Let us pray.

Almighty God, as Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, ascended into the heavens, so may we also ascend in heart and mind and continually dwell there with Him, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Please be Seated

 

Old Testament Reading 2 Kings 2:5–15

⁵The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

⁶Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. ⁷Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. ⁸Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.

⁹When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” ¹⁰And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” ¹¹And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. ¹²And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.

Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. ¹³And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

¹⁵Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Second Reading Acts 1:1–11

¹In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, ²until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ³To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

⁴And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; ⁵for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

⁶So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed 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 and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ⁹And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Please Stand

 

Alleluia and Verse LSB 156

 

Holy Gospel Luke 24:44–53

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the twenty-fourth chapter.

⁴⁴Then [Jesus] 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 and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

⁵⁰Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. ⁵¹While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵²And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, ⁵³and were continually in the temple blessing God.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

Please be Seated

 

491 Up through Endless Ranks of Angels

Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, 1919–2008
Tune: Henry V. Gerike, 1948
Text: © 1974 Augsburg Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: © 1973 Henry V. Gerike. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518

 

Sermon - "A Kingdom Restored" - Acts 1:1-11~ Rev. Michael W. Mohr, Associate Pastor, Holy Cross Lutheran Church & CID President

 

Please Stand

 

Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God,

     the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth

          and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light,

     very God of very God,

     begotten, not made,

     being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

          and ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of the Father.

     And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

     whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the Lord and giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

     who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

 

Prayer of the Church

P O Lord, since Your Son has gone up with a shout and the sound of a trumpet, ascended in triumph and seated at Your right hand, so open our lips to sing praises to our King, rejoicing and living in the truth of His victory for us. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Father of glory, pour out the Holy Spirit upon the Church, that she may proclaim to the ends of the earth the good news of what Your Son has accomplished in His life, death, resurrection and ascension. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Almighty God, since Your Son will shatter kings when He executes judgment on the nations, keep [_____________ and] all our leaders from acting in ways that will earn them His wrath. Bless them with wisdom to govern us in accord with Your righteous ways. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Merciful Lord, Your Son has ascended to sit at Your right hand until You make all enemies His footstool. Fix our eyes on Him, ruling in the midst of His enemies, that we may have no fear of them but abide in His peace. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Heavenly Father, You have seated Christ at Your right hand for our deliverance. Remember those who are afflicted with illness and injury [including _____________]. Give them health and strength according to Your will. Sustain them in faith, knowing that, for Jesus’ sake, You will raise them in glory on the Last Day. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O Lord, keep us from hardness of heart and unbelief. Help us by Your Spirit to believe the witness of those who saw Your Son after His resurrection, that we may joyfully recline at table with Him today to eat His body and drink His blood in a worthy manner. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Blessed Lord, You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. From You all things come and to You all things must return. Receive our thanks for the saints of every generation whose fidelity has commended the faith to us. Make us also faithful in preserving the hope to which we have been called. Bring us at last to that day when all things are under Your feet, Your name is above all names, and we shall rest in Your presence forevermore. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O Lord, heavenly Father, we gratefully remember the sufferings and death of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation. Rejoicing in His victorious resurrection from the dead, we draw strength from His ascension before You, where He ever stands for us as our own High Priest. Gather us together from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to You alone we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

Please be Seated

 

Offering

 

537 Beautiful Savior

Text: Münsterisch Gesangbuch, 1677, Münster; tr. Joseph A. Seiss, 1823–1904
Tune: Silesian, 19th cent.
Text and tune: Public domain

 

The offering is presented on the last stanza

 

Please Stand

 

Offertory LSB 159

 

Preface LSB 160

 

Proper Preface (Abbreviated) LSB 161

P It is truly good, right, and salutary . . . evermore praising You and saying:

 

Sanctus LSB 161

 

Prayer of Thanksgiving LSB 161

P Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.

Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

The Words of Our Lord

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

 

Proclamation of Christ

P As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

C Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

P O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

 

Lord’s Prayer

C Our Father 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

     and the power and the glory

     forever and ever. Amen.

 

Pax Domini LSB 163

 

Agnus Dei LSB 163

 

Please be Seated

 

Distribution Hymns

 

840 Christ High-Ascended, Now in Glory Seated

Text: Timothy Dudley-Smith, 1926–2024
Tune: Antiphoner, 1746, Poitiers
Text: © 1984 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

525 Crown Him with Many Crowns

Text (sts. 1–3, 5): Matthew Bridges, 1800–94, alt.; (st. 4): Godfrey Thring, 1823–1903
Tune: George J. Elvey, 1816–93
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Please Stand

 

Nunc Dimittis LSB 165

 

Post-Communion Collect

A Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Benediction LSB 166

 

Please be seated.

 

492 On Christ’s Ascension I Now Build

Text: Josua Wegelin, 1604–40; tr. William M. Czamanske, 1873–1964, alt.
Tune: Etlich Cristlich lider, 1524, Wittenberg
Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

Acknowledgments

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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