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The church building remains closed to the public.
Church Office is staffed Wednesdays & Thursdays, 9am-1pm.
The Deacon’s Cupboard (food bank) is open Tuesdays & Fridays, 10am-1pm.
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Processional Hymn: “Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus” #246
Hail, thou once despised Jesus!
Hail, thou Galilean King!
Thou didst suffer to release us;
thou didst free salvation bring.
Hail, thou universal Saviour!
Thou hast borne our sin and shame;
by thy merits we find favour:
life is given through thy name.

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed,
all our sins on thee were laid:
by almighty love anointed,
thou hast full atonement made.
All thy people are forgiven
through the virtue of thy blood:
opened is the gate of heaven,
peace is made ‘twixt us and God.

Jesus, hail! Enthroned in glory,
there for ever to abide;
all the heavenly host adore thee,
seated at thy Father’s side.
Worship, honor, power, and blessing
thou art worthy to receive;
highest praises, without ceasing,
meet it is for us to give.

Greeting
Celebrant: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Celebrant: May his grace and peace be with you.
People: May he fill our hearts with joy.

Welcome

Glory to God
All: Glory to God in the highest,  and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Collect
Celebrant: Let us pray. Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord. Keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of his peace, and bring the whole of creation to worship at his feet, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen

A Reading from the Book of Acts of the Apostles (Chapter 1: 1-11)
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.”

Reader:  The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 47 (sung)
Clap your hands, all you peoples;  
shout to God with a cry of joy.  
For the Lord Most High is to be feared;  
he is the great king over all the earth. 

He subdues the peo-ples under us,  
and the na-tions under our feet.  
He chooses our inheri-tance for us,  
the pride of Ja-cob whom he loves. 

God has gone up with a shout,  
the Lord with the sound of the ram’s-horn.  
Sing praises to God, sing praises;  
sing praises to our king, sing praises. 

For God is king of all the earth;  
sing praises with all your skill.  
God reigns over the nations;  
God sits upon his ho-ly throne. 

The nobles of the peoples have gathered together  
with the people of the God of Abraham.  
The rulers of the earth belong to God,  
and he is highly exalted. 

A Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians (Chapter 1: 15-23)
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Gradual: “Alleluia” (vs. 1) #405

Alleluia, alleluia
Give thanks to the Risen Lord
Alleluia, alleluia
Give praise to His Name

(cantor only)

Jesus is Lord of all the earth
He is the King of creation

Alleluia, alleluia
Give thanks to the Risen Lord
Alleluia, alleluia
Give praise to His Name

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
Deacon: The Lord be with you
People: And also with you.
Deacon: The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
People: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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, 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 worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. (Luke 24:44-53)

Deacon: The Gospel of Christ.
People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Gradual: “Alleluia” (vs. 1) #405

Alleluia, alleluia
Give thanks to the Risen Lord
Alleluia, alleluia
Give praise to His Name

Sermon

The Nicene Creed
Celebrant: Let us confess our faith, as we say,
All: We believe in one God, 
the Father, the Almighty, 
maker of heaven and earth, 
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord,
Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father.
With the Father and the Son
he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic
and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Prayers of the People
Leader: Lord, in your mercy,
Response: Hear our prayer.

Confession and Absolution
Celebrant: Dear friends in Christ, God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy; he welcomes sinners and invites them to his table. Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.

Silence is kept.

Celebrant: Most merciful God,
All: we confess that 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 neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Celebrant: Almighty God have mercy upon you, 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. Amen.

The Peace
Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.

• • Shepherd’s Pie Fundraiser
  • Insights & Perspectives on the Creed (Tuesdays)
  • The Kingdom Come (May 26-June 5)
  • Celebrating Pride (June 3-5)
  • Mapping the Ground We Stand On (June 12)
  • Diocesan Updates to Re-Opening
  • Student Employment Opportunity
  • God’s Wonder Lab (VBS, July 25-29)

The church relies on donations for its ministry work. Right now you can text the word “give” to 1-844-416-1270 to help contribute to the life of the parish. Or please consider donating through Canada Helps or sending a request to become a pre-authorized giver.

Offertory Hymn: “Lord, the Light of Your Love Is Shining” #460

Lord, the light of Your love is shining
In the midst of darkness shining
Jesus, light of the world shine upon us
Set us free by the truth You now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me

Refrain:
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father’s glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth Your word Lord, and let there be light.

Lord, I come to Your awesome presence
From the shadows into Your radiance
By the blood I may enter Your brightness
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me

Refrain:
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father’s glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth Your word Lord, and let there be light.

As we gaze on Your kingly brightness
So our faces display Your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story
Shine on me, shine on me

Refrain:
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father’s glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth Your word Lord, and let there be light.

Prayer over the Gifts
Celebrant: Eternal God, our Saviour Jesus Christ has promised to be with us until the end of time. Accept all we offer you this day, and renew us in his transfigured life; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Eucharistic Prayer #3
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.

Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
All:  We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All:  It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Celebrant: Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; because you bid your faithful people to cleanse their hearts and to prepare with joy for the paschal feast; that reborn through the waters of baptism and renewed in the eucharistic mystery, we may be more fervent in prayer and more generous in the works of love. Therefore we raise our voices to you in praise
to proclaim the glory of your name.

(Common Praise) #719
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Celebrant: We give thanks to you, Lord our God, for the goodness and love you have made known to us in creation; in calling Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus your Son.

For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, a death he freely accepted, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “ Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “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. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Therefore, Father, according to his command,

All: we remember his death
we proclaim his resurrection,
we await his coming in glory;

Celebrant: And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.

We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts, that they may be the sacrament of the body of Christ and his blood of the new covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we, made acceptable in him, may be sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

In the fullness of time, reconcile all things in Christ, and make them new, and bring us to that city of light where you dwell with all your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer
Celebrant: And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
All: 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,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread 
Celebrant: Lord, we died with you on the cross.
All: Now we are raised to new life.

Celebrant: We were buried in your tomb.
All: Now we share in your resurrection.
Celebrant: Live in us, that we may live in you.

The Communion
Celebrant: The gifts of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.

Agnus Dei (Common Praise) #745
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. 
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Communion Hymns

“Father, I Adore You” (Dennis Jernigan)
Father, I adore you,
lay my life before you,
how I love you.

Jesus, I adore you,
lay my life before you,
how I love you.

Spirit, I adore you,
lay my life before you,
how I love you.

“Thou, Who at Thy First Eucharist” #57
Thou, who at thy first Eucharist did pray
That all thy Church might be forever one,
Grant us at every Eucharist to say
With longing heart and soul, “Thy will be done.”
O may we all one bread, one body be,
Through this blest Sacrament of Unity.

For all thy Church, O Lord, we intercede;
Make thou our sad divisions soon to cease;
Draw us the nearer each, to each we plead,
By drawing all to thee, O Prince of Peace;
Thus may we all one bread, one body be,
Through this blest Sacrament of Unity.

So, Lord, at length when sacraments shall cease,
May we be one with all thy Church above,
One with thy saints in one unbroken peace,
One with thy saints in one unbounded love;
More blessed still in peace and love to be
One with the Trinity in Unity.

“Thee We Adore, O Hidden Saviour” # 76
Thee we adore, O hidden Saviour, thee,
who at thy sacrament dost deign to be;
both flesh and spirit in thy presence fail,
yet here thy presence we devoutly hail.

O blest memorial of our dying Lord,
who living bread to all doth here afford!
O may our souls forever feed on thee,
and thou, O Christ, forever precious be!

Fountain of goodness, Jesus, Lord and God,
cleanse us, unclean, with thy most cleansing blood;
increase our faith and love, that we may know
the hope and peace which from thy presence flow.

O Christ, whom now beneath a veil we see,
may what we thirst for soon our portion be,
to gaze on thee unveiled, and see thy face,
the vision of thy glory and thy grace.

Choir Anthem: “Lead Me, Lord” (Wesley)

Prayer after Communion
Celebrant: Eternal Giver of love and power, your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the World to preach the gospel of his kingdom. Confirm us in this mission, and help us to live the good news we proclaim; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Doxology
Celebrant: Glory to God,
All: whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Blessing
Celebrant: May the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Hymn: “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus” #374
Alleluia! sing to Jesus! His the scepter, his the throne;
Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone
Hark! the songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood
Jesus out of every nation hath redeemed us by his blood.

Alleluia! not as orphans are we left in sorrow now
Alleluia! He is near us, faith believes nor questions how
Though the cloud from sight received him when the forty days were o’er
Shall our hearts forget his promise, I am with you evermore?

Alleluia! bread of heaven, here on earth our food and stay
Alleluia! here the sinful flee to thee from day to day
Intercessor, Friend of sinners, earth’s Redeemer, plead for me
Where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea.

Alleluia! King eternal, thee the Lord of Lords we own
Alleluia! born of Mary, earth thy footstool, heaven thy throne
Thou within the veil hast entered, robed in flesh, our great High Priest
Thou on earth both Priest and Victim in the Eucharistic Feast.

Alleluia! sing to Jesus, His the scepter, his the throne
Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone
Hark! the songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood
Jesus out of every nation hath redeemed us by his blood.

The Dismissal
Deacon: Alleluia! Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

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Those Assisting with the Service

Celebrant & Preacher: The Rev. Jennifer Schick
Servers: Mark DeSousa, Joyce Ibbott-Belvin, Sara Houghton
Deacon: The Rev. Dr. Gary Gannon
Prayers of the People: Marilyn Csihas
Readers: Pauline Reid, Greg Carter
Greeters: Maurice and Joan Fraser
Bell Ringer: Jacky Bramma

Warden on Duty: Joyce Ibbott-Belvin

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Flowers are given by Phyllis Pharo and family, to the glory of God,

in loving memory of her husband Ralph Pharo.

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All Saints acknowledges being on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island,
the Iroquoian-speaking Wendat, and the 1923 Williams Treaties First Nations.

All Saints’ is a LGBTQ2SI+ affirming parish.

 

Today is Ascension Day, when we remember Jesus’s departure from the earth, as witnessed by his disciples.

Luke’s gospel tells us, (24:50-51) “…he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.” In the first chapter of Acts we read,” … he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”

As a child in England, I attended a Church of England primary school, and I have vague memories of Ascension Day being a day off from lessons, when we would walk two by two to attend a service at our parish church. I have no recollection whatsoever of whether the service was child friendly (I suspect it was not, since services in those days were always of the adult variety), but I was left with a clear image of Jesus in a white robe flying up to heaven to meet God his Father, who was the old man with a grey beard, in a grey robe. I hope my concept of the Ascension has matured a little since then!
 
The Jewish people believed in a three-part cosmos, as described in Genesis, in which the heavens were above, the Earth (centered on Jerusalem) was in the middle, and Sheol, the underworld, was below. Heaven was separated from the earth by the firmament. This was seen to be a bowl-shaped roof over the earth, giving the visible sky where God’s palace sat on pillars in the celestial sea. Not surprisingly, Luke’s account of the Ascension reflects the beliefs of his age.

For the Jews, the idea of Ascent was not new. In the Old Testament, Enoch, at the age of 365, was “taken away” while he was still alive. Hebrews 11: 5 tells us, “It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying.” Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Moses went up the mountain to meet God. Psalms 120-134 are given the title Psalms of Ascent, to be sung when going up to worship. The whole idea of going up may be equated with transcendence, or a “going beyond” the grasp of human experience, rather than a physical place.
 
Of course, we now know that the earth is not the only planet in the universe, and that space is infinite. For me, the Ascension almost certainly does not mean that Jesus floated off into outer space. Thinking of it literally could be problematic, and even embarrassing, for many twenty-first century Christians. Perhaps we might instead think of Jesus transcending the earth, so that he now exists permanently in both God’s space and humanity’s space at the same time, uniting heaven and earth once and for all. When we pray “Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” we are acknowledging this connection.

Now I no longer hang on to my childish image. I can accept Jesus’s Ascension as one of the mysteries of faith. I don’t need to know exactly how it happened, only that it happened, and that Jesus is alive both on earth and in heaven.
 
Ascension Day is also the first day for the Thy Kingdom Come global prayer initiative. See how to collect the TKC booklets and/or consider dropping by one of the prayer rooms on Zoom.
 
PRAYER  (From Forward Movement’s Hour by Hour):

Almighty God, whose blessed Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things. Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.
Amen