Resources

Worship and the Ascension

Though often overlooked, the ascension of Christ is filled with theological significance. Christ’s ascension means that in heaven there is one who, knowing firsthand the experience of suffering and temptation, prays for us and perfects our prayers. The ascension is a witness and guarantee of our own bodily resurrection, as well as an invitation for us to set our hearts and minds “on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” ... Finally, the ascension of Jesus serves as the prelude to Pentecost, when the power of the risen Christ came upon all believers through the Holy Spirit.

from The Worship Sourcebook, p. 655

Conference
With a Shout: What Difference Does the Ascension Make for Everyday Life?
recordings and resources from a day-long conference on the Ascension

Resources from The Worship Sourcebook
Part O of The Worship Sourcebook, pp. 655-671, offers sample Ascension prayers and resources for each act of worship, including the Call to Worship, Opening Responses, Confession and Assurance, Prayers for Illumination, the Lord's Supper, and Blessing/Benediction.

Worship Services
Ascension Worship Service Outlines
Howard Vanderwell and Norma de Waal Malefyt

Ascension Day Worship Service
May 1, 2008
joint service co-sponsored by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

Ascension Day Worship Service
May 25, 2006
joint service held to conclude "With a Shout!" conference

Articles
Reclaiming the Promise of Ascension
Vital Worship Feature Story

The Incarnation Continues: Recovering the Importance of the Ascension (Reformed Worship)
Laura Smit

The Big Deal About Jesus' Ascension (The Banner)
Laura Smit

Q&A: Recovering the Ascension in Worship (Reformed Worship)
John Witvliet

Sermons
Beyond the Blank Blue Sky (Revelation 5)
John Witvliet

The Universe Within (Psalm 47) (www.calvincrc.org)
Scott Hoezee

Musical Resources
Songs for Ascension: Looking Beyond Your Hymnal
Greg Scheer

Visual Arts
Ascension in the Spirit
Susan Seavitt

"The Ascension"
Betsy Steele Halstead
see pp. 56-57 of Visuals for Worship (Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2006)

Public domain images of the Ascension
from Wikicommons

Resources from Reformed Worship magazine
Ascension resources for worship

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