CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION APEX
PROCESSION & CALL TO WORSHIP (standing)
He Leadeth Me (pg. 56-57)
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
All: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: 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 Lord. Amen.
CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION (kneeling if able)
Celebrant: Our Lord Jesus Christ said the first commandment is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is One. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith, firmly resolved to keep God’s commandments.
(Silence is kept for confession of personal sins.)
All: Most merciful God, 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 neighbors 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, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE PEACE OF CHRIST(standing)
Leader: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
(Greet one another in the peace and fellowship of Christ.)
Take My Life And Let It Be (pg. 136)
PRAYER OF THE DAY (standing)
O Lord, we pray that your grace may always both precede and follow after us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS (sitting)
Reader: A reading from Genesis 21:1-4, 22:1-18.
Reader: The word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Genesis 21:1-4 ESV
Genesis 22:1-18 ESV
THE GOSPEL READING (standing)
Celebrant: Hear now the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to St. Matthew 10:34-39.
All: Glory to you, Lord Christ!
Celebrant: This is the gospel of our Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Christ!
Matthew 10:34-39 ESV
CHILDREN’S LESSON & SERMON (sitting)
“Consider carefully…how your faith is proved.”
Origen: Consider carefully, you who think you’re faithful, how your faith is proved.
1. Gen. 22:1-2: God gives really big tests!
a. To perfect our faith.
b. To prove our faith.
2. Gen. 22:3-10: Faith is always the right answer!
3. Gen. 22:11-18: The rewards are out of this world!
Psalm 26 /139: Test me Lord...Examine my heart and mind.
All to Jesus I surrender.
All to Him I freely give.
I will ever love and trust Him.
In His presence daily live.
What do you need to place on the altar today?
PROFESSION OF FAITH (standing)
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 and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped 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.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (kneeling if able)
Leader: Let us pray to the Lord. For the peace that comes from God alone, and for the unity and salvation of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord. All: Amen. Lord have mercy.
Leader: For the holy catholic church, for this church, and for Bishop Steve, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Leader: For the nations of the world, for this nation, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Leader: For the welfare of this city and the needs of our friends and neighbors, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: For widows and orphans, the poor and unemployed, the persecuted and prisoners, the sick and the dying, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: For Yours is the majesty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the kingdom, the power and the glory, now and for ever. Amen.
PREPARATION OF TABLE & PRESENTATION OF OFFERINGS (sitting)
The Doxology (standing)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise him all creatures here below.
Praise him above ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
THE EUCHARIST (standing)
Celebrant: The Lord is here.
People: His Spirit is with us.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
Celebrant: It is right, and a good and joyful thing…Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who forever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
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!
(kneeling if able as the Celebrant continues...)
Celebrant:…Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Celebrant: …And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray:
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, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Celebrant: Alleluia. Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed, once for all upon the cross.
All: Therefore let us keep a joyful and holy feast with the Lord. Alleluia!
Celebrant: The gifts of God for the People of God. Eat and drink in remembrance that Christ died for you and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
(All are welcome at the Table of our Lord. Christians extend your palms to receive the bread; you may dip it in the first cup of wine and then eat it, or eat it first then then drink from the common cup, the second cup. Non-Christians cross your arms across your chest to receive a prayer of blessing.)
I Surrender All (pg. 79)
Celebrant: Let us pray.
All: Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.
THE BLESSING & COMMISSION
Celebrant: The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.Amen!
The Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Celebrant: Alleluia! Alleluia! Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All: We go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Upcoming Events:
- Aug. 28: Sainz Small Group
- Sep. 10: Duncan Move
- Sep. 11: New Schedule: Worship 10:00, Sunday School 11:15
- Sep. 17-18: Bishop Steve Breedlove
- Oct. 21-23: First Annual Women’s Retreat
- Oct. 29: Reformation Bonfire
- Nov. 4-5: Diocesan Synod
Be sure we have your email to receive our weekly newsletter. Contact maurice@ascendwake.org to be added to the distribution. We’re also online at www.AscendWake.org and www.Facebook.com/AscendWake.