Ascension of Our Lord	May 29, 2025
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, we believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, has ascended into the heavens to sit at your right hand. Grant that our hearts and minds may be directed there, as well, to dwell in him each day, through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First 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. 3He presented himself alive to them 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.”
Psalm 47 (LBW)*
1Clap your hands, | all you peoples;*
	shout to God with a | cry of joy.
2For the Lord Most High is | to be feared;*
	he is the great king over | all the earth.
3He subdues the | peoples under us,*
	and the nations un- | der our feet.
4He chooses our inheri- | tance for us,*
	the pride of Jacob | whom he loves.
5God has gone up | with a shout,*
	the Lord with the sound | of the ram’s horn.
6Sing praises to | God, sing praises;*
	sing praises to our | king, sing praises.
7For God is king of | all the earth;*
	sing praises with | all your skill.
8God reigns o- | ver the nations;*
	God sits upon his | holy throne.
9The nobles of the peoples have gath- | ered together*
	with the people of the | God of Abraham.
10The rulers of the earth be- | long to God,*
	and he is high- | ly exalted.
Psalm 47 (ESV)*
1Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.
3He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. 
5God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!
8God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
9The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!

*The Book of Common Prayer verse numbers for this psalm are different from the numbering in the ESV.
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23
15For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far 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 one to come. 22And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Gospel: Luke 24:44-53
44Then {Jesus} said to {his disciples}, “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 for the 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.” 50And 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.