C: The Apostle Paul wrote to the saints at the church in Ephesus:

A: May God give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation 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.

B: God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!

A: 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,

B: Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.

A: Christ is seated 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.

B: The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods lift up their roaring.
More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters,
more majestic than the waves of the sea,
majestic on high is the LORD!

A: And God 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.

B: The heavens proclaim his righteousness;
and all the peoples behold his glory.

[pause]

A: Luke wrote concerning the days of Christ after his resurrection:

C: 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.

D: The Kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed
which is the smallest of all the seeds
but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs
and becomes a tree
so that the birds of the air come
and make nests in its branches.
The Kingdom of God is like leaven
which a person took and hid in three measures of flour.
And as this person waited, it grew and it grew
till all the flour was leavened.
The Kingdom of God is like a merchant that finds the Great Pearl
and goes and exchanges all that he has for it.

C: On one occasion, while he was eating with them,
he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem,
but to wait there for the promise of the Father.
“This 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.”

B: I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams
and your young men shall see visions.
I, the LORD your God, dwell in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy,
and strangers shall never again pass through it.

C: 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.”

D: All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.
They will put you out of the synagogue;
in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you
will think he is offering a service to God.
I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.
I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.

[pause]

B: The apostle Peter wrote to God’s elect
strangers in the world
scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia

A: Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal
that is taking place among you to test you,
as though something strange were happening to you.
But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.
If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed,
because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
so that he may exalt you in due time.
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
Discipline yourselves, keep alert.
Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around,
looking for someone to devour.

C: 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
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.”

D: Father in Heaven,
I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world.
While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe.
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world
but that you protect them from the evil one.
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
A And after you have suffered for a little while,
the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.
To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

 

composed by Jane and Doug Porter
2350 Clifton Street Halifax Nova Scotia Canada B3K 4V1
902/ 425-0051 dporter@eastlink.ca