A Celebration for Ascension Day
A service for Ascension Day, live from St Martin-in-the-Fields, with preacher the Right Reverend James Jones and music from Will Todd's Jazz Missa Brevis.
"Since I am coming to that Holy roome, Where, with thy Quire of Saints for evermore, I shall be made thy Musique" (John Donne).
To mark the day on which Christians celebrate Jesus' Ascension into Heaven the Reverend Dr. Sam Wells leads a Eucharist live from St Martin-in-the-Fields in London. Preacher, the Right Reverend James Jones, reflects on times when Heaven and Earth meet. Whether in the celebration of Holy Communion or in the creativity of music such as tonight's broadcast premier of Will Todd's brand new Jazz Missa Brevis, Christians believe our human existence is touched by the Divine in a multitude of ways. Favourite Ascension-tide hymns alongside music by Will Todd and John Rutter are performed by the Daily Service Singers and St. Martin's Voices, with the Will Todd Ensemble directed by Andrew Earis. Producer: Katharine Longworth.
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Script
Please note:
This script cannot exactly reflect the transmission, as it was prepared before the service was broadcast. It may include editorial notes prepared by the producer, and minor spelling and other errors that were corrected before the radio broadcast.
It may contain gaps to be filled in at the time so that prayers may reflect the needs of the world, and changes may also be made at the last minute for timing reasons, or to reflect current events.
OPENING ANNO:BBC Radio 4. And now we go live to St Martin-in-the-Fields for “A Celebration for Ascension Day” featuring music from Will Todd’s brand new Jazz Missa Brevis with the preacher Bishop James Jones. The service is led by the Reverend Dr. Sam Wells and begins with the traditional, Ascension hymn, Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise.
Welcome and Prayer of Penitence
Celebrant: Good evening and welcome. From our vantage point on the corner of Trafalgar Square, many significant landmarks of the London skyline are visible. Nelson’s Column proudly rises from the centre of the square, the dome that crowns the National Gallery sits elegantly above the colonnade, St. Stephen’s Tower, home to Big Ben, can be seen at the other end of Whitehall, and of course, the Baroque spire of St. Martin-in-the-Fields itself turns the eye skywards. Today we lift our eyes toward heaven; with the disciples we gasp in awe and wonder as Jesus is lifted up from the earth to take his place beside his Father in glory.
Celebrant: The Lord be with youAll: and also with you.Celebrant: Alleluia! Christ is risen
All: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Celebrant: Seeing we have a high priest who has ascended to the heavens, let us make our confession in full assurance that he intercedes for us at the Father’s side.
The choir sings Kyrie from Jazz Missa Brevis Will Todd
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Absolution
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.All: Amen
The choir sings Gloria from Jazz Missa Brevis Will Todd
Collect
Celebrant: Risen Christ, you have raised our human nature to the throne of heaven: help us to seek and serve you, that we may join you at the Father’s side, where you reign with the Spirit in glory, now and for ever.
All: Amen
First Reading: Daniel 7: 13-14
Read by the Reverend Elizabeth Adekunle, Archdeacon of Hackney
A reading from the Prophet Daniel Chapter 7
I saw in the night visions,and behold, with the clouds of heaventhere came one like a son of man,and he came to the Ancient of Daysand was presented before him.
And to him was given dominionand glory and kingdom,that all peoples, nations, and languagesshould serve him;his dominion is an everlasting dominion,which shall not pass away,and his kingdom onethat shall not be destroyed.
This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Choir: O Clap your Hands John Rutter
Second Reading: Acts 1:6-11
Read by Anne Atkins
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 1
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and 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.”
This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Hymn: Let all the World (verse 1)
Gospel: Luke 24: 44-53
Read by the Reverend Sharon Grenham-Thompson
Reader: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
All: Glory to you O Lord.
Jesus said to them, “These are my words which 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.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are 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 blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, O Christ.
Hymn: Let all the World (verse 2)
Sermon: Bishop James Jones
Choir: Christus Est Stella Will Todd
Affirmation of Faith
Celebrant: Let us affirm our faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God.
All: Though he was divine, he did not cling to equality with God, but made himself nothing. Taking the form of a slave, he was born in human likeness. He humbled himself and was obedient to death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has raised him on high, and given him the name above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Intercessions:Read by Revd Canon Ann Easter and Anna Drew
Reader: Lord of the Heavens, you came to earth to dwell with us and among us. Share in our humanity, be with us in our triumphs and disasters, join us in our joys and our sorrows. Be in our midst today and raise us up with you in glory to join in your eternal banquet. Your kingdom come
All: Your will be done.
Reader: Light of the World, you revealed your truth through your words and actions. Bring light into the darkness of the lives of all your children; those who are lost and alone, those who mourn, those who struggle with addiction or mental illness, those who live with constant pain or endless suffering. Your kingdom come
All: Your will be done.
Reader: Prince of Peace, you turned the other cheek to those who persecuted you. Bring peace to your war-torn world. Send your healing Spirit upon those who live in fear and all whose lives have been torn apart by violence; bring hope to any who are tormented by the horrors of war, and empower us all to work towards a more peaceful tomorrow. Your kingdom come
All: Your will be done.
Reader: Lord of Lords, you ascended to your throne in heaven to reign for all eternity, and you showed that true greatness is found in humility and true power is found in the service of others. Guide leaders, and all who make decisions that affect the lives of many, to use their authority for the greater good. Encourage those who strive for justice, who campaign and work for fairness for all your people. Your kingdom come
All: Your will be done.
Reader: Lord of Life, you died and rose again so that we might have new life with you. Inspire all who work to support the lives of others, infusing them with richness and meaning. Move your people to use their talents to create rather than destroy, to heal rather than to hurt, to inspire rather than to reproach and to enlighten rather than obscure so that the life of your Church may issue in goodness, truth and beauty. Your kingdom come
All: Your will be done.
The Peace:
Celebrant: Jesus said: 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. If you love me, rejoice because I am going to the Father.' Alleluia. The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: And also with you
Celebrant: Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
A sign of peace is exchanged amongst the congregation
Hymn: Alleluia, Sing to Jesus Eucharistic Prayer:
Celebrant: The Lord is here.
All: His Spirit is with us.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 thanks and praise.
Celebrant: God of heaven and earth, in creation, liberation, prophecy and miracle you broke through the barrier between your glorious divinity and our fallen humanity; and once and for all in Jesus you came to be with us on earth in time so that we might come to be with you in heaven forever. In his crucified agony we demonstrated our allergy to your grace; but in your raising him from the tomb you showed the limitlessness of your love. In his wondrous ascension you open for us the gates of life eternal.
And so with the whole company of heaven, we join your everlasting praise.
The choir sings Sanctus & Benedictus from Jazz Missa Brevis
Celebrant: God of humility and exaltation, your Son Jesus opened the hearts of the disciples to understand the Scriptures and preach repentance and forgiveness. Send upon us your Holy Spirit, that your disciples today may be clothed with understanding and power, and that this bread broken, and this wine poured out, may be for us his body and blood.
Who, at supper with his disciples, took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ After supper he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘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. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’
Great is the mystery of faith.
Choir: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Celebrant: God of endings and beginnings, your Son ascended to your right hand on high when he had completed his work among us. Look with mercy upon all who long for a sense of that completion in their lives: who live under a dominion that oppresses; who grieve amidst their own powerlessness or failure; who are bewildered by the fragility of their life, the folly of your church, or the foolishness of those who have let them down. Give them patience and hope as they await the fulfilment of your promises. Bring your whole creation to its destiny in you, ever-loving ever-living God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Choir: Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
Celebrant: Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
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.
Celebrant: We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
All: Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.
The consecrated bread is broken
The choir sings Agnus Dei from Jazz Missa Brevis Will Todd
Celebrant: Alleluia. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.All: Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
Distribution of Communion
Celebrant and altar party to receive the Sacrament during the live broadcast
Choir: Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Celebrant: God our Father, you have raised our humanity in Christ and have fed us with the bread of heaven: mercifully grant that, nourished with such spiritual blessings, we may set our hearts in the heavenly places; through Jesus Christ our Lord. All: Amen
Hymn: Crown Him with Many Crowns
Blessing and Dismissal
Celebrant: Christ, our ascended King, pour upon you the abundance of his gifts and bring you to reign with him in glory; and the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you now and for ever.
All: Amen
The Will Todd Ensemble plays an arrangement of Give me Joy in my Heart
CLOSING ANNO: A Celebration for Ascension Day came live from St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London. It was led by the Reverend Dr. Sam Wells and the Preacher was Bishop James Jones. The Will Todd Ensemble, the Daily Service Singers and St. Martin’s Voices were directed by Andrew Earis, the organist was Jeremy Cole and the producer was Katharine Longworth.
Sermon
Then three days later women from his inner circle confounded the other disciples even more with stories of seeing him alive.With their own eyes the disciples began to witness these claims for themselves as they came face to face with the scarred yet breathing body of Jesus.Through all of this they feared for their own lives. Yet the sight of Christ alive beyond his dying gave them courage. Just as the Risen Christ has brought strength to Christians for two millennia. In many parts of the world today where the freedom to speak and to believe is curtailed, in places like China, Pakistan and much of the Middle East, it’s Christ’s Resurrection that brings hope to those who face equally hostile and crucifying opposition.Then, it all came to a climax with this final astonishing scene of Jesus ascending into heaven. Jesus, known as the Son of Man and Son of God, child of both earth and heaven, who’d been laid in the heart of the earth was then lifted to the throne of heaven. It’s a vision that’s inspired artists, poets and musicians for two thousand years.I love the poem of John Donne which begins,“Since I am coming to that Holy roome,Where, with thy Quire of Saints for evermore,I shall be made thy Musique;”I find myself quoting this verse more and more as I write letters of condolence to friends who are bereaved. And, I find myself meditating on it often as I think about my own mortal future.
‘The Holy Room’ speaks of a place of welcome at the end of a long journey.‘The Choir of Saints’ imagines being part of a great chorus of voices singing in harmony, a taste of which we’re enjoying tonight in Will Todd’s Missa Brevis.And the line, ‘I shall be made thy music’, vibrates with the faith that, in spite of all my sins and shortcomings, my life, redeemed by the forgiveness of Christ, shall in some mysterious way become music to the ears of God.Such a hope is rooted in the Ascension of Christ who goes ahead of us from this land of the dying. It points unmistakably to there being another world. And it’s Christ who opens the Gate to heaven, to the world of the truly alive.This vision of a life beyond has, I know, comforted many in their grief. Many of the Hillsborough Families with whom I’ve journeyed over the years have held on to the hope that their loved ones live on not just in their hearts but in a world beyond where one day they shall all be reunited.But this story of the Ascension is bi-focal. Yes, it fixed the eyes of the disciples on heaven. But Jesus and the Angels left them in no doubt that there was work yet to be done on earth.Christianity is not an escapist religion. It’s not about retreating into a personal spiritual bubble. It’s about doing God’s will on earth as it’s done in heaven. That’s the heart of the Lord’s Prayer. The earthing of heaven.
When Martin Luther contemplated the end of time he wrote,“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.”It’s like having told a composer that the end of the world is nigh only to find them still labouring lovingly over their composition.Luther kept an eye on both the future and the present. That’s what this scene on Ascension Day captures.On the one hand the disciples looking up at Jesus receding beyond the clouds into the dimension of heaven; on the other Jesus looking down on the disciples and pressing them to take his message to the ends of the earth. A bi-focal faith.In the very last book of the Bible there’s another breath-taking scene. It’s a dramatic picture of heaven descending and God coming down to earth. The Ascension followed by, if I can coin such a word, the Descension. It’s a vision of the fusing of heaven and earth when the two worlds, once separated by sin and evil, finally become one. It’s nothing less than the answer to the Lord’s own Prayer for the earthing of heaven. The mission of Jesus is complete – heaven and earth are at last reconciled. The Kingdom has finally come.So, whether we’re making music or planting a seed in a window box or standing up for someone who’s been treated unfairly every act of creativity, kindness and justice is a step along the way of bringing heaven down to earth. All is a prelude to the coming of God’s kingdom. An overture to the great Jazz celebration when heaven and earth shall become one and the whole of Creation shall be made His music.
Broadcast
- Thu 5 May 201620:00BBC Radio 4
Celebrating 100 years of religious broadcasting on the BBC
St Martin-in-the-Fields, live worship's original venue, hosts the Ascension Day service.
