The Ascension Day at All Hallows (May 14, 2026)

Welcome to the Ascension Day at All Hallows.

This Thursday is the Ascension Day, also known as the Feast of the Ascension. With Christmas, Easter, and Whitsun (or Pentecost) it is one of the major festivals of the Christian year. It commemorates a key event in the history of humanity’s salvation—Jesus’s bodily ascent into heaven forty days after he rose from the dead and appeared to Mary Magdalene, to the apostles, and to other witnesses.

In today’s message we examine the significance of this event as the Christian Church has historically understood it from New Testament times to this day.

GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME

Open this link in a new tab to hear Dan R. Edwards’ CHAPEL CHIMES for 3 octave handbells or hand chimes.

Silence

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4: 14,16

Open this link in a new tab to hear Charles Wesley’s "Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise."

1 Hail the day that sees him rise Alleluya!
Glorious to his native skies; Alleluya!
Christ, awhile to mortals given, Alleluya!
Enters now the highest heaven! Alleluya!

2 There the glorious triumph waits; Alleluya!,
Lift your heads, eternal gates! Alleluya!
Christ hath vanquished death and sin; Alleluya!
Take the King of glory in. Alleluya!

3 *See! the heaven its Lord receives, Alleluya!
Yet he loves the earth he leaves: Alleluya!
Though returning to his throne, Alleluya!
Still he calls mankind his own. Alleluya!

4 *See! he lifts his hands above; Alleluya!
See! he shows the prints of love: Alleluya!
Hark! his gracious lips bestow Alleluya!
Blessings on his Church below. Alleluya!

5 *Still for us he intercedes; Alleluya!
His prevailing death he pleads; Alleluya!
Near himself prepares our place, Alleluya!
Harbinger of human race. Alleluya!

6 Lord, though parted from our sight, Alleluya!
Far above yon azure height, Alleluya!
Grant our hearts may thither rise, Alleluya!
Seeking thee beyond the skies. Alleluya!

7 There we shall with thee remain, Alleluya!
Partners of thine endless reign; Alleluya!
There thy face unclouded see, Alleluya!
Find our heaven of heavens in thee. Alleluya!

[Let us confess our sins to God our Father]

Silence

Heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault;
by what we have done
and by what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name. Amen.

Merciful Lord,
grant to your faithful people pardon and peace,
that we may be cleansed from all our sins,
and serve you with a quiet mind;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Isaac Watts’ “Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs” (Dignus es)

1 Come, let us join our cheerful songs
with angels round the throne;
ten thousand thousand are their tongues,
but all their joys are one.

2 'Worthy the Lamb that died,' they cry,
'to be exalted thus';
'Worthy the Lamb,' our lips reply,
'for he was slain for us.'

3 Jesus is worthy to receive
honour and power divine;
and blessings, more than we can give,
be, Lord, for ever thine.

4 Let all creation join in one
to bless the sacred name
of him that sits upon the throne,
and to adore the Lamb.

[The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.]

[Let us pray.]

Silence

Grant, we pray, Almighty God,
that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ
to have ascended into the heavens;
so we in heart and mind may also ascend
and with him continually dwell;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A reading from the the Book of Daniel.
Daniel 7:9-14

As I watched,
thrones were set in place,
and an Ancient One took his throne;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames,
and its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued
and flowed out from his presence.
A thousand thousand served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.
The court sat in judgement,
and the books were opened.

I watched then because of the noise of the arrogant words that the horn was speaking. And as I watched, the beast was put to death, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. As I watched in the night visions,

I saw one like a human being
coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One
and was presented before him.
To him was given dominion
and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
and his kingship is one
that shall never be destroyed.

[May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.]

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Pacta Sancta’s arrangement of “The Lord Doth Reign,” Psalm 93 from the Scottish Metrical Psalter 1650.

1 The Lord doth reign, and clothed is he
with majesty most bright;
His works do show him clothed to be,
and girt about with might.
The world is also stablishèd,
that it cannot depart.

2 Thy throne is fixed of old, and thou
from everlasting art.

3 The floods, O Lord, have lifted up,
they lifted up their voice;
The floods have lifted up their waves,
and made a mighty noise.

4 But yet the Lord, that is on high,
is more of might by far
Than noise of many waters is,
or great sea-billows are.

5 Thy testimonies ev'ry one
in faithfulness excel;
And holiness for ever, Lord,
thine house becometh well.

A reading from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.
Ephesians 1:15-23

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 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, according to the working of his great power. 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, 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. And he 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.

[May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.]

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Madison Hall’s arrangement of the Venerable Bede’s “A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing.”

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

1. A hymn of glory let us sing,
new hymns throughout the world shall ring;
by a new way none ever trod
Christ takes his place— the throne of God!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

2. You are a present joy, O Lord;
you will be ever our reward;
and great the light in you we see
to guide us to eternity.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

3. O risen Christ, ascended Lord,
all praise to you let earth accord,
who are, while endless ages run,
with Father and with Spirit, One.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke.
Luke 24:44-53

Then he said to them, ‘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, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been 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 was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

[May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.]

Silence

Why Do Christians Celebrate the Ascension Day?

This year Ascension Day fell on the anniversary of my mother’s death, so the festival is especially poignant for me. My mother was a member of the choir of her parish church as a teenager in the United Kingdom and a longtime member of the choir of the parish church we joined here in the United States. In her lifetime she sung many of the glorious hymns in praise of the risen, ascended Jesus sung on Ascension Day, on the Sunday after Ascension Day, and throughout the year.

Ascension Day is a festival that is observed both in the churches of the West and the East. It is one of the oldest Christian festivals, originating in the fourth century. Before then the Ascension, the risen Jesus’ ascent into heaven, was celebrated in conjunction with the celebration of the coming down of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ disciples in the upper room at Pentecost. Ascension Day marks the beginning of Ascensiontide, a season of ten days, which concludes on Whitsun, the Feast of Pentecost.

Why then is the Ascension Day important to Christians? What special meaning does the Feast of the Ascension hold for them?

At the heart of the celebration of this festival are these core beliefs.

One core belief is that Jesus has gone into God’s presence on the behalf of those who believe in him. He has gone into heaven to prepare a place for them. See John 14:2.

Jesus has also gone into heaven to intercede for believers. See Hebrew 9:24 and 1 John 2:1. Those who believe in Jesus have an intercessor like no other. He is the Father’s beloved Son.

Note that in today’s Gospel Reading Jesus ascends bodily into heaven. He does not shed his humanity. He takes it with him. He knows what it is like to be human. He is able to empathize with us.

Note also that Jesus is blessing his disciples as he ascends into heaven. He is displaying the kindness and graciousness toward humankind that he showed throughout his time on earth and which he continues to display toward us now he is in heaven.

As the apostle Paul writes the church at Ephesus in today’s Second Reading, God who raised Jesus from the dead has seated Jesus at his right hand, the highest place of honor, and given him dominion over all creation, over everyone and everything. It does not matter who they are or what they may think of themselves—emperor, king, president, prime minister, dictator, generalissimo, warlord, and so on, they must bow the head and bend the knee to Jesus. He is Lord of all. One day they must answer to him for everything they have said and done, as must all of us.

The early Christians saw Daniel’s vision as described in today’s First Reading as a prophetic foretelling of Jesus’ glorification and exultation following his death and resurrection.

Among these core beliefs is that those who believe in Jesus will be made partakers of the divine nature through God’s promises. See 2 Peter 1:3-4. They will be born again. They will be given a new nature unlike their old sinful nature. They will receive the Holy Spirit, God’s indwelling presence, and will be united by the Holy Spirit to their fellow believers, to Jesus, and to the Father. God’s image in them, marred by sin, will be restored.

As we have seen, the apostles regarded the risen Jesus’ ascent into heaven as affecting a change in his relationship with the Father but also a change in his relationship with his disciples. He did not simply visit the earth, put on human form, do whatever he came to do, resume his divine form, and then return to heaven like the gods of Greek mythology. All that he did—being born as a human baby and living among us; teaching, healing, and performing miracles; suffering and dying on a cross, rising from the dead; appearing to Mary Magdalene, to the apostles, and to other witnesses; and ascending into heaven—served a purpose—the reconciliation of God and humankind.

In today’s Gospel Reading Luke concludes his narrative with the disciples returning to Jerusalem with great joy and upon their return continually blessing God in the temple. God had opened their eyes. They had finally recognized Jesus for who he was and they were overjoyed.

Those who believe in Jesus even though they have never seen him, much less walked the dusty roads of Galilee, Samaria, and Judaea with him, may not experience the same level of joy as the disciples did. Rejoicing and offering God thanks and praise, however, is the right thing to do. Not only on this day but also on every day.

Whether alone or with others, take a few minutes each day to reflect on the graciousness and kindness God has shown us in Jesus and to give God your heart-felt thanks and praise.

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Caroline Marie Noel’s “At the Name of Jesus.”

1 At the name of Jesus
Every knee shall bow,
Every tongue confess him
King of glory now;
’Tis the Father’s pleasure
We should call him Lord,
Who from the beginning
Was the mighty Word.

2 At his voice creation
Sprang at once to sight,
All the angel faces,
All the hosts of light,
Thrones and dominations,
Stars upon their way,
All the heavenly orders,
In their great array.

3 Humbled for a season,
To receive a name
From the lips of sinners
Unto whom he came,
Faithfully he bore it
Spotless to the last,
Brought it back victorious
When from death he passed:

4 Bore it up triumphant
With its human light,
Through all ranks of creatures,
To the central height,
To the throne of Godhead,
To the Father’s breast;
Filled it with the glory
Of that perfect rest.

5 In your hearts enthrone him;
There let him subdue
All that is not holy,
All that is not true:
He is God the Saviour,
He is Christ the Lord,
Ever to be worshipped,
Trusted, and adored.

6 *Brothers, this Lord Jesus
Shall return again,
In the Father's glory,
With his angel train;
For all wreaths of empire
Meet upon his brow,
And our hearts confess him
King of glory now.

[Let us affirm our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed.]

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father
almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER

[Let us pray for the Church and the world.]

Father, we pray for your holy catholic Church
that we all may be one.

Grant that every member of your Church may truly and humbly serve you: 

that your name may be glorified by all people.

We pray for all bishops and other ministers
that they may faithfully preach your word and administer your sacraments.

We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world 

that there may be justice and peace on the earth.

Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake
that your glory may be proclaimed through our lives.

Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble
that they may be delivered from their distress.

We praise you for your saints who have entered their eternal joy
may we also come to share in the fulness of your kingdom.

We pray for our own needs and for those of others:

Silence.

Those present may add their own petitions.

Faithful God,
you have promised to hear the prayers
of all who ask in Jesus’ name.
In your mercy, accept our prayers.
Give us what we have asked in faith,
according to your will:
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

[Let us give thanks to God for his goodness.]

Almighty God, we praise you for the blessings
brought to the world through your Church.
We bless you for the grace of the sacraments,
for our fellowship in Christ with you and with
each other, for the teaching of the Scriptures,
and for the preaching of your word. We thank
you for the holy example of your saints, for
your faithful servants departed this life, and
for the memory and example of all that has
been true and good in their lives. Number us
with them in the company of the redeemed in
heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son
Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to
strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior
Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

[And now as our Saviour taught us, we pray]

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.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Charles Wesley’s “Rejoice, the Lord is King!”

1 Rejoice, the Lord is king!
your Lord and king adore:
mortals, give thanks and sing,
and triumph evermore:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice:
rejoice! — again I say, rejoice!

2 Jesus, the saviour reigns,
the God of truth and love;
when he had purged our stains,
he took his seat above:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice:
rejoice! — again I say, rejoice!

3 His kingdom cannot fail,
he rules o’er earth and heaven;
the keys of death and hell
are to our Jesus given:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice:
rejoice! — again I say, rejoice!

4 Rejoice in glorious hope;
Jesus the judge shall come,
and take his servants up
to their eternal home:
We soon shall hear the archangel's voice;
the trump of God shall sound: rejoice!

GOING OUT AS GOD’S PEOPLE

Eternal God and Father,
by whose power we are created and
by whose love we are redeemed:
guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,
that we may give ourselves to your service,
and live every day in love to one another
and to you; through Jesus Christ your Son
our Lord. Amen.

The Lord bless us and keep us.
The Lord make his face to shine upon us
and be gracious to us.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon us
and give us peace.
Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Robert Noble’s arrangement of “May the Lord, Mighty God.”

1 May the Lord, mighty God,
bless and keep you forever;
grant you peace, perfect peace,
courage in every endeavor.

2 Lift your eyes and see God's face,
source of grace forever;
may the Lord, mighty God,
bless and keep you forever.
May the Lord, mighty God,
bless and keep you forever.