Ascension Day

Watchword for the Ascension - Christ says, “I, when I am lifted up from
the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:32

Psalm 66:1-7
Numbers 7:36-71; Mark 11:27-12:12

Ascension of the Lord - Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47
Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53

Maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Psalm 82:3

May our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you in every good deed and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NIV)

Ascended Lord, on this day we remember your last appearance before the
coming of the promised Spirit at Pentecost. As you are no longer limited
to one time and place, may we not be limited in our welcome. Fill us
with love and liberty. Amen.

Psalm 65:9-13
Numbers 7:1-35; Mark 11:12-26

Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored; renew our days
as of old. Lamentations 5:21

Jesus said, “What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and
one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the
mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?” Matthew 18:12

Good Shepherd, you restore, you renew, you retrieve. If we wander today,
or just feel lost, help us to find in you what we need: to know we are
yours and cannot ever really be lost. Amen.

Psalm 63
Numbers 4:15-49; Mark 10:32-45
See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him.
Isaiah 40:10

Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.
Mark 13:33

O God of promises, you promised a messiah and surprised us with Jesus,
who showed us in the flesh who you are. You promise that in the end all
things will conform to your will. We wonder, how and when will that come
to be? Strengthen our trust in that promise. Amen.

Psalm 61
Numbers 3:1-32; Mark 10:1-12
Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. Deuteronomy 6:4

There are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates
all of them in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:6

You, Lord God, are one who blesses. You give us life. You give us your
love. You give us the work of sharing your love, and the power to do it.
For this we give you thanks and praise. Amen.

Psalm 60
Numbers 2; Mark 9:38-50
The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving. Daniel 9:9 (NIV)

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he
saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done,
but according to his mercy. Titus 3:4-5

Who are we? We are often loveless even to our friends, to say nothing of
our foes. But you, O Friend, see in us - and in our friends and our foes
- strength and beauty and possibility we do not see. Open our eyes.
Amen.

Psalm 59:10-17
Numbers 1:17-54; Mark 9:30-37
Hear the word of the Lord, because the Lord has a charge to bring
against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no
acknowledgment of God in the land.” Hosea 4:1 (NIV)

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to
heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me,
a sinner!” Luke 18:13

Holy One, sometimes we are sinners because it is simply the easiest way
to live, doing what those around us do. Empower us to see and to live
another way, the way we see in Jesus. Amen.