Shipley Church Self–Service

Sunday 24th May 2020 Ascension

Thought for the week – I am with you always.

The Feast of the Ascension shows how Jesus went ahead from the time of his earthly existence to prepare a place in heaven for his followers. His leaving instructions to his disciples were that they should spread the gospel and continue Jesus’s teaching and ministry, acting in his name and with his authority. They would see him no more, yet paradoxically he assured them he would remain with them until the end of time. (Matthew 28. 16-21) - “Immortal, invisible, God only wise; In light inaccessible hid from our eyes.” – but they were not left alone. Nor are we: The song “You’ll never walk alone”, written by Oscar Hammerstein and composed by Richard Rogers for their 1945 musical Carousel, which later became one of the most famous football anthems in the world, says it all: “Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart and you’ll never walk alone.”  

Hymn for the Day

 Alleluya, sing to Jesus

In v2 the lovely words say:

 Alleluya, not as orphans

Are we left in sorrow now;

Alleluya, he is near us,

Faith believes, nor questions how;

Though the cloud from sight received him

When the forty days were o’er,

Shall our hearts forget his promise,

“I am with you evermore”?

Please remember in your Prayers

We pray for those infected by the coronavirus around the world, for those who care for them, for health specialists and authorities who are combatting the spread of infection, for all providing essential services, and of course for all who at this time are feeling anxious.