Church of the Ascension Seattle rests on the traditional homelands of the Duwamish people. We acknowledge the ancestors of this place and understand that we are here because of the sacrifices forced upon them. By recognizing these communities, we honor their legacy, their lives, and their descendants. Prelude Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring - J. S. Bach

Welcome to Ascension! Please stand when the bell is rung, signaling the beginning of worship. Opening Acclamation and Collect for Purity

Presider Blessed are you, holy and living One.

People You come to the people and set them free.

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ. Amen.

Presider God be with you. People And also with you.

Presider Let us pray. Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Opening Hymn #577 God Is Love (all verses)

The Liturgy of the Word

All are seated for the reading.

 

First Reading:  Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” Then the Lord replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the

name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.”

Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. People Thanks be to God.

The Psalm is read responsively.

Psalm 111 Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, * in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.

Great are the deeds of the Lord! * they are studied by all who delight in them.

God’s work is full of majesty and splendor, * and his righteousness endures for ever.

God makes his marvelous works to be remembered; * the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

God gives food to those who fear him; * he is ever mindful of his covenant.

He has shown his people the power of his works * in giving them the lands of the nations.

The works of God’s hands are faithfulness and justice; * all his commandments are sure.

They stand fast for ever and ever, * because they are done in truth and equity.

God sent redemption to his people; he commanded his covenant for ever; * holy and awesome is his Name.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; * those who act accordingly have a good understanding; his praise endures for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Gospel Acclamation arr. Thomas Pavlechko

The Holy Gospel: Mark 1:21-28 Officiant The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. People Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Presider The Gospel of the Lord People Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Gospel Acclamation arr. Thomas Pavlechko

All are seated for the preaching,

Sermon The Rev. Cristi Chapman Executive Director, Mission to Seafarers Silence and stillness follow.

The Commissioning of the Wardens and Vestry members

Sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus, we are all baptized by the one Spirit into one Body, and given gifts for a variety of ministries for the common good. Our purpose is to commission these persons (Tracey Kelly, Patty Barrington, Ian Clunies-Ross, Andy Hughes, Kim Silver) in the Name of God and of this congregation to serve on Vestry, which they are called.

Are these persons you are presenting prepared by a commitment to Christ as Lord, by regular attendance at worship, and by the knowledge of their duties, to exercise their ministry to the honor of God, and the well-being of God’s church?

Sponsor I believe they are. You have been called to serve on the Vestry of the Church of the Ascension. Will you, as long as you are engaged in this work, perform it with diligence?

Vestry I will. Will you faithfull and reverently execute the duties of Vestry to the honor of God, and the benefit of the Ascension community?

Vestry I will.

Sponsor I present to you Tracey Kelly to the admitted to the ministry of Senior Warden. I present to you Patty Barrington, Ian Clunies-Ross, Kim Silver, and Andy Hughes to be admitted to the ministry of Vestry at Ascension.

Let us pray. O Eternal God, the foundation of all wisdom and the source of all courage: Enlighten with your grace the Wardens and Vestry of Ascension. Guide their counsels, that in all things they may seek your glory and promote the mission of your Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. In the name of God and of Ascension, I commission Tracey Kelly as Senior Warden, and Ian Clunies-Ross, Patty Barrington, Kim Silver and Andy Hughes as Vestry members. A brief applause is appropriate.

Prayers of the People

Let us turn to the God incarnate. A brief silence.

We praise the light that you, our Creator, shine to give us hope in dark times. We ask that we may enlighten ourselves and all we meet to the power of your love. Incarnate God, Manifest your hope in us. We praise you, Jesus, for your self-sacrifice. We ask that you empower your church, its leaders, and its people to risk themselves in service to our neighbors. Incarnate God, Manifest your love through us. We praise you, O God of all people, for your command that we care for your creation and work to build your Kingdom on earth. We ask that you inspire our governmental leaders to work for a compassionate, just, and loving world. Incarnate God, Manifest your justice through us. We praise you, Holy Trinity, for the message of renewal and reconciliation that is the Gospel of Jesus, the Anointed. We ask for the courage to proclaim this message with boldness, patience and humility. Incarnate God, Manifest your message with our voices.

We praise you, God, for the lives of all people, especially for those we have lost. We ask you to manifest your comforting presence to all who mourn, and that, in the end, you shall gather all into your loving embrace. Incarnate God, Manifest your mercy for us.

Let us offer prayers for those joys or sorrows that fill our hearts today: Share your prayers of intercession and thanksgiving either silently or in the CHAT. A Prayer for Birthdays: Nancy Marshall, Amaya Hunter, Paula Whitham O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on your servants as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Together, let us pray: Creator, inspire our faith. Jesus, our brother, lead us in your way of compassion and justice. Holy Spirit, light our way, so that we may manifest your love and truth in each day of our lives.

The Peace

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Offertory Gift & Sentence Offertory Anthem If You Love Me - John Ness Beck Ascension Choir, 2019 If you love me, keep my commandments. If you love me, heed my law. If you love me, keep my commandments. If you seek me, you shall surely find me, if you search for me with all your heart. If you seek me, you shall find me, if you search with all your heart. The Lord’s Prayer And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your Name, 

your kingdom come,  your will be done, 

on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. 

Forgive us our sins  as we forgive those   who sin against us. 

   

   

Save us from the time of trial,  and deliver us from evil. 

For the kingdom, the power,  and the glory are yours,  now and for ever. Amen.

Prayer for Spiritual Communion

We are the gathered body of Christ walking in this world in Love.  We are the miracle of Love made Flesh.

Blessing from Saint Clare

Dismissal

Response Thanks be to God.

Postlude O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High - David Johnson O love, how deep, how broad, how high,, it passes thought and fantasy, that God, the Son of God, should take our mortal forms for mortals’ sake. All glory to our Lord and God for love so deep, so high, so broad: the Trinity whom we adore for ever and for evermore. Coffee Hour follows this Prayer Service on Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83946950580

Music Permissions:

Jesu, Joy of Man’s desiring - J. S. Bach (public domain)

God Is Love - The Hymnal 1982

Gospel Acclamation, (c. St. James Music Press and Thomas Pavlechko, 2017)

If You Love Me - John Ness Beck (c. Beckenhorst Press, Inc. 1980)

O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High - arr. David Johnson (c. Augsburg Publishing House, 1970)

2330 Viewmont Way West | Seattle Washington 98199-3939 | office@ascensionseattle.org