Thursday, June 2, 2011

Ascension Day

Today, forty days into the Easter Season, is the day  the Church celebrates the Ascension of our Risen Lord.  In celebration of the Ascension of Christ, I have printed a hymn, below, from William C. Dix (1866), followed by the Collect for Ascension Day from the Book of Common Prayer:

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus

1. Alleluia! sing to Jesus!
His the scepter, His the throne.
Alleluia! His the triumph,
His the victory alone.
Hark! the songs of peaceful Zion
Thunder like a mighty flood:
"Jesus out of ev'ry nation
Has redeemed us by His blood."

2. Alleluia! not as orphans
Are we left in sorrow now.
Alleluia! He is near us;
Faith believes, nor questions how.
Tho' the clouds from sight received Him
When the forty days were o'er,
Shall our hearts forget His promise:
"I am with you evermore"?

3. Alleluia! bread of Heaven,
You on earth our food and stay!
Alleluia! here the sinful
Flee to You from day to day.
Intercessor, Friend of sinners,
Earth's Redeemer, plead for me,
Where the songs of all the sinless
Sweep across the crystal sea.
(Sung to HYFRYDOL)

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