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I would like to be known as a playful priest. There are three different layers to this. The first layer is my need to play a public role in the parish and this is not always easy. My role as a parish priest allows me only limited space to express my negative self – to feel annoyed, disgruntled or let down. I am never quite sure, for example, how to respond to someone who treats me unfairly or without respect; or how to behave when someone rings at the vicarage door at 6.15am wanting a glass of water, to quench their alcoholic thirst from the night before.

The second layer of play comes at the edges of the public role subverting people’s expectations of a priest. It is the freedom and fluidity of a faith-filled relationship that protects me from becoming tight, stiff, clerical and uncomfortable. I was asked to give a blessing at a wedding reception. They wanted me to make the prayers long and moving – weddings are public displays as much as they are celebrations and a ‘bespoke priest’ with specially tailored prayers is ideal. Later on after, I had said my prayers, I approached a group of ladies amused at what I was doing. I placed a glass of orange on the table in front of them. “Tell me” I say, “Do you think that this is orange juice or orange juice with vodka?” They howled with laughter.

The third level of playing comes from being a part of the skittish, flexible, playful, experimental nature of God through the work of the Holy Spirit. This playing is always serious but never solemn. It is the unpredictable, untidy, unencumbered nature of grace from a powerful, playful and intriguing God. We are all invited to dance the unfettered rhythms of grace.

Processional Hymn     166        Crown him with many crowns

Collect of the Day
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, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

First Reading                 Acts 1.1-11                                          (p.240)
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”   So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”   He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”   After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Gradual Hymn   172  The head that once was crowned with thorns

GOSPEL                         Luke 24:44-53                                    (p.260)
Jesus said to the disciples, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”   Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”   When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

INTERCESSIONS
Please pray for
- those who are victims of human trafficking and who are subject to abuse, privation, sexual humiliation and violation
- The sick and suffering: especially Felix Okike, Lucilda Bernard, Joan Andrew, Elizabeth Dorsett, Clive Heywood, Ron & Ivy Smith, Susie Leach, Norbert Edwards, Brother Paul Anthony, Sylvia Steed, John Asbridge, Caroline Nevill, Ruth and Tracey Davies, Esmay Young, Roger Cox.

Offertory Hymn             167        Hail the day that sees him rise

Communion Hymn      112        My song is love unknown

Post Communion Prayer
God our Father, you have raised our humanity in Christ and have fed us with the bread of heaven: mercifully grant that, nourished with such spiritual blessings, we may set our hearts in the heavenly places; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Recessional Hymn      606        Thy hand, O God, has guided
Coffee in Church after the service

Sunday School meets in St Stephen’s school
Sunday Youth meets in the Glebe Maisonette
Small Children are welcome to  play in St Thomas’s Chapel, near the porch
Baptised Communicants of other Churches are encouraged to receive communion
Children and other non-communicants are invited to come to the altar for a blessing
The Ministry of Healing is offered in the Chapel, after Communion is given

Some material included in this service is copyright: ©  1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Pub. Hodder & Stoughton. Post Communion (Ascension Day) ©  1985 Mowbray, a Cassell Imprint:After Communion compiled by C L Macdonnell. Some material included in this service is copyright: ©  The Archbishops' Council 2000. Collect (Ascension Day) ©  The Crown/Cambridge University Press: The Book of Common Prayer (1662)

NOTICES

THIS WEEK:

NEXT SUNDAY:           
10 am SUNG EUCHARIST         27 May 2007     Pentecost
Celebrant and Preacher – The Reverend Dr Bob Mayo
Acts 2: 1-21 (p 885), John 14.8-17 (p 889)

Today has been designated Not For Sale Sunday an opportunity to say that womens, childrens and mens bodies are Not for Sale. Not for Sale Sunday is an initiative of Churches Alert to Sex Trafficking Across Europe.  For more information, or to make a donation, please visit their web site www.notforsalesunday.org

DIARY DATES

Friday/Saturday 7/8 September – Parish Residential Event – Felbury Centre, Dorking.  Please see Barry or Liz Clarke, or visit the church web site, for further information.
New Life Conference 1-3 June - www.newlifeconference.com
Environment Sunday (formerly Conservation Sunday) 3 June
Refugee Week 18-24 June – www.refugeeweek.org.uk
ALMA Sunday, 15 July – www.almalink.org
Back to Church Sunday, 30 September www.backtochurch.co.uk

What about today’s Gospel?
1. Even after Jesus' death, the disciples were still expecting him to overthrow the Roman government and to establish a Jewish government instead. What did they ask him?
2. What did Jesus promise to the disciples instead?
3. What did the disciples do while Jesus was lifted up in a cloud into heaven?
4. Who suddenly appeared to the disciples?
5. What did the men say to the disciples?

Any enquiries about home communion, pastoral concerns, baptisms, weddings or funerals please get in touch with Father Bob (8743 3166). The only time that Bob will be unavailable is between Friday pm and Sunday am.