Mount Calvary
Lutheran, Evangelical, Catholic
Church
Ascension Day Service in Lancaster County
GOD THE FATHER’S EIGHT ASCENSION PROMISES
We may overlook how much the Bible says about the ascension of our Lord into heaven. We focus so much on Christmas (Christ’s birth) and the resurrection (Christ’s victory over sin and death) (and well we should!) that we may be surprised to learn that the Bible has an awful lot to say about the ascension. As you examine the bible passages below, please note that all of the passages are verses about the ascension, and declare 8 (!) comforting things that God the Father wants to teach you about the Ascension of His Son into heaven! What we commonly call Ascension Day Service in Lancaster PA.
1. While it may appear counterintuitive, the disciples were filled with great rejoicing when Jesus ascended into heaven. And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen. Luke 24:50-53
2. The Lord has not left us as orphans. Only His visible presence is gone, plus His Spirit is sent to rule us. “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth…You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-18 (See also Acts 2:33)
3. The One who died for you is the One who rules for your good. “[God] raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:15-23 (See also Acts 7:55:56, Hebrews 1:3, and 1 Peter 3:22)
4. In His ascension, He defeated all evil powers and sent pastors to help us. “‘When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.’ And he gave pastors…to equip the saints….for building up the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4: 8, 11
5. Our future victory is so certain that it is already ours today. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-3
6. The Lord will return! We have something to look forward to. “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11
7. Nothing can take away our destiny in Christ. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” Philippians 3:20-21
8. Jesus joyfully intercedes for us! Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:33-39 (See also Hebrews 8:1, 10:12, and 12:2)
Ascension is celebrated 40 days after Easter as that is how long Jesus was with His disciples after His resurrection (Acts 1:3). Because of this reason, the Feast of the Ascension always falls on Thursday. Ancient Christians celebrated the Ascension with great excitement, taking part in celebrations and services in the open air, on a hill, or in the countryside. Even in our area, Ascension Thursday is a special day for the Amish who gather together for fellowship. The Ascension does not mean that the Lord has left us, but that the way in which we experience Him has changed. He is still with us physically (just not visibly) even as His Word is preached and as the Sacraments are administered.
Join us on Thursday, May 29 at 7:00 PM for our 2025 Ascension Divine Service in Lancaster, PA. An ice cream social will be held after the service and special music by the children and adult choir will be sung. We also welcome our brothers and sisters in Christ from Calvary in Mechanicsburg who visit here to see our sanctuary for the first time.
In the Name of our Ascended Lord,
Pastor Christopher Seifferlein
