When they were all together for the last time, the apostles had one burning question for Jesus: “Lord, is this the time? Will you regain our freedom now and give us our own king to reign over Israel?” 

Jesus replied, “Only the Father can decide such things and the timing is none of your business. Just focus on this: the Holy Spirit will flood over you and drench you with power, giving you the passion and courage to be my witnesses. Then you will be able to tell everyone about me, in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” 

That was it - his last words. Right before their eyes, he was carried up into the air where he soon disappeared into the clouds. They just stood there stunned, staring into the sky. Suddenly two men appeared next to them, dressed in white robes! They said, “You Galileans! What are you standing here for, staring into the sky? Jesus has been taken into heaven, but don’t worry. He’ll be back, just as surely - and just as mysteriously - as he left.”

This happened at the Mount of Olives, about a half an hour’s walk outside of Jerusalem. When they returned to the city, they gathered again in the upstairs room that had become their regular meeting place. The remaining eleven apostles were all there: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. Along with a wider group, which included many of the women who had followed Jesus, they committed themselves to a shared life of fervent prayer. This group included Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Up and at it, God;
scatter your enemies,
send those who hate you packing.

Blow them away like smoke in the wind;
melt them like wax under a blowtorch.
Wipe out all corruption, God.

But for those who do the right thing, God,
give them every reason to celebrate.
Set them singing and dancing with joy!

Every mention of your name sets us singing your praises, God.
We lift our song as you ride the clouds.
We name you as LORD
and celebrate in your presence.

To the orphans, you are a loving parent;
to the needy and vulnerable, you are a caring protector;
from your sacred home you provide care to all.

You give a home to those with nowhere to go, God;
you set the prisoners free and turn everything they touch to gold;
but the good times dry up for those who turn against you.

O God, you took the lead and showed the way
when your people set out across the harsh desert.
The earth shuddered at your approach;
one look from you and the clouds let go of their rain.
You were with us, God of the mountain;
you were with us, God of Israel.

You showered us with life-giving rain
restoring fertility to your weary land.
You settled your people in good pasture, God,
and provided generously to all in need.

With every nation on earth, we sing to you, God;
you are our Lord, and we sing your praises.

You have been riding the heavens since ancient times,
and your voice booms out with the sound of thunder.

All power belongs to you, God;
you reign over your people in splendour,
and your power is written in the skies.

Stepping into your presence, we are struck with awe.
You are our God;
our strength and energy are gifts from you.

May you be number one forever, God!

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

My dear friends, I know that you are under the heat at the moment, but there is nothing unusual about it, so don’t let it throw you. It comes with the territory and it gives you the chance to prove yourselves. You can even count it an honour that in such suffering you are following in the footsteps of the Messiah. Once you have got through this, you will enjoy it all the more when his true glory is out in the open for everyone to see. Nothing will ever wipe the smiles off your faces! If people treat you like scum because you are associated with Christ, you are still on a winner, because the Spirit of God will be with you and will cover you with glory.

Keep yourselves down to earth. Hand the reins over to God and don’t think such dependence is beneath you. God will put your name up in lights when the time is right. God loves you and is always ready to take care of anything that is stressing you out, so hand it over and let go of it.

Discipline yourselves, and be ready for anything. The devil has set himself against you, and he is always cruising around like a hungry croc, ready to make a meal of anyone who is not on their guard. Hold him at bay and don’t concede an inch. Stand your ground and trust God to back you up. Remember that your brothers and sisters all around the world are feeling the heat just as much as you. None of you will have to suffer it for too long though. The God who, in extravagant generosity, has called you to be one with Christ and share in his glory forever, will personally put you back on your feet and give you all the support, strength and confidence you could ever need. To God be all power, forever and ever. And so say all of us!

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

After the supper, and after giving his final teaching to his followers, Jesus gazed up towards the skies and began to pray:

“Father, the time has come;
cover your Son in glory now
so that he may give all the glory to you.

You have put the destiny of every person on earth
in the hands of your Son,
so that he can give life without limit
to all those you have entrusted to him.
And what this boundless life is all about is this:
intimacy with you, the one and only true God,
and with Jesus the Messiah,
the chosen one who you sent.

I brought great credit to you
by finishing the job you gave me.
So now, Father, let me bask in your glory again,
in the glory I enjoyed when I was with you,
back before the world began.

Father, you have given me some followers from this world,
and I have given them the full picture of what you are like.
They were yours to begin with,
but you gave them to me,
and they have done what you asked of them.
Now they know for sure that everything I have
was given to me directly by you.
I gave my followers the same message you gave to me.
They took it on board and were convinced that I came from you. They believe that it was you who sent me.
I pray for them.

My prayer is not for this hell-bent world
but for the followers you gave me,
for they are rightfully yours.
Everything that is mine is yours,
and everything that is yours is mine,
and my image lights up in them. 

I will no longer be seen in the world,
but they will continue on in the world
while I come back to you.
Holy Father, protect them
by writing your name on them,
giving them the same identity you gave me,
so that they will be one with each other,
just as you and I are one in heart and mind.”

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Let us lift up our hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise, O God,
for you give strength to the weak,
freedom to the prisoners,
and an eternal home to the homeless,

With the Son and the Spirit you lived before the world existed,
and all things were created from your love.
You led your people through the desert
from slavery to the promised land
and nourished them through your law and prophets.

Your Son, Jesus Christ,
glorified you on earth by finishing your work,
and making you known to us
as the only true God in whom we find eternal life.
When he was crucified, you raised him to new life,
and when he ascended into heaven
he promised to send the Holy Spirit,
who fills us with your truth and power,
and protects us in the name of Christ,
so that we may be one, as you are one.

Therefore with .....

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We give you thanks for your Son, Jesus Christ,
who glorified you on earth by finishing your work,
and making you known to us
as the only true God in whom we find eternal life.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)

We give you all thanks and praise, O God,
for you give strength to the weak,
freedom to the prisoners,
and an eternal home to the homeless,

With the Son and the Spirit you lived before the world existed,
and all things were created from your love.
You led your people through the desert
from slavery to the promised land
and nourished them through your law and prophets.

Your Son, Jesus Christ,
glorified you on earth by finishing your work,
and making you known to us
as the only true God in whom we find eternal life.
When he was crucified, you raised him to new life,
and when he ascended into heaven
he promised to send the Holy Spirit,
who fills us with your truth and power,
and protects us in the name of Christ,
so that we may be one, as you are one.

Therefore, with our hearts lifted high,
we offer you thanks and praise at all times
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

You have humbled yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
and cast your anxieties on Christ who cares for you.
Know then that the God of all grace
who has called you to eternal glory in Christ,
will restore, support, strengthen and establish you.

Sisters and Brothers,
  your sins are forgiven;
    be at peace.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Go now, steadfast in your faith.
Resist the evil one,
devote yourselves to prayer,
and bear witness to Christ as he makes us one.

And may the God of all grace restore and strengthen you;
May Christ Jesus make the divine love known to you;
And may the Holy Spirit rest upon you
and give you power until all is fulfilled.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
   In the name of Christ. Amen.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net