This morning we observe the Day of the Ascension, marking Christ’s return to heaven and his promise to send the Spirit to embolden his disciples to make disciples of all nations. During the service, the flame on the Paschal candle, which has burned in the chancel since the Day of the Resurrection, disappears into the cloud as our Lord takes his leave from those whom he left to carry out his work.

As a physical reminder of our continuing celebration, we will stand for all the portions of the Service at which we would normally kneel during the Fifty Days of the Easter Season as a reminder that, because we have knelt in the shadow of the Cross and have been forgiven our sins by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can now stand before the throne of grace as God’s dear children. After the Day of Pentecost, we shall return to our normal practice of kneeling during the Service.