耶穌升天日（Ascension Day）
《升天》，多索·多西作，十六世紀。
The Ascension, by Dosso Dossi, 16th century.
升天節，即復活節後第四十日，紀念耶穌與門徒同赴橄欖山，在眾人眼前升天之日（使徒行傳1:1-12）。基督升天雖常被忽視，卻蘊含深厚神學意義。基督升天意味著：在天上有一位親歷苦難與試探者，正為我們代求並使我們的禱告臻於完美。這升天既是我們肉身復活的見證與保證，更是邀請我們將心志「專注於天上之事——基督正坐在上帝的右邊」（歌羅西書3:2）， （歌羅西書3:1-2），統管天上與全宇宙萬有（以弗所書1:10, 20-23）。最後，耶穌升天預示五旬節的來臨——復活基督的大能藉聖靈降臨於所有信徒。部分教會於升天節當日（固定為星期四）舉行禮拜。其他教會則於升天日前後的主日紀念。如同復活節慶典，禮儀色調採用白與金。（《崇拜資源手冊》第661頁）
Ascension Day, the fortieth day after Easter, marks the day on which Jesus went to the Mount of Olives with his disciples and ascended to heaven before their eyes (Acts 1:1-12). Though often overlooked, the ascension of Christ is filled with theological significance. Christ’s ascension means that in heaven there is one who, knowing firsthand the experience of suffering and temptation, prays for us and perfects our prayers. The ascension is a witness and guarantee of our own bodily resurrection, as well as an invitation for us to set our hearts and minds “on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1-2) to rule over all things in heaven and throughout the universe (Eph. 1:10, 20-23). Finally, the ascension of Jesus serves as the prelude to Pentecost, when the power of the risen Christ came upon all believers through the Holy Spirit. Some churches observe Ascension Day with a service on the actual day of ascension, which is always a Thursday. Others observe Jesus’ ascension on the preceding or following Sunday. As during the celebration of Easter, the liturgical colors are white and gold. (The Worship Sourcebook, Page 661)
升天期指升天節至五旬節主日之間的十日期間。此期間的主日即為復活節第七主日，亦稱升天期主日。
Ascensiontide refers to the ten-day period between the Ascension Day and the Pentecost Sunday. The Sunday within that period is the Seventh Sunday of Easter or the Sunday in Ascensiontide.
