When they saw their Teacher lifted far above all human sight,
Still they stood, still gazing upward, filled with wonder and with fright.
"Alleluia, alleluia" on their lips did not seem right.
Then two men were standing by them, robed in white; they asked them this:
"Why do you stand gazing upward? What do you think is amiss?
Alleluia, alleluia! Christ will come back just like this!"
So they turned and headed homeward to Jerusalem to stay;
In the upper room they gathered there to meditate and pray,
Alleluia, alleluia! Waiting, watching for that day.
TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, May 2026, after Acts 1:9-14.
MUSIC: Suggested tune LAUDA ANIMA (Andrews), Mark Andrews, 1930; given tune LAUDA ANIMA, John Goss, 1869.
I have written two hymn texts for Ascension, whatever day it might be observed. This one is Ascension-ish, but is more strictly from the reading for the seventh Sunday of Easter, year A. As for the suggested tune, it's one I like a lot and wish would be used more often, but the more common tune is given here. I will make a version to the Andrews tune as soon as I have time.
