Bulletin – Sunday, November 20, 2022 – Reign of Christ Sunday

Friday, November 18, 2022 Sue Turley

Sunday, November 20, 2022
Reign of Christ Sunday

Approach

Lighting the Christ Candle

As we light this candle we are called to remember O God, that it is in your mercy we find our peace, it is in your presence we find our place, it is in your world we find our calling: grant us grace so to hear and accept your Word, this day, that we may be faithful followers of your will and your way all our days.

Call to Worship

One: Come and worship Christ,
All: the visible image of the invisible God,

One: the firstborn of creation,
All: the eternal God:

One: the one through whom all things were created,
All: and in whom all things are held together.

One: This is our God!
All: Let’s worship together.

Hymn – “Come, Children, Join to Sing”

Come, children, join to sing: Hallelujah!
Praise to our Servant King: Hallelujah!
Let all with heart and voice, saved by God’s gracious choice,
Now in this place rejoice: Hallelujah!

Come, lift your hearts on high: Hallelujah!
Let praises fill the sky: Hallelujah!
Christ calls his people friends, the helpless he defends,
A love that never ends: Hallelujah!

Praise yet our Christ again: Hallelujah!
Raise high the joyous strain: Hallelujah!
The whole creation o’er let all God’s love adore,
Singing forevermore: Hallelujah!

Prayer of Approach and Confession

Gracious God, you call us to service; to be your eyes and ears, hands and voice in this, your world.

To open our eyes not only to the beauty and love which you create, but the injustice, hate and suffering that humankind generates. To open our ears not only to the chattering of this coming week, but the searching, fears and questioning of all whom we shall meet. To open our hands not only to those we choose our lives to share, but in welcome, love and fellowship to all who you draw near. To open our mouth not only to speak platitudes and simple words, but the truths you lay upon our hearts, your Word for this, your world. Sovereign God, we confess we have given idols power over us, the idols of power and wealth, fame and security.

We confess we have fallen into the ways of this world and have forgotten our kindred in Christ. We have lost sight of the reign of God here on earth, and instead have allowed the idols of the world to rule over us.

Forgive us. Call us into your reign, to declare You the One who has power over us because Your power is love. Call us to love our neighbours as ourselves, and to work for justice, show mercy, and love one another in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

(adapted from John Birch and Rev. Mindi)

Words of Assurance

(adapted from Rev. Mindi)

Time for All Ages

Hymn – “O Christ, What Can It Mean for Us”

O Christ, what can it mean for us to claim you as our king?
What royal face have you revealed whose praise the church would sing?
Aspiring not to glory’s height, to power, wealth, and fame,
You walked a different, lowly way, another’s will your aim.

You came, the image of our God, to heal and to forgive,
To shed your blood for sinners’ sake that we might rise and live.
To break the law of death you came, the law of love to bring:
A different rule of righteousness, a different kind of king.

Though some would make their greatness felt and lord it over all,
You said the first must be the last and service be our call.
O Christ, in workplace, church, and home, let none to power cling;
For still, through us, you come to serve, a different kind of king.

The Word

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:11-20

¹¹May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully ¹²giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; ¹⁶for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. ¹⁹For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Scripture Reading: Luke 23:33-43

³³When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁴Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. ³⁵And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” ³⁶The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, ³⁷and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

³⁹One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴²Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!

Guest Speaker – Jim Thiessen from “Sleep in Heavenly Peace”

Offering / Response

Grant us, God, the grace of giving
With a spirit large and free,
That ourselves and all our living
We may offer faithfully.

The Response

Prayers of the People

One: Create a throne room for yourself here, O Christ, but let it be the empty seat beside the anxious, the lonely chair nest to the confused, the vacant pew next to the hungry and reign, O Jesus, as sovereign over the forgotten.

One: May your reign be a mockery to the world but good news to those who seek out truth and may we join them in the search finding you walking the streets or breaking bread or sitting by bedsides.

One: May we find you in the border areas on the edge of things crossing over with the foreigner.

One: May we find you among children learning to finger paint as teachers to those who long to enjoy life again.

One: May we find you with the worried silenced with nothing to say and space enough to keep it.

One: May we find you on the wrong side of the tracks going where you should not and finding a place to lay your head among the lost.

One: May we find you singing our songs of justice and peace and removing your crown to do so.

One: May we find you with a word that lives in the hopes of the afraid and a comforting peace for those who are broken.

One: May we find you laughing at the powerful unnerving what folk think so secure while welcoming those who have nothing into your throne room.

One: May we find you in the presence of those who are ill and struggling in mind and body bringing to them the peace of your presence and the comfort of your spirit as we lift up to you today those for whom we pray…

One: O Jesus, reigning in the world with your upside down kingdom may we find the faith to stand with you sovereign of life and servant of all.

(adapted from Roddy Hamilton)

Hymn – “Christ Has No Body Now but Yours”