Christ the King Sunday

Sunday, November 21, 2021

Prelude: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence arr. Lloyd Larson

Welcome and announcements:

Call to Worship: Psalm 93
1The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, he is girded with strength. He has established the world; it shall never be moved;
2your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.
3The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring.
4More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves of the sea, majestic on high is the Lord!
5Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.

Gathering Hymn: ELW 855 Crown Him With Many Crowns

Greeting and Prayer of the Day:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

Let us pray: Almighty and ever-living God, you anointed your beloved Son to be priest and sovereign forever. Grant that all the people of the earth, now divided by the power of sin, may be united by the glorious and gentle rule of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Introduction to the Day:
There is a rhythm to life. For many of us, there are calendars to follow. Many events are planned around the calendar of the school year. Others plan events in their lives around the seasons of the year.

In our church year, there is a similar rhythm and progression. Today, we look at the seasons of the church year, remembering the themes, colors, and hymns of each season. On this Christ the King Sunday, we remember that Christ is the King of all seasons and phases of our lives, and in known in various ways in all seasons of the church year. Each day, throughout all of the seasons, we sing our praises to the Lord.

Advent:
Introduction to the Season
Hymn: ELW 257 st. 1 &7  “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

Christmas:
Introduction to the Season
Hymn: ELW 296 “What Child is This?” st. 1&3

Epiphany:
Introduction to the Season
Hymn: ELW 303 “Brightest and Best of the Stars” st. 1&2

Children’s Time  —  Children’s Chapel Time 

Lent:
Introduction to the Season
Hymn: ELW 351 “O Sacred Head Now Wounded” st. 1

Easter:
Introduction to the Season
Hymn: ELW 365 “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” st. 1&2

Pentecost
Introduction to the Season
Hymn: ELW 396 “Spirit of Gentleness” st. 1&3

Ordinary Time
Introduction to the Season
Hymn: ELW 583 “Take My Life that I may be  – all stanzas

Eternal God, you hold firm amid the changes of this world. Hear us now as we pray for the church, the world, and everyone in need.

God, you sent your Son Jesus to testify to the truth. We pray for preachers, missionaries, evangelists, and teachers who carry your forgiveness and love to the world. Fill their words and actions with compassion and kindness so that your truth will shine. God, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

God, you sent your Son Jesus to liberate all of creation. We pray for all living things longing for the freedom to flourish, from ancient trees and wild grasses to endangered animals and rare insects. Give human beings compassionate hearts to care for them. God, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

God, you sent your Son Jesus to lead us into the way of peace. Direct the members of international alliances in choosing a nonviolent path toward the future. Give them the humility and wisdom to make just decisions to benefit all. God, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

God, you sent your Son Jesus to make us into your own people, set free to serve you. We pray for people who serve the well-being of others, especially ministries in our community. Renew them in their work. God, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

God, you sent your Son Jesus to rule in all times and places. We pray for the friends of our congregation who are unable to join our worship in person and for all who are sick and suffering (especially). Join their prayers with ours and unite them with us in the body of Christ. God, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

God, you sent your Son Jesus to be our beginning and our ending. We give thanks for those whose lives have given us a glimpse of Jesus’ reign of justice and peace. Empower us to join their witness. God, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

God our hope and strength, we entrust to you all for whom we pray. Remain with us always, through Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Amen.

Peace
The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

Moment for mission

MEND

Our offering is a form of worship, taking part in God’s transforming mission in this world. Each dollar we give contributes to changing lives. Each week we will take a moment to remember one way that our offerings do that.

This week, we remember the Moorestown Ecumenical Neighborhood Development, or MEND. MEND is a faith-based community housing development organization. Since its founding in 1969, MEND has developed over 771 affordable housing apartments for single adults, senior citizens, persons with special needs, and families at 30 sites in the area.

We will now receive our offering.

Offering Prayer – invite congregation to stand
Let us pray.

God of mercy and grace, the eyes of all wait upon you, and you open your hand in blessing. Fill us with good things at your table, that we may come to the help of all in need, through Jesus Christ, our redeemer and Lord. Amen.

Christ the King
readings

Gospel: John 18:33-37
Concluding Reflection: As the Church Year ends, our Gospel reading does not leave Christ reigning on a gilded throne, but reigning from the cross. The world’s true king, Jesus, set aside his position of honor, humbling himself to become obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross. Rather than use his power to save himself, he uses it to bring others into paradise. In Jesus, we too are invited to new life within the reign of God.

Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your 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, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,
through our Savior Jesus Christ;
who on this day overcame death and the grave,
and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.
And so, with all the choirs of angels,
with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Thanksgiving at the Table (ELW p. 108)
You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful God. You are most holy, and great is the majesty of your glory. You so loved the world that you gave your only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.

We give you thanks for his coming into the world to fulfill for us your holy will and to accomplish all things for our salvation. In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

To you, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory in your holy church, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer
Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.

Invitation to Communion (ELW p. 112)
Come, taste and see that the Lord is good.

Lamb of God (sung)
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace, grant us peace.

Post-Communion Blessing
May the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in God’s grace. Amen.

Prayer after Communion (ELW p. 114)
Let us pray. O God, we give you thanks that you have set before us this feast, the body and blood of your Son. By your Spirit strengthen us to serve all in need and to give ourselves away as bread for the hungry, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessing: Through every season of the year, we live under God’s blessing. So now receive again this benediction: Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.

Sending Hymn: ELW 434 Jesus Shall Reign

Go in Peace to love and serve the Lord
Thanks be to God

Postlude Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor arr. John Ferguso