Christ The King Sunday
What follows is a worship service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in regular typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Opening Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we commence our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A Call To Worship:
We meet in the name of God,
Creator of the universe,
source of true humanity,
mother and father of all. Amen.
An Assurance of Forgiveness:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):
In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us.
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Our first reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Our second reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Gradual Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we raise out voices in praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
Listen to David speak to this gospel
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for Christ The King, 23rd Nov 2025
Welcome sisters and brothers and peace be with you. Take my lips O God and speak through them, take our minds O God and think through them, take our hearts O God and love through them this day. <Amen>
You have just heard the theme from the Clint Eastwood western “THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY” written by Ennio Morricone. Music to introduce a sermon … well … NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT! <PAUSE>
Here we are on the last Sunday in Ordinary Time for 2025. It’s “The Feast of Christ The King”. It’s the last Sunday before Advent begins, BUT but before we can get to all our favourite Advent stories and the coming of the Christ child we get our gospel today, Luke 23:33-43. It’s the story of Christ on the Cross. NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT!
Here we are so far Passion-tide. This is <PAUSE> NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT to be reading as our gospel as we approach Advent and Christmas.
So far. Today, it’s DEFINITELY, NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT.
Well, let me begin to clarify all of this by talking about Mario Capecchi. Mario was born in 1937 in Verona, Italy. Mario’s mum - Lucy Ramberg, was an American intellectual and vehemently anti-Fascist; her writings and public speaking saw her hauled off to the Dachau concentration camp. Mario was left to wander from town to town, sleeping rough, never bathing, always dressed in rags, always hungry - he begged, he stole, a dirty ragamuffin surviving on his wits.
In late 1945 Mario nearly died of malnutrition and was in a hospital in Bologna when his mother, liberated from Dachau, finally found him in early 1946. A year later, an uncle in America sent money for them to emigrate, and Mario crossed the Atlantic and began a new life. <PAUSE>
In 2007 Mario Capecchi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine. A street urchin to a Nobel Laureate. NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT!
Our gospel passage today is another case of unexpected people doing unexpected things. We shouldn’t be surprised by this; in the past weeks we have read through much of Luke’s gospel and it has been the case all the way.
In Luke’s world, the outsider is usually the hero of the tale, and the folks who are the “in-crowd” usually miss the point and get it wrong.
So, let’s take a deeper look at one of the things that is happening in this gospel passage, one that is so very familiar to us? Jesus hangs on the cross. The bloodstains on his face, hands and feet have dried to a dark-wine crust. His body screams with excruciating pain.
Some of the crowd, soldiers and Jewish leaders still mock him. The sign on the cross mocks him: “Jesus, King of the Jews.” Even one of the criminals hanging beside Jesus mocks him, taunting him to save himself … and them.
In all their eyes, this is no king. This is just another broken troublemaker who got what he deserved. <PAUSE>
But … BUT … there is a change coming! One of the two condemned with Jesus sees something more in Him than a loser. This criminal chastises the other: “we have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
DEFINITELY <PAUSE> NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT!
Those words would be remarkable enough coming from the mouth of a dying criminal, but the moment takes an even more staggering turn: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” This is more than a personal request. It is a huge change in this man; it is an acknowledgment, a deep insight, of Jesus as Christ the King, the King of a kingdom not of this world.
And then Jesus does what he usually does when a person opens his heart to Him and asks for help.
Even in the pain of the moment, with the taste of blood and sour vinegar in His mouth, Jesus speaks words of comfort and of promise: “Truly I tell you, today you shall be with me in paradise.” <PAUSE>
Jesus turns the eyes of the repentant human forward in hope, to a place of salvation.
DEFINITELY …. FROM JESUS <PAUSE> …. EXACTLY WHAT YOU EXPECT :)
All those people, watching and mocking, and there is only one who truly sees this broken rabbi on the Cross for the King He TRULY is.
Only one, AN UNEXPECTED ONE, SEEING AN UNEXPECTED KING.
Time and again in the Gospel of Luke, it is the “outsiders”, the ones we least expect, who open their eyes and their hearts and recognise the kingship of Jesus, and what that kingship involves.
It is not a kingship of this world, and what we are expected to do is very different from the expectations of a worldly king.
So why do we we hear this story on the Feast of Christ the King, just before we enter Advent.
BECAUSE …
The gospel here isn’t about a broken man, a failed teacher. If we truly understand His message, we see Christ the King, whom the Greek Christians called “Christ Pantokrator”, Christ all powerful, looking forward in hope that we all might be with Him in the kingdom.
As we now look forward in hope to the joys of the coming Christmas, Christ challenges us to open our eyes and hearts and souls to see unexpected people in unexpected ways, as He too was the ultimate unexpected One.
He invites us to see who He is, and how we might see Him in the most unlikely people. <PAUSE> …. see them for what they are, WHAT THEY CAN BE - NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT.
So,
THREE MEN HANGING ON THREE CROSSES :
ETERNAL AND UNIVERSAL LOVE, THE SON OF GOD, <PAUSE> THE GOOD,
THE CRIMINAL WHO SHOCKS US WITH THE UNEXPECTED, THE REDEEMED BAD,
THE UNREPENTANT CYCNIC WHO JUST CANNOT OPEN HIS EYES, HEART AND MIND, THE UGLY.
NOT WHAT YOU EXPECTED THIS MORNING ???
Well, let me put it to you this way … YOU NEVER KNOW <PAUSE> … YOU NEVER KNOW … A street urchin turns out to be a Nobel Prize winner, A crucified teacher turns out to be King .… <PAUSE> and a baby about to be born in a stable on a cold night turns out to be the Son of God.
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED … COME LORD JESUS, COME AND REIGN !!
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu. <AMINE>
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Allow these words of Holy Scripture and this interpretation of them today to speak to you.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by saying aloud, and together, "The Apostles Creed":
... and now let us pray for the Church, the World, and Ourselves, giving thanks for God's goodness.
Let us pray aloud, and together:
Eternal Father through our Saviour Jesus, who is both Christ the King and the Son of Man and who understands our needs and the needs of this world, we pray for Your people around the globe, of which Your Son is King. We pray that You will draw us together and unite us in the love of Christ that we may proclaim with one voice Your justice and righteousness in a broken world.
(LONGER pause for silent, personal reflection)
In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our response is, “hear our prayer!”
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Everlasting God we pray for all of Your faith communities, both large and small, which represent Your Kingdom here on earth. We give thanks for their faithfulness , their desire to live the life of “The Risen Christ” and to share the Good News.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Almighty God, Your Son Jesus Christ exchanged His heavenly kingdom and became a servant, we thank you for all earthly leaders and those in positions of authority; encourage them all to serve their people following Jesus’ example constantly seeking the common good.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Loving God help us reach out to one another with greater love and better understanding; we pray for our homes, our relatives, our neighbours and our friends, particularly those who do not yet realise the extent of Your love for them.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Father God, your Son, Jesus Christ, understood people’s fear and pain before they spoke of them, we pray for those who are sick, housebound or in hospital; surround the frightened with your tenderness; give strength to those in pain; hold the weak in your arms of love, and give hope and patience to those who are recovering.
We especially raise before You now all those who have asked for our prayers from around the world … those we know in New Zealand, in Singapore, in Argentina, in France, in Australia, in the US, in Canada, in Austria, in Ukraine, in China, in Germany, in the Czech Republic, in Syria and any others we now name aloud, or in the silence of our hearts, and those who are known only by You.
In Your goodness and mercy, grant them health of body, soundness of mind and peace of heart.
We thank You for those who have come through illness and are on the road to recovery and also for those facing the reality that there is little light at the end of their earthly tunnel.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Merciful God, you know our hearts and share our sorrows. When parting from those whom we loved hurts; when the loss we have sustained turns to anger; when we find words of comfort hard to hear, surround us with Your love and turn our grief to hope. We pray now for the recently departed and those whose anniversary falls at this time.
We especially raise before you at this time our recently departed sister and brothers, Margaret (England), Bryan, (Australia) and Odell (USA).
May all the faithful departed now rest in peace as they most surely have risen in glory.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your Mercy: Hear our prayer
In a moment of silence we pray for ourselves, our families, friends, for all whom we love and for our personal ministries. Make the things that we choose to do worthy of the life, death, and rising again of Your Son.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Holy God you have rescued us from the power of darkness. Help us to walk in this world as citizens of your Kingdom of Light where Christ reigns as King in glory, for ever and ever.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Forth in the peace of Christ we go; Christ to the world with joy we bring; Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips, Christ in our hearts, the world’s true King.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ continues to teach us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Let us conclude our prayers by praying together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Blessing
May The Risen Lord Christ turn His face towards each and every one of you.
May He cause His light to shine upon you, and
may He grant you His peace, and
The blessing of Almighty God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all of those whom you love,
on this day and forever more.
A Closing Hymn:
Let us conclude our worship today by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we unite in another hymn our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
The Dismissal
Go now, go out into the world
to love and serve The Lord.
Go in peace.
AMEN, we go in the name of Christ.
