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):
Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:28)
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:
A reading from the holy gospel according to Saint John.
Listen to David speak to this gospel.
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for Christ The King, Sunday, 24th Nov 2024
MAY the words of my mouth and the meditations in our hearts be acceptable in your sight O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. <Amen>
This Sunday's gospel is an extract from a much larger context.
There are seven scenes in the trial of Jesus and Pilate keeps having to go back and forth, between Jesus and the Jews outside. So, we have this dialogue taking place separately and what we have, I like to think, is an intimate, calm, controlled dialogue between Christ and Pilate which emphasises the authority of Jesus.
In this John’s gospel, the concept of kings plays a very significant part in the Passion narrative; not only is there this dialogue but also the soldiers mocked Jesus as a king with a crown of thorns, and Pilate writes on the board for the cross “This is the king of the Jews”. As I said, King-ship is significant.
The dialogue is actually saying that basically Pilate and Jesus are understanding concepts of King, kingdom, and BEING a king in totally different senses.
Pilate is seeing these things in a human way - as he would have experienced it - and Jesus is saying that that's not the way it's meant to be experienced.
This kingdom is coming from God.
One writer pointed out that our interpretation should be more “the reign of God” rather than than “the kingdom of God” in this particular context. Of course, for the the Jews, that would have made sense as a king and a kingdom WAS “THE RULE” of the king. It wasn't a place it was actually the exercise of the authority of the king.
So, think of the new kingdom as God intervening in humanity and exercising authority (ruling) in a completely new and different way. <PAUSE>
Now, as we all know, from reading and watching the news, people react to authority in different ways. Therefore, this raises the question of what OUR response should be to “Christ The King”.
The response, I have always felt, is that this narrative is a call to let Jesus reign in our hearts and this has a HUGE significance in the lives of everyday people. <PAUSE>
Christ reigning in our hearts. Ruling in the sense that what He came to demonstrate was this incredible love of God that contains within it the power to transform a human person, humanity, the world.
There's something there in the human heart where we've just got to let God enter and reign if we want to be truly alive. <PAUSE>
At this stage in their journeys, even, the disciples didn’t understand!
They got to the stage of Jesus being the Christ and yet they struggled with ‘a servant king’, ’a suffering Christ’ and Pilate, of course, didn't even have that background. So no wonder this was an identity issue for Pilate … “are you a king?” and confusion “my kingdom is not of this world”!
Maybe that confusion still exists for many today ? <PAUSE> What also strikes me is that the words seem so carefully chosen and recorded as Jesus talks, not to massed crowds but to Pilate and we hear Jesus say, AND WE MUST LISTEN TO, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
I pray you will all consider these words of Jesus as CRITICAL, VITAL in your lives. They mean that we allow Jesus to rule in our hearts and we listen to that voice that wants to speak to us … AND … we take time to just to become more conscious of it.
IF we are listening to what is going happening in our hearts, what is it we are hearing?
If we are hearing then how does that transform the way in which we live and witness to The Risen Christ?
So, learning to listen to the Christ that should reign in our hearts is really important because in 2024 we can be distracted by so much other “stuff” going on in the world. As I said last week, I need to stay focussed, I must not be alarmed, I MUST make sure that I don’t spend to much time “sweating the little stuff” rather than listening to the Jesus that reigns in my heart. <PAUSE>
You know, if I don’t listen to Christ in my heart, if I don’t try to apply the gospel in my life and take it into the lives of others then … my best intentions will just stay that way … best intentions!
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Let us pray we have the courage and wisdom to let God reign in our hearts, the open minds and ears to hear Christ’s words as he speak to us, and The Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen us as we apply those words to our lives. We ask these things in the name of Jesus, Christ The King. AMEN.
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I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu. <AMINE>
In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit <AMEN>
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:
In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our plea is, “hear our prayer”
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy : Hear our prayer.
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 and any others we now name aloud, or in the silence of our hearts, and those who are known only by You.
(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.
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.
