Bulletin – Sunday, November 24, 2024 – Reign of Christ Sunday

Sunday, November 24, 2024
Reign of Christ Sunday

We Gather as People of Faith

Welcome

Minute Person

Announcements

Lighting the Christ Candle

One:   As the days become shorter, we look for sources of light.
All:      The true light shines in so many places.

One:   Let us find in this candle flame a light that will never dim.
All:      This candle is lit to acknowledge that Christ is our light.

One:   Welcome loving Christ in our midst.
All:      We welcome the light that is Christ.

Call to Worship

One:   Our Almighty God calls us to gather.
All:      Together we sing praises and glorify the name of God.

One:   As one we lift our voices in songs of adoration.
All:      Thanks be to God who loves and cares for us.

One:   We listen for God’s Spirit in anticipation.
All:      The Holy Spirit will transform us.

One:   Let this be a time to draw closer to our Creator.
All:      May we find our Creator this day amidst all the noise.

Hymn – “Christ is the Truth, the Way”

Christ is the truth, the way, the endless, light of life.
Christ shares the struggles of our day, our earthly joy and strife.
Redeeming what is lost, and healing human pain,
Christ walks the valley of the cross, that all may rise again.

Christ is the living bread and source of grace outpoured;
Our deepest hungers shall be fed and life will be restored.
All those who thirst rejoice, by living water filled.
The good shall welcome with one voice the justice God has willed.

Christ sends the Spirit now, that we may all be one.
The lion shall lay down their crowns before the great “I am.”
The lion shall lie down in peace beside the lamb.
The mighty shall lay down their crowns before the great “Iam.”

Christ is the gift of love, forgiveness, joy, and grace,
That all may live in unity and hope in every place.
We go where Jesus led when others’ pain we bear,
Responding to our neighbours’ needs, Christ’s cross and crown we share.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

One:   Almighty God, we come before you as the works in progress that we are. You see us with all of our failings and with hearts full of repentance, we ask for forgiveness. We praise you for your loving way.
All:      For those times when our faith falls short or we don’t heed the Spirit when it calls, we ask forgiveness. For those times when we don’t speak out against prejudice or injustice, we ask forgiveness. For those times when we are judgmental, we ask forgiveness. With contrition, we ask that we be held accountable for all the wrongs that we have done. In your name, we pray, Amen.

Words of Assurance

Sung Response – “Come and Fill Our Hearts” (MV #16)

Come and fill our hearts with your peace.
You alone, O Lord, are holy.
Come and fill our hearts with your peace,
Alleluia!

We Hear God’s Word

Prayer of Illumination

Scripture Reading: Revelation 1:4b-8

⁴ Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood ⁶ and made us a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

⁷ Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him,  and all the tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. So it is to be. Amen.

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Scripture Reading: John 18:33-37

³³ Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” ³⁵ Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” ³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” ³⁷ Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

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

Anthem – “Holy is Your Name”

Holy, holy, holy is Your name, O Lord.
Holy, holy, holy is Your name.

Some will call you master, Counsellor and friend.
Some will say the Prophet or the Lamb.
You are Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.
You are Son of God and Son of Man.

O Lord, we praise You, and we exalt You.
We proclaim You King for evermore.
At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow
And every tongue confess that You are Lord.

Some may call You Teacher, some, the One True Light,
Prince of Peace and Saviour of the World.
You’re the Rock of our salvation, the Way, the Truth, the Life.
You are Lord of all; You are the Word.

O Lord, we praise You, and we exalt You.
We proclaim You King for evermore.
At the Name of Jesus, every knee shall bow
And every tongue confess that You are Lord.
You are Lord. You are Lord.
Praise the Lord.

Meditation – “A Faithful Witness”

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 sinner’s 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.

You chose a humble human form and shunned the world’s renown;
You died for us upon a cross with thorns Your only crown.
But still, beyond the span of years, our glad hosannas ring,
For now at God’s right hand You reign, a different kind of king.

We Respond to God’s Word

Invitation to Share

Offering Response – “Doxology” (VU #541)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures high and low;
Give thanks to God in love made know;
Creator, Word, and Spirit, One. Amen.

Offering Prayer

Prayers for the People

One:   When you hear “Lord, in your Mercy” please reply with “Hear our prayer.”

We Go Into God’s World

Hymn – “O for a World” (VU #697)

O for a world where everyone respects each the other’s ways,
Where love is lived and all is done with justice and with praise.

O for a world where goods are shared and misery relieved,
Where truth is spoken, children spared, equality achieved.

We welcome one world family and struggle with each choice
That opens us to unity and gives our vision voice.

The poor are rich, the weak are strong, the foolish ones are wise.
Tell all who mourn; outcasts belong, who perishes will rise.

O for a world preparing for God’s glorious reign of peace,
Where time and tears will be no more, and all but love will cease.

Benediction

Response – “Amen, Amen, Amen” (VU #967)

Amen, Amen, Amen.