Bulletin – Sunday, November 26, 2023 – Reign of Christ Sunday

Sunday, November 26, 2023
Reign of Christ Sunday

Approach

Welcome

Lighting the Christ Candle

One:   Be still and breathe in the light of God’s love and presence, centre yourself in the peace and joy of Jesus Christ is our Light
All:      We share the light and love of Christ.

Call to Worship

One:   In our circle of uncertainty and hurry,
All:      You, O God, are the fixed point of calm.

One:   In our stretched moments of stress and emotion,
All:      You, O God, are the secure center of peace.

One:   In our well worn routine of everyday,
All:      You, O God, are the flash of fresh inspiration.

One:   In our moments of the ordinary and the earthly,
All:      You, O God are the Spirit that transforms and transcends with the Holy.

Hymn – “Come and Find the Quiet Centre” (VU #374)

Come and find the quiet centre in the crowded life we lead,
Find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:
Clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes, that we can see
All the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.

Silence is a friend who claims us, cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us, knows our being, face to face,
Making space within our thinking, lifting shades to show the sun,
Raising courage when we’re shrinking, finding scope for faith begun.

In the Spirit let us travel, open to each other’s pain,
Let our loves and fears unravel, celebrate the space we gain:
There’s a place for deepest dreaming, there’s a time for heart to care,
In the Spirit’s lively scheming there is always room to spare!

Prayer of Reflection

One:   O God, hear our longing for Christ’s reign on earth. We know that change would come with him.
All:      The poor and the powerless would be dealt with fairly. The vulnerable would gain confidence. Those controlled and restricted would be free.

One:   But we know in our heart of hearts that we should be striving to prepare the way for Christ before He arrives.
All:      So we ask that you help us, opening our eyes to see the downtrodden; to share with those less fortunate than ourselves;

One:   That were we are closed minded, you give us a liberating attitude so that we might do your work in new ways;
All:      Where we lack involvement, open us to initiatives of compassion and participation.

One:   Then when Christ’s reign begins…
All:      We, your faithful, will be joyful and active in the community. Amen.

Words of Assurance

One:   Holy and compassionate God we know that we need new attitudes, renewed vision and a change of heart. We ask that you grant us the strength; spiritual, emotional, and practical so that we are ready for your reign. Let us be assured that if we work to bring closer the reign of Christ, pardon, peace, and a new determination will be ours. That your world and universe will have the rule of justice, a rule of compassion, a rule of acceptance and a rule of undying love. Thanks be to God! Let us pray the prayer of Christ…
All:      Our Father / Mother, who are 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, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn – “Jesus Christ is Waiting” (VU #117)

Jesus Christ is waiting, waiting in the streets;
No one is his neighbour, all alone he eats.
Listen, Lord Jesus, I am lonely too.
Make me, friend or stranger, fit to wait on you.

Jesus Christ is raging, raging in the streets,
Where injustice spirals and real hope retreats.
Listen, Lord Jesus, I am angry too.
In the Kingdom’s causes let me rage with you.

Jesus Christ is healing, healing in the streets,
Curing those who suffer, touching those he greets.
Listen, Lord Jesus, I have pity too.
Let my care be active, healing just like you.

Jesus Christ is dancing, dancing in the streets,
Where each sign of hatred he, with love, defeats.
Listen, Lord Jesus, I should triumph too.
On suspicion’s graveyard let me dance with you.

Jesus Christ is calling, calling in the streets,
‘Who will join my journey? I will guide their feet.’
Listen, Lord Jesus, let my fears be few.
Walk one step before me, I will follow you.

The Word

Prayer of Illumination

Scripture Reading:         Ephesians 1:15-23

¹⁵ I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason ¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, ¹⁸ so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may perceive what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. ²⁰ God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. ²² And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Scripture Reading:         Matthew 25:31-46

³¹ When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, ³³ and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. ³⁴ Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? ³⁸ And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? ³⁹ And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ ⁴⁰ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ ⁴¹ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, ⁴² for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’ ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ ⁴⁶ And these will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.

Friends Listen to the Good News
God’s Wisdom for the World

Anthem – “Life High the Name of Jesus”

Life high the name of Jesus, of Jesus, our King.
Make known the power of His grace, the beauty of His peace.
Remember how His mercy reached as we cried out to Him
He lifted us to solid ground, to freedom from our sin.
O sing, my soul, and tell all He’s done,
Till the earth and heavens are filled with His glory.

Lift high the name of Jesus, of Jesus, our Lord.
His power in us is greater than is greater than this world;
To share the reason for our hope; to serve with love and grace;
That all who see Him shine through us might bring the Father praise.
O sing, my soul, and tell all He’s done,
Till the earth and heavens are filled with His glory.

Life high the name of Jesus, of Jesus, our Light.
No other name on earth can save, can raise our soul to life.
He opens up our eyes to see the harvest He has grown.
We labour in His fields of grace as He leads sinners home.
O sing, my soul, and tell all He’s done,
Till the earth and heavens are filled with His glory.
Till the earth and heavens are filled with His glory!

Reflection – “The Fullness of God”

Hymn – “He Came Singing Love” (VU #359)

He came singing love and he lived singing love,
He died singing love,
He arose in silence.
For the love to go on, we must make it our song.
You and I be the singers.

He came singing faith and he lived singing faith,
He died singing faith,
He arose in silence.
For the faith to go on, we must make it our song.
You and I be the singers.

He came singing hope and he lived singing hope,
He died singing hope,
He arose in silence.
For the hope to go on, we must make it our song.
You and I be the singers.

He came singing peace and he lived singing peace,
He died singing peace,
He arose in silence.
For the peace to go on, we must make it our song.
You and I be the singers.

Offering Invitation

One:   God gives us many gifts and talents with the expectation that we will use them in God’s service. Let us now give to God what is right and meaningful to God’s service.

Offering Response – “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” (VU #541)

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

Prayer of Blessing

The Response

Prayers of the People

One:   God who dwells among us
All:      God who dwells within us.

One:   God who calls us to dwell together…encourage the volunteers who run clothing depots and thrift stores.
All:      Compassionate and just Christ, we faithfully support your reign.

One:   Holy One…

Moments of Reflection

One:   The people will say…
All:      Compassionate and just Christ, we faithfully support your reign.

One:   Come Christ and rule among us!…give us a vision of faithful discipleship.
All:      Compassionate and just Christ, we faithfully support your reign.

One:   Come Christ and rule among us!…and the courage to stand beside the downtrodden and the marginalized.
All:      Compassionate and just Christ, we faithfully support your reign. Amen.

Hymn – “Jesus Shall Reign” (VU #330)

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Does its successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on his love with sweetest song,
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on his name.

Blessings abound where’er he reigns;
And prisoners leap to lose their chains;
The weary find eternal rest,
And all who suffer want are blest.

Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honours to our King;
Angels descent with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud Amen!

Sending Forth

Response – “Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, Amen!” (VU #974)

Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!