Join us in person or live-streamed at 10AM or find our recorded service at your convenience. Details on our Worship page. Service words are below.
Prelude: 423 CP How Great Thou Art
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
consider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
thy power throughout the universe displayed.
REFRAIN:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee:
how great thou art, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
how great thou art, how great thou art!
When through the woods and forest glades I wander,
I hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze; REFRAIN
But when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
he bled and died to take away my sin; REFRAIN
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation
and claim his own, what joy hall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
and there proclaim, “My God, how great thou art!” REFRAIN
Acknowledgement
Welcome
Gathering Hymn: 383 CP Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun
Jesus shall reign where’er the sun doth 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; the 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 descend with songs again, and earth repeat the loud Amen.
Gathering of the Community (based on Psalm 100)
Around the world this day, the universal church celebrates the “The Reign of Christ.”
Christ Jesus, friend of the poor, the meek and the merciful,
has been enthroned above all authority and power in this world and in the world that is to come.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth,
serve the Lord with gladness
come into his presence with singing.
God has placed everything under Christ’s wounded feet,
appointed the one who wore a crown of thorns as the supreme head of the church, his body.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
come into his courts with praise.
Give thanks and praise his loving name!
Opening Prayer
Christ the King, you became poor that many might become rich; you emptied yourself of all power that we might be empowered to choose. You show us God’s kingdom in our midst and invite us to kneel with you, to humble ourselves, to serve those in need, to find you here with us now. As we gather in your name, fill us with your Spirit; open our hearts to worship you, Jesus the servant king. Amen
Collect of the Day
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, our Lord and King, grant that the peoples of the earth, now divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his gentle and loving rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
The Proclamation of the Word
A Reading from the prophet Jeremiah (23:1-6)
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’
Living word of God live in our lives today
Canticle 19B (BAS p 89) Sung : Kingsfold
Bless’d be the God of Israel, the ever-living Lord,
who comes in pow’r to save his own, his people Israel.
For Israel he raises up salvation’s tow’r on high
in David’s house who reigned as king and servant of the Lord.
Through holy prophets did he speak his word in days of old,
that he would save us from our foes and all who bear us ill.
To our ancestors did he give his covenant of love;
so with us all he keeps his word in love that knows no end.
Of old he gave his solemn oath to Father Abraham;
his seed a mighty race should be and bless’d for evermore.
He vowed to set his people free from fear of ev’ry foe
that we might serve him all our days in goodness, love, and peace.
O tiny child, your name shall be the prophet of the Lord;
the way of God you shall prepare to make his coming known.
You shall proclaim to Israel salvation’s dawning day
when God shall wipe away all sins in his redeeming love.
The rising sun shall shine on us to bring the light of day
to all who sit in darkest night and shadow of the grave.
Our footsteps God shall safely guide to walk the ways of peace.
His name for evermore be bless’d who lives and loves and saves.
A Reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians 1:11-20
May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
Living word of God live in our lives today
Gradual Hymn: 618 CP Glorious in Majesty
Glorious in majesty, holy in his praises, Jesus, our Saviour and our King, born a man, yet God of old, let us all adore him. Filled with his Spirit, let us sing. Refrain Living is to love him, serving him to know his freedom. Come along with us to join the praise of Jesus. Come to Jesus now; go to live his word rejoicing. Victory he won for us, freeing us from darkness, dying and rising from the dead. Living with the Father now, yet he is among us. We are the body, he the head. Refrain One in love, as family, living with each other, gladly we share each other’s pain. Yet he will not leave us so, soon he is returning, Taking us back with him to reign. Refrain
The Lord be with you And also with you
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke 23:33-43
Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[ Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’
The Gospel of Christ Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
Homily
An Affirmation (Ann Weems Soul Weavings)
Hurting, they came to him.
Healed, they followed him.
Grateful, they gave him what they had and what they were.
Blessed, they became a blessing and went out to all the world in his name.
Those who are hurt
and healed
grateful
and blessed
still move among us
in his name. Amen
The Prayers of the People
Recognizing the glimpses of God’s kingdom in our midst, unexpected reversals of the ways of the world: we ask for the courage to change, as we choose you to be our King.
Recognizing people who have been powerless, finding their freedom to act, people who have been silenced finding their voice and being heard: we ask for the courage to change,
as we choose you to be our King.
Recognizing people who have been overlooked and excluded, finding their place and being welcomed, people who have been undervalued and derided finding their confidence and self-esteem: we ask for the courage to change, as we choose you to be our King.
Recognizing tough situations of illness, disability and grief:
Bring glimpses of hope to situations that seem hopeless.
Bring healing and wholeness to those who are in need; and those we name before you now…
Your will be done, your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.
Recognizing that in our dying we return to the loving embrace of our Creator: we remember those who have walked before us in the ways of your kingdom, that great cloud of witnesses who inspire us now.
Your will be done, your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.
For each of us as we realize what needs to change in the way we live, so that we might care for all creation and repair the damage we have done to our world: we ask for the courage to change,
as we choose you to be our King.
Prayer of Repentance (Dancers and Wayfarers)
We recognize the many competing ‘kings and kingdoms’ that vie for our allegiance and we cast them from their thrones! Some claim that the market is sovereign, that we are bound by the rules of competition and the survival of the fittest.
When we forget your gift of cooperation and mutual flourishing:
Lord have mercy upon us
Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Some claim that the customer is king, that we can have more and more for less and less, reducing wages, damaging the environment, polluting the earth. When we forget human worth and that we are stewards of creation:
Christ have mercy upon us
Christe eleison. Christe eleison. Christe eleison.
Some claim that might is right, that the powerful can dominate the vulnerable, using our power in the world for our own advantage and privilege. When we forget that you knelt to wash your disciples’ feet: Lord have mercy upon us
Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Assurance
Christ the King, Jesus the servant King,
You came to cast down the mighty from their thrones and to raise up the humble and poor. And you love us with a perfect love. You invite us to turn and to follow you. Give us grace to learn from those we have hurt; give us time for the amendment of life; give us courage to change; as we choose you to be our king. Amen
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Offertory Hymn: 73 CP One Bread, One Body
Refrain:
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless—
and we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
Gentile or Jew, servant or free,
woman or man, no more. Refrain
Many the gifts, many the works,
one in the Lord of all. Refrain
Grain for the fields, scattered and grown,
gathered to one for all. Refrain
Prayer over the Gifts
Eternal God, by your grace you have raised us up and enthroned us with Christ in the heavenly realms. Receive all we offer you this day, and lead us in those good works for which you have created us. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen
Eucharistic Prayer 2
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.
We give you thanks and praise, almighty God, through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. He is your living Word, through whom you have created all things. By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh of the Virgin Mary and shared our human nature. He lived and died as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.
In fulfilment of your will he stretched out his hands in suffering, to bring release to those who place their hope in you; and so he won for you a holy people. He chose to bear our griefs and sorrows, and to give up his life on the cross, that he might shatter the chains of evil and death, and banish the darkness of sin and despair. By his resurrection he brings us into the light of your presence. Now with all creation we raise our voices to proclaim the glory of your name.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth of your glory are full.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Blessed is one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth of your glory are full.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Holy and gracious God, accept our praise, through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; who on the night he was handed over to suffering and death, took bread and gave you thanks, saying, “Take, and eat: this is my body which is broken for you.” In the same way he took the cup, saying, “This is my blood which is shed for you. When you do this, you do it in memory of me.”
Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection, we offer you this bread and this cup, giving thanks that you have made us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you. We ask you to send your Holy Spirit upon the offering of your holy Church. Gather into one all who share in these sacred mysteries, filling them with the Holy Spirit and confirming their faith in the truth, that together we may praise you and give you glory through your Servant, Jesus Christ. All glory and honour are yours, Father and Son, with the Holy Spirit in the holy Church, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer (sung: Cameron)
Breaking of the Bread
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
We, being many, are one body, for we all share in the one bread.
The Communion
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
Music during Communion – Micah solo
Prayer after Communion
Almighty God, you have made us a royal priesthood in the kingdom of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Make known his victory through us, we pray, that all the world may see his light. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen
The Doxology
Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Blessing
King of the universe,
You stoop to embrace us.
Sovereign of all creation,
You set us free to choose.
Spirit of the most high
You empower us to live.
The blessing of the undivided Trinity
catch us up in the life of the kingdom. Amen
Announcements
Closing Hymn: 460 CP Shine Jesus Shine
Lord, the light of your love is shining, in the midst of the darkness shining; Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us; set us free by the truth you now bring us, shine on me, shine on me. Refrain:
Shine, Jesus, shine; fill this land with the Father's glory; blaze, Spirit blaze: set our hearts on fire. Flow, river, flow: flood the nations with grace and mercy; send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light. Lord, I come to your awesome presence, from the shadows into your radiance; by the blood I may enter your brightness; search me, try me, consume all my darkness, shine on me, shine on me. Refrain As we gaze on your kingly brightness so our faces display your likeness; ever-changing from glory to glory, mirrored here may our lives tell your story, shine on me, shine on me. Refrain
The Dismissal
One: As we leave this place, go with God.
All: We will go into world discovering God is waiting for us.
One: As we depart to serve, go with Christ.
All: We will not turn back from following Jesus into every corner of the world.
One: As we live the coming days, go with the Spirit.
All: Thanks be to God, Alleluia.
Postlude: 502 CP You Are Salt for the Earth
You are salt for the earth, O people: salt for the kingdom of God! Share the flavour of life, O people: life in the kingdom of God! Chorus: Bring forth the kingdom of mercy, bring forth the kingdom of peace; bring forth the kingdom of justice, bring forth the city of God! You are a light on the hill, O people: light for the city of God! Shine so holy and bright, O people: shine for the kingdom of God! Chorus You are a seed of the Word, O people: bring forth the kingdom of God! Seeds of mercy and seeds of justice grow in the kingdom of God! Chorus We are a blest and a pilgrim people bound for the kingdom of God! Love our journey and love our homeland: love is the kingdom of God! Chorus