Christ the King Sunday

COLOR: White or Gold
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Luke 1:68-79; Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43

CALLS TO WORSHIP

Call to Worship #1:
L: Great is the Lord!
P: God has redeemed God’s people!
L: Let the heavens shout with joy!
P: Let all the people celebrate God’s awesome love!
L: Shout and sing praise to God!
P: For God has healed and restored God’s people.
L: Hallelujah!
P: Hallelujah!

Call to Worship #2:
L: God has called all of us here beloved.
P: We are given new names of hope and promise.
L: Even though storms and trials have assailed us,
P: God has drawn us through to the time of salvation.
L: Thanks be to God for God’s victory in Jesus Christ!
P: May Jesus reign in our hearts all of our days. AMEN.

Call to Worship #3
[Using THE FAITH WE SING, p. 2173, “Shine, Jesus, Shine,” offer the following call to worship as directed.]

L: Even though darkness and fear threaten to overcome us and swallow us
P: Yet we will place our hope and trust in Jesus Christ.

Choir: Singing: Refrain, verse 1, and refrain of “Shine, Jesus, Shine”

L: For he is the light of the world.
P: His love will shine on us, in us, and through us to all God’s people.

Choir: Singing: Refrain, verse 2, and refrain of “Shine, Jesus, Shine”

L: We come to the presence of Christ with sadness and sorrow
P: And he offers his healing love, restoring us to light and joy.

Choir and congregation: Singing: Refrain, verse 3, and refrain of “Shine, Jesus, Shine”

L: Amen.
P: AMEN.

Call to Worship #4:
L: Good morning! May God’s blessings be with you this day!
P: Thank you, and may God’s blessings be with you also!
L: May the light of Christ’s love shine on you today
P: May the peace of Christ be in your heart.
L: Open your hearts to celebrate the reign of our Savior Jesus Christ.
P: With joy we open our hearts and spirits to the Lord. AMEN.

PRAYERS, LITANY/READING, BENEDICTION

Opening Prayer
Lord of light and life, we come to you this day in celebration of the witness of your Son Jesus Christ. Open our hearts, our spirits, and our lives to listen to his words for us. Help us to be faithful disciples for you; for we ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

Prayer of Confession
Forgiving God, how many times we have spoken words of commitment and faith and then turned our backs on these commitments to follow the temptations of the world. We wander after the false prophets of greed, selfishness, arrogance, ignorance, hatred, stubbornness, and then shout our displeasure at how we are being treated. We want you to come in and clean up all our messes, excusing us from any responsibility for them. Forgive us for such foolishness. Help us remember the power of your healing love, which has been given for us. Forgive us when we think we know everything and then discover that we have behaved and thought in ignorant ways. Teach us to listen and to place our trust in your abiding power. For we ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

Words of Assurance
Even though we doubt God’s faithfulness to us, yet God is steadfast in God’s love for each one of us. Receive that love in your hearts this day. Know that you are healed and forgiven in God’s sight. AMEN.

Pastoral Prayer
Patient God, we seem to think that being people of faith is a campaign for your favor. We posture and make gestures of holiness and grace, but then we easily slide back into habits of self-centeredness. Yet you have forgiven us, each time, calling us beloved children. Today we are about to complete the journey of this Christian year, during which we have learned of the witness of Jesus Christ, the birth and growth of the church, and the great lessons of the Hebrew Scriptures. This year has been an opportunity for us to renew our acquaintance with all those who have gone before, who have been faithful disciples. Help us take these lessons into our hearts and lives. Let the reign of Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, our Savior, be evident in all that we say, think, and do. Give us the confidence and courage to truly be your witnesses all the rest of our days. For we offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. AMEN.

Reading
[Using THE UNITED METHODIST HYMNAL, p. 488, “Jesus, Remember Me,” offer the reading as directed. Each of the reader‘s parts should be read dramatically and slowly to let the intent of the piece be reflected by the listeners. The building up of the musical refrain is a powerfully moving experience for both singers and listeners alike. It is a good idea to do this if you have the vocal parts available; if not, have four people singing the melody line, beginning with one person and adding a new person each time until all four are singing together.]

Reader 1:
I have been so blessed by God. I have a lovely home, great family. I am doing very well in all aspects of my life. God is truly pleased with me! This I know.

Soloist: singing “Jesus, Remember Me”

Reader 2:
I am so talented. There is almost nothing that I can’t do. I have been given so many gifts and talents. Everyone says that they wish they had half the talents I do. I try to use these talents as much as possible, so that people can really see what I can do.

Duet: [soprano/alto] singing “Jesus, Remember Me”

Reader 3:
I don’t need anyone. I am sufficient unto myself. Nobody needs to help me with anything. I don’t want to be beholden to anyone. Let other people cry and whine for help. Not me! I can do all that needs to be done by myself. I don’t need anyone.

Trio: [soprano/alto/tenor] singing “Jesus, Remember Me”

Reader 4:
I am frightened, Lord. I need help. There are wonderful gifts you have given me and I try to use them to your glory, but sometimes I fail. I feel as though I am letting others down, and letting you down also. Please lift me, Lord. Please remember me and help me to be strong for you and for others.

Quartet: [soprano/alto/tenor/bass] singing “Jesus, Remember Me”

Leader:
Sometimes we have many of the feelings expressed by our readers. We are sometimes very proud and arrogant, thinking that we know what is best, never wanting to rely on anyone but ourselves. But at other times we cringe in fear. We doubt our gifts and our abilities to use them. Our faith is tested and we wonder if we are equal to the test. Through all of this, the Lord of Life, beckons to us to place our trust in God’s loving mercy. May the love of Christ reign in your life now and always. AMEN.

Benediction
Though the days increase in their darkness, the Lord of light and love reigns supreme. May the power of God’s love be in your hearts and reflected in your lives now and always. Go in peace and may God’s peace be with you. AMEN.

ARTISTIC ELEMENTS

The traditional color for this day is WHITE or GOLD.

Note: This is an artistic interpretation of the reign of Christ symbolism. An explanation should be placed in the worship bulletin. The seasons of the Christian year are represented in the colored stripes of cloth, green [Epiphany/Common Time], purple [Lent], blue [Advent], white [Eastertide], red [Pentecost]. They are anchored in the center of the table by the Cross of Christ. The candles represent the light of God’s love, through Jesus Christ, shining on us and through us to others.

SURFACE:
Place a tall riser, about 10” high, in the center of the worship table, toward the back. Place five risers, about 4-5” high, across the front of the worship table, centering one of the risers in front of the tall riser, about 6-8” away from the riser.

FABRIC:
Cover the worship center and all risers with white fabric, draping the fabric so that it “puddles” onto the floor in front of the worship center. Cut five strips of cloth, 3” wide by about 4 yards long, in the following colors: green, purple, blue, white, red. Place one end of each of the strips on top of the center tall riser (it will be anchored by a brass cross). Drape each strip of fabric across one of each of the five shorter risers and let the remaining fabric strips cascade to the floor in front of the worship center.

CANDLES:
Place two tall candles on either side of the center riser, flanking the brass cross. On each of the other risers, place one votive or a small collection of shorter votive candles.

FLOWERS/FOLIAGE:
Not necessary for this display.

ROCKS/WOOD:
Not necessary for this display.

OTHER:
Have a brass altar cross to place on the top riser at the center of the worship table.