The Celebration of the Gospel
November 25, 2018 — Reign of Christ Sunday
God raised Christ from the dead,
and seated Christ at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms,
over all rule and authority, power and dominion.
—Ephesians 1.20-21
“My realm is not of this world.”
— John 18.36
________ We Gather as the Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE We Will Glorify — Twila Paris, arr: Fred Bock
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
* CALL TO WORSHIP (Revelation 1.4-8)
[A hymn of praise to Christ, the “sovereign over the rulers of the earth,” who has set us free and made us into a new nation.]
Leader: Grace to you and peace from the one who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before the throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead, and sovereign of the rulers of the earth.
All: To Christ, who loves us and whose blood was shed in freeing us from our sins,
and who has made us to be a nation of priests serving our God and Life-Giver,
to Christ be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Look! Christ is coming with the clouds,
for every eye to see,
even those who pierced Jesus—
on whose account all the tribes of the earth will wail.
So it is to be. Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says God the Holy One,
who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
Alleluia!
* SONG We Are Called Black hymnal # 2172
_________We Attend to the Word_________
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG My Eternal King Jane M. Marshall
PRAYER
Eternal God, Creator and Sovereign of the Universe, you have established Christ as the ruler of all Creation. The world of human power and empire is an illusion. The real world is your Empire of Grace, ruled over by Christ, the living embodiment of your love. We come to align ourselves once again to your reign of grace. Speak your Word to us as citizens of heaven, that we may be loyal to you alone. We pledge allegiance to you and to no other, in the name of Christ. Amen.
(10:30) OLD TESTAMENT from Isaiah 9.2-7
[Celebrates the light of God’s liberating grace, which overwhelms the darkness of war, injustice and oppression. God provides a ruler who reigns with mercy and justice.]
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
on them light has shined.
You have increased the people’s joy,
and released them from their burden.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
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(10:30) * PSALTER Psalm 2
[A critique of the arrogance of human rulers. God reigns over all life, and overcomes all human oppression. God sends a ruler who is God’s own, God’s “son.”]
Why do the nations conspire,
and the peoples plot in vain?
People with earthly power set themselves up,
and rulers take counsel together,
against the Holy One and God’s anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds asunder,
and cast their cords from us.”
The one who sits in the heavens laughs;
God has them in derision.
Then God will speak to them in wrath,
and terrify them with fury, saying,
“I have set my ruler on Zion, my holy hill.”
I will tell of the decree of God,
who said to me, “You are my offspring;
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron,
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
Now therefore, O rulers, be wise;
be warned, you who are powerful on the earth.
Serve God with fear,
with trembling submit to God,
or you will perish in the fire of your own anger;
for God’s passion is quickly kindled.
Happy are all who take refuge in God.
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GOSPEL John 18.33-37
[Jesus is on trial for claiming to be a king. But “king” is a secular word that does not really describe who he is. Yes, Jesus prevails over all things, but not through political power: the truth of God’s love is his only power.]
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 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?” Jesus answered, “My realm is not of this world. If I were a king of a worldly empire, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my realm is not from here.” 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.”
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SERMON Parallel Universe
SONG Make Me a Channel of Your Peace Blue Black hymnal # 2171
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Colossians 1.15-20)
[A hymn of praise to Christ as the cosmic, eternal figure, the source and ruler of all creation.]
Christ is the visible appearance of the invisible God,
the beloved older sibling of all creation.
All things in heaven and on earth were created in Christ,
everything visible and invisible,
rulers and powers and systems and empires—
everything was created through Christ and for Christ.
Christ came before anything,
and in Christ everything holds together.
Christ is the head and the church is the body.
Christ is the Source of life, and has turned even death into a birth:
so Christ is first in every way.
In Christ God lives completely.
Through Christ God reconciles us to God—
all of us, and everything on earth and in heaven:
in dying on the cross, Christ brought God and humanity together.
This is the mystery, hidden for ages but now revealed:
that Christ is alive in us. Alleluia!
* SONG Sent Out in Jesus’ Name Black hymnal #2184
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer at the microphone.]
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Our Father, who art 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, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
_____ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World____
OFFERING OUR GIFTS Adagio from Chorale in E Major Cesar Franck
* OFFERING SONG Glory Be to the Father Blue hymnal #70
* PRAYER
Gracious God, we give you our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. You are sovereign over all of life; Christ reigns over all of life; may love rule in our hearts. Send us out as loyal subjects of your Empire of Grace, for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Bring Forth the Kingdom
Black hymnal #2190
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE O Jesus, King Most Wonderful Traditional, arr: Dale Wood
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]