Showing posts with label B proper 29. Show all posts
Showing posts with label B proper 29. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Sunday School, November 21, 2021 Last Sunday after Pentecost, Christ the King,

 Sunday School, November 21, 2021    Last Sunday after Pentecost, Christ the King,  B proper 29


Theme: Christ as a King

A time for discussing how Jesus is and was a king.
Does our country have a king?
Did we used to have a king?  Yes, when we were an English colony but we did not want to be ruled by a king.  Americans formed a government without a king because of our belief in democracy.
So if we don't believe in having a king, how can we use the notion of a king as a title for Jesus Christ?

King was an important person in the biblical times.  The most famous king of Israel was David.  The very best kings were so good and right for their times that people believed them to be chosen by God to rule their people.  Samuel anointed or poured oil over the head of David to make him king.  This act of pouring oil, meaning that God's Spirit is electing a person to be king, is where the word Messiah comes from.

Jesus Christ or Jesus the Messiah, means that we confess Jesus to be a Special Chosen person of God to rule our lives.  This does not mean that Jesus has to have a throne and an army and be a ruler of a government.  It means that Jesus has become a model of the very best of person who has persuaded us to be the very best that we can be.  Jesus is a king because he has given us a perfect model on how we are to live our lives.  Jesus is a king because God made him stronger than death in his resurrection.

In the discussion at the trial of Jesus, Pontius Pilate mocks the meaning of Jesus being King of the Jews.  This is how the Gospel writer of John's Gospel were trying to show us that Jesus was not a King like the Caesar or like King Herod.  These kings rules by using fear to force people to obey them.  Jesus is a perfect king because Jesus as a king works through God's Spirit to persuade us to be better people.

So what kind of king do you like?  One with great armies and one that forces you to obey?  Or one who shows you how to be the best person you can be and persuades you and encourages you to be the best person you can be?

You and I can choose to make Jesus the King of our lives even though Jesus will not force us to do so.  This is the very best kind of king.


  Today is the end of the longest church season.  What is the longest church season?  Pentecost.  If this week is the end of the Christian year, then that makes next Sunday, New Year’s Day.  And what do we call the first day in the Christian New Year?  The first Sunday of Advent.  So what Christian season comes after the season of Pentecost?  Advent.
  We have a special name for this Sunday, the last Sunday in the season of Pentecost.  It is called the Feast of Christ the King.
  And so today we want to think about how Christ is our King.
  We heard the reading from the Gospel today and we wonder how Christ can be our king.  The reading that we have listened to tells us about how Jesus died.  In fact, he died when the soldiers of the great Roman king, the Caesar put him on a cross.  And they put a sign on the top of the cross that was making fun of Jesus.  The sign said: Jesus, King of the Jews.  How can a person who dies this way be a king?
  Let me show you another cross.  This cross is called the cross of Christ the King.  Do you see that Jesus has on wonderful robes and he is wearing a crown?  This cross is different from the other cross.
  How did Jesus become Christ the King?  He became Christ the King, because he did the strongest thing that could ever be done; he came back to life and he promised that God could give us life after our deaths too.  That is a great thing.  And that is why Christ is our king.
  And since we know that Christ is our king and since we know that God is bigger and stronger than death, do you know what that means?  It means that we can live our lives without fear.  We can live our lives with joy, love and faith, because we know that Christ is our King who has been stronger than death.
  So today, let’s celebrate because Christ is our King.  Christ is stronger than death.  And we can live with joy and faith because Christ is our King.  Amen.



Intergenerational Family Service with Holy Eucharist
November 21, 2021: The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King

Gathering Songs: Hosanna, Hosanna, Majesty, Spirit of the Living God, The King of Glory Comes

Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever.  Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.
And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.
Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song: Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest! (Renew! # 71)
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest!  Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest!  Lord we lift up your name with hearts full of praise; Be exalted, oh Lord my God! Hosanna in the highest!

Glory, Glory, glory to the King of kings! Glory, Glory, glory to the King of kings! Lord we lift up your name with hearts full of praise; Be exalted oh Lord my God! Glory to the King of kings!

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen..

Litany Phrase: Alleluia (chanted)

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia
O God, you have made us! Alleluia
O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia
O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia
O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia
O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia
O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

A reading from the Revelation of St. John the Divine

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen.  "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 132

For the LORD has chosen Zion; * he has desired her for his habitation: "This shall be my resting-place for ever; * here will I dwell, for I delight in her.
I will surely bless her provisions, * and satisfy her poor with bread.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:
For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!
For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!
For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!
For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!
For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!
For work and for play. Thanks be to God!
For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!
For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!
For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.
Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

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 kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from 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." 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."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon:  Fr. Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.
Since God is so great and we are so small,
We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.
We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and
     resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.
We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is
     welcome.
We believe that Christ is kind and fair.
We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.
And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy. (chanted)

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.
For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.
For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.
For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.
For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.
For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.
For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.
For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.
For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.
For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Liturgist:         The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
People:            And also with you.

Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering.

Song: Majesty, (Renew # 63)
Majesty, worship His majesty.  Unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise. 
Majesty, kingdom authority flow from His throne unto His own;
His anthem raise. 
So, exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus. 
Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus the King. 
Majesty, worship His Majesty; Jesus who died,  now glorified, King of all kings.

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of heaven.”
All become members of a family by birth or adoption.
Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.
A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.
The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.


The Lord be with you
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

All may gather around the altar

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;
You have made us in your image
And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:
Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.
And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph
And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.
Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat
  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  
  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory
 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.
Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.
As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.
But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.
Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.
Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:        Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion Song: Spirit of the Living God, (Renew # 90)

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.  Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me. Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.  Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the living God, move among us all; Spirit of the living God, make us one in love: humble, caring, selfless, sharing— Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love.

Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;
We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.
And His Presence has been known to us.
We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers
    and sisters in Christ.
Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the
     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,
As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: The King of Glory, (Renew # 267)

Refrain: The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices. 
            Open the gates before him, lift up your voices.

Who is the king of glory; how shall we call him?  He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages. Refrain

In all of Galilee, in city or village, he goes among his people curing their illness. Refrain

Sing then of David’s son, our Savior and brother; in all of Galilee was never another. Refrain

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ. 
People: Thanks be to God! 




Sunday, November 25, 2018

"So, You Are a King?"

Christ the King Cycle B  Proper 29 November 25, 2018
2 Samuel 23:1-7  Psalm 132:1-13, (14-19)
Revelation 1:4b-8  John 18:33-37

Today is the last Sunday of the church calendar, and the last Sunday after Pentecost, and also it is also the Feast of Christ the King.

This feast arose in the 1920's when the Russian revolution was asserting the control of the world by governments with atheistic worldviews.  After the Enlightenment, with the ascent of Reason, there had been the tendency of removing State religion because of many "religious wars," and Christians could be cruel to each other, like burning heretics at the stake depending upon who the monarch was.  Trying to found governments upon Enlightened Reasoning grounded in the protection of law, meant that governments disestablished religions even though if you were a member of a minority religious group you could be discriminated against.  The American experiment in government was to be the establishment of Reason, in law to regulate the freedom of all to worship or not to worship.  In the success of rise of secular governments and the end of State established religion, how could the authority of Christ be asserted on earth?

Today, we are invited to consider again the irony of Christ as the King.  This irony is featured in the rather strange dialogue presented between Pontius Pilate and Jesus during the interrogation before his crucifixion.

When we ponder Christ the King, we need to understand the notions of monarchy which prevailed in the first century, in Palestine and in the Roman Empire.

The Jews in the first century lived upon the fumes of a once and future king.  The once king, David was an actual earthly King who reigned during the most successful time in the history Israel.  His success, coupled with the long history of less than perfect kings and the loss of control of their own territory, made David the inspiration for a future David who would come and restore Israel to its former greatness.  The times of Jesus were dominated by this wishful thinking for a new Great David to arise.  David was the model for the notion of the Messiah as God's anointed one to deliver the people of Israel.  The prevailing view for such a Messiah was that the Messiah would be a King like David who would intervene to deliver Israel.

But what was the political reality in Palestine in the first century?  The King of Palestine was the Caesar who ruled in Palestine with his appointed surrogates like King Herod and the local governors like Pontius Pilate.

The Passion accounts of the Gospels portray the Jewish religious authorities as those to turn Jesus over to the Roman authorities because they said he was a competing king pretender who was challenging the authority of the Caesar.  And what was the ironic cry of the crowd in the Passion Gospel?  "We have no king but Caesar."

Pilate was rather amused and seemed to be cynically teasing Jesus about being a king.  "You're a king?  Really?  How can you be a king?"

So how did the early church uphold that Jesus was indeed a king? 

What is the chief mode of interpretation of New Testament writers with themes of Hebrew Scripture?  The New Testament writers spiritualized the topics of the Hebrew Scriptures.  Jerusalem was destroyed, but the writer of Revelations spoke about a New Jerusalem in the heavens.  The Temple was destroyed and the priesthood became inactive.  Jesus became the great High Priest who attended to a heavenly altar.  Israel was over-run and scattered.  The church was seen as the new Israel.  Israel had 12 tribal patriarchs.  The church as the new Israel had 12 apostles.  Israel had the David the Messiah.  The church had Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, king not by virtue of having specific earthly territory, but King because he passed through death into life again.  The resurrection and ascension was a new manifestation of what it meant to be king.  The ability of the Risen Christ to be made known into the lives of many people, again and again meant that the Messiahship of Christ was spiritualized to the realm of the inner world, the hearts of people.  The church proclaimed the Kingship of Jesus because they saw the unstoppable popularity of the Risen Christ transforming peoples' lives and forming formidable, lasting communities.

So, indeed, Jesus could say in the words of the Gospel writer, "If my kingdom were of this world, then my followers would fight.......".just like the soldiers of David had once fought for him as their messiah.

So, how do you and I feel about Christ the King today?  We probably are hypocritical in our view about Christ as King?   Why?  Spiritual kingship is nice, but does spiritual kingship guarantee a military force that can protect us and our country?  Probably not.  We don't want a spiritual Christ the King because it can be as empty as what is called "moral victories."  We lose but get credit for losing in the right way for the right values.

Since we live in our physical and political worlds, we really want governments with leaders who support the kinds of values and beliefs that we ourselves have.  "Spiritual Messiah?  bah humbug.  I want leaders with real power to represent my interests as I understand them.  I want leaders to enforce and protect my interests, even my religious views as I understand them."

What the history of religious power indicates is that absolute power of any sort, ends up corrupting absolutely.  No earthly authority, including religious authority,  has ever been able to integrate religion and politics to the fairness of everyone.

So what can Christ the King mean for us today?  It is enough to know the transforming power of the Risen Christ evident within the lives of people who are looking for interior power to become the very best people that they can become.

If people can know the conversion of Christ and fulfill the politics of Jesus to love our neighbors as ourselves, then this is the highest expression of Christ the King.

Let us today be less concerned about political power for our own self interest today; let us make sure that Christ the King rules our hearts and empowers us to love our neighbor as ourselves.  This is the pure politics of Jesus Christ, the King.  Amen.

Friday, November 23, 2018

November 25, 2018: The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King, B proper 29

November 25, 2018: The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King,  B proper 29

Theme: Christ as a King

A time for discussing how Jesus is and was a king.
Does our country have a king?
Did we used to have a king?  Yes, when we were an English colony but we did not want to be ruled by a king.  Americans formed a government without a king because of our belief in democracy.
So if we don't believe in having a king, how can we use the notion of a king as a title for Jesus Christ?

King was an important person in the biblical times.  The most famous king of Israel was David.  The very best kings were so good and right for their times that people believed them to be chosen by God to rule their people.  Samuel anointed or poured oil over the head of David to make him king.  This act of pouring oil, meaning that God's Spirit is electing a person to be king, is where the word Messiah comes from.

Jesus Christ or Jesus the Messiah, means that we confess Jesus to be a Special Chosen person of God to rule our lives.  This does not mean that Jesus has to have a throne and an army and be a ruler of a government.  It means that Jesus has become a model of the very best of person who has persuaded us to be the very best that we can be.  Jesus is a king because he has given us a perfect model on how we are to live our lives.  Jesus is a king because God made him stronger than death in his resurrection.

In the discussion at the trial of Jesus, Pontus Pilate mocks the meaning of Jesus being King of the Jews.  This is how the Gospel writer of John's Gospel were trying to show us that Jesus was not a King like the Caesar or like King Herod.  These kings rules by using fear to force people to obey them.  Jesus is a perfect king because Jesus as a king works through God's Spirit to persuade us to be better people.

So what kind of king do you like?  One with great armies and one that forces you to obey?  Or one who shows you how to be the best person you can be and persuades you and encourages you to be the best person you can be?

You and I can choose to make Jesus the King of our lives even though Jesus will not force us to do so.  This is the very best kind of king.


  Today is the end of the longest church season.  What is the longest church season?  Pentecost.  If this week is the end of the Christian year, then that makes next Sunday, New Year’s Day.  And what do we call the first day in the Christian New Year?  The first Sunday of Advent.  So what Christian season comes after the season of Pentecost?  Advent.
  We have a special name for this Sunday, the last Sunday in the season of Pentecost.  It is called the Feast of Christ the King.
  And so today we want to think about how Christ is our King.
  We heard the reading from the Gospel today and we wonder how Christ can be our king.  The reading that we have listened to tells us about how Jesus died.  In fact, he died when the soldiers of the great Roman king, the Caesar put him on a cross.  And they put a sign on the top of the cross that was making fun of Jesus.  The sign said: Jesus, King of the Jews.  How can a person who dies this way be a king?
  Let me show you another cross.  This cross is called the cross of Christ the King.  Do you see that Jesus has on wonderful robes and he is wearing a crown?  This cross is different from the other cross.
  How did Jesus become Christ the King?  He became Christ the King, because he did the strongest thing that could ever be done; he came back to life and he promised that God could give us life after our deaths too.  That is a great thing.  And that is why Christ is our king.
  And since we know that Christ is our king and since we know that God is bigger and stronger than death, do you know what that means?  It means that we can live our lives without fear.  We can live our lives with joy, love and faith, because we know that Christ is our King who has been stronger than death.
  So today, let’s celebrate because Christ is our King.  Christ is stronger than death.  And we can live with joy and faith because Christ is our King.  Amen.


St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
November 25, 2018: The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King

Gathering Songs: Hosanna, Hosanna, Majesty, Spirit of the Living God, The King of Glory Comes

Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever.  Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.
And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.
Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song: Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest! (Renew! # 71)
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest!  Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest!  Lord we lift up your name with hearts full of praise; Be exalted, oh Lord my God! Hosanna in the highest!

Glory, Glory, glory to the King of kings! Glory, Glory, glory to the King of kings! Lord we lift up your name with hearts full of praise; Be exalted oh Lord my God! Glory to the King of kings!

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen..

Litany Phrase: Alleluia (chanted)

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia
O God, you have made us! Alleluia
O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia
O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia
O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia
O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia
O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

A reading from the Revelation of St. John the Divine

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen.  "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 132

For the LORD has chosen Zion; * he has desired her for his habitation: "This shall be my resting-place for ever; * here will I dwell, for I delight in her.
I will surely bless her provisions, * and satisfy her poor with bread.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:
For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!
For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!
For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!
For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!
For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!
For work and for play. Thanks be to God!
For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!
For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!
For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.
Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

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 kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from 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." 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."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon:  Fr. Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.
Since God is so great and we are so small,
We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.
We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and
     resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.
We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is
     welcome.
We believe that Christ is kind and fair.
We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.
And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy. (chanted)

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.
For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.
For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.
For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.
For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.
For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.
For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.
For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.
For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.
For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Liturgist:         The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
People:            And also with you.

Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering.

Song: Majesty, (Renew # 63)
Majesty, worship His majesty.  Unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise. 
Majesty, kingdom authority flow from His throne unto His own;
His anthem raise. 
So, exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus. 
Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus the King. 
Majesty, worship His Majesty; Jesus who died,  now glorified, King of all kings.

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of heaven.”
All become members of a family by birth or adoption.
Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.
A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.
The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.


The Lord be with you
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

All may gather around the altar

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;
You have made us in your image
And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:
Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.
And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph
And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.
Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat
  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  
  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory
 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.
Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.
As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.
But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.
Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.
Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:        Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion Song: Spirit of the Living God, (Renew # 90)

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.  Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me. Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.  Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the living God, move among us all; Spirit of the living God, make us one in love: humble, caring, selfless, sharing— Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love.

Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;
We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.
And His Presence has been known to us.
We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers
    and sisters in Christ.
Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the
     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,
As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: The King of Glory, (Renew # 267)

Refrain: The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices. 
            Open the gates before him, lift up your voices.

Who is the king of glory; how shall we call him?  He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages. Refrain

In all of Galilee, in city or village, he goes among his people curing their illness. Refrain

Sing then of David’s son, our Savior and brother; in all of Galilee was never another. Refrain

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ. 
People: Thanks be to God! 






Sunday, November 22, 2015

Translating Christ the King to Those Skeptical of Monarchs

Christ the King Cycle B  Proper 29 November 22, 2015
2 Samuel 23:1-7  Psalm 132:1-13, (14-19)
Revelation 1:4b-8  John 18:33-37

  Preaching on biblical readings requires another level of translation which not everyone is willing to do.  Obviously, we do not read the Bible in public in their original languages of Hebrew and Greek, we read them in English translation.  But more than language translation has to occur when we try to teach and preach from the Bible.  We not only have to bridge the language difference, we have to bridge the incredible differences in the details of ancient cultural practice.  There is a great difference between ancient and modern cultural practices; but what are the universal principles for which we can find correspondences between biblical contexts and our modern situation?  Sometimes ancient religious ideas create irony for modern people who find such ideas to be obsolete, if not downright cruel.
  The notion of king and the form of government known as monarchy is foreign, particularly to us as Americans.  Our very form of government is based upon getting rid of the notion of kings and monarchs.  As Americans, we believe that monarchies are terribly inferior forms of human governance.  Why?  because no one person can be Omni-competent enough to be accorded such a lifetime position of singular power.  Yes, there may be beneficent monarchs but the number of kleptocractic monarchs far out number the good monarchs.  Monarchs usurp a disproportionate amount of the resources of any society or nation.
  So on this feast day of Christ the King, how can we make sense of Christ fulfilling the role of an obsolete political office?  A perfect King seems to us to be an oxymoron; a contradiction.
  People in the time of Jesus did not think much about kings in their lives.  In the history of Israel, we find that for a long time religious leaders such as Moses, Joshua and the Judges were the preferred leaders of Israel.  When the people of Israel came to the land of Canaan, they observed that other nations had kings.  Kings were functional leaders to establish armies and protect their people but for such protection taxes had to be collected and men had to be provided for the armies. The last great Judge Samuel reluctantly anointed Saul as the first king of Israel and this anointing process of making a king was the origin of the notion of the messiah.  Messiah was the receiving of a divine commission for kingly leadership.  Saul failed in his kingship and he was succeeded by David, who became the model for an idealized king.  Israel did not have many good kings; even King David had plenty of faults but since good kings were so few and Israel enjoyed very few years of actual success as a nation, the Davidic kingship created nostalgia for people who had to learn to live under the siege of other world powers.  The legend of David grew into an idealized messiah who could be a divinized human hero leader who could establish deliverance and justice for God's people.
   The notion of the messiah was a rather inexact notion; it was inclusive enough to encompass lots of speculation, and to bring disagreement between those who remain within the practice of Judaism and those who came to know Jesus as the Messiah.
  In the time of Jesus, Caesar was the actual king of the Roman world empire who had surrogate local figures like King Herod to rule on his behalf in Palestine.  One can easily understand how people who lived under occupation for so long dreamed about a great liberator.  And Jesus of Nazareth was not one who came to over throw the rule of the Caesar in Palestine.
  So how can you and I relate to the notion of King and Messiah?  First the notion of King and Messiah are not equivalent.  A messiah is a divinized human person for specific leadership or providential purposes.  Even a figure like Cyrus the Great of Persia was called a messiah because the prophet Isaiah regarded him to be one who providentially allowed for the continuing existence of the Jewish people even though he was a foreign conqueror.
  The Feast of Christ the King is a relatively recent feast.  It was declared by a pope who was wanting to assert the Christian aspiration for the practice of holy justice in the lives of people.  This feast was instituted after the fall of the so-called Christian Tsars and Kings of Russia when atheistic socialism began to sweep Russia because "Christian" Tsars did not practice distributive justice and they were bad enough to bring the Christian belief in God into question.
   We should understand this feast as the feast of Christ the Messiah.  A messiah is different from a king.  Christ as the Messiah can be a very valuable and relevant notion for us today.  Why?  There exists within humanity a universal aspiration for the perfect person and the perfect governmental form for the practice of justice.
  Human perfection and perfect justice always stand before us beckoning us, luring us to surpass ourselves in a future state.  You and I always need to be better.  Human laws and government always needs to get better in approximating the practice of justice.  And this is why the celebration of Christ as the Messiah is valid and relevant to our lives.
  The notion of Christ as the Messiah is still a challenging notion.  It is one thing for us to see the risen Christ in our lives as the model of the perfect person, but what does a perfect society look like?  What kind of biblical model can we find for a perfect society practicing perfect justice?  There is none.
  Jesus told Pilate if his kingdom were of this world then his followers would fight.  For human governance, God relies upon the messianic effect of Christ in the lives of people.  God wants to win people one at  a time and convince each to love one's neighbor as oneself.  To force people to love and practice justice would be a violation of human freedom.  As much as we often wish God would coerce people to be different, the reality of human freedom does not work this way.  God commits the practice of justice to people.  God expects people to be messianic in the way in which they practice justice with each other.  Let us continue to embrace the direction of both personal and social perfectability which is affirmed in our celebration of Christ as the Messiah.  In American language, we continually say that we seek a more perfect union in our practice of justice.
  Today, I confess that I need to be better today than I was yesterday.  Today as a parish, we confess that we need to be better at ministry than we were yesterday.  Today, we confess as citizens that we need to be better in our practice of justice than we have been in our past.  And today as a world community, we confess that we need to be better in the realization of justice in our world than we have yet achieved.  As long as there is the need for personal improvement and improvement in the practice of justice, we will celebrate the feast of Christ the Messiah.  Christ as the Messiah is the one who was given to us by God to set the direction of our calling to perfection as individuals and as those who need to practice social justice in our world.
  Let us always keep the Risen Christ the Messiah before us as a continual calling to our better selves both as individuals and in the more perfect unions of governmental practices toward better justice.  Amen 
 

 





  

Friday, November 20, 2015

Sunday School, November 22, 2015 Christ the King, B proper 29

Sunday School, November 22, 2015     Last Sunday after Pentecost, Christ the King,  B proper 29

Theme: Christ as a King

A time for discussing how Jesus is and was a king.
Does our country have a king?
Did we used to have a king?  Yes, when we were an English colony but we did not want to be ruled by a king.  Americans formed a government without a king because of our belief in democracy.
So if we don't believe in having a king, how can we use the notion of a king as a title for Jesus Christ?

King was an important person in the biblical times.  The most famous king of Israel was David.  The very best kings were so good and right for their times that people believed them to be chosen by God to rule their people.  Samuel anointed or poured oil over the head of David to make him king.  This act of pouring oil, meaning that God's Spirit is electing a person to be king, is where the word Messiah comes from.

Jesus Christ or Jesus the Messiah, means that we confess Jesus to be a Special Chosen person of God to rule our lives.  This does not mean that Jesus has to have a throne and an army and be a ruler of a government.  It means that Jesus has become a model of the very best of person who has persuaded us to be the very best that we can be.  Jesus is a king because he has given us a perfect model on how we are to live our lives.  Jesus is a king because God made him stronger than death in his resurrection.

In the discussion at the trial of Jesus, Pontus Pilate mocks the meaning of Jesus being King of the Jews.  This is how the Gospel writer of John's Gospel were trying to show us that Jesus was not a King like the Caesar or like King Herod.  These kings rules by using fear to force people to obey them.  Jesus is a perfect king because Jesus as a king works through God's Spirit to persuade us to be better people.

So what kind of king do you like?  One with great armies and one that forces you to obey?  Or one who shows you how to be the best person you can be and persuades you and encourages you to be the best person you can be?

You and I can choose to make Jesus the King of our lives even though Jesus will not force us to do so.  This is the very best kind of king.


  Today is the end of the longest church season.  What is the longest church season?  Pentecost.  If this week is the end of the Christian year, then that makes next Sunday, New Year’s Day.  And what do we call the first day in the Christian New Year?  The first Sunday of Advent.  So what Christian season comes after the season of Pentecost?  Advent.
  We have a special name for this Sunday, the last Sunday in the season of Pentecost.  It is called the Feast of Christ the King.
  And so today we want to think about how Christ is our King.
  We heard the reading from the Gospel today and we wonder how Christ can be our king.  The reading that we have listened to tells us about how Jesus died.  In fact, he died when the soldiers of the great Roman king, the Caesar put him on a cross.  And they put a sign on the top of the cross that was making fun of Jesus.  The sign said: Jesus, King of the Jews.  How can a person who dies this way be a king?
  Let me show you another cross.  This cross is called the cross of Christ the King.  Do you see that Jesus has on wonderful robes and he is wearing a crown?  This cross is different from the other cross.
  How did Jesus become Christ the King?  He became Christ the King, because he did the strongest thing that could ever be done; he came back to life and he promised that God could give us life after our deaths too.  That is a great thing.  And that is why Christ is our king.
  And since we know that Christ is our king and since we know that God is bigger and stronger than death, do you know what that means?  It means that we can live our lives without fear.  We can live our lives with joy, love and faith, because we know that Christ is our King who has been stronger than death.
  So today, let’s celebrate because Christ is our King.  Christ is stronger than death.  And we can live with joy and faith because Christ is our King.  Amen.


St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
November 22, 2015: The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King

Gathering Songs: Hosanna, Hosanna, Majesty, Spirit of the Living God, The King of Glory Comes

Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever.  Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.
And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.
Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song: Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest! (Renew! # 71)
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest!  Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest!  Lord we lift up your name with hearts full of praise; Be exalted, oh Lord my God! Hosanna in the highest!

Glory, Glory, glory to the King of kings! Glory, Glory, glory to the King of kings! Lord we lift up your name with hearts full of praise; Be exalted oh Lord my God! Glory to the King of kings!

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen..

Litany Phrase: Alleluia (chanted)

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia
O God, you have made us! Alleluia
O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia
O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia
O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia
O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia
O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

A reading from the Revelation of St. John the Divine

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen.  "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God

Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 132

For the LORD has chosen Zion; * he has desired her for his habitation: "This shall be my resting-place for ever; * here will I dwell, for I delight in her.
I will surely bless her provisions, * and satisfy her poor with bread.

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:
For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!
For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!
For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!
For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!
For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!
For work and for play. Thanks be to God!
For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!
For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!
For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.
Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

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 kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from 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." 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."

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon:  Fr. Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.
Since God is so great and we are so small,
We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.
We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and
     resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.
We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is
     welcome.
We believe that Christ is kind and fair.
We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.
And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy. (chanted)

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.
For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.
For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.
For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.
For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.
For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.
For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.
For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.
For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.
For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Liturgist:         The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
People:            And also with you.

Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering.

Song: Majesty, (Renew # 63)
Majesty, worship His majesty.  Unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise. 
Majesty, kingdom authority flow from His throne unto His own;
His anthem raise. 
So, exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus. 
Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus the King. 
Majesty, worship His Majesty; Jesus who died,  now glorified, King of all kings.

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of heaven.”
All become members of a family by birth or adoption.
Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.
A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.
The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.


The Lord be with you
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

All may gather around the altar

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;
You have made us in your image
And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:
Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.
And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph
And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.
Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat
  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  
  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

The Prayer continues with these words

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory
 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.
Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.
As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.
But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.
Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.
Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:        Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion Song: Spirit of the Living God, (Renew # 90)

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.  Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me. Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.  Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the living God, move among us all; Spirit of the living God, make us one in love: humble, caring, selfless, sharing— Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love.

Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;
We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.
And His Presence has been known to us.
We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers
    and sisters in Christ.
Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the
     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,
As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: The King of Glory, (Renew # 267)

Refrain: The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices. 
            Open the gates before him, lift up your voices.

Who is the king of glory; how shall we call him?  He is Emmanuel, the promised of ages. Refrain

In all of Galilee, in city or village, he goes among his people curing their illness. Refrain

Sing then of David’s son, our Savior and brother; in all of Galilee was never another. Refrain

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ. 
People: Thanks be to God! 





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