Sunday School, November 24, 2024 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 24, 2024: 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!
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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