Sunday School, November 20, 2016 Last Sunday after Pentecost, Christ the King
C proper 28
Theme:
How is Christ a King?
Did Jesus live in a palace?
Did he have a large army of soldiers?
No.
How is it that Jesus is a king and how is it that he has a
kingdom?
Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within you. He said it was among us.
What is so special about an invisible kingdom and an
invisible king?
The kings of this earth are leaders who have power. They can force people to obey them.
Jesus is the king of persuasion. He wins our hearts. He teaches us to things which are good for
us. He does not force us. He allows us freedom to choose whether we
want to be a part of his kingdom.
Jesus is not like any king that this world has ever had.
If it seems as though Jesus is a king without any power,
just remember he had the power to come back to life again. He had the power to reappear to his followers
again and again. He has the ability to
be with us by the Holy Spirit and help us have power to be better people.
Christ is a king, a very different king than the other kings
of this world.
The fact that Jesus has not been seen for 2000 years and yet
he still remains followed and loved by more people than any other king or
person on earth, shows us what a special king that Christ is.
Sermon
Bring two crosses, a crucifix and a Christus Rex
Use the sermon to speak about how we speak of Christ as a
King after his resurrection. After his
resurrection, we understand the cross in a different way.
Text:
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 20, 2016: The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Feast of
Christ the King
Gathering Songs: Majesty; Peace Before Us; Lord, Be
Glorified; Lift High the Cross
Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
People: And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever. 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: Majesty (Renew! # 63)
Majesty, worship his majesty. Unto Jesus be all glory, honor and
praise.
Majesty, kingdom authority flow from his throne unto own;
his anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus.
Magnify, come, glorify Christ Jeus the King.
Majesty, worship his majesty; Jesus who died, now glorified,
King of all 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 of Praise: Alleluia
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 Letter of Paul to the Colossians
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all
creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-- all
things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all
things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the
church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come
to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was
pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all
things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his
cross.
Liturgist: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Liturgist: Let us read together from Psalm 46
Come now and look upon the works of the LORD, * what awesome
things he has done on earth.
It is he who makes war to cease in all the world; * he
breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
and burns the shields with fire.
and burns the shields with fire.
"Be still, then, and know that I am God; * I will be
exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth."
Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God!
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 Luke
People: Glory
to you, Lord Christ.
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they
crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are
doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by,
watching Jesus on the cross; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He
saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen
one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine,
and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There
was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One
of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are
you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him,
saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve
for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said,
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied,
"Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Liturgist: The
Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise
to you, Lord Christ.
Sermon –
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.
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.
Youth 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: Peace Before Us (Wonder, Love and Praise, # 791)
1-Peace before us, peace behind us, peace under our
feet. Peace within us, peace over
us. Let all around us be peace.
2-Love 3-Light 4-Christ
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 God.”
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.
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 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: Lord,
Be Glorified (Renew! # 172)
In our lives, Lord, be glorified, be glorified, in our
lives, Lord, be glorified today.
In our homes, Lord, be glorified, be glorified, in our
homes, Lord, be glorified today.
In your church, Lord, be glorified, be glorified, in your
church, Lord, be glorified today.
In your world, Lord, be glorified, be glorified, in your
world, Lord be glorified today.
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: Lift High the Cross (Renew! # 297)
Refrain: Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
‘till all the world adore his sacred name.
Come, Christians, follow where our savior trod, our King
victorious, Christ, the Son of God. Refrain
All newborn servants of the crucified bear on their brows the
seal of him who died. Refrain
Dismissal:
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
