Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
2 Samuel 23:1–7
The last words of David: God has made an everlasting covenant.
Psalm 132:1–12 (13–18)
Remember your covenant with David, O Lord, and bless us.
Complementary
Daniel 7:9–10, 13–14
The Ancient One gives all dominion to a human, coming in clouds.
Psalm 93
The ancient and everlasting Lord is enthroned in majesty.
Revelation 1:4b–8
Jesus is coming with the clouds; the Lord is Alpha and Omega.
John 18:33–37
Pilate asks: Are you a king? Jesus answers: I came to show the truth.
— Gathering —
Call to Worship
Grace to you and peace from him who is
and who was and who is to come.
Jesus will reign forever.
Every eye will see him.
Jesus will reign forever.
Every ear will hear the promise:
I am the Alpha and the Omega.
Jesus will reign forever.
Prayer of the Day
All-powerful God,
as we recognize Christ’s reign,
we also recognize the earthly powers
that compete for our loyalty.
Guide us, Lord, as we engage in the ordering of these days.
Train our hearts on your truth,
that your voice might lead us in all that we do. Amen.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the grace that is at work in us
through the gift of our baptism—
the sign of your threefold name,
the communion of your faithful people,
the promise of your glorious realm.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
let your grace and peace grow in us,
until we gather at your heavenly throne
to give you thanks and praise forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
It is only by the power of God
that we are able to stand against evil.
Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.
O Holy One,
you showed us what it means to live by your reign:
sharing food with the hungry,
freedom with the imprisoned,
justice with the oppressed,
and joy with the sorrowful.
We ask your forgiveness, O God,
for all the ways we fail to live as people who belong to your reign.
Show us once more what our belonging means,
for you are the beginning, you are the end,
and, in every time between,
you fill our lives with grace.
Lifting water from the font:
Now stand firm in your faith,
covered by the saving grace of God
and ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Sovereign God, let your Word rule in our hearts
and your Spirit govern our lives
until at last we see the fulfillment
of your realm of justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Listen to the word of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:4
After the readings:
Keep these words in your heart.
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Thanks be to God.
Deuteronomy 6:6
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
To the Lord our God, Alpha and Omega,
be all glory and honor forever. Amen.
Revelation 21:6
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
Time after Pentecost, Christ the King / Reign of Christ
Biblical visions and images of the rule of Christ,
such as a heavenly city, the household of God,
a new heaven and earth, a marriage feast,
and an unending day
culminate in the image of the kingdom.
The kingdom represents God’s triumph
over all that resists the divine will
and disrupts God’s creation.
Already God’s reign is present
as a ferment in the world,
stirring hope in all people
and preparing the world
to receive its ultimate judgment and redemption.
With an urgency born of this hope,
the church applies itself to present tasks
and strives for a better world.
It does not identify limited progress
with the kingdom of God on earth,
nor does it despair
in the face of disappointment and defeat.
In steadfast hope,
the church looks beyond all partial achievement
to the final triumph of God.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.54–55
Prayers of Intercession
God of majesty and mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray for justice . . .
Allow all people to prosper and thrive.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for compassion . . .
Let loving-kindness be our rule of life.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for vision . . .
Show us the new things you are doing.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for hope . . .
Teach us to trust in your promises.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for peace . . .
Put an end to all war and violence.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for discernment . . .
Help us to hear your voice and follow you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of majesty and mercy,
make us ready to welcome your holy realm
of righteousness, justice, and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,
to present yourselves as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
Romans 12:1
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
To you, O God, we offer our lives—
our abundance, our poverty,
all that we have, all that we are—
a sign of our great thanksgiving
for the treasure of your grace.
Take and use us for good
in the world that you so love;
we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Mark 12:41–44
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
You are the ancient and eternal one,
encompassed in smoke and fire,
enthroned in glory forever.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Jesus came to claim us for your realm;
through his words we hear your voice
and learn your way of truth and life.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Keep us faithful as your priestly people,
loving and serving you each day,
watching and waiting for your return.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
At the communion table:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God,
creator and ruler of the universe,
for your have satisfied our souls
with this feast of your grace.
Keep us faithful in your service
until your realm of glory comes;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
The blessing of the holy, triune God,
who was and is and is to come—
first and last,
beginning and end,
Alpha and Omega—
be with you now and always. Alleluia!
Revelation 1:8
Go in peace to love the Lord your God
with heart and soul and mind and strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself. Amen.
Mark 12:29–31
Christ in Majesty
Saint Martin Church, Vic, France, 1140
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun (DUKE STREET) GTG 265 (O)
- O Worship the King, All Glorious Above! (LYONS) GTG 41 (O)
- All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (CORONATION) GTG 263 (E)
- Come, Christians, Join to Sing (MADRID) GTG 267 (G)
WORD
- Sometimes a Light Surprises (SALLEY GARDENS) GTG 800 (O)
- Crown Him with Many Crowns (DIADEMATA) GTG 268 (E)
- O Lord, You Are My God and King (JERUSALEM) GTG 270 (G)
EUCHARIST
- You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd (PICARDY) GTG 274 (E)
- Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! (GLORY) ZSS 117 (E)
- We Come as Guests Invited (WIE LIEBLICH IST DER MAIEN) GTG 504 (G)
SENDING
- Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies (RATISBON) GTG 662 (O)
- All Creatures of Our God and King (LASST UNS ERFREUEN) GTG 15 (E)
- At the Name of Jesus (KING’S WESTON) GTG 264 (G)
- Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (STUTTGART) GTG 83 (E)
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 132:1–12 (13–18)
Metrical
- Arise, O Lord Our God, Arise [BOURBON] GTG 381
- When David Had a Longing [THAXTED] PAS 132 A
Responsorial
- Praise the Lord PSA 136
- Hail the Lord’s Anointed PAS 132 C
Psalm 93
Metrical
- The Lord Almighty Reigns [ST. BRIDE] GTG 271
- Robed in Majesty [SALZBURG] PAS 93 A
Responsorial
- Be Exalted, O God UMH 813
- Alleluia, Let Our Voices Ever Sing PP 170
Organ Music
- “Come, Thou Almighty King and Come, Holy Ghost, in Love,” The Parish Organist, Part 8, Healey Willan, CON (E)
- DIVINUM MYSTERIUM, Six Meditations on Plainsong Melodies, arr. Sam Batt Owens, MSM (ME)
- “King of Kings,” King of Kings, vol. 1, arr. Ralph Simpson, GIA (MA)
- “Variations on THAXTED,” arr. Tom Trenney, MSM (A)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “The Last Words of David,” Randall Thompson, ECS, SATB, keybd (M)
- “Christus Paradox,” Alfred Fedak, GIA, SATB, org (M)
- “My Eternal King,” Jane Marshall, CF, SATB, org (M)
- “At the Name of Jesus,” Michael Burkhardt, MSM, SATB, org, brass (E)
- “Antiphon from Five Mystical Songs,” Ralph Vaughan Williams, GMC, SATB, org (A)
- “The Lord Shall Reign,” David Hurd, GIA, 2 pt mx, org (E)
Art
- The Future Is Present, Jeffrey Gibson, 2019 (MoMA)
- Christ Pantocrator, Ravenna, Italy, 547 (VDL)
