November 26, 2023 – Reign of Christ / Christ the King

Lectionary Readings

Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24
I will be the shepherd of my sheep, says the Lord; I will save them.

Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord; we are the sheep of God’s pasture.

or Psalm 95:1–7a
The Lord is our God, and we are the people of God’s pasture.

Ephesians 1:15–23
Christ is seated at God’s right hand; all powers are under his feet.

Matthew 25:31–46
The king will judge: just as you did it to the least, you did it to me.

— Gathering —

Opening Sentences

Make a joyful noise to God!
Worship God with gladness!
Come into God’s presence with a song!
Know that the Lord is God.
God made us. We belong to God.
Give thanks to God! Bless the name of the Lord!

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:
Christ rules over us all,
seated at the right hand of God.
This is the same Christ who came to be with us,
to laugh with us, cry with us,
break bread with us, and be one of us.
Therefore, we approach the throne with boldness,
knowing that Christ will hear our confession.

If we had known it was you, Lord,
we would have done something different.
If we had known if was you, Lord,
we would have given you food.
If we had known it was you, Lord,
we would have taken you in.
If we had known it was you, Lord,
we would not have passed you by.
But we did.
Too often we make excuses
for not taking care of each other.
We have ignored your commandments to love and care.
We do not deserve forgiveness,
but we ask for it anyway,
and ask you to help us change our ways.

Lifting water from the font:
God seeks the lost,
brings back those who have strayed,
binds up the injured,
and strengthens the weak.
We are forgiven and restored.
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

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

Our shepherd satisfies our needs;
in faith, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, our God, we pray for the church . . .
As you have made Christ the head of all,
help us to live faithfully as his body,
continuing his mission in the world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, our God, we pray for the earth . . .
Let all the earth make a joyful noise to you,
a song of praise to the rock of our salvation,
for you are coming to reveal a new creation.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, our God, we pray for all nations . . .
Drive out those wolves in sheep’s clothing
who abuse the weak and scatter the flock.
Come and save us; bring justice and peace. 
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, our God, we pray for this community . . .
Help us to see Christ among our neighbors,
serving those who are hungry and thirsty,
naked and lonely, sick or in prison.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, our God, we pray for loved ones . . .
Remember the people of your pasture:
rescue the lost, bind up the broken,
heal the sick, and feed those who hunger.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Loving shepherd, lead and guide us—
in green pastures and by still waters,
in right paths and through dark valleys,
until we feast with you in glory
and dwell in your house forever;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Psalm 23

— 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:
God of the harvest,
you are continually planting the seeds of your love
in our world and in our lives.
As we bring our gifts to you,
may they be seeds of your grace, peace, and hope,
planted deeply in our community. Amen.

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 a shepherd for your people—feeding them,
protecting them from danger, binding up their wounds,
searching for the lost and bringing them safely home.

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 is coming in glory to judge the world.
Those who have cared for the needs of the least
will be welcomed into his promised kingdom.
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.

Give us your Spirit of wisdom and revelation,
enlightening the eyes of our hearts,
so that we may live in faith, hope, and love.

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 you 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