Welcome
Below you will find prayers, songs, readings, and a message to help you experience worship. You can light a candle to remind yourself of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Whether you are alone or with others, we hope that you can feel each other’s presence, and the presence of God, as we find creative ways to worship together, even though we are not in the same building. One good thing about virtual worship is that if you really like a song, you can listen to it again! Do what you need to do to worship God wherever you are.
Christ the King Sunday
On this final Sunday of the church year our gospel is Jesus’ great story of judgment. In the end, the faithful are those who served Christ by ministering to those who are poor, hungry, naked, sick, or estranged. We worship on this day to celebrate the reign of Christ and his victory over death, yet we await the consummation of all things yet to come. Acknowledging Christ as our merciful ruler, we go forth that his reign may be known in our loving words and deeds.
announements & Call to Worship
(Click video to play)
Our call to worship is based on Matthew 16: 13-20.
Our help is in the name of the Lord our God, the Maker of heaven and earth, who comes to our aid in times of need, who gives us the courage to do what we know is right, who invites us to turn away from the influences of the world around us and confess Jesus alone as Saviour and Lord. This is our God! Let’s worship together.
Opening Song
Come and See
Come and see the glory of the Lord. Come behold the Lamb. Come and know the mercy of the King, bowing down before him.
Come and give thanks unto the Lord Come behold the Lamb. Come and sing the praises of the King, bowing down before him.
For he is Lord above the heavens, Lord in all the earth, Lord of all the angels, worthy to be served. Alleluia.
Prayer of the Day
Let us pray. O God of power and might, your Son shows us the way of service, and in him we inherit the riches of your grace. Give us the wisdom to know what is right and the strength to serve the world you have made, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Reading
Ephesians 1:15-23
(Click video to play)
15I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Children’s Moment
(Click video to play)
Gospel and Message
Matthew 25:31-46
(Click video to play)
[Jesus said to the disciples:] 31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family you did it to me.’ 41Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Hymn of the Day
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
(Click video to play)
The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never; I nothing lack if I am his and he is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul he leadeth and, where the verdant pastures grow, with food celestial feedeth.
Thou spreadst a table in my sight; thine unction grace bestoweth; and, oh, what transport of delight from thy pure chalice floweth!
And so, through all the length of days, thy goodness faileth never. Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise within thy house forever.
Apostles’ Creed
(Click video to play)
With the whole church, let us confess our faith.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers
(Click video to play)
Held together in one body by the Spirit of Christ, let us pray for the church and the world, and all who are in need.
Great God, we praise you for sustaining the church through another year of grace. Continue to shepherd your people with your tender care. Sustain the social ministries of the body of Christ, and increase ecumenical sharing of opportunities for ministry. Lord, hear our prayer.
Bring peace to every place where conflict rages. Be with the people of Armenia, Ethiopia, and Hong Kong. Bless the work of the United Nations and of agencies that promote the wellbeing of all peoples. Lord, hear our prayer.
Bring a peaceful conclusion to the American national elections. Bless all the newly elected officials with a love of concord and a desire for justice. Turn us away from historic prejudices, and show us your image in each of our neighbors. Lord, hear our prayer.
Visit American homes on Thanksgiving Day. When we are separated from loved ones, embrace us with your care. Keep gatherings safe. Even in our reduced celebrations, give us voices to offer thanks to you for your perpetual blessings. Lord, hear our prayer.
Show your loving power to all who are in need. Equip us to feed the hungry, to provide clean water for the thirsty, to welcome the stranger, to clothe the naked, to care for the sick, to visit the prisoners. We pray especially for those sick with the coronavirus and those who care for them in every capacity. Lord, hear our prayer.
We praise you for all the saints who have died in the faith. At the end of all things, bring us together with all the saints into your kingdom of joy. Lord, hear our prayer.
Receive our prayers, O triune God: God of glory, Lord Jesus Christ, and Spirit of wisdom, now and forever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
(Click video to play)
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Sending
(Click video to play)
The God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. The God of all grace ☩ bless you now and forever. Amen.
Go forth into the world to serve God with gladness; be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honor all people; love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Go in peace.
Share the good news.
Sending Song
Soon and Very Soon
(Click video to play)
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King,
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King,
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King.
Hallelujah hallelujah. We are going to see the King!
No more cryin’ there we are going to see the King,
No more cryin’ there we are going to see the King,
No more cryin’ there we are going to see the King.
Hallelujah hallelujah. We are going to see the King!
No more dyin’ there we are going to see the King,
No more dyin’ there we are going to see the King,
No more dyin’ there we are going to see the King,
Hallelujah hallelujah. We are going to see the King!
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King,
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King,
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King.
Hallelujah hallelujah. We are going to see the King!
Worship Assistants
Music: Lori
Message: Pastor Kristin
Readers: Renee, Paul
Children’s Moment: Pastor Kristin
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2005 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted and streamed by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS002432. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Hymns reprinted and streamed with permission. CCLI#1162147. Portions of the All Saints Liturgy adapted from Rev. Leslie Mamas, United Church of Christ
Sunday school material used with permission from Spirit & Truth Publishing. God’s Word @ Home: Family Faith Formation.
