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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 132)

L: Rise up, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.
P: Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your faithful shout for joy.
L: For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation.
P: The LORD says: "There I will cause a horn to sprout up for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one."
L: Come, let us worship God in his sanctuary!

Call to Worship

L: Today, we celebrate the annointed One of the LORD.
P: He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
L: He came to us humbly on a donkey's back, now God has exalted him.
P: We proclaim a great joy to the world: "Let earth receive her King!"
L: Praise be to God for Jesus Christ! Come let us worship the King!  Let us crown him with many crowns!

 

Invocation

The grace of eternal God, the holy and living One, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you all.

And also with you.

Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things to your beloved Son, whom you anointed priest forever and king of all creation: Grant that all the people of the earth, now divided by the power of sin, may be united under the glorious and gentle rule of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer of Confession:

Dear Lord, we come to you humbly confessing our sins and shortcomings.  We confess that we have not treated you as the King of Kings; we have not followed you loyally, we have failed to further your kingdom on earth with all our heart and soul. We confess that we have wronged you and our neighbor.

Forgive us, we pray and free us to joyful service in your Kingdom; empower us to be faithful envoys of the almighty King in our neighborhood and community.

Word of Grace: The Scriptures tell us that as we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us all our trespasses; in the name of Christ we have been forgiven.  Amen.

 

Prayer of Intercession

In communion with all the saints, let us pray to God who is our eternal home.

Let us pray that the church would always lift high the cross from which Christ our king rules and reigns. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Let us pray that all people, nations, and languages would be brought into the peace of Christ's eternal dominion of love. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Let us pray that all who have been victims and all who have been mistreated by injustice would be comforted by the one who endured the shame of the cross. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Let us pray that this congregation would identify with the suffering, the sorrowing, and the sick of the community (especially). May we always seek avenues to reach out in tangible and loving ways. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Let us pray in thanksgiving for those who have died (especially), that we, with all your saints, will be brought one day to rejoice in your eternal kingdom, there to sing your praises for all eternity. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Your reign, O God, endures forever, and in Christ we are free to be your saints and servants. Hear our prayers for the sake of him who died and rose again, and lives with you in the company of all your saints in light. Amen

 

Prayer Based On All Scripture Lessons
by F. Schaefer

We thank you, O God, for the celebration of Christ our King.  David points us to your promise of His Eternal Reign. The Psalmist reminds us of the covenant of faithfulness you have established between us and Him.  John's Revelation offers us hope in Christ's reign begun in sacrificial love.  Pilate encounters the promised King and cannot quite grasp the truth of your Promise.

Help us in our journey of life that we might follow Jesus with confidence and courage; that we might proclaim to the world as King the One who said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life."  God of our future, God of our living hope, hear our prayers.  Amen.

Christ the King
A. Campbell Frazier, England, 20th Century

Almighty God, who gave your Son Jesus Christ a realm,
where all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him;
make us loyal follwoers of our living Lord,
that we may always hear his word
follow his teachings, and live in his Spirit;
And hasten the day when every knee shall bow
and every tongue confess that he is Lord
to your eternal glory. Amen.

 

Christ the King
from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God,
it is your will to restore all things to Christ,
whom you have anointed priest for ever and ruler of creation.
Grant that all the people of the earth,
now divided by the power of sin,
may be united under the glorious and gentle rule of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns forever.  Amen.

 

Closing Prayer

We bow out hearts in grateful adoration before you, Lord Jesus; you who bowed so low that you could reach out and lift us up to be with you forever.

Lord, we desire to overflow with endless praise and adoration to you for having called us, because we know that your calling is the highest calling in this life and eternity.

May we be found diligent in serving you and others; may our right hand not know what our left is doing; may we be found faithful until the day you summon us before your throne.

King Jesus, instill in us a deeper sense of wonder and awe, adoration and worship, humility and service as we more keenly perceive your presence among us.  Amen.