Worship at Home
Worship for the Week Beginning 21st November 2021
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Sunday 21st November
Local Preacher Mary Winchcombe has prepared this week’s message
This short act of worship is for use from home. Please use this service whenever you like during the week.
Pause to settle yourself in God’s presence, knowing that other people are sharing in worship with you.
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Call to Worship
We come today to acknowledge Christ as King.
His throne is a cross, and he reigns from high heaven.
Beauty and holiness are the marks of his kingdom.
He is the face of God revealed in human form.
Let us keep our eyes fixed on him –
King Jesus – the Way, the Truth and the Life.
STF 354 Jesus is the name we honour
Jesus is the name we honour;
Jesus is the name we praise.
Majestic name above all other names,
the highest heaven and earth proclaim
that Jesus is our God.
We will glorify,
we will lift him high,
we will give him honour and praise.
We will glorify,
we will lift him high,
we will give him honour and praise.
Jesus is the name we worship;
Jesus is the name we trust.
He is the King above all other kings,
let all creation stand and sing
that Jesus is our God.
Jesus is the Father’s splendour;
Jesus is the Father’s joy.
He will return to reign in majesty,
and every eye at last shall see
that Jesus is our God.
Prayers
Lord Jesus Christ, King of Creation, alpha and omega, the beginning and end of all things, when you walked along the shores of Lake Galilee, and healed broken hearts, and touched lepers, and gave tax collectors and prostitute’s self-respect, your kingdom came near.
When you were betrayed, mocked, beaten, crucified, you revealed the kingdom of the Servant King – a kingdom not of this world.
Beyond all our imagining, there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and tears and death shall be no more, all people will see, all people will know that you are the Everlasting King.
Lord Jesus Christ, King of all creation, alpha and omega, the beginning and end of all things we worship you.
Amen
Bible Reading
Reflection:
Today is the last Sunday before Advent and the Sunday in which we celebrate Christ the King.
In our John reading Jesus has been arrested and is appearing before Pilate at his palace. The Jewish leaders were deeply threatened by Jesus – his popularity, his claims, his miracles and his whole life challenged them at every turn. They manoeuvred, lied and manipulated to get him out of the way.
Their position was more important to them than their integrity. And they have brought him before Pilate. A people pleaser, unwilling to risk his position by making an unpopular decision. He came so close to doing the right thing, but in the end buckled under the pressure. For both the Jewish leaders and Pilate their ‘kingdoms’ were about maintaining their status at any cost.
Both Pilate and Jesus were figures of immense power;
one appears to display all the trappings of power, while the other seems devoid of it. Pilate questions Jesus at his palace, no doubt surrounded by the guards he commands.
In contrast Jesus is under arrest and bound. He appears powerless.
It’s only when Jesus speaks that we see who has the real power, a power that comes from above. Unlike Pilate Jesus is the embodiment of how we should behave. Jesus is a king, but gives up all the trappings of kingship to become a servant of all. He shows us that real power resides with God and any authority we have should be used wisely and for the benefit of others.
His kingdom is one of love, compassion, justice and truth.
Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes. There are those that lead from the front with charisma and assurance. There are those that lead by force – either political or by judicial and military might or both -, and there are those whose leadership is more subtle, enabling others to achieve their potential, building up a united team.
The Christian gospel revolves around love, mercy, grace and unity. As Christians we need to listen for Christ’s voice in all we do; to look for ways in which to show Christ’s love to all.
In Christ we have the greatest king, the king of heaven and earth; the king of the past, the present and the times to come – and he loves each one of us, embraces us as part of his family. How great is that?!!
Prayers of Intercession
O God of mercy and of might,
we pray for the powerful and for the powerless.
May those who have authority and influence over others lead with integrity, compassion and wisdom in their decision-making.
We pray for those suffering from the abuse of power:
those made lonely, rejected;
those whose hearts are damaged, whose hopes are destroyed and who live in fear of those ‘above’ them.
We pray for all who suffer: for those laid low by illness, and those rendered helpless by poverty and disadvantage.
Lord, help us to stand by the powerless;
may we learn to use our influence for good
to promote justice and truth, to defend the weak;
we ask this in the name of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our King.
Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
Please use the version that you prefer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
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 for ever.
Amen.
Go Forth and Tell
Go forth and tell! O Church of God, awake!
God’s saving news to all the nations take.
Proclaim Christ Jesus, Savior Lord and King,
That all the world his worthy praise may sing.
Go forth and tell! God’s love embraces all;
He will in grace respond to all who call.
How shall they call if they have never heard
the gracious invitation of his word?
Go forth and tell where still the darkness lies;
in wealth or want, the sinner surely dies:
give us, O Lord, concern of heart and mind,
a love like yours which cares for all mankind.
Go forth and tell! The doors are open wide:
share God’s good gifts let no one be denied;
live out your life as Christ your Lord shall choose,
your ransomed powers for his sole glory use.
Go forth and tell! O church of God arise!
Go in the strength which Christ your Lord supplies;
Go till all nations His great name adore,
And serve Him, Lord and King forever more.
Blessing
Christ our King, as we go from this place, assure us of your presence with us
for we belong to you.
Help us to look for truth in all places,
to seek and listen to your voice,
and to use your power to serve.
Bring heaven to earth and reign in our lives. We pray in your name.
Amen.
Service prepared by Mary Winchcombe
Webpage: Paul Deakin