Christ the King Nov 20

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. O God, our true life,

to serve you is freedom,

and to know you is unending joy.

We worship you,

we glorify you,

we give thanks to you for your great glory.

Abide with us,

reign in us,

and make this world into a fit habitation for your divine majesty,

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

GATHERING SONG “Jesus Shall Reign” #434

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,

whose name is majestic in all the earth,

who rescues and heals in every time of trouble,

who does all things well. Amen.

Let us come before God, seeking forgiveness and life.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Steadfast and saving God,

have mercy on us.

We confess to you all the ways

we turn from you and harm one another.

In your compassion,

forgive our sins and heal our hurts.

Bring forth from us a harvest of righteousness,

the fruits of gentleness and peacemaking,

the sheaves of wisdom and justice;

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

In the name of ☩ Jesus, the Son of God, receive mercy and find grace in your time of need.

Your transgressions are forgiven; God’s love is healing balm for your wounds.

Rejoice, for God raises you up to new life in Christ. Amen.

THE FIRST LESSON: Jeremiah 23:1-6

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the LORD. The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness."

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

PSALM 46

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved,

and though the mountains shake in the depths of the sea;

though its waters rage and foam, and though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the

Most High.

God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be shaken; God shall help it at the break of day.

The nations rage, and the kingdoms shake; God speaks, and the earth melts away.

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Come now, regard the works of the LORD, what desolations God has brought upon the

earth;

behold the one who makes war to cease in all the world;

who breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire.

"Be still, then, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth."

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

THE SECOND LESSON: Colossians 1:11-20

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers–all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: Luke 23:33-43

The holy gospel according to St. Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON “Remember” Pastor Phil Wold

HYMN OF THE DAY “All Creatures of Our God and King” #835

THE APOSTLES CREED

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 OF INTERCESSION

THE SIGN OF PEACE IS SHARED

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

THE OFFERING AND OFFERING PRAYER

Let us pray. Risen Christ, receive these gifts, with our hopes, dreams, and prayers. Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread, that our eyes may be opened to see your presence among us, and our lives filled with the new life of your resurrection. Amen

THE LORD'S PRAYER

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, and the power, and the glory,

forever and ever. AMEN

BLESSING

SENDING SONG “Crown Him with Many Crowns” #855

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.

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.