Lectionary resources for Christ the King Year B

Lectionary - Christ the King (Ordinary 34 Year B)

2 Samuel 23:1-7 The last words of David
Psalm 132:1-12(13-18) O Lord remember in David's favour
or Psalm 93 The Lord is King, he is robed in majesty
Revelation 1:4b-8 To Christ be glory and dominion for forever and ever!
John 18:33-37 Pilate asked Jesus, 'Are you the King of the Jews?'

Suggested Hymns (From Denis Towner. TIS = Together in Song; AHB = Australian Hymn Book; SA = Sing Alleluia)

Hymns for Christ the King, Yr.B

lesson hymn TIS AHB SA

G All hail the power of Jesus' name 224 159

G All praise to thee my God, this night 558 [468]

E/G At the name of Jesus 231 170

E Christ is alive! let Christians sing 387 18

G Christ our King before creation 190

E/G Crown him with many crowns 228 163

O From heaven you came, helpless babe 256

s Give to our God immortal praise 84 43

Ps Glorious things of you are spoken 446 374

G God of grace and God of glory 611 543

G Hail our once-despised Jesus 373 295

O/Ps/G Hail to the Lord's anointed 275 203

E Jesus shall reign where'er the sun 207 136

E/G Let all mortal flesh keep silence 497 418

E Let all the world in every corner sing 105 13

O/E Lo he comes with clouds descending 273 201

G Lord enthroned in heavenly splendour 520 441

E Love divine all loves excelling 217 148

G My song is love unknown 341 257

G Nature with open volume stands 343 259

G O love how deep, how broad, how high 194 6

E Of the Father's love begotten 290 215

G Praise to the living God 102 7

E/G Rejoice the Lord is King 216 147

G The head that once was crowned with thorns 378 301

G The king of love my shepherd is 145 81

s The Lord is King with majesty enrobed 51 99

G The Son of God proclaim 528 84

O This is a day of new beginnings 653

E To God be the glory great things he has done 147 85

E When morning gilds the skies 227 151

G Ye choirs of new Jerusalem 279

E You servants of God, your Master proclaim 215 144

Other Possible Hymns

(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book and Sing Alleluia.)
SA 2 (TIS 390) Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord
SA 40 (TIS 99) God, we praise you, God, we bless you
19 The Lord is King, and like a king/ is clothed in majesty
64 The Lord is King, lift up thy voice
125 O Jesus, King most wonderful
144 (TIS 215) Ye servants of God, your master proclaim
183 (TIS 242) I danced in the morning
206 Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown
286 (TIS 12) Ye gates, lift up your heads on high
293 (TIS 371) God has gone up on high

Sermon summary (click here for complete sermon)

Do we need a king?

Today is the festival of Christ the King. When few people are actually ruled by a king I do wonder how relevant it to describe Jesus as King? John the Divine greets the seven churches of Asia by giving glory to Jesus who he called the ruler of the kings of the earth. (Revelation 1:4-6; and see 17:14;19:16). We sometimes sing of Jesus the King. Rejoice, the Lord is King; Or O Jesus, King most wonderful; or Jesus shall reign where'er the sun; or Crown him many crowns.

People used to see their king in his magnificent robes sitting on his throne with his courtiers around him, as an image of God the Creator (Psalms 93:1-2). In recent times people might be more likely to think of God as a faithful friend. Eg. the hymn This, this is the God we adore: our faithful unchangeable friend. Jesus who shows us what God is like, said to his disciples "You are my friends" (John 15:14, but added "if you do what I command you"; and the change in 15:15 was still significant (and see Matthew 19:11 and Luke 5:20). What an enormous privilege to know God and to be friends with him through our knowledge and love of Jesus!

The problem is that when power is added to it, love can be difficult. Besides the dimension of status and authority which might make people feel uneasy, we have a picture of Jesus in the Book of Revelation as an other worldly character. (Revelation 3:21). A modern hymn writer prefers to say "Not throned above, remotely high, but daily, in the midst of life; Christ is alive!" until he had reason to change it. The question is, are we justified in "cashing out" what we mean by the Kingship of Jesus in these earthly terms, or is there more to it? Consider Stephen's vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55-56), or Paul praise of the cosmic Christ (Ephesians 1:20-21). And see the struggle behind Pilate's question "Are the king of the Jews?" (See John 18:33-37). Jesus made it clear he had authority from elsewhere concerning the truth about God, and that is the basis on which he could command while humbly serving in love. So Paul praised him as the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15-17) above all authorities and powers and we still sing the Te Deum.

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Order of Service - Christ the King (Ordinary 34 Year B)

The Gathering of the People of God

CALL TO WORSHIP
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from Jesus Christ,
the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father,
to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

HYMN Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord TIS 390 SA 2

PRAYER OF ADORATION

Te Deum part 2
You, Christ are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.

When you took our flesh to set us free
you humbly chose the Virgin's womb.

You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God's right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come to be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,

and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.

CONFESSION
DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS

Hear then Christ's word of grace, 'Your sins are forgiven'
Thank you God

DOXOLOGY Hymn God, we praise you, God, we bless you TIS 99, SA 40 (verses 1 and 4)

WELCOME AND GREETING EACH OTHER

Service of the Word

INTRODUCTION OF THEME: Christ's authority as King
OLD TESTAMENT 2 Samuel 23:1-7 The last words of David
PSALM 93 The Lord is King, he is robed in majesty
EPISTLE Revelation 1:4b-8 To Christ be glory and dominion for forever and ever!
GOSPEL John 18:33-37 Pilate asked Jesus, 'Are you the King of the Jews?'

HYMN Ye gates, lift up your heads on high TIS 12, AHB 286 or Christ is alive. Let Christians sing. TIS 387

SERMON

HYMN Rejoice the Lord is King TIS 216, AHB147

OFFERING AND DEDICATION
SHARING TIME [Notices, celebrations, requests for intercessions]

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Father, we pray for the holy catholic Church;
that we all may be one.

Grant that every member of the church
may truly and humbly serve you;
that your name may be glorified by all people.

We pray for all ministers of the gospel;
that they may faithfully proclaim your Word
and administer your holy sacraments.

We pray for all who govern and hold authority
in the nations of the world;
that there may be justice and peace on the earth.

Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;
that our works may find favour in your sight.

Have compassion on those who suffer
from any grief or trouble;
that they may be delivered from their distress

We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
may we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.

Let us pray for our community
for the life and worship of this congregation
and for those whose needs are known to us.....

Let us pray for ourselves.....

COLLECT FOR THE DAY
Let us pray (that the kingdom of Christ may live in our hearts and come to our world): Father all-powerful, God of love, you have raised our Lord Jesus Christ from death to fife, resplendent in glory as King of creation. Open our hearts, free all the world to rejoice in his peace, to glory in his justice, to live in his love. Bring all people together in Jesus Christ your Son, whose kingdom is with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

The Sending Forth of the People of God

HYMN The head that once was crowned with thorns TIS 378, AHB 301
WORD OF MISSION
BLESSING
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.

	Hymns for Christ the King, Yr.B
lesson	hymn	TIS	AHB	SA
G	All hail the power of Jesus' name	224	159
G	All praise to thee my God, this night	558	[468]
E/G	At the name of Jesus	231	170
E	Christ is alive! let Christians sing	387		18
G	Christ our King before creation		190
E/G	Crown him with many crowns	228	163
O	From heaven you came, helpless babe	256
s	Give to our God immortal praise	84	43
Ps	Glorious things of you are spoken	446	374
G	God of grace and God of glory	611	543
G	Hail our once-despised Jesus	373	295
O/Ps/G	Hail to the Lord's anointed	275	203
E	Jesus shall reign where'er the sun	207	136
E/G	Let all mortal flesh keep silence	497	418
E	Let all the world in every corner sing	105	13
O/E	Lo he comes with clouds descending	273	201
G	Lord enthroned in heavenly splendour	520	441
E	Love divine all loves excelling	217	148
G	My song is love unknown	341	257
G	Nature with open volume stands	343	259
G	O love how deep, how broad, how high	194	6
E	Of the Father's love begotten	290	215
G	Praise to the living God	102	7
E/G	Rejoice the Lord is King	216	147
G	The head that once was crowned with thorns	378	301
G	The king of love my shepherd is	145	81
s	The Lord is King with majesty enrobed	51	99
G	The Son of God proclaim	528		84
O	This is a day of new beginnings	653
E	To God be the glory great things he has done	147	85
E	When morning gilds the skies	227	151
G	Ye choirs of new Jerusalem		279
E	You servants of God, your Master proclaim	215	144