Monday, November 14, 2016

An Ordo for the Reign of Christ (RCL Proper 34C, 20 November 2016)

The Reign of Christ
20 November 2016

The Gathering of the Community

The Opening Hymn

‘Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness’  Common Praise #397

The All Saints Greeting

Blessed are you, Author of creation,
for all the saints who went before us,
who have spoken to our hearts and touched us with your fire.
Blessed are you for ever and ever.

Blessed are you, Word of redemption,
for all the saints who live beside us,
whose weaknesses and strengths are woven with our own.
Blessed are you for ever and ever.

Blessed are you, Spirit of wisdom,
for all the saints who live beyond us,
who challenge us to change the world with them.
Blessed are you for ever and ever.

Blessed are you, holy and undivided Trinity, one God.
Blessed are you for ever and ever.  Amen. [i]

The Hymn of Praise

‘Glory to God’  Common Praise #702

The Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

Holy God,
our refuge and strength,
you have redeemed your scattered children,
gathering them from all the corners of the earth
through your firstborn, Jesus the Christ,
in whom all things are held together.
Make us a just and righteous people,
worthy by grace to inherit
the kingdom of light and peace,
where he reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. [ii]

The Proclamation of the Word

The First Reading

A reading from the prophet Jeremiah (23.1-6).

         23.1 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord.  2 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.  3 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.  4 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.

         5 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.  6 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.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.

The Canticle

‘Blessed Be the God of Israel’  Common Praise #11 (sung to #508)

The Second Reading

A reading from the letter to the Colossians (1.11-20).

1.11 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 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.  13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

         15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 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.  17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  18 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.  19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 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.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.

The Hymn before the Gospel

‘Adoremus Te Jesu Christe’  Common Praise #338 (sung once in English)

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke (23.33-43).
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

23.33 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.  34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”  And they cast lots to divide his clothing.  35 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!”  36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

         39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah?  Save yourself and us!”  40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”  42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

The gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The Hymn after the Gospel

‘Adoremus Te Jesu Christe’  Common Praise #338 (sung once in English)

The Sermon

The Apostles’ Creed

Let us confess the faith of our baptism,
the faith we share with all the saints, past, present and future.

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 again 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. [iii]

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Thanksgivings and Petitions

The Exchange of the Peace

The peace of the Lord be with you all.
And also with you.

The Holy Communion

Offertory Hymn                    

‘Before the World Began’  Common Praise #321

Prayer over the Gifts

Let us pray.

Eternal God,
by your grace you have raised us up
and enthroned us with Christ in the heavenly realms.
Receive all we offer you this day,
and lead us in those good works
for which you have created us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.  Amen. [iv]

The Thanksgiving at the Table

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you,
almighty and merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus Christ. 
By the witness of the saints you show us the hope of our calling,
and strengthen us to run the race set before us,
so that we may delight in your mercy, and rejoice with them in glory. 
And so, with all the saints with the choirs of angels and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn: [v]

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. [vi]

Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father: 
Endless is your mercy and eternal your reign. 
You have filled all creation with light and life;
heaven and earth are full of your glory.

We praise you for the grace shown to your people in every age: 
the promise to Israel, the rescue from Egypt, the gift of the promised land,
the words of the prophets; and, at this end of all the ages,
the gift of your Son, who proclaimed the good news in word and deed
and was obedient to your will, even to giving his life.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread,
and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: 
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. 
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying: 
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. 
Do this for the remembrance of me.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup,
we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 
Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again.

Therefore, O God, with this bread and cup
we remember the life our Lord offered for us. 
And, believing the witness of his resurrection,
we await his coming in power
to share with us the great and promised feast. 
Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit,
so that we who share in Christ’s body and blood
may live to the praise of your glory
 and receive our inheritance with all your saints in light. 
Amen.  Come, Holy Spirit.

Join our prayers with those of your servants of every time and every place,
and unite them with the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest
until he comes as victorious Lord of all.

Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.  Amen. [vii]

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,

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. [viii]

The Breaking of the Bread

Creator of all,
you gave us golden fields of wheat,
whose many grains we have gathered
and made into this one bread.
So may your Church be gathered
from the ends of the earth
into your reign of justice and peace. [ix]

The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

The Communion of the Community

The Communion Hymn

‘With the Body That Was Broken’  Common Praise #75 (sung to #48)

The Sending Forth of the Community

Prayer after Communion

Let us pray.

God of unbroken weakness,
you scorn our lust for power.
Keep us faithful to Jesus Christ,
crucified and victorious,
in whose authority we dare to speak your truth,
even in the face of injustice and death.  Amen. [x]

Glory to God,
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine. 
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever.  Amen.

Closing Hymn      

‘When the King Shall Come Again’  Common Praise #109

Dismissal

With all the company of heaven above,
let us go forth in praise to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.



[i] Adapted by the Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett from Janet Morley, All Desires Known, 3rd ed. (2006), 148.

[ii] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion’ (2016), 146.

[iii] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 105.

[iv] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 394-395.

[v] Evangelical Lutheran Worship:  Leaders Desk Edition (2006), 193 alt.

[vi] Common Praise #689.

[vii] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 66 alt.

[viii] Voices United (1996) #959.

[ix] ‘The Breaking of Bread 3’ in The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 212 alt.

[x] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion’ (2016), 145.

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