Home worship for Christ the King Sunday
This Sunday’s home worship will be a bit different in that we are celebrating Jesus Christ as our King. Collected for your reflection and prayer purposes are the hymns and scriptures lifting Jesus up as our King.
Festival of Lessons and Hymns
Opening hymn- Crown Him with many crowns
1. Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne,
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,
and hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.
2. Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed o'er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save.
His glories now we sing, who died, and rose on high,
who died, eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.
3. Crown Him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways
from pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end, and round His pierced feet
fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.
4. Crown Him the Lord of love; behold His hands and side,
those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! For thou hast died for me;
Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.
Call to worship and opening prayer:
Dear people of God, on this Feast of Christ the King, let us hear and heed in Holy Scripture the story of God’s loving purpose from the time of our rebellion against Him until the glorious redemption brought to us by His holy Son, Jesus, and let us sing the praises of our deliverance with hymns and songs of praise.
But first, let us pray for the needs of the world, for peace and justice on earth, for the unity and mission of the church, especially in our country and in this city. Let us remember the poor and the helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed, the sick and those who mourn, the lonely and unloved, the aged and little children, as well as those who do not know and love the Lord Jesus Christ.
And let us now pray the words which Christ himself taught us, saying . . .
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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Advent of Jesus
Lesson 1: Isaiah 11:1-10
Hymn- Come, Thou Long expected Jesus
1. Come, Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art;
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
2. Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
by Thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Birth of Jesus
Lesson 2: Matthew 1:18-23
Hymn “What Child Is This”
1. What child is this who, laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?
Refrain:
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
haste, haste to bring Him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.
2. Why lies He in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.
(Refrain)
3. So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, come, peasant, king, to own Him;
the King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone Him.
(Refrain)
Epiphany of Jesus
Lesson 3: Matthew 2:1-12
Hymn Love Came Down at Christmas
1 Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign.
2 Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine;
Worship we our Jesus, but wherewith for sacred sign?
3 Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine;
Love to God and others, love for plea and gift and sign.
Childhood of Jesus
Lesson 4: Luke 2:41-52
Hymn “Fairest Lord Jesus” (“Beautiful Savior”)
1. Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O Thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, Thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.
2. Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands, robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer who makes the woeful heart to sing.
3. Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, and all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer than all the angels heaven can boast.
4. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be thine.
Baptism of Jesus
Lesson 5: Mark 1:9-11
Hymn - When Jesus Came to Jordan
When Jesus came to Jordan To be baptized by John,
He did not come for pardon, But as His Father's Son.
He came to share repentance With all who mourn their sins,
To speak the vital sentence With which good news begins.
He came to share temptation, Our utmost woe and loss,
For us and our salvation To die upon the cross.
So when the Dove descended On Him, the Son of Man,
The hidden years had ended, The age of grace began.
Come, Holy Spirit, aid us To keep the vows we make,
This very day invade us, And every bondage break.
Come, give our lives direction, The gift we covet most:
To share the resurrection That leads to Pentecost.
Temptation of Jesus
Lesson 6: Matthew 4:1-11
Hymn “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days”
1 Lord, who throughout these forty days for us did fast and pray,
Teach us to overcome our sins, and close by You to stay.
2 As You with satan did contend and did the vict’ry win,
O give us strength in You to fight, in you to conquer sin.
3 As You did hunger and did thirst, so teach us, gracious Lord,
To die to self, and only live by Your most holy word.
4 And through these days of penitence, and through Your passion-tide,
For evermore, in life and death, O Lord with us abide.
5 Abide with us that, when this life of suffering is past,
An Easter of unending joy we may attain at last!
Life and Ministry of Jesus
Lesson 7: Isaiah 61:1-4
Hymn - Lord of the Dance
1 I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
And I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth; At Bethlehem I had my birth.
Refrain:
Dance, then, wherever you may be; I am the Lord of the Dance, said, He,
I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be, and I’ll lead you all in the Dave, said He.
2 I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee, but they would not dance, and they wouldn’t follow Me.
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John; They came with Me and the dance went on.
Refrain:
3 I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame: The holy people said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped and they hung Me high, And they left me there on a cross to die.
Refrain:
4 I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black; It’s hard to dance with the devil on Your back.
They buried My body and they thought I’d gone; But I am the Dance and I still go on.
Refrain:
5 They cut Me down and I leapt up high; I am the life that’ll never, never die;
I’ll live in you if you’ll live in Me: I am the Lord of the Dance, said He.
Refrain:
Passion and Death of Jesus
Lesson 8: Luke 23:26-49
Hymn “Were You There”
1. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
2. Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
3. Were you there when they pierced Him in the side?
Were you there when they pierced Him in the side?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they pierced Him in the side?
4. Were you there when the sun refused to shine? Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
5. Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb? Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
*Resurrection of Jesus
Lesson 9: Luke 24:1-12
Hymn Up from the Grave
1 Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior, waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
Refrain:
Up from the grave He arose; with a mighty triumph o'er His foes;
He arose a victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
2. Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior, vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!
(Refrain)
3. Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior; He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!
(Refrain)
*Ascension of Jesus
Lesson 10: Luke 24:50-53
Hymn – All Praise Be Yours
1 All praise be Yours, for You, O King Divine, Your rightful glory freely did resign
That in our darkened hearts Your grace might shine. Alleluia!
2 You came to us in lowliness of thought; By You the outcast and the poor were sought,
And by Your death was God’s salvation wrought. Alleluia!
3 O Jesus, let Your mind within us be, for You were servant that we might be free
And humbly stooped to death on Calvary. Alleluia!
4 Therefore You are, by God’s eternal vow, most high exalted o’er all creatures now
And giv’n the name to which all knees shall bow. Alleluia!
5 Let ev’ry tongue confess with one accord in heav’n and earth that Jesus Christ is Lord,
And God the Father be by all adored. Alleluia!
*Commissioning of the Church
Lesson 11: Matthew 28:16-20
Hymn- Lord, You Give the Great Commission
1 Lord, You give the great commission: “Heal the sick and preach the word.”
Lest the church neglect its mission, and the gospel go unheard,
Help us witness to Your purpose with renewed integrity.
Refrain:
With the Spirit’s gifts empow’r us for the work of ministry:
2 Lord, You call us to Your service: “In my name, baptize and teach.”
That the world may trust Your promise, life abundant meant for each,
Give us all new fervor, draw us closer in community:
Refrain:
3 Lord, You make the common holy: “This My body, this My blood.”
Let us all, for earth’s true glory, daily lift life heavenward,
Asking that the world around us share Your children’s liberty:
Refrain:
4 Lord, You show us love’s true measure: “Father, what they do, forgive.”
Yet we hoard as private treasure all that You so freely give.
May Your care and mercy lead us to a just society:
Refrain:
5 Lord, You bless with words assuring: “I am with you to the end.”
Faith and hope and love restoring, may we serve as You intend
And, amid the cares that claim us, hold in mind eternity:
Refrain:
We close our time with the Lord today, with the hymn we began celebrating Jesus. Let this be the song of our heart always, always being ready to say His name and ready to bear witness to His love.
Closing Hymn - Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
1 Come Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art;
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
2. Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
by Thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Blessing: May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding come and rest upon you, in Jesus’ most glorious name.