Sunday Worship 24 November 2024
Today’s service is led by the Revd Nicky Gilbert
Introduction
Welcome to this service for 24th of November the day for the traditional feast of Christ the King. I am Nicky Gilbert, a non-stipendiary Area Minister in the Wessex Synod on the south coast of England. As we near the season of Advent, we join together to think about Jesus as our king, and we worship him.
Call to Worship
The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.
Hymn Immortal Invisible
Walter C. Smith (1867) Public Domain BBC Songs of Praise
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all life thou givest, to both great and small;
in all life thou livest, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
and wither and perish but naught changeth thee.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all praise we would render, O help us to see
’tis only the splendour of light hideth thee.
Opening Prayers
Jesus our King; we come to honour you.
You have promised to meet with us.
You have called us to come, so here we are.
To listen to your heart, to look for your path,
to think about your truth, and to learn about your love.
King of our hearts meet with us here, wherever here is, Amen.
Reading St John 18: 33-37
Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Reading Psalm 132: 1-12
Lord, remember David and all his self-denial.
He swore an oath to the Lord,
he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
“I will not enter my house or go to my bed,
I will allow no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,
till I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
We heard it in Ephrathah, we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:
“Let us go to his dwelling place, let us worship at his footstool, saying,
‘Arise, Lord, and come to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;
may your faithful people sing for joy.’”
For the sake of your servant David, do not reject your anointed one.
The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath he will not revoke:
“One of your own descendants I will place on your throne.
If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them,
then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.”
Hymn We have a king who rides a donkey
Fred Kaan © 1968 Hope Publishing Company Sung by Andrea Maxson and Grimsby Minster’s Organist and Director of Music, Steven Maxson Printed and podcast in accordance to the terms of OneLicence # A-734713
We have a king who rides a donkey,
We have a king who rides a donkey,
We have a king who rides a donkey,
and his name is Jesus:
Jesus the king is risen
Jesus the king is risen
Jesus the king is risen
early in the morning.
Trees are waving a royal welcome
Trees are waving a royal welcome
Trees are waving a royal welcome
for the king called Jesus:
Jesus the king is risen
Jesus the king is risen
Jesus the king is risen
early in the morning.
We have a king who cares for people,
We have a king who cares for people,
We have a king who cares for people,
and his name is Jesus:
Jesus the king is risen
Jesus the king is risen
Jesus the king is risen
early in the morning.
A loaf and a cup upon the table,
A loaf and a cup upon the table,
A loaf and a cup upon the table,
bread-and-wine is Jesus:
Jesus the king is risen
Jesus the king is risen
Jesus the king is risen
early in the morning.
We have a king with a bowl and towel,
We have a king with a bowl and towel,
We have a king with a bowl and towel,
servant-king is Jesus:
Jesus the king is risen
Jesus the king is risen
Jesus the king is risen
early in the morning.
What shall we do with our life this morning?
What shall we do with our life this morning?
What shall we do with our life this morning?
Give it up in service!
Jesus the king is risen
Jesus the king is risen
Jesus the king is risen
early in the morning.
Sermon King Sized?
For those of us born in the last 70 years we have not been used to having a king. We had a queen and our understanding of royalty was coloured by that. The one who loved her animals and served her people and chose to align herself with refugee bears like Paddington rather than great rulers. It still feels little odd to sing God save our gracious king…. But Charles in now our king and he also chooses to align himself to the environment and work for a better future.
Kings, as I said, until now, were ideas that belonged in history books or fairy stories. King Henry VIII, fighting for religious reform/ freedom from Rome/ doing whatever he wanted depending on the season. King Canute trying to stop the waves as the tide came in. King Arthur and his round table and his brave knights fighting for good. Story kings who sent their sons on silly quests and locked their daughters in towers… King Midas who turned everything he touched to gold.
In Jesus’ time too kings were a mixed bunch, the Egyptian kings were Pharos, half divine. With power over the life and death of their subjects. The Romans had emperors who ruled over great empires with fear and power, absorbing one land after another. The Jews had puppet kings and rulers like Herod and Pilate who had no power without Roman support, as did the Roman ruled Britons when the Romans got here soon after. There were kings who took on legionary status, like king Solomon and king David who, although not a perfect person, was proclaimed as a great king.
Our psalm today was probably one of the ones that people sang on their way to the temple for special festivals, although it talks of David building God’s house it was his son, Solomon, who did build the first temple, using some of the preparations his father had made. Solomon too was legendary for his wisdom, people came from far and wide to hear him, even other rulers like the queen of Sheba.
So when we say that Jesus is king what do we mean? Many kings were thought of as great because they enlarged their people’s territory, like king David, but Jesus is a king without an earthly kingdom, no territory here at all. But Jesus, like king David, was shepherd for his people and protector and guide. Jesus did not build great temples although he did cause trouble in them from time to time. Arguing with his teachers, clearing out the money changers. Jesus, like Henry VIII, argued with the religious leaders of his day, seeking reform, but unlike Henry he didn’t just want his own way.
Canute was a foreign king, a Viking, who won the hearts of many of his subjects, he brought peace and stability to the land, he may have been showing his people that he could not turn the tide; only God can do that!
Jesus did not hold back the tide like Canute tried to do, but did still the storm, even the wind and waves obeyed him. He longs for peace for his people, but not necessarily stability!
Jesus sends his disciples on quests but not silly ones (not usually anyway!) ones that bring his love and kingdom closer. Taking the Good News of healing and acceptance, to the poor, the lost, the hungry. Jesus is not a king who locks anyone in a tower! Jesus was not half divine like the Pharos, but wholly divine and wholly human. Too much for our feeble minds to take in.
Jesus, like king Arthur, had his followers, who pledged to follow him and work for good, and a (not round) table of bread and wine to welcome us all. Jesus like our queen served his people to the very end. And aligned himself with the forgotten, the poor, the refugees, the outcasts. ( But not bears…)
Jesus’ reign never stops, his kingdom and kingship is forever. Unlike Midas, His treasure is not gold, but when he touches people they are changed. We are his treasure! He is no puppet king, he owes his power to no one, and no one falls outside his jurisdiction. Kings and queens still come and seek his wisdom. He is humble and compassionate and never sends his people where he will not go or eats while his people are hungry or turns his people away without noticing them.
So what does all this mean for us? We have a King who is not afraid, or too grand, or to busy, to walk among his people. We are his people, let us follow him as closely as we can. He is our forever king, and we are his people. Called to serve him in his kingdom now and later! Hooray for our King, Amen.
Hymn Be Thou My Vision
Ancient Irish, Attributed to St Patrick, Public Domain
sung by the choir and people of First Plymouth Church, Lincoln, Nebraska
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else but to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best thought, by day and or by night,
waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord;
Thou my soul’s shelter and Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor vain empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always;
Thou and Thou only first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.
High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys O bright heaven’s Sun.
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Prayers for the World and Lord’s Prayer
Gracious God; we pray for the world you love.
We pray for kings and queens
and prime ministers and presidents
and all earthly rulers.
The loyal and compassionate,
the trustworthy and honest,
the wise and the considerate.
Give them the strength to continue in wisdom.
We pray also for leaders who fall short of these high ideals,
for those who forget
who they are meant to be protecting and supporting,
give them ears to hear the voices of those they have power over
and hearts to listen in compassion.
We pray for those who make big decisions,
doctors and teachers, nurses and aid workers, parents and police.
Help them to listen to the needs of others.
We pray for all those who have to live with the decisions of others.
The powerless, the landless, and the disempowered.
We pray for our communities,
for less division and more cooperation,
less anger and more understanding.
We ask that you show us how to be the best neighbour that we can be.
We pray for our families for all the love we find there,
and for grace and forgiveness when things get hard.
We pray for ourselves,
you know when we fall short of being the best we can be,
you know when we find it hard to maintain our boundaries,
and when we fail in our compassion.
You know the things that keep us awake at night
and the things we look forward to.
Guide and protect us dear King.
Help us to be the good subjects of your Kingdom.
All these things we pray about with hope and trust,
in the name of Jeus who loves us and who left us these words,
Our Father…
Hymn The King of Love My Shepherd Is
H. W. Baker (1868) Sung by Chris Brunelle and used with his kind permission
The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never.
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow,
with gentle care he leads me;
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with heavenly food he feeds me.
Perverse and foolish, I have strayed,
but yet in love he sought me;
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.
And so through all the length of days,
your goodness fails me never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise
within your house forever.
Blessing
May God the father who loves you,
Jesus the King who reigns over you,
and God the spirit who empowers you,
be with you and those you love and pray for,
now and forever. Amen.