Feast of Christ the King
Theme: He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son
COLLECT
Most High God, majestic and mighty, our beginning and our end:
rule in our hearts and guide us to be faithful, worshipping the One who comes as Saviour and Sovereign; and who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
READING Jeremiah 23: 1-6
5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares 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 dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’
READING Colossians 1: 11-20
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to 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 by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
GOSPEL according to Luke 23: 33-43
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[e] 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 in your kingdom.”
43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
PRAYER for Africa
God, refresh Africa and all the world,
Protect and grow our children.
Convict with justice and truth, all our leaders
And fill all hearts with your peace.
For Jesus Christ sake. Amen.
BENEDICTION & COMMISSIONING/SENDING
Go now, joyfully giving thanks to the one true King.
Prepare a pathway for the Lord;
endure everything with patience,
and teach people of salvation
through the forgiveness of sins
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