Weedsport First Presbyterian Church

First Presbyterian Church of Weedsport

November 24, 2024

Reign of Christ

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Liturgist

POSTLUDE

CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive) Liturgist

Grace to you and peace from the one 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.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.

The whole earth is full of God’s glory.

HYMN #263 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

CALL TO CONFESSION Liturgist

Trusting in the power of God not only to fashion the world but to mend and refashion our hearts, let us say how it is with us.

OF CONFESSION (Unison) Liturgist

Holy One, we dare to call you Lord, but yield to you only fragments of our lives. You had nowhere to lay your head; we surround ourselves with comfort. We expect to serve you with what remains after we have indulged our desires. Forgive our greed, our lack of trust, our desire to pick the times and places we will respond to our call. In your abundant mercy teach us what it means to follow, even at the cost of our lives. Amen.

SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION MAY BE OFFERED

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS Liturgist

Beloved of God, the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting— it cannot be contained, but must be poured out. Believe this good news: in Jesus Christ, our sin is forgiven. Live as a people set free.

SPECIAL MUSIC

CHILDREN’S TIME (Children may leave to go to Sunday School.)

FOR ILLUMINATION (Unison) Liturgist

Spirit of truth, move now in ancient words and cluttered hearts that we might hear your voice and live, for we long to be glad servants of your hidden, holy reign. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING: 2 Samuel 23:1-7 Liturgist

1Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, son of Jesse, the oracle of the man whom God exalted, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the favorite of the Strong One of Israel: 2The spirit of the LORD speaks through me, his word is upon my tongue. 3The God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: One who rules over people justly, ruling in the fear of God, 4is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.

5Is not my house like this with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. Will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire? 6But the godless are all like thorns that are thrown away; for they cannot be picked up with the hand; 7to touch them one uses an iron bar or the shaft of a spear. And they are entirely consumed in fire on the spot.

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING: John 18:33-37 Rev. Brian Copeland

33Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"

35Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" 36Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here."

37Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?"

Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SERMON “Christ the King Sunday”

HYMN #446 Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken

LITANY FOR THE REIGN OF CHRIST (Respomsive)

Let the heavens be glad
and let the earth rejoice!