Safely through another year

Duty in one church kept me from “Christ the King” Sunday in another. So I have crafted this little compensatory devotional moment.

“Christ the King” Sunday is not among the Evangelical Feasts (that is, the liturgical calendar retained by the Continental Reformers because the events are strictly biblical). And there is hardly a Sunday in which it would not be appropriate to acknowledge Christ as King. Still, the Church in her wisdom has set aside parts of the year to be sure we don’t lose sight of important themes.

The liturgical calendar is built around the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and ministry of Jesus (which of course includes the sending of the Holy Spirit). This coming Sunday, December 1, starts that cycle of remembrance again, with the first Sunday of Advent. The Sunday prior to Advent 1 concludes the cycle by proclaiming, “Christ is King.”

Prayer (a hymn): Let all the world in every corner sing

Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!

     The heavens are not too high,

     Their praises may thither fly;

     The earth is not too low,

     Their praises there may grow.

Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!

     The church with psalms must shout,

     No door can keep them out;

     But above all, the heart

     Must bear the longest part.

Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!

(George Herbert)

Scripture: John 18:33-40 (click here to read)

Psalm 45 (click here to read)

Anthem: “In Thee is Gladness”

Scripture: Revelation 15:2-4

And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire — and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside a sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Hymn: “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”

Prayer: from the Book of Common Prayer (1979)

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.