The Festival of Christ the King
Editor’s Note:
It is fitting that this worship resource begin with a liturgy for the Festival of Christ the King (the final Sunday of the Church Year/ November 26,2000). As congregations move closer to Advent, Christmas, the end of a year, it is appropriate to begin this significant period in the church’s life with a liturgical focus on the centrality of Christ in our past, present, and future. This suggested liturgy frames the entire celebration cycle mentioned above. The design and use of such a liturgy can be the inaugural of the church’s millennial turning celebration culminating with the “Seven Days of Praise and Prayer.”

The Festival of Christ the King “is both the Last Sunday After Pentecost and the last Sunday of the Christian Year. It is not so much a climax in itself, however, as it is a transitional Sunday leading directly to Advent, the Christmas cycle, and the new Christian Year. People are already thinking about Christmas, and the observance of Christ the King can help them prepare by stressing the continuity between the celebration of kingship, or sovereignty, of Christ and the expectation of Christ’s coming again in sovereign glory which opens the Advent Season. We have more than a baby Jesus at Christmas; we have a sovereign Christ. ‘Joy to the world! The Lord is come: Let earth receive her King.’

“In preparing for the celebration of Christ the King it is important to study the Scripture readings. In a given year there will be the prefiguration of Christ’s rule in the Old Testament, a particular unfolding of the meaning of the messianic age in the Epistle and a portrayal of the paradox: Servant/King from the Gospel.

“White is the customary color for this day. Gold is also appropriate; even a little purple may be introduced, as the color of royalty and in anticipation of the coming transition into Advent. Symbols of royalty may be used—crown, orb, scepter—especially when they contain, or are combined with, a cross. Images of Christ as Pantocrator (ruler of all) are appropriate.” 15

 

THE FESTIVAL OF CHRIST THE KING
November 26, 2000
A Service of Word and Table
Roger C. Dowdy

Service of the Word

GATHERING

Festival music based on the hymn tunes for the day would be appropriate here. A procession with banners, candles and cross may be brought in during this music.

GREETING

     “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God,
     “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Blessing and honor and glory and might be unto the Lamb!
Worthy is Christ who has ransomed us by his blood
     from every tribe and tongue and nation,
     and made his people a kingdom, and priests to our God.
Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
     who was and is and is to come! Amen. 16

HYMNUMH
Rejoice, the Lord Is King715
alt., When Morning Gilds the Skies185

PRAYER

Almighty and everlasting God,
it is your will to restore all things to Christ,
     whom you have anointed priest for ever and ruler of creation.
Grant that all the people of the earth,
     now divided by the power of sin,
     may be united under the glorious and gentle rule of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. 17

[Appropriate celebratory music, choral/vocal or instrumental, may be used here and/or between the lessons.]

FIRST LESSON
Samuel 23:1-7

PSALMUMH
Psalm 132 p. 849

SECOND LESSON
Revelation 1:4b-8

HYMNUMH
(or Alleluia)Majesty, Worship His Majesty176
alt.: Alleluia, Alleluia186
alt.: Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow94

GOSPEL

John 18:33-37
The Gospel of our lord Jesus Christ;
Praise be to you, O Christ.

SERMON

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE [or PASTORAL PRAYER]

OFFERING

One or two stanzas of a Christ-centered hymn may be sung during he offering or at the presentation. If Holy Communion is not celebrated, the service concludes with a prayer of thanksgiving (see UMBOW #550-58), the Lord’s Prayer, and a dismissal with blessing. If Holy Communion is celebrated, the table is prepared during the offering and the service continues as follows...

Service of the Table

GREAT THANKSGIVING

Editor’s note: The reader is referred to a variety of resources for Prayers of Thanksgiving such as: “A Lyrical Prayer,” James F. White, from At the Lord’s Table (Nashville: Abingdon, 1980), p. 21; or UMBOW #70.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

BREAKING THE BREAD

COMMUNION

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Lord, your word and your sacrament
give us food and life.
May this gift of your Son
lead us to share his life for ever.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen. 18

HYMNUMH
Hail to the Lord’s Anointed203

DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING

May God who is, who was, and who is to come,
Bless you and keep you.
Amen.
May Jesus Christ,
The faithful witness and ruler of all nations,
Make his face to shine upon you.
Amen.
Go in the strong name of Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God! 19

Sources

  • Roger Dowdy, liturgy design.
  • Hoyt L. Hickman et al., The New Handbook for the Christian Year (Nashville: Abingdon, 1992).
  • The United Methodist Book of Worship (Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1992).
  • The United Methodist Hymnal (Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1989).
  • At the Lord’s Table (Nashville: Abingdon, 1980).

 

Other Worship & Study Resouce Articles:

| Christ the King | Advent/Christmas Liturgies |
| Watch Night Vespers & Vigil | Watch Night Owlah Service |

 

| Introduction | Preface | Contents | Copyright |
| Millennial Perspectives | Worship and Study Resources |
| Seven Days of Praise and Prayer | Group Bible Study |
| Hymns | Additional Liturgical Resources | Appendix |