Crandall United Methodist Church

Worship Guide

November 24, 2024

Reign of Christ / Christ the King Sunday

Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World

ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE

Greetings:

Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

People: And also with you!

Special Music: “Hold On to Me” Meagan

Centering Words:

All human leaders will one day disappoint and fail us.

Divine kingship alone is faithful.

*Call to Worship:

Leader:    When leaders disappoint and fail us,

People:   turn to Christ, who is always faithful.

Leader:    When deceitful words appeal to our baser instincts,

People:   hearken to Christ and the clarion call of our better angels.

Leader:    When charlatans seek our allegiance,

People:   hold fast to Christ, our rightful Lord and King.

Leader:    Let us pray.

ALL: Sovereign God, you clothe your people in the garments of salvation, and you bless them with grace and peace. Open our eyes to the glory of your Son, who comes to rule with justice and reign with righteousness. Open our ears to the sound of his voice, and open our hearts to love as he loves, that we might shine like dew on the grass, and dwell in Christ’s peace. Amen.

Hymn: “Majesty, Worship His Majesty”

Majesty, worship his majesty;

unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise.

Majesty, kingdom authority,

flow from his throne unto his own; his anthem raise.

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus,

Magnify, come glorify  Christ Jesus, the King.

Majesty, worship his majesty,

Jesus who died, now glorified,

King of all Kings.

Majesty, worship his majesty;

unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise.

Majesty, kingdom authority,

flow from his throne unto his own; his anthem raise.

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus,

Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King.

Majesty, worship his majesty,

Jesus who died, now glorified,

King of all Kings.

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

Words of Assurance

God’s promise of faithful love to King David and his descendants is fulfilled through Christ.

Christ’ kingship is faithful, abounding in steadfast love.

Amen.

*New Testament Reading: Revelation 1:4-8

⁴ John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, ⁶ and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

⁷     Look! He is coming with the clouds;

every eye will see him,

even those who pierced him;

and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.

So it is to be. Amen.

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

WORD AND RESPONSE

Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”

Children’s Message: “King Me”

Hymn: “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”

Love divine, all loves excelling,

joy of heaven to earth come down;

fix in us thy humble dwelling;

all thy faithful mercies crown!

Jesus, thou art all compassion,

pure unbounded love Thou art;

visit us with thy salvation;

enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit,

into every troubled breast!

let us all in thee inherit;

let us find that second rest.

Take away our bent to sinning;

Alpha and Omega be;

end of faith, as its beginning,

set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver,

let us all thy life receive;

suddenly return and never,

never more thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing,

serve thee as thy hosts above,

pray and praise thee without ceasing,

glory in thy perfect love.

Finish, then, thy new creation;

pure and spotless let us be.

Let us see thy great salvation

perfectly restored in thee;

changed from glory into glory,

till in heaven we take our place,

till we cast our crowns before thee,

lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Sermon: “To Testify to the Truth”  John 18:33-37

³³ Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” ³⁵ Pilate 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?” ³⁶ Jesus 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.” ³⁷ Pilate 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.”

RESPONSE TO THE WORD 

Hymn: “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

look full in his wonderful face,

and the things of earth

will grow strangely dim,

in the light of his glory and grace.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

look full in his wonderful face,

and the things of earth

will grow strangely dim,

in the light of his glory and grace.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

look full in his wonderful face,

and the things of earth

will grow strangely dim,

in the light of his glory and grace.

And the things of earth

will grow strangely dim,

in the light of his glory and grace.

Psalter: Psalm 132:1-5,11-12

¹    O Lord, in David's favor remember all the hardships he endured;

²    how he swore to the Lord and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,

³    "I will not enter my house or get into my bed;

⁴    I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,

⁵    until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob"

¹¹   The Lord swore to David a sure oath and from it will not turn back:

    "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.

¹²   If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies which I shall teach them,

      their sons also for ever shall sit upon your throne."

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise him, all creatures here below;

praise him above, ye heavenly host;

praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen

Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns

   Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer   

SENDING FORTH

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

All hail the power of Jesus’ name!

Let angels prostrate fall;

Bring forth the royal diadem,

and crown him Lord of all.

Bring forth the royal diadem,

and crown him Lord of all.

Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,

ye ransomed from the fall,

hail him who saves you by his grace,

and crown him Lord of all.

Hail him who saves you by his grace,

and crown him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget

the wormwood and the gall,

go spread your trophies at his feet,

and crown him Lord of all.

Go spread your trophies at his feet,

and crown him Lord of all.

Let every kindred, every tribe

on this terrestrial ball,

to him all majesty ascribe,

and crown him Lord of all.

To him all majesty ascribe,

and crown him Lord of all.

Crown him, ye martyrs of your God,

who from his altar call;

extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod,

and crown him Lord of all.

Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod,

and crown him Lord of all.

O that with yonder sacred throng

we at his feet may fall!

We'll join the everlasting song,

and crown him Lord of all.

We'll join the everlasting song,

and crown him Lord of all.

Benediction

Hymn: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”  

I have decided to follow Jesus,

I have decided to follow Jesus,

I have decided to follow Jesus,

no turning back, no turning back.