WELCOME: –

Opening Words

Today in the church calendar is Christ the King Sunday.  It is the closing celebration that links us to the beginning, where we prepare in our hearts for the coming of God to dwell amongst us.  The season of Advent, which begins next Sunday, prepares us for Christmas.

The Peace

We greet and welcome each other with the words.

May we appreciate this time we spend together in worship.

Peace be with you

And also with you

We join together and say                                   

We have come here with different joys, sorrows,
longings and needs.
But we come as one to worship.
Let us truly worship – and learn from –
the one who is our King and Lord of all.

Let us stand and sing together the song TIS 133  AHB 67   O Worship The King

You alone are the matchless King,
To You alone be all majesty,
Your glories and wonders, what tongue can recite?
You breathe in the air, you shine in the light.

Prayer of Praise

Lord, we come to worship you, the firstborn of all creation.
For in you and for you, all things in Heaven and on Earth were created.
You are the head of the Church.

Speak to us today and draw us closer to you,
that we may be transformed by your power and love –
so unexpected… so amazing… so humbling.

May we give you first place in everything.
We worship you, our King and our Lord.

Speak to us today and draw us closer to you,
that we may be transformed by your power and love –
so unexpected… so amazing… so humbling.

Lord Jesus, King of kings, yet nailed to a cross;
Son of God, yet with time for criminals;
We offer you our lives, our successes and our failures,
our excuses and our honesty, our desire to change and our reluctance.

Speak to us today and draw us closer to you,
that we may be transformed by your power and love –
so unexpected… so amazing… so humbling.

 From Psalm 46  

 God is our shelter and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.

So we will not be afraid, even if the Earth is shaken
    and mountains fall into the ocean depths;
even if the seas roar and rage,
    and the hills are shaken by the violence.

 God is our shelter and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.

There is a river that brings joy to the city of God,
    to the sacred house of the Most High.
Come and see what the Lord has done.
    See what amazing things he has done on Earth.

 God is our shelter and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.

 “Be still,” he says, “and know that I am God,
    supreme among the nations,
    supreme over the world.”

God is our shelter and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.

We Sing The Song TIS 256 ‘From Heaven You Came Helpless Babe (Servant King)’

Introduction

On the cross, Jesus is mocked as a false Messiah by Jewish leaders, Roman soldiers and one of the criminals dying beside him.  He forgives those who are crucifying him and welcomes ‘the penitent thief’ into paradise.

It cost so much for Jesus to show us a new kind of kingdom, God’s Kingdom – a world in many ways turned upside down.  It was costly for his followers too.  We explore the implications of this for us today – the challenge of change and the cost of doing so.

And now we sit quietly and reflect on the words which make the connection to the announcement of the coming of Christ and what was to come.

Reflection:

Reflect on the thoughts expressed in this song: “Mary did you know?”

Remaining prayerful

Dear God, when we are reluctant to accept responsibility for our mistakes:
Forgive us.
When we expect others to dig us out of a hole of our making:
Forgive us.
When we are complacent and do little to change:
Forgive us.
When our life is only about us and not others:
Forgive us.
Forgive us and change us through your Son, Jesus,
in whose name we pray.
Amen.

 Our Assurance and Repsonse

 God of all,
your Son brought hope to a dying thief
and assured him of a place in your kingdom,
honouring his honesty.

Thank you for showing us that you meet us where we are,
drawing out the best from us even when we are at our worst.

Help us to change our thinking and our attitudes,
to acknowledge the cost of forgiveness,
and to give our all to you and those around us.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

We sing the song    TIS 670 ‘Jesus Put This Song Into Our Hearts’

Jesus Put This Song Into Our Hearts
Jesus Put This Song Into Our Hearts
It’s A Song Of Joy No One Can Take Away
Jesus Put This Song Into Our Hearts.

Jesus Taught Us How To Live In Harmony
Jesus Taught Us How To Live In Harmony
Different Faces, Different Races, He Made Us One
Jesus Taught Us How To Live In Harmony.

Jesus Taught Us How To Be A Family
Jesus Taught Us How To Be A Family
Loving One Another With The Love That He Gives
Jesus Taught Us How To Be A Family.

Jesus Turned Our Sorrow Into Dancing
Jesus Turned Our Sorrow Into Dancing
Changed Our Tears Of Sadness Into Rivers Of Joy
Jesus Turned Our Sorrow Into A Dance.

Sharing Time – Liz

Prayer For Illumination

Almighty God, in you are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Open our eyes that we may see the wonders of your Word;

and give us grace that we may hear with joy what you say to us today.

May we clearly understand and freely choose the way of your wisdom;

through Christ our Lord.                         Amen.

Scripture Readings

Jeremiah 23.5,6

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
    “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
    and do what is just and right in the land.

In his days Judah will be saved
    and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
    The Lord Our Righteous Saviour.

Colossians 1:15 – 20, 21- 23, 28.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all Creation.  For in him all things were created: things in Heaven and on Earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on Earth or things in Heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation – if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the Gospel.  This is the Gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under Heaven.

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

Luke 23.33-43

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left.  ³⁴ Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’  And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.  They said, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.’

The soldiers also came up and mocked him.  They offered him wine vinegar  ³⁷ and said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’

There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’

But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence?  ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.  But this man has done nothing wrong.’

Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’

Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’

Reader:                     This is the Gospel of our Lord.

All:                             Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, our King

Reader:         We have been drawn to Christ’s light,

And the way of the Gospel is open before us.

Lord may your Word live in our hearts.         

All:                 We journey together and learn to trust Christ.

We grow to believe in Christ and love Him

With all our hearts, souls, minds and strength.

And bear a plentiful harvest to your glory.

Message                 

The Kingship of Jesus as King is the glue that sticks people of faith together.

Right from the start – read about the account of Adam and Eve in the Garden that God had created – Mankind was called to live in relationship with God, to trust God, obey God and enjoy God’s company and protection as Creator and Lord of all.  But as typical people like you and me, Adam and Eve thought they knew better.  A lack of trust in God, sheer disobedience, and blame shifting led to the consequences we know as the Fall.

There is still that part of us in which we always think we can do better.

The idea of Kingship is mentioned early, way back in Deuteronomy 17.  Read 17:14 – 20.  The point is made clear.  Any King would depend on God’s Law for success as king.  Trust, obey, follow.

We see that same pattern when Moses went up the mountain to receive the Lord’s written commandments for the people before entering the land provided by God.  They thought they could do better.  Nothing seems to be happening, our fearless leader is not around, lets revert to life in Egypt, make a golden calf and worship that because nothing seems to be good about trusting this God Moses is on about.  The consequences were great, even as far as the time when the Israelites could not trust the Lord to be their guide and protector as they entered the promised land.  Even Moses through his lack of trust in God did not enter the land and enjoy life under God’s leadership.

Joshua became leader imploring the people of Israel to leave behind their Egyptian gods and serve the Lord with all faithfulness.  Joshua called on the people to make a choice.  “Choose today whom you will serve …..  but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”  (Joshua 24: 15)  And, even after warning the people that there would be dire consequences for those who rebelled and turned away, the people said to Joshua “No, we will serve the LORD.”

After Joshua, trust in God went downhill and the people turned away from the Lord and suffered greatly at the hands of enemy nations and tribes.  They cried out to the Lord to save them.  The Lord raised up Judges, who saved them out of the hands of their enemies, but when each judge died the people returned to their old ways becoming even more corrupt, following other gods and serving and worshipping them.  There existed for many years a cycle of – suffering under the hands of enemies. – crying out to the Lord for help – the Lord appointing a Judge to save them – (Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson), the people are rescued but when the judge died the people turned away for the Lord and so the cycle repeated itself.

 Until we read at the end of the book of Judges that “in those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.”

In the days of the final Judge, Samuel, despite the flaws and strengths and the obstinate ways of the people that Samuel leads, the Lord’s amazing grace shines to show His undying faithfulness to his people.

Then Israel asks for a King.

Samuel had become old and his sons, appointed as Judges, turned aside and did not follow the way of the Lord. 

They wanted a King just like the surrounding nations.  “Give us a King just like the others, a King to go out before us and fight our battles.  They have kings why shouldn’t we? We always think we can do better.”  (1 Samuel 8: 4 & 5) 

The Lord spoke to Samuel “the people have rejected me as their King, forsaking me and serving other gods.  Listen to them but solemnly warn them what a king who will reign over them will do.”  (1 Samuel 8: 10 – 18) 

But the people refused to listen to Samuel “No!” they said “We want a king to rule over us.”  (1 Samuel 8: 19) 

The Lord said “Listen to them and give them a king.”  (1 Samuel 8: 22) 

Saul a warrior king was anointed started well but failed to follow through.  (1 Samuel 15: 26) 

After a rocky start David followed Saul, an imperfect king but one after God’s own heart.  Show devotion and trust in God’s provision.  (2 Samuel 23: 1) 

Solomon a mighty king, granted wisdom as a special gift, found himself lost at sea with many treaties with other nations and a multiplicity of wives and concubines who led him away from his trust and faith in God.  (1 Kings 11: 3 & 4) 

Then the rot set in.  Subsequently, many kings did not follow the ways of the Lord, and many were absolutely evil.  A few were listed as doing right in the eyes of the Lord e.g. Hezekiah, who held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow him.  He kept the commands the Lord had given Moses.  And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook.  (2 Kings 18: 6 & 7) 

The many years of doing evil in the sight of the Lord ultimately led to the destruction of Israel and Judah.

Throughout this rather disastrous period the prophets called out the evil and pronounced impending judgement and the consequences of their evil ways.

But there was always the call to repentance and a return to living in a right relationship with God.  God had not deserted His people.

The prophetic messages also looked to the future when the Lord would send a king who would be the answer to a true calling of the meaning of Kingship.

A king who would be the high of heaven but a king amongst us.  The Messiah.  The Christ.  God with us.  The promised king.

He would be the shepherd king who shows how to live Godly lives and leads us to experience that the Kingdom of Heaven is not like how we envisage our earthly kingdoms. 

Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.  If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.  But now my kingdom is from another place.”

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king.  In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.  Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”  (Luke 23: 3 and John 18: 33 to 37) 

This kingdom that Jesus calls us into, it is costly; it is uncertain; it demands self- sacrifice; it leads us into a new way of understanding our relationship with the Lord and we come to place our trust in the Lord.

This is the kingdom we are invited to share, walking in the garden with the Lord.

Each Sunday, during worship we are encouraged to evaluate the challenges we face in our everyday lives as we engage a pluralistic ever-changing society.  Our songs we sing, creeds we say, prayers we offer, our confession we make, the forgiveness and assurance we receive, the reading of the written word, the message we receive, blessings pronounced and the conversations between us; equip us and encourage us as move beyond the gathered faith community.

My path each week is different to yours.  It takes me to different places and situations to yours.  We are all called to be God’s people; Jesus followers, laying aside our personal priorities seeking first the Kingdom of God and surprisingly, the rest will be added on.

The Lord calls us to honour, trust and obey Him and we must respond to that call.

John Harris, Senior Biblical Consultant for Bible Society Australia, writes:

‘That the Lord of light fills our whole beings with the Kingdom of God so that we may reflect His light into the darkness of the world.

The good news of the Kingdom of God must not be hidden.  If the Kingdom of God is within us, we radiate its life.  We, whose eyes see and reflect the Kingdom of God, have the promise : the light, which entered the world with Jesus, shines in the darkness and the evil forces of darkness can never overpower it.’

Bishop Desmond Tutu states that ‘Good is stronger than evil; love is stronger than hate; light is stronger than darkness; life is stronger than death.  And Victory is ours, through Him who loves us.’

The question becomes “How can ordinary people like you and me be God’s people shining the light under Christ the King’s rule?

As we move about each day, we find that my day is different to yours.  Our natural tendencies, gifts and talents take us into places and circumstances, so we are called to reflect God’s love, peace, hope and joy towards those we encounter along the way.

As we wake up to each new day, we acknowledge the Lord’s presence in our lives.  We commit that day to Him and acknowledge that the good times and the difficult and disappointing times are in the Lord’s hands, for what lies ahead each day is unknown.

1. We must be alert to the Holy Spirit’s prompting in practical, meaningful ways.
2. We must be encouragers and prepared to set aside our own agenda allowing the radiance of our Lord to shine into that space.
3. We must also be prepared to share those daily experiences with each other so that we can celebrate the good times, encourage the faint hearted and come alongside those who are hurting.

Leo Tolstoy wrote the story of Papa Panov, the village shoemaker who while reading the Christmas story in the old family bible fell asleep.  He dreamed that if Mary and Joseph had come by his little shop he would have found a place for them to stay, provided the shelter, nourishment and warmth that they needed.  As he was poor a gift seemed out of the question until he remembered the beautiful pair of tiny leather shoes and decided that he would give them away.

As he dreamed, Jesus spoke to him. “Papa Panov, you have been wishing that you could see me.  Look for me tomorrow.  It will be Christmas Day and I will visit you.  But look carefully, for I shall not tell you who I am.

Awakened to bells ringing out the joy of the day, Papa Panov waited, looking out the window, wondering what Jesus would be like.  A baby?  A grown man?  A great King?  God’s Son?

The road was deserted except for miserable, dirty the road sweeper. “Come in! Come in and have some hot coffee to keep out the cold!”

Papa Panov watched as the road sweeper warmed himself by the fire as he clasped the warm and comforting mug as he drank. 

When the road sweeper left Papa Panov put on his cabbage soup for dinner.

Looking out of his door he saw a young girl carrying a baby wrapped in a thin shawl.  “Won’t you come in?  You both need to warm by the fire a rest awhile”

Papa Panov warmed some milk for the baby and shared his soup with the young mother.  He looked at the cold feet of the baby and produced the shoes he’d been saving for the bay Jesus.

Throughout Christmas Day he shared his soup and bread with beggars who knocked on the door. 

But finally, at the end of the day, He retired wearily to his arm chair, disappointed that Jesus had not come.

As he reflected on the day, he saw the long stream of people who had come to him. The road sweeper, the young mother and the baby, the beggars.

He heard the voice, the voice of Jesus from the dream. “Didn’t you see me, Papa Panov?”

“I was hungry and you fed me.  I was cold and you warmed me.  I came to you in every one of those you helped and welcomed.”

Then all was quiet and still.  A great peace and happiness seemed to fill the room, overflowing Papa Panov’s heart until he wanted to burst out singing and dancing with joy.

“So he did come after all” was all that he said.

And now today we celebrate Christ as our King.

Our church calendar takes us back to the beginning when God breaks into this fractured world.

Look forward to his coming again.

Let us now raise our voices and sing the well-known hymn “Crown him with many Crowns. The Lord of life, the Lord of love and the Lord of years.

We sing the song  TIS 228          ‘Crown Him With Many Crowns’

 Offertory   

We bring our free will gifts to God.

Dedication

Christ of the Cross,
though we are undeserving, we praise you for your love;
though we are slow to understand, we praise you
for your patience;
though we are quick to defend ourselves at the expense of
others, we praise you for your grace.
Inspire us to look not only to our world,
but to your kingdom of love and freedom.
We praise and thank you for all that you have done and
continue to do for us.

For the wondrous gift of life, we are thankful, O God. 

Your generous outpouring of grace reminds us of the fruitful life we are called to bear.

May these gifts of time and labour, therefore, embody our desire to share and contribute to your coming reign among us.

Amen.

Prayers of The People

Loving God, knowing your love for all of Humanity, especially your compassion for the needy, we come to you with our cares and our concerns.

We pray for the Church, that we may cooperate in the ministry of Jesus in offering forgiveness and accepting suffering in being disciples each day.

We pray for the grace of forgiveness, that we may be moved to forgive all who have injured us and show concern and compassion for them.

We pray for greater integrity, that we may both speak and live the virtues that are planted deep within our hearts so that we may be authentic witnesses to your reign.

We pray for a transformation of our hearts, that through the Cross of Christ, our understandings of power, success, and glory may be changed and that we may place ourselves more fully in the service of you.

We pray for each of us, that we may live our lives fearlessly while recognizing that our goal is union with Christ in paradise.

We pray for Christian unity, that Christ will shepherd us into one family where we can work together to bring forth Christ’s reign and defeat the powers of darkness in society.

We pray for all leaders of the Christian community, that they may be both effective leaders and wise shepherds of your people.

We pray for the leaders of nations, that they may recognize the source of their authority and be guided by your wisdom in promoting justice and advancing the well-being of all members of society.

We pray for healing of our nation, that you will heal the divisions within our nation, guide us toward a greater respect for one another, and a renewed commitment to our common values.

We pray for all who are imprisoned, that the Holy Spirit will lead them to conversion and an inner change of heart and soul.

We pray for all who will be traveling this week, that you will guide them safely on their journeys and that their visits with family and friends will strengthen and renew them.

We pray for a renewed reverence for your Creation, that we may respect and care for all that you have created so that all of your people may be blessed by your handiwork.

We pray for all who struggle with life’s demands, particularly the poor, the homebound, and those with mental illness, that you will sustain them and touch the hearts of many to be compassionate friends.

We pray for all who are grieving, that they may know your presence with them and experience the love and compassion of others.

Copyright © 2022. Joe Milner. All rights reserved.<br> Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.  –  https://liturgy.slu.edu/

We pray for the peoples of East Timor, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

We are thankful for the vital witness of churches in this region, the diversity of ethnicities, and cultures, and especially those who have built bridges between them, for those who have resisted bravely and worked for human rights, justice, peace and reconciliation, especially the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and for those who protest exploitative mining, deforestation and other environmental damage.

We pray for governments in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Timor Leste, that they will eradicate corruption, establish justice and peace, and work effectively for the wellbeing of all their people; for victims of violence, torture, drug and human trafficking, and human rights violations, that those responsible might be held accountable; for those affected by earthquakes, tsunamis and other natural disasters, and for the rebuilding of communities afterwards; for ecumenical and interfaith cooperation to bring justice, peace and sustainability to these lands.

L: We begin our worship in the name of God the Father
C: who has chosen us to be the channels of blessings;
L: in the name of the Son,
C: who became one like us;
L: in the name of the Holy Spirit,
C: who has given us wisdom and strength.
L: Creator of the Cosmos, of eternity and time:
C: Be with us in this time.
L: Saviour of the world,
healer of the nations:
C: Be with us in this place.
L: Breath of all that lives,
of people near and far:
C: Be with us in our hearts.
L: Creator-Redeemer-Sustainer,
God of here and now:
C: Stir within our lives.
Amen.

(from WCC AGAPE meeting, closing prayer, 2012, Jakarta/Indonesia)

Lord, make us realize that our Christianity is like a rice field: when it is newly planted the paddies are prominent, but as the plants take root and grow taller, these divided paddies gradually vanish, and soon there appears only one vast continuous field.  So, give us roots that love, and help us grow in Christian fellowship and service, that your will be done in our lives, through our Saviour, your Son, Jesus Christ.

(From the Philippines. A Procession of Prayers: Meditations and Prayers from around the World, comp. John Carden, WCC and Cassell, London, UK, 1998, p. 174.)

Prayer in remembrance of the victims of the 2004 tsunami

Stay with us, Lord, in the devastating moment
when waters roll above our heads,
smashing trees, destroying houses,
flooding rice fields, swallowing cattle herds,
chasing people running to save their lives.

Stay with us, Lord, in the dark moments,
open our eyes that we may recognize you as the risen One,
who has defeated death and its sting;
who has come by water and blood;
who has been baptized with water by John;
who has changed water into wine;
who has calmed the stormy sea;
who has given living water;
who wipes away our tears.

Stay with us, Lord, in the uncertain moments.
With your Holy Spirit raise us from our hopelessness,
wipe away our disbelief and strengthen our faith,
so that our hearts will burn to proclaim your resurrection,
the water of life springing forth and bringing hope.

© 2005 Ester Pudjo Widiasih, Jakarta Theological Seminary, Jakarta, Indonesia.

East Timor (Timor Leste), Indonesia, Philippines | World Council of Churches (oikoumene.org)

We pray that all existing Scripture Union school chaplaincy programs will be funded for 2023 and beyond.  We pray for the Scripture Union run Young Adults Ningaloo Camp that starts Saturday 26^th November, that this would be a pivotal time for the Western Australian Young Adult community, and that all who attend would grow and be strengthened by you.

  (SU Prayer-Guide-November-2022-BRIS.pdf) 

We pray for the Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State School, that your Holy Spirit may be at work in the minds and hearts of the children who attend.  Please encourage Ian and those who lead the classes as they strive to present the Good News of the Gospel in interesting and attractive ways.

We pray for Kylie Conomos, the Chaplain at Bald Hills State School, that you will guide her as her interacts with the pupils and children at the School, that she will be aware of needs and of how to respond, that she is refreshed physically and spiritually so as to cope with what each day presents.

  We pray for the residents at PM Village, that they will find comfort and fulfillment during their time under care.  We pray for the staff, that they will have patience and compassion as they fulfill their roles and responsibilities for the residents.  We pray especially at this time when they have detected Covid among the residents.  Please bring a quick end to the illness among the residents so that they can recommence community meals and activities.

We pray for those who we have not seen for some time and who are unable to attend worship.  Please guide and comfort them in their particular circumstances.  May they be aware of your care for them as they meet what each new day brings.

Eternal God, you know our problems, and have promised that you will help us to solve them.  You know what we lack, and have promised to meet our needs.  Help us to depend upon you day by day and to call upon you when life gets hard.  Loving God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your compassion and care.  To your glory we pray.

Lord’s Prayer

 Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,

your Kingdom come,

your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil,

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

now and forever.  Amen.

We sing the song              SIS 409 ‘King Of Kings And Lord Of Lords’ (round)   

Benediction           

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you.  We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.  For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Lord, show us where and how we can serve you,
the king who serves and gives for us.
We pray that in our words and in our lives,
we will worship you.

Amen.

Blessing –

We are truly blessed with Jesus the Christ as our king.  And we go in confidence faith and joy.  May the blessing of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit remain with us always.  Amen.

We sing the Benediction Song             ‘Shalom To You Now’

Let us sing it to each other.

Shalom to you now, shalom, my friends.

May God’s full mercy bless you, my friends.

In all your living and through your loving,

Christ be your shalom, Christ be your shalom.

Going out song:

SIS 409 King of Kings