Add to Favourites | Email this Page | Print this Page Welcome to our Parish Website :: :: :: :: You Are Here: Home > Christ the King SITE MENU Home » Advent Sunday Christ the King Our Faith School and Group Visits 1899 Magazine Our Services Who's Who Tour of All Saints » Music at All Saints » All Saints Appeal All Saints Organ Appeal Parish Activities Baptisms & Weddings Guest Book Contact Us Find All Saints Bells of Santiago » Norton Mission Church Mumbles Memories » Gallery Search this Site Site Map Christ the King Service for Christ the King [Keep a moment of silence, calling to mind that, though we are unable to gather together, we share fellowship as a Church family as we offer this short act worship in our own homes] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Collect Eternal Father, whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord and King: keep the church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Reading: John 18: 33-37 A reading from the Gospel of St John. Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 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?” 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.” 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.” Reflection This week we are celebrating The Feast of Christ the King. But what is a king? We all know well the history of Henry VIII and what followed with some modern day ‘absolute’ monarchs having now succumbed to popularist revolution, as in France and Russia. Indeed, this feast of Christ the King was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as a way of shoring up the confidence of Christian Europe against the threats of revolution and atheism from Soviet Russia, and from the sceptics within. Today, it is fair to say, that kingship has lost much of its force as an image for power and glory. Does this then mean that much of the Bible has also lost its meaning? For again and again, God is depicted as a king of His people, indeed of the universe. The Bible teaches us that despite the appalling record of the kings of Israel, the ‘Almighty’ is to send his ‘Messiah’ who will vanquish all his enemies and bring ‘the whole created order to worship at his feet’, as prayed in today’s collect. And in this week’s Gospel reading our Lord is on trial before Pontius Pilate. Rome had been ruled by kings designed to prevent any tyrant taking control of the Roman Empire. Pilate was afraid that the ‘Christ’ or ‘Messiah’, the ‘anointed one’, was claiming to be Caesar’s rival. So, he asked Jesus, ‘are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus didn’t reply directly, He simply asked Pilate to define kingship. On earth there have been many types of king, from absolute monarchs and tyrants to those who serve their subjects and establish justice, reconciliation and peace. Jesus perplexed Pilate, so much so that he neglected to examine the meaning of kingship eventually declaring that there was no case against Jesus. We know the priests and Pharisees did not give up and finally Jesus was handed over; and we all know what happens next! As a king Jesus was someone who told the truth, in His challenging to help people flourish they felt uncomfortable in being asked to account for what they were doing. Many powerful people can’t tolerate too much truth and deceive and manipulate to get their own way, often at a great cost to others. Jesus was the sort of ruler who kept drawing His followers’ attention to ‘inconvenient truths’. He explained that if we go on behaving as we do, then, as now, we shall bring disaster on our own heads. He warns us against sin, not to be difficult, but because He knows how much harm sin can do to us all. In the interest of democracy, now that we have stripped our monarchs of all power and pay little heed to the teaching from the Bible, do we actually have more freedom than before? These days, politicians, leaders and those in trusted positions seem unaccountable to anyone and the words respect and discipline are viewed as old-fashioned. Respect has to be earned, with full transparency and no one above the law, and leaders and people in positions of power, authority and trust must be answerable to someone. Jesus was answerable as a king that told the truth, he wasn’t a ‘people pleaser’ or driven by power and self-interest, he acted in the interest of justice and the kingdom of God no matter the consequences for Himself. But has the whole triumphant story lost its power in the same way? I’ll leave that to your thoughts, just to say though that at best most of us are apathetic mainly because we choose to leave unfairness to others. Or maybe we don’t confront wrong doing and injustice because of how it will impact on our lives, needs and desires. The famous saying from Edmund Burke sums up well, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. Jesus came to the world to testify to the truth. His kingship is not about power but about truth and service. When we worship Him and sing to Him as our King we are celebrating the truth that comes from his lips and from his life. In earthly terms power is different to God’s power and in John’s Gospel it shines out so well, the glory lies not in a throne or sceptre, not in earthly monarchy, not in any kind of power. It lies in Jesus and His truth and no matter what position we find ourselves in on earth, ultimately, we are all answerable to God. The Bible teachings are as fitting today as they ever were. Prayers Blessed are you Lord God of the universe. All things are in your control and in your power for you are the Almighty. In the troubles and darkness of our world help us to know your presence and your love. We rejoice this day that Jesus is the King of kings and we give thanks that through Him we have the victory and triumph over all that would seek to defeat us. We pray that your Church may walk in confidence and courage trusting in you and your love. Blessed are you almighty and ever-loving God. May each of us seek to do your will. Lord, hear us... Lord, we look forward to the time when the kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of Christ the King. We remember all this day who are suffering from tyranny or despotic rulers. We pray for anyone who feels that their life is hopeless and beyond their control. Lord, bless all who strive to bring justice, freedom and joy to the peoples of the world. Lord, hear us... Lord, we give thanks that you are our guide and helper in life. Please bless our homes and our loved ones. May your kingdom be revealed and your Will be done in all that we do and say. We pray for those suffering in this world and we continue to pray for the churches of our Mumbles Ministry Area and our shared outreach to the people of this community. Lord, hear us... We rejoice, O Lord, in your saving power. We remember before you all who are ill and all who struggle to survive or who are oppressed in any way. We hold in your embrace all who witness to your love in the service of the needy; all who minister to the sick and dying; and all who bring light to those in darkness. We commend to your healing love those known to us who are ill. Lord, hear us... Lord, we put our trust in you and in the promise of the fullness of your kingdom. We remember all who have departed from this world and now at peace with you. We pray for loved ones who have died and remember those whose year’s mind falls at this time. Lord, hear us... Lord, remind us that your ways are not our ways, and your thoughts are not our thoughts and so fill us with awe and wonder, joy and thanksgiving, praise and worship, now and forevermore. Lord, hear us... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Prayer for those who are unable to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits you have given me, for all the pains and insults you have borne for me. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart. O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen. [after the Prayer of St Richard of Chichester] [Keep a moment of silence for spiritual communion with the Lord and with our brothers and sisters] O King enthroned on high, Thou comforter divine, Blest Spirit of all truth, be nigh And make us thine. Greek c 8th century Tr John Brownlie [1857-1925] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, evermore. Amen. Bible Readings: New Revised Standard Version [1989] - Word of the Lord: Church in Wales - The Canterbury Preacher’s Companion 2021 [Adapted] - Prayers of Intercession, David Adam 2012 [Adapted] - CCL Parish Copyright Licence: 753662 business website design