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Intercessions for Christ the King – Year B – 22 November 2015 – series two

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Renata Sedmakova / Shutterstock.com

 

The 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.

¶ The Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Daniel 7.9-10,13-14

As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A thousand thousand served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him. The court sat in judgement, and the books were opened. As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One
and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

Psalm 93

Refrain: The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.
The Lord is king and has put on glorious apparel; * the Lord has put on his glory and girded himself with strength.
He has made the whole world so sure * that it cannot be moved.
Your throne has been established from of old; * you are from everlasting. R
The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; * the floods lift up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the thunder of many waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea, * the Lord on high is mightier.
Your testimonies are very sure; * holiness adorns your house, O Lord, for ever.
Refrain: The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.

Christ our King,
you put on the apparel of our nature
and raised us to your glory;
reign from your royal throne
above the chaos of this world,
that all may see the victory you have won
and trust in your salvation;
for your glory’s sake.

Second Reading: Revelation 1.4b-8

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, 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, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
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. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

 

Gospel Reading: John 18.33-37

Pilate asked Jesus, ‘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.’


The RSCM said (2009): ‘A Roman official in a far-flung part of the empire questions a prisoner who may or may not have delusions of grandeur. Betrayed by his own people, the man seems to speak in riddles. Is this the voice of a King? In prophecy and psalms, images of a heavenly throne and attendant beings abound. Heaven does not doubt the kingship of Jesus. On earth it is not quite so clear – now as then. Yet if we let him live in us, heaven’s presence will be evident here too.’

I have used up my allotted quota of extracts from Jane Williams ‘Lectionary Reflections’, but I do again recommend them as the best and most stimulating thoughts on the weekly readings. You are just in time to order her thoughts on Year C 🙂

Prayers of Intercession

Let us pray to the Lord, King of all things on earth and in heaven

 

¶The Church of Christ

Lord, we thank you for the glimpses of your heavenly kingdom which you share with us, both through your word and through your Holy Spirit. We thank you for the glimpses of the kingdom when we work for others, seeing the divine spark in those we live amongst. And we thank you for the glimpses of the kingdom when we pray alone in our rooms. Help us to remember both faith and works as we travel on our path towards you.

Lord, lead us as one into your everlasting kingdom: in your mercy, hear our prayer

 

¶Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

Creator God, woven as you are into the very fabric of the universe, committed to bringing harmony out of chaos, reassure us, we beseech you, with your presence in the midst of our perplexities and fears, enduring with us, and speaking the calm words of a deeper, and more lasting, peace.

Lord, lead us as one into your everlasting kingdom: in your mercy, hear our prayer

 

¶The local community

Lord, in our dealings with our neighbours, grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood as to understand; and to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Lord, lead us as one into your everlasting kingdom: in your mercy, hear our prayer

 

¶Those who suffer

Lord, we bring before you all those who are suffering, whether in body, mind or spirit.  May they know and believe that you are the help of the helpless and the hope of those without hope; you are the saviour of those tossed by tempests on the open sea, and the safe harbour of those who weary from their voyage and seek salvation on another shore.

Lord, lead us as one into your everlasting kingdom: in your mercy, hear our prayer

 

¶The communion of saints

Lord, we pray for those who have recently departed this life, especially those who are dear to us. Bestow your love and peace upon them and us,  receive us all into your heavenly kingdom, and make us children of light.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers…

 

Prayer after Communion

Stir up, O Lord,
the wills of your faithful people;
that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works,
may by you be plenteously rewarded;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Copyright acknowledgement (where not already indicated above): Some material included in this service is copyright: © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000 Introduction to the Peace (After All Saints’ to 1st of Adv.) © The Archbishops’ Council 2002 Post Communion (Christ the King) © The Crown/Cambridge University Press: The Book of Common Prayer (1662)

2 comments on this post:

lesley cunningham tssf said...
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dear Laura. I’m really sorry but I really didn’t like the above voice. Although a good vocalist ,there was no spirituality in it and really turned me away from my prayer focus

Lay Anglicana said...
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So sorry about that – I love this hymn, and the choice was between a choir and a solo voice. In the end I chose this solo voice because I thought people might sing along with it. Perhaps if you sang loud enough to drown her, that might help?! (I agree her voice is a bit sharp)

19 November 2015 10:44
19 November 2015 09:04

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