Description
Colossians 1:13-2
As the church year draws to a close, we come together to proclaim the greatest truth of all: Jesus is King over all the heavens and the earth. Throughout the year we are continually reminded in worship and daily life that we have been brought into God’s family through Jesus Christ, that we are loved and cared for by Him, that we are very members of His body. So now, knowing and trusting in all that we have heard about Jesus as our personal savior, it is great to fully celebrate who He is: The King of the universe. We are perfectly loved by the person who controls and commands everything, even death itself. Praise be to Jesus – our King!
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]
Time of Praise and Worship
Sing To The King
Billy James Foote, ©2003 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Here Is Our King
David Crowder, ©2005 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Sixsteps Music (EMI Christian Music Publishing)
O Worship The King
Chris Tomlin, Johann Michael Haydn, & Robert Grant, ©2004 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
Come Thou Almighty King
BH 75 2; BH 91 247; CH 8; CHH 27; EH 365; ELW 408; HWC 26; HPW 3; HFG 341; HLC 4; HGP 53; HSP 11; LBW 522; LSB 905; LW 169; NCH 275; PH 139; RH 212; STTL 3; WC 5; UMH 61; WAR 148; WHM 3; WIS 21
O Worship The King
BH 75 30; BH 91 16; CH 104; CHH 17; EH 388; ELW 842; HWC 10; HPW 13; HFG 336; HLC 21; HGP 1; HSP 6; LBW 548; LSB 804; LW 458; NCH 26; PH 476; RH 5; STTL 64; WC 29; UMH 73; WAR 2; WHM 14; WIS 6
Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise
ELW 826; HS 98 867; LSB 680; WOV 801
Invocation
Deuteronomy 6:4
Pastor We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
ALL The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress!
Opening Prayer
Pastor Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Unviverse,
ALL We praise you King of Kings! You are our refuge and strength, you are our loving ruler, you are our friend. We pray that you would rule our hearts and minds this day. We want to praise you and enjoy this time with you without distraction or worry. Focus us on you and your majesty, for you are good and great! Amen!
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
Pastor We hear from Psalm 46:
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
We come before our King this day and realize that we have not lived as good citizens of His kingdom. We have directly spoken and acted against our loving King. Trusting in His perfect love for us, take time to acknowledge your sins before our King.
(A time of personal reflection and confession)
Jesus Christ, our King,
All We your servants have turned away from you. We have not acted as you ask us to. We have denied not only your majesty, but your very position as king. Yet we come to you this day knowing that you are a merciful king, full of love. Trusting in Your promises we ask you to have mercy on us.
Pastor “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
These words from our Epistle reading today remind us the love our King has for us. We have been saved by Jesus Christ, our King. We are in His perfect Kingdom even now! In the name of Jesus Christ, our King, and by His command to me, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
ALL Amen! The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Malachi 3:13-18
The Lord hears us. The problem for us though is that He hears and sees all that we do! Yet we who turn to Him and fear Him are preserved and made righteous in His sight.
Your words have been hard against me, says the LORD. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts? 15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.'” 16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. 17 “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
