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The Festival of the Sovereignty of God's Beloved and Begotten One
November 27, 2022
A Liturgy for Worship and Meditation
CALL TO WORSHIP
God reigns as the Sovereign of all.
But, what does that really mean?
It is a foreign concept to us.
We have no earthly sovereign in this world.
So, what is being the Divine Sovereign like?
The Sovereign One is creator of everything good and beauitful,
the healer and caretaker of all creation,
and the perfection that one day will be true in all its fullness.
That being so, we are servants in th realm of the Sovereign One,
living to bring forth justice, peace, honesty, integrity, and truth.
May we be faithful as servants of God.
SONG FOR LISTENING—G.F. Händel—I Know That My Redeemer Liveth (Click Here)
OPENING PRAYER
Shepherd of Israel, hear our prayer,
as your Beloved and Only Begotten One heard the plea
of the criminal crucified with him.
Gather into Christ's holy reign
the broken, the sorrowing, and the sinner,
that all may know
wholeness, joy, and forgiveness. Amen.
SONG FOR LISTENING—G.F. Händel—For Unto Us a Son Is Given (Click Here)
PRAYER OF BROKENNESS
We confess, O God, that we sometimes prefer to live as if we are our own sovereign, free to do everything or anything. It is in those times that we close ourselvs off from you and one another. We live as if there is no need for justice or peace; that our actions have no consequence or needs for judgment. In such frivalous ways we harm others and ourselves. We thank you for your prsence and wisdom that calls us back to reality and reminds us of the wrong we are capable of and the effect our actions have on others and the world. As we own our wrongdoings, enter in and heal us, O God. Help us to live for the common good of all. And may that mercy and compassion you show us be known by all you have created. For the whole of your creation pines for your new creation and the world that is to come.
SONG FOR LISTENING—G.F. Händel—Comfort Ye (Click Here)
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Almighty God,
You rescue us from our enemies,
that we may serve you without fear.
Strengthen us,
that we may share in the inheritance of the saints
in your realm of light. Amen.
SONG FOR LISTENING—G.F. Händel—Every Valley (Click Here)
READING—Jeremiah 23:1-6
1 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep in my pasture!” declares YHWH.
2 “Thus says YHWH, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who are tending my people: You have scattered my flock and driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares YHWH
3 Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have dispersed them, and will bring them back to their own pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply.
4 I will also raise up shepherds who will look after them and pasture them. They will no longer be afraid or terrified nor will any be missing, declares YHWH.
5 Behold, the days are coming, declares YHWH, when I will raise up for the house of David a righteous branch who will reign as a true ruler and act wisely,
and do what is just and right in the land.
6 In those days, Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. This is the Name on which they will call:
‘YHWH, Our Justice.
—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.
SONG FOR LISTENING—G.F. Händel—Glory to God (Click Here)
PSALMODY RESPONSE—Psalm 23
1 YHWH, you are my shepherd—
I want nothing more.
2 You let me lie down in green meadows;
you lead me beside restful waters:
3 you refresh my soul. You guide me in the way of justice
for the sake of your Name.
4 Even if I’m surrounded by shadows of Death,
I fear no danger, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff—
they give me courage.
5 You spread a table for me
in the presence of my enemies,
and you anoint my head with oil—
my cup overflows!
6 Only goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in your house, YHWH,
for days without end.
—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.
READING—2 Samuel 5:1-5
1 All the tribes of Israel gathered at Hebron and said to David, “We are your own flesh and blood.
2 In the days when Saul ruled, it was you who led Israel on our military campaigns. And YHWH said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel and be our commander of Israel.’ ”
3 All the elders of Israel came to David at Hebron, and David made a pact with them before YHWH. Then they anointed David ruler of Israel.
4 David was thirty years old and his reign lasted for forty years.
5 He ruled in Hebron in Judah for seven-and-a-half years, and later reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible (p. 573). Sheed & Ward.
SONG FOR LISTENING—G.F. Händel—And the Glory of the Lord (Click Here)
RESPONSE IN PSALMODY—Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and our strength,
who from of old has helped us in our distress.
2 Therefore we fear nothing—
even if the earth should open up in front of us
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea,
3 even if the earth’s waters rage and foam
and the mountains tumble with its heaving.
4 There’s a river whose streams
gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
5 God is in its midst, it will never fall—
God will help it at daybreak.
6 Though nations are in turmoil and empires crumble,
God’s voice resounds, and it melts the earth.
7 YHWH Sabaoth is with us—
our stronghold is the God of Israel!
8 Come, see what YHWH has done—
God makes the earth bounteous!
9 God has put an end to war,
from one end of the earth to the other,
breaking bows, splintering spears,
and setting chariots on fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be exalted among the nations;
I will be exalted upon the earth.”
11 YHWH Sabaoth is with us—our stronghold is the God of Israel!
—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible (pp. 1307-1308). Sheed & Ward.
SONG FOR LISTENING—G.F. Händel—Rejoice (Click Here)
READING—Colossians 1:3-5, 9-20
3 We always give thanks to the Abba God of our Savior Jesus Christ whenever we pray for you,
4 ever since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love you show toward all the holy ones,
5 because of the hope stored up for you in heaven.
9 Therefore, since the day we heard about you, we’ve been praying for you unceasingly and asking that you attain the full knowledge of God’s will, in perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding.
10 Then you’ll lead a life worthy and pleasing to our God in every way. You’ll multiply good works of every sort and grow in the knowledge of God.
11 And by the might of God’s glory you’ll be endowed with the strength needed to stand fast and endure joyfully whatever may happen.
12 Thanks be to God for having made you worthy to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light!
13 God rescued us from the authority of darkness and brought us into the reign of Jesus, God’s Only Begotten.
14 And it is through Jesus that we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15 Christ is the image of the unseen God
and the firstborn of all creation,
16 for in Christ were created
all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and invisible,
Thrones, Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers—
all things were created through Christ and for
Christ.
17 Before anything was created, Christ existed,
and all things hold together in Christ.
18 The church is the body;
Christ is its head.
Christ is the Beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
and so Christ is first in every way.
19 God wanted all perfection to be found in Christ,
20 and all things to be reconciled to God through
Christ—
everything in heaven and everything on earth—
when Christ made peace
by dying on the cross.
—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.
SONG FOR LISTENING—G.F. Händel—Behold Iell You a Mystery (Click Here)
READING—Luke 1:68-79
68 “Blessed are you, the Most High God of Israel—
for you have visited and redeemed your people.
69 You have raised up a mighty savior for us
of the house of David,
70 as you promised through the mouths of your holy
ones,
the prophets of ancient times:
71 salvation from our enemies
and from the hands of all our foes.
72 You have shown mercy to our ancestors
by remembering the holy Covenant
you made with them,73 the oath you swore to Sarah and Abraham,
74 granting that we,
delivered from the hands of our enemies,
might serve you without fear,
75 in holiness and justice,
in your presence all our days.
76 And you, my child, will be called
the prophet of the Most High,
for you’ll go before our God
to prepare the way for the Promised One,
77 giving the people the knowledge of salvation
through forgiveness of their sins.
78 Such is the tender mercy of our God,
who from on high
will bring the Rising Sun to visit us,
79 to give light to those who live
in darkness and the shadow of death
and to guide our feet
into the way of peace.”
—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.
SONG FOR LISTENING—G.F. Händel—Behold a Women Shall Concieve (Click Here)
PRAYER OF RESPONSE
Holy God, our refuge and strength,
you have redeemed your scattered children,
gathering them from all the corners of the earth
through your firstborn, the Beloved and Only Begotten, the Anointed One,
in whom all things are held together.
Make of us a just and righteous people,
worthy by grace to inherit with the Christ
the realm of light and peace
where with you and the Holy Spirit are the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.
SONG FOR LISTENING—G.F. Händel—But Who May Abide the Day Of His Coming (Click Here)
INTERCESSORY PRAYER
As the shepherd who cares for the flock, O God,
you guide all things through Jesus
whom you have exalted over all creation as the Sovereign One.
Hear the prayers we offer in and with your Beloved who
cherished the creation and that you entrust to us.
☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩
For all gathered in your name, and those alone in your presence, that we may cooperate in the ministry of offering forgiveness and accepting one another as being disciples each day. . . O God, hear our prayer.
For the grace of forgiveness that we may be moved to forgive all who have injured us and come at last to show concern and compassion for them. . . O God, hear our prayer.
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 God’s reign. . . O God, hear our prayer.
For a transformation of our hearts that through your way, our understandings of power, success, and glory may be changed and that we may place ourselves more fully in your service. . . O God, hear our prayer.
For each of us that we may live our lives fearlessly while recognizing that our goal is union with God in paradise where all will feast at the open table of your banquet. . . O God, hear our prayer.
For unity among those who call upon that Chrit that Christ will shepherd us into one family where we can work together to bring forth justice, kindness, and peace and defeat the powers of darkness in society. . . O God, hear our prayer.
For all leaders of the community of faith that they may be both effective leaders and wise shepherds of God’s people. . . O God, hear our prayer.
For the leaders of our nation that they may recognize the source of their authority and be guided by God’s wisdom in promoting justice and advancing the well-being of all members of society. . . O God, hear our prayer.
For healing of our nation that God will heal the divisions within our nation, guide us toward a greater respect for one another, and a renewed commitment to our common values. . . O God, hear our prayer.
For all who are imprisoned, particularly those condemned to death, that the Spirit of God will lead them in rspectance to conversion and into your eternal paradise. . . O God, hear our prayer.
For all who will be traveling this week that God will guide them safely on their journeys and that their visits with family and friends will strengthen and renew them. . . O God, hear our prayer.
For a renewed reverence for God’s creation that we may respect and care for all that God has created so that all God’s people may be blessed by God’s handiwork. . . O God, hear our prayer.
For all who struggle with life’s demands, particularly the poor, the homebound, and those in depression and anxiety that God will sustainthem and touch the hearts of many to be compassionate friends. . . O God, hear our prayer.
For all who are grieving that they may know God’s presence with them and experience the love and compassion of others. . . O God, hear our prayer.
For all who are approaching death that they may entrust themselves into God’s loving embrace and be healed of all their wounds and brokenness. . . O God, hear our prayer.
For all who know the oppression of being a woman, a person of color, a member of thge LGBTQI community, and ostracized due to difference that thy may have safe places be themselves and that all people will honor the dignity of each person as a child of God. . . O God, hear our prayer.
☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩
Look upon your people who rejoice in your justice and mercy,
and grant that the prayers we make
may reveal Christ's reign in our time. Amen.
SONG FOR LISTENING—G.F. Händel—Behold the Lamb of God (Click Here)
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Our God, who like a parent loves and cares for us,
your dwelling is in heaven, yet your reach is boundless.
Most sacred is your Name.
Your realm come; your will be done, here and now as it is eternally within your heaven.
Give us each day what we need to live life in all its fullness.
Forgive us for thrat or harm against another, as we forgive them for the same.
Tempt us not but keep us from all that is against your realm.
For yours is the Kin-Dom, the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
—GLakeDylan
SONG FOR LISTENING—G.F. Händel—Hallelujah (Click Here)
GOING FORTH WITH BLESSING
You are in the reign of God, and the reign of God is in you. Go forth to share all that is part of that peace and justice. And may all come to the wholeness and wellbeing that is God's redemption and rconciliation. You are blessed. Be a blessing to all. Amen.
THE AMEN—G.F. Händel—Amen (Click Here)
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