Sunday, November 22, 2015
Twenty-sixth Sunday After Pentecost
“Christ the King”
Rev. Michelle Townsend de López, Presiding & Preaching
Please put your cell phone on vibrate or turn it off before the service begins.
Introduction
Even after Israel had experienced the vagaries of kings, they still longed for a true king to set things right. He would have the king’s title of Anointed One (Messiah); he would be the “one like a human being” (Son of Man) given dominion in Daniel’s vision. Jesus is given these titles, even though he is nothing like an earthly king. His authority comes from the truth to which he bears witness, and those who recognize the truth voluntarily listen to him. We look forward to the day he is given dominion, knowing his victory will be the nonviolent victory of love.
The Elders serving today are Ed Carlson, Rochelle Jackson,
Lydia McCoy and Cynthia Mounger.
GATHERING SONG Cross Community Gospel Choir
CALL TO WORSHIP
E: Jesus calls us to open our hearts to all in need.
C: We come this day to hear his words of encouragement for us.
E: Look around you. Smile at each other for we all have need of friendship and
welcome.
All: With God’s great love in our hearts, we find our welcome in this place of
worship. Amen.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, whose name is majestic in all the earth, who rescues and heals in every time of trouble, who does all things well.
C: Amen.
P: Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God.
(Silence is kept for reflection.)
P: God our maker and redeemer,
C: we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. We come for refuge to your infinite mercy. You have given your only Son to die for us; have mercy on us, and for his sake, forgive us all our sin. By your Holy Spirit, increase in us true knowledge of you and your will, and true obedience to your word, that by your grace we may come to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
P: Almighty God has had mercy on us, and God’s only Son has been given to die for us, and for his sake God ☩ forgives us all our sin. Believing in Jesus’ name, you have received power to become the children of God; you have received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
GREETING
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: Sovereign Lord Jesus,
C: come into our hearts today and take your reign. Remind us that your kingdom is a kingdom of hope and light, in which there is no darkness, fear, or sadness. You have called us to be the Kingdom people, living our lives in the knowledge that peace, justice, and hope are not only possible, but can actually be the ruling factor of the world, for those who follow you. Help us to be the kind of disciples that welcome everyone with the words of kindness, that offer acts of mercy and peace to all in need, to proclaim Christ risen and glorified. Amen.
OPENING HYMN “I Just Came to Praise the Lord” #287, TFBF
FIRST READING Daniel 7:9-10
SECOND READING Revelation 1:4b-8
MUSICAL SELECTION Cross Community Gospel Choir
CHILDREN’S SERMON Chuck Ellingson
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Stand) “Open Our Eyes, Lord” #98, TFBF
GOSPEL John 18:33-37
In John’s gospel, the story of Jesus and Pilate presents two different ways of exercising power: through force or with love.
GOSPEL RESPONSE “Open Our Eyes, Lord” #98, TFBF
HOMILY
STEWARDSHIP PRESENTATION
HYMN OF THE DAy “Oh, How He Loves You and Me” #82, TFBF
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
PEACE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Offering and Preparation
offering
OFFERTORY HYMN (Stand “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” #276, TFBF
Offertory Prayer
E: Merciful God, as grains of wheat scattered upon the hills were gathered together to become one bread, so let your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom, for yours is the glory through Jesus Christ, now and forever.
C: Amen.
DIALOGUE
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
PREFACE
P: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and we lift our voices to say . . .
SANCTUS
C: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!
Words of Institution
P: You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful God. You are most holy, and great is the majesty of your glory. You so loved the world that you gave your only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life. We give you thanks for his coming into the world to fulfill for us your holy will and to accomplish all things for our salvation.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remem- brance of me.
For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
C: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
P: Remembering, therefore, his salutary command, his life-giving passion and death, his glorious resurrection and ascension, and the promise of his coming again, we give thanks to you, O Lord God Almighty, not as we ought but as we are able; we ask you mercifully to accept our praise and thanksgiving and with your Word and Holy Spirit to bless us, your servants, and these your own gifts of bread and wine, so that we and all who share in the body and blood of Christ may be filled with heavenly blessing and grace, and, receiving the forgiveness of sin, may be formed to live as your holy people and be given our inheritance with all your saints. To you, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory in your holy church, now and forever.
C: Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
INVITATION TO COMMUNION (Sit)
P: God gives food to those who hunger. Come, be fed, be healed.
holy Communion
(Gluten free Holy Communion wafers are available. Inform the minister when you step forward to receive Communion.)
HYMNS DURING DISTRIBUTION
“Leaning on the Everlasting Arm” #220, TFBF
“Blessed Assurance” #118, TFBF
post communion Prayer (Stand)
E: O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
Benediction
P: The love of God who created you, the mercy of + Jesus Christ who died for you, and the power of the Holy Spirit who strengthens you, keep you at one with all the faithful, living and departed, and remain with you now and forever.
C: Amen.
SENDING SONG “I Will Call Upon the Lord” #277, TFBF
P: Go in peace. Remember the poor.
C: Thanks be to God!
COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK
Clement Monday, November 23, 2015
Clement was the third bishop of Rome. He is best remembered for a letter he wrote to the congregation in Corinth, still struggling with the same problems that led to Paul's letters to them. As did Paul, he focused on the need for love among Christians.
Miguel Agustín Pro Monday, November 23, 2015
Pro grew up in a time when the Mexican revolutionaries accused the church of siding with the wealthy. He became a Jesuit priest, and worked on behalf of the poor and homeless. Falsely accused of throwing a bomb at a government official, he was executed, but not before crying out "Long live Christ the King!"
J. Falckner, J. Jones, W. Passavant Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Not only was Falckner the first Lutheran ordained in North America, but he published a catechism which was the first Lutheran book published on the continent. Jones was the Lutheran church's first African American pastor and carried out missionary work in Philadelphia which led to the formation there of the first African American Lutheran congregation (St. Paul's). William Passavant helped to establish hospitals and orphanages in a number of cities and was the first to introduce deaconesses to the work of hospitals in the United States.
Isaac Watts Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Thought by many to be the greatest hymnwriter in the English language, Watts as a youth was critical of the quality of the metrical psalter of the time. He wrote about 600 hymns—many based on the psalms, but others that are not.
Worship Sources: Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell, http://rev-o-lution.org, Sundays and Seasons v.20151006.2322
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Thank you for worshipping with us today. Please feel free to participate fully in today’s service. Join with us as we sing, pray, listen, respond, greet and encourage one another celebrating God’s extravagant love for all people in Jesus Christ. You are especially invited to the meal of our Lord at Holy Communion where Jesus meets us through the bread and wine, his body and blood.
If you have a pastoral emergency, please call Pastor Michelle at 414-434-9620.
Cross Church Office Hours: Monday– Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The office is closed on Fridays. Pastor Michelle is off on Fridays and will only answer calls if it is an emergency.
Bible Readings for Nov 29: First Lesson: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Gospel: Luke 21:25-36.
Announcements for the bulletin: Please turn all announcements for the bulletin in to the office by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Please email them to or leave a message on Sandy’s voicemail.
Upcoming November Birthdays
November 25 Jaxson Schroeder
November 25 Jalin Pegues
November 26 Donovan Farrington
November 27 Mahala Polk
November 28 Viola Lee
November 28 Tracy Harris
Upcoming November Anniversaries
November 28 Larry & Sharon Adams
You are invited to help decorate the sanctuary for Christmas on Saturday, November 28, at 9 a.m. All are welcome. If you have any questions, please contact Carla Brockman at 871-6784.
A N N O U N C E M E N T S
· There will be Sunday School/Adult Forum today.
· The Church Council meets tomorrow, Nov. 23, at 5:30 p.m.
· The Adult Center meets on Tues., Nov. 24, at 9:30 a.m.
· Bridges tutoring will not meet on Tuesday, Nov. 24.
· BOHEM ministry continues on Wed., Nov. 25, at 11:45 a.m. There will be a meal only. The food pantry and groups will not be open.
· Joint Thanksgiving service with Christ Presbyterian and Wauwatosa Presbyterian will be held at Cross with a meal at 6 p.m. followed y a service at 7 p.m. on Wed., Nov. 25.
· Bridges tutoring will not meet on Thurs., Nov. 26.
· Quilting Ministry will not meet on Sat., Nov. 28.
· Sanctuary decorating is planned for Sat., Nov. 28, at 9:00 a.m.
· Cross Youth Praise Team will not practice on Sat., Nov. 28.
· Cross Community Gospel Choir practices on Sat., Nov. 28, at 11 a.m.
· Cross Praise Choir practices on Sat., Nov. 28, at 12:30 p.m.
· Worship is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 29, at 9:30 a.m. Sunday School/Adult Forum will follow the service.
If you didn’t receive the November newsletter via email, feel free to take one from the narthex table.
If you have names of family or friends who should be taken off the prayer list, please let the church office know so that the names may be removed. Thank you.
Prayers of the People
Donneva Griffin - Granddaughter of June Torrence Richard Franklin - Cross member