November 23, 2025 – The Feast of the Reign of Christ

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At Grace, all are welcome, which means we affirm people of every age, race, language, nationality, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, ability, family structure, or economic, social, immigration, and marital status.

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Welcome to Grace UMC! We’re blessed by your presence for worship. Please register your attendance using the red attendance pads in the Sanctuary or the link above. If you are in-person and need an assisted listening device, they are available at the back of the Nave. Please ask an usher or greeter. During worship, we use three hymnals: The United Methodist Hymnal, The Faith We Sing, and Worship & Song.

 

+Please rise in body or spirit

 

Prelude – Anita Lockwood

 

Welcome – The Rev. Seth O’Kegley

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+Passing the Peace

May the peace of Christ be always with you all.

And also with you.​​

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+Opening Hymn – UMH 715

"Rejoice, the Lord is King"

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+Opening Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.​

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+Gloria

Glory to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God:

as it was in the beginning is now and forever,

Amen! Amen! Amen!

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First Lesson – Jeremiah 23:1-6 (CEB​)

Watch out, you shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture, declares the Lord. This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, proclaims about the shepherds who “tend to” my people: You are the ones who have scattered my flock and driven them away. You haven’t attended to their needs, so I will take revenge on you for the terrible things you have done to them, declares the Lord. I myself will gather the few remaining sheep from all the countries where I have driven them. I will bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply. I will place over them shepherds who care for them. Then they will no longer be afraid or dread harm, nor will any be missing, declares the Lord. The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up a righteous descendant from David’s line, and he will rule as a wise king. He will do what is just and right in the land. During his lifetime, Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And his name will be The Lord Is Our Righteousness.

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This is the Word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

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Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

who has come to set the chosen people free.

     The Lord has raised up for us 

     a might Savior from the house of David.

Through the holy prophets, God promised of old

to save us from our enemies,

from the hands of all who hate us;

     to show mercy to our forebears 

     and to remember the holy covenant.

This was the oath God swore to our father, Abraham:

     to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

     free to worship without fear,

     holy and righteous in the Lord’s sight,

     all the days of our life.  R.​

 

And you, child, shall be called 

the prophet of the Most High,

for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way.

     to give God’s people knowledge of salvation

     by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

     to shine on those who dwell in darkness

     and the shadow of death,

     and to guide our feet into the way of peace.   R.

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+Hymn of Preparation – UMH 157

"Jesus Shall Reign" vs. 1-3

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+Second Lesson – Luke 22:33-42

Peter responded, “Lord, I’m ready to go with you, both to prison and to death!” Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster won’t crow today before you have denied three times that you know me.” Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out without a wallet, bag, or sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you?” They said, “Nothing.” Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a wallet must take it, and likewise a bag. And those who don’t own a sword must sell their clothes and buy one. I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in relation to me: And he was counted among criminals. Indeed, what’s written about me is nearing completion.” They said to him, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He replied, “Enough of that!” Jesus left and made his way to the Mount of Olives, as was his custom, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived, he said to them, “Pray that you won’t give in to temptation.” He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed. He said, “Father, if it’s your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, not my will but your will must be done.”

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This is the Word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

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+Hymn of Preparation – UMH 157

"Jesus Shall Reign" vs. 4,5

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Sermon – The Rev. Seth O’Kegley

“Citizens of a Different Kingdom” Click here for text.​​

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Parish Announcements​​​​

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Offertory – Kingdom's Keyboards

“How Excellent Is Thy Name” by Julie Knowles

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Today’s loose coin offering is for Family Promise

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+Doxology – Lasst Uns Erfreuen 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia, alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts.

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts.

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit, Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia.

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Prayer of Confession

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.  For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

 

Silence for personal confession and assurance of pardon.

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Celebration of Holy Communion

In our United Methodist tradition The Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is a gift from our abundant God. This is not Grace’s table or the United Methodist Church’s table, but it is God’s table. All that we ask is that you love God, earnestly repent of your sin, and seek to live in peace together. There is a gluten free station for persons who need that. 

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The Lord be with you.   

And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.        

We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. 

It is right to give our thanks and praise. 

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It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God. You are the Ruler of all creation, Sovereign of heaven and earth, the One whose reign is justice, mercy, and peace. In love you made us for yourself, and when we wandered from your ways you did not abandon us. You spoke through prophets who longed for the day when all nations would stream toward your light, and all peoples would live in the peace of your dominion of love. 

 

In the fullness of time you sent Jesus Christ, the One in whom your reign is revealed. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. In him all things are held together. Through him you are gathering all things into unity and reconciling earth and heaven.

His throne is a cross, his crown is compassion, and his power is the power of self-giving love. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

 

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

 

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you raised him from the dead and seated him at your right hand, where he lives and reigns forever. By water and the Spirit you made us a new people, a royal priesthood, called to proclaim the mighty works of the One who brought us out of darkness into his marvelous light.

 

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

 

When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

 

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

 

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

 

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of 

bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, 

that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his 

blood.

 

By your Spirit, unite us with Christ who reigns over all powers and principalities, until every language confesses him Lord and every creature joins the hymn of praise. Strengthen us to embody the peace of his kingdom, to seek justice for the oppressed, to lift up the lowly, and to live as citizens of his everlasting dominion where mercy and truth meet and righteousness and peace kiss. Bring us to that heavenly banquet where all your saints feast with Christ in glory, and creation is restored under his gracious rule forever. 

 

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever. 

 

Amen.

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The Lord's Prayer

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, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. 

 

Giving of the Bread & Cup

 

Prayer after Communion

Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.​

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+Hymn of Discipleship – UMH 177

“He is Lord” sung twice

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+Benediction

 

+Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

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Postlude – Anita Lockwood

"March" by Henry Smart, arr. F.W. Asper

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Worship Leaders

The Rev. Seth O’Kegley, preaching

Robert Moore, liturgist

Anita Lockwood, Kingdom's Keyboards, musicians

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