Koonung Heights Uniting Church
Service of Worship at Home
Reign of Christ Sunday – 23 November 2025
10am or whenever possible
You may like to light a candle during your time of worship.
Feel free to text the Peace to other members of the congregation.
Introit: “Come as you are” – (TiS 693)
‘Come as you are: that’s how I want you. Come as you are; feel quite at home,
close to my heart, loved and forgiven. Come as you are: why stand alone?
‘Come as you are; that’s how I love you; come as you are, trust me again.
Nothing can change the love that I bear you; all will be well, just come as you are.’
Lighting the Christ Candle (Luke 1:79):
Christ is the light of life …
sent to shine upon those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Acknowledgement of Country:
This land is God’s land and God’s Spirit dwells here.
I acknowledge that we gather
on the unceded country of the Wurundjeri
WoiWurrung people of the Kulin nations.
I pay my respects their elders, past and present,
who have cared for this country for millennia.
We commit ourselves again
to the work of reconciliation
in these lands now called Australia.
Call to Worship (Jeremiah 23:5-6):
The days are surely coming, says the Lord,
when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,
and he shall reign as king and deal wisely
and shall execute justice
and righteousness in the land.
And this is the name by which he will be called:
“The Lord is our Righteousness”.
Let us worship God,
who reigns in justice and righteousness.
We Sing: “Lord of Creation” – (TiS 626)
Lord of creation, to you be all praise!
Most mighty your working, most wondrous your ways!
Your glory and might are beyond us to tell,
and yet in the heart of the humble you dwell.
Lord of all wisdom, I give you my mind:
rich truth that surpasses our knowledge to find,
what eye has not seen and what ear has not heard
is taught by your Spirit and shines from your word.
Lord of all being, I give you my all;
if I ever leave you I stumble and fall;
but, led in your service your word to obey
I’ll walk in your freedom to the end of the way.
Prayer of Praise, Thanksgiving and Confession:
Loving God,
you are Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer,
the Holy One who’s reign is beyond
our earthy understanding of power and politics.
Today we come in hope and joy to worship you.
You are the One who sits enthroned above heaven and earth,
yet you are also the One who calls us home to your hearth.
You are the One who breaks down prejudices and barriers to love,
and the One in whom we live and love and have our being.
We are blessed to know of your grace,
to understand a little of your wisdom,
and to gather in this community in your name.
In a quiet moment, let us consider
all the good things that come from you.
(Time of silence)
We thank you for all your good gifts to us,
particularly the gift of your Son Jesus, the Living Word.
Jesus said, ‘My kingdom does not belong to this world’,
and yet, we confess, that sometimes we still get seduced
by the values of empire: wealth and power and glory.
Loving God, you see us as we are,
knowing our secret battles, and all the ways
we fail to live out your call upon our lives.
Thank you that despite all of this you never give up on us
and that even in our brokenness,
you forgive and renew us again and again.
As we trust your forgiveness, teach us how to forgive one another.
Lead us forward into a new life where grudges and resentment have no part.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
Words of Assurance:
Friends, be free of shame , all is forgiven.
Be free of guilt, all is forgiven.
Be free of all burdens, for Christ brings new life.
Thanks be to God!
The Peace:
May the Peace of God dwell with you:
and also with you.
Time for All:
I wonder if you can see anything in common between Charles III, Elvis and Jesus? In my opinion they are all quite different but they are all sometimes called ‘King’. Charles III is King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms, including Australia. This follows a long tradition of English monarchy dating back to William 1 (the Conqueror) in 1066. Elvis is called the ‘King of Rock and Roll’ due to his revolutionary fusion of musical styles, immense popularity, and controversial, charismatic performance style that helped launch rock and roll into the mainstream. Jesus is called many things, like teacher and friend, and sometimes we also call him a King. All these kings are different!
Eleanor Farjeon was not a king. She was an English author who wrote a lot of children’s literature. As well as writing the words to Morning has broken, she wrote a poem about Bad King John who ruled from 1199 to 1216. Let me read it to you.
John, John, bad King John shamed the throne that he sat on;
Not a scruple, not a straw, cared this monarch for the law;
Promises he daily broke; none could trust a word he spoke;
So the Barons brought a Deed: down to rushy Runnymede,
Magno Carta was it hight, Charter of the People’s Right,
Framed and fashioned to correct Kings who act with disrespect –
And with stern and solemn air, pointing to the parchment there,
“Sign! Sign! Sign” they said, “Sign, King John, or resign instead!”
John, John, turning pale, ground his teeth and bit his nail;
Chewed his long moustache; and then ground and bit and chewed again.
“Plague upon the People!” he muttered, “What are they to me?
Plague upon the Barons, too!” (Here he had another chew,)
But the Barons, standing by, eyed him with a baleful eye;
Not a finger did they lift; not an eyelash did they shift;
but with one tremendous roar, even loader than before,
“Sign! Sign! Sign” they said, “Sign, King John, or resign instead!”
King John was not a good king – mainly because he didn’t care about the people. Jesus is a very different king to that. Jesus is kind and loving. During his life on earth he showed how much he cared for people. In fact he cared so much that he died for us, even though he was an innocent man. Jesus rose from the dead too, proving that he is even king over death. Jesus is the king over everything. That’s why we call him the King of kings!
We Sing: ”He is the King of kings” – (The Source 1244)
He is the King of kings, he is the Lord of lords;
his name is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
Oh, he is the King.
Bible Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6
– Restoration after Exile
1 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. 3 Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall no longer fear or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.
The Righteous Branch of David
5 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”
Bible Reading: Luke 23:33-43
33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Reflection:
Today is Reign of Christ Sunday, the final Sunday in the Liturgical year. You might have also heard it called Christ the King Sunday. Whatever name we choose to use, it is the Sunday that we remember the kingship of Christ and what that might mean. Christ the King Sunday first appeared in the church calendar in 1925, when Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast of Christ the King to remind Christians that their allegiance was to their spiritual ruler in heaven. This feast was instituted as a statement against the posturing leadership of Benito Mussolini, and as an opportunity for Christians to reaffirm that Christ is sovereign over all creation. In the light of what we see happening in the world, it seems appropriate that we have this day to think a little about what real leadership is.
The word ‘king’ has many connotations, including patriarchal ones with images of rule and power. These can be problematic and are part of the reason that today many churches name today Reign of Christ Sunday. Yet if we take a moment to look at Jesus, we come face to face with someone who seeks out the least in society. Jesus spends time eating with prostitutes and criminals, he welcomes those who are outsiders into his inner circle, and he invites everyone into the kin-dom of God. So then, if we call Jesus king, what type of a ‘king’ can we say this Jesus is? Let’s look to our readings for today which can help us answer this question.
Firstly we have the prophetic witness of Jeremiah. Against the multitude of cautions from God that Israel does not need a king, the prophet says that a king will appear, and that through the king, the people will be saved. Jeremiah claims that the king will be a descendent of David and the marks of that king will be the prospering of the community under a wise and just sovereign. This righteous king is contrasted to the leadership of the ‘shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep’. Their leadership of fear, and their destruction and division of the people, will not be tolerated. God says that they will be held to account.
In contrast to these leaders, Jeremiah speaks of the promise of the days which are coming. In these days God will act to bring a righteous king who will enable people to live in safety and flourish. The inference here is not just about physical safety, but about salvation. The saving of the people is not limited to the saving of individuals, but speaks to the well-being of all nations prospering under a universal peace.
When we look at the world around us we might wonder how this can be. Yet we love the idea of a kingly leader who will shepherd us into prosperity. Christianity picked up this prophecy of Jeremiah and understood that Jesus Christ was the fulfilment of this scripture.
In the gospel reading Luke invites us to be present and stand in the crowd as Jesus is crucified. Here we see Jesus’ kingship, but Jesus does not behave in the way that seems usual for a king. His power is not defined by strength, might or defeat of his enemies. His power is not defined by imperial tendencies to overthrow those who disagree, or by regal trappings of institutional power. The kingship of Christ is visible in the way that he speaks to the criminal crucified next to him and says: I am with you.
Luke paints a vivid picture of the crucifixion. The verbs he attributes to the crowd make it a scene of humanity at its worst. As well as the gathered crowd of people there are leaders, soldiers and fellow criminals who are all throwing accusations at Jesus. There is an irony in the scene too. As the soldiers mock Jesus, saying ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’, the sign above Jesus proclaims that he is, and shows what Christ’s kingship looks like. The assumption of those gathered is that if you could save yourself you would. This act of Jesus is to save, but not in the way that was expected.
Throughout his earthly ministry Jesus lives out his kingship in ways that we don’t expect – eating with tax collectors, keeping company with women and hanging out with all kinds of criminals. I think it might not be so surprising then, that while he hangs on the cross, one of the criminals next to him recognises in Jesus something that many people still fail to see. And even in the depth of his own suffering, Jesus invites the criminal into paradise. Jesus offers forgiveness even to those who crucify him. The one we claim as King, rules by forgiveness and gives those we might consider to be underserving, entrance into heaven. So then, what does it mean for us to call Jesus the king of kings?
We call Jesus by many names such as Christ, Teacher, Friend, Healer, Saviour, Messiah, Good Shepherd, Son of God and Emmanuel. All of these names, and more, come together and are neatly wrapped up into our proclamation of Jesus as Christ the King. When we choose to follow Jesus as King, we choose to live in to his kin-dom, the kingdom that is here and yet, is still arriving. To do this we need to live into our forgiveness which opens up pathways to peace and generosity. When we remember the forgiveness we have received, we can begin to extend that same grace, peace and generosity to others.
Living into the kin-dom values Jesus came to establish, means that we are called to love our neighbours and show hospitality – to those who are like us, those we don’t like, and those we don’t even know. As we begin to get ready for Christmas, there are opportunities within our own church community to show practical hospitality. One way might be to contribute to the hampers for residents at Elgar Home, or for those struggling families from Koonung Secondary College. Another option might be to invite someone who will be alone at Christmas to share a meal, or some fellowship over one of our Christmas services.
Today, as we join with the crowd and look again at the cross, may we be reminded of the graciousness and spaciousness of the one who is Christ the King. The king who laid aside his power, was betrayed by his friends, condemned by his religion and murdered by the state, and yet even with his dying breath, spoke words of forgiveness and love.
May we emulate our king by extending that love and mercy to others every chance we get.
Amen.
We Sing: “Power of your love” – (TiS 685)
Lord, I come to you: let my heart be changed, renewed,
flowing from the grace that I found in you.
And, Lord, I’ve come to know the weaknesses I see in me
will be stripped away by the power of your love.
Hold me close, let your love surround me; bring me near, draw me to your side:
and as I wait I’ll rise up like the eagle, and I will soar with you:
your Spirit leads me on in the power of your love.
Lord, unveil my eyes, let me see you face to face,
the knowledge of your love as you live in me.
Lord, renew my mind as your will unfolds in my life,
in living every day in the power of your love.
Hold me close …
Prayer for Others (prepared by Paul Tonson):
Let us pray …
With fond memories we recall the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
• We pray that the legacy we leave in our own domain will be as admirable.
We acknowledge those spaces in family, community and work where we have individual influence.
• May we know how to reign without ruling and to elicit responsible actions from others.
We pray for the reign over this congregation of our minister and new councillors.
• May they treasure their diversity and be led by the Spirit in all matters they resolve.
We honour the reign of all members of Presbyteries, Synods and Assembly.
• May they serve the world, not just religion. May they speak truth to power.
We pray for Pope Leo and his reign over Catholics across the world,
• May his scholarship his music and his gracious spirit help to transform his church and the world.
With Jeremiah we say Woe to the shepherds of countries and groups making war.
• Woe to businesses here and abroad making profits from armaments.
We pray earnestly that the rule of law will survive all assaults by the power-hungry.
• May the reign of our mainstream and minor politicians in cooperation ensure the best policies are adopted, not just the easiest ones.
This day we recognise the pain and suffering that Jesus accepted reluctantly to fulfil the purpose of his life and to set free extravagant, redeeming love.
• May we be willingly to bear our pain or the pain of others so that love is set free and peace will reign all around us.
Our heavenly Father, may your presence be honoured by all.
May Jesus’ vision of the kingdom of heaven become real on earth.
May we have just what we need for today.
May we know forgiveness for ourselves
just as we are wholeheartedly forgiving to others.
Sustain us through all that is a trial
and guide us away from all that is evil.
For the kingdom and the reign and the praise are yours forever,
Amen.
We Sing: “Lord of the Dance” – (TiS 242)
I danced in the morning
when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon
and the stars and the sun;
and I came down from heaven
and I danced on the earth,
at Bethlehem I had my birth:
Dance then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he;
and I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,
and I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.
I danced for the scribe and the pharisee,
but they would not dance and they wouldn’t follow me.
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John,
they came with me and the dance went on:
Dance then …
I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame:
the holy people said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me high,
and they left me there on a cross to die:
Dance then …
I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black;
it’s hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body and they thought I’d gone;
but I am the dance and I still go on:
Dance then …
They cut me down and I leap up high,
I am the life that’ll never, never die;
I’ll live in you as you live in me:
I am the Lord of the dance, said he:
Dance then …
Blessing and Sending:
As we go from this place, may we know
the God of light and love reigns supreme.
May the power of God’s love be in our hearts
and reflected in our lives.
May we build up one another in peace and love,
and may we have confidence that God’s truth
and love will prevail.
The blessing of God the Creator,
Christ the King, and the liberating Spirit,
be with you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Thanks to all those who have assisted in preparation for this liturgy with encouragement, prayers and conversation. I have also utilised the following resources: The Fig Tree Worship, Billabong Worship Resources, By The Well Podcast and A Sermon for Every Sunday.