Sundays at All Hallows (November 23, 2025)

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows

This Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King. It is a recent addition to the liturgical calendar and is observed in the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Churches and some Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist churches. It celebrates the reign of Christ as the Lord of all creation, not just Lord of the Church but also every human being and every living thing on earth.

This Sunday’s service follows the structure of the service for a Service of the Word outlined in the Church of Ireland’s The Book of Common Prayer (2004). The Service of the Word is a form of service found in a number of more recent Anglican and Lutheran service books.

The topic of this Sunday’s message is the kingship of Christ.

GATHERED IN GOD’S NAME

Open this link to hear Carol McClure’s arrangement of Dave Bolton’s JESUS, HOW LOVELY YOU ARE for harp.

The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.

Through Christ, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13:15

Open this link in a new tab to hear Alanna Glover and Jamie Dallimore’ arrangement of Matthew Bridges and Godfrey Thring’s “Crowns Him with Many Crowns.”

Verse 1
Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own
Awake my soul and sing of him who died for thee
And hail him as thy matchless King through all eternity

Verse 2
Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed o'er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save
His glories now we sing, who died and rose on high
Who died eternal life to bring and lives that death may die

Verse 3
Crown him the Lord of love, behold his hands and side
Those wounds yet visible above in beauty glorified
All hail, Redeemer hail! For thou hast died for me
Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity

Refrain
Crown him with many crowns, the Lord be glorified!
Crown him with many crowns, the Lord be glorified!
Crown him with many crowns, the Lord be glorified!
Crown him with many crowns, the Lord be glorified!

Let us confess our sins to God our Father.

Silence

Heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault;
by what we have done
and by what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name. Amen.

Merciful Lord,
grant to your faithful people pardon and peace,
that we may be cleansed from all our sins,
and serve you with a quiet mind;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear “Glory to God” from Marty Haugen’s Beneath the Tree of Life Mass.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people, peace to God’s people,
peace to God’s people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people, peace to God’s people,
peace to God’s people on earth.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people, peace to God’s people,
peace to God’s people on earth.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father,
Amen.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people, peace to God’s people,
peace to God’s people on earth.

Let us pray.

Silence

Eternal Father,
whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven
that he might rule over all things as Lord and King:
Keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit
and in the bond of peace,
and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A reading from the Book of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 23: 1-6

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. 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. 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. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.

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. 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.’

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Michael Perry’s "O Bless the God of Israel" (Benedictus)

1 O bless the God of Israel,
who comes to set us free,
who visits and redeems us
and grants us liberty.
The prophets spoke of mercy,
of rescue and release,
God shall fulfil his promise
and bring his people peace.

2 He comes! The Child of David,
the Son whom God has given;
he comes to live among us
and raise us up to heaven.
Before him goes his servant,
forerunner in the way,
the prophet of salvation,
the herald of the Day.

3 Where once were fear and darkness
the sun begins to rise-
the dawning of forgiveness
upon the sinner’s eyes.
He guides the feet of pilgrims
along the paths of peace:
O, bless our God and Saviour,
with songs that never cease!

A reading from Paul’ Letter to the Colossians.
Colossians 1: 11-20

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in* him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Liam Lawton’s “Canticle” (Magna et Mirabilia)

Oo--- oo--- oo--- oo---

Great and wonderful are your deeds,
O Lord God, the Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the ages.

1 Who shall not fear and glorify your name
for you alone are holy.
For you alone are holy.

Great and wonderful are your deeds,
O Lord God, the Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the ages.

2 All nations shall come and worship you,
for your judgment have been revealed.
For your judgment have been revealed.

Great and wonderful are your deeds,
O Lord God, the Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the ages.

Oo--- oo--- oo--- oo---

A reading from the gospel according to Luke.
Luke 23: 33-43

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. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 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!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding* him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah?* Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into* your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’

The Kingship of Christ

Christ is not just the lord of his disciples, Christ is Lord of all—everything, not just our planet, not just our solar system, not just our universe, but everything. This is a core belief of the Christian faith. If anyone can command our total loyalty and obedience, it is Christ. 

The descendants of the people of Israel were expecting a king like David, a warrior who would lead his people into battle, defeat their enemies, and free Judaea and Samaria and all the territories that had formed Solomon’s kingdom, Israel at its height, from foreign occupation. Instead, they got Israel’ true King, God himself in the person of the Son, in the person of Jesus, in whom, the apostle Paul points to our attention, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through whom God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

It is the height of irony that Pilate ordered a sign nailed above Jesus’ head on the cross identifying him as the king of the Jews. Jesus was not only Israel’s true King, but also he was King of the heaven and the earth and all that is in them.

In stating that Jesus was “the firstborn of all creation,” Paul is not suggesting that Jesus was a created being as some have come to believe. The firstborn of a household in Paul’s time was the heir of its head and shared his authority. His younger siblings and the servants of the household had to show him the same respect and deference as the head of the household.

Both the Father and the Son have existed before time as we understand it. Not as separate beings but as one Being with three Persons, the Holy Spirit being the third Person. This concept may not be easy to grasp but it is how God has revealed himself through the pages of the Bible.

I say that it may not be because it may be easier to understand than we think. By telling ourselves it is not an easy concept to grasp, we may be creating what is known as a self-fulling prophesy, a belief or expectation which influences how we think and in the end causes itself to become true.

We may prefer to think of Jesus as human rather than both human and divine because doing so makes it easier for us to dismiss what he claimed, what he taught, and the example he set for us. We can even relegate him to the world of myth.

A Jesus in whom the fullness of God dwelt, a Jesus who is one with Godad who i God, a Jesus who is Lord of all, however, is something else.

The oldest confession of faith is three words, “Jesus is Lord.” When these words are spoken from the heart, they are more than an affirmation that Jesu is one’s teacher, one’s master, one’s sensei as the Japanese put it. They are an expression of trust and confidence that Jesus is indeed God. He is the one through whom we can be put right with God. He is the who enables us to embark on a new life and to leave our old life behind us. He is the one according to whose teaching and example we are to fashion and frame our lives, enabling us to enjoy not only a harmonious relationship with God but also a truly fulfilling life. We recognize in Jesus the most precious gift of God’s grace, God himself.

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Caroline M. Noel’s “At the Name of Jesus.”

1 At the Name of Jesus
Ev'ry knee shall bow,
Ev'ry tongue confess him
King of glory now.
’Tis the Father’s pleasure
We should call him Lord,
Who from the beginning
Was the mighty Word.

2 Humbled for a season,
To receive a Name
From the lips of sinners,
Unto whom he came,
Faithfully he bore it
Spotless to the last,
Brought it back victorious,
When through death he passed.

3 Bore it up triumphant
With its human light,
Through all ranks of creatures,
To the central height,
To the throne of Godhead,
To the Father’s breast;
Filled it with the glory
Of that perfect rest.

4 In your hearts enthrone him;
There let him subdue
All that is not holy,
All that is not true:
Crown him as your Captain
In temptation's hour;
Let his will enfold you
In its light and power.

5 Jesus, Lord and Savior,
Shall return again,
With his Father's glory
O'er the earth to reign;
For all wreaths of empire
Meet upon his brow,
And our hearts confess him
King of glory now.

Coda:
For all wreaths of empire
Meet upon his brow,
And our hearts confess him
King of glory now.

Let us confess our faith, as we say:

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 again 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.

THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER

Let us pray for all people and for the Church throughout the world.

Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ has promised that you
will hear us when we ask in faith: receive the prayers we offer.

We pray for the peace of the world and the welfare of your holy Church.

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

We pray for our Bishop N, and for all the clergy and people.

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

We pray for [Charles our King][…… our President], for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority.

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

[We pray for seasonable weather, and for an abundance
of the fruits of the earth.

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.]

[We pray that we may share with justice the resources of
the earth, and live in trust and goodwill with one
another.

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.]

We pray for the aged and the infirm, for widows and
orphans, and for the sick and suffering.

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

We pray for the poor and oppressed, for prisoners and captives, and for all who care for them.

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

We pray for ourselves and for each other.

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

We praise you, Lord God, for the communion of saints, and
for the glorious hope of the resurrection to eternal life.

Stir up, O Lord,
the wills of your faithful people;
that plenteously bearing the fruit of good works
they may by you be plenteously rewarded;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Accept our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who taught us to pray:

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,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Steven C. Warner’s arrangement of John Fennelly’ “Christ, Be Near at Either Hand.”

1 Christ, be near at either hand
Christ behind, before me stand
Christ, with me where'er I go
Christ around, above, below

[Instrumental interlude]

2 Christ be in my heart and mind
Christ within my soul enshrined
Christ, control my wayward heart
Christ, abide and ne'er depart

[Instrumental interlude]

3 Christ, my life and only way
Christ, my lantern night and day
Christ, be my unchanging friend
Guide and shepherd to the end

[Instrumental reprise]

THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE

Eternal God and Father, by whose power we are created and
by whose love we are redeemed: guide and strengthen us by
your Spirit, that we may give ourselves to your service, and
live every day in love to one another and to you; through Jesus
Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

[Let us go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.]