Year A - Proper 29 (20 Nov - 26 Nov) Last Sunday

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VERSION: 8 May 2002

SUNDAY BETWEEN 20 AND 26 NOV (PROPER 29), YEAR A

LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR

Day of the Fulfilment (also known as 'Christ the King')

In 2002: 24 Nov

In 2005: 20 Nov

In 2008: 23 Nov

In 2011: 20 Nov

In 2014: 23 Nov

- - -

Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Time after Pentecost' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

WHAT IS MEANT BY THE NAME 'DAY OF THE FULFILMENT'?

In the old one-year lectionary, the last three Sundays of the church year were characterised by a growing emphasis on the eschatological return of Christ. The focus was on the traditional 'four last things': the return of Christ, the resurrection, the judgment, and eternal life.

In the Revised Common Lectionary, the eschatological emphasis also begins a Sunday or two before the last Sunday, and continues on till the First Sunday of Advent, which is always explicitly focused on the second coming or appearing of Christ. Only on the Second Sunday in Advent do the readings shift focus to his first advent.

In the middle of this celebration, the 'Last Sunday of the Church Year' may be seen as a day when the focus is on God's 'fulfilment' of his judgment and salvation. For us Christians, this is at the same time the 'fulfilment' of the hope to which we were called at our baptism.

WHY NOT THE NAME 'CHRIST THE KING'?

Lutheran churches since the Reformation continued to refer to this Sunday as the Last Sunday after Trinity. When the Lutheran Book of Worship (1978) was adopted by the American Lutheran churches, they also adopted the 3-year lectionary which had been developed by Roman Catholics, including the festival of 'Christ the King'. This festival had first been introduced by Pope Pius XI in 1925 to emphasise the supreme authority of Christ and his church over against what he perceived to be the increasing atheism and secularisation of society. In the 1970 revisions of the lectionary, the feast was renamed 'Christ, King of the Universe' and took on a stronger cosmological character.

The Lutheran Church of Australia did not adopt the feast of Christ the King. There are several reasons for this:

The LCA opted to use the same name for this Sunday as that used by the Missouri Synod in Lutheran Worship: 'The Last Sunday of the Church Year (Day of the Fulfillment)'.

With the adoption of the new Revised Common Lectionary, the LCA faced this question once again, especially as the readings for the Last Sunday of the Church year have obviously been chosen to fit with the festival of Christ the King. The Commission on Worship did not wish to make radical changes to the lectionary for use in the LCA, in order to keep it as ecumenical as possible. It therefore recommended only two changes (namely the addition of preferred alternative gospels for year B and year C) and that the name for this Sunday continue to be 'Last Sunday of the Church Year (Day of the Fulfilment)' rather than 'Christ, the King'.

LITURGY

SENTENCE

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

God raised Christ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion,

and above every name that is named,

not only in this age but also in the age to come.

(Eph 1:21 NRSV)

OR

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him,

then he will sit on the throne of his glory. (Matt 25:31 NRSV)

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Traditional

Lord God, heavenly Father:

Grant that your dear Son, Jesus Christ,

may come quickly

and take to himself his bride, the church,

so that together with all the redeemed

we may enter into your glory;

through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, modernised traditional

Lord God, heavenly Father,

let your dear Son, Jesus Christ,

come quickly

and take to himself his bride, the church.

Bring us, together with all the redeemed,

into your glory.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, alternative

(Let us pray for the coming of God's kingdom. [silence])

Almighty and everliving God,

it is your will to restore all things

in your dear Son.

Bring together under his just and gentle rule

all the peoples of the world,

now divided and torn apart by sin.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, new (revised second alternative)

(Let us pray for confidence in the Day of Judgment. [silence])

Merciful Saviour,

you have taught us that those who believe in you

will not be condemned,

but have already passed from death to life.

Give us faith in your forgiveness,

so that we fearlessly wait for the time

when you set us completely free.

For you live and reign

with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

FIRST READING AND PSALM

Note: There are two sets of first readings (with accompanying Psalms) given for the Sundays after Pentecost: (a) a new semi-continuous set, and (b) a set related thematically to the gospels (as in the earlier form of the lectionary). It is intended that either one of these two sets be used throughout and that they not be mixed.

1a

Ezekiel 34:11-16,20-24 The Lord himself will be the Shepherd King

Psalm 100

Antiphon:

We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (Ps 100:3c NRSV)

OR,1b

Ezekiel 34:11-16,20-24 The Lord himself will be the Shepherd King

Psalm 95:1-7a

Antiphon:

He is our God, and we are the people of his pasture.

(Ps 95:7a NRSV)

SECOND READING

Ephesians 1:15-23 Christ reigns at God's right hand

ALLELUIA VERSE (Matt 25:34)

Alleluia, alleluia.

Come, you that are blessed by my Father,

inherit the kingdom prepared for you

from the foundation of the world.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Matthew 25:31-46 The King's final judgment

(Begin: 'Jesus said:')

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the righteousness you give us

and the promise of your heavenly kingdom.

Help us faithfully to do your work on earth.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Thank you, Lord,

for making us yours and caring for us

as a good shepherd cares for the sheep.

Help us to recognise Jesus

in those who are poor and needy,

and serve him humbly with what you have given us

by serving them.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

Christ has promised us that he will return to us soon. Let us pray to him for the church, the world, and all in need.

The regular response, OR:

Lord, hear our prayer.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Father, your church awaits the day when the Son of Man will come in his glory, and the angels with him, and he will sit on his royal throne. Until that day, when we will be received as your blessed people, keep us safe in your care. Make us merciful, serving your Son now as he comes to us in those in need. We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

PREFACE

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(On this day)*

he overcame death by his resurrection

and opened up for us

the way to eternal life with you.

And so, with angels and archangels,

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

* The words 'on this day' are used only on Sundays.

MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION

If using the Service - Alternative Form, or any of the Sing The Feast settings, instead of saying 'Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again' after the words of institution, the following acclamation may be used:

When we eat this bread and drink this cup,

we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,

until you come in glory.

COMMUNION INVITATION

For a choice of communion invitations, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Communion invitation', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Alternatively, the following invitation may be used.

Jesus said: The next time I drink the fruit of the vine

will be that day when I drink it new with you

in my Father's kingdom. (Matt 26:29)

(Thanks be to God.)

Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

See the service order for a standard post-communion prayer. Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Almighty and everliving God,

it is your will to restore all things

in your dear Son.

As you have gathered us as one

around the table of the Lord,

bring together under his just and gentle rule

all the peoples of the world,

now divided and torn apart by sin.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace, humbly serving the Lord until he returns.

Thanks be to God. OR In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS

Please note:        * =        Modernised version available

      G3, G4 . . . =        Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .

      GS =        Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

First reading (a and b): Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: Ephesians 1:15-23

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 100

For musical settings of Psalm 100, see Music Packages 3 and 7. See also TIS nos 59-62. LHS 433, 453, 879 and 882 are also based on Psalm 100, and so are AT 44, 56 and 107.

PSALM 95:1-7a

Congregations may sing the Venite ('O come, let us sing to the Lord') from the Order of Matins (LHS pp 37, 38).

TIS 52, Let us sing to the God of salvation, and 53, Come, sing praises to the Lord above, are based on Psalm 95. So is ATA 116, Come, let us praise the Lord.

The following paraphrase of Psalm 95:1-7a is by David Schubert, from the Modern Matins. The song may be sung to the tune in the Modern Matins by Peter Schmidt.

O come, let's sing aloud to God,

and shout for joy to the Rock who saves.

Let's come before him, giving thanks.

With joyful songs let us praise the Lord.

The Lord is great, the King of all.

The depths of earth, the heights of hills,

the sea he made, and all the land:

they all are his, all made by him.

O come, bow down and worship him,

and kneel before the Lord our God.

For he's our maker, we are his;

we are the flock that is led by him.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

EZEKIEL 34:11-16,20-24: Israel had been led by false shepherds, including their kings, into false worship and rapacious, unjust exploitation of the poorer by the richer. God had scattered the flock to bring his people back to spiritual reality. They had been captured by other false shepherds, kings of nations like Assyria and Babylon. Their life in foreign Babylon brought them back into a trusting relation with the Lord God of Israel. Ezekiel tenderly tells how God would lead his flock personally back to their own land once more. God personally would lead them as the one and only Good Shepherd. He would judge them personally as the Messiah, here called 'my servant David'.

EPHESIANS 1:15-23: St Paul always rejoiced to see the faith and love of Christians interlocked with effective Christian life. He therefore also prays for the growth of that faith and love, which comes about by the working of the greatness of God's power. Note that this is the same power as that which raised Jesus from the dead together with all the marvellous results which that event secured!

MATTHEW 25: 31-46: In this description of the final judgment, our Lord as the great shepherd divides all humanity as sheep and goats were separated at the end of the day. To those on his right hand he accords entry into the everlasting kingdom. Note that this is from the sheer grace of God, as they are called 'blessed of the Father' and they 'inherit' the kingdom. Again in this reading the close and vital interlocking of faith and love is pointed up by the allusion to the works of love from those on his right hand. Those on the left are dismissed into eternal punishment, as their assumed works of goodness were either actually absent or never done in relationship with Jesus.

VISUAL

COLOUR FOR LAST SUNDAY

The colour for this Sunday is green, just as it is for any other Sunday after Pentecost. The LCA has not adopted the custom of using white on this day.

SYMBOL

A suitable symbol for this Sunday is the cross and the orb of the world, showing the ultimate victory of the gospel.

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the first reading could be accompanied by a picture of a shepherd leading or carrying sheep.

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'

See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

DRAMATISING THE READINGS

The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. For instance, the gospel could be read by five readers: the pastor to announce and close the reading, Jesus, the king, person on right, person on left.

CHILDREN

'COME AND SEE JESUS'

The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is currently available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

This week's story is 'The final judgment (Matthew 25:31-46)'. Material for this story may be found in:

Original Edition, Year A, Semester 2, Last Sunday

OR

Revised RCL Edition, Year A, Semester 2, Proper 29.