November 26: Christ the King Sunday
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 (God himself will be King and Shepherd to his people)
Psalm 95:1-7a (The Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods)
Ephesians 1:15-23 (Glorious inheritance given those who believe in Christ,
whom the Father has exalted high above all rulers and authorities)
Matthew 25:31-46 (Parable of the Last Judgment and the sheep/goat divide)
Let us approach the Throne of Grace, there to pray for the Church, the world, and one another.
A brief silence is kept.
Holy Father, thank you for your Son, Christ Jesus, our Beautiful Savior, the King of Creation. Thank you for his holy life, his innocent suffering and death in our place, and his glorious resurrection that grants us life, forgiveness, health, and salvation. Though we are your poor unworthy servants, you have made us sisters and brothers of Jesus, and heirs of your Kingdom. Blessing and honor, praise and adoration be yours, Holy Father, for the sake of your Son, in the power of your Spirit.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
You have made your Son King of creation and head of your Church. Bind the Church to Christ with cords of love. Make it unswerving in faith and bold in witness to him. Use it to draw all people to his Cross, there to acclaim him as Lord, King, and Savior.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
You have made your persecuted Church a visible sign of Jesus’ own passion and death. Grant that all who are afflicted for his sake may also, like the sun, moon, and stars, bear witness to the beauty of his holiness and the glory of his love.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
You have made your Son our Savior and Lord. Fill the people of this congregation with your Holy Spirit, so that in all we say and do, we proclaim Jesus Christ as Son of God and Son of man.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
You have made this land rich with resources, and resplendent with the virtues of freedom, justice, and opportunity. Grant that all who live here may be responsible stewards of those resources; tireless examples of those virtues; and thankful sharers of every blessing with which you have graced us.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
You have made your Son Lord of the nations. By your Holy Spirit, conform the hearts of rulers and people to the heart of Christ. Let his peace reign undisturbed in every land.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
You have made your Son our light, joy, and crown. Grant that his strong saving love might accompany those who serve our country, here and abroad. Fill them with honor, courage, and wisdom; and bring them home in safety.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
You have made your Son fairer than sunlight, stars, meadows, or woodlands. Let his beauty, healing, and compassion cause all sorrowing hearts to sing, including: {List}. Deliver them from their afflictions, and restore them to the fellowship of all who care for them.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Gracious Father, you have made your Son to shine more brightly than all of heaven’s angels. We thank you for the lives of the faithful departed, who already see his glory face to face. Fill us with such faith and love that, in your good time, we shall join them in singing, “Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forever more be thine.”
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Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Hear our prayer; and graciously grant all that glorifies you and benefits our poor broken world, for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
