Christ the King!

Children’s Chapel

November 20, 2016

Proper 29C

Theme: Christ the King

Bible Reference: Colossians 1:11-20

I.         Welcome: Good Morning girls and boys! I am so happy to see you all this morning! Do we have any new friends with us? (Welcome new friends.)

II.       Church Practice: (light altar candles)

We light these candles to remind us that Christ is the light of the world, and we are Christ’s light in the world. On our altar table today, we have a green cloth. The green cloth is the color we use for Ordinary Time.

III.     Opening Prayer: Let us Pray, “Heavenly Father, we are here to worship and praise you. Open our hearts and minds so that we may hear your words spoken to us through the Bible story today. Give us strength that we may serve you through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives, and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen”

IV.      Introduction: (In a large bag, you will find several different types of hats and a crown. Save the crown to show children last.) I have a bag here with lots of hats. As I pull out each hat, I want you to raise your hand and tell me who wears this special type of hat. (Pull out each hat one by one. When you get to the crown stop.) You all really know your hats and who wears them! The last “hat” I have to share is not a typical hat. It is very special. (Pull out the crown and show to children.) Who do you think wears this “hat?” You are right! A king or a queen wears this special “hat” that we call a crown. This morning we are celebrating a special Sunday in the church that is called “Christ the King” Sunday. You know our church is named “Christ Episcopal Church.” Raise your hand if you can tell me, who is “Christ the King.” (Allow answers.) You are right! Jesus is Christ the King and our church is named after Jesus. But Jesus wasn’t like a typical king was he. Kings and queens that we think of live in grand palaces and have lots of money and rule over a land. We know that Jesus came into our world and was born where? You’re right, in a stable where animals were kept. Jesus was born in a very lowly place and lived a simple life as a carpenter’s son.  His friends and followers were normal everyday people. Last week we talked of how Jesus told his followers that they would experience really difficult times and may even be hated. So how can Jesus be considered a king if following him would bring difficult things? We also learned last week that even though as followers of Jesus, we are not promised a pain free life, that God is always with us and we will have everlasting life in God’s kingdom through Jesus. The apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Colossians to help encourage Jesus’ followers and to give a picture of the kind of king Jesus is for all of us. Paul says,

V.        Bible Story: Colossians 1:11-20

¹¹May 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 ¹²giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. ¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; ¹⁶for 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. ¹⁷He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸He 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. ¹⁹For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰and 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.

VI.      Response: In Paul’s letter he tells us that Jesus is the head or king of all things, the firstborn of all creation. Paul tells us too that Jesus did not come to be a regular, earthly king to rule over the land and to force people to bend to his rule. Jesus as the light of the world came to “rescue” all of us from darkness through his own death on the cross. Jesus indeed is a very different kind of King as the King of heaven. Jesus is a King of peace and love and light for everyone. Through Jesus we have been given new life with God the Father and we inherit the most wonderful love and peace of God’s kingdom now and forever.

VII.    Closing Prayer: Let us pray, Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus who is the King of heaven and earth. We give thanks too that through your son Jesus we have been given everlasting life with you. Strengthen us as we trust in your son Jesus that we may grow in love daily. In your holy name, Amen.

Let us all now say the Lord’s Prayer together.

VIII.  Response Activity (Crafts, Singing, or another activity will be provided.) For the next several weeks we will be practicing songs for the pageant. Today we will practice “Go Tell it on the Mountain.” Song lyrics will be provided for you in each Children’s Chapel room.