Holy Trinity
Amblecote
Christ the King
Year C
Collect
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,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Additional Collect
God the Father,
help us to hear the call of Christ the King
and to follow in his service,
whose kingdom has no end;
for he reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, one glory.
First Reading
Jeremiah 23.1-
1Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD. 2Therefore 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. 3Then 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. 4I 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.
5The 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. 6In 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.’
Psalm 46
R The Lord of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
1 God is our refuge and strength, *
a very present help in trouble;
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, *
and though the mountains tremble in the heart of the sea;
3 Though the waters rage and swell, *
and though the mountains quake at the towering seas. R
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, *
the holy place of the dwelling of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; therefore shall she not be removed; *
God shall help her at the break of day.
6 The nations are in uproar and the kingdoms are shaken, *
but God utters his voice and the earth shall melt away.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. R
8 Come and behold the works of the Lord, *
what destruction he has wrought upon the earth.
9 He makes wars to cease in all the world; *
he shatters the bow and snaps the spear
and burns the chariots in the fire.
10 ‘Be still, and know that I am God; *
I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.’
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. R
Second Reading
Colossians 1.11-
Brothers and sisters: 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, 12while joyfully giving 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.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia. You, Christ, are the King of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father. Alleluia.
Gospel
Luke 23.33-
33When 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. 34Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35And 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!’ 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ 38There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’ 39One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ 40But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ 42Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ 43Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’
Post Communion
Stir up, O Lord,
the wills of your faithful people;
that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works,
may by you be plenteously rewarded;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
God the Father,
who has given to his Son the name above every name,
strengthen you to proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord. Amen.
God the Son,
who is our great high priest passed into the heavens,
plead for you at the right hand of the Father. Amen.
God the Holy Spirit,
who pours out his abundant gifts upon the Church,
make you faithful servants of Christ our King. Amen.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Copyright acknowledgement (where not already indicated above):
Some material included in this service is copyright: © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2002
Blessing (Ascension; Christ the King) © The Archbishops' Council 2010
November 23rd, 2025
