Christ the King

Revelation 1:4b-8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega”

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Revelation 1:4b-8

4b Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

7Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen.

8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

  • Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
  • Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
  • As you open yourself with the breath, feel the freedom Christ has given you from your sins by his blood.
  • Give thanks for this freedom.  Savor the freedom.
  • Consider today how God continues to reveal God’s self to you.
  • How do you know God through your experience?
  • Breathe and remember the faithfulness of God in your journey.
  • What promise and hope do you carry with you into the day?
  • What is God’s message for you?
  • Keep awake for more glimpses of God throughout your day.
  • Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.

 

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, November 18, 2018, the Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

1 Samuel 1:4-20
1 Samuel 2:1-10
Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25
Mark 13:1-8

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings. (c) 2018 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD

Revelation 1:4b-8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega”

/ Lil Smith / Leave a comment

Revelation 1:4b-8

4b Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

7Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen.

8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

  • Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
  • Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
  • As you open yourself with the breath, feel the freedom Christ has given you from your sins by his blood.
  • Give thanks for this freedom.  Savor the freedom.
  • Consider today how God continues to reveal God’s self to you.
  • How do you know God through your experience?
  • Breathe and remember the faithfulness of God in your journey.
  • What promise and hope do you carry with you into the day?
  • What is God’s message for you?
  • Keep awake for more glimpses of God throughout your day.
  • Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.

 

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, November 25, 2012, Christ the King (Reign of Christ) Sunday, Year B

2 Samuel 23:1-7
Psalm 132:1-12 (13-18)
Revelation 1:4b-8
John 18:33-37

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings The Rev. Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD

Christ the King Sunday: “Perhaps Today”

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Today? Perhaps! Perhaps today!
The Lord may come and catch away
His ransomed Church, His blood-bought Bride
To take her place at His blest side,
When dead and living saints shall share
One trumpet summons to the air.

Perhaps today! Yes! He may come
And call us to our Heavenly Home,
That wonderous place beyond compare
Which He, in love, doth now prepare–
Our Father’s House!  How sweet!  How blest
To be forevermore at rest!

Today? Perhaps! Tis true! Today!
Ere nightfall we may be away,
Transported Home!  How blest!  How grand!
Transported Home to Gloryland!
One twinkling moment, then to be
With Him for all eternity.

Perhaps today! Then why the fear?
Tomorrow we may not be here!
The thing so dreaded may not come
Till we are safely gathered Home!
The threat’ning storm-cloud may not break
Till, in His Presence, we awake.

Perhaps today! Oh, lonely soul,
Thy heart shall reach its longed-for goal;
The fellowship, the joy, the bliss,
Which now thy heart doth sorely miss,
Perchance may be thy heart’s delight
Ere closes in another night.

Perhaps today! Then much-tried saint,
Look up, nor let thy spirit faint;
The stretching road thine eyes may see
May never be traversed by thee–
One moment’s space and then above,
To find thyself in cloudless love!

Perhaps today, afflicted life,
Thou shalt be taken from the strife,
From all that hatred to thy word
Which comes as thou dost please thy Lord.
And then, ah then, how shall the pain
Compared with all thou then shalt gain!

Perhaps today the fight will cease,
And then, eternal wondrous peace!
The evil hosts which rage and roar
Shall reach us there?  NO, nevermore!
O blessed hope, to them be free
For ever through eternity!

We’ll meet again – perhaps today
The dear ones who have passed away–
The loved ones who now softly sleep
When Jesus now doth safely keep,
Oh wondrous joy to meet them There
At that blest union in the air!

Perhaps today this mortal frame
With all enfeebled nature’s claim
Shall be exchanged, and we shall own
A “temple” where shall not be known
A sense of weakness or decay,
Or strength that surely ebbs away.

Perhaps today we all shall stand
At Christ’s tribunal, wondrous grand–
There gathered through redeeming love,
All ransomed, yet to have Him prove
Life’s service, and to gain reward
Where life or labour pleased the Lord.

Perhaps today! He’ll come most sure!
This hope He means to keep us pure–
To have us watching, ready, free,
Untrammeled with iniquity,
That we may meet Him without shame
Or conscious sense of guilt or blame.

Today perhaps! Perhaps today!
Yes, He may come!  Then watch and pray!
This “blessed hope” keep much in view,
Nor deem it dead,  though taught by few.
And be as urgent as you may
In winning souls, while ’tis “Today”!

~ Written by J. Danson Smith~ 1935

  • Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
  • What word of phrase captures your attention in this poem?
  • Allow this word or phrase to percolate within you.
  • What do you notice in your body?
  • What comes to your mind?
  • Read the poem a second time, aloud if you wish.
  • What is deepening with in you?
  • What message to you hear from God?
  • What is significant about today?
  • Read the poem a third time listening for a call to action?
  • Do you hear something new?
  • How is  God calling you… today?
  • Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, November 13, 2011, the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

Judges 4:1-7

Psalm 123

I Thessalonians: 5:1-11

Matthew 25:14-30

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author.

Permission to use in not-for-profit settings The Rev. Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD

Praying with Art: The Return by Jim Janknegt

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"The Return" by Jim Janknegt

  • Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
  • Sit three to five minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the breath.
  • Study this painting, The Return, for three to five minutes.  Envision this time to be a visual prayer.
  • What phrase or image captures your attention?
  • Spend another three to five minutes in prayer with this painting.  Allow the phrase or image to grow in you.
  • Where does the word or image take you? What is growing there?
  • Is there a message for you from God?
  • Spend another three to five minutes in prayer with this painting seeking a call to action.
  • What is God calling you to do?
  • Give thanks for this time in prayer to listen to God’s message and for any new insights you have received.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, November 30, 2011, Christ the King Sunday Year A
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
Psalm 100: 1-5
Ephesians 1:15-23
Matthew 25:31-46
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author.
Permission to use in not-for-profit settings The Rev. Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD