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Welcome to St. Alban’s Episcopal ChurchSunday, November 22, 2020

Christ the King Sunday25th Sunday after Pentecost

Before we begin, let us acknowledge that we stand on traditional Snohomish, Coast Salish land. They cared for this land for millennia before it was taken from them. We honor them and pray for the wisdom to care for it as well as they.

Prelude

Opening Acclamation BCP 355Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.And blessed be his kingdom now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

GloriaGlory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The CollectAlmighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The First Reading2

A Reading from Ezekiel, Chapter 34 beginning with the 11th verseEzekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

Thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.Thanks be to God.

The Psalm: 100

Jubilate Deo

1 Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *3

serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song.

2 Know this: The Lord himself is God; * he himself has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

3 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise; * give thanks to him and call upon his Name.

4 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; * and his faithfulness endures from age to age.

The Second ReadingA Reading from Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians, Chapter 1 beginning with the 15thverse Ephesians 1:15-23

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 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. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.Thanks be to God.

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Sequence Hymn #544 Jesus Shall Reign (music on page 16 of bulletin)

The Gospel Reading

The Holy Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ according to Matthew.Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said, “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. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do

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it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

The Gospel of the Lord.Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon

The Nicene Creed BCP 358

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

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With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayers of the Peoplefrom the Anglican Church of New Zealand, NZBCP page 413-14

Heavenly Father,you have promised to hear when we prayin the name of your Son.Therefore in confidence and trustwe pray for the Church:

For Justin our Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael our Presiding Bishop, Greg our Diocesan Bishop, Brian our Assisting Bishop, Jim our Deacon, and Greg our Priest; and for the ministries and missions of this Diocese, especially [Diocesan Cycle of Prayer].

Father, enliven the Church for its missionthat we may be salt of the earth and light to the world.Breathe fresh life into your people.Give us power to reveal Christ in word and action.We pray for the world:

For the just and proper use of your creation; for those affected by Climate Change and for the wisdom, skill, and will to heal our planet; for those who suffer from natural disasters, human caused famine, pestilence, and tragedy, [especially ______]; and

Creator of all,lead us and every people into ways of justice and peace.That we may respect one another in freedom and truth.Awaken in us a sense of wonder for the earth and all that is in it.Teach us to care creatively for its resources.We pray for the community:

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For those whom we have granted authority, especially António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Donald, President of the United States, Joe, President-elect, Jay, Governor of Washington State, and Mike Nelson, Mayor of Edmonds. We pray for our nation in the midst of this transition after the election.And for peaceful resolution of conflict in every land, [especially in __________] and the United States; for a blessing on our elections; and for those who work for reconciliation and justice.

God of truth, inspire with your wisdomthose whose decisions affect the lives of othersthat all may act with integrity and courage.Give grace to all whose lives are linked with ours.May we serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.

We pray for those in need:For the victims of Covid-19, those who have been sickened, those who care for them, those who anxious because of it, and those who have died from it. For the unemployed, the underemployed, and those whose jobs are lost forever; for those experiencing homelessness; and for those threatened with food insecurity. And for those on our Congregational Prayer List:

God of hope, comfort and restoreall who suffer in body, mind or spirit.May they know the power of your healing love.Make us willing agents of your compassion.Strengthen us as we share in making people whole.We remember those who have died and those who mourn:(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)We remember with thanksgiving those who have died in the faithof Christ, and those whose faith is known to you alone.Father, into your hands we commend them.Give comfort to those who mourn.

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Bring them peace in their time of loss.We praise you for Alban and all your saintswho have entered your eternal glory.May their example inspire and encourage us.We pray for ourselves and our ministries:

For all the blessings of this life, especially those organizations that we support spiritually and financially: Chase Lake Community School, the West Edmonds Cooperative Preschool, Templo Emanuel, and ChildStrive (formerly Little Red School House) the Outreach ministry we are supporting this quarter, which helps advance the quality of life for children ages birth to three years with, or at risk of, developmental delays and disabilities.

For those celebrating Birthdays and Anniversaries this week, [especially _____].

and for the members of this congregation, especially Congregational Cycle of Prayer, for whom we give particular thanks this week.

Lord, you have called us to serve you.

Grant that we may walk in your presence:your love in our hearts,your truth in our minds,your strength in our wills;until, at the end of our journey,we know the joy of our homecomingand the welcome of your embrace,through Jesus Christ our Lord.    Amen.

Confession and Absolution BCP 360Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For

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the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

The PeaceThe Peace of the Lord be always with you.And also with you.

Anniversaries & Birthdays

Announcements

The Offertory

Offertory Hymn #494 Crown Him with Many Crowns (music page 17 of bulletin)

Eucharistic Prayer 3

Presider The Lord be with you. PeopleAnd also with you.Presider Lift up your hearts.PeopleWe lift them up to the Lord.Presider Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.PeopleIt is right to give our thanks and praise.

Presider All thanks and praise are yours at all times and in all places, our true and loving God; through Jesus Christ, your eternal Word, the Wisdom from on high by whom you created all things. You laid the foundation of the world and enclosed the sea when it burst out from the womb; You brought forth all creatures of the earth and gave breath to humankind.

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Wondrous are you, Holy One of Blessing, all you create is a sign of hope for our journey; and so as the morning stars sing your praises we join with the heavenly beings and all creation as we shout for joy:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Glory and honor are yours, Creator of all, your Word has never been silent; You called a people to yourself, as a light to the nations, You delivered them from bondage, and led them to the land of promise. Of your grace, You gave Jesus to be human, to share our life, to proclaim the coming our your reign, and give himself for us, a fragrant offering. Through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, You have freed us from sin, brought us into your life, reconciled us to You, and restored us to the glory you intend for us.

We thank You that on the night before he died for us Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, gave it to his friends, and said: “Take, eat, this is my Body, broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” After supper Jesus took the cup of wine, said the blessing, gave it to his friends, and said: “Drink this, all of you: This cup is the new Covenant in my Blood, poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

And so, remembering all that was done for us: the cross, the tomb, the resurrection and ascension, longing for Christ’s coming in glory, and presenting to You these gifts your earth has formed and human hands have made, we acclaim you, O Christ:

Presider and People

Dying, you destroyed our death.Rising, you restored our life.Christ Jesus, come in glory!

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PresiderSend your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts of bread and wine that they may be to us the Body and Blood of your Christ. Grant that we, burning with your Spirit’s power, may be a people of hope, justice, and love.

Giver of Life, draw us together in the Body of Christ, and in the fullness of time gather us with blessed Mary, Joseph, Alban, and all your people into the joy of our true eternal home.

Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, we worship You our God and Creator in voices of unending praise.

Presider and PeopleBlessed are you now and forever. Amen.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

Our Father, who art in heaven,     hallowed be thy Name,     thy kingdom come,     thy will be done,         on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,     as we forgive those        who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,     but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,     and the power, and the glory,     for ever and ever. Amen.

Fraction AnthemWe break this bread to share in the Body of Christ.We who are many are one body, for we all share in the one bread.

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St. Alban’s Episcopal Church21405 82nd Place West, Edmonds, WA 98026 Office (425) 778-0371

Sunday Worship 10:30am Facebook LiveAdult Education Sundays 9:30am Zoom

Wednesday Evening Prayer 6pm Facebook Live Email: stalbansedmonds@gmail.com

Fr. Greg Email: gwpeters.stalbansedmonds@gmail.comWebsite www.stalbansedmonds.org

The Rt. Rev. Gregory Rickel, Bishop Diocese of OlympiaThe Rev. Greg Peters, Rector

The Rev. Dr. James Gilman, DeaconJohn Lehrack, Music Director and Organist

The Breaking of the BreadChrist our Passover is sacrificed for us; Therefore let us keep the feast.

The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

Communion Hymn Post Communion PrayerGod of abundance, You have fed us with the bread of life and cup of salvation; You have united us with Christ and one another; and You have made us one with all your people in heaven and earth. Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world and continue for ever in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.

Blessing

DismissalLet us go forth in the name of Christ. Thanks be to God.

Postlude

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St. Alban’s Episcopal Church21405 82nd Place West, Edmonds, WA 98026 Office (425) 778-0371

Sunday Worship 10:30am Facebook LiveAdult Education Sundays 9:30am Zoom

Wednesday Evening Prayer 6pm Facebook Live Email: stalbansedmonds@gmail.com

Fr. Greg Email: gwpeters.stalbansedmonds@gmail.comWebsite www.stalbansedmonds.org

The Rt. Rev. Gregory Rickel, Bishop Diocese of OlympiaThe Rev. Greg Peters, Rector

The Rev. Dr. James Gilman, DeaconJohn Lehrack, Music Director and Organist

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St. Alban’s seeks to be a welcoming, Christ-centered community committed to sharing Christ’s love, empowering people to grow spiritually, deepening our relationship with Christ,

and living out our faith in our community and the world.

Weekly Sunday Outreach Basket Offerings1st week—Food Bank

2nd week—Discretionary Fund3rd week—Outreach: Cocoon House

4th week—Capital Campaign

Serving in Today’s WorshipCelebrant & Preacher Father Greg PetersDeacon Jim GilmanMusic Director & Organist John Lehrack

AnnouncementsZoom Coffee Hour 12:00pm on Sundays: Join us for Zoom Coffee Hour, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85174822634?pwd=aW0vdTYrNGtZTGVBQmdzbEJQYm9BZz09Meeting ID: 851-7482-2634 Password: 657057 Adult Bible Study Sundays at 9:30am on Zoom: Join us for Sunday morning bible study, 9:30am on Zoom, led by Eric Hanson. The group is now studying the book of Proverbs, often attributed to King Solomon. Proverbs was actually written by several authors. It is, in fact, a “collection of collections” whose main message is wisdom. We can all use some of that! The Zoom link through November is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84765370758?pwd=OEFMd20xL0NJNkkzQ0xJbHdaRGJ1Zz09Meeting ID: 847 6537 0758 Meeting Password: SeekFirst

Christ the King Sunday

Where all are queens and kings

BY J. DAVEY GERHARD

The Church designates the final Sunday of the Church year as the Feast of Christ the King, a

day in which the united rule of Christ over all of the universe is celebrated. In many communities,

it is a high feast, with altar guilds preparing white vestments, flower guilds celebrating God’s glory in elaborate displays, and hymns filled with alleluias. What a way to end the year, to celebrate stewardship, and to prepare for Advent!

But before we get too carried away with the grandeur of it all, today’s Gospel tells a different story about kingship and leadership: It tells of service. Typical of Jesus, he begins with what we expect — in this case power and triumph – and turns it upside down and in doing so, reminds us that it is through our ministry that we increase the role of the Church in our community. True power doesn’t come through force or wealth or conquest, it is derived from generosity, charity, and love. We change the hearts and minds of our neighbors by loving them and serving them.

Throughout this stewardship season we have heard about the mission of our own churches. You have learned about the ways that your gifts impact the life of your church and your neighbors. Perhaps this year you met the challenges of a global pandemic by adapting your worship. Maybe you responded to the needs of your community by increasing your outreach or your ministry to serve your neighbors. What is certain is that you had the opportunity to express your love and your hope for the world through your annual gift to your church.

We seek and serve Christ in all people by serving our neighbors. This is the great commandment of Jesus to his followers and it is one of the promises we make at our

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AnnouncementsZoom Coffee Hour 12:00pm on Sundays: Join us for Zoom Coffee Hour, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85174822634?pwd=aW0vdTYrNGtZTGVBQmdzbEJQYm9BZz09Meeting ID: 851-7482-2634 Password: 657057 Adult Bible Study Sundays at 9:30am on Zoom: Join us for Sunday morning bible study, 9:30am on Zoom, led by Eric Hanson. The group is now studying the book of Proverbs, often attributed to King Solomon. Proverbs was actually written by several authors. It is, in fact, a “collection of collections” whose main message is wisdom. We can all use some of that! The Zoom link through November is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84765370758?pwd=OEFMd20xL0NJNkkzQ0xJbHdaRGJ1Zz09Meeting ID: 847 6537 0758 Meeting Password: SeekFirst

For reflection• How is humility a sign of

leadership?• How did your stewardship

campaign inspire you to learn more about your neighbors and their needs?

Baptism. When we are asked by those we meet on the street or those to whom we minister in our communities if we will offer them drink when they thirst, or visit them when they are lonely, or give them food when they hunger, our answer will be yes! Through our generosity and our faith, we are called to that same royal line as Jesus, leaders in our communities. Now that is a feast worth celebrating!

J. Davey Gerhard is the Executive Director of The Episcopal Network for Stewardship, and lives and teaches his faith in San Francisco, California.

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