This is one of the big Sundays of the church year, the equivalent of New Years Eve as the Season of Pentecost ends and the new church year is about to begin with Advent.  It is Reign of Christ Sunday, when we envision what it will be like when Christ’s way of love and peace, mercy and justice is the rule in our homes and church and town and nation and world–God’s realm on earth.

We will look at the dreams for our congregation that have come out of the questionnaire and small group process this fall.  (To see the Summary Report, see the last article in the United Church News here.)  We will think about how we can fulfill that vision in our church, and how we can help accomplish the reign of Christ and the establishment of God’s realm on earth.

This is a joyous burst of light before we enter the quiet darkness of Advent.  We will read from Isaiah 11, Ezekiel 34:11-16a and Matthew 25:31-40 (the famous “whatever you do to the least of these” passage), and sing “Now Is the Time Approaching,” “O Day of God Draw Nigh,” and “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.”  Carol Rousseau and the choir will provide uplifting music including two spirituals, “I Woke Up This Morning” and “My Lord, What a Morning.”

The first session of our Advent program, Transforming Fear into Trust, will follow worship at 11:30 AM.  To read more about it, click here.

Below is a recording of “Woke Up This Morning” by Sweet Honey in the Rock from the soundtrack of the film Freedom Song that we will be watching with the youth in January.