Thanksgiving & Reign of Christ
November 23, 2025 | 10:00am
Rev. Mark Poyner, Pastor | Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship
Heidelberg question and answer number 1: "What is your only comfort in life and in death? That I am not my own, but belong to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ." On this Reign of Christ Sunday, we celebrate that our greatest comfort is belonging completely to a King who loves us enough to die for us.
GATHERING
Welcome
Prelude Rejoice the Lord is King | Owens
Call to Worship
Votum
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Amen
Opening Sentences
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Salutation Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Amen.
*Hymn of Praise How Firm a Foundation
Call to Confession
Brothers and sisters in Christ, the Scriptures remind us that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Trusting in God’s mercy, let us come before Him in humility and faith, and confess our sins together. Let us now join together as we read our prayer of confession in unison:
Prayer of Confession
Most holy and merciful Father, we acknowledge and confess before you our sinful nature, prone to evil and slow to do good, and all our shortcomings and offenses. You alone know how often we have sinned, wandering from your ways, in wasting your gifts, forgetting your love. Lord, have mercy on us. Teach us to hate our errors. Cleanse us from our secret faults and forgive our sins. For the sake of your holy Son, who reigns over us today, help us to live in your light and walk in your ways, according to the commandments of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our inequities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
The Law of God Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ says: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment, and the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
*Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
*Commitment to Peace Keeping and Peace Seeking
One: May the peace of Christ be with you!
All: And also with you!
Share a sign of peace with one another. After sharing the peace, let us all sing together:
Together, by grace, we witness and work, remembering Jesus, in whom we grow strong. Together we serve in Spirit and truth, remembering love is the strength of our song.
THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem Ride On, King Jesus | arr. Fleming
Prayer for Illumination
Gracious and Eternal God, You speak new life into the world You created, and You call us to trust in Your promises even when the world trembles around us. As we open Your Word today, send Your Holy Spirit to quiet our fears and open our hearts. Let Your truth take root in us, that we may see beyond the ruins to the renewal You are bringing. Speak to us of hope that endures, faith that perseveres, and love that never fails. Through Jesus Christ, the Living Word, we pray. Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Colossians 1:11-20
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
*Hymn: God is Our Help, Refuge and Strength
Second Reading: Luke 23:33-43
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Sermon: The King Reigns on the Cross | Rev. Poyner
Silent Reflection
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
*Affirmation of Faith (Apostles’ Creed)
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Offering We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise | Dearman
Blessing on the Offering ...Your kingdom may come on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus 'name we pray, Amen.
*Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above ye heavenly hosts; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!
Prayer of Dedication
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession (ending with the Lord’s Prayer)
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 debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.
SENDING
*Hymn He is King of Kings
Benediction
Postlude Toccata | Young
DEAR FRIENDS
Welcome to worship here at Peapack Reformed Church! If you are visiting with us, welcome! If you are a member, welcome back! Our mission is to be a congregation called by God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world. This mission is the catalyst for all that we do, and is our aim for who we want to be.
If you are visiting with us via Facebook Live and would like more information about our church, send us a message on Facebook or email office@peapackreformed.org and we will be in touch with you. Even under these odd and anxious circumstances, we would love to be your church home. Our virtual doors are always open wide and our hearts are always ready to welcome new faces into our fellowship.
FOOD PANTRY NEWS
Many thanks for all those who have shared their abundance with neighbors in need.
Our church refrigerators have plenty of space to hold even more!
Please consider making a weekly donation of eggs or milk to the P-G Food Pantry.
Peapack Reformed Church is a congregation called by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world.
CALLED • EMPOWERED • COMMITTED