A 21st Century Africana Worship Resources for Christ the King Sunday, Year A

Leader: Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!
People: Sing the Doxology ("Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow"), United Methodist Hymnal, 94 (Alternate Tune)

Leader: Worship the Lord with gladness: come into his presence with singing!
People: Sing verse one of "To God Be the Glory," United Methodist Hymnal, 99

Leader: Read Psalm 100

Children's Litany of Our Caring God
(For groups of five children; to be repeated to match the number of children participating)
Child 1: I told ________________ (name of child standing to the left)

Child 2: And I told ________________ (name of child standing to the left)

Child 3: And I told ________________ (name of child standing to the left)

Child 4: And I told ________________ (name of child standing to the left)

Child 5: That God always watches over us!

All the Children: God loves us, and we love God!

(Alternate responses for Child 5, as needed: God makes sure we are fed! God sends help when we are hurt!)

Children's Selection: "Jesus Loves Me," United Methodist Hymnal, 191

Morning Prayer (Unison)
God of all Nations, you call ALL around your table of plenty this Thanksgiving. There are no "Colored Only," "White Only," "Rich Only," "Educated Only," "Powerful Only," and "American Only" signs at your table of plenty, unless we put them there. Tear down those signs erected by our hate, greed, and insecurity. Show us how to post "Welcome" signs. Let these signs be written in our eyes and in our gestures. As an act of our gratitude, help us contact someone in prison or college this very day. If we have two coats, warm our hearts enough to give one to someone shivering in the November winds. Show us how to take only what we need and give the rest away with joyful abandon. And, when summer comes, remind us to take two cold bottles of water with us — one for us and one for our homeless brother or sister who has no water. Let our thanks be in our actions and in our eyes, not just in our prayers alone. Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving for Jesus
O God, you are like a caring mother who would never leave us alone, so you sent your Son to watch over us. Thank you for Christ Jesus, our King. He was one of us, but one with you. What a good God you are! Your gift saved us!

Our King, your Son, taught us all we know about you. He taught us simple words, such as "Thank you." He told us that if we should fall, you would catch us. He showed us how to share. Your Son expected us to play fair. Your Son kissed our wounds. When we were made to sit in the corner, even there he'd come and sit.

Your Son made us better than we would have ever been without him. Now let us be copycat examples of Jesus for our children. Let us introduce them to our Great Savior over and over again until they know him and love him as much as we do. Amen.

Sherrie Dobbs Johnson is the pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, New York.

21st Century Africana Liturgy Resource for Christ the King Sunday/the Sunday Before Thanksgiving" Copyright © 2005 The Rev. Sherrie Dobbs Johnson. Used with permission.