This Sunday is last of the year for those of us following the Church Calendar. How fitting to close the year by focusing on Christ's Kingship.
The Lectionary Readings: John 18:33-37
Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Psalm 93
Revelation 1:4b-8
The Collect:
Almighty 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.
Special Food for the Day:
A King's Cake. I will make a cake shaped like a crown in a bundt pan. We will use white icing and let the kids decorate with gumdrops for jewels (we also do this at Epiphany).
I also like the idea from Catholic Cuisine of preparing a meal fit for a king!
A King's Cake. I will make a cake shaped like a crown in a bundt pan. We will use white icing and let the kids decorate with gumdrops for jewels (we also do this at Epiphany).
I also like the idea from Catholic Cuisine of preparing a meal fit for a king!
Other Activities and Customs:
Since this feast began in 1925 there are really no traditional activities. This means you can make up your own. There is so much you can do.
Since this feast began in 1925 there are really no traditional activities. This means you can make up your own. There is so much you can do.
- Discuss as a family our need for a just and wise King and Christ's unique way of ruling by serving.
- Celebrate this day as a sort of New Year's Eve, reflecting on the highlights of the last year and using Scripture readings to lead you to new resolutions for the upcoming year (This is the last Sunday in Ordinary Time, Ordinary Time technically will not end until the Saturday night before Advent begins).
- Though we pay special attention to Christ's kingship this day, He is King throughout the year. Discuss how we see Christ as King throughout the liturgy: in Advent, as we await His coming again in glory; in Christmastide, we see the coming of a King of Peace; at Epiphany, Christ adored by other Kings; at Lent and Good Friday perhaps his kingship can seem veiled to us but it is His Holy position that gives his suffering power and at Easter, He is the Triumphant Hero overthrowing evil to restore His Kingdom.
- Also spend some time to prepare for Advent, a season of waiting and reflection so that we too may "Come and Adore Him."
5 comments:
This is one of my favorite Sundays in the church year. Thanks for the great suggestions!
Annie
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momco3
Thank you so much for the reminder! I feel like I don't have a handle on anything right now, though writing out simple plans has been on my to do list for a few days.
I'm not sure what we'll do for dinner since my husband usually cooks on the weekends, but...I am getting out the good china and the silver. We may even spend some time on Friday polishing the silver, a good preschool task!
Hi Annie--I had written that this is one of my favorite Sundays too, but erased it when I realized how often I say that--Trinity Sunday, Pentecost, Easter...The Wonder of the church year!
Great idea to polish the china Barb--a Montessori task I've never tried with the kids!
Love this! It really is my favorite Sunday of the church year (um, Easter doesn't count right? I mean, you can't include the Queen of Feast as your favorite, can you? it's everybody's!), and I love getting ideas for how to celebrate it as a family.
Personally, I really like the eschatalogical (sp?) aspect of it - the Christ returning in glory part. I always want to stride around the house singing "Lo! He comes in clouds descending" in an unladylike bellow.
Oh, Jessica, what a great point about tying it to Christ's return--such a good lead in to Advent too. It also makes me realize that this is not something we've really taught the kids about either so I'll have to think about it some more.
I will think of you on Sunday as I bellow :-)
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