Sunday, November 23, 2025 -- 10:30am Worship Service
Welcome to Maxwell Street! We hope you will consider wearing a nametag so that we might get to know one another better. They can be found in the lobbies outside the sanctuary. You can find more helpful information inside this bulletin.
Greeting & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Prelude - All Creatures of Our God and King, Cynthia Dobrinski, Westminster Bells
Call to Worship - (Colossians 1.11-20)
Let us give thanks to God, who has enabled us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
God has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us
into the kingdom of his beloved Son,
Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation,
He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have first place in everything.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.
Let us worship God together!
+ Hymn 268 - Crown Him with Many Crowns
+ Call to Confession
+ A Prayer of Confession
Righteous God, you have crowned Jesus Christ as Lord of all. We confess that we have not bowed before him, and are slow to acknowledge his rule. We give allegiance to the powers of this world, and fail to be governed by justice and love. In your mercy, forgive us. Raise us to acclaim him as ruler of all, that we may be loyal ambassadors, obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hear now our silent prayers of confession.
• Assurance of Pardon
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581, (Gloria Patri)
Passing of the Peace
Children’s Message
Prayer for Openness
Sovereign God, let your Word rule in our hearts and your Spirit govern our lives until at last we see the fulfillment of your realm of justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading - Luke 1.68-79, NT pg 58 (NRSVUE)
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his child David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Anthem - He Never Failed Me Yet, Robert Ray, Chancel Choir, Jayden Bowman, solo
I will sing of God’s mercy, every day, every hour, He gives me power. I will sing and give thanks to Thee for all the dangers, toils and snares that He has brought me out. He is my God and I’ll serve Him. Trust and never doubt, Jesus will surely bring you out, He never failed me yet.
Scripture Reading - Luke 23.33-43, NT pg 89 (NRSVUE)
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Sermon - The Reign of Christ - Rev Matt Falco
Statement of Faith - Inclusive Version of the Confession of 1967 9.54b-56
…Already God’s reign is present as a ferment in the world, stirring hope in all people and preparing the world to receive its ultimate judgment and redemption. With an urgency born of this hope, the church applies itself to present tasks and strives for a better world. It does not identify limited progress with the kingdom of God on earth, nor does it despair in the face of disappointment and defeat. In steadfast hope, the church looks beyond all partial achievement to the final triumph of God. “Now to him who by the power within us is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
+ HYMN 645 - Sing Praise to God
Prayers of the People & THE LORD’s PRAYER
Offering
• INVITATION
• Offertory - A Psalm of Thanksgiving Franklin Ritter
• Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessing flow Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
• Prayer of Dedication
Hunger Offering
On the fourth Sunday of the month, we collect a special Hunger Offering to support the Hunger Ministries of Maxwell Street. We offer a community meal every Thursday night, support area programs such as a backpack program for Maxwell Street Elementary and the Big Blue Pantry on the UK Campus. You can support these programs on our online giving webpage, MSPC app, or by check with Hunger Ministries in the memo line.
+ HYMN 363 - Rejoice, the Lord Is King!
Charge & Benediction
Benediction Response - Hymn 647, Give Thanks
Give thanks with a grateful heart; give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks because we’re given Jesus Christ, the Son. (2x)
And now let the weak say, “We are strong”;
let the poor say, “We are rich because of what the Lord has done for us!” (2x)
Give thanks. Give thanks.
Postlude - Carillon, Herbert Murrill
Greeting & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Prelude - All Creatures of Our God and King, Cynthia Dobrinski, Westminster Bells
Call to Worship - (Colossians 1.11-20)
Let us give thanks to God, who has enabled us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
God has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us
into the kingdom of his beloved Son,
Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation,
He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have first place in everything.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.
Let us worship God together!
+ Hymn 268 - Crown Him with Many Crowns
+ Call to Confession
+ A Prayer of Confession
Righteous God, you have crowned Jesus Christ as Lord of all. We confess that we have not bowed before him, and are slow to acknowledge his rule. We give allegiance to the powers of this world, and fail to be governed by justice and love. In your mercy, forgive us. Raise us to acclaim him as ruler of all, that we may be loyal ambassadors, obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hear now our silent prayers of confession.
• Assurance of Pardon
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581, (Gloria Patri)
Passing of the Peace
Children’s Message
Prayer for Openness
Sovereign God, let your Word rule in our hearts and your Spirit govern our lives until at last we see the fulfillment of your realm of justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading - Luke 1.68-79, NT pg 58 (NRSVUE)
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his child David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Anthem - He Never Failed Me Yet, Robert Ray, Chancel Choir, Jayden Bowman, solo
I will sing of God’s mercy, every day, every hour, He gives me power. I will sing and give thanks to Thee for all the dangers, toils and snares that He has brought me out. He is my God and I’ll serve Him. Trust and never doubt, Jesus will surely bring you out, He never failed me yet.
Scripture Reading - Luke 23.33-43, NT pg 89 (NRSVUE)
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Sermon - The Reign of Christ - Rev Matt Falco
Statement of Faith - Inclusive Version of the Confession of 1967 9.54b-56
…Already God’s reign is present as a ferment in the world, stirring hope in all people and preparing the world to receive its ultimate judgment and redemption. With an urgency born of this hope, the church applies itself to present tasks and strives for a better world. It does not identify limited progress with the kingdom of God on earth, nor does it despair in the face of disappointment and defeat. In steadfast hope, the church looks beyond all partial achievement to the final triumph of God. “Now to him who by the power within us is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
+ HYMN 645 - Sing Praise to God
Prayers of the People & THE LORD’s PRAYER
Offering
• INVITATION
• Offertory - A Psalm of Thanksgiving Franklin Ritter
• Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessing flow Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
• Prayer of Dedication
Hunger Offering
On the fourth Sunday of the month, we collect a special Hunger Offering to support the Hunger Ministries of Maxwell Street. We offer a community meal every Thursday night, support area programs such as a backpack program for Maxwell Street Elementary and the Big Blue Pantry on the UK Campus. You can support these programs on our online giving webpage, MSPC app, or by check with Hunger Ministries in the memo line.
+ HYMN 363 - Rejoice, the Lord Is King!
Charge & Benediction
Benediction Response - Hymn 647, Give Thanks
Give thanks with a grateful heart; give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks because we’re given Jesus Christ, the Son. (2x)
And now let the weak say, “We are strong”;
let the poor say, “We are rich because of what the Lord has done for us!” (2x)
Give thanks. Give thanks.
Postlude - Carillon, Herbert Murrill