
Christ the King Sunday (Proper 29) – Year A
22 November 2026 All day

Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them, plus prayers and sermons based on them.
Bible Readings (paraphrased)
Lections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville, TN 37203-0003, USA. Used with Permission.
Ezekiel 34: 11-16, 20-24
Psalm 100
Ephesians 1: 15-23
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- the promised goal of the mission to which you are called;
- the extravagant generosity of God’s provision for us;
- and the immense capacity of the dynamic power which is put to work in us when we trust God.
Matthew 25: 31-46
‘Welcome, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now, and inherit it; because I was hungry and you lot fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I came seeking asylum and you made me welcome, I didn’t have a stitch to wear and you lot gave me clothes, I was diseased and you took care of me, I was in detention and you visited me.’
Then those compassionate nations will ask him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ And the King will reply, ‘The fact is, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them, you were helping me.’ Then he will say to the nations on the other side:‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because I was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing, I came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in, I didn’t have a stitch to wear and you lot left me to freeze, I was diseased and in detention and you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’
They too will ask, ‘Lord, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ But he will answer, ‘The fact is, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society, and each time you turned your backs on them, you were turning your backs on me.’ And with that, those nations will be gone, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” ©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.netBelow are the alternative 1st Reading and Psalm themed to the Gospel lection
Ezekiel 34: 11-16, 20-24
Psalm 95: 1-7a
Prayers
Eucharistic Preface
Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)
General Prayer of Thanksgiving
Declaration of Grace / Absolution
Commission & Benediction
Sermons
Sermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website.
- When I was hungry, what did you do?
A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton - When I joined your church, you burned me out!
A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton - Icons on Street Corners
A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton - A Hope to Live By
A sermon on Ephesians 1: 15-23 & Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton - Justice as ‘Staple Diet’
A sermon on Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Ps 100, Ephesians 1:15-23, Matt 25:31-46 by Rowland Croucher - “I will lead my people”
A sermon on Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 & Ephesians 1:15-23 by Nathan Nettleton - Divided Up?
A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 & Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 by Nathan Nettleton - Will the Sheep Plead for the Goats?
A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton - Judging Nations
A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton - Nations that Flourish and Nations that Collapse
A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton