Christ the King Sunday Liturgy
The last Sunday of the Christian year, also called Reign of Christ Sunday
The church year ends not with a crown of gold but with a king who reigns from a cross, feeds the hungry, and welcomes the least of these. Christ the King Sunday gathers up the whole story of the year and declares that Jesus, not any earthly power, holds the final word.
Below you will find a complete liturgy for each year of the Revised Common Lectionary, along with prayers and study for this day.
Christ the King Sunday Liturgies
Each liturgy includes a call to worship, prayers of confession and illumination, an assurance of pardon, and a benediction for that year's readings.
Prayers and Study for Christ the King
Use these on their own or alongside any of the liturgies above.
Lectionary Readings for Christ the King Sunday
The Revised Common Lectionary assigns different readings to Christ the King in each year of its three-year cycle.
Year A
- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
- Psalm 100 or Psalm 95:1-7a
- Ephesians 1:15-23
- Matthew 25:31-46
Year B
- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 or Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
- Psalm 132:1-12 or Psalm 93
- Revelation 1:4b-8
- John 18:33-37
Year C
- Jeremiah 23:1-6
- Luke 1:68-79 or Psalm 46
- Colossians 1:11-20
- Luke 23:33-43
Common Questions About Christ the King Sunday
What is Christ the King Sunday?
Christ the King Sunday is the last Sunday of the Christian year. It celebrates the reign of Jesus Christ over all creation and all of history. Many Protestant churches, including the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), also call it Reign of Christ Sunday.
The readings show a surprising kind of king: a shepherd who seeks the lost, a judge who is found among the hungry and the imprisoned, and a crucified Lord who promises paradise to a dying thief.
When is Christ the King Sunday?
Christ the King Sunday falls on the Sunday before the First Sunday of Advent, always between November 20 and 26.
Upcoming dates: November 22, 2026; November 21, 2027; November 26, 2028; November 25, 2029; November 24, 2030.
Where did Christ the King Sunday come from?
Pope Pius XI established the feast in 1925, in a world shaken by the First World War and the rise of nationalism and secularism. The feast declared that Christ, not any state or ruler, is Lord. In 1969 it was moved to the last Sunday of the church year, and many Protestant churches adopted it through the Revised Common Lectionary.
Why does the church year end with Christ the King?
The Christian year tells the story of Jesus from the waiting of Advent through his birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and the gift of the Spirit. Ending with Christ the King completes that story by pointing to its goal: the day when Christ's reign is fully revealed. The next Sunday, Advent begins the story again with longing for his coming.
What color is used for Christ the King Sunday?
White or gold, the colors of the great feasts of Christ. Christ the King is the last Sunday on which white is used before the blue or purple of Advent.
A complete Christ the King Sunday liturgy for Year A, with call to worship, prayers, and benediction for Ezekiel 34 and Matthew 25.