ReformationCelebration

Welcome To all

Who gatherWith us

today

Announcements:

OPENINGP: For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;C: they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.(Rom 3:22b-24 NRSV)

P: Jesus said: 'If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; C: and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'(John 8:31,32 NRSV)

P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.C: Amen.

A mighty fortress is our God 

A mighty fortress is our God,a trusty shield and weapon,

our faithful helper in all need,no matter what may happen.

The old evil foenow means deadly woe;

deep guile and great mightare his dread arms in fight;on earth he has no equal.

1/4

With our own might is nothing done;we'd soon be lost, rejected.

But for us fights the very one,whom God himself elected.

And who may this be?Christ Jesus is he.

He is our great Lord,there is no other God;

and he has won the battle.2/4

Though hordes of devils gather here,all eager to devour us,

we tremble not, we do not fear,they cannot overpower us.This world's prince may still

scowl fierce as he will,he does us no harm,

he's judged, he's overcome;one little word can fell him.

3/4

Despite all foes, the Word shall standagainst all their endeavour;

God's gifts and Spirit, close at hand,shall be with us forever.

Though they cause distress,take all we possess,

though they hurt and kill,we are victorious still;

the kingdom's ours forever. 

Ein feste Burg ist unser GottMartin Luther 1483-1546

Tr composite, David Schubert (1990)

In the first Epistle of John we read: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

CONFESSION OF SIN

Merciful God, in baptism you have joined us to Christ in his death and resurrection, and you have united us with all who are baptized in Christ’s name; but too often we fail to live as one people and to seek the unity of your church.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy

In baptism you have called the church to witness to Christ in all realms of life; but too often we do not seek to discern your will and to carry out your mission in the world.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy

In baptism you have sent us to serve all for whom Christ died; but too often we have ignored the suffering of the oppressed, the needs of the poor, the sorrow of those who are lonely and abandoned. Often, we have not been able to recognize your face in our neighbors. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy

FORGIVENESS

In baptism you were buried with Christ and raised to new life in him. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life is drowned, and a new life has begun. God, the merciful, has shown mercy to us, grants his Holy Spirit in us to transform us into people who walk in the love of Christ. Amen.

Reformation Dialog:

Blessed be God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. There is one Body and one Spirit;There is one hope in God's call to us; 

One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism;One God and Father of all. Blessed be God who sustains and protects his Holy Church.And blessed be God who guides and confirms us in our Faith. Amen. Alleluia!

THE PRAYER OF THE DAY

Lord God, you have given us your written Word for our learning. C: Lead us to hear them, read, note, learn, and inwardly digest them. Encourage and support us by your holy word, so that we may always hold onto the joyful hope of eternal life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.

P: For he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.C: Amen.

THE BIBLE READINGS FIRST READINGJeremiah 31:31-34 The Lord will write his law on our hearts

Response:L: This is the Word of the LordC: Thanks be to God.

SECOND READINGRomans 3:19-28 Justification by faith

Response:L: This is the Word of the LordC: Thanks be to God.

THE GOSPEL John 8:31-36 'In my word, you will know the truth'

Response:L: This is the Gospel of the Lord.C: Praise be to you O Christ.

APOSTLE’S CREED

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell.

The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, from thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

THIS KINGDOMWords and music: Geoff Bullock

Jesus, God's righteousness revealed, the Son of man, the Son of God, his kingdom comes. Jesus, redemption's sacrifice now glorified, now justified, his kingdom comes.

And this kingdom will know no endand its glory shall know no bounds, for the majesty and power of this kingdom's king has come.

And this kingdom's reign and this kingdom's rule and this kingdom's power and

authority –Jesus, God's righteousness revealed.

Jesus, the expression of God's love, the grace of God, the word of God revealed to us; Jesus, God's holiness displayed, now glorified, now justified, his kingdom comes.

And this kingdom will know no endand its glory shall know no bounds, for the majesty and power of this kingdom's king has come.

And this kingdom's reign and this kingdom's rule and this kingdom's power and

authority –Jesus, God's righteousness revealed.

LUTHER’S ROSEA Reformation Day Reflection

SERMON

“And around this field is a golden ring, symbolizing that such blessedness in Heaven lasts forever and has no end. Such blessedness is exquisite, beyond all joy and goods, just as gold is the most valuable, most precious and best metal.”

Luther’s Works 49, 356-359.  

We give our Offering

As we sing together the next song…

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD (345)

Robert Lowry/Public Domain

1. What can wash away my sin?Nothing but the blood of

Jesus.What can make me whole

again?Nothing but the blood of

Jesus.

Oh! Precious is the flowThat makes me white as

snow;no other fount I know -nothing but the blood of

Jesus.

2. For my pardon this I see:Nothing but the blood of

Jesus.For my cleansing this my

plea: Nothing but the blood of

Jesus.

Oh! Precious is the flowThat makes me white as

snow;no other fount I know -nothing but the blood of

Jesus.

3. This is all my hope and peace:

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my righteousnessNothing but the blood of

Jesus.

Oh! Precious is the flowThat makes me white as

snow;no other fount I know -nothing but the blood of

Jesus.

OFFERING PRAYER

Heavenly Father, there is nothing that we could offer to you as a sacrifice for our sin.Yet in your great love, you have offered up your own Son, so that through him we may be put right with you.Accept the gifts we offer here today,as mere tokens of our gratitudefor the great gift of salvationwhich you have given to us.

Amen.

ExhortationThe Lord God in his goodness has seen fit to call us together as the Church of Jesus Christ in this place. In our history of being God's people of Gnadenfrei St Michael’s Lutheran Church, God has given us his word of creation, redemption and blessing. He has given us his word of forgiveness and grace. He has given us his word of guidance and mission, and sent his Holy Spirit to empower us for that mission. And when we have strayed from his word, God has called us to return to him that we might continue to be blessed by his grace and favor. We are nothing without our God and his word of hope and promise.

Exhortation

Therefore, people of God, on this day I invite you to commit yourselves and your whole lives to God's holy word and to his loving purpose for you and for us as St Michael’s Lutheran Church, so that our lives may be enriched and the work of our hands blessed and prospered.

Litany of Commitment to God's Word:Almighty God, by your holy word, all

that we know has come into existence: our universe, our world, our lives, our loved ones, and all that we have and hold so dear. By your holy word, you sent forth your Son to bring us salvation through the cross of death and resurrection. By your holy word, you have called us together to be a Church of love and service in the world.

By your holy word, we know that we live in grace and hope. Keep us ever close to your word, that it might be written upon our hearts.We commit our lives to your word, O God.

Help us to grow in faith and love toward you, so that we might always live in trust and hope.We commit our lives to your word, O God.

Centre us in spiritual disciplines that keep us close to you, O Lord. Centre us in weekly worship.We commit our lives to your word, O God. Centre us in daily prayer.We commit our lives to your word, O God.

Centre us in knowledge of holy scripture.We commit our lives to your word, O God.

Centre us in the mission of the church.We commit our lives to your word, O God.

Centre us in lives of thankful giving and loving for all the blessings which you have bestowed upon us.We commit our lives to your word, O God.By your word, O Lord, guide our lives, forgive our sins, inspire our thoughts, shape our attitudes, lighten our darkness, give us eternal hope, and fill our hearts with joy, assuring us of your constant presence, until you bring us at last into the glories of your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

Silent Reflection

In preparation for Holy Communion

HOLY COMMUNION

P: The Lord be with youC: And also with you.P: Lift up your hearts.C: We lift them to the Lord.P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Loving God, we thank you for this world of wonder and delight. You have given it to us to care for, so that all your creatures may enjoy its bounty. Lord our God,we give you thanks and praise.

We thank you that when we turned away from you, you sent Jesus to live and work as one of us, and bring us back to you. He showed us how to love you and sets us free to love and serve one another. Lord our God, we give you thanks and praise.

We thank you that on the cross, Jesus took away our sin, and all that separates us from each other and from you. He frees us from hate and fear, from all that destroys love and trust. Lord our God, we give you thanks and praise.

And so, with everyone who believes in you, with all the saints and angels, we rejoice and praise you.Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

And now we give you thanks for these gifts of bread and wine; may we who receive them , as Jesus said, share his body and his blood.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

You have gathered us together to feed on Christ and to remember all he has done for us: Fill us with your Spirit that we may follow Jesus in all we do and say, working for justice and bringing your peace to this world that you have made. Accept our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Blessing and honour and glory and power are yours for every and ever. Amen.

Communion InvitationP: Come, everything is ready.

Prayer after Communion

Lord God, you constantly renew your churchthrough the pure preaching of your wordand the right administration of your sacraments.Renew our hearts, so that we may be strong in faith towards you and eager in good works towards all people.We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Amen.

BENEDICTION

The Lord bless you and keep you.The Lord make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you.The Lord look upon you with favour, and give you peace.Amen. Amen. Amen.

God has Spoken

God has spoken by his prophets spoken his unchanging WordEach, from age to age proclaiming God, the one, the righteous Lord.Mid the world’s despair and turmoil one firm anchor holds us fast:God is King, his throne eternal God the first, and God the last.

1/3

God has spoken by Christ Jesus Christ, the everlasting Son,Brightness of the Father’s glory, with the Father, ever one.Spoken by the Word incarnate God from God ere time began,Light from light to earth descending man, revealing God to man.

2/3

God is speaking by his Spirit, speaking to the hearts of men,In the age-long Word expounding God’s own message now as then,Through the rise and fall of nations one sure faith yet standing fast;God still speaks, his Word unchanging, God the first, and God the last.

3/3

You may stand for silent prayer as the bell is rung

Go in the Peaceof the risen Jesus