Post on 14-May-2018
Reformation Day The 500th Anniversary
31 October 2017 7:30 p.m.
Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, Indiana
T In Nomine Jesu T
Pre-Service Music Kyrie, God Father in Heaven Above The hymn is sung in Latin and English; the text may be found at LSB 942. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God setting by Johann Sebastian Bach
Fantasia on “In Peace and Joy I Now Depart” setting by Kevin Hildebrand
Hymn Thy Strong Word (LSB 578) setting by James Biery The congregation stands at the conclusion of the hymn introduction.
Stanzas 3–4 Choir
Thy strong Word bespeaks us righteous;
Bright with Thine own holiness, Glorious now, we press toward glory,
And our lives our hopes confess.
From the cross Thy wisdom shining Breaketh forth in conqu’ring might;
From the cross forever beameth
All Thy bright redeeming light. Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise to Thee who light dost send!
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end!
(continued)
2
Stanza 5 All
Give us lips to sing Thy glory,
Tongues Thy mercy to proclaim,
Throats that shout the hope that fills us,
Mouths to speak Thy holy name.
Alleluia, alleluia!
May the light which Thou dost send
Fill our songs with alleluias,
Alleluias without end!
Stanza 6 All
God the Father, light-creator,
To Thee laud and honor be.
To Thee, Light of Light begotten,
Praise be sung eternally.
Holy Spirit, light-revealer,
Glory, glory be to Thee.
Mortals, angels, now and ever
Praise the holy Trinity!
Versicles
Sit
3
Psalmody My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker (from Psalm 103) Johann Hermann Schein
His grace remains forever,
And children’s children yet shall prove
That God forsakes them never
Who in true fear shall seek His love.
In heav’n is fixed His dwelling,
His rule is over all;
O hosts with might excelling,
With praise before Him fall.
Praise Him forever reigning,
All you who hear His Word—
Our life and all sustaining.
My soul, O praise the Lord!
First Reading Romans 3:19–28 P O Lord, have mercy on us.
C Thanks be to God.
Stand
Hymn O God, Our Lord, Thy Holy Word setting by Kevin Hildebrand The congregation stands at the conclusion of the hymn introduction.
Choir
All
Choir
All
4
Sit
Second Reading Matthew 11:12–19 P O Lord, have mercy on us.
C Thanks be to God.
Cantata God the Lord Is Sun and Shield (Cantata 79) Johann Sebastian Bach
Chorus
God the Lord is sun and shield; the Lord gives mercy and glory.
No good thing He withholds from those who are faithful.
Aria (Alto)
God is ever sun and shield,
therefore we our praises bringing,
join with grateful hearts in singing
thanks for all His tender care.
He will still protect and bless us,
though our foes may sore distress us,
sharpened arrows they may wield.
Chorale
Now thank we all our God
with hearts and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who, from our mother’s arms,
has blest us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
Recitative (Bass)
Praise God! We know where to find the way to blessedness,
for, Jesus, You show the way through Your Word and teaching:
to You praise of Your name forever reaching.
But since so many here on earth dismiss
Your word and walk in blindness, with the worldly,
Lord, pity them and call them by Your graciousness
To walk the righteous way forever
And call You by Your name as Savior!
Aria (Duet—Soprano, Bass)
God, O God, forsake Your children nevermore!
Let Your word for us be shining;
all the more enemies are fiercely raging,
You alone our lips are praising.
Chorale
Firm in Your truth retain us,
In liberty sustain us,
To praise Your name forever
Through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Sermon
5
Stand Nunc Dimittis In Peace and Joy I Now Depart (LSB 938) The choir sings stanza 2 in a setting by Donald Busarow.
Kyrie
Lord's Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;
give us this day our dily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Salutation
6
Collects
After each collect, the congregation sings:
Closing Collect Grant Peace, We Pray, In Mercy, Lord (LSB 777) The hymn is sung twice, first by the choir and then by the congregation.
Benedicamus
Benediction
7
Greetings
Hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (LSB 656)
Postlude A Mighty Fortress Is Our God setting by Charles Ore
T Soli Deo Gloria T
8
Participants
Preacher
The Reverend Matthew C. Harrison
President, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Officiants
The Reverend Professor Lawrence R. Rast Jr.
President
The Reverend Professor Paul J. Grime
Dean of the Chapel
Lectors
The Reverend Terry L. Cripe
President, Ohio District
The Reverend Daniel P. May
President, Indiana District
Organist
Kantor Matthew A. Machemer
Director Kantor Kevin J. Hildebrand
Choirs
Seminary Schola Cantorum
Seminary Kantorei
Concordia Lutheran High School Chamber Singers
Soloists
Katie Schuermann, soprano
David Solum, bass
Crucifer and Torchbearers Seminarian Wade Bellesbach
Seminarian Daniel Broaddus
Seminarian Eli Voigt
Instrumentalists
Violin
Jason Thompson
Emily Thompson
Alexandra Tsilibes
Timothy Tan
Wesley Mui
Viola
Linda Kummernuss
Cello
Heather Scott
Bass
Jess Gaze
Flute
Ann Donner
Emily Debner
Trumpet/Flügelhorn
Douglas Hofherr
James Zanker
Horn
Eamonn Ferguson
Trombone
Justin Mason
Timpani/Percussion
John Smith
Acknowledgements
Thy Strong Word text: © 1969 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSBHymnLicense.NET, no. 100010029.
In Peace and Joy I Now Depart text: © 1978 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSBHymnLicense.NET, no. 100010029.
Grant Peace, We Pray text: @ Lutheran World Federation. Used by permission: LSBHymnLicense.NET, no. 100010029.
Office of Vespers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 CPH. Used with permission.
This service folder was prepared using Lutheran Service Builder.
In the Service
Cantata 79, one of two cantatas J. S. Bach wrote specifically for the festival of the
Reformation, was heard in Leipzig on October 31 in the years 1725 and 1730. The
cantata’s focus is twofold: thanking and praising God for his protection and gift of
salvation, and praying for the clear and faithful proclamation of God’s Word.
While the service this evening naturally includes that stalwart hymn “A Mighty
Fortress,” it was another hymn, O God, Our Lord, Thy Holy Word, that was most
often sung in the sixteenth century to celebrate the Reformation. Although the hymn has
fallen out of use in recent practice, its inclusion in tonight’s anniversary service may
signal a renaissance of this “battle hymn of the Reformation” as the Church continues her
work under the grace of God.
Finally, the hymn Thy Strong Word is heard for the first time this evening in a new
setting by James Biery that was commissioned by Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort
Wayne, for the anniversary celebration.
Artwork
The artwork in this service folder is part of an exhibit titled SOLA that opens today in
Kroemer Library. Please feel free to browse the exhibit following the service or in the
coming months. The exhibit will be open through January 31, 2018.
Cover — A Celebration of the Reformation (Anne Ziegler)
Page 2 — The Double-edged Sword (Zachary Viggers)
Page 4 — Reformation Cross (Sara Nordling)
Page 5 — Behold His Hands and Side (David Bahn)
This page — Parables of the Vineyard (Edward Riojas)
Concordia Theological Seminary
exists to form servants in Jesus Christ
who teach the faithful,
reach the lost,
and care for all.