Reformation Sunday

On this day we celebrate the heart of our faith: the gospel of Christ—the good news—that makes us free! We pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to unite the church today in its proclamation and witness to the world. In the waters of baptism we are made one body; we pray for the day that all Christians will also be one at the Lord's table.

Welcome to All Our Guests and Visitors: The people of First Lutheran Church extend a very sincere welcome to you. For this morning’s worship we will be using the Red Book (Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW)).

P: Pastor A: Assisting Minister C: Congregation * Please stand as you are able

Per CDC Guidelines: facemasks are now optional indoors (this may change). It’s never inappropriate to wear a mask. Please do what makes you feel comfortable.

PRELUDE: "The Church's One Foundation" ~ Ore

*GATHERING SONG: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” ELW #504

+ GATHERING +

BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS:

P In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

P Recognizing our need for God's mercy, let us confess our sin, and seek reconciliation with God and each other.

Silence is kept for reflection.

God of justice and compassion,

C we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves, We have not been faithful stewards of your creation. We have failed to share the bounty of your harvest with the poor and needy. Forgive our sin, increase our faith, strengthen us in service, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

P Heaven rejoices when a sinner repents and a lost sheep is found. In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

*GREETING:

A The grace given to us in Christ Jesus, the power of God who calls us with a holy calling, and the help of the Holy Spirit living in us be with you all.

C And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

A Almighty God, gracious Lord, we thank you that your Holy Spirit renews the church in every age. Pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your word, protect and comfort them in times of trial, defend them against all enemies of the gospel, and bestow on the church your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen

CHOIR ANTHEM: “God is Our Refuge" ~ Pote

JUST FOR KIDS — Kids please meet up front with Pastor Dennis

Sunday School ~ all children age 3 on up may go with the teacher to the classroom.

+ WORD +

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 31:31–34

The renewed covenant will not be breakable, but like the old covenant it will expect the people to live upright lives. To know the Lord means that one will defend the cause of the poor and needy (Jer. 22:16). The renewed covenant is possible only because the Lord will forgive iniquity and not remember sin. Our hope lies in a God who forgets.

The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. ³²It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. ³³But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the LORD," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

PSALM: Psalm 46, Read Together

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Ps. 46:7)

God is our ref- ^| uge and strength,

a very present ^| help in trouble.

²Therefore we will not fear, though the ^| earth be moved,

and though the mountains shake in the depths ^| of the sea;

³though its waters ^| rage and foam,

and though the mountains tremble ^| with its tumult.

⁴There is a river whose streams make glad the cit- ^| y of God,

the holy habitation of ^| the Most High.

⁵God is in the midst of the city; it shall ^| not be shaken;

God shall help it at the ^| break of day.

⁶The nations rage, and the ^| kingdoms shake;

God speaks, and the earth ^| melts away.

⁷The LORD of ^| hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob ^| is our stronghold.

⁸Come now, regard the works ^| of the LORD,

what desolations God has brought up- ^| on the earth;

⁹behold the one who makes war to cease in ^| all the world;

who breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,

and burns the ^| shields with fire.

¹⁰"Be still, then, and know that ^| I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations;

I will be exalted ^| in the earth."

¹¹The LORD of ^| hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob ^| is our stronghold.

SECOND READING: Romans 3:19–28

Paul's words stand at the heart of the preaching of Martin Luther and the other Reformation leaders. No human beings make themselves right with God through works of the law. We are brought into a right relationship with God through the divine activity centered in Christ's death. This act is a gift of grace that liberates us from sin and empowers our faith in Jesus Christ.

Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. ²⁰For "no human being will be justified in his sight" by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

²¹But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, ²²the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, ²³since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; ²⁴they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; ²⁶it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.

²⁷Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. ²⁸For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.

*HOLY GOSPEL: John 8:31–36

P The Holy Gospel according to John, the eighth chapter.

C Glory to you, O Lord

Jesus speaks of truth and freedom as spiritual realities known through his word. He reveals the truth that sets people free from sin.

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." ³³They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?"

³⁴Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. ³⁵The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. ³⁶So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."

P The Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to you, O Christ

SERMON: Pastor Dennis Hickman

HYMN OF THE DAY: “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” ELW #517

APOSTLES’ CREED:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

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

* catholic means universal

SHARING OF THE PEACE:

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C And also with you.

(The congregation greets one another in the name of the Lord: “Peace be with you.”)

OFFERING: “A Mighty Fortress” ~ arr. Bill Holcombe

Jeff Snedeker, Horn; Betty Kramlich, Piano

(Download Vanco Mobile app to give via your phone)

*OFFERTORY: “Listen, God Is Calling” ELW #513 vs. 1

Listen, listen, God is calling, through the Word inviting, offering forgiveness, comfort and joy.

Jesus gave his mandate: share the good news that he came to save us and set us free.

Listen, listen, God is calling, through the Word inviting, offering forgiveness, comfort and joy.

*OFFERTORY PRAYER:

A God of all creation, all you have made is good, and your love endures forever. You bring forth bread from the earth and fruit from the vine. Nourish us with these gifts, that we might be for the world signs of your gracious presence in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

C Amen.

+ PRAYERS +

A God hears the cry of the poor and is near to all in need. Let us pray for our neighbors, our world, and ourselves, trusting in God's mercy and love.

Prayer Petitions...

P All this we ask, gracious God, together with all that is known to you alone, in the name of your risen and anointed Son, through the power of your life-giving Spirit.

C Amen

+ THE LORD’S SUPPER +

*THE GREAT THANKSGIVING:

P The Lord be with you.

C 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.

P It is indeed right, our duty and our joy... we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

“Holy, Holy, Holy” ELW # 191

Holy, holy, holy are you. God of power and might; heaven and earth are filled with your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in your name. Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

THE WORDS of INSTITUTION

THE 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 daily 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

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION

The Lord invites to His table to receive his Body and Blood those who are baptized and believe the words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sin.” Children who have not yet received their first Holy Communion are invited forward for a blessing. Children who do receive the bread and wine, please hold out your hands so we know to serve you. We are aware that alcohol is not a choice for some people; therefore, we offer white grape juice as an alternative choice. The white grape juice is in the center of each tray of glasses, the wine is red. Feel free to stand if kneeling is a hardship for you. Communion assistants please come forward also and kneel at the altar rail. Pre-sealed cups are still available on the little table in the center.

OTHER HYMNS DURING DISTRIBUTION: ELW #471

*POST-COMMUNION BLESSING:

P The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

C Amen.

*POST-COMMUNION PRAYER:

A O God, we give you thanks that you have set before us this feast, the body and blood of your Son. By your Spirit strengthen us to serve all in need and to give ourselves away as bread for the hungry, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C Amen.

+ SENDING +

*BLESSING:

P Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth and forevermore.

C Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

*SENDING SONG: “On Our Way Rejoicing” ELW #537

DISMISSAL:

A Go in peace. Remember the poor.

C Thanks be to God.

*POSTLUDE: "Old 100th" ~ Johnson