Reformation Sunday

Order of Worship

Download today's bulletin PDF for the entire order of worship and more. 

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the messengers you have sent us. Particularly, we thank you for great theologians of our past: Martin Luther, Philip Melancthon, Martin Chemnitz, Johann Gerhard, Gerhard Forde, and James Nestingen. But we are also grateful for those doctors of the faith that you are raising up in your church today. Give us ears to hear the gospel in our day, and mouths to proclaim your eternal gospel throughout the world. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Holy Spirit, you are the river that runs through the City of God so that, though the waters of the world roar and foam, you bring us the daily bread of peace through the word and promises of Christ Jesus. We will not be troubled but gladdened by your presence. Help us then to be still and know that you are God in our midst. We ask that you likewise gladden the hearts of those who remain of your people in the Holy Land, blessing them with your presence, especially that they now lack the company of so many brothers and sisters in faith. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We are tempted, Lord Jesus, to try to assist you in saving us. We do not always feel saved and are then tempted to create pious moods through good works and religious activities. Remind us of what Dr. Luther said, that you don’t need our good works but our neighbors do. Remind us too, of what the Apostle Paul taught, that we are justified by God’s grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in you, God’s own merciful satisfaction through your shed blood. Help us always to receive your precious gift through faith alone. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word. Restrain the evil and deluded who by guile or earthly power would seek to overthrow your Son and to destroy what he has done. Make your power known through our county and indeed, the world. Defend your kingdom that we may sing your praise from the crib of Bethlehem to the inner and outermost parts of heaven and earth. And finally, O Comforter of priceless worth, send peace and unity on earth. Give our homebound and hospitalized your sweet comfort and support all who are in their final strife, leading your holy, communion of saints out of death and into life. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy — through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Teaching

Open or download this week's preview of the lessons. We send this to our homebound with a bulletin each week and thought you might like to have a copy as well. You may read it online or print it out. It includes prayers, brief teaching on each of the four lessons for Sunday, an overview, and an additional Word Search based on the Gospel Lesson. 

Vespers Tonight

Join us for Vespers this evening in the parsonage (across the street from the church) at 6:00. We will be eating and laughing, singing and praying, and reading and discussing the readings for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost: 2 Kings 17:1–18; Acts 9:36–43; Luke 5:1–11.