Reformation Sunday - October 29, 2017

Processional Hymn 371: To God be the Glory

Thanksgiving for Baptism

The presider (and assisting minister or deacon) may gather at a baptismal font.

Blessed be the Holy Trinity, one God,

the fountain of living water,

the rock who gave us birth,

our light and our salvation. Amen.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters, and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you take delight.

Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family. Through the sea, you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river, your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word, you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.

We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. In water we are buried with Christ in his death, share in his resurrection, and are reborn by the Holy Spirit.

Water may be poured into the font.

We thank you for the gifts of creation, for being made in your image and likeness, and for the gift of wholeness and salvation in Jesus Christ. Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.

The presider may sprinkle the members of the assembly with water from the font.

To you be honour and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

(Adapted from Evangelical Lutheran Worship and the Book of Alternative Services)

Confession and Absolution

Let us confess our sins,

confident in God’s forgiveness.

Silence is kept.

Most merciful God,

we confess that we have sinned against you

in thought, word, and deed,

by what we have done,

and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart;

we have not loved our neighbours

      as ourselves.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

have mercy on us and forgive us,

that we may delight in your will,

and walk in your ways,

to the glory of your name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The congregation is blessing with the waters of Baptism

Hymn: A Mighty Fortress

Prayer of the Day

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the love of God, and the communion

of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

    And also with you!

Let us pray.

God, renewer of life and only reformer, you surround us with a great cloud of witnesses throughout time and place whom you have called into your work, witnessing to your Gospel of liberation by grace alone. Continue now to raise up witness for your work of renewal and reform that we may all grow more deeply into that mystery of communion that is your church. Come now and sustain the on-going reformation of your church. We ask this all through your child Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

The Proclamation of the Word

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34

Psalm 46

Second Reading: Romans 3:19-28

Hymn 381: Praise My Soul

The Gospel: John 8: 31-36

Sermon: The Rev. Bonnie Scharf

The Prayers of the People

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

    And also with you.

Hymn 460: Lord, the Light

The Prayer over the Gifts

Let us pray,

God of power and love, by your Holy Spirit, draw the scattered flock of Christ into a visible unity and make your Church a sign of hope to our divided world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.                  (Common Worship)

Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.

    And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

    We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

    It is right to give our thanks and praise.

We give you thanks, Father, through Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, whom you sent in this end of the ages to save and redeem us and to proclaim to us your will.

He is your Word, inseparable from you, through whom you created all things, and in whom you take delight. He is your Word, sent to heaven to a virgin’s womb. He there took on our nature and our lot and was shown for the as your Son, born of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary. He, our Lord Jesus Christ, fulfilled all your will and won for you a holy people; he stretched out his hand in suffering in order to free from suffering those who trust you.

He is the one who, handed over to a death he freely accepted, in order to destroy death, to break the bonds of the evil one, to crush hell underfoot, to give light to the righteous, to establish his covenant, and to show forth the resurrection, taking bread and giving thanks to, said: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

In the same way he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering, then, his death and resurrection, we take this bread and cup, giving you thanks that you have made us worthy to stand before you and to serve you as your priestly people.

Send your Spirit upon these gifts of your church; gather into one all who share this bread and wine; fill us with your Holy Spirit to establish our faith in truth, that we may praise and glorify you through your Son Jesus Christ; through whom all glory and honour are yours, almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy church, both now and forever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,

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.

Save us from the time of trial,

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours,

now and for ever. Amen.

Invitation to the Table

“I am the bread of life,” says the Lord.

“Whoever comes to me will never be hungry;

whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

happy are they who trust in him!

Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)

Hymns-during-communion

- 525: The Church’s One Foundation

- 551: My Faith Looks Up

- 400: What a Wonderous Love

The Sending Forth of the Community

Hymn 36: Now There is No Male or Female

Prayer after Communion

Let us pray,

Holy God, in this meal you give us a foretaste of that day when all will gather together in peace, when justice will embrace all the earth. Send us forth to make known your saving deeds and to proclaim the greatness of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessing

May God the Father,

who created all things good,

equip us as good stewards of this earth. Amen.

May God the Son,

who shared our humanity,

help us see his face in every person. Amen.

May God the Holy Spirit,

in whom we are reborn,

sustain and renew us on our pilgrimage. Amen.

And the blessing of God:

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.

526: God is our Fortress

The Scattering (Mark 4:20)

Go in peace, liberated by God’s grace.

Thanks be to God.