Reformation Sunday (observed) 10/27/24
Reformation Pentecost 23 10.27.24 PDF ds1
REFORMATION SUNDAY (observed)
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
OCTOBER 27, 2024
ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, FALLS CHURCH, VA
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PRELUDE A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Settings: 1. Ralph Schultz, 2. Kevin Hildebrand
WELCOME
ENTRANCE HYMN (Stand) A Mighty Fortress Is Our God LSB 656
1 A mighty fortress is our God,
A trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from ev’ry need
That hath us now o’ertaken.
The old evil foe
Now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might
Are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal.
2 With might of ours can naught be done,
Soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the valiant One,
Whom God Himself elected.
Ask ye, Who is this?
Jesus Christ it is,
Of Sabaoth Lord,
And there’s none other God;
He holds the field forever.
3 Though devils all the world should fill,
All eager to devour us,
We tremble not, we fear no ill;
They shall not overpow’r us.
This world’s prince may still
Scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none.
He’s judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him.
4 The Word they still shall let remain
Nor any thanks have for it;
He’s by our side upon the plain
With His good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life,
Goods, fame, child, and wife,
Though these all be gone,
Our vict’ry has been won;
The Kingdom ours remaineth.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION LSB 151
In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.
Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. 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 neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal
punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us,
renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to
the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
KYRIE LSB 152
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for
the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to
the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
THIS IS THE FEAST LSB 155
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of
God.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are His.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
For the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray. Almighty and gracious Lord,
pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people. Keep us steadfast in Your grace
and truth, protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defend us against all
enemies, and grant to Your Church Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your
Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now
and forever. Amen.
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THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST LESSON (Be seated) Jeremiah 31:31-34
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares 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. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
(8:00) PSALM 46 (Sung responsively)
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
(10:30) ANTHEM JUBILATION CHOIR That Priceless Grace Setting: John Hagen
That priceless grace…which gave me life
Jesus’ life is priceless grace
That priceless grace is life for me
That priceless blood…was shed for me
Jesus’ blood is priceless grace
That priceless grace is life for me
That painful death…took sins away
Jesus’ death is priceless grace
That priceless grace is life for me
That precious word…which brought me light
Jesus’ word is priceless grace
That priceless grace is life for me
SECOND LESSON Romans 3:19-28
Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
(10:30) CHILDREN’S SERMON
ALLELUIA VERSE (Stand) LSB 156
Alleluia.
Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL Mark 10:32-45
The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark the 10th chapter
Glory to You, O Lord.
And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen. Dear friends in Christ:
The Gospel lesson just read is not one of the assigned readings from the church to be read on this day. I chose it on my own because it continues our readthrough of Mark and because it allows us to lift up some different themes on this day.
And just so you know, this will be the second time this year that we’ve examined this reading. We did so back in Lent as well, where the church assigns it as a message about Jesus’ servanthood while he journeys to the cross.
In the reading, Jesus tells his disciples that he will soon die and rise again. And this is now the third time, over the course of just a few chapters, that he has shared this prediction with them.
From there, the reading moves on to a request by two of Jesus’ disciples, James and John. Their request – to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand in his glory – is certainly a bold one. And it may seem to us a little out of character. But if we look back at what happened after Jesus’ first two passion predictions, we can understand their thinking a little more clearly.
You may recall that after Jesus gave his first prediction, Peter immediately rebuked him. Maybe Peter couldn’t bear the thought of his master being killed. But more likely, he probably thought that such talk by Jesus was an admitting of defeat.
Either way, Jesus responded to this rebuke by telling Peter in no uncertain terms that he was out of line. He told him that Satan was behind these words and that he was “setting his mind on the things of man instead of the things of God.”
When Jesus predicted his death and resurrection a second time, none of the disciples responded. No doubt they recalled the words of Jesus to Peter the last time. Mark tells us that they “did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.”
When Jesus gave his third prediction, James and John apparently decided that this time they would respond by showing their belief. Whether or not they actually believed that Jesus was going to die and rise again or whether they thought he would just suffer a setback for a time and then rise to power, either way they saw a chance to get in on the prospect of future glory. And they seized it, by asking for roles of prominence and honor when Jesus entered into his kingdom.
As stated already, their request was certainly a bold one. But perhaps James and John drew on the fact that they were among Jesus’ earliest disciples. And I’m sure they remembered, as well, that Jesus, back in chapter three, had given them the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder.
Also, in the verses right before this, Jesus had promised that those who followed him would “receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands,” albeit “with persecutions.” And no doubt James and John remembered these words of promise as they made their request.
In his response to them, Jesus chose not to rebuke James and John but rather to lead them through a consideration of what they were asking. He tells them that only God the Father can decide who will sit in places of prominence in his kingdom. And he shares also that following him won’t be easy. It will in fact involve sacrifice and suffering – as indicated by the cup that they would need to drink and the baptism which they would need to be baptized with – both phrases indicating difficult ordeals.
Furthermore, Jesus’ answer makes clear that what is truly important is his glory, and that his glory will be found in the servant nature of his task. That task was to give his life as a ransom for many – one that would provide life for all who followed him in faith.
Those who wished to share in this glory would need to accept the role of a servant too. In Jesus’ kingdom, greatness only comes through serving.
James and John, by their request, clearly misunderstood what Jesus was preparing to do. They didn’t catch that the kingdom he was building was not of this world. Nor did they understand that the kingdom of his which existed in the world was all about faith and service.
But we can’t be too hard on James and John. For their misunderstandings have persisted among others too – even among those living with the knowledge that Jesus’ predictions came true. Many in the church have acted wrongly based on these misunderstandings. And perhaps that includes you and me as well.
Today we are remembering the great Reformation of the 16th century which was led by Martin Luther and many others. And as we celebrate their great reforms, we should remember that we today may have a need to be reformed as well. We may have misunderstandings about God’s message and intentions. And we may have misunderstandings about how his message is to be applied. We are an imperfect people, whose hearts and minds are impacted by sin. And we can easily go astray from the path on which Christ would lead us.
Looking back at the arc of history, Luther’s reforms came as Europe was exiting what we call the medieval age. In his great work Jesus Through the Centuries, esteemed scholar Jaroslav Pelikan characterizes the medieval church as one that fixated on the cross of Christ, but not necessarily in the way that the cross is supposed to be understood.
To help us explore this misunderstanding, Pelikan points us to the words of Paul in First Corinthians chapter one, specifically his statement: “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” Pelikan points to these words because he says that the church of the middle ages thought about the cross of Christ mostly in terms of God’s power and God’s wisdom – those two characteristics which Paul mentions at the end of his statement.
To explain about the focus on power, Pelikan points out how the people of that time constantly made the sign of the cross as a means of drawing on God’s power. They made the sign of the cross to ward off evil, to find help and healing in times of trouble, and to win their battles when serving in the military.
The people all knew that centuries ago the great Emperor Constantine had seen a vision of the cross and was told: “by this sign you will conquer.” And they had seen countless knights and pilgrims head off on sacred crusades – with that sign prominently displayed on sword and shield. Through the centuries, the cross increasingly took on the meaning of God’s power given to man. And this was very different than the power of salvation from sin which Paul intended the phrase to mean.
The people at that time were still very concerned about their sin. In fact, they were probably more concerned about it than the church before and after them. But rather than seeing their sin forgiven through the power of the cross as the scriptures clearly teach, the medieval church was more apt to believe that one must pay the price for their own sins. Practices of the church such as the assignment of penance, and doctrines of the church such as that of purgatory, helped to confirm the belief that people must do something to make payment for their own sins.
This was the environment in which Martin Luther grew up. And being a person of great conscience, Luther struggled greatly with his age’s demands.
That is, until he discovered the full meaning of God’s grace.
We’ll look at that message he discovered in a short bit. First, however, let’s look at that other phrase from Paul’s words to the Corinthians. There we see that not only is the cross the power of God, but it is also the wisdom of God.
By calling the cross God’s “wisdom,” Paul’s intention is to counter the idea that the message of the cross is foolishness. This was an essential point for Paul to make, because on the face of it death on a cross seems like a defeat.
But instead of catching this contrast, the medieval church was more prone to see the wisdom of the cross as being a message about suffering. They took extra note that Jesus suffered while on the cross. And this perception of theirs was aided by the many crucifixes and art works which tended to highlight Christ’s suffering.
In the middle ages, suffering was a great part of most people’s lives. People suffered poor health and illness. They suffered death by plague. They suffered from wars and attacks. Existence, for the most part, was pretty meager. In the image of Christ on the cross they perceived that God understood their suffering. And through Christ’s resurrection they knew that suffering would eventually end with a new life in heaven.
In all of this, they concluded that suffering – because Jesus experienced it – must be a good teacher. And that through suffering, God was giving his people wisdom.
And yet, this understanding of God’s wisdom is not complete. For this wisdom is not the one of priceless grace which the scriptures clearly teach, but rather something for us to learn. The wisdom of that time was about seeing Jesus as an example of what sin brings and what can happen if sin is dealt with.
In their minds, Christ Jesus was raised to life because he was without sin, and the rest of us could be raised too if we dealt with our sin by working it off in some way. That’s how they thought salvation worked.
This was the world that Martin Luther and his generation of reformers were born into. Thankfully, during this time also, new study tools began to be available to them. And through great time and effort spent examining the scriptures with these tools, Luther and the others were able to bring the church much needed reforms.
Of all the reforms that were made, the greatest of these was the understanding that we are saved from our sins by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone. This is the teaching, as Lutherans like to say, by which the church stands or falls.
As I explained earlier in the sermon, today’s Gospel reading was chosen to give us a slightly different look at the reformation message. Normally on this day we read from John 8, where Jesus says: “if the son sets you free you will be free indeed” – a verse that our children know very well and one which highlights the freedom Christ Jesus gives from the eternal consequences of our sin.
Today’s Gospel reading speaks to this freedom as well, but in a different way. It does this through the words of Jesus who said: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” With our sin’s ransom paid, we are free from sin’s penalty.
To further highlight this priority focus of our Reformation celebration, we also read from Romans 3 – the traditional Reformation epistle. There Paul explains that we “are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”
The message these verses gives is the central message of our faith – or at least it should be. And knowing this, we should be grateful for all the reforms which point us back to it.
Moreover, this should remind us that we need to be vigilant in guarding this message. For just as the medieval church lost sight of it, so also the modern church can miss the true message as well.
This often happens, unfortunately, through one of the explanations that is given about the very text we are considering today. In it, people miss the emphasis on Christ’s service and focus instead on the service that we are to give.
Yes, today’s reading does give us important instruction on how we are to live. It tells us that we are to seek greatness only through our service to others and not in our claim as followers of Christ. And it teaches us that we are to accept the rewards which the Lord God gives us and be content with these, not seeking a glory that belongs to Christ instead.
But these messages are not the Gospel message. The Gospel tells us what Jesus does for us. It explains that through Jesus’ death and resurrection, heaven is open to all who repent and believe, and shares that this gift of our Lord Jesus is free.
Reformation Sunday is a bit unique in the church year in that it is not based on a particular event in the life of our Lord Jesus. And not every church celebrates it. But it is certainly a day which well-captures Christ’s overall ministry. For Jesus’ ministry was about bringing change. And most crucially, change to our understanding of God’s grace.
Knowing this, may God then bless us as we celebrate the gift of Christ’s Gospel. And may we be led always to give thanks for living in Christ’s kingdom.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY (Stand) Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word LSB 655
1 Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word;
Curb those who by deceit or sword
Would wrest the kingdom from Your Son
And bring to naught all He has done.
2 Lord Jesus Christ, Your pow’r make known,
For You are Lord of lords alone;
Defend Your holy Church that we
May sing Your praise eternally.
3 O Comforter of priceless worth,
Send peace and unity on earth;
Support us in our final strife
And lead us out of death to life.
NICENE CREED Hymnal, back cover
I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of His Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures
and ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the
dead,
whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
and I look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life ✠ of the world to come. Amen.
OFFERING
Offerings support the church’s mission work – both here and through our many partners. Offerings may be placed in the box at the sanctuary entrance or sent to the church through our website or the mail. Fellowship Cards help us welcome new people and track participation. Please fill one out and place it in the offering box following the service.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Almighty God, we give You thanks and praise for all Your goodness and tender care. And on this Reformation festival we thank You especially for the gift of Your Son and for the revelation of Your grace. We ask that you continue to implant Your Word in us and give us fertile hearts, so that we keep Your Word faithfully and bring forth its good fruit in our lives. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of grace, keep us steadfast in Your Word, and prevent our wayward hearts from following false gospels that lead us away from You. Provide Your Church with faithful pastors who preach in purity and joy the message that we are saved by Your grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Mighty God, You have great power and You act with great mercy. Teach those who lead us to use their power rightly for the preservation of order, the accomplishment of justice, the protection of life, and the defense of the weak. Give us wise, godly and faithful leaders who will follow Your commands and serve with integrity. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, remember all who face adversity of any kind, especially those on our prayer list, the families of Karel, Dolly and all who mourn, and those we name in our hearts at this time… Comfort them by Your Holy Spirit, that they would face their afflictions with the assurance of Your fatherly care. And receive our prayers of thanks for all the joy and blessings of life, especially the birth of Theo Boateng. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, You have given us the certainty of sins forgiven in Your Son, who has made atonement for our sins with his body and blood. Lead all who commune at his Supper today to receive him with gratitude and faith, that they would truly be blessed as you intend. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Preserve Your Church, O Lord. And keep all of us who are members of Christ’s Body that we would not surrender the true Gospel for any reason but be kept in this faith and fear throughout the days of our earthly pilgrimage, until that day when we and all Your people shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the reward You have prepared for us and all who have loved His appearing. We ask this through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
OFFERTORY (Stand) LSB 159
What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me?
I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people,
in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
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THE LITURGY OF HOLY COMMUNION
PREFACE (Stand) LSB 160
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 Him thanks and praise.
It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who, out of love for His fallen creation, humbled Himself by taking on the form of a servant, becoming obedient unto death, even death upon a cross. Risen from the dead, He has freed us from eternal death and given us life everlasting. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:
SANCTUS LSB 161
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of pow’r and might:
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna. Hosanna.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING LSB 161
Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.
Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My ✠ body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My ✠ blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:
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.
PAX DOMINI LSB 163
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI LSB 163
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.
DISTRIBUTION (Be seated)
DISTRIBUTION HYMN O Lord, We Praise Thee LSB 617
1 O Lord, we praise Thee, bless Thee, and adore Thee,
In thanksgiving bow before Thee.
Thou with Thy body and Thy blood didst nourish
Our weak souls that they may flourish:
O Lord, have mercy!
May Thy body, Lord, born of Mary,
That our sins and sorrows did carry,
And Thy blood for us plead
In all trial, fear, and need:
O Lord, have mercy!
2 Thy holy body into death was given,
Life to win for us in heaven.
No greater love than this to Thee could bind us;
May this feast thereof remind us!
O Lord, have mercy!
Lord, Thy kindness did so constrain Thee
That Thy blood should bless and sustain me.
All our debt Thou hast paid;
Peace with God once more is made:
O Lord, have mercy!
3 May God bestow on us His grace and favor
That we follow Christ our Savior
And live together here in love and union
Nor despise this blest Communion!
O Lord, have mercy!
Let not Thy good Spirit forsake us;
Grant that heav’nly-minded He make us;
Give Thy Church, Lord, to see
Days of peace and unity:
O Lord, have mercy!
NUNC DIMITTIS (Stand) LSB 165
Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace; Your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the
sight of ev’ry people:
A light to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your people Israel.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
POST-COMMUNION COLLECT
BENEDICTION
SENDING HYMN By Grace I’m Saved LSB 566
1 By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless;
My soul, believe and doubt it not.
Why stagger at this word of promise?
Has Scripture ever falsehood taught?
No! Then this word must true remain:
By grace you too will life obtain.
2 By grace! None dare lay claim to merit;
Our works and conduct have no worth.
God in His love sent our Redeemer,
Christ Jesus, to this sinful earth;
His death did for our sins atone,
And we are saved by grace alone.
3 By grace God’s Son, our only Savior,
Came down to earth to bear our sin.
Was it because of your own merit
That Jesus died your soul to win?
No, it was grace, and grace alone,
That brought Him from His heav’nly throne.
4 By grace! This ground of faith is certain;
As long as God is true, it stands.
What saints have penned by inspiration,
What in His Word our God commands,
Our faith in what our God has done
Depends on grace—grace through His Son.
5 By grace to timid hearts that tremble,
In tribulation’s furnace tried,
By grace, in spite of fear and trouble,
The Father’s heart is open wide.
Where could I help and strength secure
If grace were not my anchor sure?
6 By grace! On this I’ll rest when dying;
In Jesus’ promise I rejoice;
For though I know my heart’s condition,
I also know my Savior’s voice.
My heart is glad, all grief has flown
Since I am saved by grace alone.
ANNOUNCEMENTS (Be seated)
DISMISSAL
POSTLUDE A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Setting: Jacob Weber
FELLOWSHIP CONTRIBUTORS: Board of Education
Those serving:
8:00 a.m.:
Greeter: Bob Juenger
Comm. assist: Judy Koucky
Reader: Melissa Hecht
10:30 a.m.:
Greeter: Lynn Jacquez
Comm. assist: Jill Hecht
Reader: Lynn Jacquez
Acolyte: Andreas Buuck
AV Assistants: Hannes Buuck, Andreas Buuck
Acknowledgements
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2024 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326
656 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Text: tr. Composite Text and tune: Martin Luther, 1483–1546 Text
and tune: Public domain
655 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word Text: Martin Luther, 1483–1546; tr. Catherine Winkworth,
1827–78, alt. Tune: Geistliche Lieder auffs new gebessert, 1543, Wittenberg, ed. Joseph Klug Text
and tune: Public domain
617 O Lord, We Praise Thee Text: tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt.; (st. 1): German, 14th cent.; (sts.
2–3): Martin Luther, 1483–1546 Tune: Geystliche gesangk Buchleyn, 1524, Wittenberg, ed. Johann
Walter Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no.
110005326 Tune: Public domain
566 By Grace I’m Saved Text: Christian Ludwig Scheidt, 1709–61; tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt.
Tune: Cornelius Heinrich Dretzel, 1697–1775Text and tune: Public domain
