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Reformation Day

Sunday, October 31, 2021

PRELUDE Ein Feste Burg – arr. H. Walcha

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Please stand as able
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, whose teaching is life, whose presence is sure, and whose love is endless. Amen.

Let us confess our sins to the one who welcomes us with an open heart.
Silence for reflection.

God our comforter: like lost sheep, we have gone astray. We gaze upon abundance and see scarcity, we turn our faces away from injustice and oppression. We exploit the earth with our apathy and greed. Free us from our sin, gracious God. Listen when we call out to you for help. Lead us by your love to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Gracious God,
have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

People of God, hear the Good News: by the gift of grace ☩ in Christ, God makes you righteous. Receive with glad hearts the forgiveness of all your sins. Amen.

GATHERING SONG 503 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

GREETING
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.

KYRIE

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray.

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. Amen.

CHILDREN’S TIME

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 31:31-34

A reading from Jeremiah:

31The 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

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

1God is our refuge 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 city 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 upon 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. R

SECOND READING: Romans 3:19-28

A reading from Romans:

19Now 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.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL: John 8:31-36 The holy gospel according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.

31Jesus 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.”

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON

HYMN OF THE DAY 517 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word

AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM Those making affirmation may gather with the ministers at the font. They may be joined by others from the assembly.

Dear friends, we give thanks for the gift of baptism and for these people, one with us in the body of Christ, who are making public affirmation of their baptism.

Those making affirmation are presented by a sponsor or another representative of the congregation:

I present name/s , who desires to make public affirmation of their baptism.

The presiding minister may continue with prayer.
Let us pray.
Merciful God, we thank you for these sisters and brothers,whom you have made your own by water and the Word in baptism. You have called them to yourself, enlightened them with the gifts of your Spirit, and nourished them in the community of faith. Uphold your servants in the gifts and promises of baptism, and unite the hearts of all whom you have brought to new birth. We ask this in the name of Christ. Amen.

The presiding minister addresses those making public affirmation of baptism. The assembly may stand and join in the responses.

I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the church.

Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God,the powers of this world that rebel against God,and the ways of sin that draw you from God?

Response: I renounce them.

The presiding minister addresses the candidates and the assembly.
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.*
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
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.

The presiding minister addresses those making public affirmation of baptism.
You have made public profession of your faith. Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism:
to live among God’s faithful people,
to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper,
to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,
to serve all people, following the example of Jesus,
and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?

Each person responds:I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.

The minister addresses the assembly.
People of God, do you promise to support these sisters and brothers and pray for them in their life in Christ?
We do, and we ask God to help and guide us.

Those making affirmation may kneel. The presiding minister prays for God’s blessing.

Let us pray.
We give you thanks, O God, that through water and the Holy Spirit you give us new birth, cleanse us from sin, and raise us to eternal life.

Those making public affirmation stand and face the assembly. A representative of the congregation addresses the assembly.
Let us rejoice with these sisters and brothers in Christ.
We rejoice with you in the life of baptism. Together we will give thanks and praise to God and proclaim the good news to all the world.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Response: Your Mercy is great (instead of Hear our prayer).

PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.

MOMENT FOR MISSION

Our offering is a form of worship, taking part in God’s transforming mission in this world. Each dollar we give contributes to changing lives. Each week we will take a moment to remember one way that our offerings do that.

This week, we remember Lutheran Disaster Response. Saint Matthew’s congregation has given their generosity to the following disasters:$580 U.S. Wildfires, $930 Haiti Crisis, $680 Hurricane Ida, $1,000 Afghan Refugee Crisis, $3,190 Total. We will now receive our offering.

OFFERING PRAYER – invite congregation to stand
Let us pray.

God of mercy and grace, the eyes of all wait upon you, and you open your hand in blessing. Fill us with good things at your table, that we may come to the help of all in need, through Jesus Christ, our redeemer and Lord. Amen.

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.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,
through our Savior Jesus Christ;
who on this day overcame death and the grave,
and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.
And so, with all the choirs of angels,
with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, 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.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

LORD’S PRAYER
Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.

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.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Taste and see that the Lord is good.

LAMB OF GOD (sung)
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, grant us peace.

ANTHEM Salvation Unto Us Has Come – arr. J.S. Bach

COMMUNION HYMNS
645 Christ is Made the Sure Foundation
591 That Priceless Grace

POST COMMUNION BLESSING
May the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in God’s grace. Amen.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Let us pray.

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. Amen.

BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace.
Amen.

SENDING SONG – 654 The Church’s One Foundation

DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Christ is with you.
Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE Toccata in D Minor – J.S. Bach