Reformation Sunday
A Service of Worship
Robin Stephenson-Bratcher and Dennis Bratcher
Some churches combine All Saints Sunday
with Reformation Sunday as a way to focus on heritage.
Introduction
(This material is provided to worshippers in a worship folder insert)
The Reformation
The legendary account tells us that one cool October 31st in 1517,
the priest Martin Luther defiantly nailed his protest notice to the door
of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. These
Ninety-five Theses
were a list of abuses and errors that he understood were a corruption of
the purpose and mission of the Church. In reality, the Ninety-five
Theses were most likely sent to his Archbishop. And the list was not
really a defiant protest as much as it was a sincere call for the
Church to begin addressing some of its problems that Luther felt had
obscured the Gospel message.
In any case, Luther hoped that his Theses would be seen and discussed
as a step toward renewal of the Church, so that people might know the
truth about God’s forgiveness for their lives. The powerful passage from
Romans 3:19-28 had fired his soul and he was so overflowing with joy
after years of guilt and a need for forgiveness that he had to share the
truth with all that he could. Little did he know the enormous impact on
the world that his one simple act would have. His willingness to stand
up to pope and emperor in the name of the Gospel of Christ changed the
face of history, and the face and direction of the entire Christian
Church.
Today we do not celebrate division. Rather we celebrate the movement
of the Holy Spirit in our Church and our hearts. It is this movement of
the Holy Spirit that brings us newness and renewal, both in our personal
lives and in the life of the Church. When we pray, "Come, Holy Spirit!"
we know that the whole Church is always in need of reform, and we each
are always in need of dying again in Christ in order to be raised from
the dead, so that we might be truly free by the grace of Jesus the
Christ in our lives and Church. "So if the Son makes you free, you will
be free indeed." (John 8:31-36)
 Martin
Luther's Seal
or "The Luther Rose"
While he was a professor at Wittenberg University, Martin Luther
designed this seal which he declared was meant to be "expressive of his
theology." The following letter was written to his friend, Herr
Spangler, town clerk in Nuremberg, Germany and expresses his thoughts on
his seal.
July 8, 1530
Grace and peace in Christ!
Honorable, kind, dear Sir and Friend!
Since you ask whether my seal has come out correctly, I shall answer
most amiably and tell you of those thoughts which now come to my mind
about my seal as a symbol of my theology.
There is first to be a cross, black, and placed in a heart, which
should be of its natural color (red), to put me in mind that faith in
Christ crucified saved us. For if one believes from the heart, he
will be justified. Even though it is a black cross, which
mortifies and which also should hurt us, yet it leaves the heart in its
natural color and does not ruin nature ... that is, the cross does not
kill, but keeps man alive. For the just shall live by faith, by
faith in the Savior.
Such a heart is to be in the midst of a white rose, to symbolize that
faith gives joy, comfort, and peace. In a word, it places the
believer into a white joyful rose, for this faith does not give peace
and joy as the world gives. Therefore, the rose is to be white,
not red, for white is the color of the spirits and of all angels.
This rose, moreover, is fixed in a sky-blue field, symbolizing that
such joy in the Spirit and in faith is a beginning of the future
heavenly joy. It is already a part of faith, and is grasped
through hope, even though not yet manifest.
And around this field is a golden ring, to signify that such bliss in
heaven is endless, and more precious than all joys and goods, just as
gold is the most valuable and precious metal.
May Christ, our dear Lord, be with your spirit until the life to
come. Amen.
-(letter from Luther's Works, American Edition; Volume 49, pp.
356 – 359)
The Service
(* = Congregation standing)
Prelude
Welcome - Community Events
*Call to Worship
*Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all!
*People: And also with you!
*Minister: Let us pray together: O God, you are our refuge and our
strength
*People: A very present help in times of trouble,
therefore we will not fear.
*Minister: O God, you made an everlasting covenant with us.
*People: Help us to be your people in this world
of trial and trouble.
*Minister: O God, too often we have sinned and have fallen short
of your glory.
*People: Search us, O God, and know our hearts;
test us and know our thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in us, and
lead us in the way everlasting.
*Minister: O God, we have embraced the freedom you offer us.
*People: We embrace the Son who makes us free.
*Minister: O God, we honor the bold faith of our brothers and
sisters in Christ who have gone before us.
*People: May we each be as bold in our faith this
week as we cry "Come, Holy Spirit!", help us to die again and again in
Christ so that we might be truly free. Amen.
The Written Word for Us Today
All: You gave us the living Word. Help us to
listen to it, to live it, and to be bold enough to let it change our
lives, and the lives of those with whom we come in contact each day. Amen.
[Optional] Song: Ancient Words
Alternate: Habakkuk 2:1-4
Alternate: Philippians 3:1-9
Alternate: Galatians 3:6-11
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord to you.
People's Response: Thanks be to God.
*Response to the Reading of the Gospel (Sung):
All: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and
to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall
be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
Homily
[For an example of a Reformation Sunday homily, see
Faith and Identity: A Reformation Meditation]
Confession and Forgiveness:
Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit.
People: Amen.
Minister: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
the truth is not in us.
People: If we confess our sins, God, who is
faithful and just, will forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
(Silence for reflection and self-examination)
Minister: Almighty and most merciful God,
All: We confess that we are unworthy servants.
We have not always acted as children of God. We confess that we have
left undone things we should have done, and we have done and said things
that we should not have done and said. For those times when we have
sinned against you even unintentionally, we ask your forgiveness. We
truly deserve only condemnation. But we pray that you, for the sake of
Jesus Christ, your obedient and faithful Son, will forgive us and
increase our faith, that we may rise to live before you in righteousness
and true holiness.
Minister: Jesus Christ abolished death and brought life and
immortality to light through the gospel. For his sake, and in his name,
I proclaim to you the grace and mercy of God, by which he forgives our
sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
People: Amen.
Passing the Peace of Christ
Minister: Peace be with you.
People: And also with you
Minister: Let the people of God show signs of grace and
friendliness to each other.
Prayers for the People of God
followed by Our Lord's Prayer:
All: Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be
your name, your kingdom come, your 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 yours is the kingdom, the
power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Our Tithes and Offerings
Response to Offering
All - Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings
flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above, ye heavenly
hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen."
Affirmation of Faith: Apostles’ Creed
All: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator
of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: who was
conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell;
the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and
sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall
come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the
Holy Christian Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Eucharist Table
Minister: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Minister: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Minister: Minister: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always
and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, creator of heaven
and earth. You formed us in your image, and breathed into us the breath
of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained
steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our
sovereign God, and spoke to us through your prophets. And so, with your
people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and
join their unending hymn:
All (can be sung): 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.
Minister: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. Your
Spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release
to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty
those who are oppressed, and to announce that the time had come when you
would save your people. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with
sinners.
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave
birth to your church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and
made with us a new covenant by water and the spirit. When the Lord Jesus
ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word
and Holy Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave
thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in
remembrance of me."
When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave
it to his disciples, and said: "Drink from this, all of you; this is my
blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the
forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance
of me."
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we
offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living
sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the
mystery of faith.
People: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ
will come again.
Minister: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these
gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of
Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his
blood. By your Spirit makes us one with Christ, one with each other, and
one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory
and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy
church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father now and forever.
All: Amen.
Minister: All who would come to Christ are invited to come to His
table.
All: Lord Jesus Christ, grace is evident at this
table… and we gather to partake of that grace. Salvation is celebrated
at this table… and we gather to celebrate that salvation. As we leave
this table may we be messengers this week of your grace and salvation.
You are the Lord forevermore. Amen.
Scattering to Minister
Benediction
Minister: Go in peace, serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
-Dennis Bratcher, Copyright ©:
2018, Dennis Bratcher -
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