Reformation Sunday Worship Service | 10-27-24
10-27-2024 10:00AM Hybrid Worship
+ We Gather to Worship +
OPENING SONG: “A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD” Tan #124
THE OPENING RITE (based on PSALM 46):
L The earth shakes and trembles, the mountains rattle and roll – tempting our hearts to fear.
C God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
L Storms rage and winds swirl, waters crash and rise – destroying schools, hospitals, homes, and lives.
C Still, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
L Nations in an uproar, kingdoms seeking to annihilate one another – and many wonder if peace will ever prevail.
C Yet will I hold onto God as my refuge and my strength.
L Violence in our communities, violence in our world – and hurt and hate have bruised our own hearts and hands.
C But I will not stop believing that God is our refuge and our strength.
L For those who mourn and seek to rebuild after the calamities of nature…
C God is their refuge.
L For those who live in fear of their neighbors…
C God is their strength.
L For all those who are depressed, distressed, disturbed, and desperate…
C God is present.
L For those who are troubled and tried, guilty and afraid, and empty of chances…
C God is a very present help in trouble.
L Therefore – in faith that is humble and courageous – we will not fear, we will not panic, we will not give in or give up…
C Because God is here among us, our refuge, our strength, and our salvation! HALLELUJAH!
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY (together) :
Gracious God, we thank you for the gift of our life and for your mercy and love;
we thank you for the gift of Jesus Christ and for saving and freeing us;
we thank you for the unity, power, and guidance of the Holy Spirit in and among us;
and we thank you for the gift of your community of faith, the Church.
We pray that we may stay free, faithful, fervent, and fruitful in the gospel of Christ, today and always, Amen.
+ We Open Ears and Hearts to God’s Word +
FIRST READING: JEREMIAH 31:31-34
[God’s new covenant – abiding love written on the hearts of the people.]
31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It 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. 33 But 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. 34 No 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.
SONG SELECTION ALL SAINTS CHOIR
SECOND READING: ROMANS 3:19-28
[God’s salvation – unearned grace to undeserving sinners, received by faith.]
19 Now 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. 20 For no human will be justified before him by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed and is attested by the Law and the Prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ[a] for all who believe.[b] For there is no distinction, 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement[c] by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; 26 it was to demonstrate at the present time his own righteousness, so that he is righteous and he justifies the one who has the faith of Jesus.[d]
27 Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. Through what kind of law? That of works? No, rather through the law of faith. 28 For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.
GOSPEL VERSE:
“I really love the Lord… I really love the Lord!
You don’t know what He’s done for me, gave me the victory.
I love Him, I love Him… I really love the Lord!” (repeat)
HOLY GOSPEL: JOHN 8:31-36
[God’s liberation – freed by Christ, no longer slaves to sin.]
31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples,
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
33 They 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’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
SONG RESPONSE: “THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, IN EVERY AGE” (Green #433)
- The Church of Christ, in every age beset by change, but Spirit-led,
Must claim and test its heritage and keep on rising from the dead.
- Across the world, across the street, the victims of injustice cry
For shelter and for bread to eat, and never live before they die.
- Then let the servant Church arise, a caring Church that longs to be
A partner in Christ’s sacrifice and clothed in Christ’s humanity.
- For he alone, whose blood was shed, can cure the fever in our blood,
And teach us how to share our bread and feed the starving multitude.
- We have no mission but to serve in full obedience to our Lord;
To care for all, without reserve, and spread his liberating Word.
AN AFFIRMATION OF OUR FAITH (together):
We believe that God has created this world,
has created humanity,
has created each of us.
We believe that God so loved the world,
so loved all people,
so loved us,
that God gave Jesus, the Son, to save us from sin and death,
to save us from the ways of this world and the Devil in it,
to save us from ourselves.
We believe that Jesus suffered for us in his living,
sacrificed for us in his dying, and
was raised for us in resurrection victory.
We believe that the resurrection victory of Jesus is our resurrection victory,
our only hope and salvation, and
our invitation to new, abundant, and everlasting life.
We believe that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
THE PRAYERS… We pray for NEW LIFE in the Spirit and the MISSION of the Church to the world!
+ We Share God’s Holy Meal +
OFFERING OF TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS… By God’s grace and our response of gratitude and generosity, we are a sharing people. So let us bless others both near and far away with our gifts of time, talent, and treasure.
Those in the Sanctuary can put their offering in the offering plate to share their gratitude and their generosity in response to Christ’s love. Those who are farther away might: mail a check or money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138… contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a recurring weekly gift to selected categories… or text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions to register and record your contribution. God has blessed us to be a blessing!
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE OFFERTORY SONG: (Tan #565)
“More about Jesus would I know, more of his grace to others show,
More of his saving fullness see, more of his love who died for me.
MORE, MORE ABOUT JESUS… MORE, MORE ABOUT JESUS…
MORE OF HIS SAVING FULLNESS SEE, MORE OF HIS LOVE WHO DIED FOR ME.
More about Jesus let me learn, more of his holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my Teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me.”
OFFERING PRAYER (see PHILIPPIANS 3:10-11) led by the Communion Assistant.
Dear God, I want to know Christ inside and out. I want to experience the power of his resurrection and join him in his suffering. I want to be like him in his death and be raised like him from death. As I grow in the grace of Christ, make me strong in my faith, bold in my witness, and fervent in my servant-love. There is no better life than life in Christ! Amen.
THE PREFACE:
L The Lord be with you. C And also with you.
L Lift up your hearts! C We lift them up in love for God!
L Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C It is right to give God our thanks and praise.
L We are the Body of Christ! C His Spirit is in us! Alleluia!
L [continues the Preface]… we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
C [singing…] “Holy, holy, holy, holy,
holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
and we lift our hearts before you as a token of our love,
holy, holy, holy, holy.
Precious Jesus, precious Jesus,
We’re so glad that you redeemed us, precious Jesus…
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
come and fill our hearts anew, O Holy Spirit…”
THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (spoken)
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Jesus Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! The wine may be received from the pouring chalice; we also have grape juice on the tray. Praise the Lord for this community meal that unites us together, renews our spirits, powers our faith, and reminds us of the future heavenly banquet that awaits us
COMMUNION SONGS: “OH, WHAT HE’S DONE FOR ME” Tan #154
“MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS” Tan #385
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ We Rejoice in Our Mission +
THE BENEDICTION by the Pastor…We are sent forth to be and become the BODY OF CHRIST for the world!
CLOSING SONG: “CAN’T NOBODY DO ME LIKE JESUS” Tan #384