Participating Churches:
Bethany, Bethel, Immanuel, St. John’s & St. Stephen’s
Co-celebrants: Rev. Carrie Wolfe, Rev. Kim Rossi,
Rev. Gerry Zimmerman, & SAM Frann Wilson
Preacher: Rev. Kim Rossi
Prelude: Organ/Piano: Ray Sprout and Courtney Sprout
Brass quintet: Bill Fancher, Jim Schultz, Linda Edstrom, Rick Youngs, and Dennis Wymer
Welcome: On behalf of our four congregations, welcome to our joint worship celebration of the Reformation. Please know that this is a safe and inclusive holy space, where all are welcomed and wanted and there is a place at the table for everyone. You may place your gifts and offerings in the offering plate as you enter the sanctuary. We will not be passing the plate. Thank you and God Bless.
Choir members: If you would have volunteered to be in a special choir for this service, we still need you! Please come to the front of the church for the first and last hymns to enhance our singing! Each of these hymns has one verse that is choir-only, directed by Kim Stebbins. Thank you!
Introduction
Rooted in the past and growing into the future, the church must always be reformed in order to live out the love of Christ in an ever-changing world. We celebrate the good news of God’s grace, that Jesus Christ sets us free every day to do this life-transforming work. Trusting in the freedom given to us in baptism, we pray for the church, that Christians will unite more fully in worship and mission.
Confession and Forgiveness
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, our maker, our helper, and our keeper.
C: Amen.
P: Trusting in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
(Silence is kept for reflection.)
P: Merciful and loving God,
C: We are your stiff-necked people. We trample on the needy.
We grumble about your grace to others. We turn away from the poor.
Have mercy on us and forgive our sins. Rejoice over us as ones who were lost
and have been found. Amen.
P: Even when we are faithless, God remains faithful.
Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. You who were lost have been found.
In the name of ☩ Jesus, your sins are forgiven!
C: Amen.
Prayer of the Day
Read by Ann Tenglund
Gracious Father, we pray for your holy catholic church. Fill it with all truth and peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in need, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
(Please be seated for the readings)
First Reading: I will write my law in their hearts, says the Lord
The renewed covenant will not be breakable, but like the old covenant, it will expect the people to live upright lives. To know the Lord means that one will defend the cause of the poor and needy (Jer. 22:16). The renewed covenant is possible only because the Lord will forgive iniquity and not remember sin. Our hope lies in a God who forgets.
The First Reading is from Jeremiah 31:31-34
Read by Pastor Gerry Zimmerman
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.
…This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God
Psalm 46
Cantor: Jack Bollman
The Lord of | hosts is with us; the God of Jacob | is our stronghold.
ANTIPHON
Second Reading: Justified by God’s grace as a gift
Paul’s words stand at the heart of the preaching of Martin Luther and other Reformation leaders. No human beings make themselves right with God through works of the law. We are brought into a right relationship with God through the divine activity centered in Christ’s death. This act is a gift of grace that liberates us from sin and empowers our faith in Jesus Christ.
The Second Reading is from Romans 3:19-28
Read by Synod Authorized Minister Frann Wilson
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.
…This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God
Gospel Acclamation
Pastor Carrie Wolfe: Alleluia. If you continue in my word, you are truly | my disciples,* and you will know the truth, and the truth will | make you free. Alleluia. (John 8:31-32)
Gospel: Jesus says: Continue in my word and you will know the truth
Jesus speaks of truth and freedom as spiritual realities known through his word. He reveals the truth that sets people free from sin.
The Gospel Reading is from John 8:31-36
Read by Pastor Carrie Wolfe
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.”
…This is the Gospel of the Lord
C: Praise to you, oh Christ
Children’s Moment
Led by Pastor Carrie Wolfe
Gospel Interlude: I Love You, Lord
Immanuel Praise Band: Stephanie Goodwin, Sharon Snyder, and Ann Tenglund
Rev. Kim Rossi
(please stand for the Apostles’ Creed)
Apostles’ Creed
C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the power of 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.
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. Amen
(please be seated)
Special Music
Thanks Be to God
G. F. Handel
Courtney Sprout, Piano Ray Sprout, Organ
Prayers of Intercession
Read by Theresa Heinz
Renewed in God’s everlasting grace, let us pray for the church, the world, and all creation.
A brief silence.
Free your church, O God, with grace, mercy, and love to be transformed by your word. Direct your church to be united in word and deed so that all creation knows the uniting and transforming power of the gospel. God of grace,
C: receive our prayer.
Renew creation, O God, so that all living creatures thrive together. Guide those who work to restore and renew creation. Preserve and care for endangered species throughout the world. God of grace,
C: receive our prayer.
Bring peace among the nations, O God, so violence and terror are not the norm on your earth. Inspire leaders of communities to work for peace and justice. Unite our politicians with a common mission and purpose. God of grace,
C: receive our prayer.
Heal all who suffer, O God, and bring them peace. Draw near to people who are incarcerated. Give hope to people experiencing housing or employment insecurity, oppression, or discrimination. Heal those who are ill (especially). Be our stronghold at all times. God of grace,
C: receive our prayer.
Forgive us our sins, O God, and grant us your grace. Move us to understanding and reconciliation between people of other faiths and other Christian traditions in our community. Mend hurt feelings and heal wounds we have caused one another. God of grace,
C: receive our prayer.
We give you thanks, O God, for the life and witness of all your saints. Give us hope in your son’s victory through the cross. God of grace,
C: receive our prayer.
We offer our prayers, O God, trusting in your everlasting grace and mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
(stand)
The Sharing of the Peace:
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you.
P: We Greet one another with the Peace of Christ
Communion
P: Holy God, gracious and merciful, you bring forth food from the earth and nourish your whole creation. Turn our hearts toward those who hunger in any way, that all may know your care; and prepare us now to feast on the bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C: Amen.
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
P: 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.
By the witness of your saints you show us the hope of our calling and strengthen us to run the race set before us, that we may delight in your mercy and rejoice with them in glory.
And so, with all the saints, with the choirs of angels and all the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
P: 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.
P: 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.
P: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
C: Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
P: Remembering, therefore, his salutary command, his life-giving passion and death, his glorious resurrection and ascension, and the promise of his coming again, we give thanks to you, O Lord God Almighty, not as we ought but as we are able;
we ask you mercifully to accept our praise and thanksgiving and with your Word and Holy Spirit to bless us, your servants, and these your own gifts of bread and wine, so that we and all who share in the body and blood of Christ may be filled with heavenly blessing and grace, and, receiving the forgiveness of sin, may be formed to live as your holy people
and be given our inheritance with all your saints.
To you, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory in your holy church, now and forever.
C: Amen, amen, amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
P: We pray as Jesus taught us:
C: 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
P: Taste and see that the Lord is good.
(Please be seated until you come forward for Communion)
Communion Special Music—Jack Bollman
Prayer after Communion
P: We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life. In your mercy, strengthen us through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
Blessing
P: Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
C: Amen.
Dismissal
P: Go in peace. Do not lose heart
C: Thanks be to God.
Postlude
All are invited to the fellowship hall
for a coffee and cookies reception.