FESTIVAL OF THE REFORMATION October 27, 2024
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660
www.stpaulsmanistee.com
The Explanation of Luther’s Coat of Arms
WELCOME
INVOCATION
P: In the name of the Father,
C: Who loves us in creating and providing for us.
P: In the name of the Son,
C: Who loves us by redeeming us from all of our sins. P: In the name of the Holy Spirit,
C: Who loves us by keeping us in the saving faith until we are safe in heaven. Amen.
HYMN 201 “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
A mighty fortress is our God, A trusty shield and weapon; He helps us free from ev’ry need That has 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.
With might of ours can naught be done; Soon were our loss effected.
But for us fights the valiant one Whom God himself elected. You ask, “Who is this?” Jesus Christ it is,
The almighty Lord. And there’s no other God;
He holds the field forever.
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.
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 do what they will—Hate, steal, hurt, or kill—
Though all may be gone, Our victory is won;
The kingdom’s ours forever!
REFORMATION DIALOG
M: I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord." C: One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
M: Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? C: He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
M: The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
C: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
M: Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him.
C: I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths; O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. M: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.
C: The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. M: Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime.
C: Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his saints.
HYMN 277 God, We Praise You (Te Deum)
God, we praise you! God, we bless you! God, we name you sov’reign Lord! Mighty King whom angels worship, Father, by your Church adored: All creation shows your glory; Heav’n and earth draw near your throne,
Singing, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord of hosts and God alone!”
True apostles, faithful prophets, Saints who set their world ablaze, Martyrs, once unknown, unheeded, Join one growing song of praise, While your Church on earth confesses One majestic Trinity:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God, our hope eternally.
Jesus Christ, the King of glory, Everlasting Son of God,
Humble was your virgin mother, Hard the lonely path you trod: By your cross is sin defeated, Hell confronted face to face,
Heaven opened to believers, Sinners justified by grace.
Christ, at God’s right hand victorious, You will judge the world you made; Lord, in mercy help your servants For whose freedom you have paid: Raise us up from dust to glory; Guard us from all sin today.
King enthroned above all praises, Save your people, God, we pray.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Gracious Lord, our refuge and strength, pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your Word, protect and comfort them in all temptations, defend them against all their enemies, and bestow on the Church your saving peace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
AN EXPLANATION OF
LUTHER’S COAT OF ARMS
Martin Luther designed this seal
while teaching at the university
in Wittenberg, Germany.
Black Cross
“The first thing expressed in my seal is a cross, black, within the red heart to put me in mind that faith in Christ crucified saves us.”
For the wages of sin is death,
but the undeserved gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
HYMN 303 (1,4,5) With Broken Heart and Contrite Sigh
With broken heart and contrite sigh,
A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry.
Your pard’ning grace is rich and free—
O God, be merciful to me!
No gifts, no deeds that I have done
Can for a single sin atone.
To Calvary alone I flee—
O God, be merciful to me!
And when, redeemed from sin and hell,
With all the ransomed souls I dwell,
My joyous song shall ever be:
God has been merciful to me!
Red Heart
“Now, although the cross is black, shameful, and intended to cause pain, yet it does not change the color of the heart, does not destroy nature. In other words, it does not kill but keeps alive. "For the just shall live by faith" – by faith in the Savior.”
But if we walk in the light, just as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:7
HYMN 377(1-4) Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice, With exultation springing, And, with united heart and voice And holy rapture singing,
Proclaim the wonders God has done, How his right arm the vict’ry won. How dearly it has cost him!
Fast bound in Satan’s chains I lay; Death brooded darkly o’er me. Sin was my torment night and day; In sin my mother bore me. Yet deep and deeper still I fell; Life had become a living hell, So firmly sin possessed me.
My own good works availed me naught, No merit they attaining; My will against God’s judgment fought, No hope for me remaining. My fears increased till sheer despair Left naught but death to be my share And hell to be my sentence.
But God beheld my wretched state Before the world’s foundation, And, mindful of his mercies great, He planned my soul’s salvation. A Father’s heart he turned to me, Sought my redemption fervently; He gave his dearest treasure.
3. White Rose
“But this heart is fixed on the center of a white rose to show that faith causes joy, comfort, and peace. The rose is white, not red, because white is the ideal color of all angels and blessed souls.”
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
HYMN 390 (1,2,6) Salvation unto Us Has Come
Salvation unto us has come By God’s free grace and favor. Good works cannot avert our doom; They help and save us never. Faith looks to Jesus Christ alone, Who did for all the world atone; He is the one Redeemer.
What God does in his law demand And none to him can render, Brings wrath and woe on ev’ry hand For man, the vile offender. Our flesh has not those pure desires The spirit of the law requires,
And lost is our condition.
All blessing, honor, thanks, and praise To Father, Son, and Spirit, The God who saved us by his grace—All glory to his merit! O Triune God in heav’n above, You have revealed your saving love; Your blessed name be hallowed!
4. Blue Sky
“This rose, moreover, is fixed in a sky-colored background to show that such joy of faith in the spirit is but a promise and beginning of heavenly joy to come. This joy, though not yet revealed, is looked forward to and held by the hope which we have.”
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us get rid of every burden and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with patient endurance the race that is laid out for us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the author of our faith and the one who brings it to its goal. In view of the joy set before him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of God’s throne.
Hebrews 12:1,2
HYMN 219 - Lord, When Your Glory I Shall See
Lord, when your glory I shall see
And taste your kingdom’s pleasure,
Your blood my royal robe shall be,
My joy beyond all measure!
When I appear before your throne,
Your righteousness shall be my crown;
With these I need not hide me.
And there, in garments richly wrought,
As your own bride I shall be brought
To stand in joy beside you.
5. Gold Circle
“Around this background is a ring to show that such bliss in heaven is endless. And since the ring is made of gold, the best and most precious metal, it also shows that the bliss of heaven is more precious than all other joys and treasures.”
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again. In his joy, he goes away and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:44
HYMN 728 (1,2) Jerusalem the Golden
Jerusalem the golden, with milk and honey blest
The sight of it refreshes The weary and oppressed:
I know not, oh, I know not What joys await us there,
What rediancy of glory, What bliss beyond compare:
To sing the hymn unending With all the martyr throng, Amidst the halls of Zion Resounding full of song.
Oh, sweet and blessed country, The home of God’s elect!
Oh sweet and blessed country That eager hearts expect,
Where they who with their leader Have conquered in the fight Forever and forever Are clad in robes of white.
Jesus in mercy bring us To that dear land of rest
Where sings the host of heaven Your glorious name to bless.
CONFESSION OF FAITH – THE APOSTLES’ CREED As explained by Martin Luther in his Small Catechism
I believe that God created me and all that exists, and that he gave me my body and soul, eyes, ears and all my members, my mind and all my abilities. And I believe that God still preserves me by richly and daily providing clothing and shoes, food and drink, property and home, spouse and children, land, cattle and all I own, and all that I need to keep my body and life. God also preserves me by defending me against all danger, guarding and protecting me from all evil. All this God does only because he is my good and merciful Father in heaven, and not because I have earned or deserve it. For all this I ought to thank and praise, to serve and obey him. This is most certainly true.
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death. All this he did that I should be his own, and live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness,
I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church he daily and fully forgives all sins to me and all believers. On the Last Day he will raise me and all the dead and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.
PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER
M: Lord, our refuge and strength, we gather to worship and praise you for your ongoing work of reformation in your Church.
C: Lord, to you alone be glory.
M: God of grace, in unfathomable love you pitied us sinners and sent your Son as our substitute to deliver us from sin, guilt, death, darkness, and despair. C: For your grace, Lord, to you alone be glory.
M: By your grace you sent your Spirit to call us to repentance. Your powerful gospel rescued us from rebellion and fills us with faith in you, the true and living God. C: For saving faith, Lord, to you alone be glory.
M: By your grace we are heirs of your eternal Word and trustees of the inspired Scriptures, through which you proclaim your saving truth to every generation. By the Scriptures you overthrew the darkness of those who perverted your teachings and restored to your church the message of salvation by grace alone.
C: For the Holy Scriptures, Lord, to you alone be glory.
M: In these last days, Lord Jesus Christ, protect your little flock. We are like sheep living among fierce wolves. Satan stalks us like a roaring lion. Defend us from false teachers who twist your Word to satisfy the latest longing.
C: For wisdom and watchfulness under attack, hear our prayer, O Lord.
M: Never in the history of the world has your Holy Word been so accessible. We lack only the zeal to treasure your restored truth with lives of faithful Bible study. C: For the noble character to search the Scriptures daily, hear our prayer, O Lord.
M: As we celebrate the Reformation that restored your pure gospel to your Church, we also celebrate our common confession of the pure gospel in Word and sacrament.
C: For this unity of faith, we give you thanks, O Lord.
M: We remember the faithful confessors of this and former generations, who have passed down to us your Word of Truth.C: For these faithful servants, we give you thanks, O Lord.
Special prayers and intercessions may follow.
M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.
Silent prayer.
M: In thanksgiving for the many and amazing blessings restored to your Church through the Reformation, we now commit ourselves to your care.
C: Be our mighty fortress, our trusty shield and weapon, O Lord. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
BENEDICTION
M: The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The LORD look on you with favor and give you peace. C: Amen.
HYMN 752 In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.
Text, Tune, Setting: Keith Getty, ©2002 Thankyou Music
Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) copyright © 2018 The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved
“We believe that the very beginning and
end of salvation and the sum of
Christianity, consists of faith in Christ,
who by His blood alone, and not by any
works of ours has put away sin, and
destroyed the power of death.”
-- Martin Luther
SOLA FIDE – by FAITH alone
SOLA GRATIA – by GRACE alone
SOLA SCRIPTURA – by SCRIPTURE alone
.