Festival of the Lutheran Reformation
This is the motto of the Lutheran Reformation, a confident expression of the enduring power and authority of God’s Word. It first appeared in the court of Frederick the Wise in 1522. It became the official motto of the Smalcald League and was used on flags, banners, swords, and uniforms as a symbol of the unity of the Lutherans who struggled to defend their beliefs, communities, families, and lives against those who were intent on destroying them.
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
313 Fourth Street, Michigan 48439
www.StPaulsManistee.com facebook.com/SPLCManistee
Pastor Dennis J. Himm (810) 252-5821
THEME: It is the gospel of Jesus Christ that brings true freedom.
WELCOME
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.
Please stand
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!
CALL TO WORSHIP
M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
M: Brothers and sisters in Christ, once again today God assures us his love and forgiveness through the gospel. He empowers us to be his people and equips us to share his precious gospel of forgiveness with all people. C: We are not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
HYMN & RESPONSE (based on Ephesians 2:1-10)
God rest you merry Christians all, Let nothing you dismay,
Rejoicing in our heritage this Reformation Day.
By grace we’re saved through faith in Christ;
There is no other way!
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy….
M:1You were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2in which you formerly walked when you followed the ways of this present world. You were following the ruler of the domain of the air, the spirit now at work in the people who disobey.3Formerly, we all lived among them in the passions of our sinful flesh, as we carried out the desires of the sinful flesh and its thoughts. Like all the others, we were by nature objects of God’s wrath.
From God’s good Word our hearts have heard
A lesson to be learned,
Committed to our memory, and on our conscience burned:
Salvation is a gift of God, not merited or earned.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy….
M: 4But God, because he is rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! 6He also raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 7He did this so that, in the coming ages, he might demonstrate the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
From God, our gracious Father, redemption’s light has shone:
Upon the cross our Savior died God’s children to atone.
By grace we’re saved through faith in Christ–
by grace, through faith alone.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy….
M:8Indeed, it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance so that we would walk in them.
Our hope for everlasting life in Jesus Christ we place,
By whom our eyes are blessed to see our loving Father’s face.
Rejoice, believers, that you all are justified by grace.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy….
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.
FIRST LESSON: Jeremiah 31:31-34
31 Yes, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers, when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant of mine, although I was a husband to them, declares the LORD.33 But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, declares the LORD. I will put my law in their minds, and I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will each one teach his neighbor, or each one teach his brother, saying, “Know the LORD,” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD, for I will forgive their guilt, and I will remember their sins no more.
VERSE OF THE DAY
M: 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.
God's Word is our great heritage And shall be ours forever;
To spread its light from age to age Shall be our chief endeavor.
Through life it guides our way; In death it is our stay.
Lord, grant, while worlds endure, We keep its teachings pure
Throughout all generations.
GOSPEL: John 8:31-36
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples. 32 You will also know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”33 “We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered, “and we have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be set free’?”34 Jesus answered, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Everyone who keeps committing sin is a slave to sin. 35 But a slave does not remain in the family forever. A son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.
HYMN 390 (1-5) ”Salvation unto Us has Come”
SERMON: Romans 3:19-28
19 Now we know that whatever the law says is addressed to those who are under the law, so that every mouth will be silenced and the whole world will be subject to God’s judgment. 20 For this reason, no one will be declared righteous in his sight by works of the law, for through the law we become aware of sin. 21 But now, completely apart from the law, a righteousness from God has been made known. The Law and
the Prophets testify to it. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and over all who believe. In fact, there is no difference, 23 because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God publicly displayed as the atonement seat through faith in his blood. God did this to demonstrate his justice, since, in his divine restraint, he had left the sins that were committed earlier unpunished. 26 He did this to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so that he would be both just and the one who justifies the person who has faith in Jesus.27What happens to boasting then? It has been eliminated. By what principle—by the principle of works? No, but by the principle of faith. 28 For we conclude that a person is justified by faith without the works of the law.
The Gospel Brings True Freedom.
CONFESSION OF FAITH - From Luther’s Small Catechism
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 the 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, just as he has risen from death and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.
PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH – with responsive hymn verses
M: Eternal Father, gracious Lord, you responded to the first sin by promising to free mankind from slavery to Satan. Throughout history you preserved a remnant of faithful people who opposed Satan’s work and trusted in the promised Messiah. You used your servant Martin Luther to restore the pure preaching of the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. You mercifully guided our Wisconsin Synod to proclaim your saving truth in the face of false doctrine and physical hardship. Now graciously defend us from heresy, from pride, and from fear. Oppose those who would remove Christ from his throne as Ruler over your Church and your world.
C: (sing) Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word;
Curb those who by deceit or sword
Would seek to overthrow your Son
And to destroy what he has done.
M: Dearest Jesus, God from eternity, when you entered this world to become one of us, you humbled yourself to live under law and to die an accursed death as the Substitute for every sinner. You crushed the power of Satan forever and by your resurrection gave proof that we too shall rise from the sleep of death. Now, as our ascended Lord, you rule over all things. Graciously put an end to wars, inequity and injustice which hinder your kingdom's advance. Shelter us, your chosen brothers and sisters, as we fulfill our priestly duties of worship and praise. According to your gracious promise give us life like yours that we may adore you forever.
C: (sing) Lord Jesus Christ, your power make known,
For you are Lord of lords alone;
Defend your Christendom that we
May sing your praise eternally.
M: Holy Spirit, divine Counselor, at Pentecost you filled the disciples' hearts with courage and their tongues with a message of repentance and faith, a message of forgiveness and hope. Fill people everywhere with the knowledge of the truth. Mercifully lead us ever to repent of our sins and to cling to Jesus as our only Savior. Grant your people to be of one mind, and unite them in their confession of the truth you have revealed. Bless all our attempts to express this fellowship on earth in love, forgiveness and encouragement. Be with all who are ill,
lonely or grieving. Especially when our hearts are troubled or when our remaining days are few, remind us of your Baptismal promise, the gracious water of life that granted us a second birth for eternity.
C: (sing) O Comforter of priceless worth,
Send peace and unity on earth.
Support us in our final strife,
And lead us out of death to life.
M: Lord God, our hearts are moved to endless praise as we review hundreds of years of your love. You gave ministers as gifts to your Church. You sent reformers and men of vision to call your people closer to you. For 172 years you have blessed our synod through your Word and Sacraments. Be with the leaders of our church--synod, district, congregations, and schools--and with all its members, so that we diligently proclaim the Gospel of truth. Keep us faithful to the teaching of Holy Scripture, as stated in the Lutheran Confessions, that all who walk together in our synodical flock may confess with Luther:
C: (spoken) The kingdom’s ours forever!
LORD’S PRAYER
BENEDICTION
M: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C: Amen. (spoken)
HYMN “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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS
THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR
The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.
Guests, please sign the Guest Book in the entryway.
INVITE AND SERVE: Please share the invite that St. Paul’s will be handing out treats this Tuesday from 6-8 pm for all Trick-or-Treaters. Come meet the people of our community and share some treats with them.
SERVING YOU TODAY:
• Pastor Dennis J. Himm
• Organist Kay Himm
REFORMATION: Lutherans celebrate October 31 as the Reformation for it was on October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses (statements) on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, opposing the sale and use of indulgences (the purchasing of forgiveness of sins).