Lectionary Readings
Jeremiah 31:31–34
God says: I will make a new covenant, writing my law in your heart.
Psalm 46
Though the earth changes and the waters roar, God is our refuge.
Romans 3:19–28
We are justified by the gift of God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
John 8:31–36
Jesus says: You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
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.
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
There is no distinction, since all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God;
they are now justified by grace as a gift,
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Prayer of the Day
Sovereign God, Saving Lord, Reforming Spirit,
we rejoice that you have guided your church
through years of turmoil and change.
We pray that you will continue to reform us
according to the Word of God,
through the Holy Spirit,
that in our time and place,
we will lead the life that the Lord has assigned,
to which God called us. Amen.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the hope and longing you instill in us
through the promise of our baptism—
a voice crying out in the wilderness,
a messenger to prepare the way,
the day of redemption drawing near.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
keep us awake and make us ready
for the coming of your glorious realm
of righteousness, justice, and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
Since all have sinned
and fallen short of the glory of God,
we all are called to confess our shortcomings,
trusting in God’s grace.
God of transformation,
we confess that we are stuck in our ways,
resistant to change
that would draw us closer to you
and to the beloved community you intend.
We refuse to hear your Spirit
who calls out to us in truth.
We seek freedom for ourselves,
ignoring the oppression of others.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Forgive our waywardness, our negligence,
and our inability to receive good news
and act upon it.
Grant that we may live our lives
through the faith we have in Jesus.
Lifting water from the font:
Beloved, we are justified by grace through faith.
In all things, our gracious God offers us salvation.
Believe the good news:
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Holy God, our hope and strength,
by the power of your Spirit
prepare the way in our hearts
for the coming of your Word,
so that we may see the glorious signs
of your promise fulfilled;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
Sacred writings, our instruction in salvation
through faith in Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 3:15
After the readings:
The words of Scripture, inspired by God.
Thanks be to God.
2 Timothy 3:16
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
Blessed be the Lord our God. Amen.
Luke 1:68
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
Out of Israel, God in due time raised up Jesus.
His faith and obedience were the response
of the perfect child of God.
He was the fulfillment
of God’s promise to Israel,
the beginning of the new creation,
and the pioneer of the new humanity.
He gave history its meaning and direction
and called the church to be his servant
for the reconciliation of the world.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.19
Prayers of Intercession
Trusting in the power of God to deliver us,
let us make our prayers of intercession for all,
saying: God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for the church . . .
Help us to be faithful witnesses
to the good news of redemption
by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for the world . . .
Be our refuge and strength in trouble.
Bring an end to the desolations
of war, famine, and pollution.
God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for this community . . .
Dwell in the midst of this city
that your people may stand secure.
Speak your word of grace and peace.
God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Remember your covenant with us.
Comfort those who are suffering
and deliver us from sin and death.
God our Savior, hear our prayer.
Merciful and mighty God, as you are one,
make us one with you through Jesus Christ,
whom you have sent to redeem us,
and in whose holy name we pray. Amen.
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
All things in heaven and earth belong to God,
who is coming in glory to reveal a new creation.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
2 Peter 3:8–15
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
Eternal God,
as we wait for the fulfillment of your reign,
use these gifts and the gifts of our lives
to bring justice to those who are oppressed,
to set free those who are in prison,
to lift up those who are bowed down,
and to uphold those who are vulnerable. Amen.
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
You have made a new covenant with us,
remembering our iniquity no more.
Your word is written in our hearts.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Jesus came to teach your truth to all.
In this truth we are set free
from powers of sin and death.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation
(e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Clothe us in the righteousness of Christ,
that we may be delivered from our sin
and justified by grace through faith.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
At the communion table:
God our hope, we give you thanks
that you have given us this foretaste
of the justice, righteousness, and peace
of your promised new creation.
Strengthen us with this heavenly food
as we seek to serve your holy realm.
Lead us to live in joyful expectation
of the coming again in glory
of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
The Lord bless and keep
your going out
and your coming in
from this time on
and forevermore. Alleluia!
Psalm 121:8
Proclaim the message,
be persistent in prayer,
do the work of the gospel,
and carry out the ministry
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:2, 5; Luke 18:1
Symbol of the Gospel of Luke
Stained Glass, Corning, Ohio
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
-
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (P) EIN’ FESTE BURG GTG 275
-
O God, Who Gives Us Life (O) NOEL GTG 53
-
Make a Joyful Noise to God! (G) DIX GTG 54
WORD
-
Spirit, Open My Heart (O) WILD MOUNTAIN THYME GTG 692
-
God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength (P) WINCHESTER OLD GTG 329
-
God Is Our Help, Refuge, and Strength (P) GOD IS OUR HELP GTG 380
EUCHARIST
-
Restore in Us, O God (E) BAYLOR GTG 434
-
Hear the Good News of Salvation (O) NETTLETON GTG 441
-
Open My Eyes, That I May See (G) OPEN MY EYES GTG 451
SENDING
-
I Bind unto Myself Today (O) ST. PATRICK; DEIRDRE GTG 6
-
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (G) AZMON GTG 610
-
God of Our Life (P) SANDON GTG 686
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 46
Metrical
-
God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength [WINCHESTER OLD]; GTG 329, PH 191
-
God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength [NOEL/GERARD]; PAS 46A, LUYH 432
-
Dios es nuestro amparo/ God Will Be Our Refuge [AMPARO]; PAS 46B, SSS 290
-
God, Our Help and Constant Refuge [MICHAEL]; PAS 46C, PH 192
-
With God Our Refuge and Our Strength [ST. PATRICK]; PLP1 46
Responsorial
-
God Is Our Help, Refuge, and Strength; GTG 380
-
The Lord of Hosts Is with Us; PAS 46D
-
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God [EIN’ FESTE BURG]; UMH 780
Organ Music
-
“EIN FESTE BURG,” Augsburg Organ Library: November, Helmut Walcha, AF (M)
-
“AMAZING GRACE / NEW BRITAIN,” Wondrous Love, Craig Phillips, FB (M)
-
“O HEILIGER GEIST,” Augsburg Organ Library: Reformation, Marilyn Biery, AF (ME)
-
“Carillon on A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” A Reformation Celebration: Organ Preludes on Sixteenth-Century Hymns, James Biery, CON (M)
-
“DARWALL’S 148TH,” A Thousand Voices: 7 Hymn Tune Preludes, vol. 5, Jeffrey Blersch, CON (E)
Piano Music
-
“I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord,” ST. THOMAS, Sunday Morning Holiday Companion, Victor Labenske, ALF (M)
-
“Hymns of Majesty,” EIN FESTE BURG / NICAEA / ST. DENIO, Hymn Medleys, Phillip Keveren, HAL (A)
-
“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” EIN FESTE BURG, Thy Strong Word, Sandra Eithun, CON (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
-
“Be Still,” David Evans, arr. C. J. Adams, HOPE, SATB (E)
-
“Until Love Is Spoken,” Karen Marrolli, GMC, SATB, acap (M)
-
“Psalm 46,” Mark Hayes, LOR, SATB, keybd (ME)
-
“At the Name of Jesus,” Lloyd Larson, BP, SATB, keybd (E)
-
“A Present Help in Trouble,” Zach Westermeyer, AF, SATB, acap (M)
Vocal Solos
-
“Be Still,” Sing Praise, Karen Marrolli, MSM (E)
-
“I Will Know (Psalm 46),” Adam Kingsmore and Jake France, praisecharts.com (M)
Art
-
Sola Scriptura detail from the Weimar Altarpiece, Lucas Cranach the Elder and Lucas Cranach the Younger, 1555 (PD)
-
Prophet Jeremiah, Marc Chagall, 1968 (Fair Use Copyright)
-
Sunday Morning, Thomas Waterman Wood, 1877 (PD)
-
Autumn Woods, Albert Bierstadt, 1886 (PD)
-
Living Cross, Sarah Hall, stained glass, 21st century (VDL)
