Recorded Worship Service for October 30, 2022 Reformation Sunday
Watch this week’s service above.
Today’s Readings and Hymns: (Click on each blue arrow to expand/collapse each section.)
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.
1
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved,
and though the mountains shake in the depths of the sea;
3
though its waters rage and foam,
and though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
4
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be shaken;
God shall help it at the break of day.
6
The nations rage, and the kingdoms shake;
God speaks, and the earth melts away.
7
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
8
Come now, regard the works of the Lord,
what desolations God has brought upon the earth;
9
behold the one who makes war to cease in all the world;
who breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire.
10
“Be still, then, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.”
11
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
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.
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.”
A mighty fortress is our God, a sword and shield victorious; he breaks the cruel oppressor’s rod and wins salvation glorious. The old satanic foe has sworn to work us woe! With craft and dreadful might he arms himself to fight. On earth he has no equal.
No strength of ours can match his might! We would be lost, rejected. But now a champion comes to fight, whom God himself elected. You ask who this may be? The Lord of hosts is he! Christ Jesus, mighty Lord, God’s only Son, adored. He holds the field victorious.
Though hordes of devils fill the land all threat’ning to devour us, we tremble not, unmoved we stand; they cannot overpow’r us. Let this world’s tyrant rage; in battle we’ll engage! His might is doomed to fail; God’s judgment must prevail! One little word subdues him.
God’s Word forever shall abide, no thanks to foes, who fear it; for God himself fights by our side with weapons of the Spirit. Were they to take our house, goods, honor, child, or spouse, though life be wrenched away, they cannot win the day. The kingdom’s ours forever!
The church of Christ, in ev’ry 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.
Refrain Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name.
Come, Christians, follow where our captain trod, our king victorious, Christ, the Son of God. Refrain
All newborn servants of the Crucified bear on their brows the seal of him who died. Refrain
O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree, as thou hast promised, draw us all to thee. Refrain
So shall our song of triumph ever be: praise to the Crucified for victory! Refrain
Worship Leaders: Pastor Colleen Cox, Christy Werner
Music: Deb Jenks (organ), Kryos Brass, Senior Choir
Kryos Brass: Robert Skoniczin and Heather House (trumpet), Elizabeth Pfaffle (horn), Daniel Cherry (trombone), Jonathan Fowler (tuba)
Additional Resources:
View and print the pre-reader’s version of this Sunday’s children’s bulletin: Pre-reader’s Version View and print the reader’s version of this Sunday’s children’s bulletin: Reader’s Version
The radio program Sing for Joy follows the weekly Sunday lectionary through music and reflection. To listen, click here: Sing for Joy. Program host Pastor Bruce Benson ties the biblical readings of the day with musical selections from a number of sources brought together by Dr. John Ferguson, retired professor of organ and church music. The program is produced by St. Olaf College.
