October 25th: Reformation Sunday

 First Lutheran Church

Our mission is to know Jesus and to make Jesus known. -John 17

PRELUDE by Beth Ray
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Trusting in the God’s Word of life, we are gathered in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

PSALM 1 Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful! Their delight is in the law of the LORD, and they meditate on his law day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; everything they do shall prosper. It is not so with the wicked; they are like chaff which the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, nor the sinner in the council of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is doomed.  Before the whole company of heaven, in the presence of God and of one another, let us confess our sin.  God of all mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you, resisting your will in our lives. We have not honored you in ourselves, in each other, and in the world you have made. Reach out your saving arm and rescue us from our sin. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will for your people and all creation. Amen Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins, and keep you in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Holy people of God, called through the gospel of Christ, enlightened by the Spirit: grace, mercy, and peace be with you all. And also with you.

PRAYER: Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

MUSIC BY BETH

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 The apostle Paul demonstrates how he had ministered gently and tenderly among the Thessalonians. He not only shared the gospel, but gave of his very self.

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

 LIZ TIME: For those who are young and young at heart

Matthew 22:34-46 Jesus displays his great wisdom among the Pharisees by summing up the entirety of the Hebrew scriptures in just two commandments. He furthermore confounds the Pharisees by demonstrating that the Messiah is far more than simply the son of David. When the Pharisees heard that [Jesus] had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet" '? If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.  The Gospel of our Lord.  Praise to you, O Christ

SERMON  

HYMN: "Take My Life, that I May Be" Green 406 

1. Take My Life that I May Be, Consecrated Lord to thee

Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.

Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.

3. Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold

Take my intellect and use every power as thou shalt choose. 

APOSTLES’ CREED, PRAYERS Living in the gift of God’s grace, let us pray for the church, the world, and all who long to experience God's compassionate love. You command us to love, O God of grace, as you first loved us. Lead us in paths of holiness and peace to be faithful followers of your Son. God of steadfast love, hear our prayer. Bless your church throughout the world, our denomination and our congregation, enable us to fully and faithfully serve you. God of steadfast love, hear our prayer. Help us O God, to love and care so much for our neighbors near and far, that our choices in living reflect our concern for the lives of others. God of steadfast love, hear our prayer. Bless this congregation's ministries and members. Unite our hearts in love and encouragement that we may reach out to those who do not know the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. God of steadfast love, hear our prayer. Fill the broken and empty places of our lives with peace and meaning. Bring healing to all who suffer illness or loss, especially (names) those whom we name in our hearts. God of steadfast love, hear our prayer. We are united in love with your saints who have gone before us.. We thank you for their witness and ask for grace to follow in their path. God of steadfast love, hear our prayer. Into your loving arms we entrust all for whom we pray, confident in your mercy; through the grace of the Risen One, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 

CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER, LORD’S PRAYER

MUSIC BY BETH

BLESSING Sisters and brothers, stand firm in one spirit; strive side by side for the faith of the gospel; let your gentleness be known by everyone; and the God of peace, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you and bless you always. Amen

Go in peace. Share the good news. Thanks be to God.