This Week’s Bulletin
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Sunday, October 26, 2025 | Reformation Sunday
+ THE LITURGY OF THE GATHERING +
8:55AM The Ringing of the Valley of Hope Spire Bells
WORDS OF WELCOME
THE VOLUNTARY
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Please stand as you are able and face the cross as it processes down the aisle, leading us into worship.
P In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we will perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen
P Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P Most Merciful God,
C we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we will delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
P In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
THE GATHERING HYMN | ELW 504 | A Mighty Fortress
THE APOSTOLIC GREETING
P The grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C And also with you.
THE KYRIE |
THE HYMN OF PRAISE |
THE COLLECT | PRAYER OF THE DAY
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Almighty God, gracious Lord, we thank you that your Holy Spirit renews the church in every age.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your word, protect and comfort them in times of trial, defend them against all enemies of the gospel, and bestow on the church your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
Please be seated
Music Offering: Chancel Choir
Forevermore | Composer: Dan Forrest Lyrics by: Susan Bentall Boersma, Issac Watts
DISMISSAL FOR BLAST
+ THE LITURGY OF THE WORD +
We hear readings from Holy Scriptures. A lesson from the Old Testament (or Hebrew Bible), a Psalm, a lesson from the New Testament, and a reading from one of the four Gospels are read.
THE FIRST READING | Jeremiah 31:31-34
The renewed covenant will not be breakable, but like the old covenant it will expect the people to live upright lives. To know the Lord means that one will defend the cause of the poor and needy (Jer. 22:16). The renewed covenant is possible only because the Lord will forgive iniquity and not remember sin. Our hope lies in a God who forgets.
31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house
of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It 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. 33 But 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. 34 No 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.
After the reading: Word of God. Word of Life.
All respond: Thanks be to God.
THE PSALMODY | Psalm 46 | God Is Our Refuge and Strength
Chancel Choir sings first then Congregation Joins:
Congregation Joins:
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe!
His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate—
With God we shall defeat him.
THE SECOND READING | Romans 3:19-28
Paul’s words stand at the heart of the preaching of Martin Luther and other Reformation leaders. No human beings make themselves right with God through works of the law. We are brought into a right relationship with God through the divine activity centered in Christ’s death. This act is a gift of grace that liberates us from sin and empowers our faith in Jesus Christ.
19 Now 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. 20 For no
human will be justified before him by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the
knowledge of sin.
21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed and is attested by
the Law and the Prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ for all
who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God; 24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith.
He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed
over the sins previously committed; 26 it was to demonstrate at the present time his own
righteousness, so that he is righteous and he justifies the one who has the faith of Jesus.
27 Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. Through what kind of law? That of works?
No, rather through the law of faith. 28 For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from
works prescribed by the law.
After the reading: Word of God. Word of Life.
All respond: Thanks be to God.
THE GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
We stand to welcome the good news from the Gospel:
THE READING OF THE GOSPEL | John 8:31-36
P The Holy Gospel for this day is according to St. John, the 8th chapter.
C Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus speaks of truth and freedom as spiritual realities known through his word. He reveals the truth that
sets people free from sin.
31 Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my
disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They 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’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35
The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36
So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”
After the Gospel is read,
P The Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to you, O Christ.
THE GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Please be seated.
MUSICAL OFFERING: BELLS OF HOPE
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS | W. RUNYAN / ARR. M. THOMPSON
THE HOMILY PScott+
A time for reflection.
THE HYMN OF THE DAY | ELW 392 | Alleluia! Sing to Jesus
Please stand as you are able.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
C I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
A Renewed in God’s everlasting grace, let us pray for the church, the world, and all creation.
After each petition…
A Lord, in your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P We offer our prayers, O God, trusting in your everlasting grace and mercy, through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
C Amen.
THE SHARING OF THE PEACE
As forgiven people, we share the peace of Christ with one another.
P The peace of Christ be with you always.
C And also with you.
The ministers and congregation may greet one another with a gesture of peace, using these or similar words: Peace be with you.
Please be seated.
GREETINGS FOR THE DAY
+ THE LITURGY OF THE MEAL +
THE GIVING OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS TO GOD
We bring our offerings at the front of the altar. The basket on the left (closest to the piano) is for BLAST! offerings. The basket on the right (closest to the pulpit) is for adult offerings.
OFFERTORY MUSIC
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Please stand as you are able.
A Let us pray. Lord of the harvest, we give to you what you have given to us. Multiply what we have
given to bless all who are in suffering and in need. Turn us to set our hope not on the uncertainty of
riches, but on you, who richly provides for us, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
THE PREFACE
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times…we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
SANCTUS
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
THE LORD'S PRAYER
We pray together the prayer Our Lord taught to his disciples:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Please be seated.
INVITATION & DISTRIBUTION OF THE HOLY & BLESSED SACRAMENT
All are welcome to Christ’s table. Whatever happens, you cannot do it incorrectly. Gluten-free, rice-free, and non-alcoholic options are available. Prayer Ministers will be available during Holy Communion on either side of the front part of our worship space.
THE AGNUS DEI
COMMUNION HYMN | ELW 471 | Let Us Break Bread Together
THE POST COMMUNION BLESSING AND PRAYER
Please stand as you are able.
P The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen and keep you in His grace.
C Amen.
A O God, through this meal you have strengthened us and appointed us to be your servants. Send us to do good and to share our possessions with all in need. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
C Amen.
+ THE LITURGY OF THE SENDING +
THE BENEDICTION
A The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine upon you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor, and + give you peace.
C Amen.
THE SENDING HYMN | ELW 654| The Church’s One Foundation
THE SENDING PRAYER
Draw your church together, O God, into one great company of disciples, together following our teacher Jesus Christ in every walk of life, together serving in Christ’s mission to the world, and together witnessing to your love wherever you will send us; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE DISMISSAL
P Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C Thanks be to God!
THE POSTLUDE
Liturgy reprinted by permission of Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2025 Augsburg Fortress license #23630. All rights reserved. Hymns reprinted by permission Sundays and Seasons #23630, OneLicense #A-705758, and CCLI#2530682. Other hymns printed by permission as noted. New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.Permission to Podcast the music in this service obtained from OneLicense.net, Augsburg Fortress, and CCLI.
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