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Reformation Sunday

Margy Schmitt Ajer

Sunday, October 25, 2026

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Prelude “Wir glauben all an einen Gott” Luther/Bach

“Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott"

settings David Cherwien Fanfare - Johann Pachelbel Fughetta

Welcome & Announcements

Sola Gratia

*Confession & Forgiveness

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who pours love into our hearts and healing upon the earth. Amen.

Confident that God justifies us by grace through faith,

let us confess our sin.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Compassionate God, we confess that we struggle to embody your goodness in the world and in our own hearts. Creation groans from overuse. Jealousy and bitterness strain our relationships. Indifference keeps us from seeking justice. Divisions disrupt your call to show genuine love to others. Turn our hearts back to you. Restore our world and reconcile us to one another. Renew us to live as your holy people, following the way of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hear this good news: We have peace with God through Jesus Christ, in whom there is no condemnation, but only forgiveness and the promise of eternal life. Receive freely this healing gift of grace.

Amen.

*Gathering Hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

*Prayer of the Day

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.

Amen.

A Mighty Fortress verses 3-4

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!

Sola Scriptura

Old Testament Reading Jeremiah 31:31-34

A New Covenant

The prophet Jeremiah announces God’s persistent commitment to Israel as God’s people with a promise to move beyond their prior obstinacy and establish covenantal intimacy once again, as God had done in bringing them out of Egypt. As we read Israel’s testimony on this Reformation Sunday, the promise of God’s faithfulness undergirds the hope of all who would pursue correction and renewal among God’s people and in the world.

Look! A time is coming, says the Lord, when I will carve out with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah a new covenant. It will not be like the covenant I carved out with their ancestors—that day when I took them by the hand to bring them out from the land of Egypt, my covenant that they demolished, though I had made myself their master, says the Lord. Rather, this is the covenant that I will carve out with the House of Israel after that time, says the Lord: I will set my instruction within them and I will write it on their heart; I will be their God and they will be my people. A person will no longer continue teaching a neighbor or a relative: “Know the Lord!” Rather, they will all know me, from the smallest of them to the greatest, says the Lord. Indeed, I will pardon their guilt, and to their sin I will no longer give a thought.

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God

Psalm 46

To the director, of the sons of Korah, set to soprano voices, a song.

1 God is our ref- | uge 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 cit- | y 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. / R

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 up- | on 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. / R

The Epistle Lesson Romans 3:19-28

Being Made Just by Means of Faith

The Letter to the Romans is Paul’s most complete account of his own theology, and here his explanation of the purpose of “law” is at its clearest. He presses the point that all people, gentiles included, live by some law or another. He obviously does not mean that they all follow the Torah; in the prior chapter, he made clear his conviction that even those outside Israel share an awareness together with Israel that they fall short of the requirements of conscience. For him, although systems of law are necessary for life in community, following them cannot fully establish a right relationship with God. In today’s passage, Paul argues that a common awareness of sin unites humanity in the need for forgiveness. That is the basis of God’s free offer, without precondition, to join in the grace of the relationship God establishes to make people just.

We know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those in the law’s domain, so that every defiant mouth is silenced and the world is held accountable to God. Indeed, from workings of law not one person is made just before God since, because of law, there is recognition of sin. Now, apart from law, God’s justice has made its appearance, attested by the law and the prophets, that is, God’s justice through Anointed-Jesus faith for all who live in faith. Without distinction all sinned and fall short of God’s glory—yet they are freely made just by God’s grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Anointed. God established him through faith as an atonement in his blood, demonstrating the justice in God’s holding back, disregarding previous sins. This demonstration of God’s justice shows God in the present time both to be just and to make just the one who lives from Jesus-faith. So where can there be pride? It is locked out! Through what sort of law? Of works? No, but through a law of faith. We, then, consider a person to be made just by a faith-relationship, apart from any law of works.

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

*Gospel Acclamation

congregation repeats alleluia after the cantor’s lead then repeats after the cantor’s verse.

If you continue in my word, you are truly | my disciples,* and you will know the truth, and the truth will | make you free. (John 8:31-32)

*Gospel John 8:31-36 Glory to you O Lord

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.”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon Deacon Margy Schmitt Ajer

*Hymn of the Day "Amazing Grace”

Sola Fide

*Prayers of Intercession

Response to each petition: Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

*Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,* who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

*Exchange of Peace

The peace of the Lord be with you. And also with you.

Offering

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Offering Music "Isaiah, Mighty Seer, in Days of Old” Luther/Bender

*Offering Prayer

God of creation, you send rain and the earth springs forth abundantly. All blessings are from you; make us generous with what we have. Use our gifts, our abilities, and our hearts in service to you and in love to our neighbors, today and always. Amen.

Solus Christus

*The 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.

*Preface

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

*Sanctus

*Eucharistic Prayer

On the night our Lord Jesus was betrayed, …

Remembering, then, his death and resurrection, we take this bread and cup, giving you thanks that you have made us worthy to stand before you and to serve you as your priestly people.

Send your Spirit upon these gifts of your church; gather into one all who share this bread and wine; fill us with your Holy Spirit to establish our faith in truth, that we may praise and glorify you through your Son Jesus Christ; through whom all glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy church, both now and forever.

Amen.

*The Lord’s Prayer

Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Agnus Dei Lamb of God

Communion Distribution

Communion Hymn "Grant Peace, We Pray”

Grant peace, we pray, in mercy Lord; peace in our time, O send us!

For there is none on earth but you, none other to defend us.

You only, Lord, can fight for us. Amen.

Text: Latin, 6th cent.; adapt Martin Luther, 1483–1546; tr. Laudamus, Hannover, 1952

Music: VERLEIH UNS FRIEDEN

First setting: Plainsong mode I; Gesangbuch, Nürnberg, 1676

Second setting: Felix Mendelssohn, 1809–1847

*Communion Blessing and Prayer

Sustaining God, with this bread and cup, you nourish us with mercy and abundant life. By your Spirit, send us from this table to serve a needy world. Make us living signs of your liberation, healing, and love, following the way of Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.

*Sending Hymn Soli Deo Gloria