Reformation

Reformation Call to Worship

Based on Psalm 46

M:  In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.

C:  Amen.

M: God is our refuge and strength,

C: an ever-present help in trouble.

M: Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

C: and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

M: though its waters roar and foam

C: and the mountains quake with their surging.

M: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,  

C: the holy place where the Most High dwells.

M:  God is within her, she will not fall;

C:  God will help her at break of day.           

M: “Be still, and know that I am God;” 

C: “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Reformation Confession of Sins

M:    Beloved in the Lord, let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

C:    You shall have no other gods.

M:    We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things. 

C:    You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

M:    We should fear and love God that we do not use his name to curse, swear, lie or deceive, or use witchcraft, but call upon God’s name in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks. 

C:    Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

M:    We should fear and love God that we do not despise preaching and his Word, but regard it as holy, and gladly hear and learn it.

C:     Honor your father and mother, that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.

M:     We should fear and love God that we do not dishonor or anger our parents or others in authority, but honor, serve, and obey them, and give them love and respect.

C:     You shall not murder.

M:     We should fear and love God that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need.

C:     You shall not commit adultery.

M:     We should fear and love God that we lead a pure and decent life in words and actions, and that husband and wife love and honor each other. 

C:     You shall not steal.

M:     We should fear and love God that we do not take our neighbor’s money or property or get it by dishonest dealing, but help him to improve and protect his property and means of income. 

C:     You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

M:     We should fear and love God that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, or give him a bad name, but defend him, speak well of him, and take his words and actions in the kindest possible way.

C:     You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

M:     We should fear and love God that we do not scheme to get our neighbor’s inheritance or house or obtain it by a show of right, but do all we can to help him keep it. 

C:     You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, workers, animals, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

M:     We should fear and love God that we do not force or entice away our neighbor’s spouse, workers, or animals, but urge them to stay and do their duty. 

C:      Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words and actions.  I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good.  For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity.  But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray:  Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

The Second Article of the Apostles' Creed

I believe in Jesus Christ, his 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 into hell.  The third day he rose again from the dead.  He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.  From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean? 

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord.

He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death.

All this he did that I should be his own, and live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness, just as he has risen from death and lives and rules eternally.

This is most certainly true.

Lord's Prayer

M:            I invite you to lift up your hearts to God and pray as Christ our Lord taught us. 

C:             Our Father in heaven,

M:            With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that he is our true Father and that we are his true children, so that we may pray to him as boldly and confidently as dear children ask their dear father. 

C:             Hallowed be your name.

M:            God’s name is certainly holy by itself, but we pray in this petition that we too may keep it holy.

C:             Your kingdom come.

M:            God’s kingdom certainly comes by itself even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may also come to us. 

C:             Your will be done on earth as in heaven.

M:            God’s good and gracious will certainly is done without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also. 

C:            Give us today our daily bread.

M:            God surely gives daily bread without our asking, even to all the wicked, but we pray in this petition that he would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving. 

C:             Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

M:            We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins or because of them deny our prayers; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we ask, neither have we deserved them, but we ask that he would give them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment.  So we too will forgive from the heart and gladly do good to those who sin against us. 

C:             Lead us not into temptation.

M:            God surely tempts no one to sin, but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us or lead us into false belief, despair, and other great and shameful sins; and though we are tempted by them, we pray that we may overcome and win the victory.

C:             But deliver us from evil.

M:            In conclusion we pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would deliver us from every evil that threatens body and soul, property and reputation, and finally when our last hour comes, grant us a blessed end and graciously take us from this world of sorrow to himself in heaven. 

C:             For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.  Amen.

M:            We can be sure that these petitions are acceptable to our Father in heaven and are heard by him, for he himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us.  Therefore we say, “Amen,” “Yes, it shall be so.”