CHRIST’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

100 South Third Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837

570.524.0745 / christchurch@dejazzd.comwww.christlutheranlewisburg.org

SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNIONReformation Sunday

October 25, 2020 10:30 AMMinisters: ALL People of Christ’s Church

God doesn’t love us because

of our worth,We are of worth

becauseGod loves us.

Pastor: The Rev. William S. Henderson

Organist/Music Director: Joanne Vasey

Coordinator of Faith Formation: Charlene Rineer

WELCOME TO ALL who join us today to worship the Lord!

If you are new to us the following information might be helpful:

Rest room facilities, including an individual restroom, are located in the hallway south of the Atrium. Large print bulletins are available during our services. Please ask an Usher for assistance.

All visitors and guests are welcome! We gather for worship each Sunday at 10:30 AM. We hope that you might experience the joy and peace that Jesus Christ can bring into your life! If you are interested in learning more about membership in our congregation please speak to the Pastor or call the Church Office (570.524.0745).

If you are new to Lutheran worship, most everything you need is printed in this bulletin. Hymns are for congregational humming. Please take your bulletin home with you; they will not be reused.

Please exit the Nave directly in a distanced way from others. Do not linger to talk in the Atrium, but go directly outside the building and beyond the portico.

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Introduction to our worship today: Rooted in the past and growing into the future, the church must always be reformed in order to live out the love of Christ in an ever-changing world. We celebrate the good news of God's grace, that Jesus Christ sets us free every day to do this life-transforming work. Trusting in the freedom given to us in baptism, we pray for the church, that Christians will unite more fully in worship and mission.

Please silence your cell phone or switch it to vibrate.

* The congregation please stand as you are able.

REFORMATION SUNDAY OCTOBER 25, 2020

PRELUDE Variations on “Ein feste Burg”

Johann Pachelbel & Michael D. Costello Tune by Martin Luther, 1483-1546

Joanne Vasey, organ

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS

P Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who creates, redeems, and sustains us and all of creation.C Amen.

P Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

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Silence is kept for reflection.

P Faithful God,C have mercy on us. We confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We turn from your loving embrace and go our own ways. We pass judgment on one another before examining ourselves. We place our own needs before those of our neighbors. We keep your gift of salvation to ourselves. Make us humble, cast away our transgressions, and turn us again to life in you through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

P God hears the cries of all who call out in need, and through his death and resurrection, Christ has made us his own. Hear the truth that God proclaims: Your sins are forgiven in the name of Jesus Christ. Led by the Holy Spirit, live in freedom and newness to do God's work in the world.C Amen.

* GATHERING SONG A Mighty Fortress Is Our God – Stanzas 1 & 4

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.

God’s Word forever shall abide, no thanks to foes, who fear it; for God himself fights by our side with weapons

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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!

* GREETING P Grace and peace be with you all from God our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.C And also with you.

* PRAYER OF THE DAY 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.

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Jeremiah 31:31-34The 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.

L The Word of the Lord.C Thanks be to God.

NEW TESTAMENT READING: Romans 3:19-28

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Paul's words stand at the heart of the preaching of Martin Luther and the 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.L The Word of the Lord.C Thanks be to God.* GOSPEL ACCLAMATION ELW p. 124

* THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 8:31-36

P The Holy Gospel according to John, the eighth chapter:C Glory to you, O Lord.P The Gospel of our Lord.C Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON The Rev. William S. Henderson

ORDER OF AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM Ella Victoria Koontz

Nina Patricia Ann Laboy Harrison Michael Patte

Isabel Victoria Veloz6

* PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Leader: Lord, in your mercy. Congregational Response: hear our prayer.

* SHARING OF THE PEACE

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.C And also with you.

* THE GREAT THANKSGIVING P The Lord be with you.C And also with you.

P Lift up your hearts.C We lift them to the Lord.P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.C It is right to give our thanks and praise.

P 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, 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 ELW p. 130

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* WORDS OF INSTITUTION

P In the night in which He was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it,and gave it to His disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is My body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of Me.

Again, after supper, He took the cup,gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you

and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of Me.

* THE LORD’S PRAYER

C Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as

in heaven.8

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.

* INVITATION TO COMMUNION

P Come to the banquet table where Christ gives himself as food and drink.C Thanks be to God.

AGNUS DEI ELW p. 135

The Communion of God’s Baptized PeopleBelieving in the real presence of Christ, we practice Eucharistic hospitality: all baptized Christians are invited to come forward as ushered to receive this life-giving Sacrament. As a sign of the unity the Sacrament gives, we all share the same elements. If you are unable to receive the

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bread or wine, be assured that in a single element you do receive the Presence of Christ and all the gifts this Sacrament offers. Non-communing children are invited to receive a blessing.

COMMUNION ANTHEM When Christ Protects His Church

Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg Brandy Aguirre, handbells Joanne Vasey, organ

COMMUNION SONG Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word

Stanzas 1 & 3

Lord, keep us steadfast in your word; curb those who by deceit or swordwould rest the kingdom from your Son and bring to naught all he has done. O Comforter of priceless worth, send peace and unity on earth; support us in our final strifeand lead us out of death to life.

* POST COMMUNION BLESSING

P May the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in His grace. C Amen.

* POST COMMUNION PRAYER

A We give you thanks, gracious God, that you have once again fed us with food beyond compare, the body and blood of Christ. Lead us from this place, nourished and forgiven,

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into your beloved vineyard to wipe away the tears of all who hunger and thirst, guided by the example of the same Jesus Christ and led by the Holy Spirit, now and forever.C Amen.

* BENEDICTION

P Mothering God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you and lead you into the way of truth and life.C Amen.

* SENDING SONG Built on a Rock – Stanzas 1 & 5

Built on a rock the church shall stand,even when steeples are falling;crumbled have spires in ev’ry land,bells still are chiming and calling –calling the young and old to rest,calling the souls of those distressed,longing for life everlasting.Through all the passing years, O Lord,grant that, when church bells are ringing,many may come to hear your Word,who here this promise is bringing:“I know my own, my own know me;You, not the world, my face shall see;My peace I leave with you. Amen.”

* DISMISSAL

P Go in peace. Remember the poor.C Thanks be to God.

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* POSTLUDE The Mighty Fortress (Ein’ feste Burg) Ellen Jane Lorenz; Tune by Martin Luther

Joanne Vasey, organ

Reprinted from Words for Worship, copyright 2019 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission. Scripture quotations (except psalms) from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

THE ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the glory of God by The Koontz Family in honor of Ella Koontz’s confirmation.

THE CROSS FLOWERS are given to the glory of God by The Patte Family in celebration of Harrison Patte’s confirmation.

THANKS to Brandy Aguirre for providing today’s communion anthem.

October 25 Reformation Sunday

November 1 All Saints’ Sunday

Worship Asst. Sarah Patte Tom BoothLector Charlotte Winter Carol Bollinger

Acolytes Olivia Koontz Oliver Patte

Harrison & Lilly Patte

Communion Ushers Judy Cotner Ethel Snook

Don & Connie May

Communion Assistants

Sharon Booth Patti Faux

Sound Tech Tom Stahlnecker Bill BorysUsher Team Bill & Carole Bollinger TBDAltar Guild Jackie Goff Shirley Wittes

CPIC Diane Miller Colleen Nevil

SCRIPTURE ALONECHRIST ALONE

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Before the Truth Is Finished"You will know the truth," Jesus said, "and the truth will make you free" (John 8:32).

"The truth will set you free," David Foster Wallace wrote, "but not until it's finished with you."

Before the truth is finished with us, it demands that we admit that we are not already free. We are enslaved to sin. This is the part of the truth that Luther called the law: the hard part that points out that we are controlled by our fears and desires, our self-absorption and self-doubt, our addictions and facades.

Here's the truth: You are not your Sunday best or your Facebook profile. You are broken, and enslaved by your attempts to cover it up. That can be hard to hear, but until it sinks in we are unable to be released and receive the truth of the gospel, the good news of grace.

SCRIPTURE ALONECHRIST ALONE

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Today we celebrate Reformation Day, and in the spirit of Martin Luther the church must be always reforming, always pointing beyond itself to God's grace. The temptation is always there to settle for so little: a cozy collective of our most presentable selves, the right side of social issues, pat answers to incomprehensible mysteries of the universe.

Jesus' invitation is to bring the mess that we're in, the mess that we are. We are called to show up as our true selves, fears and regrets and doubts and all. God can handle it. The communion of saints—that is, us, the people of God—can handle it. You are loved. You are forgiven. You are free.

The truth of God that sets us free first tears us open. Church can and must be a place where we bring our broken-open selves and encounter the healing power of a God who sees us, knows us, loves us as we are, and sets us free.

Reprinted from Words for Worship, copyright 2019 Augsburg Fortress.Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress.

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