St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church


Reformation Sunday
October 25, 2009



Prelude Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken Austrian Hymn
St. Matthew’s Ringers arr. Bill Ingram

Welcome

We’re delighted to greet everyone in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who takes away our sin and offers grace to all people. If you are a guest, please fill out the Guest Form. If you’re looking for a meaningful ministry with which to become involved, you are encouraged to speak with the Pastor.

Mission Moment


Gathering

(We stand)
Brief Order for Confession & Forgiveness
P We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you
alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C Amen

Confession (We kneel)
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 may delight in your will and walk in
your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

Absolution

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
ς Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.
C Amen

Entrance Hymn (We stand) Holy God We Praise Your Name Hymn 414

Greeting
P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!
C And, also with you.



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Kyrie (Music on page 138)
P In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray
to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C Amen.

Hymn of Praise
(Music on page 140)

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

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.

Consecration Hymns
685, 677

Word


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

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. 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. 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. 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.

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

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Second Reading Romans 3:19–28

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.


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. For “no human being will be justified in his sight” by
deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now, apart from law, the
righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through
faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward
as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his
divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he himself
is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what
law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works
prescribed by the law.
P The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

Gospel Procession
Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word Hymn 517
Stanza 1-2
Gospel John 8:31–36
P The Holy Gospel according to Saint John, the eighth 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.

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you
will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 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’?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly,
I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the
son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
P The Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to you, O Christ.

Gospel Procession Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Name Hymn 517
Stanza 3


Sermon (We sit) Pastor Robert Wallace

(We stand)
Hymn of the Day The Church’s One Foundation Hymn 654

Apostles’ Creed
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.



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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 People (We kneel)

After each prayer petition:
P Lord in your mercy
C Hear our prayer.


The prayers conclude:
P Receive our prayers, holy God, and give us all we need for this day and the days to come, through the power
of the Holy Spirit, and in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

C Amen.

Peace
(We stand)

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

(Please feel free to move about and share God’s Peace with one another!)

Meal

Offering (We sit)

Anthem (8:30am) I Love Your Kingdom Lord Aaron Williams
Family Choir


(11:00am)
Let Thy Holy Spirit Come Upon Us Peter Tschesnokoff
Gallery Choir


Offering Response (We stand) Tune: Lasst uns erfreuen
C O friends, in gladness let us sing,
Supernal anthems echoing: Alleluia! Alleluia!
To God the Father, God the Son
And God the Spirit, Three in One:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia.

Offering Prayer

P God of majesty, in your might you have created all things, and you entrust to our care what you have made.
Receive our offerings, and make them a sign of our dedication to provide for the needs of all people and
creatures, in the name of the one who sustains all things by his word, Jesus Christ our Lord.

C Amen.



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The Great Thanksgiving
(Music on page 144)
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.


Proper Preface

Sanctus
(Music on page 144)

Holy, holy, holy Lord. God of pow’r and might
heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna, Hosanna.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.


Words of Institution

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.

Lord’s Prayer
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.
Communion
All baptized Christians are invited to share in the Eucharist. Those who are not baptized, or wish to receive only a blessing,
are asked to fold their arms over their chest. Communion will be by intinction (dipping). Please follow the usher’s direction.

Music at the Distribution (We sit)


Agnus Dei (Music on page 146)
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world: grant us peace.


Hymns during Communion
514, 631








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Post Communion Blessing and Prayer (We stand)

P Loving God, in this meal you sustain the weary and heal the broken. May the gift of your word made flesh,
the body and blood of Christ, inspire our tongues to praise you and proclaim to the entire world the Savior,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

C Amen.
P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon
you with favor and
ς give you peace.
C Amen.

Sending Hymn
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Hymn 504
Stanza 3 - Choir only (11:00 am)


Dismissal
P Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
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Reproduced with permission by Augsburg Fortress. Liturgies License #23349
































You may use this Bulletin to cover your parking in the
Francis Marion or Hutson Street Garage.

St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church * 405 King Street * Charleston, SC * 843.723.1611

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