Reformation Day
October 31, 2017
Observed: October 29, 2017

Confession and Absolution

By Grace I'm Saved	 LSB 566

Stand

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

P	In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C	Amen.

P	If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
C	But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Kneel/Stand

Silence for reflection on God's Word and for self-examination.

P	Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
C	Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. 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. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. 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.

P	Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C	Amen.

Stand

Service of the Word

Introit	
I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, | [O Lord,]*
and shall not be | put to shame.
I will bless the Lord at | all times;*
His praise shall continually be | in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast | in the Lord;*
let the humble hear | and be glad.
Come, O children, lis- | ten to me;*
I will teach you the fear | of the Lord.
The Lord redeems the life of His | servants;*
none of those who take refuge in Him will | be condemned.
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*
and to the Holy | Spirit;
as it was in the be- | ginning,*
is now, and will be forever. | Amen.
I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, | [O Lord,]*
and shall not be | put to shame.

Kyrie	 LSB 152
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

Gloria in Excelsis	 LSB 154
A	Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth.
C	Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father:
We worship You, we give You thanks, we praise You for Your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God:
You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer.
For You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Salutation and Collect of the Day	
P	The Lord be with you.
C	And also with you.
 
P	Let us pray.

Almighty and gracious Lord, pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people. Keep us steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defend us against all enemies, and grant to Your Church Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C	Amen.

Sit

First Reading	 Revelation 14:6–7
6Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
 
A	This is the Word of the Lord.
C	Thanks be to God.

Psalm	 Psalm 46 (antiphon: v.7) [See service downloads for festival setting.]
1God is our ref- | uge and strength,*
a very present help in | trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear though the | earth gives way,*
though the mountains be moved into the heart | of the sea,
3though its waters | roar and foam,*
though the mountains tremble at its | swelling. 
4There is a river whose streams make glad the cit- | y of God,*
the holy habitation of the | Most High.
5God is in the midst of her; she shall | not be moved;*
God will help her when | morning dawns.
6The nations rage, the kingdoms | totter;*
He utters His voice, the | earth melts.
7The Lord of hosts is | with us;*
the God of Jacob is our | fortress. 
8Come, behold the works | of the Lord,*
how He has brought desolations | on the earth.
9He makes wars cease to the end | of the earth;*
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
He burns the chariots | with fire.
10“Be still, and know that | I am God.*
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted | in the earth!”
11The Lord of hosts is | with us;*
the God of Jacob is our | fortress. 
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*
and to the Holy | Spirit;
as it was in the be- | ginning,*
is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Epistle	 Romans 3:19–28
19Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
21But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 
 
A	This is the Word of the Lord.
C	Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse	[See service downloads for festival setting.]

Verse of the Day	
Alleluia. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Alleluia.

Holy Gospel	 John 8:31–36
P	The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the eighth chapter.
C	Glory to You, O Lord.
 
31So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
 
P	This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C	Praise to You, O Christ.

[OR]

Holy Gospel	 Matthew 11:12–19

P	The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the eleventh chapter.
C	Glory to You, O Lord.
 
12“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
17“ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
 
P	This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C	Praise to You, O Christ.

Sit

Children’s Message	[See service downloads for message resources.]

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God	 LSB 656/657 [See service downloads for hymn resources.]

Sermon	[See service downloads for sermon resources.]

Stand

Nicene Creed	
C	I believe in one God,
     the Father Almighty,
     maker of heaven and earth
          and of all things visible and invisible.
 
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
     the only-begotten Son of God,
     begotten of His Father before all worlds,
     God of God, Light of Light,
     very God of very God,
     begotten, not made,
     being of one substance with the Father,
     by whom all things were made;
     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
     and was made man;
     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
     He suffered and was buried.
     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures
          and ascended into heaven
     and sits at the right hand of the Father.
     And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,
     whose kingdom will have no end.
 
And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
     the Lord and giver of life,
     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
     who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
     who spoke by the prophets.
     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,
     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
     and I look for the resurrection of the dead
     and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Church	
Prayer petitions may be followed by stanzas of “To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray” (LSB 768). The text of stanzas 2–4 was written by Martin Luther.

P	Let us pray to the Lord, our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, beseeching Him to have mercy and hear us.

Lord God, while we travel as pilgrims here on earth, give us comfort in the knowledge that You have called us to be Your disciples through water and the Word. In the midst of difficult times, when waters roar and foam and mountains tremble, give us confidence in knowing that we have been set free by the Son, and so we are free indeed! The Lord of hosts is with us;
C	the God of Jacob is our fortress.

To God the Holy Spirit let us pray
For the true faith needed on our way
That He may defend us when life is ending
And from exile home we are wending.
    Lord, have mercy!

P	Lord God, as Your children, we are called to love You, our neighbor, and even our enemy. Give us willing hearts to love our neighbor as ourselves because You first loved us. The Lord of hosts is with us;
C	the God of Jacob is our fortress.

O sweetest Love, Your grace on us bestow;
Set our hearts with sacred fire aglow
That with hearts united we love each other,
Ev’ry stranger, sister, and brother.
    Lord, have mercy!

P	Lord God, You are greater than the one who is in the world, prowling and seeking to devour us. Deliver us from the old evil foe, knowing that he cannot harm us because he has been defeated by Your Son’s death and resurrection. Give us strength to resist Satan, and keep us firm in the faith You have given us. The Lord of hosts is with us;
C	the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Transcendent Comfort in our ev’ry need,
Help us neither scorn nor death to heed
That we may not falter nor courage fail us
When the foe shall taunt and assail us.
    Lord, have mercy!

P	Lord God, Your Son bought us with His lifeblood as the price. In Him, we are set free from sin, death, and the power of the devil. By Your Holy Spirit working through Your Word, preserve us in the one true faith, that we might abide in You until You bring us to the place You have prepared for us in Your house. The Lord of hosts is with us;
C	the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Shine in our hearts, O Spirit, precious light;
Teach us Jesus Christ to know aright
That we may abide in the Lord who bought us,
Till to our true home He has brought us.
    Lord, have mercy!

Special petitions may be included here.

P	Lord God, into Your hands we commend all for whom we pray, confident that for the sake of Jesus, You hear and answer. Lord, have mercy!
C	Amen.

Following the prayers, the people may greet one another in the name of the Lord, saying, “Peace be with you,” as a sign of reconciliation and of the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Matt. 5:22–24; Eph. 4:1–3).

Sit

Offering

Stand

Offertory	 LSB 159
C	What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me?
I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people,
in the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

Service of the Sacrament

Preface	 LSB 160
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 Him thanks and praise.

P	It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who on this day overcame death and the grave and by His glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Sanctus	 LSB 161
C	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.

Prayer of Thanksgiving	 LSB 161
P	Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.
 
Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C	Amen.

The Words of Our Lord	 LSB 162
P	Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

P	As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
C	Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
 
P	O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

Lord's Prayer	 LSB 162
C	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.

Pax Domini	 LSB 163
P	The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C	Amen.

Agnus Dei	 LSB 163
C	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.

Sit

Distribution

The pastor and those who assist him receive the body and blood of Christ first and then distribute them to those who come to receive, saying:

Take, eat; this is the true body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, given into death for your sins.
Amen.
 
Take, drink; this is the true blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, shed for the forgiveness of your sins.
Amen.

In dismissing the communicants, the following is said:

P	The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to life everlasting. Depart T in peace.
C	Amen.

Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word	 LSB 655

Built on the Rock	 LSB 645

Salvation unto Us Has Come	 LSB 555

Stand

Post-Communion Canticle

Thank the Lord	 LSB 164
C	Thank the Lord and sing His praise; tell ev’ryone what He has done.
Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear His name.
He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy
with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia, alleluia.

Post-Communion Collect	
A	Let us pray.
We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C	Amen.

Benediction	 LSB 166
P	The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you
     and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.
C	Amen.

Though All Our Life Is like a Scroll	[See service downloads for music.]
1	Though all our life is like a scroll
Unrolled with blemished pages;
Though sin has shredded what was whole
And death is now our wages;
Yet here we stand in confidence,
With Jesus as our sole defense,
For He alone still saves us.

2	Though pompously we try to dress
In costumes of our making;
Though fig leaves of self-righteousness
Are futile and heartbreaking;
Yet filthy rags Christ gladly wore
So we would perish nevermore.
His grace alone still clothes us.

3	Though earth’s deep waters foam and roar
As surging waves are rolling;
Though all the nations rage with war
While bells of doom are tolling;
Yet God gives peaceful fortitude,
He nurtures us with Heaven’s food.
True faith alone still anchors.

4	Though critics cut out Scripture’s claims
And treat them with derision;
Though they conduct their hostile aims
With scalpels of suspicion;
Yet how the living, two-edged sword
Proclaims the dead and risen Lord!
God’s Word alone: still truthful.

5	Now sing a high doxology
To God who gives salvation.
Both here and in eternity
Let this be our vocation.
To Father, Son, and Spirit raise
A symphony of grateful praise,
For He alone is worthy.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Published by Concordia Publishing House
3558 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118-3968
1-800-325-3040 • www.cph.org
Copyright © 2017 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Other than downloading this resource for personal, Bible study, classroom, or congregational use, other usage is prohibited. No part of this material may be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray” copyright © 1969 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.
“Though All Our Life Is like a Scroll” copyright © 2016 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Some liturgical material taken from Lutheran Service Book, Divine Service: Setting One, copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Service author 	 Matthew Clark
“Though All Our Life Is like a Scroll” (text) 	 Wilfred L. Karsten
“Though All Our Life Is like a Scroll” (music) 	 Jeffrey Blersch
Psalm, Verse, and Hymn of the Day settings 	 Matthew Machemer