Presentation of the Augsburg Confession
June 25, 2017

Confession and Absolution

Preserve Your Word, O Savior	 LSB 658

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

Brave Hearts Made Bold, God’s Truth Confessed	[See service downloads for music.]
1	Brave hearts made bold, God’s truth confessed,
Both life and honor daring;
The apostolic faith expressed,
Before the world declaring
That God is one, yet One in Three,
Coequal in their majesty:
God—Father, Son, and Spirit.

2	God’s only Son embraced our shame,
Our tent of flesh assuming; 
This guiltless Lord our sin became,
Sin’s wage to death Him dooming:
In Pontius Pilate’s judgment hall,
Bedecked in bloodied, purple pall,
Christ made the good confession.

3	Our full forgiveness Christ has won;
What sinless, selfless dying!
Faith trusts all Jesus Christ has done—
His merit, justifying!
His holy, spotless righteousness,
We here believe and here confess;
No work can gain God’s favor.

4	O Lord, I love Your holy house,
Your glory here is dwelling:
Your Law is preached my heart to rouse,
To censure its rebelling;
Your Gospel words of truth and grace,
All fears within my heart erase—
Glad news of peace, O Jesus!

5	Your steadfast love before my eyes;
Your faithfulness, my blessing!
Your truth I cannot compromise,
Before the world confessing;
For in Your Word and Sacrament,
I find my strength and am content
And taste the joy of heaven.

6	In You, Lord Christ, I have no fear,
Nor fear the world’s defaming;
Your hidden, whispered word is clear—
My joy, its clear proclaiming!
Though hostile foes my body kill,
My soul is safe within Your will,
Avowed before Your Father.

7	Brave hearts, be bold! God’s truth confess,
Your life and honor daring;
The apostolic faith express,
By word and deed declaring
The love of God in Christ for all,
That all may heed Love’s wedding call
And feast with God forever!

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.

Lord God, heavenly Father, You preserved the teaching of the apostolic Church through the confession of the true faith at Augsburg. Continue to cast the bright beams of Your light upon Your Church that we, being instructed by the doctrine of the blessed apostles, may walk in the light of Your truth and finally attain to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
  
C	Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading	 Nehemiah 8:1–12
1 All the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 
2So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
9And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
 
A	This is the Word of the Lord.
C	Thanks be to God.

Psalm	 Psalm 26:1–12 [See service downloads for festival setting.]
1Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my in- | tegrity,*
and I have trusted in the Lord without | wavering.
2Prove me, O Lord, and | try me;*
test my heart | and my mind.
3For your steadfast love is be- | fore my eyes,*
and I walk in your | faithfulness.
4I do not sit with men of | falsehood,*
nor do I consort with | hypocrites.
5I hate the assembly of evil- | doers,*
and I will not sit with the | wicked.
6I wash my hands in | innocence*
and go around your altar, | O Lord,
7proclaiming thanksgiving | aloud,*
and telling all your | wondrous deeds.
8O Lord, I love the habitation | of your house*
and the place where your | glory dwells.
9Do not sweep my soul away with | sinners,*
nor my life with blood- | thirsty men,
10in whose hands are evil de- | vices,*
and whose right hands are | full of bribes.
11But as for me, I shall walk in my in- | tegrity;*
redeem me, and be gra- | cious to me.
12My foot stands on | level ground;*
in the great assembly I will | bless the Lord.

Epistle	 1 Timothy 6:11b–16
11Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
 
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. I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame. Alleluia.

Holy Gospel	 Matthew 10:26–33
P	The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the tenth chapter.
C	Glory to You, O Lord.
 
26“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
 
P	This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C	Praise to You, O Christ.

Sit

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

Salvation unto Us Has Come	 LSB 555, 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	
P	Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

For the land in which we live and work, that all people may acknowledge the merciful goodness of the Creator, let us pray to the Lord.
C	We confess You as our merciful Lord!

P	For the Church and her faithful confession throughout the world, that rejoicing in our heritage, we may boldly share the saving Gospel of grace, let us pray to the Lord.
C	We confess You as our saving Lord!

P	For all who lead others in our homes and workplaces, that our vocations may be opportunities to live out our confession in action and in truth, let us pray to the Lord.
C	We confess You as our living Lord!

P	For [name of congregation], that our common confession of Christ and sharing in the Means of Grace may bring blessings to many lives, let us pray to the Lord.
C	We confess You as our gracious Lord!

P	For all who come to the Lord for healing, [especially . . .], that they may experience the peace of Jesus and give Him thanks in all circumstances, let us pray to the Lord.
C	We confess You as our healing Lord!

P	For these and all other needs we have, trusting that as we confess Jesus Christ before others, He is confessing us before the Father in heaven, let us pray to the Lord.
C	We confess You as our faithful Lord! 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.

Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord	 LSB 637

I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table	 LSB 618

Just as I Am, without One Plea	 LSB 570

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.

Lord of Our Life	 LSB 659

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Published by Concordia Publishing House
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Copyright © 2016 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.
“Brave Hearts Made Bold, God’s Truth Confessed” copyright © 2016 Stephen P. Starke, admin. Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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 	 Jeff Alexander
“Brave Hearts Made Bold, God’s Truth Confessed” (text) 	 Stephen P. Starke
“Brave Hearts Made Bold, God’s Truth Confessed” (music) 	 Kevin Hildebrand
Psalm, Verse, and Hymn of the Day settings 	 James Marriott