First Sunday of End Time

Reformation Sunday October 31, 2021

Today’s Theme for Worship: Reformation is not merely a celebration of our Lutheran heritage. It is a festival of the Word.

Opening Hymn 546 Lord Jesus, You Have Come

1 Lord Jesus, you have come A teacher sent from heaven

And by both word and deed God’s truth to us have given.

You wisely have ordained The holy ministry

That we, your flock, may know The truth that sets us free.

2 O blessed ministry Of reconciliation,

That shows the way to God And brings to us salvation!

Lord, by your gospel pure, You bless and keep your fold;

You call, enlighten, keep; You comfort and uphold.

3 Preserve this ministry While harvest days are keeping;

And since the fields are ripe And hands are few for reaping,

Send workers forth, O Lord, The sheaves to gather in

That not a soul be lost Which you have come to win.

4 The servants you have called And to your Church are giving

Preserve in doctrine pure And holiness of living.

Your Spirit fill their hearts And charge their words with pow’r;

What they should boldly speak, Oh, give them in that hour!

5 Bring those into your fold Who still to you are strangers;

Guard those who are within Against offense and dangers.

Press onward with your Word Till pastor and his fold

Through faith in you, O Christ, Your glory shall behold.

Text: Eberhard L. Fischer, 1695-1773, abr.; tr. composite.

P: The grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.

C: And also with you.

Confession of Sins

P: We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy.

C: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt.

P: God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will.

C: Amen.

P: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.

♬ Oh Taste And See

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.

Bless-ed are they who take re-fuge in him.

Your Word, O Lord, is e-ter-nal;

it stands firm in the heav-ens.

Your faith-ful-ness con-tin-ues for-ev-er.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.

Bless-ed are they who take re-fuge in him.

Prayer of the Day

P: Let us Pray.

Gracious Lord, our refuge and strength, pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your Word, protect and comfort them in all temptations, defend them against all their enemies, and bestow on the Church your saving peace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: ♬ Amen.

First Lesson: Jeremiah 18: 1-11

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ²“Get up, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will reveal my words to you.”

³So I went down to the potter’s house, and he was making something on the wheel. ⁴But the pot he was forming out of the clay was ruined as he shaped it with his hands, so the potter formed it into a different pot, whatever he saw fit to make.

⁵Then the word of the Lord came to me.

⁶House of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? declares the Lord. See, like clay in the potter’s hands, that is what you are in my hands, house of Israel. ⁷One time I may say that a nation or a kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, ⁸but if that nation I spoke about repents of its evil, then I will relent and not bring the disaster I had planned to bring against it. ⁹Another time I may say that a nation or a kingdom is to be built and planted, ¹⁰but if they do what is evil in my sight by not listening to my voice, then I will not bring about the good I said I would do for them.

¹¹Now therefore say this to the men of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem. This is what the Lord says. Look! I am forming a disaster against you. I am devising a plan against you. Turn from your evil ways, each of you, and reform your ways and your actions.

Psalm of the Day - Hymn 201 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

1 A mighty fortress is our God, A trusty shield and weapon;

He helps us free from ev’ry need That has us now o’ertaken.

The old evil foe Now means deadly woe;

Deep guile and great might Are his dread arms in fight;

On earth is not his equal.

2 With might of ours can naught be done; Soon were our loss effected.

But for us fights the valiant one Whom God himself elected.

You ask, “Who is this?” Jesus Christ it is,

The almighty Lord. And there’s no other God;

He holds the field forever.

3 Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us,

We tremble not, we fear no ill; They shall not overpow’r us.

This world’s prince may still Scowl fierce as he will,

He can harm us none. He’s judged; the deed is done!

One little word can fell him.

4 The Word they still shall let remain, Nor any thanks have for it;

He’s by our side upon the plain With his good gifts and Spirit.

And do what they will-Hate, steal, hurt, or kill-

Though all may be gone, Our victory is won;

The kingdom’s ours forever!

Text: Martin Luther, 1483-1546; tr. composite.

Second Lesson: Revelation 14:6-7

⁶Then I saw another angel flying in the middle of the sky. He had the everlasting gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth, to every nation, tribe, language, and people. ⁷He said with a loud voice:

Fear God and give him glory,

because the hour of his judgment has come.

Worship him who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water.

Verse:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

These words are written that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel: Mark 13:5-11

⁵Jesus began by telling them, “Be careful that no one deceives you. ⁶Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many.

⁷“Whenever you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled. Such things must happen, but the end is not yet. ⁸In fact, nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. ⁹But be on your guard! People will hand you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand in the presence of rulers and kings for my sake as a witness to them. ¹⁰And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. ¹¹Whenever they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what you should say. Say whatever is given to you in that hour, because you will not be the ones speaking; instead it will be the Holy Spirit.”

P: This the gospel of our Lord.

C: ♬ Praise be to you, O Christ!

Hymn of the Day: 204 O God, Our Lord, Your Holy Word

1 O God, our Lord, Your holy Word Was long a hidden treasure

Till to its place It was by grace Restored in fullest measure.

For this today Our thanks we say And gladly glorify you.

Your mercy show And grace bestow On all who still deny you.

2 Salvation true By faith in you-That is your gospel’s preaching,

The heart and core Of Bible lore In all its sacred teaching.

In Christ we must Put all our trust, Not in our deeds or labor;

With conscience pure And heart secure Love you, Lord, and our neighbor.

3 Lord, you alone This work have done By your free grace and favor.

All who believe Will grace receive Through Jesus Christ, our Savior.

And though the foe Would overthrow Your Word with grim endeavor,

All he has wrought Must come to naught-Your Word will stand forever!

4 Since you are mine, My Lord divine, Death holds no dreadful terrors;

Your precious blood, My highest good, Has blotted out my errors.

My thanks to you-Your Word is true! Fulfill your promise ever,

And mercy give While here I live And heav’nly bliss forever.

Text: Enchiridion . . . zum Schwartzen Horn, Erfurt, 1527, abr.; tr. W. Gustave Polack, 1890-1950, alt.

Sermon

Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

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.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Offering

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Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,

your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

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

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

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

Children’s Choir - Luther’s Morning Prayer

Hymn: 234 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Children's Choir will sing verses 1 & 2, Congregation will join in singing verses 3-5

1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!

Let all who hear Now to his temple draw near,

Joining in glad adoration!

2 Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things is wondrously reigning

And, as on wings of an eagle, uplifting, sustaining.

Have you not seen All that is needful has been

Sent by his gracious ordaining?

3 Praise to the Lord, who has fearfully, wondrously, made you,

Health has bestowed and, when heedlessly falling, has stayed you.

What need or grief Ever has failed of relief?

Wings of his mercy did shade you.

4 Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;

Surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.

Ponder anew What the Almighty can do

As with his love he befriends you.

5 Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore him!

All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him!

Let the Amen Sound from his people again;

Gladly forever adore him!

Text: Joachim Neander, 1650-80; tr. composite.

Prayer and Blessing

P: Almighty God, we thank you for teaching us the things you want us to believe and do. Help us by your Holy Spirit to keep your Word in pure hearts that we may be strengthened in faith, guided in holiness, and comforted in life and in death, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: ♬ A-men.

P: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look on you with favor and + give you peace.

C: ♬ A-men, A-men, A-men

Closing Hymn: 289 Preserve Your Word, O Savior

1 Preserve your Word, O Savior,

To us this latter day,

And let your kingdom flourish;

Enlarge your Church, we pray.

Oh, keep our faith from failing;

Keep hope’s bright star aglow.

Let nothing turn us from you

While wand’ring here below.

2 Preserve your Word and preaching,

The truth that makes us whole,

The mirror of your glory,

The pow’r that saves the soul.

Oh, may this living water,

This spring of heav’nly grace,

Sustain us while here living

Until we see your face.

Text: Andreas Gryphius, 1616-64, abr.; tr. William J. Schaefer, 1891-1976, alt.