WELCOME TO CENTRAL - 2 -

Transcription

1 REFORMATION

2 WELCOME TO CENTRAL Everyone is welcome. As a community of the people of God, the members of Central Lutheran Church are called to welcome all people regardless of age, economic status, ethnic background, gender, physical or mental ability, race or sexual orientation. We affirm that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male or female (Galatians 3:28). Christ has made us one. Guests are welcome. We are pleased you are worshiping with us today. We invite guests to complete the Welcome to Central card found in the pew racks and leave it with an usher or place it in the offering plate. If you would like more information about Central, please contact us at , or info@centralmpls.org. Children are welcome at all services. Worship bulletins for children and activity bags are available at Sanctuary entrances. A nursery is provided near the welcome desk. Nursery staff are present on Sunday mornings. Welcome to the Lord s Table. All who come seeking Jesus are welcome at Holy Communion. Please follow the guidance of the ushers and instructions in the order of service. During communion, ministers will bring bread and wine to persons in designated access seating areas. Communion may be received in one kind (only bread or only wine) from any station if wheat bread or alcohol presents a health concern. Gluten-free breads and alcohol-free wine are available by request at most liturgies from most communion stations. Welcome to the Holy Baptism. All who come seeking Jesus are welcome to receive Holy Baptism. Please visit with any worship leader, staff member, hospitality volunteer, contact the church office, or complete an information card, indicating that you wish to be baptized. A pastor will contact you. Friends of Central Stay connected Across the country and beyond there are many people who have a soft spot in their heart for Central Lutheran Church people who feel a connection both to the history and the ongoing mission of this congregation. If you re one of them, we invite you to join a network of Friends of Central. Pick up a brochure or visit our website for more information or to join. Electronic Giving Opportunities: Online at click on Give Today; or text 73256, enter code word centralmpls (lower case), and a numerical amount. Press send and fill in the details. All contributions from members and guests will appear in a contribution statement. Wi-Fi is available as Central Lutheran (password guestclc). If you give electronically, use the green pew card to drop in the offering plate instead of an envelope. Central Lutheran is supported by givers like you. Questions? Contact the church office at

3 HOLY COMMUNION Reformation Exploring the promise of God for all Christ heals blind Bartimaeus Sunday, October 28, :30 am Choral Eucharist The word God speaks is Jesus On this Reformation day we celebrate the heart of our faith: the gospel of Christ the good news that makes us free! We pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to unite the church today in its proclamation and witness to the world. In the waters of baptism we are made one body; we pray for the day that all Christians will also be one at the Lord s table. Can we pray the way Bartimaeus prays? People try to hush him up because by addressing Jesus as Son of David he is making a politically dangerous claim that Jesus is the rightful king. Could our prayers ever be heard as a threat to unjust powers-that-be? Bartimaeus won t give up or go away quietly, but repeats his call for help more loudly. Do we ask so boldly? And are our prayers an honest answer to Jesus question, What do you want me to do for you? The Holy Spirit gathers us in unity on the first day of the week. GATHERING PRELUDE Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word arr. Sandra Eithun The carillon calls the assembly to worship. At the sound of the bell the assembly stands to face the worship leaders at the back of the church. PROCESSIONAL HYMN (hymn) 517 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word stanzas 1 & 2 in harmony; 3 in unison GREETING P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. a And also with you. KYRIE (TRISHAGION) - 3 -

4 HYMN OF PRAISE Both text and tune for this classic setting of the Gloria in excelsis were written by cantor, pastor and teacher Nikolaus Decius (c ). During his studies at the University in Wittenberg (beginning in 1523) Decius produced metrical settings of several parts of the ordinary of the mass which became a regular part of Lutheran Reformation worship. (Hymn 357 is his well-known version of the Agnus Dei. ) It s interesting that this hymn All Glory Be to God is a part of Lutheran services of Holy Communion all over the world. You ll hear it sung everywhere from Norway to Namibia. PRAYER OF THE DAY P Let us pray. Eternal light, shine in our hearts. Eternal wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance. Eternal compassion, have mercy on us. Turn us to seek your face, and enable us to reflect your goodness, through Jesus Christ, our Savior. a Amen. The presider continues with words of welcome. God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song. WORD CHILDREN S WORD Children are invited to come forward; parents are welcome to come with their children

5 READING Jeremiah 31:31-34 I will write my law in their hearts, says the LORD 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. a 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. 32 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. 33 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. 34 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. The promise of God for all. Thanks be to God. SECOND READING Justified by God s grace as a gift 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. Paul writes to the church at Rome: 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. 20 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. 21 But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 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; 26 it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law. The promise of God for all. a Thanks be to God. GOSPEL PROCESSION verses 1 & 2 Listen, God Is Calling choir sings the verses, please join on the refrain (sung twice): - 5 -

6 Bartimaeus comes to Jesus with faith, asking that he might see again. Recognizing Jesus identity, Bartimaeus is the first person to call him Son of David in the Gospel of Mark. GOSPEL Christ heals blind Bartimaeus Mark 10:46 52 The holy gospel according to Mark. a Glory to you, O Lord. As [Jesus] and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, Son of David, have mercy on me! 49 Jesus stood still and said, Call him here. And they called the blind man, saying to him, Take heart; get up, he is calling you. 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, What do you want me to do for you? The blind man said to him, My teacher, let me see again. 52 Jesus said to him, Go; your faith has made you well. Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. The gospel of the Lord. a Praise to you, O Christ. GOSPEL PROCESSION Listen, God Is Calling refrain (see page 5) all; verse 3 choir; refrain - all SERMON silence for reflection follows the sermon HYMN OF THE DAY (hymn) 779 Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound stanzas 1-3 in harmony, 4 in unison APOSTLES CREED A Let us together proclaim the faith that we share, using the words of the Apostle s Creed and Martin Luther s Small Catechism. P Do you believe in God the Father? a I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. A What does this mean? a I believe that God has created me together with all that exists. God has given me and still preserves my body and soul: eyes, ears, and all limbs and senses; reason and all mental faculties. P In addition, God daily and abundantly provides shoes and clothing, food and drink, house and farm, spouse and children, fields, livestock, and all property along with all the necessities and nourishment for this body and life. a God protects me against all danger and shields and preserves me from all evil. And all this is done out of pure, fatherly, and divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness of mine at all! For all of this I owe it to God to thank and praise, serve and obey him. This is most certainly true. P Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God? I believe in Jesus Christ, God s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, - 6 -

7 suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. 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. A What does this mean? a I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father in eternity, and also a true human being, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned human being. P He has purchased and freed me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death. a He has done all this in order that I may belong to him, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in eternal righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true. Martin Luther s Small Catechism is printed in the ELW pew edition starting on p P Do you believe in God, the Holy Spirit? 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. A What does this mean? a I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, P just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith. a Daily in this Christian church the Holy Spirit abundantly forgives all sins mine and those of all believers. On the last day the Holy Spirit will raise me and all the dead and will give to me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION The prayers conclude with confession. Each petition concludes: Lord, in your mercy, a hear our prayer

8 MEAL PEACE P The peace of Christ be with you always. a And also with you. The assembly is invited to share God s peace with one another. God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ. GATHERING OF GIFTS The offering is gathered for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need. During this time, the table is set. After the offering is gathered, bread, wine, money, and other gifts are brought forward. The assembly stands as the procession reaches the chancel. Now Thank We All Our God For the anthem text see ELW 840. Offertory Prayer A Let us pray together. a God of life, you give us these gifts of the earth, these resources of our life and labor. Take them, offered in great thanksgiving, and use them to set a table that will heal the whole creation; through Christ, our Savior. Amen. The assisting minister pours out the wine. GREAT THANKSGIVING P The Lord be with you. a And also with you. P Lift up your hearts. a We lift them to the Lord. P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. a It is right to give our thanks and praise. P we praise your name and join their unending hymn: arr. Zebulon Highben - 8 -

9 The presider continues with the Great Thanksgiving, concluding: All who come seeking Jesus are invited to receive these gifts of God. Communion at this service is served standing. Please follow the directions of the ushers to a communion station. Grape juice and gluten-free bread are available upon request. The benefits of the sacrament are fully present in either the bread or the wine, should health reasons prevent you from receiving one of them. Children are welcome to receive communion or a blessing. Prayer at the chancel kneelers during communion is always welcomed. Lord s Prayer (1975) a 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. 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. Breaking of the Bread and Invitation to Communion Communion Lamb of God Hymn (hymn) 793 Be Thou My Vision silence for reflection concludes the Communion Prayer after Communion A Let us pray. Holy and compassionate God, in the bread and wine you give us gifts that form us to be humble and courageous. May your words come to life in our serving and in our witness, that we might speak a living voice of healing and justice to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our rock and redeemer. a Amen

10 God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world. Following worship coffee is served in the great room. Brief sanctuary tours will be offered after this service. Meet a docent at the pulpit. SENDING BLESSING P God, whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine, grant you the gifts of faith and hope. Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. a Amen. SENDING HYMN (hymn) 504 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God stanza 1 in unison, 2 in harmony, 4 in unison DISMISSAL Please face the processional cross for the dismissal. A Go in peace. God s Word endures forever. a Thanks be to God. The carillon sends the assembly into mission. POSTLUDE A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Michael Praetorius Portions of the liturgy are from Sundays and Seasons.com 2018 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress liturgies license # Chancel flowers this weekend are given by Betty Reveling in loving memory of her brother Bruce. If you wish to donate flowers, contact Judy Korogi 10 days in advance at This service is being streamed live on the internet at SERVING TODAY Pastor Melissa Pohlman Pastor Peter Nycklemoe Tom Allen Janet Winsand, Mariel Wolter Rick Johnston Maren Masters, Marit Lyle Deacon Mark Sedio Jane Lien Central Choir Central Bell Choir Pastor Stephanie Friesen Mark Kieffer, Marc Wilson Varney Kiazolu Pastor D. Foy Christopherson Pat Forse Muriel & Jerry Olsen, Jeff Ingvall Megan & Matt Bowman, Mark Erickson, Rexanne Spicer presiding preaching assisting minister readers crucifer torch bearers cantor associate cantor/organist choir handbell choir communion minister sound operators lead usher for October liturgy director docent hosts & greeters seasonal planning team Large print service folders, assisted listening devices, and access seating are available to aid your participation in worship. Please inquire with an usher

11 Saturday/Sunday, November 3-4, 2018 All Saints Sunday: Women at the Tomb Dolores Hanson, Jeanette Holmen and other Central members with relatives buried at Fort Snelling gather at the grave of Paul Hanson. Together with a Central pastor these women at the tomb bear witness to the resurrection on All Saint s Sunday, as they walk from grave to grave. All Saints Sunday is a day to remember those who have formed us in faith and have been gathered into the life of Christ. They are the sign of our hope and an image of the glory we shall inherit. Even more, they are worshipers with us this day as we sing the praises of the God who brings life out of death. Book of remembrance Throughout October, record the names of those who have died (in any year) who you plan to remember this year on All Saints. Write their names in our book of remembrance placed in the East-side (left) chapel. All Saints Saturday evening worship Any who have been recently bereaved are specially invited to attend the Saturday 5:00 p.m. Holy Communion service on All Saints weekend where our prayer will focus on the grief of those whose wounds are still tender and whose sorrow remains close to the surface. All Saints Sunday morning worship During Sunday morning worship join in acts of remembering those you love who have died. Plan to light a candle in memory of them during the prelude before worship begins. The names of those from our Central family who have died since our last All Saints Sunday will be read out during the singing of For All the Saints. Formation hour Funeral planning workshop Pastor C will lead his funeral planning workshop on All Saints Sunday. Why do we do what we do as Christians? Discover what a funeral does for us as we grieve, talk about Central s practice, discuss choices that may be made in the funeral planning process. Pick up a funeral planning worksheet or download it from the Central website

12 Cemetery visits Sunday afternoon Central s pastors are available to make cemetery visits along with Central members for prayer together in celebration of All Saints. Sign up at the welcome desk to join with other Central members and a pastor at the local cemetery where your loved ones are buried. The All Saints visit for the Central Columbarium will occur immediately following the 10:30 service. Gravesites and Columbarium planning Central has a variety of gravesites or columbarium niches available. Check with Pastor C or Michael Dee for more details. Mark your calendar now for these events next weekend. WORSHIP LIFE The Luther Rose The most enduring symbol of the Lutheran Reformation is the seal that Luther himself designed to represent his theology. By the early 1520s, this seal begins to appear on the title page of Luther s works. Luther himself explained its meaning: First, there is a black cross in a heart that remains its natural color. This is to remind me that it is faith in the Crucified One that saves us. Anyone who believes from the heart will be justified (Romans 10:10). It is a black cross, which mortifies and causes pain, but it leaves the heart its natural color. It doesn t destroy nature, that is to say, it does not kill us but keeps us alive, for the just shall live by faith in the Crucified One (Romans 1:17). The heart should stand in the middle of a white rose. This is to show that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace it puts the believer into a white, joyous rose. Faith does not give peace and joy like the world gives (John 14:27). This is why the rose must be white, not red. White is the color of the spirits and angels (cf. Matthew 28:3; John 20:12). This rose should stand in a sky-blue field, symbolizing that a joyful spirit and faith is a beginning of heavenly, future joy, which begins now, but is grasped in hope, not yet fully revealed. Around the field of blue is a golden ring to symbolize that blessedness in heaven lasts forever and has no end. Heavenly blessedness is exquisite, beyond all joy and better than any possessions, just as gold is the most valuable and precious metal. (From: Letter from Martin Luther to Lazarus Spengler, July 8, 1530 [WA Br 5:445]; tr. P. T. McCain) The first version was used in Luther s writings in the 1520s for the first time, and was in black and white, with Luther s initials. A colorized rendition of the seal began appearing as printers began to include color images in Luther s works. Each one was laboriously painted by hand