Reformation Day Sunday ~ 2025

 

Today's Service Leader Rev. Brett Cornelius, Pastor, Holy Cross Lutheran Church

 

Today's liturgy is the Divine Service THREE, page 184ff.

 

904 Blessed Jesus, at Your Word

Text (sts. 1–3): Tobias Clausnitzer, 1619–84; (sts. 1–3): tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827–78, alt.; (st. 4): Geistreiches Gesang-Büchlein, 1707, Berlin; (st. 4): tr. unknown, alt.
Tune: Johann Rudolph Ahle, 1625–73, alt.
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

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

 

Invocation

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

C Amen.

 

Exhortation LSB 184

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

 

Kneel/Stand

 

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

 

Confession of Sins LSB 184

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

 

Absolution LSB 185

P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

 

Stand

 

Introit Psalm 34:1–2, 11, 22; antiphon: Psalm 119:46

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.

 

Gloria Patri LSB 186

 

Kyrie LSB 186

 

Gloria in Excelsis LSB 187

 

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P 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.

 

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.

 

Gradual Psalm 141:1–2

O Lord, I call upon you; hasten | to me!*
Give ear to my voice when I | call to you!
Let my prayer be counted as incense be- | fore you,*
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening | sacrifice!

 

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 LSB 190

 

Holy Gospel John 8:31–36

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the eighth chapter.

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.

 

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth.

And 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 sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence 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 T everlasting. Amen.

 

Sit

 

657 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Text: tr. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978
Text and tune: Martin Luther, 1483–1546
Text: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

Offertory LSB 192

 

Sit

 

Holy Cross Choir ~ Thy Word Is A Lamp

 

Offering

 

Stand

 

Prayer of the Church

P In peace, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P That we would be built up in Christ and hold the faith in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace; and for reproof when we are in error, that what is lacking in us would be reformed and that we would grow up into Christ, our head, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For faithful hearts, that we would remain steadfast in the Word of God and never follow false gospels that lead us away from His truth; and for pastors who will preach with purity and joy that we are saved by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For all fathers in the home and Church, that our heavenly Father would give them wisdom and fortitude; that He would make them faithful in teaching His Word to the children entrusted to their care; and that all little ones would come to know their heavenly Father and live as true children of God, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For calm hearts that know God and trust Him to remain in control, even when the nations are in uproar and kingdoms fall, and that look to Him to guide all who govern us so that evil is thwarted, righteousness rewarded and all His ways are upheld, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the sick, the joyful and those in any need, [especially _____________,] that they may be preserved in God’s promises and brought safely through this world to everlasting life, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For all who approach the altar this day, that our Father would give us repentant hearts and firm faith in the Savior’s promises; and that He would graciously prevent us from partaking to our judgment, but grant us reverently and joyfully to receive Christ’s body and blood, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P O Lord, we give You thanks for all Your servants who have departed this life in faith. We especially bless You today for the great reformers of Your Church who call us back to the Gospel and to the righteousness we have in Christ alone. Keep us in fellowship with them, and bring us at last to our heavenly home and the joy of seeing our Redeemer face to face; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

Preface LSB 194

 

Proper Preface

P It is truly meet, 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 195

 

Lord's Prayer

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.

 

The Words of Our Lord

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.”

 

Pax Domini LSB 197

 

Agnus Dei LSB 198

 

Sit

 

Distribution Hymns

 

702 My Faith Looks Up to Thee

Text: Ray Palmer, 1808–87
Tune: Lowell Mason, 1792–1872
Text and tune: Public domain

 

566 By Grace I’m Saved

 

5 By grace to timid hearts that tremble,
    In tribulation’s furnace tried,
By grace, in spite of fear and trouble,
    The Father’s heart is open wide.
Where could I help and strength secure
If grace were not my anchor sure?

 

6 By grace! On this I’ll rest when dying;
    In Jesus’ promise I rejoice;
For though I know my heart’s condition,
    I also know my Savior’s voice.
My heart is glad, all grief has flown
Since I am saved by grace alone.

Text: Christian Ludwig Scheidt, 1709–61; tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt.
Tune: Cornelius Heinrich Dretzel, 1697–1775
Text and tune: Public domain

 

909 Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation

Text: Latin, c. 8th cent.; tr. John Mason Neale, 1818–66, alt.
Tune: Henry Purcell, 1659–95, adapt.
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

Nunc Dimittis LSB 199

 

Thanksgiving LSB 200

 

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.

 

Salutation LSB 201

 

Benedicamus LSB 202

 

Benediction LSB 202

 

585 Lord Jesus Christ, with Us Abide

 

5 Restrain, O Lord, the human pride
That seeks to thrust Your truth aside
Or with some man-made thoughts or things
Would dim the words Your Spirit sings.

 

6 Stay with us, Lord, and keep us true;
Preserve our faith our whole life through—
Your Word alone our heart’s defense,
The Church’s glorious confidence.

Text: tr. F. Samuel Janzow, 1913–2001, alt.; (st. 1): Philipp Melanchthon, 1497–1560; (st. 1): German version Geistliche Psalmen, 1611, Nuremberg; (sts. 2–6): Nicolaus Selnecker, 1532–92
Tune: Geistliche Lieder D. Martini Lutheri, 1589, Leipzig
Text: © 1982 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

Acknowledgments

Divine Service, Setting Three from Lutheran Service Book

Unless otherwise indicated, 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.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2025 Concordia Publishing House.