From Rev. Ben –
In this week’s celebration we are observing “Reformation Sunday,” which falls each year on the Sunday closest to October 31, the date when Martin Luther kick started the Reformation by posting his 95 Theses, or questions for debate, on the door of the chapel at the University of Wittenberg in Germany. In honor of Reformation we are singing two hymns whose words are attributed to the great reformers John Calvin and Martin Luther, and the sermon seeks to imagine what it means to be “reformed and always reforming” today.
Thank you to everyone who put together this week’s service!
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View October 25th Celebration online
(Note: the link to Celebration videos becomes ‘active’ on the prior Saturday evening)
- Marcia provides a prelude,
- Talitha welcomes us to celebration,
- The Sutkus-Thompson family will call us to celebration,
- The opening hymn, whose words are attributed to John Calvin, is “I Greet Thee Who My Sure Redeemer Art”,
- Minda Lucero leads us in a prayer for peace,
- Dean Elia reads Romans 5:1-5,
- I will preach a sermon that looks at what it means to be “reformed and always reforming”,
- Kim provides special music,
- Talitha leads us in prayer,
- The closing hymn is “A Mighty Fortress”, whose words were written by Martin Luther, and whose music is
- an old German drinking song, and
- I lead you in a charge and benediction.
The Charge (say together) Go out into the world in peace. Have courage; hold on to what is good. Return no one evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, and help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.