Wednesday Words for October 22, 2014
From Interim Senior Pastor Len Hoffmann
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Worship 8:00, 9:00, and 10:30 am
Children’s Church, Sunday School and Adult Education at 9:00 am.
New Coffee and Get Acquainted Hour 10:00 am.
Sunday, October 26 Festival of the Reformation Celebration Worship at 9:00 and 10:30
Rite of Confirmation at 1:00 p.m.
No Music at the 8:00 a.m. Worship to allow time for music preparation
Sunday, November 2 Festival of All Saints Celebration Worship –
Remembering those entering eternal life
No Music at 8:00 a.m. Worship to allow time for music preparation
When you arrive for worship there will be tables of candles. Prior to worship you are invited to come forward and light a candle in memory of a loved one who has entered eternal life. In addition, at the beginning of worship in place of the Thanksgiving for Baptism, we will have a Rite of Remembrance for those of our family of faith who have entered the church triumphant this past year.
Our next Fanning the Flame event will be held Thursday, October 30. Please RSVP! Soup Supper 5:45 - 6:15 pm
Purpose and Planning Session 6:30 – 8:30 pm – Identifying Our Core Values.
Find a new opportunity for supporting God’s Mission.
Go to our website and click on “Give Online.”
Thought for the Day:
God is our refuge and strength, a very present |help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the |earth be moved, and though the mountains shake in the depths |of the sea; Psalm 46:1-2
Sunday at Bethany:
The most cherished Reformation Hymn written by Martin Luther, who wrote nearly 40 hymns, is “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” The hymn is based on Psalm 46 which proclaims the sovereign power of God over all earthly powers and evil forces.
Some historians believe that this hymn was written on the eve of the plaque working its way through Europe, but it also reflects Luther’s struggle as he sought to bring reform to the church and in turn would be sought as an outlaw.
This hymn and the Psalm calls people of faith to trust in the midst of fear. It calls us to trust that God is in charge no matter what changes and challenges we must confront. It is a word of hope that God is always making things new and is renewing us and the whole church.
So as we journey through the transitions of life and the transitions in our life together we are continually being reformed and we sing with joy and confidence, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”
Pr. Len
Festival of the Reformation
Prayer of the Day: Almighty God, gracious Lord, we thank you that your Holy Spirit renews the church in every age. Pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your word, protect and comfort them in times of trial, defend them against all enemies of the gospel, and bestow on the church your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading Jeremiah 31:31-4
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.
31The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32It 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. 33But 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. 34No 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.
Second Reading 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.
19Now 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. 20For "no human being will be justified in his sight" by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
21But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom 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; 26it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.
27Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.
The Gospel John 8:31-36
Jesus speaks of truth and freedom as spiritual realities known through his word. He reveals the truth that sets people free from sin.
31Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 33They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?"
34Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
