Grace Lutheran Church
Proclaiming the grace of Christ in Word and Sacrament
Reformation Sunday
✠ October 26th, 2025 ✠
3410 Community Church Road
Pfafftown, NC 27040
Reformation Sunday
October 26th, 2025
Our service begins with the ringing of bells. Please stand, as you are able, as indicated by *
- Entrance Hymn: “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” LBW #320
- Confession & Forgiveness
P: In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit
C: Amen. Matthew 28:19
P: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no
secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy
Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify Your holy name, through
Jesus Christ, our Lord:
C: Amen
P: Beloved in the Lord: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is
not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
P: Most merciful God,
C: We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have
sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by
what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, we have
not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have
mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will
and walk in your ways to the glory of your name. Amen.
P: Almighty God, in His mercy, has given His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, and for
His sake, He forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church
of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all
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your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
C: Amen John 20:22
- Introit
P: The Lord of / Hosts is with us*
The God of Jacob / is our refuge,
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth / be removed, *
And though the mountains be carried into the midst / of the sea
God is our re-/ fuge and strength, *
A very present / help in trouble.
C: Glory to the Father, and to the + Son, and to the / Holy Spirit,*
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be fore- / ver, Amen.
P: The Lord of / Hosts is with us*
The God of Jacob / is our refuge,
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth / be removed, *
And though the mountains be carried into the midst / of the sea
Psalm 46
- Kyrie (chanted)
P: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy Mark 10:47
P: For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the
Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy
P: For the peace of the whole world, for the well being of the church of
God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy
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P: For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and
praise, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy
P: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C: Amen.
- Hymn of Praise
P: This is the feast of victory for our God, Alleluia!
C: Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
Whose blood set us free to be people of God.
Power and riches and wisdom and strength,
And honor and blessing and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God, Alleluia!
Sing with all the people of God,
And join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing and honor and glory and might
Be to God and the Lamb forever, Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God
For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign.
Alleluia, alleluia. Revelation 5:12-14
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you. Ruth 2:4; 2 Timothy 4:22
- Collect of the Day
P: Almighty God, gracious Lord, pour out your Holy Spirit upon 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, Amen.
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The First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34
31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant
that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring
them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their
husband, declares the LORD. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the
house of Israel after those days, declares 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 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother,
saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the
greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember
their sin no more.”
L: This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God
Psalm 46
1 God is our re- / fuge and strength*
A very present / help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth / be removed;*
And though the mountains be carried into the midst / of the sea.
3 Though its waters / roar and foam;*
Though the mountains tremble / at its swelling.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the ci- /ty of God;*
The holy habitation of / the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be / overthrown,*
God will help her when / morning dawns
6 The nations rage, the / kingdoms totter,*
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He utters his voice and / the earth melts.
7 The Lord of / hosts is with us,*
The God of Jacob / is our refuge
8 Come behold the works / of the Lord;*
How he has brought desolations / on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the ends / of the earth;*
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
He burns the chari-/ots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that / I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted / in the earth!”*
11 The Lord of / hosts is with us,*
The God of Jacob / is our refuge
All: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the / Holy Spirit,*
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be fore-/ver, Amen.
P: Almighty God, we sing to You a new song, for Your marvelous deeds and
victory are ever new. Give us voices to always praise You and to speak with love
toward others, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
The Second Reading: Romans 3:19-28
19 Now 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. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since
through the law comes knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God
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through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a
gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom 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. 26 It
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.
27 Then 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. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart
from works of the law.
L: This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God
Please stand as you are able for the Holy Gospel
- Gospel Acclamation
All: Alleluia, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia,
alleluia John 6:68 - Gospel Hymn: “Chief of Sinners Though I Be” (verses 1-2) LBW #306
On Feast Days, the Holy Gospel is brought to the center aisle. The Gospel hymn will be divided before and after
the Holy Gospel.
A: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Saint John.
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
- The Holy Gospel: John 8:31-36
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are
truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33
They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to
anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
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34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a
slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains
forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are
offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.
38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from
your father.”
A: This is the Gospel of our Lord
C: Praise to You, O Christ
- Gospel Hymn: “Chief of Sinners Though I Be” (verses 3-5) LBW # 306
Please remain standing for the Nicene Creed - The Nicene Creed Romans 10:9-10
All: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of
the Father, God from God, Light from Light,
True God from true God, begotten, not made,
Of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven;
By the power of the Holy Spirit,
He became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
And his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
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With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
And the life of the world to come. Amen.
You may be seated
Children’s Message
The Sermon Rev. Matt Knuppel
After the sermon, please stand for the Votum, the Post-Sermon benediction
- The Votum
P: May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus
C: Amen Philippians 4:7 - Hymn: “Break Now the Bread of Life” LBW #235
Prayers of the Church
A: Lord, in your mercy
C: Hear our prayer
After the Prayers:
P: Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your
abundant mercy through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
C: Amen
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- The Peace
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you. John 20:19
Members of the gathered assembly are invited to greet one another, saying: “Peace be with you.”
Offertory
After the gifts have been collected from the assembly, please stand.
All: Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord,
And fill to the brim our cup of blessing.
Gather the harvest from the seeds that were sown,
That we may be fed with the bread of life.
Gather the hopes and dreams of all,
Unite them with our prayers we of er.
Grace our table with your presence,
And give us a foretaste of the feast to come.
- Holy Communion Liturgy
P: Let us pray: Merciful Father…
C: We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us – ourselves,
our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the
sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen. - The Great Thanksgiving
P: The Lord be with you
C: And also with you
P: Lift up your hearts
C: We lift them to the Lord
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
C: It is right to give him thanks and praise
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P: It is indeed right and salutary…we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
Lord God of power and might:
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Isaiah 6:3
Hosanna in the highest
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest. Matthew 21:9
*The Words of Institution
P: Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father…For as often as we eat of this bread and
drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
C: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Matthew 26:26-28
P: Therefore, gracious Father, with this bread and cup, we remember the life our Lord
offered for us. And believing the witness of his resurrection, we await his coming in
power to share with us the great and promised feast. Revelation 19:9
C: Amen. Come, Lord, Jesus.
P: Send now, we pray, Your Holy Spirit, the spirit of our Lord and of his resurrection,
that we who receive the Lord’s body and blood may live to the praise of your glory and
receive our inheritance with all your saints in light. Colossians 1:19
C: Amen. Come, Holy Spirit
P: Join our prayers with those of your servants of every time and every place, and unite
them with the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest until he comes as victorious
Lord of all. Hebrews 4:14
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- Doxology
P: Through Him, with Him, and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and
glory is Yours, Almighty Father, now and forever,
C: Amen. John 14:6
- The 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.
Matthew 6:9-13
Agnus Dei
C: Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world
Grant us peace, grant us peace. John 1:29
All who are baptized and share in our confession that we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ in Holy
Communion are invited to the altar with us. After receiving the bread, those who wish to dip the bread into the
wine may proceed to the right chalice; those who wish to drink from the common cup may proceed to the left
chalice.
Anyone is welcome to come forward with their arms folded to receive a blessing from the minister.
After the celebration of Holy Communion, the minister will ask the assembly to stand
P: May the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in
his grace.
C: Amen
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*Post-Communion Canticle
C: Thank the Lord and sing His praise
Tell everyone what He has done
Let everyone who seeks the Lord
Rejoice and proudly bear His name
He recalls His promises
And leads His people forth in joy
With shouts of thanksgiving
Alleluia, Alleluia
P: Let us pray…through Jesus Christ our Lord:
C: Amen
- The Benediction
P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be
gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
C: Amen - Exit Hymn: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” SBH #150
- Dismissal
A: Go in peace, serve the Lord
C: Thanks be to God