27 October 2013
Reformation Sunday
(Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost)
27 October 2013
Reformation Day:
This is the anniversary of Martin Luther's posting of his 95 theses concerning the sale of indulgences. In the sixteenth century various dates were suggested in various places for an annual commemoration of the reform of the church. The Thirty Years War disrupted these observances and provoked anti-Roman sentiment. In 1667, Elector John George II of Saxony re-established the festival and appointed it for 31 October. The celebration of the day spread among Lutherans, but the observance is not widely kept by Protestant Christians, nor is it universal among world Lutherans. It is the only day in the calendar peculiar to the Lutheran church.
¯ THIS MORNING'S MUSIC OF PRAISE:
195 (Choir sings verse 1and congregation verses 2, 3, 4),
'His eye is on the sparrow' (Choir),
883, 359, 294, 266
FIRST BIBLE READING:
Jeremiah 31: 31-34
'The Lord will write his law on our hearts'
The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals. And just as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, tooverthrow, destroy, and bring evil, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the LORD. In those days they shall no longer say:
"The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." But all shall die for their own sins; the teeth of everyone who eats sour grapes shall be set on edge.
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. 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 - covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD.
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. 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.
SECOND BIBLE READING:
Romans 3: 19-28 'Justification by faith'
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. 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.
But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus, 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; it was to prove at the present time that he
himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.
Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from
works prescribed by the law.
GOSPEL READING:
John 8: 31-36
'In my word, you will know the truth'
Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" They 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'?" Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
NOTES ON THE READINGS:
JEREMIAH 31:31-34:
Hundreds of years of failure by God's people faithfully to keep his law resulted in prophecies of dire punishment and their tragic fulfillment. However, this prophecy of Jeremiah offers the promise of full satisfaction both on God's part and for his people. God had himself always remained faithful to his side of the covenant. It had been the people who had created the barrier through their sin God's salvation in this new covenant would be to remove the barrier of sin by his forgiveness so that his Law might become an intimate knowledge and experience of his grace. This reading anticipates beautifully the content of our second reading written some six hundred years later.
ROMANS 3:19-28:
God's people had lived under God's law since the time of Moses, drawing no closer to God's required standards of righteousness than to remain the judged under the judge. Yet there had been a system always in place by which forgiveness was assured through the priestly atoning sacrifices of animals. St Paul points out how these sacrifices foretold the all-sufficient sacrifice God made in the sacrifice of his Son. Through this all human sin is passed over. Whoever trusts Christ Jesus' purchase price receives God's own righteousness as a free gift. Here is where the previously distraught Martin Luther at last found perfect peace in realising that he was put completely right with God through simply trusting what God offered in Christ's perfect life and payment price to set us free.
JOHN 8: 31-36:
The truth which Jesus gives is the only means by which anyone can be truly free. That is, free from the slavery which sin unequivocally imposes on the sinner. The Jews thought that they had all the freedom they wanted. They had God's law and were descended from Abraham. The truth by which Jesus makes us free is his word of promise. He is the Saviour whose blood cleanses from all sin. This word of God, our heritage through the Reformation, remains the only means by which we dwell eternally with our Lord.
Bible readings for Sunday 3rd November:
Daniel 7: 1-3, 15-18,
Ephesians 11-23,
Luke 6: 20-31
Announcements:
1. This week in the Lord's Service - 27th October - 3rd November:
Saturday - 1000 am - 1100 am - 'Sing- along' time for those who wish to learn songs for the Sunday.
Saturday - 1100 am to 12 noon - Choir practice.
Next Sunday - 930 am - Public Divine service - 'All Saints' Day - (Non - Communion). A fellowship morning tea will follow for which members are
asked to bring along a plate of food to share.
Parents to note: No Sunday School next Sunday!!
2. Conflict Coaching - 31Oct - 2 Nov:
Further reminder of an opportunity to attend Conflict Coaching with Rev Bruce Zagel at St Phillips, Lutheran Church, Werribee on 31st October and 1st and 2nd November 2013. Please see notice board near kitchen. Registration forms available from front foyer. Any enquiries are welcome to Pastor Mark Winter, 03 97496976 or mobile 0411 151 741.
3. LSF National Retreat - Jan 2014:
The LSF national camp for young adults will take place at Tandara Camp, Hall's Gap from 20th - 24th January, 2014. For further particulars and how to register, please see notice board near kitchen.
Coming up for your diary:
Tuesday 5th November - 730 pm - Deacons.
Thursday 14th November and Tuesday 17th December - 230 to 400 pm - worship service with Holy Communion Fellowship afternoon tea to follow.
Friday 15th November - 930 am - Worship Team.
Tuesday 19th November - 1230 pm - Kaffeestunde.
Sunday 1st December - (after worship) - Election of office holders for 2014.
Sunday 8th December - Guest speaker Jonathan Krause - launch of ALWS Christmas Action appeal.
Tuesday 17th December - 6.30 pm - Church Council.