Month: October 2022

REFORMATION SUNDAY

October 30, 2022

AS WE GATHER
We celebrate something that is 499 years in the making: the Reformation of the Christian Church. As we mark time, we trace our heritage back to Martin Luther’s posting of the Ninety-Five Theses on October 31, 1517—an action that would ignite the Reformation movement and reorient the life of God’s people around the scriptural teaching of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. However, from God’s perspective, this teaching has neither a beginning nor an ending. It is the “eternal gospel”, (Revelation 14:6), proclaimed in an unending fashion by both the angels in heaven and God’s messengers on earth. By God’s grace, we receive this precious, life-saving, life-changing good news in our worship today. Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word!

Bible Readings

FIRST READING: Revelation 14:6-7
(The eternal gospel is for all people.)

EPISTLE READING: Romans 3:19-28
(We are justified by faith apart from works.)

HOLY GOSPEL: John 8:31–36
(God’s Son sets us free, free indeed.)

TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST—Proper 25

October 23, 2022

AS WE GATHER
After church, after school, or after work, each day concludes with the comfort, relief, and peace of going home. Our daily experience is a picture of our spiritual journey. After the toil and trouble, the challenges and the joys, and perhaps the sufferings and disappointments of our lives, the Christian looks forward to the comfort, relief, and peace of going home to our heavenly, eternal home. This hope and goal, however, is only for those who humbly confess their sin and receive eternal life as it is, namely, a gift of God provided by the saving work of Jesus Christ.

Bible Readings

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Genesis 4:1-15
(Cain and Abel)

EPISTLE READING: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
(The crown of righteousness)

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 18:9-17
(The Pharisee and the Tax Collector)

NINETEETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
(Proper 24)

October 16, 2022

AS WE GATHER
We have journeyed almost to the end of the long green season of Sundays after Pentecost. As with every long journey, it is easy to grow weary. The Scripture readings for today call upon us to be persistent in faith and persistent in prayer. In order to reinforce the value of persistent prayer, Jesus told a story about an unfair judge and a woman who refused to give up. God is not an enemy whom we must win over, but the God whose grace and mercy have given us life and salvation in Jesus Christ. Because we know the power of His grace we are moved not to give up but to be persistent in faith and prayer.

Bible Readings

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Genesis 32:22-30
(Jacob wrestles one who turns out to be God.)

EPISTLE READING: 2 Timothy 3:14—4:5
(St. Paul encourages a young pastor to persist in sound teaching and faithful preaching.)

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 18:1-8
(Jesus tells a parable of an unjust judge and a woman who persists until she receives justice.)

THANKSGIVING DAY

October 9, 2022

AS WE GATHER
The observance of A Day of Thanksgiving is the celebration of a national holiday that is closely linked with some form of religious experience. Thankfulness needs to go somewhere . . . to someone beyond an individual person. The reality of God’s grateful people expressing thanks to Him goes all the way back to the very beginnings of time itself. The biblical record has many accounts of people speaking words of thanksgiving to God. Many psalms are expressions of thanksgiving to the Lord. The letters of St. Paul are filled with expressions of thanks to God as well. Although individual thanksgiving is important, thankfulness finds fullest expression when God’s people are gathered together for the purpose of giving Him their thanks and praise. A day of Thanksgiving helps to bring about that most-appropriate gathering for worship.

Bible Readings

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Ruth 1:1-19a
(Ruth comes from Moab to Bethlehem.)

EPISTLE READING: 2 Timothy 2:1-13
(As a soldier of Jesus Christ.)

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 17:11-19
(One leper shows gratitude to Jesus.)