October 26, 2025

SERVICE OF WORD AND SACRAMENT

REFORMATION DAY—CHRIST WITH US

Over 500 years ago, Lutheran Christians were under tremendous pressure. They were forced to defend themselves on battlefields both metaphorical and literal. But they took comfort that Christ himself was by their side upon the plain with his good gifts and Spirit.

Just 175 years ago, the Lutheran Christians who founded WELS were also under tremendous pressure. The pressure continues today with opposition to the truths of the Word of God. But we take comfort that Christ is with us in Word and sacrament, and we move forward with the promise of his presence.

OPENING HYMN 579 His Mercy Is More

1 What love could remember no wrongs we have done?
Omniscient, all-knowing, he counts not their sum;
thrown into a sea without bottom or shore,
our sins they are many, his mercy is more. (Refrain)

Ref Praise the Lord! His mercy is more!
Stronger than darkness, new ev’ry morn;
our sins they are many, his mercy is more!

2 What patience would wait as we constantly roam,
what Father so tender is calling us home!
He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor;
our sins they are many, his mercy is more. (Refrain)

3 Qué grandes riquezas Él nos otorgó,
Su sangre fue-el pago, Su vida-entregó.
Pagó esa deuda y la canceló;
Mis faltas son muchas, Su gracia-es mayor. (Refrain 3X)

estr ¡Gloria-a Dios! Su gracia-es mayor.
Sus misericordias hoy nuevas son,
Mis faltas son muchas, Su gracia-es mayor.

Text: Matt Boswell, b. 1979; Matt Papa, b. 1983
Text: © 2016 Getty Music Songs, Messenger Hymns, and Love Your Enemies Publishing, admin. MusicServices.org. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 717826

Please Stand

INVOCATION

The grace of our Lord T Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.

And also with you.

La gracia de nuestro Señor T Jesucristo, el amor de Dios, y la comunión del Espíritu Santo, sean con todos ustedes.

Y contigo también.

CONFESSION OF SINS CW93 p26

God invites us to come into his presence and worship him with humble and penitent hearts. Therefore, let us acknowledge our sinfulness and ask him to forgive us.

Dios nos invita a entrar a su presencia y adorarle con corazones humildes y penitentes. Entonces, confesemos nuestros pecados y le imploremos que nos perdone.

Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful, and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Santo y misericordioso Padre, confieso que soy por naturaleza pecaminoso, y que te he desobedecido en pensamiento, palabra y obra. He hecho lo malo y fallado de hacer lo bueno. Por todo esto merezco tu castigo, tanto ahora como en la eternidad. Estoy verdaderamente triste sobre mis pecados, y confiando en mi Salvador Jesucristo, oro: Señor, ten misericordia de mí, un pecador.

God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son T and of the Holy Spirit.

Dios, nuestro Padre celestial, ha tenido misericordia de nosotros y no ha dado a su Hijo unigénito para ser el sacrificio redentor por nuestros pecados. Entonces, como ministro llamado por Cristo y por su autoridad, yo les perdono todos tus pecados en el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo T y del Espíritu Santo.

Amen.

HYMN 877 Reformation Song sts. 1–2, Ref, 3–4

1 Your Word alone is solid ground,
the mighty rock on which we build.
In ev’ry line the truth is found,
and ev’ry page with glory filled. (v. 2)

2 Thro’ faith alone we come to you;
we have no merit we can claim.
Sure that your promises are true,
we place our hope in Jesus’ name. (Refrain)

Ref Gloria, gloria, glory to God alone.
Gloria, gloria, glory to God alone.

3        In Christ alone we’re justified;
    his righteousness is all our plea.
Your law’s demands are satisfied;
    his perfect work has set us free. (Refrain)

4       By grace alone we have been saved;
    all that we are has come from you.
Hearts that were once by sin enslaved
    now by your pow’r have been made new. (Refrain)

ext: Tim Chester, b. 1967; Bob Kauflin, b. 1955
Text: © 2017 Sovereign Grace Praise, admin. IntegratedRights.com. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 717826

THE WORD

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray.

Gracious Lord, our refuge and strength, pour out your Holy Spirit on 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.

Be Seated

FIRST READING Joshua 4:1–9

God’s people memorialize his gracious presence.

1When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2“Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”

4So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

8So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. 9Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.

SECOND READING Revelation 3:7–13

Christ is coming soon. Hold on to what you have and go through the open door before you.

7“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Please Stand

GOSPEL (in English and Karen) John 8:31–36

The presence of Christ in his Word sets us free.

31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise be to you, O Christ.

Be Seated

CHILDREN'S MESSAGE

HYMN OF THE DAY 863 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

1 A mighty fortress is our God,
    a trusty shield and weapon;
he helps us free from ev’ry need
    that has us now o’ertaken.
The old evil foe
now means deadly woe;
    deep guile and great might
    are his dread arms in fight;
on earth is not his equal.

2 With might of ours can naught be done,
    soon were our loss effected;
but for us fights the valiant one
    whom God himself elected.
You ask, “Who is this?”
Jesus Christ it is,
    the almighty Lord,
    and there’s no other God;
he holds the field forever.

3        Aún si-están demonios mil
    Prontos a devorarnos,
No temeremos porque Dios
    Sabrá aún prosperarnos.
Que muestre su vigor
Satán, y su furor
    Dañarnos no podrá;
    Pues condenado-es ya
Por la Palabra Santa.

4       Sin destruirla dejarán,
    Aún mal de su grado,
Esta Palabra del Señor,
    Él lucha-a nuestro lado.
Que lleven con furor
Los bienes, vida,-honor,
    La casa, o-el hogar...
    Todo ha de perecer:
De Dios el reino queda.

Text: Martin Luther, 1483–1546; tr. composite
Text: Public domain

SERMON

Please Stand

CONFESSION OF FAITH Nicene Creed 325 & 381 AD

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, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became truly human. 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, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian 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.

Be Seated

OFFERING PRESENTED BEFORE THE ALTAR

WEST CAMPUS STUDENTS SING

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Lord Almighty, you have given us your new covenant in the blood of Christ, and have made yourself known to us through him.