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TUCSON AREA REFORMATION SERVICE

THE WORD OF THE LORD STANDS FOREVER

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29, 2023

oday we celebrate the Festival of the Reformation of the Church. The heart of the gospel is the forgiveness of sins, purchased and won for us through the innocent death of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who was slain for the sin of the world. The teaching of the Christian Church is based on Scripture alone. Neither church traditions, the decrees of popes and councils, nor emotion or reason can replace the pure Word of God as the foundation of truth. On October 31, 1517, a German monk and priest named Martin Luther nailed 95 theses (statements for debate) on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. In the years that followed, Luther maintained that the Bible should be our only source of teaching, not man-made traditions. He showed that God saved us by grace alone, through faith alone. He returned the Bible to the hands of the people and quite literally changed the world. The central issue of the Reformation is still an issue that every human being must wrestle with today: How can I be a good person? How can I know that God loves me and forgives me? How can I be certain that after this life on earth I will not be punished eternally for my sins? How can I know that I’m going to heaven? Today we gather to observe the 506th anniversary of the beginning of the Lutheran Reformation. We celebrate the grace of God who reformed his Church and brought back the pure, simple, beautiful truth of the gospel of free forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus our Savior.

hank you for joining us for this special service! Our Area Reformation Service is a combined effort of the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) churches in Tucson and southeastern Arizona, which make up the Saguaro Circuit. It has been the practice of these churches to gather together on a Sunday afternoon in late October or early November to celebrate God’s grace and to commemorate the Lutheran Reformation. The order of worship we will follow is printed in this worship folder for you to follow along and participate. LARGE PRINT worship folders are available at the entrances for those who desire them. Today we are using elements from the Christian Worship hymnal. You will find these blue worship books in the hymnal racks in each pew. You will be asked to open the hymnal to participate in parts of the service. We thank Pastor Earle Treptow for encouraging us with his message today. Pastor Treptow serves as the president of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin. The purpose of WLS is to train and prepare men to serve as pastors within our church body and in mission settings throughout the world. More information about the Seminary can be found on their website: wisluthsem.org. Please note: there is no cost to park in our parking lot during the service or fellowship this afternoon. If you receive a citation by mistake, please let our office staff know so it can be cleared. (Grace Office: 520-623-6633; office@gracelutheransaz.org) 1

+ ORDER OF WORSHIP + WELCOME OPENING HYMN—Preserve Your Word, O Savior

Christian Worship 874

PRESERVICE MUSIC:

Variations on “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” Kevin Hildebrand John Behnke Mark Hayes & Marvin Gaspard Robby A. Hobby

Please stand

INVOCATION Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation: Amen.

The words of the invocation remind us that the God we meet and worship here is the true and triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

REFORMATION SENTENCES I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Psalm 122:1

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?

Psalm 24:3-4

The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Psalm 14:2-3

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Psalm 51:1-3

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them.

Psalm 32:1-2

I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths...Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.

Psalm 30:1-2

Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime.

Psalm 30:4-5

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his beneﬁts.

Psalm 103:1-2

Please be seated

Luke 2:14 Christians praise God by proclaiming the great things he has done to accomplish our rescue from sin. “Glory to God in the Highest” has been a Christian song of worship since the fourth century. This setting of the Gloria comes from The Service—Setting 3 which can be found in the blue hymnal.

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST (Gloria)

ALL:

Choir:

ALL:

This song continues on the next page.

Christian Worship 191

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer. For

PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. Almighty God, through the preaching of your servants, the blessed Reformers, you caused the light of the gospel to shine forth. Grant that we may faithfully defend it against all enemies and joyfully proclaim it for the salvation of people everywhere, to the glory of your holy name; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

FIRST READING 1 2

Isaiah 40:1-8

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the L ’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the L ; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Everything human and everything of this world will fade and disappear, but God’s Word will endure forever.

This reading continues on the next page.

A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

The children are invited to come forward to sing.

CHILDREN’S HYMN—Reformation Song

Christian Worship 877

The children will sing stanzas 1-3. Please join them in singing stanzas 4-5.

Peter gives instruction on Christian living and reminds us that while our earthly lives might be short and ﬂeeting, the mighty Word of God brings eternal life to those who believe.

SECOND READING

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17

Leviticus 11:44, 19:2

1 Peter 1:13-25

Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gloriﬁed him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Now that you have puriﬁed yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,

“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.”

Isaiah 40:6-8

And this is the word that was preached to you. The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

ADULT CHOIR & ORCHESTRA—This Is My Word As the snow falls from heaven as it comes in swirling showers from the sky, so is my Word. As the rains bring the water to the earth that is thirsty and dry, so is my Word. And the Word of my mouth, it shall not return empty; it will bless the earth wherever it is heard. This is my Word.

The words of this anthem are based on Isaiah 55:10-12.

As the rains bring renewal and the tender buds begin to come alive, so is my Word. Giving seed to the sower, and the bread to the hungry ‘til they thrive, so is my Word, so is my Word. And the Word of my mouth, it shall not return empty, it will bless the earth wherever it is heard, this is my Word, this is my Word. O Lord, when I am weary, when I feel the days I’m living are in vain, my God, help me be faithful to the Word you have given to proclaim. Proclaim the Word, and you will go out in joy and be led forth in peace, and the hills will break before you into song. So be faithful, brave, and true, for I will go before you. And when your earthly journey here is done, I’ll say well done, well done! As the snow falls from heaven and the rain comes in showers from the sky, this is my Word. Words and music: Pepper Choplin © 1999 Harold Flammer, a div. of Shawnee Press, Inc. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 710199.

Please stand

Jesus spoke to his disciples about the signs of the end of time as well as the persecution they would face in his name. Even among these warnings, Jesus oﬀered comfort— while everything in this earth is ﬂeeting, his Word will endure forever.

GOSPEL

Luke 21:10-19, 32-33

Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. 12

“But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 This will result in your being witnesses to them. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 All men will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By standing ﬁrm you will gain life. 32

“I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise be to you, O Christ.

Please be seated

HYMN OF THE DAY—The Holy Word of God Endures Forever

SERMON

Isaiah 40:1-8

“The Word of our God Stands Forever”

Please stand

The Apostles’ Creed developed in the Early Christian Church as a personal confession of faith. It is so named because it confesses the faith taught by the Apostles of Jesus.

CONFESSION OF FAITH

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suﬀered under Pontius Pilate, was cruciﬁed, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Please be seated

OFFERTORY: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Benjamin M. Culli, Kevin Hildebrand

OFFERING Our generous oﬀerings of thanks to God go to support the work of our Saguaro Circuit (Tucson and southeast AZ). In the past these gifts have enabled us to carry out God’s kingdom work in a number of ways and allowed us to join together for Reformation worship each year. Checks may be made payable to Grace Lutheran Church.

HYMN—A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Christian Worship 863

This hymn of Martin Luther paraphrases the words of Psalm 46.

Please stand

PRAYER Blessed Lord, you have given us your Holy Scriptures for our learning. May we so hear them, read, learn, and take them to heart that, being strengthened and comforted by your holy Word, we may cling to the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Matthew 6 and Luke 11 record how Jesus taught his disciples to pray. We use his example prayer as part of our public worship, trusting that he will hear and answer our prayers.

The blessing of Aaron has been spoken over God’s people for over 3,500 years. The L said, “In this way they will put my name on [them], and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:27

BLESSING The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and (+) give you peace. Amen.

Please be seated POSTLUDE MUSIC:

CLOSING HYMN—God’s Word Is Our Great Heritage We will sing this hymn acapella. Four-part singing is encouraged.

Christian Worship 640

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Michael Burkhardt

The congregation will not be ushered out following the service. Instead, please take a moment to greet those gathered to worship with you. You are welcome to remain and socialize in church and to dismiss yourself when you would like. Please join us in the Fellowship Hall (across the Courtyard) for a Reformation “Gemütlichkeit” (fellowship and refreshments) following the service.

The Tucson-area churches of the Saguaro Circuit: Shepherd of the Hills (Oro Valley)

8799 N. Northern Avenue, 85704 (520)297-5710 LutheranChurchTucson.com Pastors: Nathan Moldenhauer, Jason Schmidt

Holy Cross (East Tucson)

(520)623-6633 GraceLutheranSAZ.org Tucson (University) 830 N. 1st Avenue, 85719 Pastors: Nathan Kassulke, Ron Koehler, Tim Patoka Sahuarita 75 W. Sahuarita Road, 85629 Pastor: Ryan Heiman

241 N. Harrison Road, 85748 (520)296-5129 HolyCrossTucson.org Pastor: David Parsons

Redeemer (Marana)

Grace

8845 N. Silverbell Road, 85743 (520)572-8135 RedeemerTucson.com Pastors: David Clark, John Hartmann, Adam Mueller

Vail Esmond Station Elementary School 9400 S. Atterbury Wash Way, 85747 Pastor: Seth Scheuerlein Benson 451 W. Duane Street, 85602 Pastor: Seth Scheuerlein

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) is a group of nearly 400,000 men, women, and children in nearly 1,300 congregations across the United States and Canada united by a common faith in Christ's saving love. We are committed to a common calling—encouraging each other in our faith and sharing God's gift of a Savior with the rest of the world.

THANK YOU!

Our sincere thanks to all who helped plan, prepare, and conduct the service this afternoon!

Preacher ...............................................................Pastor Earle Treptow, President of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Liturgist ................................................................................ Pastor Seth Scheuerlein, Grace-Vail and Grace-Benson Organ ................................................................................................................................. Jim Bakken, Grace-Tucson Piano............................................................ Deb Bakken, Grace-Tucson & Shannon Schmidt, Shepherd of the Hills Choir & Orchestra Director ............................................................................................. Paul Kassulke, Grace-Tucson Children’s Choir Director ........................................................................................................... Nate Reich, Redeemer Ushers.......................... Dylan Guenther, Danny Koehler, Ferdie Kramm, Stanley Mead, Rick Street; Grace-Tucson Sound and Recording Technicians ....... Chris Stuhr, Danny Koehler, Dylan Guenther, Sam Kassulke; Grace-Tucson To view a recording of this service, please visit https://www.gracelutheransaz.org/service-videos Acknowledgements: Scripture readings are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®) © 1973, 1978, 1984,2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved. Created by Christian Worship: Service Builder © 2023 Concordia Publishing House. Software distributed in partnership with Northwestern Publishing House.