Reformation Sunday
October 25, 2026
“Justified by Faith”
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:4-7
REFORMATION SUNDAY
October 25, 2026
TODAY’S SERVICE: Today we celebrate the festival of Reformation. On this festival, we thank the Lord for the wonderful truth that we
are saved by grace through faith without any works required by us.
We also thank God for preserving the truths of His Word and ask him
to keep us faithful to his Word. In our service today, we will see that
the Lord has special things to tell us in his Word and what we need
for salvation. The Lord wants us to both preserve his Word in its
truth and purity and to also share it with the world.
OPENING PRAYER: Luther’s Morning Prayer
ALL: I thank you, my heavenly Father,
through Jesus Christ, your dear Son,
that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger.
Keep me this day also from sin and every evil,
that all my doings and life may please you.
Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things.
Let your holy angel be with me,
that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.
HYMN (#384) “By Grace I’m Saved”
THE INVOCATION
M: In the name of God the Father:
C: Who has created us, preserves us, and sent his Son
to suffer and die in order to redeem a world fallen from his grace;
M: In the name of God the Son:
C: Who gave his life on the cross to save us from our sins
and rose from the grave to give victory over death;
M: In the name of God the Holy Spirit:
C: Who works through the Word and Sacraments
to create and strengthen saving faith in our hearts. Amen.
THE CONFESSION OF SINS
M: As we approach our holy God to worship, let us draw near to him in
humility, and confess our sins to him:
C: Lord God, my heavenly Father, I confess that I have been
sinful from the instant my life started. I know that sin has
infected me completely, and I admit that all my thoughts,
desires, words, and actions are corrupted by sin. I confess that I
have angered you time and again with my many sins. I admit
that I could never earn your love or forgiveness with my own
works. I admit that I deserve only your curse and everlasting
punishment in hell.
M: Have mercy on me, O God:
C: According to your unfailing love;
M: According to your great compassion:
C: Blot out my transgressions.
M: Wash away all my iniquity:
C: And cleanse me from my sin.
Silence for private confession
M: Hear us, Lord, as we cry to you for mercy:
ALL (Sung) (#303—v.1-2)
With broken hearts and contrite sigh
A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry.
Your pard’ning grace is rich and free—
O God be merciful to me!
I smite upon my troubled breast,
With deep and conscious guilt oppressed,
Christ and his cross my only plea—
O God be merciful to me!
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF FORGIVENESS
M: Take heart, you who sorrow over sin. God demonstrates his own
love for us in this:
C: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
M: The blood of Jesus, his Son,
C: Purifies us from all sins.
M: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not
from yourselves,
C: It is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
M: There is now no condemnation:
C: For those who are in Christ Jesus.
M: Be of good cheer, the Lord Jesus has shed his blood for the sins of
the whole world. Because of Jesus’ perfect life and innocent death,
our God has declared us to be righteous in his sight and forgiven for
all. Through Jesus you are God’s dear child and he will always love
you, care for you, and bless you. He will not treat you as your sins
deserve. You will not be lost forever in hell. Through the Lord Jesus,
eternal life is yours as a free gift. This is the gospel message. Do you
believe this?
C: Yes, I believe.
M: Praise be to our loving God for working in your heart to lead you to
believe this good news. Through faith these wonderful blessings are
yours personally to enjoy. Through faith in Jesus, you are God’s dear
child, and you shall live with him forever in heaven.
C: May the Lord be praised for his wonderful mercy and his
amazing grace.
All (Sung) (#376—verse 6)
Jesus be worshiped endlessly!
Your boundless mercy has for me,
For me, and all your hands have made,
An everlasting ransom paid.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Lord God, our Father, you are our refuge and strength. Defend your
Holy Christian Church and bestow upon it your saving peace. Send
your Spirit to work in our hearts so that we will believe your Word,
and work together to proclaim it faithfully to others. We offer this
prayer with confidence because of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever.
C: (Sung) Amen.
BE SEATED
THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Daniel 6:10-12, 16-23
10 Now, when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went to his house. It had windows on its upper story that opened toward Jerusalem. Three times each day he would get on his knees and pray and offer praise before his God. He continued to do that, just as he had been doing before this. 11 Then these men came as a group and found Daniel praying and seeking favor from his God. 12 They then went and asked the king about the decree. “Your Majesty, did you not sign a decree that anyone who prays to any god or person for thirty days except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the den of lions?” The king answered, “Indeed I did. The order is established as a law of the Medes and the Persians that cannot be revoked.”
16 Then the king gave the order, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you.” 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the pit. The king sealed it with his signet ring and the signet rings of his nobles so that nothing could be changed with regard to Daniel’s situation. 18 Then the king went to his palace. He spent the night without food, and no entertainment was brought before him. But he could not sleep. 19 At dawn the king arose as soon as it was light and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 As he came near the pit, he cried out in a fearful voice. The king said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, was your God, whom you serve continually, able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel spoke with the king. “Your Majesty, may you live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the mouth of the lions. They have not hurt me because he found me innocent in his presence. Also before you, Your Majesty, I have committed no crime.”
23 Then the king was very glad and said that Daniel should be brought up from the pit. So Daniel was brought up from the pit, and he was unharmed because he trusted in his God. (EHV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PSALM OF THE DAY (Sung) Psalm 46 (page 84)
THE EPISTLE LESSON Romans 3:19-28
19 Now we know that whatever the law says is addressed to those who are under the law, so that every mouth will be silenced and the whole world will be subject to God’s judgment. 20 For this reason, no one will be declared righteous in his sight by works of the law, for through the law we become aware of sin. 21 But now, completely apart from the law, a righteousness from God has been made known. The Law
and the Prophets testify to it. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and over all who believe. In fact, there is no difference, 23 because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God publicly displayed as the atonement seat through faith in his blood. God did this to demonstrate his justice, since, in his divine restraint, he had left the sins that were committed earlier unpunished. 26 He did this to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so that he would be both just and the one who justifies the person who has faith in Jesus. 27 What happens to boasting then? It has been eliminated. By what principle—by the principle of works? No, but by the principle of faith. 28 For we conclude that a person is justified by faith without the works of the law. (EHV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
VERSE OF THE DAY
M: Alleluia. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Alleluia. (Luke 12:32)
HYMN (#203) “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word”
THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 10:16-23
16 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on guard against people. They will hand you over to councils, and they will whip you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought into the presence of governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.19 Whenever they hand you over, do not be worried about how you will respond or what you will say, because what you say will be given to you in that hour. 20 In fact you will not be the ones speaking, but the Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you. 21 “Brother will hand over his brother to death, and a father will do the same with his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by all people because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. 23 And when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Amen I tell you: You will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. (EHV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH
M: O Heavenly Father, you have created us and continually shower us
with blessings:
C: “I believe that God made me and every creature, and that he
gave me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my
mind and all my abilities.”
M: O Jesus, our Savior, you have redeemed us with your precious blood:
C: “I believe that Christ has redeemed me, a lost and condemned
creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and
from the power of the devil, not with gold and silver but with his
holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death.”
M: O Holy Spirit, you have created faith in our hearts which clings to
the Word and Promises of the Bible.
C: “I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe
in Jesus Christ my Lord nor come to him; but the Holy Spirit
has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts,
sanctified and kept me in the true faith.”
HYMN OF THE DAY (#390) “Salvation unto Us Has Come”
SERMON TEXT Romans 3:19-28
SERMON THEME “Justified by Faith”
RESPONSE—HYMN (#289) “Preserve Your Word, O Savior”
OFFERING – Please leave offering in the basket as you depart.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
M: Lord God, our Father, you have told us wonderful things in your
Word:
C: In your Word you tell us the truths we need to know for our
salvation. You give us your promises to sustain and nourish our
faith. You give us guidance on how to live in joyful response to
your love.
M: In your grace you have sent gospel messengers to share with us your
life-giving Word of salvation. Your Spirit has worked through the
good news about Jesus to bring us to saving faith. Now we are your
dear children and are heirs of salvation. For this we say:
C: Praise be to you, O Lord.
M: With your Word you have sustained and nourished our faith, you
have calmed our fears and comforted our consciences, you have
given us guidance and strength for life. For this we say:
C: Praise be to you, O Lord.
M: The good news of full and free salvation by grace through faith was
all but lost for a time in our world’s history.
C: We thank you for working through the reformers of the past to
rediscover, defend and proclaim this precious truth.
M: Lord, we ask that you would help us to carry on the work of the
Reformation which Martin Luther started so long ago.
C: Please help us also to preserve and defend all the words of the
Scriptures, especially the message of salvation by grace through
faith without works. Help us to pass this message on to our
children and grandchildren. Help us also to work together to
share this good news with the whole world.
M: May this also inspire a zeal in us to give ourselves completely to
the work of the kingdom, always remembering that the work of
your kingdom is the most important work there is.
Special Prayers
M: Hear us as we bring you our private petitions.
Silent Prayer
M: We bring these requests before you, our loving heavenly Father.
We trust that you will hear us for the sake of Jesus our Savior who
has also taught us to pray:
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.
THE BENEDICTION
M: Jesus says, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth.
C: And the truth will set you free.
M: Brothers and sisters, may God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit keep
us always faithful to him and to all of his Word.
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.
C: (Sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN (#201) “A Mighty Fortress”
Luther Rose
Luther explained that the red heart with the black cross at the center should remind us that the righteous live by faith in Christ the Crucified. The heart rests on a white rose to show that faith gives joy, comfort and peace. The white rose stands in a field of blue, the color of heaven, to show that joy in the spirit and in faith in this life is only the beginning of future heavenly joy. Surrounding the sky-blue field is a gold ring to show that happiness and joy in heaven has no end but lasts forever.
THE SILENT PRAYER
(Words to consider from Martin Luther)
The world is not so hostile to any vice, to any wickedness, as it is to the name of Christ and to his Gospel. Here the ranting and raving which the hatred and the enmity of the devil inspire are boundless, for he will absolutely not tolerate this name and this faith.
(What Luther Says #1722)
Merciful God! Thou hast made it possible for me to stay a Christian; help me to stay a Christian and to increase in faith from day to day. Even if the entire world fell away, and everybody joined the sects, and the devil broke all vessels, I would pay no attention to it, but with Thy divine help I would abide by the gospel.
(What Luther Says #1511)
REEFORMATION SUNDAY October 25, 2026
Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
Pastor Rev. Christopher Oehlke Pastor’s Phone: 1-262-909-7827
Organist Mindy Kane, Karen Davis, Church Telephone 763-682-4573
Lorraine Roush Email pastor@myimmanuel.org
THE SCHEDULE
Wed., Oct. 28 6:30 p.m., Catechism Class
Next Sun., Nov. 1: Greeters: Ordorff Family
Shut-In Visitors for November: Donna Frank and
Julie Durr
OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS
QUARTERLY VOTERS MEETING is scheduled to begin after the worship service this morning. Men over 18 years of age who are interested in becoming voting members are encouraged to contact Pastor Oehlke or a council member.
CEMETERY FALL CLEAN-UP: Please remove all flowers and other items from the cemetery by Oct. 31. Thank you.
WISE PENNY LUNCH: The Wise Penny Thrift Shoppe’s Volunteer Appreciation Lunch & Annual Voter’s Meeting will be today at West Lutheran High School (WLHS) in Plymouth. Check-in and tours of WLHS begin at 11:30 a.m. with a catered lunch at noon. See the flier on the west bulletin board for details.
ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE:
Sunday, Oct. 18 55
FOR THE LORD’S WORK: Oct. 11: General Fund-$2,420.60, West-$75; Salem-$2.
