Reformation Sunday
October 28, 2018
Holy Communion at 8:30 and 11am


Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, gracious Lord, we thank you that your Holy Spirit renews the church in every age. Pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your word, protect and comfort them in times of trial, defend them against all enemies of the gospel, and bestow on the church your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Scripture readings
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 46:1-11
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36

Sermon 
"The Gospel Has Teeth"
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Full of pastoral and serene images, scripture is often a source of comfort in the midst of life’s pain and sorrow. But God’s Word to God’s people is not always sunshine and rainbows. The prophet reminds us, centuries before the fourth evangelist, that the freedom we experience as children of God is because of God first cutting covenant promise deep into our hearts. Cutting something open leaves it vulnerable and exposed. Yet it is what God does to vulnerable and exposed things that we celebrate and need today and always.

Hymns

In our prayers we remember Housing Forward.

Education hour at 9:45am

Sunday School and Pre-Confirmation students meet in their regular classrooms.  Confirmation students in 7th and 8th grade have class with their mentors. 

2018-19 schedule  

Adult Education

Reformation on October “32”
Mary Streufert 
The party hats are put away. The Luther memorabilia gathers a little dust. On October 31, 2017, and on nearly every day leading up to it, Lutherans around the world observed and celebrated the 500^th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. We focused on Martin Luther’s words and his actions—which altered faith and the world. But what does reformation mean for us on October “32”—in the time after October 31, 2017?  In this session we will explore some possibilities of what Luther’s insights mean in church and society in this century. What is a Lutheran witness today? Mary Streufert is the director of the ELCA Justice for Women program in the Office of the Presiding Bishop and a member of Grace.

The Sunday morning Bible study group meets in the conference room.

Adult Ed schedule September–November 2018

The Grace Church Library is open and staffed on Sundays from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Look for books related to Adult Ed topics as well as many other subjects. The library is also open for self-service during the week.