On Halloween night 503 years ago, Martin Luther took what he thought would be merely a minor academic exercise by tacking his 95 Theses to a church door. He was in for a major surprise. Since then, the Church of Jesus Christ has engaged in a continuous program of reformation, re-thinking what it does and why it does it. Today we gather in worship of the God who inspired Luther to take his action, as we ourselves seek to join the ongoing company of reformers. Let us therefore, with confidence, worship God.
Pastoral Prayer
On this Reformation Sunday, Lord God, we thank for all the people through all the twenty centuries of the Church’s existence who have sought to bring reforms to the ways the Church has operated, and to re-think what it is that should be believed. We thank Thee in particular for the 16th and 17th century reformers, and for those in our own times who have led efforts to re-imagine what it is the Church should be. Use us in this process, O God, that who we are and what we think may have a lasting effect on our very small assembly of the ecumenical Church of Jesus Christ.
We pray for all the medical personnel from all over the world who have been working tirelessly to care for people stricken by a deadly worldwide virus. We are grateful for their courage on behalf of the entire human race, and we also pray for them personally that they may be kept safe in the dangerous and highly necessary ministry they are performing. Grant them the assurance of Thy blessing for their service as well as the assurance of gratitude of countless people all over the world. We pray especially for the millions of people who have become infected with Covid-19, and for the families and loved ones of the two-plus million who have died from it. Convince them of Thy presence with them in the sorrow and anger they may be experiencing.
We pray for people whose positions in life require them to make decisions they know will provoke opposition and even animosity, and particularly in this period of high political animosity for all who serve the public as politicians. Grant them courage and stamina for their journey. We pray for all who are candidates in our upcoming election, and for all who shall have the ambivalent experience of either winning or losing. Be with those who are newly elected to office, that they may serve well in their new responsibilities, and also with those who are returning to office, that they may perform more effectively than before on behalf of the electorate. And we ask Thee to convince everyone who either does or does not cast a ballot that we are all bound together as one enormous human family, whether we approve or disapprove of the people elected or the decisions they make. All our prayers we offer in the name of Jesus, who sought to make us one with him and Thee. Now we pray as he taught his followers, saying, Our Father….