Tags
500th Anniversary Reformation, Liturgy, progressive Christianity, Reformation, Reformation 500, Reformation Day, Reformation Day 500, Reformation Sunday, Still Speaking God
For those who may need a Reformation Day/Reformation Sunday liturgy, here is an option for you to use and, if needed, adapt. Please attribute. Thank you!
CALL TO WORSHIP (Inspired by Psalm 96)
One: O sing to God a new song!
Many: Sing to God, all of us throughout this earth.
One: Sing throughout our lives. In our song, bless the name of God.
Many: Exclaim God’s salvation from morning until night.
One: Declare God’s glory and marvelous works
Many: For great is God, and with excitement, we join in praise.
OPENING PRAYER
God of all time and spaces, we know that through your magnificent creative Spirit our world and our lives came into being. And yet, you are not completely finished with creation. You continue to speak. As you nudge us to newness, grant us renewal as we observe creation with refreshed souls. Help us to appreciate the boldness of Jesus, Martin Luther, and other reformers throughout history. Give us the courage to change what needs to be transformed in order for your Church to grow. Amen.
PRAYER OF RECONCILIATION
One: Just as the world continues to revolve and evolve, the church is called to move in new directions. Yet we do what we can to place brakes on change and silence newness. The winds of the Holy Spirit are still blowing in our direction, nudging us to move forward, but we have chosen to close doors, shut windows, and ignore its urging.
Many: Forgive us when we limit you, God and when we place you and your ideas into boxes. Open our souls to the expansiveness of faith. May we incorporate the new winds and bold ideas even when we are set in our old ways and content with our monotonous routines. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF GRACE
No matter how many times we have slammed the door on God, God continues to knock and wants us to answer. We are grateful for the saturating grace that God continues to pour over us. Amen!
CALL TO OFFERING
As God calls us to cultivate the Church, God asks us to share our time, talent, and treasures. As we give present our treasures, let us spend moments reflecting upon where God may be calling us to share our time and talents.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Through the gifts that we have placed in these plates and the offerings that we give of our time and talents, we seek to grow the Church, God. Let us continue to find creative ways to contribute. And may our Still Speaking God’s call entice us to not only build but reform Christ’s church. Amen.
BENEDICTION
May we leave this place understanding that this is the beginning. May we depart today knowing that the best of our faith is yet to come. And may the exhilarating mystery of God, the courage of the Great Reformer Jesus, and the dynamic nudging of the Spirit excite us as we become reformers for the Divine. Amen!