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Rev. Jim Roemke nails some theses on worship to the church door—a quick reminder and tutorial on what is happening in worship—and how our orders of worship come right out of Scripture. Is God at work there to give you good stuff or what?
Service of Confession A. The Invocation There is one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and He has marked me as His own by the cross of Christ in Holy Baptism (Matthew 28:19). What He first gave me at the font, He continues to give me in this Divine Service.
B. Confession I am sinful and deserve nothing from God except His wrath and punishment (Ephesians 2:1–3). If I don’t believe and confess this, I am a liar (I John 1:8–10).
C. Absolution Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for me and for Christ’s sake, He forgives me all of my sins (1 John 1:7). So that I would believe that more completely, God has called and ordained certain men to assure me of my temporal and eternal forgiveness (John 20:21–23).
Service of the Word H I G H E R
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D. Psalm/Introit, Kyrie, Hymn of Praise, Salutation, and Collect of the Day As a forgiven child of God, I am invited and commanded to offer Him my prayer and praise. I may come into His divine and glorious presence for He has had mercy on me (Psalm 100; Luke 2:14).
E. Readings and Responses Holy Scripture is the Word of the Lord. It does not contain some of the Word of the Lord, but is wholly, without doubt the complete Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16). For this reason, I give God thanks.
F. Alleluia and Verse The Holy Gospel is Christ speaking. Where else can I go to find eternal life? Because of this, the Church raises up her alleluias of praise.
G. The Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, and in One Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit. My faith is my own, but it is the same as the faith of the Church throughout time. I cannot rely on anyone else’s faith for my eternal salvation (John 3:16).
H. The Sermon God’s love for me is so great that He has given me a trained and ordained pastor and preacher: that His Word may be delivered to me in its truth and purity, that I may be convicted by God’s Law and learn to live under it, and that I may see with new sweetness and thanksgiving the life-giving and freeing Gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 4:1–5).
I. The Prayer of the Church God calls me again to come directly to Him in prayer; He wants to hear my prayers.There is one Mediator between God and man, the one man, Jesus Christ. In His name, I join with the Church, offering up prayers and petitions and thanksgiving for all things (Luke 11:9–13).
J. Offering and Offertory I am blessed to give God’s Church a part of the blessings God has given me so that the work of the Gospel, namely the ministry of Word and Sacrament, may continue through His called and ordained servants (1 Timothy 5:17–18).
