Upcoming Sunday Morning Information

Sunday, October 27^th – Reformation Sunday
Pentecost Autumn/November Theme (2^nd half of Pentecost)

Living out the Kingdom with a generous spirit

Theme Write-up written by Matthew Reece, Director of Music Ministries

As we conclude the Pentecost season, we are reminded that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit empowers us to live as citizens of God’s Kingdom. “Living out the Kingdom with a generous spirit” calls us to embody the generosity of God in our daily lives, reflecting the abundance of His love and grace. The Kingdom of God is not just a future promise but a present reality, manifest in our willingness to give freely—of our time, resources, and compassion. Just as the early church shared everything in common and no one was in need, we are invited to continue this legacy of selfless giving, ensuring that our communities are marked by care, kindness, and mutual support.

This theme challenges us to see generosity not as a mere act of giving, but as a lifestyle rooted in the Kingdom values of justice, mercy, and humility. When we live with a generous spirit, we mirror the heart of Christ, who gave His all for us. This generosity transcends material wealth; it includes offering forgiveness, extending grace, and providing encouragement. As we live out the Kingdom in this way, we become living testimonies of God’s love, drawing others into the transformative power of His Kingdom. Let us, therefore, embrace this call to generosity, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in building a world that reflects the generosity of our Savior.

Altarscape

Julie, Thank you for the beautiful altarscape for the season. Let it remind us that the Holy Spirit is living within all of us; we should spread the good news to all.

Ardor (Worship Musicians)

The musicians rehearse from 9:00 – 9:45 am every Sunday morning. All are welcome! The musicians for worship can find the service orders and music in the crate on the back pew in the sanctuary for each week of the month. Contact the office if you plan to help lead worship.

Sunday School

Sunday school meets at 9:00 – 9:45 am in the fellowship hall (downstairs). This is a multigenerational Sunday school where we will dig deeper into our faith walk using the series titled “The Chosen”.

Worship Information

Join us in-person for the Worship Service at 10:00 am on Sunday where we will celebrate Reformation Sunday We broadcast the worship service via Facebook Live if you are unable to attend in person (https://www.facebook.com/allsaintsdavenport).

If you would like the words for the worship service, contact the office (office@allsaintsdavenport.org) to request the information.

Red, the color of Reformation Sunday, is for cleansing fire.

Luther and Lutheranism

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Martin Luther was eight years old when Christopher Columbus set sail from Europe and landed in the Western Hemisphere. Luther was a young monk and priest when Michaelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel in Rome. A few years later, he was a junior faculty member at a new university in small-town Germany, intently studying the Scriptures, “captivated with an extraordinary ardor for understanding Paul in the Epistle to the Romans.”

In these days Luther was tormented by the demand for righteousness before God. “I did not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners, and secretly, if not blasphemously, certainly murmuring greatly, I was angry with God.” Then, in the midst of that struggle with God, the message of the Scriptures became clear, like a long-shut door opening wide. When he realized that a “merciful God justifies us by faith … I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates.”

What Luther discovered is the freedom of Christians trusting God’s mercy in Christ. As he later wrote, “Faith is God’s work in us. It changes us and makes us to be born anew of God. This faith is a living, busy, active, mighty thing. It is impossible for it not to be doing good works incessantly. Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that believers would stake their lives on it a thousand times.”

This discovery set Luther’s life on a new course —both his own life and his public service as a preacher and teacher. When a church-endorsed sales team came to the Wittenberg area in October, 1517, Luther was concerned that the promotion and sale of indulgences undermined the promise of God’s unreserved mercy in Jesus and the faith that trusts that promise. His 95 Theses or Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences became the first of a life-long stream of books, sermons, letters, essays, even hymns in which he expressed his confidence in this life-giving promise from God, the Gospel, and its liberating implications for all of life in church and society.

Excerpt from: https://www.elca.org/Faith/ELCA-Teaching/Luther-and-Lutheranism

Rooted in the past and growing into the future, the church must always be reformed in order to live out the love of Christ in an ever-changing world. We celebrate the good news of God’s grace, that Jesus Christ sets us free every day to do this life-transforming work. Trusting in the freedom given to us in baptism, we pray for the church, that Christians will unite more fully in worship and mission.

Gracious Father, we pray for your holy catholic church. Fill it with all truth and peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in need, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Jeremiah 31:31-34 – I will write my law in their hearts, says the Lord

The renewed covenant will not be breakable, but like the old covenant it will expect the people to live upright lives. To know the Lord means that one will defend the cause of the poor and needy (Jer. 22:16). The renewed covenant is possible only because the Lord will forgive iniquity and not remember sin. Our hope lies in a God who forgets.

Psalm 46 – The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Ps. 46:7)
Romans 3:19-28 – Justified by God’s grace as a gift

Paul’s words stand at the heart of the preaching of Martin Luther and other Reformation leaders. No human beings make themselves right with God through works of the law. We are brought into a right relationship with God through the divine activity centered in Christ’s death. This act is a gift of grace that liberates us from sin and empowers our faith in Jesus Christ.

John 8:31-36 – Jesus says, Continue in my word and you will know the truth

Jesus speaks of truth and freedom as spiritual realities known through his word. He reveals the truth that sets people free from sin.

Fellowship Time

You are invited to stay after worship for refreshments and fellowship time in the gathering space.