“God’sWork.OurHands.”isanopportunity“toexploreoneofourmostbasicconvictionsasLutherans:thatalloflifeinJesusChrist—everyactofservice,ineverydailycalling,ineverycorneroflife—flowsfreelyfromaliving,daringconfidenceinGod’sgrace.”AstheELCAwebsitesays,theintentistoreinforcetherealitythat“Youworkeverydaytomakeyourcommunityabetterplace.”¹Withoutcarefulreflectionandequipping,wecanleavetheimpressionthatourcalltoparticipateinGod’sworkisfulfilledonthisonedayofserviceeachyear,andthenwereturntoourworkadayworldwhereGodislargelyabsent.

Thisdocumentdescribesawaytoexpand“God’sWork.OurHands.”frombeingasingledayofservicetoawaytoequipourpeopleforalifeoffaith²,sothat“everyactofservice,ineverydailycalling,ineverycorneroflifeflowsfreelyfromaliving,daringconfidenceinGod’sgrace”indeed.

ThecentralfocusofthisdocumentisfoundintheSmallCatechism,inLuther’sexplanationofthefourthpetitionoftheLord’sPrayer,“Giveustodayourdailybread”(seeSeptember9,below).ThefocusofeachweekintheseriesisonLuther’sexplanationsofthesecondtableoftheTenCommandments,particularlyinthelastphraseofeachcommandment,the“butinstead,”positiveintentofthecommandments.Inreality,God’swork,providing“everythingourbodiesneed”(fourthpetition)isdonethroughourhandsonbehalfofourneighbor³—everydayofourlives.

ThisemphasisisdesignedtobegininworshiponSeptember9,withafocusonthecentralclaimfoundinthefourthpetitionoftheLord’sPrayer.ThefollowingsixSundaysthenfocusononeoftheTenCommandments.Notethatanimportantpartofthisjourneyistheuseofwristbands;theycanbeorderedathttps://oldlutheran.com/collections/elca.TheemphasisconcludestheSundaybeforeReformationSunday,withanoptiontousethatobservancetowrapeverythingupwithoneofthecentraltenetsoftheReformation:thepriesthoodofallbelievers.

Rememberthatduringtheweeksofthisemphasiswewillbemovingintothetraditionalseasonfortalkaboutstewardship.Vocationisapowerful(andyetfrequentlyoverlooked)aspectofourstewardship.Itwillbehelpfultoconsiderhowthisemphasisisconnectedtoyourcongregation’sfallstewardshipplans.

Inaddition,duringtheseweekspayattentiontothevariouspartsoftheliturgythatmakeconnectionstolivingthefaithinourdailylives.TheseasonalprayeraftercommunioninSundaysandSeasonsasks,“Mayyourwordscometolifeinourservingandinourwitness,thatwemightspeakalivingvoiceofhealingandjusticetoalltheworld.”Youmaywanttorewritethesecondhalfofsuchprayers(andotherpartsoftheliturgy)tomakemoreconcreteconnections,e.g.,beingmorespecificaboutwhatitmeanstobea“livingvoiceofhealing.”⁴

Visualreinforcement

Ifpossible,hanglargepostersthroughouttheworshipspaceofpeopleparticipatinginGod’sworkintheireverydaylives.UsetheELCA’staglineeitheroneachposter,orasaposteritselfinthemidstofallthepictures.Manyimagesareavailableontheweb,oraphotographerinyourcongregationmightcatchyourpeopleatworkintheireverydaylives.Thetypesofpicturesthatmightbeusedincludetheexamplesonthenextpage:

Expanding“God’sWork.OurHands.”fromaDayofService

toaLifeofFaith

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Postpicturesofpeopleinvolvedintheeverydayactivitiesoflife

Faithformationconnections

Thisguidefocusesonworshipanddoesnotofferspecificguidanceforpossibleconnectionstofaithformationactivitiesduringthisemphasis(i.e.,Sundayschoolclasses,confirmation,oradultclasses).Butdon’tletthatstopyou.Backingupwhatishappeninginworshipwithfaithformationactivitieswillfurtherequipyourpeopleforalifeoffaith.Inparticular,eachweek(below)callsforatimeofcheckingin;partofthattimeinvolvestellingstoriesfromourlives.Sincethisabilitytoconnectfaithtolifeandtotalkaboutitisnotsomethingalotofpeoplefeelcomfortabledoing,usingfaithformationactivitiestonametheconnectionsandtopracticetellingourstorieswillmaketheworshipexperienceeasierandmoremeaningful.

Sunday,September9

ThisistherecommendedSundayforcongregation-wide“God’sWork.OurHands.”activities.Byallmeansmoveforwardwithplanningandprovidingsuchserviceopportunities.Thispublicwitnesstoourbaptismalcalltoserveourneighborsisimportant.Communicatingthatwithyourpeopleisvital.Atthesametime,though,introducetheideathatlivingoutourbaptismalcalltoserveourneighborgoesbeyonddoingsomethingextraononeSundayeachyear;italsoincludesparticipatinginGod’smissionintheworldintheactivitiesandrelationshipsofoureverydaylives.Thisextendedemphasisisourfocusforthecomingweeks.

Thesecondreadingforthe16efSundayafterPentecost(Lectionary23)isJames1:17–27.Thelastsentenceprovidesasolidtextualbasis:“ReligionthatispureandundefiledbeforeGod,theFather,isthis:tocarefororphansandwidowsintheirdistress,andtokeeponeselfunstainedbytheworld.”ThescripturereadingthataccompaniestheSmallCatechism’streatmentofthefourthpetitionishelpfulaswell:John6:8–13,thestoryofaboywhooffershisbasketoffivebarleyloavesandtwofish,bywhichthousandsarefed,withanabundanceleftover.

Inordertosetthethemeforbothtoday’sdayofserviceandtheweeksahead,focusontheSmallCatechism,thefourthpetitionoftheLord’sPrayer,whereLuthersays,“Godgivesdailybreadwithoutourasking,eventoallevilpeople.”Luthercontinues,“Whatthendoes‘dailybread’mean?”TheCatechismanswers,“Everythingourbodiesneed,suchasfood,drink,clothing,shoes,house,home,fields,livestock,money,property,anuprightspouse,uprightchildren,uprightworkers,uprightandfaithfulrulers,goodgovernment,goodweather,peace,health,decency,honor,goodfriends,faithfulneighbors,andthelike.”HowdoesGodprovidethisdailybread?Notthroughmiraculousinterventionlikemannafallingfromheaven,butbyfarmerswhoplantandharvestthegrain,bakerswhoturnflourintobread,warehouseworkersandwholesaledistributors,truckdrivers,shelfstockers,andclerksatthecheckoutcounter.Movebeyondmerebread(food)andconsiderLuther’slonglistoftheotherthingsourbodiesneed.HowdoesGodprovidethis“daily

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bread”?Godprovidesitthroughus,forthebenefitofourneighbor.Indeed,God’sworkhappensthroughourhands,ordinarypeoplelovingandservingourneighborsintheroles,relationships,andresponsibilitiesofourordinarylives.⁵

Theologicalgrounding:Lestanyonethinkwe’reborderingonworksrighteousness,beclearaboutjustificationandworks.LutherinsistedthatjustificationisafreegiftofGod’sgraceapartfromhumanworks.ButwhilejustificationisthetotalrestorationofourrelationshipwithGod,itisatthesametimesomethingmore:atransformationofourrelationshipswithothers.ForLutherans,justificationisfreedomfromsinandbrokennessanditisfreedomforlovingourneighbor.BecauseChristsetusfreefromeverythingthatseparatesusfromGod,eliminatingtheneedtoearnGod’sfavor,wearefreetofocusinsteadonwhatourneighborneeds.

WhileLutherwasdead-setagainstworksrighteousness(doinggoodthingstoearnfavorwithGod),hewasequallyinsistentthatgoodworkshavearoleinthelifeofaChristian:goodworksexistfortheearthandone’sneighbor,notforeternityandGod.Goddoesnotneedourgoodworks,Luthersaid,butourneighbordoes.⁶Luther’sviewwasbidirectional:faithmoveslife’scenterfromearthtoheaven,butlovemoveslife’scenterfromheaventoearth,specificallyforourneighbor.⁷

Thesending:Asworshipersleave(perhapsyoucouldbeefupthesendingliturgyattheendoftheservicetoincludethis),distribute“God’sWork.OurHands.”wristbands,andchallengepeopletowearthewristbandsthroughouttheweek.Whentheynoticethewristbandduringtheweek,askthemtoobservewhattheirhandsaredoing,andhowGodmightbeatworkforthebenefitofthepeopletheyareinteractingwithatthemoment.LetthemknowthattherewillbeopportunitiestosharestoriesoftheirhandsparticipatinginGod’sworkonbehalfoftheirneighborinthecomingweeks.

Sunday,September16

Beforeyougetintothefocusforthisweek,considerhowyoumightcollectandsharestoriesfromyourmembersinconnectionwiththeirwristbands.Youmightwanttotalkwithafewpeoplebeforeworshiptoseeiftheyhavestoriesthey’dbewillingtoshareortoletyoushareontheirbehalf.Ifpossible,beforeworshipbegins(whatbetter“announcement”couldyouhopefor?)haveabrieftimeforcheckingin:“WesentyououtlastweektoloveandserveGodbylovingandservingyourneighbor.Howdiditgo?”Thisweekyoumightbetheonesharingstoriesfromothers,orcallinguppeopleyoutalkedtoaheadoftime.Infutureweekswewouldhopethatpeoplewouldbefreedupbytheexamplesofotherstospeakspontaneously.Anappropriateseguetoconfessionwouldbenotingthattherewerefailurestoloveandserveourneighbors,andforthatweseekGod’sforgiveness.Youmayevenwanttorewritetheconfessionsothatitmakesspecificreferencestothepriorweek’stheme.⁸

Thegospelforthe17efSundayafterPentecost(Lectionary24)isMark8:27–38.Whatbetterpassagedoweneed?“Thosewhowanttosavetheirlifewillloseit,andthosewholosetheirlifeformysake,andforthesakeofthegospel,willsaveit.”Ourpeopleknowthispassagewell.TheyknowthatwearecalledtoloseourlifeforChrist’ssake,andforthegospel,butwhatdoesthatreallymean—especiallyif(forthetimebeing)weexcludethose“sacrifices”thatwemakeforthechurch?

TheSmallCatechismfocusforthisweekistheFourthCommandment,“Honoryourfatherandyourmother.”Inparticular,focusonthephrasethatfollows“butinstead.”Our“neighbor”inthiscommandmentisourparentsand(asLutherincludes)“othersinauthority.”Inadditiontonotangeringordespisingthem,wearecalledto“honor,serve,obey,love,andrespectthem.”Howarewecalledtoloseourlifefortheseneighbors(parentsandothersinauthority)whomGodhasplacedinoureverydaylives?TheCatechism’sscripturereadingforthiscommandmentisLuke2:41–52,Jesusmakinghisparentsanxiousatthetemple;thatmaybehelpfulforthisconversation.

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HowdoesGod’sworktakeplacethroughourhandsaswehonor,serve,obey,love,andrespectourparentsandothersinauthority?Inpreparingforthisweek’ssermon,talktosomemembersabouthowtheydothis,andwhatGodmightbedoingintheirmidst.Askpermissiontosharetheirstories,ifappropriate.Themoreconcreteyoucanmakethiscommandmentinyoursermon,withreal-worldstories,thebetter.

Beforeworshipisover(again,thesendingwouldbeanappropriatetime)remindyourpeopletocontinuewearingtheirwristbands(andgivewristbandstothosewhowerenotpresentonthepriorSunday).Feelfreetomovebeyondthestandard“Goinpeace,servetheLord.”Includethemesfromearlierinworship,like,“Goinpeacetohonorandrespectthoseinauthority.”

Sunday,September23

Onceagain,considerincludingatimeofcheckinginatthebeginningofworship.Dependingonyourcontext,youmightwanttotalkprivatelywithafewpeoplebeforeworshipabouttheirwristbandstories.Thistimeyoumightaskoneortwoofyourmoreextrovertedmemberstoshareastoryattheappropriatetime.

Thegospelforthe18efSundayafterPentecost(Lectionary25)isMark9:30–37.Thelastthreeversesareespeciallyappropriateforthisemphasis,Jesustakingachildinhisarmsandencouraginghisfollowerstobeservantsofall.Whatdoesitmeantobea“servantofall”?...especiallyifwefocusnotonactivitiesinorthroughourcongregationbutinourdailylives.HowhavethosewristbandsremindedusthateveninthemosthumbleofactsweareGod’shandsatwork,providingdailybreadforourneighbors?(AflashbacktoSeptember9wouldbeappropriate.)

TheSmallCatechismfocusforthisweekistheFifthCommandment,“Youshallnotmurder,”especiallythephrasethatfollows“butinstead.”Sure,weshouldn’t“endangerorharmthelivesofourneighbors,”butwhenandhowdowe“helpandsupporttheminalloflife’sneeds”?Again,real-lifestoriesfromyourlifeand/oryourmembers’liveswouldbehelpful.InordertomaketheconnectionthatGodisatworkinthemosthumbleofactsyoumightconsidershowingavideolikethese:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WUtcTZM768orhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaWA2GbcnJU

Asinpreviousweeks,beforeworshipisover,remindpeopletokeepwearingtheirwristbands(givethemtopeoplewhodon’tyethaveone)andtousethemasaremindertopauseandreflectonhowtheirhandsinthemundaneactivitiesoflifeareactuallyparticipatinginGod’sworkforourneighbor.

Sunday,September30

Asinpriorweeks,considerincludingatimeofcheckinginatthebeginningofworship.Youstillmightneedtoaskoneortwoofyourmoreextrovertedmemberstoshareastoryattheappropriatetime,orperhapsyoucanrelyonvolunteers.

Thegospelforthe19efSundayafterPentecost(Lectionary26)isMark9:38–50.Verse41isappropriate,“TrulyItellyou,whoevergivesyouacupofwatertodrinkbecauseyoubearthenameofChristwillbynomeanslosethereward.”TheSmallCatechismfocusforthisweekistheSixthCommandment,“Youshallnotcommitadultery.”[NOTE:thegospelreadingfornextweekisonmarriage;youmightwanttoconsidertheSeventhCommandmentthisweekandtheSixthCommandmentnextweek.]ThisistheonlycommandmentinthesecondtableforwhichLutherdoesnotfollowanegative-but-instead-positivepattern.Whilethereisno“butinstead,”whatismoresalientisthatthereisnonegativeinstruction;thewholeexplanationisapositiveaction:“leadpureanddecentlives,”and“loveandhonorourspouse.”TheCatechism’sscripturereadingfortheSixthCommandment(2Samuel11)providesaverystrongnegativeexample(DavidandBathsheba)forthiscommandment,andcouldbeusedeffectively.Lutherstickswiththerealitythatwe“fearand

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loveGod”(i.e.,weparticipateinGod’swork)byleadinglivesworthyofGod’slove.Onceagain,itwillbeimportanttogroundthiscommandmentandLuther’sexplanationwithconcreteexamples.Howmightyouliftupexamplesofpeopleleadingpureanddecentlives?Isthereanewsstorythatyoucouldtell?TalkingwithyourpeopleaboutthisduringthedayspriortoSundaymightyieldsomeshareablestories.

Again,concludeworshipwithreferencestotheday’stheme.(e.g.,“Goinpeace.BeGod’shandsatworkbyleadingpureanddecentlives.”)RemindworshiperstolettheirwristbandsserveasreminderstoreflectonhowtheworkoftheirhandsisGod’sprovisionofdailybreadfortheneighborswithwhomwewillinteract.

Sunday,October7

Wehopeithasbecomeahabitnowtoincludeatimeofcheckinginatthebeginningofworship.Asalways,areminderthatweweresenttoloveourneighbor(lastweekbyleadingpureanddecentlives)isinorder;thequestion“Howdiditgo?”willbeappropriate.Timeforpeopletosharestoriesishelpfultomakingthisconcrete.Failurestoleadpureandhonorablelivesprovideasoundseguetotheconfession.

Thegospelforthe20efSundayafterPentecost(Lectionary27)isMark10:2–16.Whilethistextfocusesagreatdealonmarriage(andmayhavefitbetterlastweek),thesecondpartofthereading(13–16)isappropriate,especiallyv.15,“TrulyItellyou,whoeverdoesnotreceivethekingdomofGodasalittlechildwillneverenterit.”ThekingdomofGodthatJesuskeepstalkingabout(thereareover100referencestoitinthesynopticgospels!)isn’tjustaheavenlyreward,it’sawayoflife—inthisworld.Andwhilethiswayoflifeismarkedbymanycharacteristics,intoday’sgospelit’samatterofbeinglikeachild;it’smatterofhumility,trust,andrelianceonGod.

WemightwanttotakeissuewithJesusonthisparticularmetaphor.Weknowthatchildrencanbeutterlyandbrazenlyselfishandself-centered.Siblingsoftenfightlikecatsanddogs;theywantthetoythattheotherhas;theycomparethemselvestotheirsibling(s)andwindupwithadamagedsenseofself-esteem.Allofthis,though,soundslikeus.Andthat’swheretheSmallCatechismfocusforthisweekcomesin:theSeventhCommandment,“Youshallnotsteal.”TheCatechism’sscripturereadingforthiscommandment(Joshua7:1)isaworthywarningagainstourchildishmisbehavior.

Theanswerto“Whatdoesthismean?”inthiscommandment’scaseisthoroughinitsproscriptions,andtheanswerprovidesconcreteexamplesofwaysinwhichwearecalledtodenyourchildishselves.Butagain,thefocusofthisseriesisonthatwhichfollowsthe“butinstead.”Inourinteractionswithourneighbors(thosewithwhomwecomeincontactthroughouttheweek)wearecalledto“helpthemtoimproveandprotecttheirpropertyandincome.”Wearecalledtotapintoourbetterunderstandingofbeingachild:actingoutofhumility,trust,andrelianceonGod.

Inparticular,howdowe“fearandloveGod”(i.e.,participateinGod’swork)byhelpingourneighborimproveandprotecttheirlivelihood?Inthiscase,“ourneighbor”increasesdramaticallytoincludenotonlythosewithwhomwecomeincontactface-to-face,butpeoplethroughoutourcommunity,ournation,andaroundtheworld.Howdowevote?Toprotectourownlivelihood?Whatarewedoingfortheenvironment?Doouractionsandinterestundermineorimproveandprotectotherpeople’swelfare?Leadingasmallgroupconversationonquestionslikethesepriortowritingasermonwillhaveapowerfulimpactandlikelywillproviderelevantstoriesthatcanbesharedtomakethisconcreteforyourpeople.

Concludeworshipwithreferencestotheday’stheme.(e.g.,“Goinpeace.BeGod’shandsatworkbyhelpingthoseyoumeetimproveandprotecttheirlivelihood.”)UrgetheuseofthewristbandstoremindpeopletolookforGod’sactivityintheworkoftheirhands.

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Sunday,October14

Beginworshipwithatimeofcheckingin.Revisitlastweek’sthemeandseekoutwristbandstories.Followupwithconfession.AnadaptationoftheabsolutionthatannouncesthatwearefreedfromallthatseparatesusfromGod,whichfreesusforlovingourneighborswouldbeagreatseguetoahymnofpraise.

Thegospelforthe21}eSundayafterPentecost(Lectionary28)isMark10:17–31.WhilethisprovidesagreatreferencetotheTenCommandments,thefollow-upto“Teacher,Ihavekeptallthesesincemyyouth”doesnotalignwellwiththeEighthCommandment.Perhapsyoucouldfocusonlyonvv.17–20,checkingwithyourpeopletoseeifv.20reflectstheirsensibilities.Checkingthesensethat“we,too,havekeptallthecommandments”againstallthestoriesfromthepriorweeksmightprovideplentyofmaterial.

Thenagain,v.23reintroducestheconceptofthekingdomofGod:“HowharditwillbeforthosewhohavewealthtoenterthekingdomofGod!”MostofourpeoplelikelyequatethekingdomofGodtoheaven.Butwhatif(seelastweek)thekingdomofGodisnotjustaheavenlyreward,butawayoflife—inthisworld?WhatpartsoflivingintoJesus’teaching[rejectingrelianceonpossessionsforone,butalsotrustandhumility(lastweek),trustingGodtotakeoursmalldailyacts(mustardseedandyeast,Luke13)andturnthemintobig,worthwhilethings]preventusfrombeingpartofJesus’“kingdom”inthehereandnow?

TheSmallCatechismfocusforthisweek,theEighthCommandment,ispartofthiskingdomlife:comingtoourneighbors’defense,speakingwellofourneighborandinterpretingeverythingtheydointhebestpossiblelight.Perhapsthisweek’s“reallife”storiescouldbetoldviacurrentmovieorTVshowstorylines.TheCatechism’sscripturereadingforthiscommandment(Luke22:54–62)relatesPeter’sdenialofJesus—PetermissedhisopportunitytocometoJesus’defense,oreventospeakwellofhim.Howdoourmissedopportunitieskeepusfromlivingthekingdomlifeofshalom:health,wholeness,restoration,andharmony?

Asusual,concludeworshipwithreferencestotheday’stheme.(e.g.,“Goinpeace.BeGod’shandsatworkbyspeakingwellofothers.”)Eventhoughwe’regettingneartheendoftheseries,urgethecontinueduseofthewristbandstoremindpeopletolookforGod’sactivityintheworkoftheirhands.Engagepeopleinconversationduringtheweekabouttheirwristbandstoriesandencouragethemtosharethosestories.

Sunday,October21

Thisisthefinalopportunitytolookforandsharewristbandstories.Hopefullyit’sbecomesecondnaturebynow.Followupwithconfessionandabsolution.

Thegospelforthe22ⁿ�SundayafterPentecost(Lectionary29)isMark10:35–45.Atfirstglance,thereseemstobelittleconnectionwiththethemeofcovetinginthelasttwocommandments(seebelow).ItistruethatJamesandJohnareguiltyofcoveting:theywantthebestseatsinthehouseforthemselves.Maybethere’smaterialtoworkwiththere.

InordertomaketheTenCommandmentsfit,itwillbenecessarytodoastheJewishTalmudandReformedChristiansdo—combinewhatwecallnumbers9&10intoonecommandment.(Really,it’snotmuchofastretch!)Covetingisthetheme,whetherit’sahouseandpossessionsoraspouse.Asusual,focusonwhatcomesafter“butinstead”…helpourneighborskeepwhatistheirs,andurgespousesandworkerstoremainloyal.

Ontheotherhand,today’sgospelmightmakeafittingendtotheseries:JamesandJohnthoughtthatJesus’kingdomwasgoingtocomeinabrillianttacticalmovethatwoulddestroyworldlypowersandusherinparadise.Andtheywantedafrontrowseat!ThekingdomthatwehaveconsistentlyheardJesusdescribe,though,isnothinglikethat.It’ssubversive.It’shumble.It’shidden

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1.Bothquotesarefromhttps://www.elca.org/dayofservice

2.ThisdocumentarisesoutoftheLifeofFaithInitiative.Seehttp://lifeoffaith.infoformoreinformationandforalargenumberofresources.

3.Ifneeded,seeLuke10:25–37.“Whoismyneighbor?”Thebottomlineoftheparableisthatit’snotamatterofwhoweshouldloveandwhowecanignoreorreject;ratheritisabouthowweareneighborstoeveryoneweencounter.SeeEugeneEdwardVeith,WorkingforOurNeighbor:ALutheranPrimeronVocation,Economics,andOrdinaryLife.(GrandRapids:Christian’sLibraryPress,2016)14–16.

4.SeeLauraFanucci’sbook,ToBlessOurCallings:Prayers,Poems,andHymnstoCelebrateVocation(Eugene,OR:Wipf&Stock,2016),formanywaystoliftupvocationinworship.

5.SeeDwightDuBois’book,TheScattering:ImaginingaChurchthatConnectsFaithandLife(Eugene,OR:Wipf&Stock,2015),formoreinformationandideasonhowtomaketheconnection.

6.MartinLuther,TheFreedomofaChristian(1520),trans.andintro.MarkD.Tranvik(Minneapolis:Fortress,2008),84.

7.Formoreonthis,downloadtheTheologicalGroundingfortheLifeofFaithInitiative,byCraigNessan,athttp://lifeoffaith.info.Itcanbefoundnearthebottomofthehomepage.

8.TheconfessionforthefallprovidedinSundaysandSeasonsisagoodstartforthisemphasis.Youmightwanttorewritelineslike“Reformustobeachurchpoweredbylove,willingtospeakforwhatisright,actforwhatisjust,andseekthehealingofyourwholecreation”to“Changeussothatourdailylivesaremarkedbylove,speakingforwhatisright,actingforwhatisjust,andseekingthewelfareofeveryonewemeet.”

inthesmallandinsignificant—includingthesmallandinsignificantactions,relationships,andresponsibilitiesofoureverydaylives.

Aflashbacktolastweek’sgospelmightbeappropriate:“Teacher,Ihavekeptallthese[commandments]sincemyyouth.”We’renotperfect.Wehaven’tkeptallthecommandments(orLuther’spositiveornegativeexplanations),butthestorieswe’vebeentellingthesepastfewweeksareindicativeofthefactthatwehave,indeed,beenstrivingtokeepthecommandmentsthroughoutourlives.Intheworkofourhands,inoureverydayrelationships,inourlivesascitizens,wehavebeenprovidingdailybreadforourneighbors,betheyfamilymembers,thepeoplenextdoor,coworkers,fellowcitizens,evencreationitself.LutherconcludestheexplanationtotheTenCommandmentswithawordofgrace:“Godpromisesgraceandeverygoodthingtoallthosewhokeepthesecommandments.”Or,toputthisinthetermsJesususedwiththescribewhoknewthatlovingGodandlovingneighborwasmoreimportantthanallofourofferingsandsacrifices:“[We]arenotfarfromthekingdomofGod.”(Mark12:33–34)

Sendthepeopleontheirway.HavingexpressedtheirloveforGodinworship,theirneighborsarewaitingtoexperiencethatsameloveandgrace.ThisistherhythmofourlivesasChristians.

Sunday,October28—ReformationSunday

HavingspentseveralweeksintheSmallCatechismandhowitappliestoourdailylives,youmaywanttoconsiderfocusingyourReformationobservanceonLuther’semphasisonthepriesthoodofallbelievers.

ThefinalsentenceofthegospelreadingforReformationSundayisappropriate:“SoiftheSonmakesyoufree,youwillbefreeindeed”(John8:36).ThiswouldbeaperfectopportunitytorevisitthefreedomfromandfreedomforthemethatwasaddressedonSeptember9(above).SeeLuther,TheFreedomofaChristian(footnote6)and/orrevisitthedocumentlistedinfootnote7.