Streams of Mercy

Yesterday we celebrated Reformation Day, that day in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, provoking a debate that led to the Protestant Reformation. Through his study of scripture, Luther came to see that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, and good works result from our faith – they are not added to it as grounds for our right standing in God’s eyes! We celebrated “the church reformed and always reforming, according to the Word of God.”

This Reformation Prayer was a part of our service:

Great and loving God, thank you that on this day so many years ago, Martin Luther posted his 95 theses that launched the reformation which reclaimed the truth of your glorious gospel. Thank you for the gospel of your Son Jesus Christ, revealed through scripture alone, which proclaims that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to your glory alone.

We thank you for those persons you have poured your Spirit into that then set about reforming your church. We thank you that you are still at work in the life of the church, reforming us, reshaping us, and making us into your image.

We thank you for your gifts to your church through the ages – the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, whom you have given to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ – so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine – so that we may be those growing into the fullness of your Son, Jesus Christ.

We thank you that you are continually reforming us individually, so that though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self, transformed by the renewing of our minds, may grow more and more into the image of Christ, in whose likeness we are made and called to live.

Reforming and ever reforming God, reform us individually so that we may grow more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ, so that your church may be a beacon of hope, grace, love and light in this world. Amen.

Yesterday we celebrated the church that was, the church that is and the church that will be! Remembering where we have been is helpful in knowing where we need to go!

Elizabeth