Collect for Reformation Sunday Almighty and gracious Lord, pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people. Keep us steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defend us against all enemies, and grant to Your Church Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
This Sunday, October 30, is reformation Sunday. We need to take a few minutes and ask ourselves are we in concert with the way some of our politicians want to take religion and our nation. Christian Nationalism feels like a combination of a religion and political movement almost cult like. And that gets to that very definition of Christian nationalism, of merging Christian and American identities into one.”
Christian nationalism is the toxic and delusional belief that the United States is meant to be an explicitly and exclusively a Christian-run nation. It runs completely counter to the founders’ determination that the U.S. not have an established national church. And it spells genuine peril for our nation. while also continuing to send the signal that God has ordained a particular election result, could lead to violence again,
Martin Luther responded to challenges to the church and today we need to follow his example and preserve our freedom to worship how and when as we desire.
Let us pray for the Church and our Nation. Almighty God, gracious Lord, we thank you for preserving your holy church throughout the ages. For the gift of the blessed gospel, we praise your name. For the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection from the dead and life eternal in Christ, we thank you, loving Father. We treasure the rich heritage handed down from our founding fathers in their faith. Hear our prayer which we ask in the name of your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, through all eternity. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 