1) Invocation: The words “In the name of the Father and of Son and of the Holy Spirit”, which are quoted from the Great Commission passage in Matthew 28:19, recall us to our baptism. And what takes place at our baptism, through faith? We have our sins washed away (Acts 22:16). We have our sins forgiven (Acts 2:38). We have Christ of whom we called on, clothed with and joined to His death and resurrection (Acts 22:16, Galatians 3:26-27, Romans 6:1-4, Colossians 2:11-13). We are saved by His resurrection (1 Peter 3:21). In other words, we have the Gospel that says in Christ, we are forgiven sinners, who have the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
2) Confession: Even as we confess we are sinners (which the law in its mirror use continues to make us aware of that fact), asking as the tax collector did (Luke 18:13), to have mercy on us sinners, we speak the words of the gospel as well when we say that this is for the sake of Christ who paid for all our sins (Romans 3:25, 1 John 2:1-2).
3) Absolution: The words of the pastor forgiving our sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit recall us, as did the Invocation, to our baptism. Such words also guard our assurance that we are indeed given forgiveness continually. That is the gospel authority given in John 20:22. That is why right before pronouncing forgiveness, the pastor would cite such verse and/or refer to passages referring to Christ’s death for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). We hear the words of the Gospel, in other words.
4) Prayer of the Day: We acknowledge Christ crucified for our sins (staying focus on the Gospel) as to whom we are in, even as we pray that we be sanctified unto good works. And we pray acknowledging that Jesus is, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit worshipped and glorified, echoing the faith of Polycarp, the Nicene creed and others through the ages, who were baptized children of God, in Christ crucified (Ephesians 2:8-10, 4:4-6, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Philippians 2:13).
5) Bible readings: With the mindset all Scriptures point to Christ, we hear the words from whole paragraphs of different passages from both the Old Testament and the New Testament in addition to from the Gospels, of which we stand for to honor the words and actions of our Savior because of the Gospel He gives us.
6) Creed: Every time we speak the words, we both say and hear the Gospel that Christ was crucified and rose again. That is also true when we say (from the Nicene Creed) our belief in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16, Ephesians 4:4-6), which is gospel to us.
7) Lord’s Prayer: Whenever we pray to our Father, we do so as children of God precisely because we are saved by the Gospel (John 1:12-13). In Christ, God accepts and hears our prayers John 16:23). Whenever we ask to give us our daily bread, we are asking not just for physical food but also for the Bread of Life to give us His word (Matthew 6:11, John 6:48-51). And when we say forgive us our trespasses we do so knowing we have that forgiveness because of what Christ did for us (1 John 1:9, 2:2). We have that certainty the Gospel is for us.
8) Preface: We recall Christ’s promise that He would be with us to the end of the ages, and words of prayer are spoken on our behalf thanking God the Father for all things, acknowledging we have access to Him through Christ who by His sacrifice took away the sin of the world (Matthew 28:20, John 1:29).
9) Sanctus: Because we have the gospel of forgiveness won for us by Christ at the Cross, we can with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven praise God’s holy name and sing this glorious song (Isaiah 6:3). And as in Palm Sunday, the words “hosanna in the highest” are sung to our Lord knowing we are blessed in Him by the fact we are justified in Him alone who bore the curses due us at the Cross (Matthew 21:9, Galatians 3:13).
10) Words of Institution/Distribution: This is Christ’s body given for us and this is Christ’s blood poured out for forgiveness are what we hear (Matthew 26:26-28). We have that Gospel spoken to us. The good news come to us in tangible means. We get to commune on the very body and blood that provided our forgiveness at the Cross, that what was won for us may be delivered to us to continually assure us that we are in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16).
11) Agnus Dei: In singing the words from John 1:29 in regards to Christ being the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, that Paul wrote is the gospel, we have our minds and hearts set on that we are about to receive His person in the sacrament (1 Corinthians 15:2-3). Jesus has come to us to continually give us His peace, which is not as the world gives, but the peace with God through His saving work for us (John 14:27, Romans 5:1-5).
12) Song of Simeon: Just as Simeon acknowledged he was before the true presence of God Incarnate, we sing that same acknowledge that we truly were in His true and substantial presence (Luke 2:28-32). And we can depart as His servants in peace with the forgiveness He gives us with His body and blood we had just communed on and with our faith strengthened in Him by the Visible Gospel (what we call the Sacrament).
13) Benediction: In Christ, we have His blessing that we are justified sinners . It is this gospel that gives us peace in Him, by the grace of God that saves us. We pray God keeps us in the saving grace of the gospel He gives us in Christ, as we go our way (Numbers 6:22-26).
Here we stand.
2) Confession: Even as we confess we are sinners (which the law in its mirror use continues to make us aware of that fact), asking as the tax collector did (Luke 18:13), to have mercy on us sinners, we speak the words of the gospel as well when we say that this is for the sake of Christ who paid for all our sins (Romans 3:25, 1 John 2:1-2).
3) Absolution: The words of the pastor forgiving our sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit recall us, as did the Invocation, to our baptism. Such words also guard our assurance that we are indeed given forgiveness continually. That is the gospel authority given in John 20:22. That is why right before pronouncing forgiveness, the pastor would cite such verse and/or refer to passages referring to Christ’s death for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). We hear the words of the Gospel, in other words.
4) Prayer of the Day: We acknowledge Christ crucified for our sins (staying focus on the Gospel) as to whom we are in, even as we pray that we be sanctified unto good works. And we pray acknowledging that Jesus is, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit worshipped and glorified, echoing the faith of Polycarp, the Nicene creed and others through the ages, who were baptized children of God, in Christ crucified (Ephesians 2:8-10, 4:4-6, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Philippians 2:13).
5) Bible readings: With the mindset all Scriptures point to Christ, we hear the words from whole paragraphs of different passages from both the Old Testament and the New Testament in addition to from the Gospels, of which we stand for to honor the words and actions of our Savior because of the Gospel He gives us.
6) Creed: Every time we speak the words, we both say and hear the Gospel that Christ was crucified and rose again. That is also true when we say (from the Nicene Creed) our belief in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16, Ephesians 4:4-6), which is gospel to us.
7) Lord’s Prayer: Whenever we pray to our Father, we do so as children of God precisely because we are saved by the Gospel (John 1:12-13). In Christ, God accepts and hears our prayers John 16:23). Whenever we ask to give us our daily bread, we are asking not just for physical food but also for the Bread of Life to give us His word (Matthew 6:11, John 6:48-51). And when we say forgive us our trespasses we do so knowing we have that forgiveness because of what Christ did for us (1 John 1:9, 2:2). We have that certainty the Gospel is for us.
8) Preface: We recall Christ’s promise that He would be with us to the end of the ages, and words of prayer are spoken on our behalf thanking God the Father for all things, acknowledging we have access to Him through Christ who by His sacrifice took away the sin of the world (Matthew 28:20, John 1:29).
9) Sanctus: Because we have the gospel of forgiveness won for us by Christ at the Cross, we can with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven praise God’s holy name and sing this glorious song (Isaiah 6:3). And as in Palm Sunday, the words “hosanna in the highest” are sung to our Lord knowing we are blessed in Him by the fact we are justified in Him alone who bore the curses due us at the Cross (Matthew 21:9, Galatians 3:13).
10) Words of Institution/Distribution: This is Christ’s body given for us and this is Christ’s blood poured out for forgiveness are what we hear (Matthew 26:26-28). We have that Gospel spoken to us. The good news come to us in tangible means. We get to commune on the very body and blood that provided our forgiveness at the Cross, that what was won for us may be delivered to us to continually assure us that we are in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16).
11) Agnus Dei: In singing the words from John 1:29 in regards to Christ being the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, that Paul wrote is the gospel, we have our minds and hearts set on that we are about to receive His person in the sacrament (1 Corinthians 15:2-3). Jesus has come to us to continually give us His peace, which is not as the world gives, but the peace with God through His saving work for us (John 14:27, Romans 5:1-5).
12) Song of Simeon: Just as Simeon acknowledged he was before the true presence of God Incarnate, we sing that same acknowledge that we truly were in His true and substantial presence (Luke 2:28-32). And we can depart as His servants in peace with the forgiveness He gives us with His body and blood we had just communed on and with our faith strengthened in Him by the Visible Gospel (what we call the Sacrament).
13) Benediction: In Christ, we have His blessing that we are justified sinners . It is this gospel that gives us peace in Him, by the grace of God that saves us. We pray God keeps us in the saving grace of the gospel He gives us in Christ, as we go our way (Numbers 6:22-26).
Here we stand.
