Sunday Bulletin
Celebration Service
Music Sunday - The Lutherans
October 26, 2025 9:30am
Prelude “Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott” Johann G. Walther
(A Mighty Fortress Is Our God)
Introit “Summer Ended”
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship Lay Reader: Dave Myers
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help
in time of trouble
So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come, and the
mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble
as the waters surge!
The Lord Almighty is here among us; the God of Israel
is our fortress.
Unison Prayer
Ever-calling God, we give thanks that you have gathered
us into your church and graced us with your faithful presence.
We ponder our history, ancient and still developing, and
marvel at the many expressions of your church. Grant us the
vision to be a part of a new reformation for the Church that
will bring ever more joy and justice to the world. Continue to
gather us, the diverse lot of us, into Jesus’ vision and dream
that your faithful people may be one in you. Amen.
Children's Message Blessing of the Costumes
Hymn Story Hymn* “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” #65
Words & Music Martin Luther
The Lord's Prayer #307
Psalm 118
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his steadfast love endures
forever!
Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set
me in a broad place.
With the Lord on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me?
The Lord is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those
who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of
the Lord I cut them off!
They surrounded me like bees; they blazed like a fire of thorns; in the
name of the Lord I cut them off!
I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.
There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: “The
right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does
valiantly.”
I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.
Anthem "O Morning Star" Philipp Nicolai
Hymn Story Hymn "From Heaven Above" #146
Words: Martin Luther
Music: Valentin Schumann
Hymn Story Hymn "Sing of God Made Manifest" #176
Words: Carl Daw
Music: Jacob Hintz
Harmonized: J.S. Bach
Hymn Story Hymn "I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry" #75
Words and Music: John Ylvisaker
Offering
Click here to make an online donation
Offertory “Vom Himmel Hoch, da komm ich her” ” Johann Pachelbel
(From Heaven Above to Earth I Come)
Doxology #46
Offertory Prayer
Prayer of the People
Hymn Story Hymn "Now Thank We All Our God" #715
Words: Martin Rinkart
Music: Johann Cruger
Harmonized: Felix Mendelssohn
Benediction
Closing: “Let Us Now Depart in Your Peace”
Postlude Finale on “Nun Danket” Roland Diggle
(Now Thank We All Our God)
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Calendar of Events
Monday, 10/27 Noon AA meeting in Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, 10/28 3:30 Elf rehearsal
7:30 AA meeting in Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, 10/29 Noon AA meeting in Fellowship Hall
5:30 Choir Rehearsal in Organ Loft
Thursday, 10/30 3:15 Cherub Choir rehearsal in Sanctuary
4:00 Youth Choir rehearsal in Sanctuary
5:45 Elf Rehearsal
Friday, 10/31 4-8 Trick or Treating (church & parsonage)
Happy Birthday this week to:
Jacob Ferguson on 10/27
George Bennum II, Diane Bruns, Madeleine Copeland, Marianne Davis on 10/28
Liam Stowe on 10/29
Winship Leisman on 10/30
Leslie Anderson and Jennifer Bennett on 10/31
Sean Buchanan on 11/1
Happy Anniversary this week to:
Michael and Jena Anthony & Johannes and Lynne von Trapp today 10/26
Gregory Morrill and Meg Scotti on 11/1
Announcements
The ushers today are Tracy Wall and Nan Myers. Thank you for helping today.
Welcome back Rev. Ann Larson. So glad you could join us this morning to tell us about the Lutherans. She is a retired Lutheran Pastor with extensive ecumenical and interfaith experience.
Mission Moment
Anne Farley from Homeshare Vermont spoke to us last Sunday for the mission moment. Homeshare Vermont is providing creative ways to help with the housing crisis in our state. Visit them at .https://www.homesharevermont.org/.
More Mission work. Refugees and immigrants in Vermont are in dire need right now of infant warm clothing size 1T to 3T and men’s winter jackets. All winter gear is needed in all sizes. These do not have to be new, used but in good condition would be welcomed. There will be a bin in the Narthex this morning and will be picked up by Monday, November 3. Please see the poster in the Narthex. There is also need of blankets, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, diapers, grocery store gift cards. Thank you.
Praying the Psalms: You are invited to join Pastor Dan each week for 30 minutes on Tuesdays at noon to pray together beginning 9/9/25. See the article in the Quest for zoom links. This is through 11/25/25.
Bible Study on the Psalms this Fall
During Pastor Dan’s sermon series on the Psalms, plan to enhance your understanding of this rich book of the Bible by joining the study series, Praying the Psalms. For six weeks, beginning October 9 from 7 to 8 PM on Zoom, we will explore psalms as prayers on such topics as hope, joy, gratitude and trust. The study guide is entitled Praying the Psalms, by Juanita Ryan and can be ordered from www.ivpress.com. To join the study, please contact Kathe Rhinesmith at katherhinesmith@gmail.com.
Seeking Halloween Candy
The Parsonage and Church will be giving out candy on Halloween and we need your help purchasing bags of candy to ensure we have enough to go around. Over the past few years, between 800-1000 children have come through our doors on Halloween. Thank you!
The CE committee would like the congregation’s help in providing chili for the annual Pumpkin Carving event at the Parsonage on Saturday, October 25th, at 4pm. Sign up sheet is in the Narthex. Only need 2 or 3 volunteers
October Green Team tip: The webinar cited 50 states, 50 Fixes which is a very engaging project undertaken by the New York Times that highlights an environmental solution or strategy in the works in each state. This is a fascinating article about innovative approaches to stewardship across the country. If you subscribe to the NY Times, you can read the article by clicking the link below:
https://www.nytimes,com/interactive/2025/climnate/50-states-fixes.html
A similar but less comprehensive article can be found at:
https://www.oneearth.org/nine-examples-of-local-governments-taking-climate-action/
Vermont’s “Clean Commitment” to our renewable energy bill is listed as one of theses nine examples, reinforcing the fact that our Green Mountain state is committed to staying “green”!
SSC Men's Group Pancake Breakfast
All men are invited to a pancake breakfast on Saturday, November 15th, at 9:00 am in the Church Fellowship Hall.
A suggested $10 donation will be collected, and we are seeking a few volunteers to help set up and prepare in our brand new kitchen.
Join us for a time of refreshment and fellowship as we make new friendships and discuss exciting opportunities ahead.
Please RSVP to mensgroup@stowecommunitychurch.org
If you know of a need for pastoral care, a home or hospital visit, meals, a phone call or any other support our church can offer, please contact our Care Team by emailing info@stowechurch.org. Our Care Team is looking for additional members to help meet the needs of our congregation and community. Please reach out to Rev. Barbara (revbarbarapurinton@gmail.com) if interested in learning more and join this important ministry of care and compassion.
Please remember our neighbors in need and bring in food etc.
Lamoille Community Food Share. Non-perishable items can be put in our two bins, one in the Narthex and one in the hall downstairs. Thank you.
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Musical Notes
Prelude: "Ein' Feste Burg" (the music to the text we know as "A Might Fortress is Our God") was probably created at the same time as its German text. Its first publication was in the Kirchen Gesange in Nuremberg, 1531 and then in the second edition of Klug's Gesangbuch of 1535. It is probably the work of Martin Luther himself but could have been adapted from an earlier source. Many Baroque organ composers
created chorale preludes based on this melody, including Johann Gottfried Walther (1684-1748). Walther was a contemporary, cousin, and friend of J. S Bach. He was a town-organist and court musician at Weimar, a master composer of chorale variations, and the author of his Musikalisches Lexikon, the first musical encyclopedia of biography, bibliography and musical terms.
Anthem: Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608) was a prominent early Lutheran pastor and hymn writer who suffered greatly in the Thirty-years war and the plague, but who persevered in his Christian calling. Often at odds with Roman Catholics and Calvinists, he frequently went into hiding and pastored his flock secretly in house meetings. While in Westphalia, the plague took 1300 of his parishioners, mostly in the latter half of 1597, 170 in one week. He wrote series of meditations to comfort his flock and added two hymns that became world famous and are still with us today: "Wachet auf ruft uns die Stimme" (Wake, awake, for night is flying) and "Wie schoen leuchtet der Morgenstern" (How brightly appears the morning star". Nicolai wrote the text and melody to both, and they were harmonized by J. S. Bach. The choir shares the latter one of these with us this morning (No. 105 in the Chalice Hymnal).
Offertory: The hymn tune "Vom Himmel Hoch" is believed to be composed by Martin Luther, or adapted from a folk melody. The text paired with this tune was Luther's Christmas text written for his small son Hans one Christmas Eve (From Heaven Above to Earth I Come). Several Baroque organ composers used this music to create chorale preludes on it, including the one by Pachelbel heard today. The melody is heard in the pedal line.
Postlude: "Nun danket alle Gott" is paired with the text "Now Thank We All Our God". The text and tune appeared together in Johann Cruger's Praxis Pietatis Melica of 1647. It is believed that Cruger himself wrote it. Twentieth century organist/composer Roland Diggle created a "finale" based on this melody where the opening phrase of the hymn is heard repeatedly, passing from voice to voice throughout the piece. Roland Diggle (1885-1954) emigrated to the U.S. from England in 1904 and served as parish organist in Kansas and Manitoba before settling in St. John's Episcopal Church in Los Angeles in 1914 where he stayed until his death. He composed some 250 organ pieces.
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