A Litany for Reformation Sunday Bible Dedication
Invite the congregation to bring a favorite Bible, possibly a family Bible, to church on Reformation Sunday. Bibles may be placed on the communion table or other special location. Or perhaps have the people hold onto theirs, raising them up during the dedication. Prior to the dedication someone might share a story of their Bible as a witness to the gift of scripture in daily life.
Pastor: Our heavenly Father blesses God’s people with the gift of the Holy Scriptures.
Through the work of prophets and sages, poets and apostles, God inspired these words to be written for our benefit.
As Luke tells us in his Gospel:
“When [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.” (Luke 4:16-22, NRSV)
Today we bring an offering to God. We ask God to receive these Bibles entrusted to us in our homes and wherever we carry them in our daily lives.
We ask God to bless these books and ask the Holy Spirit to guide our prayerful reading and study of them. We believe that God still speaks to us through the Bible.
Litany of Dedication
Gracious God, we place before you our Holy Bibles. May they be instruments for your Word to guide our lives, inspire our service, enliven our praise, and strengthen our trust in you. Hear us, O God.
Your Word speaks life to us.
When we are tempted to twist your words to satisfy our own desires, recall us to the obedience of your design, as revealed in these Scriptures and lived by your Holy Church. Hear us, O God.
Your Word instructs us.
On this Reformation Sunday, we give thanks for church leaders who call and equip the people of God to faithfully spend time in the Word, on our own, as families, in groups, and together as a congregation, that we might live by your Word. Mold us by your Word for service the way a potter shapes clay into vessels. Then use us to bring you glory in all things. Hear us, O God.
Your Word read in the company of the church guides us.