Worship

Gathering

The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.

Confession and Forgiveness

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, our maker, our helper, and our keeper.
Amen.

Trusting in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.

Merciful and loving God,
We are your stiff-necked people.
We trample on the needy.
We grumble about your grace to others.
We turn away from the poor.
Have mercy on us and forgive our sins.
Rejoice over us as ones who were lost and have been found.
Amen.

Even when we are faithless, God remains faithful.
Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.
You who were lost have been found.
In the name of ☩ Jesus, your sins are forgiven!

Amen.

Gathering Song: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (ELW 834)

Word

God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.

First Reading: Amos 6:1a, 4–7

The prophet Amos announces that Israel’s great wealth is a cause not for rejoicing but sorrow, because God’s people have forgotten how to share their wealth with the poor.

A reading from Amos.

1a Woe to those who are at ease in Zion

and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria.

4 Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory

and lounge on their couches

and eat lambs from the flock

and calves from the stall,

5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp

and like David improvise on instruments of music,

6 who drink wine from bowls

and anoint themselves with the finest oils

but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

7 Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile,

and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.

Word of God, word of life.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 146

1 Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Put not your trust in rulers,
in mortals in whom there is no help.
4 When they breathe their last, they return to earth,
and in that day their thoughts perish.
5 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help,
whose hope is in the Lord their God;
6 who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them;
who keeps promises forever;
7 who gives justice to those who are oppressed, and food to those who hunger.
The Lord sets the captive free.
8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord cares for the stranger;
the Lord sustains the orphan and widow, but frustrates the way of the wicked.
10 The Lord shall reign forever,
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Hallelujah!

Second Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6–19

Timothy is reminded of the confession he made at his baptism and of its implications for daily life. His priorities will be different from those of people who merely want to be rich.

A reading from 1 Timothy.

6 Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it, 8 but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches but rather on God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19 thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

Word of God, word of life.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

Gospel: Luke 16:19–31

The holy gospel according to Luke.

Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus tells a parable in which the poor one is “lifted up” and the rich one is “sent away empty.” Jesus makes it clear that this ethic of merciful reversal is not new but is as old as Moses and the prophets.

[Jesus said:] 19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 27 He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house 28 for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

The gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Invitation to Communion

Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them.

Come to this meal of mercy.

Communion

The body of Christ, given for you.

The blood of Christ, shed for you.

Amen.

Communion Hymn: We Come to the Hungry Feast (ELW 479)

Communion Blessing

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

Amen.

Song after Communion: Come, We That Love the Lord (ELW 625)

Prayer after Communion

O God, through this meal you have strengthened us and appointed us to be your servants. Send us to do good and to share our possessions with all in need. We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

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This Week's Bulletin

September 28, 2025

Gathering

Confession and Forgiveness

Greeting

Prayer of the Day

Word

Gospel Acclamation

Sermon

Prayers of Intercession

Peace

Meal

Great Thanksgiving

Lord’s Prayer

Invitation to Communion

Sending

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